Bacteria’s disciple improves upon technique, crafts N64 handheld capable of GoldenEye split-screen
April 6, 2011 No Comment
This isn’t the smallest portable Nintendo 64 we’ve seen, nor the most elegant , creative or complete — in fact, it’s pretty much a straight clone of Bacteria’s iNto64 , but with a spiffier paint job and one critical improvement. Yes, that is an extra controller port you see in the foreground of the image above, and if you click your way below, you will indeed be able to watch its creator engage in some wonderfully retro split-screen Mario Kart 64 and F-Zero GX races, not to mention the obligatory GoldenEye death match and a wee bit of Quake 2 . Ahhh, memories. [Thanks, Alon T.] Continue reading Bacteria’s disciple improves upon technique, crafts N64 handheld capable of GoldenEye split-screen Bacteria’s disciple improves upon technique, crafts N64 handheld capable of GoldenEye split-screen originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 10:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Samsung’s 3D TV experience is getting cheaper: two pairs of glasses packed in, $50 for extras
April 6, 2011 No Comment
As the battle between active and passive 3D glasses display technology heats up, Samsung has responded by announcing its cheapest pair of active shutter 3D glasses will cost $50 (previously $130) beginning May 1st. Additionally, all of its 3D-capable 2011 HDTVs will come with two pairs of glasses packed in, unless the purchase is eligible for the Megamind / Shrek starter kit that already comes with them. This move comes just as FPR-based displays from LG , Vizio , Toshiba and Philips hit the marketplace. LG specifically focused on the cost of glasses as a selling point over Samsung in recent ads that ran heavily throughout the NCAA Tournament (embedded after the break.) LG is charging $10 per pair for its RealD-compatible Theater 3D glasses while Vizio has pairs on its website for $29.99 or two for $44.99. The cheap pair of Samsung glasses is the SSG-3100GB model with replaceable battery pictured above and while it promises the new, lighter Silhouette-designed SSG-3700GR glasses will also get cheaper, no new price has yet been announced. A 62% price reduction is nothing to sneeze at, but it looks like customers will still need to buy into 3D — and that active glasses beat passive on picture quality and viewing angle like it says in the press release (after the break) — to spur sales of the new TVs. Continue reading Samsung’s 3D TV experience is getting cheaper: two pairs of glasses packed in, $50 for extras Samsung’s 3D TV experience is getting cheaper: two pairs of glasses packed in, $50 for extras originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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If you’ve been longing to use your EyeTV HD to sling content from your AirPlay -enabled iOS device to your designated Apple TV 2 setup, listen up. Elgato has pushed an updated version of the EyeTV iOS app (version 1.2.3) that enables Apple’s wireless streaming technology to play nicely with your ATV2 or third-party AirPlay device. Remember , the app costs $4.99, but wouldn’t you rather watch Seinfeld reruns on the living room 74-incher? Yeah, us too. Elgato updates EyeTV iOS app, does the AirPlay dance originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The question of what’s next for Blockbuster has been partially answered, now that Dish Network has announced its $320 million bid was enough to win a bankruptcy court auction for the rental giant’s remaining assets. After “certain adjustments” are made and the deal closes, it’s expected to cost just $228 million in cash but what exactly Dish plans to do with the 1,700 stores and innumerable copies of Little Fockers is unclear. Executive VP Tom Cullen stated in the press release (after the break) Dish looks forward to reestablishing “Blockbuster’s brand as a leader in video entertainment,” but in a world where Netflix, Redbox and iTunes exist that could be easier said than done. Continue reading Dish Network wins Blockbuster auction for $228 million in cash Dish Network wins Blockbuster auction for $228 million in cash originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Remember when we just about passed out from exhaustion following a rather short demo of Ubisoft’s nouveau laser tag setup? Well, judging from its appearance over at the FCC, it looks like the RFID-packing Battle Tag is ready to play. Unlike some of our more fruitful dives into the commission’s archives, this one doesn’t uncover a whole lot about the product that we didn’t already know. Internal photos show an RFID reader, used to communicate with amo packs for reloading, and a thorough examination of the game’s user manual revealed the accompanying software is compatible with Windows only. So, no, we won’t be exposing any big secrets here, but for laser tag aficionados, whoever they may be, today is a good day. A Battle Tag setup for two is now available via Ubisoft for $130. Ubisoft’s Battle Tag lands at the FCC, we’re already out of breath originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 06:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Today at 3:00pm EST Microsoft and Toyota are holding a little webcast and, while they’re staying mum on just what the topic of discussion will be, we’re hearing they’ve been having some heart-to-hearts about making dumb power grids a little smarter. The details naturally are yet to be unveiled, but we’re presuming it’ll be similar to what Microsoft and Ford have worked on for the Focus Electric , technology that enables the car to know when rates are cheapest and only charge up then, also providing detailed data on the car’s power consumption. The Tesla-powered RAV4 EV will be Toyota’s first pure electric vehicle, and while it surely won’t be as invigorating to drive as the similarly Tesla-powered Roadster , thanks to Microsoft maybe it’ll be a little smarter. It’ll certainly be cheaper. Microsoft and Toyota to partner on smarter charging systems for EVs? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 07:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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When HTC extended an invitation out way to come ” see what’s next ” on April 12th in London, plenty of you were already guessing that its long-rumored 1.2GHz Pyramid device would seize that opportunity to make its debut.Now Pocket-lint has apparently confirmed those inklings, with word from an insider affirming the new Android smartphone’s launch for that day and also adding that its retail name will be the HTC Sensation. HTC has already filed a claim to trademark that tandem of words, which lends an extra dash of credence to this revelation. Frankly, so long as all the mighty, EVO 3D -emulating specs we’ve been hearing about this device turn out to be true, we don’t care if HTC calls it the Watermelon. Actual availability in stores is said to be expected “in the coming months,” leaving a bit more waiting to be done whatever happens on April 12th. Ah well, they do say good things come to those who wait. HTC Pyramid to launch on April 12th under the name of HTC Sensation? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 06:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Isis NFC payment system gets its first market in Salt Lake City, Utah, launches in 2012
April 6, 2011 No Comment
Like 3D on high-end HDTVs, NFC-based payment systems seem set to invade our mobile lives whether we like them or not. Isis, a collaborative venture between AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and a bunch of banking big timers, has today announced the first market for its rollout of a contactless payment scheme, and it’s none other than Salt Lake City , Utah. That’ll surely raise eyebrows in locales that may consider themselves more tech-savvy, but we reckon starting off with a city of a smaller scale might be good for getting this “mobile wallet” system off the ground. And then there’s the added benefit of Isis snagging a deal to enable compatibility with the entire Utah Transit Authority footprint. If all plans are executed properly, that should mean that by summer 2012 the good people of SLC will be able to NFC their way around town with just their smartphone in hand, while also swiping it through checkouts like some form of highly advanced techno-humans. Continue reading Isis NFC payment system gets its first market in Salt Lake City, Utah, launches in 2012 Isis NFC payment system gets its first market in Salt Lake City, Utah, launches in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 04:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Apple granted patent for a ‘reduced size multi-pin connector,’ namedrops USB 3.0 and DisplayPort
April 6, 2011 No Comment
Apple has just collected the US Patent Office’s approval to add another to its vast hoard of patents . This one, numero 7,918,689 in the USPTO annals, describes a multi-pin male plug connector and a corresponding female receptacle, with the innovation being a reduction in size thanks to a single row of contacts. You can think of it as Apple’s next generation of 30-pin connectors, or rather the next generation as the company envisioned it back in late 2008, the date of filing for this document. Back then, while the age of the click wheel was still upon us, Apple wanted to transfer USB 3.0 and DisplayPort signals over its newfangled plug, aspirations that were codified in claim 11 of its patent. We may now be a solid 30 or so months removed from that doc hitting the Patent Office’s inbox, but the desire to have advanced data transfer tech integrated straight into the company’s proprietary connectors is unlikely to have withered. Would it be a stretch to expect Apple’s now working on a similar solution for the Thunderbolt interconnect — whose plug looks identical to the one used for DisplayPort — that is presently gracing its MacBook Pro line? Gallery: Apple patent: Reduced Size Multi-pin Male Plug Connector Apple granted patent for a ‘reduced size multi-pin connector,’ namedrops USB 3.0 and DisplayPort originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 03:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Our good friends over at PreCentral have just received a couple of juicy scoops, even for this time of the day. According to their proven tipster, what we’re looking at here is an upcoming webOS phone sans keyboard — a first for Rubinstein’s crew, as many of you might already know. While there’s not much detail to go with this pic, it appears that this here slate’s just slightly bigger than the Pre 3, and that the little spot above the screen could be either a front-facing camera or merely a proximity sensor. Following PreCentral’s logic, this could very well be the Stingray that showed up in the list of codenames back in November — the similarly sized Pre 3 is Mantaray, whereas the smaller Veer is Broadway, leaving Stingray and Windsor unclaimed. But of course, we wouldn’t place our bets just yet. Speaking of the Pre 3, the same tipster also sent in a spyshot of said phone connected to Verizon. While we already know that this slider packs both CDMA and GSM radios, this is actually the first prototype seen running on the former. Alas, the mysterious tipster is again keeping a tight lip about this leak. Picture after the break. Continue reading HP’s keyboard-less webOS phone and Verizon Pre 3 leaked? HP’s keyboard-less webOS phone and Verizon Pre 3 leaked? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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