We’ve heard your cries, we’ve read your tips, and we’ve even suffered a similar fate ourselves… Skype downtime. According to the official Twitter feed, its engineers are working non-stop. Estimated time of recovery? Nein . Let us know if you’re having (Skype-related) issues of your own! Update: Looks like things are starting to return to normal, and Skype’s got a new blog post providing some background for today’s mishap. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Skype outage causing a global disconnect? (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s not exactly November , but those who pre-ordered early may still end up with a Lumix GH2 beneath their tree. The highly-anticipated GH1 followup — which was introduced back at Photokina — has officially begun to ship to end users in the US of A. The official order page shows a one to two week wait, but we’ve confirmed with Panny itself (as well as tipster Nate, the proud owner of the one above) that units are indeed trickling out as we speak. For those in need of a refresher, this Micro Four Thirds shooter packs a 16 megapixel sensor, 1080p movie mode, SDXC support and an ISO range from 160 to 12,800. Feel free to take a peek back at our hands-on from Germany , and make sure you cancel those holiday plans STAT — wouldn’t want this sitting on your doorstep for a solid week, now would you? [Thanks, Nate ] Panasonic’s Lumix GH2 now shipping in America originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’ve always had pleasant aural experiences with Westone earphones, and it’s not hard to hazard a guess that the outfit’s latest will also impress. The W4 is being hailed as the planet’s first four-driver universal fit earphone, boasting a foursome of balanced armature drivers, a three-way crossover and a self-proclaimed EPIC cable, which is supposedly able to “guard against microphones.” Further details are expected to be spilled at CES in just a couple of weeks, and they’ll be loosed on the public in early Q1 2011 for $449. Yeah, not exactly cheap, but nothing fit for an audiophile ever is. Continue reading Westone 4 earphones boast four drivers, on sale soon for $449 Westone 4 earphones boast four drivers, on sale soon for $449 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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So it’s safe to say that Google Wave didn’t really make one upon the tech world as a whole, but it certainly was a neat idea. While Wave itself now lives with the Apache Software Foundation , the core concept, easy and direct collaboration with anyone, has new life with Google Shared Spaces. The Wave gadgets have been given a standalone home here, the idea being that you create a Space, invite some people, and then do — well, whatever it is you need to do. It’s basically just a more task-focused version of Wave, and maybe that’s all the service really needed. Direction. Right now there are just shy of 50 such gadgets for you to try, but anyone with a little JavaScript know-how can whip up their own in a jiffy, though sadly there’s no interactive gadget-creation Space. Now that would be something. [Thanks, Hassan] Google Spaces shows us where Wave went originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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And in case you’re wondering, they’re ripping the Oppo logo. The worst name for a knockoff cellphone, ever originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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What’s better than using Skyfire on a 3.5-inch screen ? Using it on a 9.7-inch one, of course! After tinkering with the new iPad browser, we’ve noticed that it has the same feel as its iOS brother and Android cousin, with a modified look to it. Features like private browsing, mobile or desktop view and bookmarks remain present — and rest assured, the ability to watch Flash videos is still as easy as tapping a button. What’s perhaps the most salient addition in this rendition is the social network integration. When the app is opened, you’ll notice right away that it’s got eight buttons along the bottom, four of which are Facebook related. These buttons, referred to as “quick view” by the peeps at Skyfire, give you, well, a quick view of the button you’ve tapped. For example, when the Facebook button is pushed, you’re presented with a trimmed down version of the social network. The same goes with Twitter and Google Reader. The app also features Fireplace, which allows you to view specifically the links your Facebook friends have shared, and ‘Popular’, which shows all the related links your friends have shared based on what website the browser parked on, and of course a dedicated ‘Like’ button. The Share function lends you an easy way to share links via various popular networks. As for the browsing experience itself, the devs at Skyfire did a great job ironing out the kinks that we stumbled upon in the iPhone version. Pages render nicely and quickly, pinch-to-zoom works as well as it does on Safari, scrolling is buttery smooth and Flash videos play noticeably quicker in comparison to what we experienced on the iPhone. The app is sadly not available in the App Store just yet, but hang tight, it’s been submitted for approval and should hit virtual shelves soon. Update : Video’s now after the break! Continue reading Skyfire for iPad hands-on (video) Skyfire for iPad hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s not iPad nano watch money — seriously, what is? — but with hours to go before the final bell, USB sniffer OpenVizsla has exceeded its initial funding goal by more than 400 percent. That’s over $70,000 as of this writing, with about 510 backers including Stephen Fry, who was pretty vocal about his support (that must help). If you’ll recall, the project — from iPhone dev team and Twiizers virtuosos pytey and bushing — aims to make a cheap USB analyzer that can help decode proprietary devices, the popular anecdote being it’s the same concept used in the Kinect hack how-to . It’s not too late to pledge, of course, and doing so will get you some special goodies. Need more convincing? We’re gonna embed Alma the dog’s video debut after the break. Continue reading OpenVizsla USB sniffer meets its funding goal, and then some OpenVizsla USB sniffer meets its funding goal, and then some originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Quadrocopter plays the piano, wishes us a happy and complacent holiday (video)
December 22, 2010 No Comment
Our worst frienemies, the quadrocopters , have decided to act cute for the holidays and play us a merry little jingle. Yes, the guys and gals behind the Flying Machine Arena have put together an airborne robot sophisticated enough to lay down a few seasonal notes on a Yamaha electronic keyboard. And we’re still sitting around debating inconsequential topics like net neutrality — all of human civilization is at stake here, people! Be a good citizen and watch the video after the break to scout out any weak points to this most imminent threat to humanity’s survival. Continue reading Quadrocopter plays the piano, wishes us a happy and complacent holiday (video) Quadrocopter plays the piano, wishes us a happy and complacent holiday (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Dell lowers Streak price to $400, but will make you wait until January to get it
December 22, 2010 No Comment
Good news: Dell’s unlocked Streak has just plunged down the pricing charts with a neat $180 discount taking it to a palatable $400 level. Bad news: you won’t get yours shipped until the 10th of January, according to Round Rock’s web outlet. Android 2.2 won’t come preloaded, you’ll have to snag the OTA update , though you do get a wide palette of colors to choose from, including black, noir, nero, preto, and schwarz — pick wisely! [Thanks, Xelaenil] Dell lowers Streak price to $400, but will make you wait until January to get it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Congratulations, Panasonic , you’re now the adoptive father of two companies, Sanyo and Panasonic Electric Works. We know, the plan’s been all but confirmed since July , but it’s nice to see the deal go through and all the necessary paperwork signed. Both now-wholly-owned subsidiaries (through a share exchange that commenced today) are scheduled to be de-listed from the Tokyo Stock Exchange on March 29th, 2011, and after that… well, independence was fun while it lasted, eh chaps? Panasonic’s Sanyo and PEW buyout official: subsidiaries for life originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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