Ford launches SYNC Destinations, the free app for people who go places in cars
December 30, 2010 No Comment
Smartphone user? Regardless of platform you have no shortage of navigation options, and now Ford has added another way to get where you’re going — if you’re also an owner of a SYNC TDI -compatible car, anyway. Using the new SYNC Destinations app (available today for iOS and Android , with BlackBerry coming soon) you can more efficiently pre-plan your route. The app lets you pick a destination, view real-time traffic updates, even check out congestion predictions based on weather, time of day, and holidays. It’s a feature that would have been pretty handy last week when we were simultaneously dealing with a heck of a blizzard and a whole lot of people trying to flee their in-laws. The app will even suggest what time you should leave to avoid the most headaches, a potential boon for those desperately seeking any excuse to hit the road a little early. It is, however, just for planning, sending your route to the car and then disabling the phone’s display when you cross the magic 5mph threshold. It’s safer that way, after all. Full details are in the PR below and if you’re on the lucky two supported platforms with a suitably compatible car you can download today for free. Gallery: Ford SYNC Destinations Continue reading Ford launches SYNC Destinations, the free app for people who go places in cars Ford launches SYNC Destinations, the free app for people who go places in cars originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …The Caoon DSLR / MP3 player / speaker is both more and less than it seems (but mostly less)
December 30, 2010 No Comment
A DSLR / MP3 player / speaker for a mere $83? Well, two out of three ain’t bad. The Caoon DSLR / MP3 player / speaker is both more and less than it seems (but mostly less) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 23:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Sony files ITC complaint about LG, adds another patent infringement lawsuit to the stack
December 30, 2010 No Comment
Did the world’s tech giants just discover they have lawyers on retainer? That’s certainly how it seems, as company after company has decided ’tis the season to target the competition with patent infringement allegations. Sony, the latest, is aiming squarely at LG, claiming that the Korean manufacturer’s violating eight patents with its mobile devices — including the LG Fathom , Xenon , Neon , Remarq , Rumor 2 , Lotus Elite and VL600 LTE modem — claiming that these devices transmit variable-bandwidth audio streams, live-preview camera snapshots, hand off cellular calls and more in ways that infringe Sony’s intellectual property. Sony’s now filed both an ITC complaint in an attempt to ban new product shipments from the US, and a lawsuit in federal court that will no doubt seek monetary damages. Now, if recent history is any indication, LG will turn around and smack Sony with a patent stack of its own, and we’ll all go back to dreaming about LG devices we’d actually care to purchase . Sony files ITC complaint about LG, adds another patent infringement lawsuit to the stack originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 22:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The world’s first store for 3D printed goods just opened in Brussels, and while we imagine they’ve already got a fair selection of prototyped merchandise to choose, might we suggest they invest in a few production runs of this fabulous new flute? Amit Zoran of the MIT Media Lab — yes, the same soul who helped dream up a 3D food printer early this year — has now printed a fully-functional concert flute with a minimum of human intervention. Directing an Objet Connex500 3D printer (which can handle multiple materials at the same time) to spit out his CAD design, dollop by tiny dollop, in a single 15-hour run, he merely had to wash off support material, add springs, and assemble four printed pieces to finish the instrument up. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, of course, so how does it sound? Find out for yourself in the video below. Continue reading 3D printed concert flute rapidly prototypes sound (video) 3D printed concert flute rapidly prototypes sound (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s no secret that CES is the stage from which camera companies unleash more compact shooters than you can shake a tripod at — and preceding those come a glut of rumors, naturally. 4/3 Rumors has heard Olympus will unveil the XZ-1 (pictured), which boasts the LX5′s 10 megapixel sensor and a none-too-shabby 28-112mm f/1.8-2.5 lens. The site also heard that a few Panasonic model numbers that at this point really don’t tell too grand a story: DMC-S1 and S3, DMC-TS3, FH2, and FH5. Meanwhile at Sony Alpha Rumors , the eponymous company will reportedly launch a number of compact cameras (go figure) including a Cybershot DSC-HX1 successor, some new Bloggies , and new 2D and 3D video recorders… and though no Alpha and no NEX models will be on the show floor, the site is also suggesting the future NEX-7 and Alpha A77 models have 1080p60 AVCHD and a 0.1-second autofocus. Latter tidbit notwithstanding, we’d wager by mid-January everything else here will be either confirmed or forgotten. Olympus XZ-1 and other pre-CES camera rumors from Sony and Panasonic originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Hackers obtain PS3 private cryptography key due to epic programming fail? (video)
December 29, 2010 No Comment
The 27th annual Chaos Communication Conference already hacked encrypted GSM calls with a $15 cellphone , but there was a second surprise in store this morn — the souls who unlocked the Nintendo Wii’s homebrew potential (and defended it time and again ) claim to have broken into the PlayStation 3 as well. Last we left the black monolith, Sony had won a round, forcing the community to downgrade their firmware for any hope at hacking into the console. Well, the newly formed fail0verflow hacking squad says that won’t be a problem any longer, because they’ve found a way to get the PS3 to reveal its own private cryptography key — the magic password that could let the community sign its very own code. So far, the team hasn’t provided any proof that the deed’s been done, but they have provided quite an extensive explanation of how they managed the feat: apparently, Sony didn’t bother generating any random numbers to secure the blasted thing. (We don’t really know how it works, but we have it on good authority that dead cryptography professors are rapidly spinning in their graves.) The group intends to generate a proof-of-concept video tomorrow, and release the tools sometime next month, which they claim should eventually enable the installation of Linux on every PS3 ever sold. Catch the whole presentation after the break in video form, or skip to 33:00 for the good stuff. Continue reading Hackers obtain PS3 private cryptography key due to epic programming fail? (video) Hackers obtain PS3 private cryptography key due to epic programming fail? (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 19:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Wicked Audio’s 3D headphones aren’t what you think, border on unsightly
December 29, 2010 No Comment
Okay, so maybe “border” is being generous. Wicked Audio is well known for its — shall we say, vivacious — line of earbuds and headphones , but none compare to the outfit’s new 3D series of cans. Set to officially debut at CES next week, this line actually has embossed logos on each ear cup, enabling you to “feel” the graphics on the side. Hard to say who exactly this benefits, but for those who love raised artwork upside their noggins, we suppose it’s perfect. As for specs? Keep dreaming — all we know is that you’ll be choosing the least offensive design from the three above next month when they go on sale for $29.99 at FYE. Continue reading Wicked Audio’s 3D headphones aren’t what you think, border on unsightly Wicked Audio’s 3D headphones aren’t what you think, border on unsightly originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 19:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’ll openly admit we never knew what African Blackwood was until Gresso started applying the stuff to its line of extremely luxurious cellphone mods , but now we can’t imagine a new product from the Russian company without the 200-year old timber making an appearance. And sure enough, the Gresso iPad’s rear is composed almost entirely of Dalbergia melanoxylon , broken up only by the insertion of an 18-karat gold Apple logo. Strangely, in spite of its extravagant constituent materials, this design is a very restrained, dare we say, classy , affair. It goes on sale on New Year’s Eve at an unannounced price, but you know what they say: if you have to ask or you have to work for a living, you probably can’t afford it. Gresso classies up the iPad with 18k gold logo and ancient wood case originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Archos 28, 32, and 70 now available, do not combine to form mythical Archos 130
December 29, 2010 No Comment
Archos’ line of inexpensive (dare we say “cheap,” at times) Android tablets aren’t necessarily on your wishlist, but for the budget-conscious, they’re hard to beat. And now three new models are on sale, including the 2.8-inch Archos 28 , the 3.2-inch Archos 32 , and the 7-inch (of course) Archos 70 . The first two will put you back $99.99 and $149.99, respectively, while the biggun’ comes in both 8GB ($274.99) and 250GB ($349.99) options. What are you waiting for? Honeycomb ? You’re adorable. Archos 28, 32, and 70 now available, do not combine to form mythical Archos 130 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The famed Ben Heckendorn concocted the first Wii Laptop of note way back in 2007 , but ever since, the modding community at large has been toiling away on ways to improve it. ShockSlayer, a member over at Mod Retro, has accomplished just that, with his predictably titled Wii Laptop relying on a 7-inch LCD, an integrated sensor bar, a couple of polycases and inbuilt speakers. There’s hardly anything here that couldn’t be found at your local Radio Shack, save for the SunDriver — that particular product has enabled him to ditch the DVD drive and install a SATA HDD within. From there, he burned his Wii game discs and loaded ‘em all inside, making the whole thing extra mobile. Oh, and did we mention that it’s powered by rechargeable batteries? Because it is. Marvel at the completed device in the video after the break. Continue reading Wii Laptop mod ditches the disc, gets ultra portable (video) Wii Laptop mod ditches the disc, gets ultra portable (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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