Fossil Connected watch concept displays vital info from your Android or BlackBerry handset, looks great doing it
December 16, 2010 No Comment
Sure, companies haven’t had too much success with connected watches — remember SPOT ? But don’t lose hope! The Fossil Connected watch concept shows that at least somebody is still trying to bring wrist-based chronometers into the 21st century. This timepiece is designed to pair with your Android or BlackBerry handset via Bluetooth to display weather, caller ID info, text messages, so on and so forth. And unlike a lot of the watches we see in this space, it actually looks pretty damn good. It remains to be seen exactly when these will make it to market (currently the company is hashing out the concept and “showing them around Silicon Valley,” according to Robert Scoble), but when they do they should sell for around $200. Get a closer look after the break. Continue reading Fossil Connected watch concept displays vital info from your Android or BlackBerry handset, looks great doing it Fossil Connected watch concept displays vital info from your Android or BlackBerry handset, looks great doing it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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You probably already know this, but here at Engadget, we love our readers. And, whenever we get the chance, we love to give a little back. Today, we’re happy to have a brand new Computer Engineer Barbie to offer up to one random, lucky commenter. This Barbie has a new career and a new attitude to match it, and we think she’s pretty cool. All you’ll need to do to win her is to leave a comment below — after reading the rules, of course. Thanks to Mattel for providing us with the doll. The rules: Leave a comment below. Any comment will do. You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you’ll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you’ll be fine. Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad. Winners will be chosen randomly. Four winners will receive one Computer Engineer Barbie. If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Entries can be submitted until Wednesday, December 22, 2010, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck! Full rules can be found here. Engadget giveaway: win a Computer Engineer Barbie! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’re still a little ways away from completely disposable laptops that do everything in the cloud, but if all you want is a completely virtual game console connected to your TV, you can buy one right now. Eight years after the Phantom slowly got laughed off the face of the planet, the OnLive MicroConsole fulfills the same basic promise: it’s a box less than an inch tall that streams games from powerful remote servers. We already told you what to expect from the OnLive’s Game System, but now that we’ve given it our all, we can help you find the answer to the only remaining question: is it worth your funds? Gallery: OnLive Game System unboxing and hands-on Continue reading OnLive Game System review OnLive Game System review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Motorola ‘Stadia’ trademark application hints at device with gaming / fitness features
December 16, 2010 No Comment
It’s not exactly a ton to go on, but a trademark application recently filed by Motorola for the word “Stadia” has at least opened up a few interesting possibilities. While the (as yet nonexistent) device in question is seemingly phone-related given the goods and services Motorola is hoping to have covered, the application also specifically mentions a “game device in the nature of handheld units for playing electronic games for use with external display screen or monitor,” along with a number of fitness-related functions like heart rate, speed, and calorie monitoring. That latter bit is further backed up by a separate “Stadia” trademark application filed by Motorola back in November, which specifically covered “fitness monitoring devices.” What does it all mean? If we had to guess we’d say it’s some sort of fitness accessory designed for use with a phone (possibly with some game-like features). Unfortunately, guessing is about all we can do at the moment. Motorola ‘Stadia’ trademark application hints at device with gaming / fitness features originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Google Maps 5.0 hits Android, includes new 3D map view and offline Navigation
December 16, 2010 No Comment
Google’s never been afraid to “blow it out” with Google Maps, most famously with its inclusion of Navigation , which knocked the legs out from under a lot of the GPS device and navigation app market. Google Maps 5.0 for Android might seem similarly earth shattering, but it marks a significant change to the basic technology of Google Maps. Most importantly, Google is now using vector graphics for its maps, which are scalable and much lighter weight than the traditional stitched together images used in most Google Maps incarnations. The vectors also enable something else a whole lot sexier: a two finger swipe can “tilt” the map and now you’ve got a 3D view of the landscape. It’s not quite as flashy as Google Earth, but it looks a whole lot more useful. The other thing these low-bandwidth vector maps enables is offline caching of maps, specifically your most frequently visited locations, and entire trips that have been routed in Navigation, including potential reroutes. Anybody with an Android 1.6 or higher device can download 5.0 right now for free, but the 3D and offline features are 2.0+ only. Continue reading Google Maps 5.0 hits Android, includes new 3D map view and offline Navigation Google Maps 5.0 hits Android, includes new 3D map view and offline Navigation originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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When is a YouTube video not a YouTube video? Every so often, a promotion pops up on the site that thinks outside the box, so to speak. In honor of the Nexus S (i.e. the best Android phone out there until the next best Android phone comes out), Google’s re-teamed with Patrick Boivin and his ragtag group of tiny ninjas — previously seen showing real unboxing power on a Nexus One package . We don’t want to spoil the fun, so just click through and enjoy… and after all is said and done, keep an eye out for the nunchuks. Trust us. Unboxing Ninjas kick back the fourth wall for the Nexus S originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …First Think City electric vehicles delivered to Indiana government, Leslie Knope calls dibs on all of ‘em
December 16, 2010 No Comment
Headed to Pawnee, Indiana anytime soon? Don’t lie, it’s a place that survives in only two places: your mind, and NBC’s studios. The only “Pawnee” in proximity of the Prairie State lies in Illinois, but it’s cool, we can still pretend. After hearing that Think was planning to hawk its City electric vehicle in the Big Apple this year, it looks as if Indiana’s government will actually be first to acquire it. Fitting, though, given how Think’s primarily manufacturing facility is parked in Elkhart, IN. The first 15 City EVs — described by the company as “all-electric, zero-emission cars designed in Scandinavia for fleet applications and urban commuters” — have hit the ground running, delivered to the Department of Administration to be used principally by the Department of Natural Resources in the state’s park system. Naturally, Ron Swanson was at the ribbon-cutting ceremony with a mind to swipe one for his own personal use, but once he learned of Think’s plans to finally roll out retail distribution in select US cities in the second half of 2011, his conscience got the better of him. Phew. Continue reading First Think City electric vehicles delivered to Indiana government, Leslie Knope calls dibs on all of ‘em First Think City electric vehicles delivered to Indiana government, Leslie Knope calls dibs on all of ‘em originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Hewlett Packard files trademarks for Gyst, Myte, and Veer: new Palm models?
December 16, 2010 No Comment
Palm has never shied away from odd, short names for its devices — take the Zire , for instance — so when you hear that Palm’s new owner has filed for trademarks on “Gyst,” “Myte,” and “Veer” in the category that covers smartphones, it doesn’t take a very big leap of logic to believe that they’re intended for future Palm models. HP’s filings were all made on the 10th of this month, so they’re very fresh; of course, companies of all types regularly file trademarks that they don’t use either to throw off the Engadgets of the world or just in case they end up needing it down the road, so we wouldn’t take these to mean there’ll definitely be Veers on your carrier’s shelf in 2011. Our vote? We think Myte’s a great name for a tiny phone and we’ve heard rumors that they’ll be releasing a small model — possibly a Pixi successor — in the next few months, so that lines up rather nicely. Hewlett Packard files trademarks for Gyst, Myte, and Veer: new Palm models? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Android Skype update brings ability to run to SD, Galaxy S compatibility, but with a big catch
December 16, 2010 No Comment
Sick of seeing that little hard disk with an exclamation point popping up on your Android handset? Yeah, us too. Thankfully we can now count Skype among the apps that can be moved to external storage. This new release also adds compatibility with the Samsung Galaxy S — but there’s a catch. Android 2.2 is required, which many Galaxy S owners may or may not actually have yet and, while some are said to be getting a dollop of FroYo this very month , we’ve certainly heard that before . Android Skype update brings ability to run to SD, Galaxy S compatibility, but with a big catch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Mercedes electric SLS AMG E-Cell previewed: neck-snapping and retina-searing (video)
December 16, 2010 No Comment
If ever a post needed a sunglasses warning this one is it. Check out that paint job. It’s a pretty hot hue for a pretty hot car, the E-Cell , a Mercedes SLS AMG that has had its internal combustion assets stripped and replaced with not one, not two, but four electric motors. That’s one per wheel, naturally, and if you add them all up you get the equivalent of 528hp, a little short of the production car’s 563hp, but torque is up to 649ft/lbs from the stock car’s 479 — and being electric that’s all available from the start. Sadly, though, twisting force isn’t the only thing that’s swelled, with this car adding a whopping 880lbs to an already heft 3,571. According to Auto Express that’s had a decidedly negative effect on handling, but it does at least offer a quite respectable 125 mile range. No information yet on cost or when exactly Mercedes might put this thing into production, but earlier word was we won’t see it on the streets anytime before 2013. You’d better prepare yourself now by staring at the sun for a few minutes a day, and do yourself a favor: start squinting before you click “play” on the video below. Continue reading Mercedes electric SLS AMG E-Cell previewed: neck-snapping and retina-searing (video) Mercedes electric SLS AMG E-Cell previewed: neck-snapping and retina-searing (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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