Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2013 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Windows Phone Marketplace now populated by 25,000 apps, speeding up rate of growth]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/windows-phone-marketplace-now-populated-by-25-000-apps-speeding/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/windows-phone-marketplace-now-populated-by-25-000-apps-speeding/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/windows-phone-marketplace-now-populated-by-25-000-apps-speeding/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments It's not just Apple's App Store striding past milestones today, Microsoft's Windows Phone Marketplace has also rounded a notable marker in its development. Specifically, it's now reported to have passed 25,000 apps by one site tracking comings and goings within it, though that figure's up for debate as the other WP7 apps tracker still lists the total at just under 25k. The main point is that the WP7 ecosystem is growing, and faster than previously at that -- it took until the end of March to accrue 11,500 apps, a span of five months from its launch, whereas the last 13.5k have come in the brisker period of three months. Provided this acceleration continues, and there's no reason to expect it'll slow down with Mango on the horizon, Microsoft's mobile OS reboot promises to be in pretty competitive shape in time for its first anniversary -- a notable feat considering how far behind WinMo had fallen. Perhaps RIM can use this as an instructive example?

[Steve Ballmer image courtesy of Reuters]

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]]> app storeapplicationsappsAppStoredatafiguresmarketplacemicrosoftmilestonenumbersstatswindows phonewindows phone 7windows phone marketplaceWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhoneMarketplacewp7 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:05:00 -0400 21|19981304 <![CDATA[Screen Grabs: Nokia X7 scores cameo in third Transformers movie, joined by N950 lookalike]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/screen-grabs-nokia-x7-scores-cameo-in-third-transformers-movie/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/screen-grabs-nokia-x7-scores-cameo-in-third-transformers-movie/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/screen-grabs-nokia-x7-scores-cameo-in-third-transformers-movie/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dot com.

Nokia's hookup with the new Transformers movie runs deep -- some of its international X7 launches have been themed around the Dark of the Moon three-quel that's just come out in cinemas -- so it's no surprise to see plenty of the company's handsets in the film itself. The metal-backed, 4-inch X7 gets the most screen time, quickly showing off Ovi Maps in 3D, but there's also a portrait QWERTY device which may be the recently launched E6 or an earlier model such as the E72. A lot of consternation has also arisen regarding a third Nokia handset glimpsed in Transformers 3, which could well be an N950 running MeeGo, though if you ask us, there's no way a MeeGo phone would take 157 minutes to save the world. We'd expect a double-tap to kill the baddies, an edge-to-edge swipe to get the girl, and a simple flicking gesture to turn the lights out.

[Thanks, Nicholas]

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]]> nokianokia x7NokiaX7product placementProductPlacementscreen grabsScreenGrabssymbiantransformerstransformers 3Transformers3x7 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 06:30:00 -0400 21|19981205 <![CDATA[Lenovo IdeaPad K1 up for Amazon pre-order, still toting $500 price tag]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/lenovo-ideapad-k1-up-for-amazon-pre-order-still-toting-500-pri/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/lenovo-ideapad-k1-up-for-amazon-pre-order-still-toting-500-pri/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/lenovo-ideapad-k1-up-for-amazon-pre-order-still-toting-500-pri/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The IdeaPad K1 is really living up to its name these days, existing merely as an idea and a visualized concept, but not a real deal purchasable commodity. That's changing ever so slowly, however, with an appearance among Amazon's pre-order inventory, where the Tegra 2 Android slate is accompanied by the $499.99 price tag we saw just over a week ago. The major specs are as we've heard them before: a 10.1-inch screen with 1280 x 800 resolution and 300 nits of brightness, a microSD card reader, micro-HDMI out, and, interestingly, a SIM card slot. The latter doesn't quite confirm that we're looking at a 3G tablet, but comes close to it. Also close should be the K1's release date, which isn't spelled out by Amazon, but is expected to arrive any time now.

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]]> amazonandroidhoneycombideapadideapad k1IdeapadK1k1lenovoMicroHdmipre-orderpre-ordersslatetablettegrategra 2Tegra2 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 04:26:00 -0400 21|19981145 <![CDATA[iPad passes the 100,000 apps milestone, rest of the tablet world looks on in disbelief]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/ipad-passes-the-100-000-apps-milestone-rest-of-the-tablet-world/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/ipad-passes-the-100-000-apps-milestone-rest-of-the-tablet-world/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/ipad-passes-the-100-000-apps-milestone-rest-of-the-tablet-world/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments A year and change after its launch, Apple's iPad has established itself as both the progenitor and dominant entity in a new category of device: tablets. A large part of its success has undeniably been down to the enthusiasm shown by developers, who have recently crossed the notable marker of producing 100,000 applications compatible with the device. As is true of the vast app selection on the iPhone, quantity doesn't guarantee quality, but the abundance of software available for the iPad at least offers a better chance of finding some wheat in amongst the chaff. And as to its competitors, here's hoping Ice Cream Sandwich and Windows 8 get here before this Apple juggernaut crosses the million mark, eh?

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]]> app storeappleapple ipadAppleIpadapplicationsappsAppStoreipadmilestonesoftwaretablet Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:47:00 -0400 21|19981124 <![CDATA[Official: Ricoh set to acquire Pentax camera brand and business, get serious about digital imaging]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/ricoh-set-to-acquire-pentax-camera-brand-and-business-get-serio/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/ricoh-set-to-acquire-pentax-camera-brand-and-business-get-serio/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/ricoh-set-to-acquire-pentax-camera-brand-and-business-get-serio/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Reuters is reporting a bit of board room activity in Japan this morning, which could, by the end of today, result in Ricoh purchasing the Pentax brand and camera business from current owner and proprietor Hoya Corporation. The global news agency points out that Hoya's initial acquisition of Pentax, back in 2007, was primarily motivated by its eagerness to acquire Pentax's medical technology, and although the company's had a slew of strong products since then, it probably makes sense for Hoya to pass the digicam work on to someone who might feel more invested in it. For its part, Ricoh also has a well respected line of digital compacts, but lacks the DSLR lineage and experience that Pentax brings. Provided this deal goes through as rumored, and Reuters has three sources who say it's imminent, the only question we've got to ponder is whether the Pentax naming will take over for Ricoh's slightly less recognizable branding or vice versa.

Update: That was quick! Hoya has confirmed the sale. Thanks, Ben! It is as reported earlier: Hoya will hang on to the rights to manufacture and develop products for the medical field, while Ricoh is gobbling up the Pentax Imaging Systems products with a view to expanding its presence in the consumer digital camera market.

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]]> acquisitioncameracamerasconfirmeddigital camerasDigitalCamerashoyaofficialpentaxricohrumorspeculationtakeover Fri, 01 Jul 2011 02:05:00 -0400 21|19981089 <![CDATA[HP TouchPad going on sale in UK on July 15th starting at £399]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/hp-touchpad-going-on-sale-in-uk-on-july-15th-starting-at-399/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/hp-touchpad-going-on-sale-in-uk-on-july-15th-starting-at-399/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/hp-touchpad-going-on-sale-in-uk-on-july-15th-starting-at-399/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments HP's TouchPad may not have quite lived up to our lofty expectations, but that's not stopping the world's first webOS tablet from going global. UK availability for HP's 9.7-incher has been revealed as coming on July 15th with all the usual suspects taking part: Carphone Warehouse, PC World, Argos, Amazon, and, of course, HP.com. Pricing is set at £399 ($660) for the 16GB WiFi-only model or £479 ($790) for the 32GB-carrying variant. HP has also managed to get a few content partners on board for this launch, with "exciting, exclusive" material coming in from The Guardian, LastFM, Warner Bros, and Sky News. Full PR after the break.

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]]> datehphp touchpadHpTouchpadlaunchon saleOnSalereleaseslatetablettouchpadukunited kingdomUnitedKingdomwebos Thu, 30 Jun 2011 07:32:00 -0400 21|19980245 <![CDATA[1996 Corvette converted into a 2011 electric odyssey (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/1996-corvette-converted-into-a-2011-electric-odyssey-video/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/1996-corvette-converted-into-a-2011-electric-odyssey-video/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/1996-corvette-converted-into-a-2011-electric-odyssey-video/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments A supercharged Chevrolet Corvette may have been all the hotness back in 1996, but times and tastes change and now people are all about the electric boogaloo. Today we get to witness one modern man's transition into this brave new world, a Wayne Bickley from California, who has gutted his crow-black '96 Corvette and replaced the messy internal combustion setup with a set of 18 XS Power XP1000 batteries, a DC electric motor, and his own clutchless six-speed transmission. The end result doesn't really look much different, but its 20-mile "spirited driving" range and 85mph top speed will surely feel different and it does also sound very much like something from the future. Check out this modernized Chevy on video after the break.

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]]> carchevroletcorvettediyelectricelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleevhomemadevideowayne bickleyWayneBickley Thu, 30 Jun 2011 06:13:00 -0400 21|19980079 <![CDATA[Skype 2.0 brings two-way video calling to Nexus S, Desire S, Xperia Neo and Xperia Pro]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/skype-two-way-video-calling-comes-to-nexus-s-desire-s-xperia-n/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/skype-two-way-video-calling-comes-to-nexus-s-desire-s-xperia-n/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/skype-two-way-video-calling-comes-to-nexus-s-desire-s-xperia-n/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The latest update to Skype's Android application has just been rolled out and a big part of its goodie delivery is two-way video calling. Only a quartet of phones are supported right now: Google's own Nexus S, HTC's Desire S, and the Xperia Neo and Pro from Sony Ericsson, all handsets that shipped with Android 2.3 installed. We suspect the rest of the Android world won't be far behind -- Thunderbolt users will surely be wondering why they're not included in this first batch -- but for now it's just that fearsome foursome. Also included in Skype v2.0.0.45 is a UI overhaul and support for SMS messaging, neither of which suffers from any handset restrictions. Hit up the Android Market on your phone (the web Market still lists version 1) to get at the latest software.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: We've just spent a little quality time with Skype 2.0 and its newfangled video calling. Notably, we couldn't get a video call to work between the Xperia Neo and a desktop version of Skype (update: video chat between the Skype Android app and the desktop client has since been confirmed to work; thanks, David!) -- it was only possible to get video when calling between the Neo and the similarly compatible HTC Desire S. Once we did establish a connection, though, frame rates were smooth and buttery and the UI is simple and unintrusive yet offers quite a few functions. You can mute the call, choose between the front- or rear-facing camera, reposition the small window that shows your video feed anywhere on the screen, or -- with a double tap upon that window -- switch focus so that your own video output dominates the screen and your buddy's feed is relocated to the smaller preview. It's a great looking implementation of video calling, though we did only test it over WiFi, 3G performance may be materially worse.

Update 2: Skype's press release and demo video can now be found after the break.

Update 3: Though you might suspect otherwise given the Nexus S' inclusion, Skype has now confirmed that the Nexus S 4G isn't supported just yet -- it will apparently be brought into the fold with the next release.

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]]> androidappapplicationbreaking newscommunicationhands-onskypeskype for androidSkypeForAndroidupdateupgradevideovideo callingvideo callsvideo chatVideoCallingVideoCallsVideoChat Thu, 30 Jun 2011 05:21:00 -0400 21|19980164 <![CDATA[Wimbledon NetMix lets you turn down on-court grunts in favor of staid commentary]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/wimbledon-netmix-lets-you-turn-down-on-court-grunts-in-favor-of/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/wimbledon-netmix-lets-you-turn-down-on-court-grunts-in-favor-of/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/wimbledon-netmix-lets-you-turn-down-on-court-grunts-in-favor-of/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Wimbledon, typically a quiet leafy suburb in the great urban sprawl of London, tends to get a little noisier around this time of the year as the world's top tennis players descend upon it with a grunt and a huff of exertion. It's precisely those un-British howls of effort that the BBC is offering to filter out for you with a new Wimbledon NetMix tool. It's a simple audio mixing slider, available to BBC Radio 5 Live listeners, that adjusts the balance between ambient on-court sound and the soothing timbre of commentators' voices. The technology's enabled by the guys and gals at Fraunhofer, who were nice enough to do it for free, and is being introduced in response to a great many complaints received by broadcasters about the primal screaming that's accompanied this year's matches. If the reaction to the NetMix slider is positive, it could find further job opportunities on the Beeb's iPlayer or in coverage of other sporting events.

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]]> audiobbccommentaryfraunhofergruntgruntingnetmixradiosoundsportsportstenniswimbledonwimbledon netmixWimbledonNetmix Thu, 30 Jun 2011 04:41:00 -0400 21|19980107 <![CDATA[Visualized: a zettabyte]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/visualized-a-zettabyte/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/visualized-a-zettabyte/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/visualized-a-zettabyte/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Remember the good old days when a gigabyte was considered a lot of space? Improvements in hard disk technology have allowed the humble magnetic drive to reach the dizzying heights of multiple terabytes of storage, but Cisco foresees a future that's a few orders of magnitude more impressive. Pinpointing 2015 as the commencement of what it calls the zettabyte era, the company has put together a handy infographic to show us just how much data can be fit into one: you can alternatively think of it as the equivalent of 250 billion DVDs, 36 million years of HD video, or the volume of the Great Wall of China if you allow an 11oz cup of coffee to represent a gigabyte of data. So "zetta" must be Greek for one hell of a lot, but what Cisco expects is that we'll be pushing that much information around the web each year by 2015. Any bets on how many exabytes of it will be to stream videos of cats diving into cardboard boxes?

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]]> 2015bandwidthciscodatadata consumptionDataConsumptionfutureinfographicinfographicsinternetnetworknetworkingonlinethroughputtraffictransfertransfersvisualizationvisualizedweb Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:39:00 -0400 21|19979721 <![CDATA[Kaz Hirai to become Sony Computer Entertainment Chairman, leave Andrew House with tough CEO gig]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/kaz-hirai-to-become-sony-computer-entertainment-chairman-leave/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/kaz-hirai-to-become-sony-computer-entertainment-chairman-leave/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/kaz-hirai-to-become-sony-computer-entertainment-chairman-leave/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments When you've had to deal out as many public apologies as Sony has had to perform over its protracted PSN hacking saga, the typical expectation is that someone somewhere will be getting fired or "reshuffled" into a new post. No firings at PlayStation headquarters, however our old pal Kaz Hirai is getting a new position as Sony Computer Entertainment Chairman, with Andrew House succeeding him in the CEO hot seat. Mr. House was previously Sony's PlayStation chief in Europe, so he's simply stepping up to be responsible for the company's global operations, but Kaz's new duties are less clearly defined. Both changes will go into effect on September 1st, a day after current Chairman Akira Sato retires, giving both Kaz and Andrew a little time to get accustomed to their new(ish) surroundings before tackling Sony's massively important PS Vita launch at the tail end of the year.

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]]> andrew houseAndrewHousebossceochiefkaz hiraiKazHiraikazuo hiraiKazuoHiraimanagementplaystationsceisonySony Computer EntertainmentSonyComputerEntertainment Wed, 29 Jun 2011 04:47:00 -0400 21|19979101 <![CDATA[Angry Birds lands on Windows Phone 7, ready to explore the third ecosystem]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/angry-birds-lands-on-windows-phone-7-ready-to-explore-the-third/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/angry-birds-lands-on-windows-phone-7-ready-to-explore-the-third/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/angry-birds-lands-on-windows-phone-7-ready-to-explore-the-third/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Nowadays, you can't really claim to have a mobile OS worthy of the title if your users can't run Angry Birds on it. Good news from Microsoft, then, as Windows Phone 7 can finally be admitted at the grown-up table now that it has released its port of Rovio's epic bird-launching experience. $2.99 is the Marketplace price for the full version, though there's also the option to try out the first few levels for free. Because, you know, there might still be people out there who haven't yet been exposed to the charms of this perniciously addictive little game.

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]]> angry birdsAngryBirdsappapplicationgamegameslaunchmarketplacemicrosoftmobile gamingMobileGamingroviovideovideo gamesVideoGameswindows phonewindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7wp7 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:52:00 -0400 21|19979069 <![CDATA[Skype gets Congressional approval, will help Representatives stay in touch with the common people]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/skype-gets-congressional-approval-will-help-representatives-sta/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/skype-gets-congressional-approval-will-help-representatives-sta/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/skype-gets-congressional-approval-will-help-representatives-sta/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Look, Capitol Hill is a nice place to be, okay? There are interns eager to please, lobbyists keen to buy you dinner, why would you ever want to leave? Unfortunately for US Congressmen and women, the schleps who elected them insist on getting face time with their supposed representatives, which means a regular schedule of commuting getting in the way of some critically important foot massages and aromatherapy treatments. Never fear, though, Skype has come to the rescue. Microsoft's latest acquisition has scored a stamp of approval from the House of Representatives, permitting Congresspersons to use it to interact with constituents, attend virtual town hall meetings, and collaborate with other members of the House. All fun-making of lawmakers aside, this strikes us as a step in the right direction and Skype promises that it's done its homework on keeping communications secure. Let's hope so.

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]]> approvedcommunicationcommunicationscongresshouse of representativesHouseOfRepresentativesinternetonlinepoliticsskypeteleconferencingususaweb Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:04:00 -0400 21|19979048 <![CDATA[World of Warcraft Starter Edition lets you reach lvl 20 for free, Night Elf Mohawk still only available to Mr. T]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/world-of-warcraft-starter-edition-lets-you-reach-lvl-20-for-free/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/world-of-warcraft-starter-edition-lets-you-reach-lvl-20-for-free/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/world-of-warcraft-starter-edition-lets-you-reach-lvl-20-for-free/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments If there was one thing, one thing, keeping humanity safe from total enslavement to the grind of World of Warcraft, it was the fact that you have to pay to play the game for longer than a couple of weeks. Well, now we're all doomed. Blizzard is replacing its 14-day WoW trial with a so-called Starter Edition of the massively multiplayer life usurper, which lets you reach level 20 without shelling out a penny. Of course, like any good gateway drug, this freebie is capped at the thoroughly insufficient 20 number and is sure to agitate folks into buying the full product. One small step for a software company, one giant leap forward for global obesity rates.

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]]> battle.netblizzardfreegamesgaminginternetmmommorpgonlineonline gamingOnlineGamingvideo gamesVideoGameswebworld of warcraftWorldOfWarcraftwow Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:29:00 -0400 21|19978931 <![CDATA[Nokia N9 camera: sample images and video]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/nokia-n9-camera-sample-images-and-video/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/nokia-n9-camera-sample-images-and-video/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/nokia-n9-camera-sample-images-and-video/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments

Our first encounter with Nokia's N9 may have been eleven different kinds of awesome, but we knew it was a mere scratch of the high-grade polycarbonate surface. One of the core pieces of functionality we didn't get the chance to address back then was the camera, and after Nokia decided to toot that horn recently -- saying, among other things, that it's the "fastest image-capturing phone" yet -- we decided we had to go back for a second go-around.

In terms of performance, Nokia's camera application definitely lives up to the company's own hype, with nearly instant captures and an equally brisk return to a state of readiness for more image-taking. When shooting video, we noted that audio recording starts slightly later than the video, leaving the first half second or so without sound. This isn't an uncommon issue (we've seen it on other phones and tablets) and can be seen in our video sample after the break. Now might be a good time to also mention that the N9s we tested with today were all prototype units, so don't prejudge Nokia's final hardware on the basis of what you see here. Unless your premature judgment is positive, we doubt Nokia would mind that.

Gallery: Nokia N9 camera sample images


So anyhow, we took a walk around the company's offices, escorted by a group of unarmed but surely lethal Finnish ninjas, taking shots of the surrounding cityscape as we went. The results show the N9 picking up a ton of detail and controlling noise admirably, while a few impromptu ThinkPad hands-on photos convinced us it can do a pretty stellar job with closeups as well. With a name like N9, however, it was obvious which phone we needed to compare Nokia's lone wolf MeeGo handset to, so out came our trusty N8 with its world-beating 12 megapixel sensor. Alas, in spite of having an F2.2 aperture on the N9, Nokia hasn't managed to replicate the heroics of its earlier device: the N8 shows its advantage in consistently picking out better color balance and in also being sharper throughout the frame. It makes the N9's images appear as if they were shot through a haze, though we hasten to add that this should be considered a strength of the older phone rather than a major failure of the new one. Additionally, the N9 suffers from the typically narrow dynamic range of smartphone camera sensors, which is the cause of the consistently blown-out sky in our gallery images. Still, considering the quick software operation and consistently detailed imagery on offer from the N9, we'd say Nokia is on to a winner here.

Gallery: Nokia N9 versus Nokia N8 camera samples


P.S. -- Looking for the full-size 8 megapixel stills from the N9? We've zipped them up for you right here.

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]]> cameracameraphonecomparisonfighthands-onharmattanhead-to-headmeegon8n9nokianokia n8nokia n9NokiaN8NokiaN9versusvideo Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:00:00 -0400 21|19978388 <![CDATA[What do you love, asks Google with a new portal to its many web services]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/what-do-you-love-asks-google-with-a-new-portal-to-its-many-web/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/what-do-you-love-asks-google-with-a-new-portal-to-its-many-web/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/what-do-you-love-asks-google-with-a-new-portal-to-its-many-web/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Say hello to your new online friend, wdyl.com. An eagle-eyed TechCrunch tipster spotted this freshly launched Google portal, whose purpose it seems to be to gather up all of the company's multifarious web services under one umbrella. A Google search for Google products, in other words. Punching in a topic brings up its popularity in Google Trends, lets you set up Google Alerts, plan related events in Google Calendar, email someone in Gmail, or hit up Picasa, YouTube or Google News with the same query. You get the picture. It hasn't yet been made official and hitting up the site without the "www." prefix throws up a bad URL error at the moment, but it's there and seemingly fully functional. Give it a try and let us know which search terms bring up the most humorous results.

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]]> googlegoogle searchgoogle servicesGoogleSearchGoogleServicesinternetonlineportalsearchservicessitewdylwebweb searchWebSearchwebsitewhat do you loveWhatDoYouLove Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:53:00 -0400 21|19978070 <![CDATA[LaCie introduces Porsche-designed, aluminum-framed USB 3.0 HDDs]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/lacie-introduces-porsche-designed-aluminum-framed-usb-3-0-hdds/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/lacie-introduces-porsche-designed-aluminum-framed-usb-3-0-hdds/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/lacie-introduces-porsche-designed-aluminum-framed-usb-3-0-hdds/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments LaCie, a company that's no stranger to employing aluminum and high profile designers on its external storage drives, is back at it today with the announcement of a pair of new HDDs. The P9220 Mobile and P9230 Desktop drives -- one's thin and portable, the other's chunkier and stores more data, guess which is which -- harness the creative minds at Porsche Design to deliver... well, some pretty tamely designed peripherals. We guess it's all about minimalism and letting the scratch-resistant aluminum casing speak for itself, but we still kinda feel like the Porsche guys did this on a Thursday lunch break. As simple as it is, the look of these drives still managed to impress the guys at CrunchGear, whose hands-on coverage can be read at the link provided below. If you want to get to grips with one yourself, the P9220 starts out at £89.90 ($105 in US) for 500GB and will also have a 1TB option soon, whereas the P9230 costs £99.90 / $120 for a terabyte or £129.90 / $160 for two -- all come with USB 3.0 connectivity and the pride-stroking knowledge that you own a legitimate Porsche.

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]]> aluminumannounceddesignerexternal hddExternalHddhard driveHardDrivehddlacieporscheporsche designPorscheDesignportable hddPortableHddusb 3usb 3.0Usb3Usb3.0video Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:13:00 -0400 21|19977559 <![CDATA[Xbox COO sees dedicated handheld market as a 'red ocean,' will let Sony and Nintendo swim in it]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/xbox-coo-sees-dedicated-handheld-market-as-a-red-ocean-will-l/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/xbox-coo-sees-dedicated-handheld-market-as-a-red-ocean-will-l/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/xbox-coo-sees-dedicated-handheld-market-as-a-red-ocean-will-l/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Dennis Durkin is COO and CFO for Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business. He's also a dude thoroughly disillusioned with the future of portable consoles. Speaking to IndustryGamers, Durkin explains that the "crowded" nature of the mobile gaming market right now makes it extremely difficult to launch a dedicated handheld gaming device successfully -- in his colorful words, it's "a very, very red ocean." Whose blood is soiling those waters? The Nintendo 3DS, says Durkin, which has sold reasonably well, but has clearly failed to reach the lofty expectations set for it by fans and previous handhelds from the company. Likewise, the PS Vita invites a lot of skepticism from the Xbox chief, who says his excitement is reserved for what Microsoft can do with Kinect, Xbox Live and unique content. You might say it's to be expected that an Xbox exec would be casting doubt over Sony's great new hope, but what we learn in the process is that Microsoft has no intentions of squaring up to its home console nemesis on the mobile front. Not with dedicated hardware, anyway.

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]]> cfocompetitioncompetitiveconsolecoodennis durkinDennisDurkingaminghandheldhandheld consoleHandheldConsolemicrosoftopinionplaystationportableps vitaPsVitaquotequotedsonyvitaxbox Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:17:00 -0400 21|19977168 <![CDATA[HTC EVO 3D landing in Europe next month, two-stage shutter button and all (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/htc-evo-3d-landing-in-europe-next-month-two-stage-shutt/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/htc-evo-3d-landing-in-europe-next-month-two-stage-shutt/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/htc-evo-3d-landing-in-europe-next-month-two-stage-shutt/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Up till now, the ranks of 3D-capable smartphones were neatly organized by territory: Japan had the Sharp Aquos SH-12C, the US had the HTC EVO 3D, and Europe had the LG Optimus 3D. Now it's all getting a tiny bit messier (and more competitive!) with HTC's announcement that the EVO 3D has boarded a transatlantic liner and is en route to the green shores of Europa. Available "broadly" across the old continent, this Android 2.3 handset touts a 4.3-inch display with qHD (540 x 960) resolution and an added parallax barrier layer that allows it to deliver a glasses-free 3D effect. We call it an effect because real 3D it ain't, but at least it'll allow you to review the three-dimensional pics you snap with the included pair of 5 megapixel autofocus cameras. There's also a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon purring within for the performance obsessives and a generous 1730mAh battery -- perhaps the biggest advantage that we can see for this phone over the similarly specced (but 3D-less) Sensation. Jump past the break for the full spec sheet and PR or hit up our review to learn just how awesome the EVO 3D's shutter button really is.

Update: Tony wrote in to let us know the phone has popped up on Vodafone's page as "Coming Soon" with a promotional video, which you can see after the break -- featuring a phone that doesn't appear to have Sense.

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]]> 3d3d camera3dCameraandroidannouncedbreaking newsdual-coreeueuropeevo 3dEvo3dgingerbreadhtchtc evo 3dHtcEvo3dlaunchmhlofficialreleasesensesmartphoneukunited kingdomUnitedKingdomvideo Mon, 27 Jun 2011 06:00:00 -0400 21|19976750 <![CDATA[Android 3.1 update for Acer Iconia Tab A500 leaks out in China, can be downloaded worldwide]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/android-3-1-update-for-acer-iconia-tab-a500-leaks-out-in-china/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/android-3-1-update-for-acer-iconia-tab-a500-leaks-out-in-china/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/android-3-1-update-for-acer-iconia-tab-a500-leaks-out-in-china/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments If you have an Iconia Tab A500 and an unbridled passion for running the latest Android software, we've got good news for you. Acer's 3.1 update for the 10-inch Tegra 2 slate has actually slipped out a little early and can now be downloaded at the source link below. It brings the resizable widgets and other goodies that Xoom and Eee Pad Transformer users have been savoring for a while, though that's naturally not been enough for some and there are already custom ROMs built off this leak that augment the upgrade with superuser privileges. Alternatively, should you be disinclined to flash your own tablet, you can just wait for Acer to start beaming Android 3.1 over the air to its European A500s on July 5th.

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]]> 10-incha500acerandroidandroid 3.1Android3.1firmwarehoneycombiconiaiconia tabiconia tab a500IconiaTabIconiaTabA500leakoperating systemOperatingSystemosslatetablettegra 2Tegra2updateupgrade Mon, 27 Jun 2011 04:22:00 -0400 21|19977063 <![CDATA[Hyper Ping Pong is like real table tennis, only without the ball, table or opponent (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/hyper-ping-pong-is-like-real-table-tennis-only-without-the-ball/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/hyper-ping-pong-is-like-real-table-tennis-only-without-the-ball/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/hyper-ping-pong-is-like-real-table-tennis-only-without-the-ball/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Microsoft and Nintendo might already have the motion-based table tennis simulation market locked down, but there's one thing their consoles need that the new Hyper Ping Pong paddle doesn't: a TV. That's right, this motion sensor-equipped bat lets you play without the superfluous need for something to look at -- it comes with a speaker that plays back the sound of a rally and all you need to do is "go with the rhythm." A button integrated into the handle lets you put a little extra sauce on your volleys and accurate timing will win you points, awesome sound effects, and the admiration of all your friends. The Hyper Ping Pong kit will start selling in Japan this October for ¥2,000 ($25).

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]]> batgaminggestureshappinethyper ping pongHyperPingPongjapanmotionmotion gamingmotion sensorMotionGamingMotionSensorpaddleping pongPingPongtable tennisTableTennistokyo toy showtokyo toy show 2011TokyoToyShowTokyoToyShow2011videovirtualvirtual table tennisVirtualTableTennis Fri, 24 Jun 2011 06:26:00 -0400 21|19975518 <![CDATA[Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will launch in the UK on August 4th]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/samsung-galaxy-tab-10-1-launches-in-uk-on-august-4th/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/samsung-galaxy-tab-10-1-launches-in-uk-on-august-4th/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/samsung-galaxy-tab-10-1-launches-in-uk-on-august-4th/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The Galaxy Tab 10.1, the benchmark Android tablet device at this moment in time, is coming to the UK on August 4th. Samsung's just made the launch date official, announcing that both WiFi and 3G variants will be hitting "a range" of British stores almost exactly six weeks from now. Alas, no pricing details have been revealed yet, but you can look forward to an exceedingly slim (8.6mm / 0.33-inch) slate sweetened with Honeycomb (3.1) software and dual-core Tegra 2 performance. The 3G variant will also include a 21Mbps-capable HSPA+ radio, which would be called 4G if it were in the hands of overzealous American carriers. The TouchWiz UI will be large and in charge on the British Tab 10.1, augmented with Samsung's Social, Readers, and Music Hubs, as well as access to NVIDIA's Tegra Zone. We're also reminded about the neglected Galaxy Tab 8.9 in the press release, which should be arriving in the UK "later in the year."

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]]> androidandroid 3.1Android3.1dategalaxy tabgalaxy tab 10.1galaxy tab 8.9GalaxyTabGalaxyTab10.1GalaxyTab8.9honeycombinternationallaunchreleasesamsungslatetablettouchwizukunited kingdomUnitedKingdom Fri, 24 Jun 2011 05:01:00 -0400 21|19975495 <![CDATA[Nokia's Android flirtations revealed]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/nokias-android-flirtations-revealed/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/nokias-android-flirtations-revealed/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/nokias-android-flirtations-revealed/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments We don't know if this device is "super confidential" or not, but we've just come across yet another Nokia N9 lookalike with a non-MeeGo operating system on board. Well, it looks that way, anyhow. There's no way to verify that the Android homescreen we see above is a legitimate Gingerbread installation and not a mere screenshot (the resolution looks all wrong, for one thing), but the source of this image is the same Chinese fellow that posted a picture of Nokia's Windows Phone prototype, the Sea Ray, way back in May, so we're inclined to believe he's got an inside line on these things. Additionally, the undersized Android UI elements on the screen actually encourage us to believe that this is indeed a Nokia testing device -- if we were going to fake something like this, we'd use a regular screen grab for our tomfoolery -- and Stephen Elop has openly admitted that Nokia spent a couple of wild seconds contemplating a switch to Android. Well, folks, here's what that alternate future might have looked like.

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]]> androidchinachineseleaknb72nokiasmartphonespeculation Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:58:00 -0400 21|19975450 <![CDATA[Atrix 4G bootloader unlocked: you can hack it up today or wait for official Gingerbread update]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/atrix-4g-bootloader-unlocked-you-can-hack-it-up-today-or-wait-f/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/atrix-4g-bootloader-unlocked-you-can-hack-it-up-today-or-wait-f/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/atrix-4g-bootloader-unlocked-you-can-hack-it-up-today-or-wait-f/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The Atrix 4G is today an eminently more intriguing smartphone than it was yesterday. Leaked code from Motorola's upcoming Gingerbread update for the handset has made its way into the hands of the always-eager coders at xda-developers, which has resulted in two things: one, the discovery that Motorola intends to unlock the Atrix's bootloader when it upgrades it to Android 2.3, and two, downloadable files to let you do exactly that today, even if you're still stuck on Froyo. Moto users have been pleading for this change for a long time and Motorola did pledge to make it happen across its portfolio of devices, but it comes as a mild (and happy) surprise to see this change being effected retroactively. Check the links below to see how you can unchain your phone's bootloader if you can't wait for the official software to drop.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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]]> androidatrixatrix 4gAtrix4gbootloaderfirmwareleakmotorolasoftwareunlockunlockedupdatexdaxda developersXdaDevelopers Fri, 24 Jun 2011 02:36:00 -0400 21|19975407 <![CDATA[Acer Iconia Tab A500 to get Android 3.1 on 5th of July, at least in Deutschland]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/acer-iconia-tab-a500-to-get-android-3-1-on-5th-of-july-at-least/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/acer-iconia-tab-a500-to-get-android-3-1-on-5th-of-july-at-least/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/acer-iconia-tab-a500-to-get-android-3-1-on-5th-of-july-at-least/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The Iconia Tab A500, Acer's "better choice" tablet, is set to join the ranks of Android 3.1 slates on the 5th of July, according to the company's German Facebook page. That's a little later than the June timeframe we'd initially been promised, but the precision of giving an actual date this time around inspires confidence that the OTA goodies will indeed be delivered. So far, we've only seen Acer announce this news on its German portal, so please keep your optimism in cautious gear if you reside outside the Bundesrepublik. The only certain Android update is the one that's already on your device.

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]]> a500aceracer iconia tabAcerIconiaTabandroidandroid 3.1Android3.1firmwarefotagermanyhoneycombiconia tabiconia tab a500IconiaTabIconiaTabA500operating systemOperatingSystemosotaover the airOverTheAirsoftwareupdateupgrade Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:32:00 -0400 21|19974413