Nintendo ‘moving away’ from insisting on 3D to play 3DS games, wants them all playable in 2D
March 24, 2011 No Comment
The Nintendo 3DS has a slider in its side. A slider that adjusts its namesake feature, three-dimensional imagery, up and down in intensity relative to the user’s preference. Now, although the 3DS’ screen doesn’t force glasses on you, it does demand that it be held just right in order to get the most out of the 3D effect and we can imagine plenty of people might neglect its extra dimension in favor of old-fashioned 2D (not to mention those who can’t tolerate the third D for health reasons). It’s encouraging, therefore, to hear that Nintendo has taken the stance that no game should require 3D as part of its gameplay mechanics. That’s the word from Hideki Konno, one of Nintendo’s veteran producers, who says the company wants all of its 3DS games to be playable in 2D, essentially reducing the 3D aspect to an aesthetic enhancement. Some might argue that’s underusing the portable’s hardware potential, but Nintendo has always been in the business of pleasing the mass market — there’s nothing preventing some daring developer from making a game entirely dependent on a three-dimensional perspective. Nintendo ‘moving away’ from insisting on 3D to play 3DS games, wants them all playable in 2D originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …NVIDIA’s dual-GPU GeForce GTX 590 emerges, can’t slay the Radeon HD 6990 titan
March 24, 2011 No Comment
1,024 total CUDA cores, 94 ROPs, and 3GB of GDDR5 RAM on board. Yup, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 is indeed a pair of GTX 580 chips spliced together, however power constraints have meant that each of those chips is running at a tamer pace that their single-card variant. The core clock speed is down to 607MHz, shaders are only doing 1.2GHz, and the memory clocks in at 3.4GHz. Still, there’s a ton of grunt under that oversized shroud and reviewers have put it to the test against AMD’s incumbent single-card performance leader, the Radeon HD 6990 . Just like the GTX 590, it sports a pair of AMD’s finest GPUs and costs a wallet-eviscerating $699. Alas, after much benchmarking, testing, and staring at extremely beautiful graphics, the conclusion was that AMD retains its title. But only just. And, as Tech Report points out, the GTX 590 has a remarkably quiet cooler for a heavy duty pixel pusher of its kind. Dive into the reviews below to learn more, or check the new card out on video after the break. Read – AnandTech Read – HardOCP Read – Tech Report Read – PC Perspective Read – Guru 3D Read – X-bit labs Read – Hot Hardware Read – techPowerUp! Read – TechSpot Continue reading NVIDIA’s dual-GPU GeForce GTX 590 emerges, can’t slay the Radeon HD 6990 titan NVIDIA’s dual-GPU GeForce GTX 590 emerges, can’t slay the Radeon HD 6990 titan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Whether it changed everything, made you think different, or was just a sideshow to the Windows centerpiece of your life, there’s no denying version X of Mac OS has been the most successful and enduring piece of software Apple has ever produced. It is turning 10 years old today, so we thought we’d spare a moment to say congratulations and to dust off an image of our favorite logo of the bunch. And who knows, with the next iteration being dubbed Lion and the lack of any more senior big cats available, maybe this will be the last big anniversary before Apple takes the leap into version 11. [Thanks, Robert ] Mac OS X turns X years old today originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 06:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Blio e-reading software still alive, will come preloaded on T-Mobile Android devices
March 24, 2011 No Comment
Remember Blio ? Yes, our memories of this colorful ebook-reading software are starting to fade too, but now T-Mobile’s about ready to yank it from the shadows of obscurity with a newly announced partnership. Content provider Baker & Taylor will be responsible for installing the Blio Android app on “select future products from T-Mobile USA” and populating it with compelling content. The Blio store has grown to now encompass a healthy three million titles, both free and paid, and should you have the Windows version of its software, you’ll get the sweet automation of having it sync with your mobile device as well. To get your reading started nice and early, jump past the break for the full press release. Continue reading Blio e-reading software still alive, will come preloaded on T-Mobile Android devices Blio e-reading software still alive, will come preloaded on T-Mobile Android devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 07:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Sony’s NXCAM HD is the NEX-FS100, brings Super 35mm sensor pricetag down to $5,850
March 24, 2011 No Comment
Sony may have discontinued the NEX-3 , but the future of those interchangeable E-mount lenses seems downright secure — after all, they’ll fit quite nicely on this new NEX-FS100. The NXCAM HD that Sony teased last November is what you’re gawking at right now, which is either the pro alternative to the NEX-VG10 or the far-more-affordable PMW-F3 , depending on whether you typically tote camcorders or tend to shoot professional film. Either way, $5,850 buys you a Super 35mm sensor that shoots 1080p60 content at up to 28Mbps to SD, Memory Stick (or an optional 128GB SSD) or output uncompressed 4:2:2 footage over HDMI, monitoring the lot on a swiveling 3.5-inch LCD display. The package doesn’t include the 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 lens pictured above — that’s an extra $700 on top of the price — but Sony will throw in that viewfinder tube and shotgun mic. While we all look forward to online availability and some thorough reviews, why not join us after the break for video? Then, scoot on over to F-Stop Academy for the very first footage shot with the unit. [Thanks, Nate W. ] Continue reading Sony’s NXCAM HD is the NEX-FS100, brings Super 35mm sensor pricetag down to $5,850 Sony’s NXCAM HD is the NEX-FS100, brings Super 35mm sensor pricetag down to $5,850 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Sony’s NXCAM HD is the NEX-FS100, brings Super 35mm sensor pricetag down to $5,850
March 24, 2011 No Comment
Sony may have discontinued the NEX-3 , but the future of those interchangeable E-mount lenses seems downright secure — after all, they’ll fit quite nicely on this new NEX-FS100. The NXCAM HD that Sony teased last November is what you’re gawking at right now, which is either the pro alternative to the NEX-VG10 or the far-more-affordable PMW-F3 , depending on whether you typically tote camcorders or tend to shoot professional film. Either way, $5,850 buys you a Super 35mm sensor that shoots 1080p60 content at up to 28Mbps to SD, Memory Stick (or an optional 128GB SSD) or output uncompressed 4:2:2 footage over HDMI, monitoring the lot on a swiveling 3.5-inch LCD display. The package doesn’t include the 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 lens pictured above — that’s an extra $700 on top of the price — but Sony will throw in that viewfinder tube and shotgun mic. While we all look forward to online availability and some thorough reviews, why not join us after the break for video? Then, scoot on over to F-Stop Academy for the very first footage shot with the unit. [Thanks, Nate W. ] Continue reading Sony’s NXCAM HD is the NEX-FS100, brings Super 35mm sensor pricetag down to $5,850 Sony’s NXCAM HD is the NEX-FS100, brings Super 35mm sensor pricetag down to $5,850 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Add another to your list of new HDTVs to keep an eye out for, as Sharp has announced its new LE830 series LCDs are shipping this month from its 10th generation plant . This lineup doesn’t include any slick 3D features or the size of its 70-inch behemoth from CES , but they are embued with Quattron quad pixel tech, 120Hz refresh rates, edge LED lighting and built in WiFi. The jury’s still out about whether the extra yellow pixel is a positive influence , but included wireless internet access is unfortunately still not a given for all new HDTVs and it will come in handy if you plan to use the included Netflix, Vudu and CinemaNow movie streaming apps. The line ranges in size from 40- to 60-inches, and the MSRPs are between $1,299 and $2,799. Check after the break for the rest of the details and price breakdown, plus a video of their CES presentation. Continue reading Sharp LE830 series HDTVs now shipping: edge-lit LED, WiFi, no 3D Sharp LE830 series HDTVs now shipping: edge-lit LED, WiFi, no 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Inkling signs with major publishers to bring 100 textbooks to iPad by 2012, no actual ink
March 24, 2011 No Comment
Inkling is a pretty cute name for a product, you have to admit, but by the end of the year it could be pretty serious business. It’s a company that specializes on publishing textbooks on the iPad , devices that are rapidly killing the poor paper industry. As of now the company’s products are few, but two major publishers, Pearson and McGraw-Hill, have signed on to support the service, a deal that will see Inkling’s product catalog swell by several orders of magnitude. Up to 100 books are expected to be there by the end of the year and, while that’s nothing compared to the massive variety of volumes that swell students’ backpacks and diminish their drinking funds at the beginning of every semester, it is a solid start. Best of all, Inkling’s current texts cost 35 percent less than their printed doppelgangers, meaning there’s hope for cheaper e-books after all. Inkling signs with major publishers to bring 100 textbooks to iPad by 2012, no actual ink originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Energy-efficient military uniforms to make solar-powered necktie so last season
March 24, 2011 No Comment
This definitely isn’t the first time we’ve heard of wearable solar cells , but a new development underway in the UK could certainly have a greater impact than, say, an iPod-charging denim jacket . By combining photovoltaic cells with thermoelectric devices , a team of researchers is working to create new, more efficient uniforms for British troops. The solar-powered outfits could cut the weight of traditional battery packs in half, allow for significantly longer military missions, and actually absorb energy across the electromagnetic spectrum, decreasing the possibility of detection by infrared technology. To ensure 24-hour power, the solar cells will collect energy in daylight, with thermoelectric devices taking on the task at night. A prototype is set for 2013, but we wonder how long it will take to hit the catwalk. Energy-efficient military uniforms to make solar-powered necktie so last season originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 03:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …HTC locks down Incredible S against custom ROMs too, starts a fight with its best friends
March 24, 2011 No Comment
The Thunderbolt , you might have noticed, marked an unpleasant change for HTC by making it a tiny bit difficult to replace the company’s own Android software with your favored community-sourced alternative. Well, turns out it’s not alone and could in fact be just be the tip of an unhappy iceberg heading our way. The AndIRC guys responsible for cracking it open have also noted with some distress that the Incredible S — likely to become the Droid Incredible 2 in the States — features a similar signature check when flashing recovery images. In short, that means any ROMs that don’t know HTC’s “open sesame” password, won’t be allowed to ride on your device. Bogus? Totally, dude. HTC locks down Incredible S against custom ROMs too, starts a fight with its best friends originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 03:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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