Epix brings its thousands of movies to Google TV; apps for Android, Roku and Playbook on the way
April 27, 2011 No Comment
While some video providers are moving away from Google TV , Roku and the Playbook , and Netflix still has yet to officially release its movie streaming app on any Android devices, the Epix channel is going all in. Following its “Big on Any Screen” slogan, it will roll out apps on a slew of devices over the second quarter beyond its current Flash player . The Google TV portal is already up and running as seen above and apps are on the way for “Android tablets and phones from HTC, LG and Motorola” — we’ve pinged to see if this will be device exclusive but haven’t received a response yet — the BlackBerry Playbook, Samsung TVs and Blu-ray players and Roku streaming players. Not listed in the press release is anything iOS, but Epix confirmed it is working on an app that is waiting for Apple’s approval. Not familiar with the channel? It has over 3,000 movies from Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM plus original programs and live events that is available via your cable or satellite TV provider and launched with an HBO Go-style online component . Verizon FiOS is apparently on deck to help push the new apps, check out the rest of the details in the press release after the break. Continue reading Epix brings its thousands of movies to Google TV; apps for Android, Roku and Playbook on the way Epix brings its thousands of movies to Google TV; apps for Android, Roku and Playbook on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …TomTom user data sold to Danish police, used to determine ideal locations for speed traps
April 27, 2011 No Comment
We like it when the accumulated speed data from GPS devices helps us avoid traffic incidents and school zones. As it turns out, though, there are some other uses for the same stats. Danish news outlet AD is reporting that such data captured by TomTom navigation devices has been purchased by the country’s police force and is being used to determine where speed traps and cameras should be placed. TomTom was reportedly unaware its data was being used in such a way, but if the police would only agree to sell the data on the location of its speed cameras and traps back to TomTom, why, this could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. TomTom user data sold to Danish police, used to determine ideal locations for speed traps originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Meet Power Matt, Powermat’s new pun-based superhero ready to answer your tech questions
April 27, 2011 No Comment
The biggest problem with modern society? A lack of good super villains. Seriously, today’s superheroes are getting flabby from sitting around, twiddling their powerful thumbs. Look at poor Power Matt here — dude’s clearly been working out and doing his shopping at the Justice League department store. So what is he doing with his time? Foiling bank heists or intercepting speeding missiles? Nope. He’s Powermat ‘s new mascot, and he’s fielding questions about the inductive charging pad on the company’s Twitter account. Can someone please help the poor redheaded hero out and kidnap a world leader or something? Or at least steal their microUSB cable? Meet Power Matt, Powermat’s new pun-based superhero ready to answer your tech questions originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
This wouldn’t be the first time a company repackages old routers for the new year, but to be fair, there haven’t been many technological advances recently for them to do much else. Belkin happens to be one such company, which has just announced five N-series 802.11n WiFi routers ranging from $39.99 (N150 at up to 150Mbps) all the way up to $129.99 (N750 at up to 450Mbps with dual band and USB). Frankly, a quick glance at the specifications doesn’t show much of an improvement from last year’s models , and that “exclusive” MultiBeam range-extending technology seems to be just a fancy name for MIMO . Still, you gotta give it to Belkin’s designers for the new chassis design — we much prefer this rounded look to the previous boxes. You can now grab an N150, N300, or N600 DB in the shops, whereas the N450 and flagship N750 DB will be showing up in mid-May. See press release after the break for the full details. Continue reading Belkin repackages old wireless routers for its new N-series lineup Belkin repackages old wireless routers for its new N-series lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Apple confirms it’s working on a traffic service, moving away from Google Maps?
April 27, 2011 No Comment
It wasn’t the main thrust of its ” Q&A on Location Data ” this morning, but Apple did also make a bit of news while it tried to ease those privacy concerns about how it’s handling your data. The company says it “is now collecting anonymous traffic data to build a crowd-sourced traffic database,” and that it’s hoping to provide iPhone users with an “improved traffic service in the next couple of years.” It didn’t divulge much more than that, unfortunately, but that little detail lines up with some other navigation-related developments out of the company as of late. It acquired web mapping firm Poly9 last July (in addition to Google Maps rival Placebase in late 2009), and just last month a couple of job postings revealed that it was looking for folks to “radically improve” the iOS Maps experience. Add all those together and it’s starting to look an awful lot like a shift away from Google Maps in favor of an all-Apple solution — much like how the company relied on Skyhook until it could roll its own WiFi geolocation service. Apple confirms it’s working on a traffic service, moving away from Google Maps? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Nikon has stirred up the camera crowds once again with its newly released D5100 , filling the industry with the buzz of a new high-resolution articulating screen. In terms of consumer DSLR options, the D5100 has taken on the role of the mid-range model in Nikon’s product line between the D3100 and the D7000 and we think it assumes the part rather nicely. In terms of price, the D5100 fits right in as well, fetching an MSRP of $900 (vs. $700 and $1600, respectively for the two aforementioned camera kits). Of course, the D7000 lands you the better 18-105 f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR lens, a larger and brighter viewfinder, built-in focus motor, weather-proof sealing, and a few other internal upgrades. But don’t judge too quickly, because we’ve had some time to play with Nikon’s latest creation and the D5100 can certainly shoot along with the big boys of consumer cameras — read on past the break for our impressions and comparisons with the D7000. Gallery: Nikon D5100 impressions Continue reading Nikon D5100 impressions, head-to-head with D7000 Nikon D5100 impressions, head-to-head with D7000 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Walmart offers custom gaming PCs from iBuyPower, tube socks still only L or XL
April 27, 2011 No Comment
How’s this for unexpected: you can now pop over to Walmart.com and build yourself a custom gaming rig from iBuyPower . Systems start at $599 (though they’re currently on sale for $578), come in a choice of five different cases and can be equipped with up to 8GB of RAM and a 2TB hard drive. Both Intel and AMD fans will find CPUs to make them happy, including Core i5 and i7 K-series chips, which have unlocked multipliers for all you thrift-happy overclockers out there. You can also choose from nine different AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards, all the way up to a 1.5GB GeForce GTX480. You won’t find seriously heavy-duty hardware like Extreme Edition processors or three-way SLI setups, but you can pick up a pair of $3 flipflops to wear while you lounge around playing Portal 2 . [Thanks, Mark] Continue reading Walmart offers custom gaming PCs from iBuyPower, tube socks still only L or XL Walmart offers custom gaming PCs from iBuyPower, tube socks still only L or XL originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Windows 8 settings page suggests tablet compatibility, embraces Metro scrollbars (video)
April 27, 2011 No Comment
We’re still waiting for Microsoft to blow us away with its strategy for tablet domination but, thanks to the latest build of Windows 8 to drip through onto the internets, we have yet another indicator that the company’s hopes rely on that OS. Of course we already know that it’ll run on ARM processors, and now we have a look at a set of settings that have strong tablet implications. On display in the video below (and the picture above) are toggles for mobile broadband, Bluetooth, and GPS. Sure, laptops have those too, but here it’s all presented with a Metro flair that, frankly, looks like a real chore to manage with a mouse. (Just look at those scrollbars!) But, with a 16:9 screen and gesture swiping, maybe it’ll all come together. Meanwhile, WinRumors is reporting that there will be six separate flavors of Windows 8 and that tablets are actually quite far along, again pointing to a Q1 2012 release at the latest. Yes, we’re already looking forward to next year’s CES, aren’t you? Continue reading Windows 8 settings page suggests tablet compatibility, embraces Metro scrollbars (video) Windows 8 settings page suggests tablet compatibility, embraces Metro scrollbars (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 07:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Verizon’s LTE network takes the night off, leaves a bunch of Thunderbolt users bewildered
April 27, 2011 No Comment
Is your fancy new phone lacking that certain extra G that makes it special? Worry not, it’s not just your device, Verizon’s entire LTE network seems to be having problems as outages have been reported from across the US. We tested our own Thunderbolt in San Francisco this morning and it was indeed making do with only 3G connectivity. It’s important to note that Verizon’s 3G network seems to be ticking along quite alright, it’s just 4G service that’s down at the moment. Some folks have reported losing both 3G and 4G connectivity, but that’s owing to a documented issue with 3G provisioning on the Thunderbolt — we’ve noted the way to overcome that problem in a previous post . For now, just enjoy your regular-speed mobile internet until the super-fast stuff is fixed and back up. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Verizon’s LTE network takes the night off, leaves a bunch of Thunderbolt users bewildered originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 07:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …