We’re hearing rumors today that Microsoft’s already hardworking Mediaroom could be putting in overtime in the near future. According to ZDNet, not only is Microsoft working on a Mediaroom client for Windows Phone (aka Rome), but it’s also got a Silverlight-for-Mediaroom project (aka Taos) in the pipeline, with a possible Silverlight-for-Mediaroom STB (aka Santa Fe) also on the way. As if it didn’t already have a heavy workload, the platform is also up for a possible tie-in with Windows Media Center (aka Monaco). All this comes on the heels of chatter that the software giant is considering a new Xbox 360 TV service , incorporating Mediaroom, and news of a Silverlight SOC that could be worked into an STB like Santa Fe. All code names and acronyms aside, it looks like Microsoft is gearing up to give Apple and Google some serious internet TV competition, which means Mediaroom’s going to have say goodbye to happy hour and hello to some serious all-nighters. Mediaroom rumors could put Microsoft IPTV on the fast track to success originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Sony just mentioned on its official PlayStation blog that the PS3 is about to get a “minor” update, v3.56. With Sony about to host a press event in Tokyo , it would be nice if we were getting some new functionality for our update timeout, but apparently all it adds is a security patch ( just like 3.55 ), and for some reason we get the impression that this “security patch” is less about defense against baddies and more about trying to shore up the PS3 jailbreak that’s currently running rampant. Of course, there are some serious security concerns when it comes to jailbroken PS3s, like the fact that they allow some serious cheating in select multiplayer games, so a truly competent, non-user-hostile security patch wouldn’t be all bad. We guess we’ll see what we get when the update lands, presumably later today. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Sony about to issue PS3 update with ‘minor,’ mysterious security patch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 23:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Ah, the Facebook phone . Despite statements by the company that it is flat out not making a phone , the rumors persist, and not one but two separate stories have now cropped up on the same day that a mysterious “call” button has appeared on some folks’ Facebook pages. The first of those comes courtesy of BGR , which says it has heard from someone involved in a recent focus group that supposedly centered on a Facebook phone. As the story goes, the phone (which apparently wasn’t actually referred to as a “Facebook phone”) would have an always-on GPS service, no or very little local storage, a camera (with images stored in the cloud), a “news ticker-style message notification system” with all messages funneled into one “mass inbox” and, last but not least, some sort of location-aware coupon service that’s described as “Facebook Deals on steroids.” Joining that is a report from the London-based City A.M. financial newspaper, which says it has learned from unnamed sources that HTC will debut two Facebook-branded phones at Mobile World Congress next month. Details on those are otherwise expectedly light, but the paper says the phones will run a “tweaked version” of Android and sport Facebook’s colors — supposedly, Facebook’s Joe Hewitt and Matthew Papakipos (formerly of Firefox and Google, respectively) are largely responsible for the launch. Of course, the paper also says HTC is responsible for “Google’s Nexus range,” which doesn’t exactly help its case, and leads us to suspect that we may simply be dealing with one big game of telephone here. Facebook phone rumors resurface: cloud-based, HTC-built? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Deutsche Bank ditches BlackBerry for iPhone, Apple puts chink in RIM’s enterprise armor
January 27, 2011 No Comment
For years, suit-and-tie circles have bowed to BlackBerry as the king of corporate communication, but iOS has been creeping in on enterprise territory, calling into question RIM’s sovereignty in the boardroom. The folks at Deutsche Bank Equity Research struck the most recent blow to RIM’s enterprise dominance with the announcement that they’ll buck BlackBerry for iPhone, following a trial using Good Technology’s secure email app. The company tested the app in conjunction with Microsoft Exchange Server, delivering AES 192-encrypted email and calendar data to employees, and, according to the firm’s research analyst, the iPhone proved an easier and faster solution to BlackBerry. Last summer, AT&T announced that 40 percent of iPhone sales are enterprise , and we just reported on RIM’s possible move to devices beyond the BlackBerry. We’re not saying it’s off to the guillotine with the old standard bearer, but it definitely looks like there are new contenders for the enterprise crown. Deutsche Bank ditches BlackBerry for iPhone, Apple puts chink in RIM’s enterprise armor originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Mission R electric sportbike drops its fairings, shows us its billet birthday suit
January 27, 2011 No Comment
141 horses is a good amount of power for an average sized car. On a motorcycle that equates to one heck of a ride. That’s what the Mission Motors Mission R electric superbike is putting down in a package that’s the size of a 600cc road bike — the sort of bike that might match that rating but only when you ride it like you stole it. An electric bike, naturally, gives you all that power right from 0 RPM, and after first seeing it in the flesh back in December we’re now getting a glimpse under the fairing, at the trellis frame that bolts to the MissionEVT drivetrain ahead of the swingarm. There’s naturally a big hole ahead of that, where the battery slots. The aluminum plate you see is part of that, left in place here but normally yanked from the top with the rest of the cell pack. Lots more tech details like that on the other end of the source link, and a bunch more pictures over at Autoblog Green . As to when you can get one, sadly right now it’s just for racing. Mission R electric sportbike drops its fairings, shows us its billet birthday suit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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In front of the sculpted jaw and haunting eyes of this ridiculously-good-looking man, there is a phone . And it says: “Thanks for the cash, sucker.” Visualized: Giorgio Armani Galaxy S originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s practicality may be a bit questionable until folks actually start using Surfaces in their homes, but Amnesia Razorfish has now produced a rather unique way to share content between your smartphone and Microsoft’s would-be household device . The basic idea is fairly simple: just place your smartphone (or tablet) on the Surface, and then simply drag photos and other documents directly onto the device (where you can also, incidentally, preview them instantly). Exactly how that’s done isn’t clear, but the company says the so-called “Connect” system “utilizes a range of technologies including WiFi, Bluetooth, proximity detection, unique ID and phone accelerometer, depending on the type of phone and location.” Somewhat ironically, the system only works with iOS devices at the moment, but Amnesia Razorfish says it’s hard at work on bringing it to Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry as well. Head on past the break for the video. Continue reading Amnesia Razorfish Connect lets your smartphone share your Surface Amnesia Razorfish Connect lets your smartphone share your Surface originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Yep, it’s a sad tale, but HP’s run out of those glorious 1600 x 900-resolution, 350nit Radiance displays for its Envy 14 once and for all. As you may recall, they did come back in stock for a short time, but HP tells us that limited supply has dried up and that there are no plans right now to restock the inventory. In fact, a HP representative was pretty explicit in saying that the high-resolution panel won’t be returning to the 14.5-inch Envy. We’re sorry we don’t have better news for you or a fresh pack of tissues to help dry your tears, but hey, we guess there’s always the larger 17-inch model with its full 1080p panel. HP Envy 14 Radiance displays sold out… forever originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Sanjay Jha says multiple Motorola tablet sizes coming, hints at Atrix on other carriers
January 26, 2011 No Comment
Can’t say this is any surprise, but Sanjay Jha just confirmed on Motorola’s earnings call that he “sees good reason” to eventually release an entire family of tablets at “different multiple different display sizes and price points.” Specifically, Jha mentioned 7-inch tablets, and later said that consumer demographics like kids, teenagers, and “women” want different things from a tablet than enterprise and professional customers — which sounds suspiciously like Jha doesn’t think women want a single device for work and home, but we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, since he’s not always the smoothest speaker. As for the Atrix , Jha simply said that “you will see our diversity in the retail channel as well with other carriers in the US,” which certainly sounds like it’ll hit other carriers once the AT&T exclusivity runs out. How long that exclusivity is, we don’t know — but keep in mind that the Droid Bionic is very nearly the same phone, so there’s a chance a software update will bring that sweet docking action to the red side of the market in the future. And if not, we’re sure the hacking community will have it covered. Sanjay Jha says multiple Motorola tablet sizes coming, hints at Atrix on other carriers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Motorola Mobility reports robust growth in last quarter, but predicts difficult times ahead
January 26, 2011 No Comment
Yes, we are deep in Q4 2010 financial reporting season, and Motorola’s freshly independent Mobility arm is latest to step up and deliver its figures. Total revenue over the past three months reached $3.4 billion, marking a 21 percent increase year-on-year, net revenue from mobile devices was $2.4 billion, up by 33 percent year-on-year, and handset shipments were a seemingly healthy 4.9 million. That figure’s disappointed Wall Street estimates, however — the collective expectation, according to MarketWatch , was 5.2 million — and the net profit of $80 million is barely (for a company of this size) in the black. More doom and gloom is cast by Motorola itself, which is predicting a difficult first quarter of 2011 that will end with the company losing between 9 and 21 cents per share in net terms. Ah well, let’s try to enjoy the sunshine of Moto making money today and forget the rainclouds of tomorrow. Continue reading Motorola Mobility reports robust growth in last quarter, but predicts difficult times ahead Motorola Mobility reports robust growth in last quarter, but predicts difficult times ahead originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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