Yamaha VSP-1 ambient noise generator shields your voice, water cooler gossips
March 9, 2011 No Comment
It isn’t hard to picture the scenarios — banks, hospitals, pharmacies, etc. — where you need to spill out some private (and probably embarrassing) details in public, but on the other hand, it’s no good whispering in a noisy environment. The solution? Yamaha thinks adding more noise is the way forward. Announced earlier this month is the VSP-1 noise generator, which is essentially just a speaker box that masks conversations in your desired direction. With its eight specially tuned ambient noise recordings from the seaside, forest, or river, the VSP-1 managed to mask between 47 percent and 89 percent of the conversations in four Japanese pharmacies, and the customers on the other side of the sound wall even enjoyed the soothing sounds. Alas, Yamaha’s little box doesn’t come cheap — you’ll have to cough up a hefty
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We had a hint that Microsoft would be releasing the final version of Internet Explorer 9 on March 14th, and now the company has finally, officially confirmed it. That launch will coincide with a press event / party at SXSW, and downloads will be available starting at 9PM Pacific time (or midnight Eastern time). Wondering what’s in store? Then you can always check out our review of the beta version , or simply download it yourself, of course — suffice it to say, it’s no Internet Explorer 6 . Microsoft confirms Internet Explorer 9 will launch on March 14th originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Transportation secretary Ray LaHood: no restrictions (yet) on in-car information
March 9, 2011 No Comment
Worried that the fancy-schmancy SYNC system you just ordered up in your Mustang will soon be outlawed? Fret not, speed demon. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will reportedly not push for restrictions on handsfree phones or in-car technology until “the government conducts further research.” There are generally two prevailing trains of thought: one feels that any type of calling — be it handsfree or otherwise — is a terrible distraction to the driver, while the other feels that properly integrated technology is safe enough for use on the road. As the story goes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating whether systems like SYNC post a “cognitive distraction,” while some automakers suggest that motorists are going to goof off with their phone anyway — might as well make it as safe as possible for ‘em. Of course, things could change in short order once this so-called “research” gets finalized, but for now, feel free to request that your OnStar system read on to the next post. Your OnStar system can read Engadget, right? Transportation secretary Ray LaHood: no restrictions (yet) on in-car information originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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You’d think Leo Apotheker, HP’s newest CEO, would want to save a bit of thunder for his March 14th event . Instead, the man continues to unleash stentorian quotes with unabashed candor like today’s claim that “HP has lost its soul.” He’s also making bold proclamations about every HP PC being able to run WebOS and MIcrosoft Windows as an integrated experience in 2012 — a move the company hopes will create a “massive platform” to attract those all important developers. Apotheker’s strategy will reverse Mark Hurd’s cost-cutting emphasis with a renewed focus on product quality and innovation — the latter achieved by breaking down inter-company barriers that currently separate product groups and by boosting the R&D budget already pegged at $2.96 billion last year (a pittance by some measurements ). Click the source link below to read the Businessweek article in full if you’re interested in Leo’s issue with being the smartest person in the room and his attempts at Californication. Cool? Awesome. WebOS will be on ‘every HP PC’ shipping next year, says CEO originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 07:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Making fun of WiBro — the Korean moniker for what’s otherwise known as IEEE 802.16e mobile WiMAX — never gets old. Fortunately, Samsung just gave us another reason to “pose hard” with the announcement of the WiBro- and T-DMB -equipped Galaxy Tab now available from the Korean operator KT for 900,000KRW or just a bit more than $800. Otherwise, it’s pretty much the same 7-inch Android tablet that’s about to get an 8.9 inch big brother on March 22nd. Hey Sprint, you seeing this ? [Original image via ImSoGangsta.org ] Samsung Galaxy Tab goes WiBro, yo originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 05:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …CloudSight Search gives you instant, unified access to email and social networking archives
March 9, 2011 No Comment
Remember those thousands of folks who you suddenly lost contact with last week? Unfortunately for them, they’re still looking for years of Gmail records , but if they were proactive enough to initialize a Backupify account, they’d have their entire inbox (as well as their outbox, sent folder, and everything else) just a restore-click away. Backupify’s free backup services have worked well here at Engadget HQ, providing a level of assurance that our emails, tweets, photos and Facebook statuses aren’t going anywhere — even if an account is hacked. Now, the company’s taking the next logical step by introducing CloudSight Search. It’s hailed as the first searchable archive solution for social media and Google Apps, and it lets you type in a single search term / phrase in order to sift through your email accounts and social networking handles for any communications related to the aforesaid query. One search, multiple communication outlets. Of course, it only sifts through what’s archived, but given just how frequently the service backs things up, it’s pretty darn close to fetching in real-time. The only downside? There’s no mobile app, so it looks as if you’ll have to consult a legitimate browser to get your search on. Those interested in signing up for the private beta launch can do so in the source link, or if you’d rather learn more via video, the play button is just beneath the break. Continue reading CloudSight Search gives you instant, unified access to email and social networking archives CloudSight Search gives you instant, unified access to email and social networking archives originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 02:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Google brings Instant Previews to mobile, makes them seriously useful (video)
March 8, 2011 No Comment
We’ve never had a use for Google Instant Search on mobile, so we didn’t expect much when Google’s Instant Previews invaded the smartphone realm as well. You know what? They’re actually surprisingly useful. Instead of trying to cram additional information into Google’s already-crowded mobile website, Instant Previews adds a little magnifying glass next to most every result instead, and clicking on the magnifier brings up a series of cached thumbnails of each page that you can scroll through in portrait or landscape modes. It’s a very visual way of finding what you’re looking for, and more importantly, it’s quick even over 3G, saving time and mobile bandwidth that would otherwise be spent clicking through links one by one. Rather than decipher that long-winded explanation, though, why don’t you try it out for yourself or watch our video demonstration after the break? Continue reading Google brings Instant Previews to mobile, makes them seriously useful (video) Google brings Instant Previews to mobile, makes them seriously useful (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 23:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Intel brings vPro to Sandy Bridge CPUs, makes losing your work laptop slightly less painful
March 8, 2011 No Comment
Imagine, if you will, business travelers gallivanting across the globe with nary a care in the world — secure in the fact that should they lose their laptop by hook or by crook, they can disable it with a simple text message. Well, the dream is now a reality as Intel has put its third-gen vPro technology in Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 business chips, giving users the ability to lock down and reactivate a PC remotely via SMS. Not exactly a fresh idea , but nice to see it passed on to more modern chipsets. To further simplify the lives of IT professionals, the new version of vPro also has an encryption login requirement upon awakening from sleep mode, 1920 x 1200 resolution remote management, and host-based configuration to allow the set up of countless PCs at once. Of course, that assumes your employer’s willing to pony up for Chipzilla’s new gear — the economic downturn’s almost over, right? Intel brings vPro to Sandy Bridge CPUs, makes losing your work laptop slightly less painful originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The smart folks over at ComptonSoft are looking to provide GPS receiver to your mobile device in a rather unconventional way. TetherGPS links up your Android phone’s GPS to the Nook Color by means of WiFi — either on the same network or via a WiFi tether — because the Nook Color is lacking in the standard usable Bluetooth department. After connecting the two devices, it makes a second link by running a TGPS server on the phone and a TGPS client on the Nook. The two devices are then intertwined in a blissful, all-you-can-GPS buffet of routes and roads. For the most part, the Nook’s location-aware Android applications, such as Google Maps, will draw from this connection for location data and use it as if there were a GPS receiver on board. TetherGPS is up for grabs for $2.99 on the Android Market, and there’s also a free “Lite” version for those who only need GPS for five minutes at a time — we’ll assume you know who you are. [Thanks, Red] TetherGPS brings GPS navigation to Nook Color, in a manner of speaking originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Forget the tablet, 2011 is the year of the shower radio! Last week we reported on Toshiba’s wirelessly connected water-proof song box and, just as our nerves began to settle from the excitement, someone came along and dropped this eco-friendly, shower-ready gem on us. Not only is the H20 Shower Powered Radio waterproof, but it actually uses the water from your shower to pump out the jams. The thing connects directly to your shower hose, and uses the flow of water to set a micro-turbine spinning, thus charging an integral battery and eliminating the need for disposables. As the video below points out, the radio “doesn’t just offer 80s classics — it has the full spectrum of FM,” and its creators say it’s compatible with 99 percent of showers, but what we really want to know is: how well does it crank the Ke$ha? Video after the break. Continue reading H20 Shower Powered Radio blasts the Biebs by way of micro-turbine H20 Shower Powered Radio blasts the Biebs by way of micro-turbine originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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