Sep/100
Why did Apple take Facebook Connect out of Ping?
Apple certainly took its sweet time releasing iTunes 10 yesterday, and we’re beginning to think it’s because the company was making a last-second change to its new Ping social-network-for-music: the removal of Facebook Connect for finding friends. Seriously — although an option to find friends via Facebook was conspicuously present during Steve’s keynote demos, it’s not there anymore. Oddly, the option was there at the very beginning — several Engadget staffers definitely saw a Facebook button when they signed up for Ping last night, and there’s a whole thread on Apple’s support site of people who also saw it and are now wondering where it’s gone.
Just to make things even more confusing, Kara Swisher at All Things D got two very different statements from Steve Jobs and Phil Schiller at the event yesterday: Schiller was enthusiastic about finding friends via Facebook, while Jobs said Zuckerberg and co. were demanding “onerous terms” that Apple refused. We’re assuming Jobs was talking about something deeper than just finding friends via Connect, but it’s still all very strange — and as it stands, finding friends on Ping right now requires a fair bit of guesswork and searching, so we’re hoping this all gets sorted soon. Check the video of Phil Schiller talking about Facebook and Ping after the break, as well as a snap of it (sort of) working from last night.
Update: We can’t confirm this, but we’ve just gotten a tip saying the problem is primarily on Facebook’s end — the service is currently denying requests from Ping, and the resulting errors apparently caused enough other problems for Apple to pull the plug on the connection entirely until it’s fixed. That certainly would explain why Ping has seemed buggy and slow from the outset, but we’re still waiting for some official explanation of what’s going on.
Continue reading Why did Apple take Facebook Connect out of Ping?
Why did Apple take Facebook Connect out of Ping? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug/100
Samsung Fascinate ready for Best Buy in-store pre-order ahead of rumored September 9 launch
Verizon can’t be feeling too hot about being the straggler to the Galaxy S party, but the wait seems to be almost at an end. Best Buy’s just started taking in-store pre-orders for the Fascinate, while the latest internal document leak from VZW indicates a specific September 9 launch for the 4-inch Android handset. That’s when you should be able to snap the Fascinate up along with a prepaid data plan from Big Red, which fits in nicely with earlier unsanctioned disclosures on the matter. Either way, Samsung’s quest to conquer all networks with its Super Gorilla phone will be coming to a victorious end pretty soon.
[Thanks, Brian G.]
Samsung Fascinate ready for Best Buy in-store pre-order ahead of rumored September 9 launch originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug/100
SNAP for iOS gives you The Power… to appraise your Facebook privacy
Continue reading SNAP for iOS gives you The Power… to appraise your Facebook privacy
SNAP for iOS gives you The Power… to appraise your Facebook privacy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jul/100
Verizon FiveSpot CDMA / GSM mobile WiFi hotspot leaks out
Looks like Verizon’s about to take its mobile data game worldwide — we just got this snap of the “FiveSpot,” a “global ready” mobile WiFi hotspot . That certainly sounds like a hybrid CDMA / UMTS mobile hotspot to us, which makes sense — Verizon already sells a bunch of world phones with dual CDMA and GSM radios, so a globetrotting riff on the MiFi fits right in. Based on the name, we’d guess this supports five simultaneous users, but that’s a guess. No idea when this will hit or how much it might cost, but we’ll keep our eyes open — check the box shot after the break.
[Thanks, RWN]
Continue reading Verizon FiveSpot CDMA / GSM mobile WiFi hotspot leaks out
Verizon FiveSpot CDMA / GSM mobile WiFi hotspot leaks out originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jun/100
VidaBox adds tablet control for its Media Center PCs, iPad is first in line
Tablet control for HTPCs is nothing new to VidaBox, but with users quickly buying up tablets of their own it’s switched focus from the proprietary vPad and $2,600 TouchClient to wider compatibility through web apps. This iPad control interface demonstrated at the Asian Pacific CEDIA Expo, lets users browse and control their Media Center PC’s videos and music with cover art and related information right in the palm of their hands. Built on the company’s vAutomation 2.0 platform the software can control other connected devices including lights and cable boxes, while integration with online sources like Rhapsody and Pandora is also in the works. The iPad version is scheduled to make it to dealers and integrators in Q3 and its web based roots should make Android or other platform support a snap, though you will need to own one of the company’s systems to take advantage.
Continue reading VidaBox adds tablet control for its Media Center PCs, iPad is first in line
VidaBox adds tablet control for its Media Center PCs, iPad is first in line originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jun/100
Google Voice now open to the public
Tired of waiting for the invite that’ll never arrive? Not so eager to snap up an Android phone just to automatically get ushered into the party? Good news: Google Voice is now open to the public at large, enabling everyone who wishes to get a single number to ring all of their phones, have voicemail that acts more like email and send / receive free calls and texts within the US and Canada. Currently, Google has over a million active Voice users, and we suspect that figure will skyrocket after today. If you’ve been ignoring this hoopla until the invite barrier was crushed, feel free to hop on past the break for a video demonstration of what’s on offer. Then hit that source link to sign up. Happy calling… callers.
Continue reading Google Voice now open to the public
Google Voice now open to the public originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jun/100
Google Voice now open to the American public
Tired of waiting for the invite that’ll never arrive? Not so eager to snap up an Android phone just to automatically get ushered into the party? Good news: Google Voice is now open to the US public at large (sorry, everyone else!), enabling everyone who wishes to get a single number to ring all of their phones, have voicemail that acts more like email and send / receive free calls and texts within the US. Currently, Google has over a million active Voice users, and we suspect that figure will skyrocket after today. If you’ve been ignoring this hoopla until the invite barrier was crushed, feel free to hop on past the break for a video demonstration of what’s on offer. Then hit that source link to sign up. Happy calling… callers.
Continue reading Google Voice now open to the American public
Google Voice now open to the American public originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jun/100
Amazon’s Kindle conveniently falls to $189, Nook looks stunned and bitter
Oh, snap! Merely hours after Barnes & Noble came out swinging with a $149 WiFi-only version of its Nook and a price-reduced $199 3G Nook, along comes Amazon to rip a massive hole in B&N’s billowing sails. As of this very moment, the $259 Kindle 2 — complete with global 3G and the 6-ink E Ink display you’ve come to know and love (or hate) — is now the $189 Kindle 2. Oh, and there’s also free 2-day shipping. Looks like the undercutter just got undercut, huh?
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Amazon’s Kindle conveniently falls to $189, Nook looks stunned and bitter originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jun/100
GestureTek intros 42-inch multitouch GestTable, your HDTV suddenly turns jealous
Still looking to snap up your own Surface? Ain’t got the cheddar to buy that one that comes free with a yacht? In all honesty, we’re in no position to make promises about the affordability of this one, but GestureTek is gearing up to offer the world yet another option with the curiously titled GestTable. This 42-inch beast of a table contains a multitouch LCD with a lovely 1080p resolution, which means that you could theoretically watch the next installation of the Batman series on the same surface that’s holding your cup of joe. Not that we’d recommend that, but hey…. In related news, the company is introducing the new 70-inch GestDisplay, a massive freestanding multitouch panel aimed primarily at businesses looking to give prospective customers a way to interact with the wares they’re about to inevitably buy. As we alluded to earlier, there’s nary a mention of price, but feel free to dip into the nitty-gritty just past the break.
Continue reading GestureTek intros 42-inch multitouch GestTable, your HDTV suddenly turns jealous
GestureTek intros 42-inch multitouch GestTable, your HDTV suddenly turns jealous originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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May/100
TI-Nspire graphing calculator gets a new touchpad, nerds swoon world o’er
Continue reading TI-Nspire graphing calculator gets a new touchpad, nerds swoon world o’er
TI-Nspire graphing calculator gets a new touchpad, nerds swoon world o’er originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 22:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apr/100
Massive, solar powered bird is overseeing Coachella, pretty stoked about its chance to see Phoenix
This massive structure will greet you this weekend if you’re headed to the Coachella music festival. It’s a 45-foot tall solar-powered crane (the bird), and it boasts multicolored LEDs for what will surely be an awe-inspiring night. The huge art installation has a wingspan of 150 feet and weighs about 35,000 pounds. The photovoltaic-powered birdie was designed by Crimson Collective, and it’s just another reason we’re regretting our decision not to head out west for the festival. If you’re lucky enough to be at Coachella, be sure to snap some closeups of the origami-styled crane hanging out with Steve Malkmus for us, okay? Hit the source link for a bunch of other photos.
Massive, solar powered bird is overseeing Coachella, pretty stoked about its chance to see Phoenix originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Feb/100
AT&T selects LTE equipment suppliers, ‘commercial deployment’ planned for 2011
Aw, snap. We knew good and well that the iPhone’s exclusive home in America (cue groans) was planning to hopscotch right around HSPA+ and move straight to LTE, but it’s always good to see a little confirmation from the carrier, you know? AT&T has today confessed to selecting its two LTE suppliers (Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson), and better still, that it will begin its LTE rollout in 2011. As expected, field trials are slated to get going later this year, and for those of you concerned about the outfit’s (admittedly lacking) 3G network, we’re hearing positive things on that front as well. Purportedly, 3G equipment delivered to AT&T by the suppliers starting this year will be “easily convertible to LTE,” and Ma Bell has assured us that it “plans to make the nation’s fastest 3G network even faster in advance of LTE networks and devices scaling.” Shame that whole “plans” thing can change without notice, but we won’t jump to any conclusions just yet.
AT&T selects LTE equipment suppliers, ‘commercial deployment’ planned for 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Feb/100
DIY photog creates laser trigger for remote DSLR snapping
There’s just no two ways about it: the integrated self-timer is easily one of the most amazing technologies to ever be invented. Yeah, we said it. Unfortunately, beeping for ten seconds while a shooter races to get in position isn’t always ideal or fun, and that’s where isharq comes in. His Arduino-based mod is amongst the most flexible out there for DSLRs, enabling it to morph from a basic laser trigger hack to something that senses heat, movement or sound (just to name a few) and then makes your camera react accordingly. As it stands, his setup triggers his DSLR to snap a shot whenever a laser beam is broken, and if you’re eager to see more, be sure to peek the in-action video just past the break. Oh, and the source link holds all the secrets to recreating something like this in your own laboratory.
[Thanks, Simon]
Continue reading DIY photog creates laser trigger for remote DSLR snapping
DIY photog creates laser trigger for remote DSLR snapping originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Dec/090
ASUS Eee PC 1201N dons burgundy garb, you still can’t have one
Say hello to the little friend you already know and want, this time dressed in a more extrovert red attire. We don’t yet know whether this 1201N variant will be finding retail shelves or if it’s just a pretty prototype, but that doesn’t make too much difference at this point. With the classical black model still only available on a pre-order basis (with a mid-January landing date) the closest you’ll be getting to ASUS’ Ion-powered 12-incher is glamor shots like these. Well, either that or a forthcoming Engadget review, both are good. See one more snap of the burgundy bruiser after the break.
Continue reading ASUS Eee PC 1201N dons burgundy garb, you still can’t have one
ASUS Eee PC 1201N dons burgundy garb, you still can’t have one originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nov/090
iBuyPower ships Core i7-powered Battalion 101 W870CU gaming laptop
You could certainly argue that many of today’s gaming laptops are fungible, but if you’re scouting a new beast with a Core i7 within and plenty of customizable options, iBuyPower has one of the few available today. The outfit has just launched its Battalion 101 W870CU, a 17.3-inch behemoth with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution LCD, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 GPU, up to 500GB of hard drive space, an optional Blu-ray drive, built-in 7-in-1 card reader, gigabit Ethernet, WiFi and Windows 7 Home Premium. It’s up for order as we speak, but you’ll be coughing up at least $2,505 for the privilege. Or, you know, you could just snap up ASUS’ Core i7-equipped G51J, which retails for just $1,499…
iBuyPower ships Core i7-powered Battalion 101 W870CU gaming laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nov/090
Rejoice! BlackBerry support arrives on Celio REDFLY
We heard it’d be here in mid-Q4, and sure enough, it’s here. And by “it,” we mean “BlackBerry support for Celio’s largely unwanted REDFLY Mobile Companion.” Starting today, those looking for the Foleo’s long lost cousin can snap up a REDFLY and download a free driver that adds compatibility for RIM’s BlackBerry Bold 9000, Curve 8900 and Tour 9630. Granted, it’s not like the BlackBerry web browser will be any less painful to use on an enlarged screen, but hey, whatever suits your fancy.
[Via TestFreaks, thanks Nirckolas]
Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops
Rejoice! BlackBerry support arrives on Celio REDFLY originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nov/090
Lenovo’s rumored ThinkPad X200e gets two more spy spots, another shot of believability
Aw, snap. We’ll be frank — we didn’t have too much hope that the supposedly leaked ThinkPad we spotted over the weekend was a legitimate product, but now that the evidence is mounting, we’re finding it difficult to contain our excitement. Two new spy shots of the purported ThinkPad x200e (or ThinkPad x100e) have emerged over in China, and we’re being told that Lenovo’s not going out of its way to deny their genuineness. Are we really looking at a ThinkPad netbook? And will the Earth really continue to spin if Lenovo deviates from the tried-and-true ThinkPad design that has held things in balance for so long? Color us disquieted.
[Via Cloned In China]
Filed under: Laptops
Lenovo’s rumored ThinkPad X200e gets two more spy spots, another shot of believability originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Oct/090
GM to offer $500 Autonet Mobile WiFi option in select vehicles
First came Cadillac (naturally), and now some of General Motors‘ other remaining brands are finally scratching the WiFi itch. Beginning next month, Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Chevrolet dealers will all begin offering up Autonet Mobile’s $499 WiFi router as a dealer-installed option, though it’s on you to pony up the $29 (or more) it takes to get said device online month in and month out. As always, you’ll also get a docking station to take it from one GM vehicle to another, though (at least initially) it’ll only be offered in SUVs, crossovers and trucks, which are whips most likely to be used by internet-addicted families. ‘Course, those looking to do a little retrofitting need only head to gmextras.com to snap one up themselves, but don’t say you heard it from us.
[Via Autoblog]
Filed under: Transportation, Wireless
GM to offer $500 Autonet Mobile WiFi option in select vehicles originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Oct/090
LG GD900 Crystal makes a very portable fish tank, PETA magnet
Remember the good old days with your virtual pets on your keyring? Well, how about an injection of life that actually roams around inside your phone? Some dude in China had this exact idea — probably inspired by the waterproof LG GD900 Crystal in a fish tank — and popped open the hollow keypad of his own Crystal, slapped in two unfortunate little neon tetras, squeezed in some water and snap! There’s no mention on how long the poor things can survive in there for, but chances are PETA will be after your backside well before something goes wrong. We also went through the warranty paperwork, and honestly, we think this gentleman might be in a fishy area here. Video of the mod after the break, if you dare.
Continue reading LG GD900 Crystal makes a very portable fish tank, PETA magnet
Filed under: Cellphones
LG GD900 Crystal makes a very portable fish tank, PETA magnet originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Oct/090
HTC Touch Pro2 and Snap among first official WinMo 6.5 updates
HTC promised way back at Mobile World Congress in February that the Touch Pro2 would be fully upgradeable to Windows Mobile 6.5 when the binaries went gold, and… well, here we are. Sure enough, they’re making good on the promise by rolling out official updates for both the Touch Pro2 and the Snap so far, though this is one of those situations where availability for your particular version of the phone is going to depend on carrier branding, locking, and the phase of the moon, among other things — so if the updates don’t work for you, you can wait for your carrier to get in gear or, you know, try your luck over with the always-helpful xda-developers to roll your own update.
[Via Smartphone Thoughts]
Read – HTC Snap
Read – HTC Touch Pro2
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds
HTC Touch Pro2 and Snap among first official WinMo 6.5 updates originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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