We know, it’s shocking, but some people think that Apple might actually introduce some new home and mobile computers next year. Digitimes is reporting that MacBook Pro and iMac refreshes are coming, the latter specifically getting “a new panel size and a price point for the mainstream market.” That certainly screams “smaller” and “cheaper” to us, but don’t let us rain on your desktop-crushing, 55-inch all-in-one dreams. Regarding the MacBook Pro rumor, there are said to be four or more revised models coming with “a slight change in chassis design” and Mac OS X 10.7 Lion onboard. Both sets of revisions are said to be coming sometime in the first half of next year, which won’t be “next” for very long at all. New iMac and MacBook Pros coming in 2011? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 06:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Dell Venue Thunders into Korea this month with Android 2.2 and 4.1-inch Gorilla Glass screen
December 16, 2010 No Comment
Dell’s keeping up its usual habit of sneaking devices out with today’s announcement of the Dell Venue for launch in South Korea. Local carrier KT has revealed the details of this 4.1-inch Android 2.2 device (sans keyboard, unlike its WP7 cousin the Venue Pro ), which is set to arrive by the end of this month at a price of 700,000KRW ($606). Formerly known by its codename of Thunder , this has actually been one of the most hotly anticipated Android handsets of the year, though the only other information confirmed by KT so far is that it’ll have a curved Gorilla Glass screen. We’re sure a US launch can’t be far behind. Dell Venue Thunders into Korea this month with Android 2.2 and 4.1-inch Gorilla Glass screen originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 06:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Navigon’s MobileNavigator 1.7 update adds universal iPad integration, Retina Display support, and more
December 16, 2010 No Comment
We’ve maintained for quite some time that Navigon’s MobileNavigator app was leaps and bounds better than most of the similarly priced alternatives, and if you just so happen to already own it, you can look forward to a rather sizable update this morning. The newest build — which should be percolating through the iTunes tunnels as we speak — takes things to v1.7, and it essentially includes a half-dozen new features: universal iPad integration, Zagat Survey, Active Lane Assistant, Map Reporter, enhanced Retina Display support and new user notifications. Furthermore, the outfit’s announcing a series of free single-feature apps for the iPhone in 2011, with help2park launching today; as you might imagine, this one assists in finding a parking space nearby, and it’s being offered gratis. The outfit has alerted us that all MobileNavigator US MyRegion apps should see the update right about now, while the USA and North America versions will “follow soon.” Oh, and if you’re curious about those new add-ons, the Zagat will cost you $7.99 (it’s on sale at the moment for $5.99), Traffic Live will run $19.99 and the Panorama View 3D tacks on another $9.99. The full skinny is just after the break, per usual. Continue reading Navigon’s MobileNavigator 1.7 update adds universal iPad integration, Retina Display support, and more Navigon’s MobileNavigator 1.7 update adds universal iPad integration, Retina Display support, and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 06:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Google’s famous penchant for keeping things in beta doesn’t seem to have changed lately, as the company’s App Inventor for Android is still keeping its Greek lettering, but at least access has now been opened up for everyone to enjoy. The switch from private to public beta isn’t the most significant thing in the world — up until now you just had to ask for an invite to get one — but we’re sure amateur Android coders and experimenters will appreciate not having to go through that extra step. The App Inventor’s sitting in Google Labs right this minute, waiting for you to magic up (no coding skills required!) a finely crafted solution to modern living of your own. Hit the source link to get your mouse pointer dirty. Google App Inventor opens up access to everyone, clings on to beta tag originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 05:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Bing 2.0 brings better Facebook integration and the impressive Streetside to iPhone (video)
December 16, 2010 No Comment
Microsoft just released — or should we say, Apple just approved — version 2.0 of the Bing search app for iOS devices. In addition to several other new features including integrated Facebook Likes on search results (really!?) and in-app checkins to Facebook and Foursquare, Bing now comes packing Streetside, something that first blew us away as Street Slide when it was still in the labs at Microsoft Research. Unlike Google’s Streetview that requires a lot of forward- and back-clicking and turning in order to get a feel for a location, Streetslide provides a more comprehensive view of the shops and businesses in an area by letting you strafe down the sidewalk while zooming in and out of the buildings located on each side of the street. We took it for a brief spin (literally) and came away impressed. You won’t find Streetside implemented for all locations yet (for example, San Francisco’s Make-out Room was found on Streetside but the Slanted Door restaurant wasn’t) but they do seem to have large swaths of major cities covered based on our brief testing of Chicago, Seattle, New York, and San Francisco. Sorry, nothing yet in London and Amsterdam but maybe you’ll have better success searching your own neighborhoods. See the full list of what’s new after the break in addition to a Streetside demo from Bing’s architect “Blaze.” Unfortunately, we’re not seeing the impressive Panaroma feature he mentions in this release. Continue reading Bing 2.0 brings better Facebook integration and the impressive Streetside to iPhone (video) Bing 2.0 brings better Facebook integration and the impressive Streetside to iPhone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 05:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
While the controversial (and deadly) use of combat drones certainly shows no signs of abatement, the Air Force has announced that a recent purchase of 268 Predators will be its last. The vehicles, manufactured by General Atomics, should be in the hands of the military by early next year. For its part, the USAF will apparently switch to purchasing Reaper drones — which can carry a wide variety of armaments, including Sidewinder or Hellfire missiles and laser-guided bombs. We just hope that they aren’t using the unencrypted video feeds that made Predators so easy to monitor. USAF to receive the last of its Predator drones in early 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 02:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Looking for a bit more integration than your usual iPhone car dock or FM transmitter can provide? Then you might want to consider Oxygen Audio’s new O’Car head unit, which packs a swiveling iPhone dock that’s considerably discreet than some other similar units out there. It’s also, of course, a full-fledged car radio, and it packs a 4x55W amp that Oxygen says delivers “perfect quality sound” to your car’s speakers. If that’s all a bit too much for you, however, Oxygen has also announced the decidedly more standard-looking O’Dock unit that simply mounts on your dash or windshield — check it out after the break. Unfortunately, there’s still no word on pricing or availability for either unit, but we’re assuming those details will be made available at CES next month. Continue reading Oxygen Audio debuts O’Car, O’Dock iPhone car docking accessories Oxygen Audio debuts O’Car, O’Dock iPhone car docking accessories originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 01:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Iconic Stand for your iPhone can put any logo to good, unauthorized use
December 16, 2010 No Comment
Iconic Stand is seemingly still a concept, but an interesting one for sure. Korean-designed iPhone stands, they’re made of birch and have a serious natural feel to them. The makers have seen fit to design the stands with various famous logos for properties such as Twitter, Facebook, and Blogger built right into them. And while a nice little iPhone stand (which will apparently hold your phone whether it’s nude or Bumper-wearing) with an iconic logo on it sounds pretty neat to us, we can’t imagine these are actually… you know… licensed. Another example is after the break, hit up the source for a plethora of images. Continue reading Iconic Stand for your iPhone can put any logo to good, unauthorized use Iconic Stand for your iPhone can put any logo to good, unauthorized use originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Gesture-controlled robot arm enables civilization’s most meta high five
December 16, 2010 No Comment
This video, criminally, doesn’t actually show any high fives, but we’re sure the students at the University of Tsukuba have sustained endless LOLs over the past few months, pushing their gesture-driven robot arm system to the limits of human-robot high five interaction. The system itself is relatively simple: it uses two cameras to track a hand’s movements, including specific finger gestures, which are then processed and translated into robotic movement in real time. The end result is basically the world’s most elaborate claw machine game, as demonstrated above. Gesture-controlled robot arm enables civilization’s most meta high five originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 23:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
If you’re in the market for a new Rock Band axe, it looks like you’ll be heading to Best Buy very, very soon. That’s right, the Rock Band 3 Squier Stratocaster is seemingly a BB exclusive . The $280 peripheral, which requires the MIDI PRO-Adapter to function, will hit shelves on March 1st . Until then, we’ll just have to be happy with the Mustang Pro . Best Buy nabs exclusive Rock Band 3 Squier Stratocaster originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …