The Nexus S is due to receive an over-the-air update to Android 2.3.4 over the coming weeks, but Google earned a +1 from eager fans and devs hoping to get the extra Google Talk functionality sooner. Instead of hopelessly checking for updates until the time is right, the Powers That Be are now offering the upgrade as a manual download to anyone who is already running 2.3.3 on the i9020T (the AWS-equipped model). We urge you to proceed with caution here and double-check that your phone is compatible, since those are the two requirements for the download to install properly. We’ve happily bumped one of our devices up to 2.3.4 this way without any sweat or tears, so we hope it will be a smooth experience for others as well. If you choose to be adventurous and update your Nexus S, click the source link below to download the necessary ZIP file. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Continue reading Nexus S 2.3.4 update now available to early adopters via manual install Nexus S 2.3.4 update now available to early adopters via manual install originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 04:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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As we approach the expected mid-2011 launch for a few Chrome OS devices, it seems inevitable that some details are bound to slip out ahead of time — here’s looking at you, Acer ZGB and Seaboard . The latest victim outed by a Chromium bug report is the Samsung “Alex,” which sports a 1280 x 800 display (probably at 10 inches as previously rumored ; like the mockup above), 1.5GHz dual-core Atom N550, SanDisk SSD P4 of unknown capacity, and 2GB RAM. Also listed are a Qualcomm Gobi 2000 3G card, Bluetooth, WiFi, webcam, and a Synaptics touchpad. Well, not long to go now — perhaps the Alex might even make a cheeky appearance at Google I/O in two weeks’ time? Screenshot of the bug report after the break. [Thanks, Marco] Continue reading Details of Samsung’s ‘Alex’ Chrome OS netbook leaked, Atom N550 in tow Details of Samsung’s ‘Alex’ Chrome OS netbook leaked, Atom N550 in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 06:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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By now you’ve probably seen the latest spectacle to consume the white iPhone 4: it’s thicker than the black model. The image above illustrates the point using a piece of lead from a mechanical pencil. So what , you say, in righteous indignation to a device that shipped ten months late. Well, the size difference creates a potential consumer issue since cases (at least the good ones) are manufactured against the tight tolerances supplied by Apple. We’ve confirmed ourselves, that an Incase slider that fits a black iPhone 4 just fine has to be forced into place on the new white model. Unfortunately, Apple’s own spec page doesn’t highlight the change in thickness (measured at 9.5mm by TiPb ). Instead it still shows a 9.3mm depth with a tiny disclaimer stating, “Actual size and weight vary by configuration and manufacturing process.” The result is confusion — will this case fit or won’t it? — which is never a good thing for consumers. But why is the white iPhone 4 thicker? Phil Schiller mentioned that his team needed to add extra UV protection and other tweaks, in an attempt to reduce the “unexpected interactions” between the cover’s whiteness and the internal components. As such, Apple apparently needed to sacrifice some slimness for a better functioning white phone. The result of all this is that we now have what looks to be four different size / button configurations that must be considered when purchasing a shrink-wrapped case for your white iPhone 4, black iPhone 4, white Verizon iPhone 4, or black Verizon iPhone 4. Good luck with that. Additional reporting by Sam Sheffer [Thanks, Jon] Filed under: Cellphones White iPhone 4 thickness creates issue for case makers, owners originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 05:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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If Pioneer’s AppRadio (SPH-DA01) ever sees the light of day, it’ll join a long list of integrated and aftermarket products trying to play off of the iPhone’s success. According to CrunchGear (and its anonymous tipster), the FCC-leaked device boasts a 6.1-inch touchscreen and built-in apps, along with a USB port for accessing content (and presumably, the data connection) on your iOS 4.1 devices. We imagine the hardware to be similar to the 6.1-inch AVIC-X930BT that Pioneer announced at CES , including Bluetooth connectivity, a microSD card slot, and GPS functionality, in addition to an AM/FM radio and single-disc CD player. iPhone connectivity really sets this receiver apart, along with the inclusion of additional apps, such as Pandora and iHeartRadio , with the possibility of adding more apps in the future as well. We’re incredibly skeptical about the device’s GUI having any basis on the mockup image above, but if graphics are anything like those on the models we saw at CES, we don’t expect to be disappointed either. Pioneer AppRadio brings apps, iPhone connectivity to your dash originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The biggest problem facing mankind? No, not really. But when the alien robot sentinels do eventually descend upon our puny green planet, you’ll be happy to know that your Galaxy S II smartphone will be able to get a GPS lock reliably and accurately. Samsung’s brand new flagship phone has unsurprisingly fixed whatever ailed the original Galaxy S in the satellite communications department and we’ve got the evidence for you just after the break. So click your clicking device on the clickable bit to see it. Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S II GPS — it works, it really works! (video) Samsung Galaxy S II GPS — it works, it really works! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s hard to believe that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Apple man Steve Jobs would get all giggly over a Granny Smith, and that’s for good reason: that apple’s about as phony as this tiny iPhone . According to a Russian security firm, however, Nikon’s Image Authentication Software would tell you otherwise. This rendering is one of a handful used to demonstrate a flaw in the camera maker’s image verification software. Programs like Nikon’s apply an encrypted signature to image files at the time they are captured, and overwrite those signatures when a file is altered, allowing for verification of a photograph’s integrity. According to ElcomSoft , the firm exposed a flaw in the system used by Nikon, as well as a similar program employed by Canon’s DSLRs, that allowed them to extract the signature from an unaltered photograph and apply it to phonies like the one above. According to the outfit, neither company has responded to its findings. For more funny fakes, including a shot of Mike Tyson rocking an Angry Birds tattoo, check out the source link below. Nikon Image Authentication Software validates Photoshop phonies originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 01:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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You may have written off MeeGo handsets after Nokia all but abandoned the OS — LG hasn’t. While the company doesn’t have any “definitive plans” to release a MeeGo smartphone commercially yet, LG is willing to show off some ports of MeeGo on multiple prototypes, including tablets and smartphones, at next month’s MeeGo conference in San Francisco. With any luck, LG will use the spotlight to announce its intentions, proper like, and make a MeeGo handset running Intel silicon a retail reality in 2011 . LG’s MeeGo smartphone and tablet prototypes to be demonstrated next month originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 01:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …You may have written off MeeGo handsets after Nokia all but abandoned the OS — LG hasn’t. While the company doesn’t have any “definitive plans” to release a MeeGo smartphone commercially yet, LG is willing to show off some ports of MeeGo on multiple prototypes, including tablets and smartphones, at next month’s MeeGo conference in San Francisco. With any luck, LG will use the spotlight to announce its intentions, proper like, and make a MeeGo handset running Intel silicon a retail reality in 2011 . LG’s MeeGo smartphone and tablet prototypes to be demonstrated next month originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 01:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Logitech’s ‘disappointing’ Q4 results not helped by poor Revue sales; will cut price to $249
April 28, 2011 No Comment
There wasn’t much good news for Logitech investors when the company revealed its results for the financial fourth quarter, as it fell far below targets for sales and revenue. Most of the blame went towards weak performance in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, but it also suffered from far lower than expected sales of the Google TV -powered Revue and its accessories, accounting for only $5 million in sales, down from $22 million the quarter before and short of its estimate of $18 million. Beyond fixing its issues overseas, CEO Gerald Quindlen still sees a future where internet connected TVs follow a similar path to smartphones and cited the next generation of Google TV as a major opportunity. Starting in May, the company will cut the price of the Revue to $249 (which is still at least $50 too high) and plans to ” re-accelerate ” its marketing at “the appropriate time” — probably sometime after Google I/O and the addition of the Android Market. As for that current hardware, both the Revue and the Sony Google TV products received unspecified “security updates” today, although Qriocity and Music Unlimited access remained offline on our Sony Internet TV unit. So let’s do the postmortem and guess what contributed to the low sales more: high prices , a half baked product or ads featuring a hairy-legged TV and Kevin Bacon ? Logitech’s ‘disappointing’ Q4 results not helped by poor Revue sales; will cut price to $249 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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To us, Prague will always be the Eastern European capital of roast duck, potato dumplings and tasty, cheap pilsner. But come 2015, the former Soviet Bloc city will also become home to the world’s most powerful laser , as part of the European Union’s Extreme Light Infrastructure project. According to plans released by the European Commission , the laser will produce peak power in the exawatt range (equivalent to one trillion megawatts). So, for a very small fraction of a second, the beam will generate one million times more power than the entire U.S. electric grid. Believe it or not, that’s plenty of time to conduct experiments that could reveal new cancer treatments and ways to deal with nuclear waste . Breakthroughs in either category would be incredible for the €700 million (about $1 billion) project, which also includes future plans to build two similar lasers, and a third that’s twice as powerful the Prague installation — roughly the same current draw as an HTC Thunderbolt . [ Image courtesy of Instructables ] Prague to host world’s most powerful laser originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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