Popular on Engadget

After the competition got a head start, Telus has finally announced it's ready to flip the switch on its fresh LTE network tomorrow. Though it's certainly taken the longer road, its 4G waves are hitting several more markets on launch day in comparison to Rogers' solo-city debut. Among the selected 14 markets for the rollout are major cities such as Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Waterloo, Ottawa and Montreal. In the process, the carrier's also managed to stamp a release date on that LTE Note, which will arrive just in time for Valentine's Day. That said, it won't be the only Samsung Galaxy device on Telus' 4G lineup, the carrier's also bringing along the Tab 8.9, as well as the LG Optimus -- all of which will be up for grabs on on February 10th. Those of you in Maple Leaf Land can hit up the PR below to find out if your city made the first cut.

Continue reading Telus flipping switch on LTE, network goes live February 10th

Telus flipping switch on LTE, network goes live February 10th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Telus  | Email this | Comments

There's a scene in Robocop 2, where our eponymous hero is set-to with an angle grinder and dumped in pieces outside the Detroit Police station. Now replace the cybernetic Alex Murphy with the Lytro Light Field camera and you'll know what was found on the sidewalk opposite from the FCC's concrete bunker this morning. Interesting tidbits revealed in the government-sponsored autopsy included a questionably small Zoran imaging chip and Marvell Avastar W8787 wireless SoC -- but the company's already swiftly denied it'll have WiFi capability. Still, the infinite-focus device is certainly on for that early 2012 launch date if it's passed through the FCC without derision. We like to treat you right, dear readers, so below you'll find a cornucopia of galleries to hunt through before these units arrive in your hands. What do you think? Should we equip all our staffers with Lytro cameras for our future hands-ons?

Gallery: Lytro Light Field Camera Manual

Gallery: Lytro Light Field Camera External Shots

Gallery: Lytro Light Field Camera Internal Shots

Lytro Light Field Camera's guts get spilled on the FCC's dancefloor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge, Tech Crunch  |  FCC  | Email this | Comments

Not sure what this says about the state of streaming video online, but while the first live internet stream of the Super Bowl was watched by a record 2.1 million unique viewers, it didn't receive glowing reviews. The best indicator, though, is that the engagement for the three (plus) hour event was only 39 minutes. We think the folks over at Streaming Media got it right when they called it the Super Bowl Streaming Fail. It was bad enough that only Verizon Wireless customers could watch it on anything other than a laptop, but even those who could see it were left searching for a TV once they saw the quality. Big sports fans who might've been checking it out for the additional commentary and camera angles were also left wanting more, as the stream was plagued with lag. This meant that the other angle you were in search of was as much as a minute behind the big screen. Ultimately, we're sure everyone's glad the Super Bowl was extended to the smaller screens, but one thing sure seems true, broadcasting an event like this to millions of people is unlikely to ever be replaced by unicast internet streams.

Super Bowl internet debut breaks records, disappoints some viewers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  NFL Communications  | Email this | Comments

Sure you can make wild, individualistic boasts about having a 22nm fabrication process and three different GPUs, but that stuff counts for nothing without the magic of cooperation. The Amish know that and so does Intel, which is why its forthcoming Haswell cores will support Transactional Synchronization Extensions (TSX) -- a new instruction set designed to allow cores to work together more closely without hammering each others' fingers. TSX takes greater responsibility for the division of labor between cores at the hardware level, relieving the software programmer of some of this burdensome duty and hopefully allowing for finer-grained threading as a result. The system also relies on inherent optimism, with each core assuming that the others have handled their part of the work successfully. Inevitably, there'll be occasions when this happy belief gets splintered and a bad job has to be started again from scratch, but on average things should get done quicker and leave more energy for the barn dance.

Intel teaches Haswell the core values of teamwork, optimism originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink ExtremeTech  |  Intel  | Email this | Comments

With mirrorless cameras offering high-resolution APS-C sensors and consecutive shooting speeds of up to 10 frames-per-second, what's left to make a $6,000 full-frame DSLR a compelling purchase, especially for amateur photographers? Low-light performance, for one -- the Canon EOS-1D X and Nikon D4 are both capable of capturing images at up to ISO 204,800, letting you snap sharp photos in even the dimmest of lighting conditions. The benefits of a top sensitivity of ISO 204,800 are significant -- jumping from one ISO to the next doubles your shutter speed. So an exposure of f/2.8 at 1/2 second at ISO 400 becomes 1/4th at ISO 800, 1/15th at ISO 3200, 1/60th at ISO 12,800, 1/250th at ISO 51,200 and a whopping 1/1000th at ISO 204,800 -- fast enough to freeze a speeding car.

Both Canon and Nikon have yet to allow us to take away samples shot with the 1D X or D4 -- the companies even taped CF card slots shut to prevent show attendees from slipping their own card in -- but we were still able to get a fairly good idea of high-ISO performance from reviewing images on the built-in LCDs. At the cameras' top sensitivity of ISO 204,800, noise was visible even during a full image preview. Zooming into the image revealed significant noise, as expected. However, within each camera's native range of ISO 100 to 25,600, noise was barely an issue at all. Both cameras are still pre-production samples at this point, so we'll need to wait for production models to make their way out before we can capture our own samples, but based on what we saw when reviewing ISO 204,800 images on the built-in LCDs, that incredible top-ISO setting may actually be usable. Scroll on through the gallery below to preview some top sensitivity shots on the Canon EOS-1D X (camera poster) and the Nikon D4 (Japanese model), and join us past the break for an even closer look in our video hands-on.

Gallery: Canon EOS-1D X and Nikon D4 high-ISO shooting

Continue reading Canon EOS-1D X and Nikon D4 ISO 204,800 shooting hands-on (video)

Canon EOS-1D X and Nikon D4 ISO 204,800 shooting hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

This year has not been a kind one for Kodak. Last month, the photography pioneer announced that it was filing for bankruptcy (and suing Samsung, incidentally), and now the company has let it be known that it will be dropping out of the digital camera business -- and then some -- marking an end to its line of digital point-and-shoots, pocket camcorders and digital photo frames. Production will end the first half of this year. The future for the company will hold printers, brand licensing, enterprise services and photo labs. Kodak will, however, continue to honor warranties on existing products.

Kodak to shutter digital camera production this year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Reuters  | Email this | Comments

Symantec said that folks running its pcAnywhere utility were at an "increased risk" when it revealed that the company had been hacked and its source codes pilfered, and advised customers to stop using pcAnywhere for the time being. Sage advice, as a hacker with the handle YamaTough -- who's affiliated with Anonymous -- helped do the deed and has now published the code for all the world to see. Apparently, the hacker and hackee had attempted to broker a deal for $50,000 to keep the code private, but neither side negotiated in good faith -- YamaTough always intended to release the code, and law enforcement was doing the talking for Symantec to catch him and his hacking cohorts. The good news is, Symantec has released several patches to protect pcAnywhere users going forward. As for the stolen code for Norton Antivirus, Internet Security and other Symantec software? Well, the company's expecting it to be disclosed, too, but because the code is from 2006, customers with current versions can rest easy.

Hacker spites Symantec, puts pcAnywhere's source code out in the open originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CNET  |  Reuters  | Email this | Comments

Is the long, treacherous wait for the iPad 3 nearly at an end? That's what anonymous sources tell All Things D. The site caught wind that an Apple event next month will host the announcement of the company's latest tablet. The event is said to be slated for the first week of March at that popular Apple haunt, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco -- and seeing as how last year's event was held on March 2nd, that timing doesn't seem all that crazy to us. As for an actual release date, said sources are a bit less chatty.

Apple announcing iPad 3 first week of March? Anonymous sources think so originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  All Things D  | Email this | Comments

A couple of months after making its long (really long) awaited appearance in "select markets" the DirecTiVo is now officially available nationwide. Die-hard fans of the combo of peanut remote and satellite TV finally have a crack at the box for the same $199 up front price tag, plus attached service fee, HD access fee and DVR fee. This also means foregoing things like 3D, multiroom support, Premiere UI and live streaming iPad apps, but that's part of the deal for the TiVo HD DVR from DirecTV. Check the press release after the break for more details on what the box can do, or just hit the source link to head directly to DirecTV's info page.

Continue reading DirecTiVo now available nationwide, please try to contain your excitement

DirecTiVo now available nationwide, please try to contain your excitement originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  DirecTV  | Email this | Comments

Apple's legal team has been dealt another blow in Germany, where a court today shot down the company's requests for a preliminary injunction against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1N. In a statement issued this morning, the Dusseldorf Regional Court said it found "clear differences" between the 10.1N and Apple's iPad, affirming a preliminary ruling handed down in December, and a similar decision announced in Munich this month. It's certainly not the news that Cupertino wanted to wake up to, but we're also a long way from this drama being over.

German court upholds ruling against Apple, clears Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1N for sale originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Reuters  | Email this | Comments

It's been almost a year since we last wrote about the BMW i8 being winter-tested and here it is again -- this time in production prototype form -- doing donuts (!) in the snow. This plug-in gasoline electric hybrid vehicle started life as the Vision EfficientDynamics, promising sub five-second 0 - 60mph times while still achieving an impressive 87mpg (2.7 liters per 100km). We last saw the i8 concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show but the sporty coupé with the funky gullwing-like doors isn't expected in BMW showrooms until sometime in 2014. So until then sit back, relax and check out the video above.

BMW i8 production prototype goes dancing in a winter wonderland (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  BimmerPost (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments

A fresh version of the DoubleTwist media player hit the Android Market this week, offering a whole new world of podcast possibilities -- for a price. With the in-app upgrade, users can search for and subscribe to a variety of podcasts from the comfort of their own handsets. It's pretty simple. The app will automatically download the latest episodes, too, though there's an option to restrict all downloads to WiFi, in case you're worried about eating into your data plan. You can also choose to either stream or download each file, and manage all your feeds straight from your device. It's available now as an update to the DoubleTwist Pro package, though it'll cost you $4.99 to make the jump. If that seems worth it, you can upgrade at the coverage link below.

DoubleTwist update brings podcast support to auditory Android users originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink GigaOM  |  DoubleTwist Blog  | Email this | Comments

Security hounds over at zvelo have discovered a vulnerability in Google Wallet that means your precious PIN can be "easily revealed." Digging through the app's code and using Google's open resources to reveal its contents, they uncovered a piratical treasure trove of data: unique user IDs, Google account information, and the PIN stored as a SHA256 hex-encoded string. Since this string is known to carry four digits, it only takes a "trivial" brute-force attack involving a maximum of 10,000 calculations to decode it. To prove their point, the researchers made a Wallet Cracker app -- demoed after the break -- that does the job quicker than you can say "unexpected overdraft."

Google has been receptive to these findings, but its attempts at a fix have so far been hampered by the need to coordinate with the banks, since changing the way the PIN is stored could also change which agency is responsible for its security. In the meantime, zvelo advises that there are some measures users can take themselves, aside from putting a protective hand over their pockets: refrain from rooting your phone, enable your lock screen, disable USB debugging, enable Full Disk Encryption and keep your handset up-to-date.

Update: Google has responded by emphasizing that it's only users of rooted devices who are at risk. In a statement to TNW it said: "We strongly encourage people to not install Google Wallet on rooted devices and to always set up a screen lock as an additional layer of security for their phone."

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]

Continue reading PSA: Google Wallet vulnerable to 'brute-force' PIN attacks (update: affects rooted devices)

PSA: Google Wallet vulnerable to 'brute-force' PIN attacks (update: affects rooted devices) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  zvelo  | Email this | Comments

Lenovo turned in another stellar earnings report yesterday, following up on a huge Q2 with an encouraging Q3. For the fiscal quarter ended December 31st, the PC maker saw its net profits reach $153 million, marking a 54 percent increase over last year's $99.7 million. Revenue also rose 44 percent last quarter to a record $8.4 billion, thanks in large part to a surge in PC sales. In mature markets, Lenovo saw revenues increase by a whopping 81 percent to $3.6 billion, while emerging market sales reached $1.3 billion, marking a 13 percent rise over the previous year and accounting for about 15 percent of the company's global revenue. The manufacturer saw particularly strong growth in China, where it now enjoys a market share of 35.3 percent, its highest ever. Lenovo attributed much of this to strong smartphone and tablet sales in China, while confirming plans to release a Smart TV within the country, as well (according to CEO Yang Yuanqing, it should hit the market in April). Laptops, however, remain the company's bread and butter, comprising 53 percent of its total revenue last quarter, with sales reaching $4.5 billion -- 30 percent higher than last year. For more numbers, check out the full press release, after the break.

Continue reading Lenovo releases Q3 earnings report, shipments rise, profits soar

Lenovo releases Q3 earnings report, shipments rise, profits soar originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Businessweek  |   | Email this | Comments

The week isn't quite over yet, but it's already shaping up to be a busy one for Google Chrome. After finally bringing its browser to Android on Tuesday, Google yesterday announced an update for the original desktop version, promising faster browsing and enhanced security. More specifically, this new Stable release features a revamped omnibox that will now pre-render pages as a user types in a URL or search query, allowing for faster load times. Google has also tweaked its Safe Browsing feature, which will now automatically scan downloaded files for malware, with an especially sharp focus on any ".exe." or ".msi" files. To determine the safety of a given file, the browser will compare it against a list of publishers and files known to be safe. If it doesn't show up there, Chrome will then consult Google for more information. If the file proves suspicious, it'll warn the user and recommend deleting it. Google added that it's working on an update for its Chrome OS, as well, promising a new image editor and Verizon 3G activation portal, though there's no word yet on when that might roll out. For more details, see the source link below.

Google Chrome update brings speedier browsing, enhanced security, joy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TechCrunch  |  Google Chrome Blog  | Email this | Comments

Sony's push for three dimensional entertainment has inspired it to launch a series of product-loaning machines in the land of Oz. These "3D Library" kiosks, as the manufacturer is simply dubbing 'em, will let Aussies checkout a variety of Sony's 3D-capable products at no cost and for up to three days. Folks itching to create some 3D content for free can choose from the Handycam HDR-TD10, NEX C3 and Bloggie cameras. And, as if hardware wasn't enough, you'll be surprised to hear the company's also throwing in its own flicks and PlayStation games as part of its loaner campaign. The program is underway now, so all you Australians willing to take Sony up on its offer can hit up the PR below to find the nearest freeloading location.

Continue reading Sony's 3D Library lets Aussies borrow products free of charge

Sony's 3D Library lets Aussies borrow products free of charge originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista  |  Sony (Australia)  | Email this | Comments

You may have thought that Sony's Cyber-shot TX200V was the company's most powerful point-and-shoot to date, but that's not exactly true. The company has a Japan-only version of the TX200V called the TX300V, and it's quite a compelling upgrade. The camera's most appealing addition comes in the form of a wireless charging and transfer dock -- it refuels your pocket snapper through inductive charging while also wirelessly transferring images to your computer using TransferJet. It can also draw power from your computer's USB port (no AC adapter required). Oh, and it ships in the camera box.

Sadly, there aren't any plans to sell this iteration outside of Japan, and Sony's mum on pricing and availability. The camera transferred images and charged without issue during our demo (the Charge indicator lit up, at least -- we didn't stick around to watch it charge the camera). We went hands-on with the TX300V and its charging dock at CP+ in Yokohama, and you can check the camera kit out in all its glossy black glory just past the break.

Gallery: Sony Cyber-shot TX300V hands-on

Continue reading Sony Cyber-shot TX300V inductive charging camera and dock hands-on (video)

Sony Cyber-shot TX300V inductive charging camera and dock hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

By now we're quite familiar with the Olympus E-M5's attractive external appearance, but what does it look like on the inside? The company carefully disassembled its new flagship model, and displayed the components in ten layers for us to examine at CP+ in Yokohama, Japan. The image sensor module is perhaps the most impressive component, due in part to its five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization. We can also spot the magnesium alloy shell, main system board and top plate. Another display encased a compete E-M5 kit, with a lens, split right down the middle. You'll find a variety of views in the gallery below, along with a special treat: the all-black version of the E-M5, in all its smooth metal glory.

Gallery: Olympus black E-M5 mirrorless camera and internals eyes-on

Olympus black E-M5 Micro Four Thirds camera and internals eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Have you been holding out on that NEX purchase because of the currently limited E-mount lens selection? Well, Sony's got some good news for you -- there will soon be eight additional lenses to choose from (for a total of 15), with all models making it into circulation by the end of 2013. That's still no match for the hundreds of optics available for Canon or Nikon DSLRs, but you'll at least be able to build a collection that covers (almost) all of your bases. Sony hasn't detailed any of these upcoming models, but the company's chart above lists a few categories, including a High Performance Standard Zoom in the pricey Zeiss category, along with High-magnification, Standard, Wide Angle and Mid-magnification Zooms. There will also be a trio of prime lenses, including a Large Aperture Standard lens, a Middle Telephoto and a "Snap" (pancake) optic. We're just as anxious as you to find out exactly what Sony has in mind for each of these categories, but you should at least take some comfort in knowing that the E-mount collection is far from complete.

Sony promises eight more NEX E-mount lenses by the end of 2013, doesn't elaborate originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  The Sony Blog  | Email this | Comments

After Pentax boasted about the performance of its incredibly small Q mirrorless cam, we're certainly justified in approaching the company's latest ILC with a bit of skepticism -- especially given its blatant toy-like appearance. But after spending a few minutes with the K-01 at Pentax's CP+ booth, we can confirm that the compact camera doesn't feel nearly as cheap as its looks may imply. The camera includes a brand new 16.28-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor -- a far cry from the 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch imager included with the petite Pentax Q. There's also a bright 920k-dot 3-inch LCD, a sensitivity range of ISO 100-25,600 (!) and 1080/30p video capture. It's also, believe it or not, compatible with Pentax's range of K-mount DSLR lenses.

The K-01 is a bit hefty for a mirrorless camera -- it dwarfs the near-pocketable Pentax Q -- and has a weight to match its rather large footprint. The cam actually feels quite durable, though we're definitely not sold on its "fun" Michael-Graves-meets-Fisher-Price design (think smooth corners and bright colors). There's a built-in pop-up flash, along with a hot shoe positioned just over the lens. There's also -- much to our surprise -- a microphone input. We can't imagine pairing this thing with a pricey external mic rig, but if you're not too embarrassed using this for professional applications, the included audio input may come in handy. Jump past the break for a quick video walkthrough from Japan, and keep an eye out for the camera closer to home -- the $750 (body only) K-01 is expected to hit stores next month.

Gallery: Pentax K-01 mirrorless camera hands-on

Continue reading Pentax K-01 mirrorless camera doesn't feel as cheap as it looks, we go hands-on (video)

Pentax K-01 mirrorless camera doesn't feel as cheap as it looks, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments