It hasn’t been all that long since France’s Evigroup upgraded its “Paddle” tablet the Paddle Pro , but it’s now already back with another model: the SmartPaddle. This one packs the same Atom N450 processor as before, along with an 11.6-inch capacitive screen, 2GB of RAM, a 64GB SSD, WiFI and 3G connectivity, and Windows 7 for an OS — plus a Microsoft Arc keyboard , apparently. You’ll also get the same head-tracking capabilities seen on the Paddle Pro, as well as a new 3D interface for Windows dubbed “Scale,” which promises to make things a bit more tablet-friendly. Head on past the break for a video, and look for the tablet itself to set you back a hefty €1,290 (or about $1,820). [Thanks, WMax] Continue reading Evigroup debuts Windows-based SmartPaddle tablet Evigroup debuts Windows-based SmartPaddle tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 23:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …MakerBot’s Interface Board Kit does PC-less 3D printing, turns your superhero fantasies into reality
March 30, 2011 No Comment
If you’re like us — that is to say, wildly popular and devastatingly good looking — then you’re probably wondering why someone hasn’t produced an action figure in your likeness yet. Well wonder no longer, for the folks over at MakerBot just announced yet another handy tool to make at home 3D printing even easier. An addition to the aptly titled Thing-O-Matic , the Gen 4 Interface Board Kit v1.1 is billed as a DIY interface that lets you operate your thingy printer without having to attach it to a PC. The kit comes equipped with an SD card slot for easy independent operation, and because the board’s fully hackable, you can use it to control your robots or homebrew CNC devices , too. It sports nine programmable buttons and an LCD screen for feedback, and allows you to set and read temperatures, view build progress, or start a new project stored on the SD card. So what are you waiting for? Your self-aggrandizing bobblehead isn’t going to make itself. MakerBot’s Interface Board Kit does PC-less 3D printing, turns your superhero fantasies into reality originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Kinect dives into anime cyberspace, dares you to catch cute robot tanks (video)
March 30, 2011 No Comment
If your foremost dream is to jack into a dystopian cyberpunk reality where hackers play with human brains (and you also happen to love Japanese anime), you’d best book your flight to Tokyo right now — a Shibuya department store has set up a basic cyberspace simulator straight out of Ghost in the Shell . That’s the film Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society , to be precise, which just got a stereoscopic 3D re-release in Japan this week, and in its honor creative services company Kayac set about constructing a high-quality Kinect hack . Microsoft’s depth camera tracks the lean of your body, while the honeyed virtual reality is projected onto a pair of nearby walls, and it’s your objective to slap the Tachikoma tank silly without falling over yourself. Get a peek at what it’s like to play with in the video above. Kinect dives into anime cyberspace, dares you to catch cute robot tanks (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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While we’d heard many networks were unhappy with Time Warner’s decision to release its live TV streaming iPad app and there have even been whispers of cease-and-desist letters in the offing, Fox has put a request to have its channels excluded in writing. At issue is whether or not their agreement allows Time Warner to provide the channel on devices other than the TV — while TWC is confident it does since it only works within the customer’s home, the networks would apparently like to renegotiate before conceding anything. Senior VP of Fox Networks Group Scott Grogin confirmed the letter was sent but did not reveal any details about its contents. Following the battle plan of its last battle with Fox , Time Warner Cable has preemptively put up a IWantMyTWCableTVApp site asking customers to show support for the TWCable TV app against the networks. We’ll wait to see who blinks first and remember that Dish is already slinging channels to tablets with wild abandon while Comcast and Cablevision have plans for similar implementations on the way. Fox asks Time Warner to stop streaming its channels to customers iPads originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Samsung reportedly installing keylogger software on laptops (update: official response)
March 30, 2011 No Comment
We’ll start by saying that we’ve reached out to Samsung for a response here, but as of now, no reply has been given — neither a confirmation nor a refusal of truth. Why bother mentioning that? If this here story proves true, Sammy could have a serious problem on its hands — a problem that’ll definitely start with a rash of negative PR, and a quandary that could very well end the outfit up in the courtroom . According to a report by Mohamed Hassan over at Network World , Samsung allegedly took the initiative to install a keylogger into his recently purchased R525 and R540 laptops. The app was noticed right away after a security scan on both systems, with StarLogger popping up with the c:windowsSL directory. Where things really get strange is on the support line; reportedly, a supervisor informed Mr. Hassan (after an earlier denial) that the company did indeed install the software at the factory in order to “monitor the performance of the machine and to find out how it is being used.” Unfortunately, it’s difficult to say if this is a widespread issue, or if the tale is entirely correct, but we get the feeling that Samsung will have little choice but to respond in some form or fashion here shortly. Naturally, we’ll keep you abreast of the situation — meanwhile, you may want to reconsider that hate-filled comment you’re about to bang out on your Samsung laptop, and instead, feast your eyes on the video just past the break. Update : Kudos to Samsung for hitting this head-on. An hour after we inquired for comment, a company spokesperson tossed over this official quote: “Samsung takes Mr. Hassan’s claims very seriously. After learning of the original post this morning on NetworkWorld.com, we launched an internal investigation into this issue. We will provide further information as soon as it is available.” Continue reading Samsung reportedly installing keylogger software on laptops (update: official response) Samsung reportedly installing keylogger software on laptops (update: official response) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Watch-controlled robo-tot grasps small objects, the meaning of life (video)
March 30, 2011 No Comment
It may seem like there’s an abundance of robot news lately, but we’re just trying to please our mechanical overlords deliver the latest in gadget and technology news. What we’ve got here is an Arduino -based robo-gripper that serves only to move around and use its 3D printed claws to grab tiny objects that we’d otherwise be too lazy to pick up ourselves. The robot, infused with a Texas Instruments CC1110 dev kit, is controlled using an accelerometer-based Chronos watch and can move in all directions by simply tilting the timepiece. If you want to take a gander at this little guy in action, check out the video past the break — it’s always warming to see humans having the upper hand against the machine. Continue reading Watch-controlled robo-tot grasps small objects, the meaning of life (video) Watch-controlled robo-tot grasps small objects, the meaning of life (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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As you’ll recall from yesterday, there was one small detail that stood out in Microsoft’s announcement of a new preview program for the Xbox 360 — namely, word that the latest system update would bring with it an “updated Xbox 360 disc format.” That naturally prompted plenty of speculation, and Eurogamer now says it has heard from a “highly placed development source” who has confirmed that the new disc format actually adds 1GB of storage space to Xbox 360 discs. As the site notes, the Xbox 360′s current disc format tops out at just 6.8GB, which still leaves some room to play around with on a standard dual-layer DVD. That would also explain the free copy of Halo: Reach that Microsoft is giving out to everyone accepted into the preview program — can’t really test a new disc format without some new discs now, can you? Microsoft’s ‘updated Xbox 360 disc format’ to add an extra gigabyte? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’ve heard a fair amount of rumors and speculation about the impending release of ASUS’ latest and, perhaps, craziest new slates, and now its giving us the real details — for the UK at least. The wildly unique Eee Pad Transformer , the first of its kind rocking Honeycomb, is up for pre-order now, with an official release date of April 6th and a price of
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Took ‘em long enough! Nearly a full year has elapsed between the time that Best Buy announced that its ‘ Connect ‘ program would support 4G and the time that it actually started stocked 4G gear. In fact, the company actually took the time to sign up for LightSquared’s wholesale LTE service a full week prior to making good on its commitment to Clearwire, which may or may not say anything about the future viability of WiMAX. At any rate, those who’d prefer to sift through mounds of peripherals (and be hounded at the exit by employees attempting to hawk product protection plans) in order to buy their 4G service can now do just that. BB Connect stores in the US will offer unlimited 4G service for $45 per month with a month-to-month or two-year contract, and if you choose the latter, the $35 activation fee will be waived and a hardware subsidy (“up to $150″) will be yours. So, you digging in, or feeling the tug of Long-Term Evolution? Continue reading Best Buy Connect takes the 4G leap, now stocking over 20 WiMAX products Best Buy Connect takes the 4G leap, now stocking over 20 WiMAX products originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We refuse to be surprised that the next Boxee Box update isn’t actually arriving by the end of March , but just to tide us over CEO Avner Ronen has picked up his blogging pen and revealed many of the changes on the way. As mentioned on that Australian podcast, the browser will be faster, as well as a new on-screen display for FF/RW controls, options for sorting local files and additional language support. A smiley face is reserved for the news that support for Boxee for iPad will be included, before moving on to a list of bugs that will be stamped out. Early access users should expect to see test builds rolling out shortly, with plans for major updated to the Boxee Box (and ” other Boxee based devices “) every three months or so so we should expect this one in May — no word on anything for the PC clients. Until then hit the source link for all the details or just relive our special CES hands-on time with Boxee for iPad in the gallery. Gallery: Boxee iPad app hands-on Boxee details next Box update with iPad support and more in May originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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