Thursday, January 26, 2012

1/26 Engadget

     
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Google suggests TCP tweaks to make web pages load faster
January 24, 2012 at 7:49 PM
 
Google suggests TCP tweaks to make web pages load faster
Google has already proven it can load web pages as fast as lightning and flying potatoes, but its "Make the Web Faster" team has grander designs. The speed junkies want to quicken the internet by reworking Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), a key communications method that helps keep the internet working. Google says that it can reduce latency and speed things up by increasing the amount of data that initiates a TCP connection, reducing the initial timeout from three to one seconds, consolidating packets using its new TCP Fast Open protocol and adopting a better algorithm for managing network congestion. These changes are backwards-compatible and open source, but sadly don't include any way to speed up internet standards ratification and deployment, so ironically this might take a while.

Google suggests TCP tweaks to make web pages load faster originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PCWorld  |  sourceGoogle Code blog  | Email this | Comments
   
   
'Still Alive' played on 3D printed record, takes music piracy to complicated new levels
January 24, 2012 at 7:32 PM
 
We're still in the relatively early stages of the 3D printer revolution, and as such, it's hard to say just how these devices will play a role in our daily lives. We've seen some really cool toys like turtleshell racers and Weighted Companion Cubes, but what about some everyday products? This 3D printed record keeps the Portal printer theme going by cutting our old pal Jonathan Coulton's "Still Alive" into its grooves. The single was printed over at Shapeways and played on a Fisher-Price record player. Video after jump.

Continue reading 'Still Alive' played on 3D printed record, takes music piracy to complicated new levels

'Still Alive' played on 3D printed record, takes music piracy to complicated new levels originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cisco unveils Linksys HomePlug AV Powerline solutions, converts outlets into network connection points
January 24, 2012 at 7:12 PM
 
Cisco unveils Linksys HomePlug AV Powerline solutions, converts outlets into network connection points
Looking to boost network range in remote areas of your humble abode? Cisco is now offering an option that turns your electrical outlets into wired network connections with speeds up to 200Mbps. Each Linksys HomePlug AV Powerline option includes an Ethernet adapter that connects to your router and a second adapter for your wired devices elsewhere -- both of which are plugged into sockets of your choosing to get things started. The Powerline then uses your home's electrical wiring for the system, saving the headache of hiding cables for that home office. The company says that the kit will play nice with most household appliances and 1-port and 4-port adapters are available now for $100 each. Want to connect sans wires? A Powerline 1-port Wireless Extender is coming in March that will create a WiFi signal for the HomePlug system. Hopefully wandering peepers won't be able to monitor activity remotely. Fingers crossed.

Continue reading Cisco unveils Linksys HomePlug AV Powerline solutions, converts outlets into network connection points

Cisco unveils Linksys HomePlug AV Powerline solutions, converts outlets into network connection points originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceCisco (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Clearwire Q4: revenues up, costs down, LTE expensive
January 24, 2012 at 6:53 PM
 
Things are looking up at Clearwire, its Q4 revenue came in just over Wall Street's estimates at $362 million, split between $198 million retail and $164 million wholesale -- with the latter figure up 20 percent over the last quarter. It pointed a finger at increased smartphone usage and slashed operating costs (spending only $82 million) as the reason for the bump. With this being Clearwire, it's still in the business doldrums, relying on handouts from Sprint to keep it going. It's planning to flog off around $300 million of debt to "qualified investors" as a way to ensure sufficient funding for the forthcoming LTE rollout. If you're interested in this sort of thing, you can read the full breakdown after the interval, presumably storming around pretending that you're Gordon Gekko.

Continue reading Clearwire Q4: revenues up, costs down, LTE expensive

Clearwire Q4: revenues up, costs down, LTE expensive originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Augmented reality makes Thundercats packaging way cooler than the toys themselves
January 24, 2012 at 6:38 PM
 
What happens when the toy packaging becomes more exciting than the toy itself? It's an interesting experiment that's now seeing the light of day courtesy of Bandai's new Thundercats and Ben 10 toys, which come to life through a smartphone screen via augmented reality. The company promises that the packages help kids "examine every part of the toy before purchase." That's important. And hey, so's setting them up for a lifetime of disappointment. Video and PR after the break.

Continue reading Augmented reality makes Thundercats packaging way cooler than the toys themselves

Augmented reality makes Thundercats packaging way cooler than the toys themselves originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD reports a net loss for Q4 2011, 30 million APUs sold last year
January 24, 2012 at 6:24 PM
 
As the quarterly earnings train rolls along, AMD has announced its results for the last three months of 2011, with weaker than expected sales resulting in a net loss of $177 million on revenue of $1.69 billion. Worse, ZDNet mentions AMD expects revenue to continue to decline as 2012 gets started. Of course, there were highlights including sales of more than 30 million Accelerated Processor Units (APU) for the year, resulting in record annual notebook revenue, while CEO Rory Read also noted "re-gained momentum" in its server business. AMD's revenue remained flat YoY at $6.57 billion, but that and all the other dirty financial details are in the press release after the break. For 2012 Read says AMD is "clear on our priorities and opportunities", we'll see if those newly focused initiatives add up to a better result at this time next year.

Continue reading AMD reports a net loss for Q4 2011, 30 million APUs sold last year

AMD reports a net loss for Q4 2011, 30 million APUs sold last year originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Alpha NEX-7 emerges from the waters, ready for action
January 24, 2012 at 6:14 PM
 
Sony leapt onto the stage to perfect its tap-dancing routine tell the world that the NEX-7, after being beset with flooding-based delays, will take a bow at the end of February. The company's flagship mirrorless ILC will set you back $1,350 for the kit edition with an 18-55mm lens. If you've got a little (weeny bit) more cash, a further £839 ($1,300) will place a compatible Carl Zeiss-branded 24mm F.1.8 lens in your grubby hands. If you're interested in learning what we thought about it, check out our detailed hands-on here.

Sony Alpha NEX-7 emerges from the waters, ready for action originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourcePocket Lint  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Researchers develop 'wireless optical brain router' to manipulate brain cells
January 24, 2012 at 5:58 PM
 
Optogenetics might be a relatively unknown area of neuroscience, but it's one that, thanks to some new research, could soon find itself (and its rodental subjects) in the spotlight. For the uninitiated, it's the practice of manipulating animal cells using light (with a little help from gene therapy). Until now, optogenetic equipment has been large and unwieldy, making testing on subjects (read: rats) painstaking. Startup, Kendall Research, has changed all this, creating wireless prototypes that weigh just three grams (0.11 ounces). By eschewing bulky Lasers for LEDs and Laser diodes, the equipment is small enough that it can be attached to the rodents. At that point, their brain function can be manipulated with the touch of a button, and different parts can be stimulated without breeding mutant variants -- a controversial practice that doesn't even yield results in real time. The "router" is powered wirelessly by super capacitors below test area, and researchers can conduct experiments remotely, even automatically. Human applications for this are still some way off, but we're sure our future overlords will make good use of it.

Researchers develop 'wireless optical brain router' to manipulate brain cells originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink ExtremeTech  |  sourceTechnology Review  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Kindle Touch gets new software version 5.0.3
January 24, 2012 at 5:41 PM
 
Kindle Touch gets new software version 5.0.3
It wasn't all that long ago that the Nook Simple Touch got a bit of freshening up thanks to some new code, and now it's the Kindle Touch's turn for an upgrade. Amazon has just released software version 5.0.3 for its newest e-reader that brings "general software improvements" to the device. We're not sure exactly what that means, but we do know the update will be delivered via WiFi in the next few weeks, and anxious owners interested in grabbing it now can head on down to the source link below.

Kindle Touch gets new software version 5.0.3 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourceAmazon  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Google updates ToS, shares your data across its services (video)
January 24, 2012 at 5:27 PM
 
Google updates ToS, shares your data across your services (video)
You're you, right? Of course you are. If you have an Account, Google knows that too and now, with an updated and streamlined Google Terms of Service, you're even more you than ever before. The company is consolidating most of its more than 70 separate privacy documents into a single Privacy Policy that is so important it gets capitalized. The biggest change? If you have a Google Account, your information will now be shared across the company's many services. Scary? Don't fear -- the company is taking this time to re-iterate its pledge to never sell your personal information, never share it externally and to continue to support the Data Liberation Front. Viva transparency.

Continue reading Google updates ToS, shares your data across its services (video)

Google updates ToS, shares your data across its services (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceThe Official Google blog  | Email this | Comments
   
   
CE-Oh no he didn't!: Tim Cook savoring the iPad's Windows 'cannibalization'
January 24, 2012 at 5:19 PM
 
Tim Cook had plenty of reason to celebrate during today's Apple earnings call -- and really, who can blame the guy if a bit of that celebration spilled over into some old school executive gloating? While talking up the company's impressive iPad numbers -- and the inevitable PC-eclipsing nature of the space, Cook let this bomb drop,

There is cannibalization of the Mac by the iPad, but we think there's more cannibalization of Windows PCs by the iPad - we love that trend.

Yep, the iPad may be eating away at the company's computer business like the iPhone did to the iPod before it, but that's fine, since the tablet looks to be eroding Windows PCs even more so.

CE-Oh no he didn't!: Tim Cook savoring the iPad's Windows 'cannibalization' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next Xbox console to be six times more powerful, headed for fall 2013 release
January 24, 2012 at 5:18 PM
 
Xbox 720, Xbox Loop -- whatever Microsoft ends up calling it, that hot rod of a console looks to be on deck for a late fall 2013 release. According to IGN's sources, this successor to the Redmond gaming throne is purported to pack a GPU based on AMD's 6000 series of chips and will boast silicon circuitry that catapults its performance past Nintendo's upcoming Wii U by 20 percent. If you're looking for a more apples to green X's comparison, this next-gen console's graphical capabilities are also reportedly six times greater than its 360 progenitor. While MS is likely holding back its monstrous new platform for a big E3 reveal, it appears the company's still whittling down its spec list, with dev kits to be issued later this August. No mention was made of its rumored Kinect 2 integration, but we're more than certain that famous hacking tech will be front and center.

Next Xbox console to be six times more powerful, headed for fall 2013 release originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceIGN  | Email this | Comments
   
   
iCloud climbs to 85 million users
January 24, 2012 at 4:58 PM
 
iCloud climbs to 85 million usersIt seems like only yesterday Apple unveiled iCloud to the world at WWDC, just a puff of vapor. Now look at it. The company has just confirmed the service has swelled to 85 million users as part of its Q1 2012 earnings call. That's more than twice as many iPhones as it sold in the same period, but of course it's worth noting that iCloud is, of course, free, so there's no penalty in people sticking their head in and seeing how things feel.

iCloud climbs to 85 million users originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Cook says Apple TV is still 'a hobby,' can't live without it
January 24, 2012 at 4:52 PM
 
Looking forward to an update to your beloved Apple TV? It seems the company still fancies the device as well. On the quarterly numbers call today, Tim Cook quipped that "we still classify this as a hobby, but we continue to add things to it." He went on to say that the company will "continue to pull strings and see where we can take it." This comes on the heels of Cupertino seeing a record 1.4 million units sold last quarter.

Tim Cook says Apple TV is still 'a hobby,' can't live without it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Cook: the tablet will be bigger than the PC one day
January 24, 2012 at 4:44 PM
 
iPad 2
This probably shouldn't shock too many people but, Tim Cook believes the future isn't with the PC, but with the tablet. After shipping 15.4 million iPads in Q1 Cupertino is clearly comfortable with the idea that tablets are taking off and, as we begin to demand our devices become more mobile, it only makes sense that these finger-friendly slates will one day outsell less portable options like laptops and desktops. When might that day come? Well, Mr. Cook refused to speculate, but he was confident that the tablet market will be bigger, at least in terms of units sold, than traditional computers. Cook is already seeing a shift, with the iPad cannibalizing some Mac sale, but he does believe "there's more cannibalization of Windows PCs by the iPad," a trend he clearly loves. We hope, for their own sake, Dell and HP are ready for the coming revolution.

Tim Cook: the tablet will be bigger than the PC one day originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's Q1 hardware sales: 37 million iPhones, 15.43 million iPads, 5.2 million Macs, 15.4 million iPods
January 24, 2012 at 4:30 PM
 
We touched on the numbers in our report on Apple's Q1 earnings, but the company's throwing out a lot of "record" figures and we thought we'd take a moment to focus on just how its hardware sales stack up. The standout figure is, of course, the 37.04 million iPhones sold during the quarter, which is up 128 percent from the same quarter a year ago (and up from 17 million in the previous quarter, a jump of 117 percent). That also puts it back ahead of Samsung, which sold a total of 35 million total smartphones in its most recent quarter. What's more, as blogger Matt Richman notes, a little basic math reveals that Apple sold more iPhones in 2010 (a total of 93.1 million) than it did in 2007, 2008 and 2009 combined.

iPad sales also set a new record 15.43 units sold during the quarter, which is a 111 percent jump from the 7.3 million sold a year ago, and a 39 percent increase from the 11.1 million moved in Q4 2011. Once again, however, iPods were the one category that continues to decline in the face of the growth of smartphones. Apple sold a total of 15.4 million iPods -- over half of which were iPod touches -- which represents a 21 percent decline from the 19.4 million sold a year ago. The holiday shopping season did boost sales considerably from the 6.6 million sold in the previous quarter though.

Mac sales were also on the upswing, totaling 5.2 million units -- a 26 percent increase year-over-year. Breaking things down further, that translates to 1.48 million desktops (including iMac, Mac Mini and Mac Pro), and 3.7 million laptops (including the basic MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro).

Developing...

Apple's Q1 hardware sales: 37 million iPhones, 15.43 million iPads, 5.2 million Macs, 15.4 million iPods originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's Q1 hardware sales: 37 million iPhones, 15.43 million iPads, 5.2 million Macs, 15.4 million iPods
January 24, 2012 at 4:30 PM
 
We touched on the numbers in our report on Apple's Q1 earnings, but the company's throwing out a lot of "record" figures so we thought we'd take a moment to focus on just how its hardware sales stack up. The standout figure is, of course, the 37.04 million iPhones sold during the quarter, which is up 128 percent from the same quarter a year ago (and up from 17 million in the previous quarter, a jump of 117 percent). That also puts it back ahead of Samsung, which sold a total of 35 million total smartphones in its most recent quarter. As if that wasn't enough, Apple's Tim Cook also said on the company's earnings call that it could have sold even more if it had more supply.

iPad sales also set a new record with 15.43 units sold during the quarter, which is a 111 percent jump from the 7.3 million sold a year ago, and a 39 percent increase from the 11.1 million moved in Q4 2011. Once again, however, iPods are the one category that continues to decline in the face of the growth of smartphones. Apple sold a total of 15.4 million iPods -- over half of which were iPod touches -- which represents a 21 percent decline from the 19.4 million sold a year ago. The holiday shopping season did boost sales considerably from the 6.6 million sold in the previous quarter though.

Mac sales were also on the upswing, totaling 5.2 million units -- a 26 percent increase year-over-year. Breaking things down further, that translates to 1.48 million desktops (including iMac, Mac Mini and Mac Pro), and 3.7 million laptops (including the basic MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro). As for the company's "hobby," the Apple TV, it rang up 1.4 million in sales for the quarter, and 2.8 million for the 2011 fiscal year.

Apple's Q1 hardware sales: 37 million iPhones, 15.43 million iPads, 5.2 million Macs, 15.4 million iPods originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceApple  | Email this | Comments
   
   
iBooks Author sees 600,000 initial downloads, 3 million total now for iTunes U
January 24, 2012 at 4:26 PM
 
Apple announced on their quarterly earnings call this afternoon that iBooks Author had seen 600,000 downloads since its unveiling last week. The folks in Cupertino also mentioned that iTunes U has seen 3 million app downloads, feeling a bump from the revamped releash a few days ago. One other interesting tidbit: currently, 1.5 million iPads have been deployed in schools. We'd surmize that those numbers will go up as iBooks 2 and iBook Author start to pound the pavement in the months ahead.

Developing...

iBooks Author sees 600,000 initial downloads, 3 million total now for iTunes U originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iBooks Author sees 600,000 initial downloads, 3 million for iTunes U app
January 24, 2012 at 4:26 PM
 
Apple announced on its quarterly earnings call this afternoon that iBooks Author had seen 600,000 downloads since its unveiling last week. The folks in Cupertino also mentioned that iTunes U has seen 3 million app downloads, feeling a bump from the announcement a few days ago. One other interesting tidbit: currently, 1.5 million iPads have been deployed in schools. We'd surmise that those numbers will continue to increase as iBooks 2 and iBook Author start to pound the pavement in the months ahead.

iBooks Author sees 600,000 initial downloads, 3 million for iTunes U app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eye3 hexicopter helps your DSLR take flight for $999
January 24, 2012 at 3:49 PM
 
Your camera wants to take flight -- trust us, it does -- and an ambitious new project aims to make your DSLR's aeronautic ambitions a reality. The eye3 hexacopter is a six-armed carbon-fiber unmanned arial vehicle (UAV) that hopes to make aerial photography accessible to the masses. Designed by a couple with a hankering for robotics, the flying machine is modular (for easy repair) and navigates using a combination of Google Maps and open-source code. Those without a pilot license need not worry: the eye3 utilizes the oft-improving APM2 software for a "compact yet powerful" autopilot experience. The UAV can carry a payload of five to ten pounds, boasts three CPUs and has a 350-watt motor strapped to each tentacle. Fly past the break to watch a video from eye3's creators... get to the choppa'!

Continue reading eye3 hexicopter helps your DSLR take flight for $999

eye3 hexicopter helps your DSLR take flight for $999 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink ExtremeTech  |  sourceKickstarter  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Apple announces Q1 earnings, sets quarterly record with $46.33 billion in revenue
January 24, 2012 at 3:32 PM
 
Apple Store Grand Central
It's that time folks: time for the quarterly running of the spreadsheets. Today Apple, one the most anticipated of all, is revealing its earnings for the past three months and let's just say things are lookin' pretty good for the Cupertino crew. The company set a new record for quarterly revenue and profit in Q1 of 2012, netting $46.33 billion in total with $13.06 billion earnings. That's nearly twice what Apple announced for the same (at the time record-setting) period last year -- $26.74 billion and $6 billion, respectively. In total the company shipped 15.4 million iPads, 15.4 million iPods and 5.2 million macs this quarter, and that bottom line was certainly helped by a healthy holiday season.

Perhaps more importantly, though, the company sold just over 37 million iPhones -- a 128 percent increase over the same quarter last year and greatly exceeding industry estimates. This also means that moves Apple back into the number one slot, ahead of Samsung which sold a stunning 35 million units this last quarter. Check out the complete PR after the break.

Developing...

Continue reading Apple announces Q1 earnings, sets quarterly record with $46.33 billion in revenue

Apple announces Q1 earnings, sets quarterly record with $46.33 billion in revenue originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Magnetic soap could make your next oil spill less oily
January 24, 2012 at 3:24 PM
 
Instead of spending millions upon millions to clean up the next oil spill, why don't we just all pitch in and buy some soap? That's basically what researchers at the University of Bristol are proposing, with a new kind of soap that's apparently like no other. This soap, you see, is magnetic, which means it could be easily removed from water without leaving behind any hazardous chemicals -- a potentially major selling point for cleanup crews and environmentalists alike. To create it, the team collected water with chlorine and bromine ions, and used it to dissolve iron particles, creating a metallic core. They proceeded to test their creation by placing the soapy particles within a test tube, underneath layers of water and oil. Much to their delight, they were able to remove the particles with only a magnet, ostensibly providing a template upon which disaster response crews may build.

Magnetic soap could make your next oil spill less oily originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNew Scientist  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Sony reminds Japan that Walkmans still exists, new E series packs built-in noise cancellation
January 24, 2012 at 2:58 PM
 

The latest addition Walkman series continues the petite styling we've seen over the years, and Sony's cheerleading that it's both thinner (9.1mm) and lighter (37g) than its predecessor. The E-series includes a 1.4-inch colour LCD display, while we're promised at around 30 hours of music playback per charge. Alongside the standard NW-E060 model (9,000 yen, $116) the NW-E060K (11,000 yen, $142) throws in a plug-in speaker. Both models offer noise-cancelling features and promise to cut surrounding noise by around 98 percent, with train, flight and indoor modes hopefully able to absorb most audio irritations.

The new music players are joined by a pair of new docks. The RDP-NWG400B (13,000 yen, $181) can connect to devices through Bluetooth, while the RDP-NWM7 (8,000 yen, $140) wants to take your music outside, bigging up the built-in handle for that very reason. Both are available now in white and black. No news on whether the player refreshes and docks will travel beyond the Land of the Rising Sun, but we'd imagine it's pretty likely. Check out the docks after the break and get the whole (Google-translated) picture at the source below.

Continue reading Sony reminds Japan that Walkmans still exists, new E series packs built-in noise cancellation

Sony reminds Japan that Walkmans still exists, new E series packs built-in noise cancellation originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourceSony (translated) (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Microsoft's MIX is no more, to be rolled into another BUILD-like conference
January 24, 2012 at 2:33 PM
 
Whispers that Microsoft's MIX conference was on life support have just proven true. Redmond confirmed on its blog that the yearly web-centric conference will no longer be held, as it refocuses its efforts on larger and more broad platform-centric events, much in the vein of last year's BUILD. Following its pull-out from CES, the company muses focusing on less events means it'll maximize the effectiveness of its engineers and the press alike. We're also told, an event on the calibre of last year's BUILD is still in the cards, and that more details will follow later in the year. Full explanation awaits at the source.

Microsoft's MIX is no more, to be rolled into another BUILD-like conference originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge, ZDNet  |  sourceThe Official Microsoft Blog  | Email this | Comments
   
   
G-Shock prototype phone hides its craggy looks at CES, only fears your stares
January 24, 2012 at 2:03 PM
 

Like your phones tough? Casio's apparently crafted another hardy device and this one appears to be running Android Gingerbread. The unnamed device can handle ten-foot drops and ten meters of water, while scaring small children at the same time. Hiding under a bridge somewhere in Las Vegas, it somehow avoided our patrols of the CES showfloor. The rubberized smartphone holds on to those G-Shock looks, with nubs mimicking the layout of Casio's ubiquitous digital watch. Aside from the super-tough credentials emblazoned on the back of the device, other specs remain unknown. MyNavi reports that the device remains a concept at the moment, although Casio still seems more than happy to show off the phone on its Facebook page. Interested in another option besides those smartphone-friendly G-Shocks? You can peruse the source for a full gallery of the hardware.

[Thanks GreeKNastY]

G-Shock prototype phone hides its craggy looks at CES, only fears your stares originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Droid-Life  |  sourceMyNavi (translated), Facebook  | Email this | Comments
   
   
UK Greenlights first marine-energy park in the heart of Brunel-country
January 24, 2012 at 1:39 PM
 
The West Country is home to some of the finest engineering anywhere in the UK, thanks to the region's historical patronage of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. That reputation will continue thanks to the Department of Energy and Climate Change naming it as the home of the nation's first marine energy park. Running from Bristol, past Cornwall and out to the Isles of Scilly, the tidal-power plant is expected to generate 27 Gigawatts of power, the equivalent of eight coal-fired power stations. Of course, harnessing the energy of the seas isn't something we'll be seeing soon as the project's earmarked to be ready for 2050, around the same time we're likely to get LTE.

Continue reading UK Greenlights first marine-energy park in the heart of Brunel-country

UK Greenlights first marine-energy park in the heart of Brunel-country originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Inhabitat  |  sourceDECC  | Email this | Comments
   
   
BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9981 review
January 24, 2012 at 1:00 PM
 
Research in Motion, regardless of how you may view its recent history or its long-term future, still has a stronghold on the corporate world. Its lineup of BlackBerry smartphones are known for great battery life, comfortable keyboards with intuitive shortcuts, top-notch native email and Enterprise clients and -- most important to businesses -- unrivaled security features. Sure, its influence is waning as competitors have caught up in some areas (and surpassed it in others), but there are plenty of companies that have clung to their CrackBerries and held on tight.

RIM's been hard at work trying to regain lost momentum by introducing a series of new devices featuring its latest OS, BlackBerry 7, and the BlackBerry Bold 9900 / 9930 series has been the star of the show so far. The problem is, it's not flashy enough. How is a C-level exec supposed to walk proudly on the golf course with a $300 (subsidized) phone? Talk about embarrassing. Have no fear, poor corporate top dog, luxury brand Porsche Design has come up with a solution: the $2,300 BlackBerry P'9981, a Vertu-ized version of that lesser handset you wouldn't be caught dead using.

The P'9981 is available only in the UK and the Middle East for now, so until the device arrives in the US this Spring, anyone who lives stateside will have to rely on retailers to import some in. Fortunately we got the hookup by our friends at Negri Electronics, who happily lent us one of the few handsets they have in stock. As a result, we're now able to discuss the real questions circling around such a Richie Rich smartphone: what in the blue blazes makes this so expensive? Is it even worth it? How different is it from a standard BlackBerry Bold 9900? You'll find these answers and plenty of mysteries unravelled after the break.

Continue reading BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9981 review

BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9981 review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boxee Box Live TV starts shipping, Boxee 1.5 software update now rolling out
January 24, 2012 at 12:37 PM
 
Boxee Live TV now shipping, Boxee 1.5 rolling out to existing Boxee Boxes
Both have been promised as coming soon in recent weeks, and now Boxee has confirmed that two fairly big new rollouts are underway. The first is the Boxee Box Live TV dongle, which is now shipping and will let you augment your Boxee Box with some OTA TV channels for $50. You can get a closer look at it in our hands-on from CES earlier this month. Alongside it, Boxee is also rolling out its Boxee 1.5 software update, which boasts a new UI and a number of other refinements including better search, new library screens and filtering options, browser pop-up management, and the addition of Rotten Tomatoes listings. Boxee says it's staggering the release over the next 72 hours, but those eager to check it out can find instructions for a manual update at the support link below.

Boxee Box Live TV starts shipping, Boxee 1.5 software update now rolling out originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBoxee Blog, Boxee Support  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Klipsch Mode M40 noise-cancelling headphones review
January 24, 2012 at 12:00 PM
 
Around these parts, we've generally had favorable opinions of Klipsch's audio products. Whether it's been something as small as its S4 line of smartphone oriented in-ears or grand speaker systems like its AirPlay-enabled G-17 Air, we've usually ended up awarding the brand our highest praise. If you'll recall, it was little over a year ago that Klipsch introduced its $150 Image One on-ear headphones -- the company's first set ever that weren't of the intra-aural variety, and a favorite of our own James Trew.

Fast forward to the present, and the company's unleashed its second proper over-the-head headphone, the Klipsch Mode M40 with active noise-cancellation. In recent years, headphones have exploded in popularity -- many companies have been furiously trying to blend good sound with fashion-forward looks. It's safe to say that's Klipsch's end game here, and is asking that you part ways with 350 bones to get in on the action.

Put simply, these aren't a follow-up to the Image Ones, but rather, a luxury pair that takes cues from the company's reference series headphones. Of course, as we've come to expect from Klipsch, the M40s do have some notable tricks up their yokes aside from their debatably fashionable looks -- the company promises they'll cancel noise for a massively long 45 hours on a single AAA battery, and both earcups feature an interesting dual-driver array with a 15mm tweeter and a 40mm woofer. So, have the M40s made us smitten with Klipsch all over again? Or not? Maybe something a bit more complicated? Click on past the break to find out!

Continue reading Klipsch Mode M40 noise-cancelling headphones review

Klipsch Mode M40 noise-cancelling headphones review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Orange offers free Wikipedia access to mobile users in Africa and the Middle East
January 24, 2012 at 11:41 AM
 
There are more than 70 million Orange customers across Africa and the Middle East, but only about 10 million are able to access the web from their handsets. That gap may be narrowing, though, now that the provider has decided to offer free mobile access to Wikipedia for users throughout the region. Under the program, users with an Orange SIM card and a web-enabled phone will be able to access the site as many times as they want, without incurring any data charges. Heralding the partnership as the first of its kind, Orange says its new initiative should make it easier for emerging market consumers to access the online encyclopedia, which Wikimedia Foundation director Sue Gardner described as a "public good." The offer is slated to roll out across 20 countries in Africa and the Middle East, beginning early this year. Find more details in the press release, after the break.

Continue reading Orange offers free Wikipedia access to mobile users in Africa and the Middle East

Orange offers free Wikipedia access to mobile users in Africa and the Middle East originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers use lasers to supercool semiconductor membranes, blow your mind
January 24, 2012 at 11:22 AM
 
Ah, lasers. Those wonderful, super intense beams of light that we've seen used in headlights, projectors, and naturally, death rays. Like us, researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen figure there's nothing lasers can't do, and have figured out a way to use them to cool a bit of semiconducting material. This bit of black magic works using a membrane made of gallium arsenide and is based upon principles of quantum physics and optomechanics (the interaction between light and mechanical motion).

Turns out, when a one millimeter square membrane of gallium arsenide is placed parallel to a mirror in a vacuum chamber and bombarded with a laser beam, an optical resonator is created between them that oscillates the membrane. As the distance between the gallium arsenide and the mirror changes, so do the membrane's oscillations. And, at a certain frequency, the membrane is cooled to minus 269 degrees Celsius -- despite the fact that the membrane itself is being heated by the laser. So, lasers can both heat things up and cool them down simultaneously, and if that confuses you as much as it does us, feel free to dig into the science behind this paradoxical bit of research at the source below. In other news, left is right, up is down, and Eli Manning is a beloved folk hero to all Bostonians.

Researchers use lasers to supercool semiconductor membranes, blow your mind originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TG Daily  |  sourceNiels Bohr Institute  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Burn baby burn: HP pays out $425,000 to prevent a disco (laptop) inferno
January 24, 2012 at 11:01 AM
 
The Haus of Meg will pay $425,000 in order to settle a claim that it consciously flogged laptops with batteries that could overheat or catch fire. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission slapped the company on the wrist for not issuing a recall quickly enough. It claimed that HP knew about 22 incidents involving battery 'splosions by September 2007 -- including one instance of a user being hospitalized, but didn't begin issuing a recall until ten months later. By May 2011, the company had recalled over 90,000 affected units that were prone to the odd bout of spontaneous combustion. If you're concerned you've got a duff battery, check out our list here.

Continue reading Burn baby burn: HP pays out $425,000 to prevent a disco (laptop) inferno

Burn baby burn: HP pays out $425,000 to prevent a disco (laptop) inferno originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Macworld  |  sourceUSCPSC  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Canon EOS C300 to hit Japanese stores on the 31st, PL version coming in March
January 24, 2012 at 10:39 AM
 
Do you have deep pockets? And do those pockets happen to be located in Japan? Well if you're also in the market for Canon's EOS C300 cinema camera, you might be in luck. The company has confirmed that its motion-picture-shooting flagship will be available in Japanese retail stores by January 31st -- exactly one week from today. As the story goes with expensive electronics in Japan, pricing is "open" at this point, meaning you might have to hit up a retailer for an amount before making two dozen trips to the ATM. But if money's no object (just that pesky release date), you should be on your way to making Cinema EOS magic before the month is out. And if your kit is best suited for the PL-mount version, expect that to ship in late March, "open" pricing in tow.

Canon EOS C300 to hit Japanese stores on the 31st, PL version coming in March originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourceCanon (Japan)  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Facebook Timeline feature, unflattering photos being pushed out to all users in next few weeks
January 24, 2012 at 10:16 AM
 
Okay, so now that we've all had sufficient time to go on an untagging spree, Facebook is finally getting ready to begin pushing its new layout to all users. Timeline will be rolled out to everyone over the next few weeks, with the social network giving you seven days to preview it before going live, you know, just in case...

Facebook Timeline feature, unflattering photos being pushed out to all users in next few weeks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink All Things D  |  sourceFacebook  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Droid RAZR Maxx hits Verizon on January 26th for $299 on contract
January 24, 2012 at 10:00 AM
 
While good handsets do tend to come in small packages, longer lasting ones are undoubtedly a bit fatter. And so, dear chubby phone chasing fans, Verizon's girthy revamp on its branding mash-up -- the Droid Razr Maxx -- is set for an official bow. After softly leaking the handset's launch date on its site, the operator's finally ready to roll out the Big Red carpet for the Moto-made device on January 26th. For $299 on contract, you're still getting the same dual-core, Gingerbread handset and 4.3-inch qHD display, but this time the zip and sip of the network's LTE won't do much damage to the truly beefy 3,300mAh battery. See? It's definitely deserving of that clunky, Maxximum moniker. Hop on past the break for the company's official presser.

Continue reading Droid RAZR Maxx hits Verizon on January 26th for $299 on contract

Droid RAZR Maxx hits Verizon on January 26th for $299 on contract originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Droid Razr Maxx hits Verizon on January 26th for $299 on contract
January 24, 2012 at 10:00 AM
 
While good handsets do tend to come in small packages, longer lasting ones are undoubtedly a bit fatter. And so, dear chubby phone chasing fans, Verizon's girthy revamp on its branding mash-up -- the Droid Razr Maxx -- is set for an official bow. After softly leaking the handset's launch date on its site, the operator's finally ready to roll out the Big Red carpet for Moto's LTE device on January 26th. For $299 on contract, you're still getting the same dual-core, Gingerbread handset and 4.3-inch qHD display, but this time the zip and sip of the network's LTE won't do much damage to the truly beefy 3,300mAh battery. Check out the official presser after the break.

Continue reading Droid Razr Maxx hits Verizon on January 26th for $299 on contract

Droid Razr Maxx hits Verizon on January 26th for $299 on contract originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple now the largest buyer of semiconductors according to Gartner
January 24, 2012 at 9:47 AM
 
Gartner
No one would be shocked to learn that Apple is a major purchaser of semiconductors. Heck, hearing that the company is number one on that list might not even raise too many eyebrows. But, what if you we told you last year the Cupertino crew wasn't the biggest purchaser, or even the second. In 2010 the House that Jobs Built was a distant third behind Samsung and HP but, following a significant surge thanks to the iPad 2 and the updated MacBook Air, its bumped those companies back a slot. In 2011 Apple increased its semiconductor spending by 34.6 percent, from $12.8 billion to $17.3 billion. Samsung stayed in the number two spot with a 9.2 percent jump in spending to $16.68 billion. Meanwhile HP dropped from first, spending only $16.62 billion and settling for the bronze. Check out the source link for the complete rankings from Gartner.

Continue reading Apple now the largest buyer of semiconductors according to Gartner

Apple now the largest buyer of semiconductors according to Gartner originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PCWorld  |  sourceGartner  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Murtazin: 'Nokia Lumia 910 will arrive in May, pack 12MP camera'
January 24, 2012 at 9:18 AM
 

Ah, Eldar Murtazin. Sometimes he's (sort of) right, sometimes he's wrong. But he managed to predict the Nokia-WinPho love-in ahead of any official announcement and that still counts for something, right? His latest missive concerns the news of the Lumia 900's likely summer-time flight across the Atlantic. While it's not going to tout the LTE radios of the American edition, Eldar's more concerned about a phone that no-one's yet heard of. Yes, the Lumia 910, which according to the thorn in Nokia's side, will land in the old country sometime in May -- ahead of the posited June launch for the Lumia 900 in the UK. Murtazin is keeping any other details close to his chest for now, aside from the tantalizing mention of a whopping 12 megapixel camera. We know that Nokia knows exactly how to craft a good cameraphone, but we're keeping this rumor firmly in the maybe-could-be-possibly camp, right next to the salt mines.

Murtazin: 'Nokia Lumia 910 will arrive in May, pack 12MP camera' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceEldar Murtazin (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Murtazin: 'Nokia Lumia 910 will arrive in May, pack 12MP camera'
January 24, 2012 at 9:18 AM
 

Ah, Eldar Murtazin. Sometimes he's (sort of) right, sometimes he's wrong. But he manged to predict the Nokia-WinPho love-in ahead of any official announcement and that still counts for something, right? His latest missive concerns the news of the Lumia 900's likely summer-time flight across the Atlantic. While it's not going to tout the LTE radios of the American edition, Eldar's more concerned about a phone that no-one's yet heard of. Yes, the Lumia 910, which according to the thorn in Nokia's side, will land in the old country sometime in May -- ahead of the posited June launch for the Lumia 900 in the UK. Murtazin is keeping any other details close to his chest for now, aside from the tantalizing mention of a whopping 12 megapixel camera. We know that Nokia knows exactly how to craft a good cameraphone, but we're keeping this rumor firmly in the maybe-could-be-possibly camp, right next to the salt mines.

Murtazin: 'Nokia Lumia 910 will arrive in May, pack 12MP camera' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceEldar Murtazin (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Monty Python and the Holy Grail comes to Blu-ray March 6th, brings an iPad app
January 24, 2012 at 8:51 AM
 
Even in 2012 there are a number of classic films that have yet to be released on Blu-ray, but we can knock one off that list March 6th when Monty Python and the Holy Grail comes home from Sony Pictures. Beyond being remastered in HD and featuring a 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack, the release will also bring exclusive Lost Animations, extended scenes and outtakes features running for over 30 minutes. iPad owners will also be able to snag a companion Second Screen app called The Holy Book of Days that includes special background content from each of the 28 days of the movie's filming. It will cost $4.99 on its own, but for a "limited time" there's a $5 rebate available for those who purchase both disc and app. The disc comes with an Ultraviolet Digital Copy and has an MSRP of $19.99, but Amazon's preorder pricing is already down to $12.99. Check out the full list of extras in details in the press release after the break, and if you're not already familiar with the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow (African or European) we've included the old DVD trailer from a few years ago as well.

Continue reading Monty Python and the Holy Grail comes to Blu-ray March 6th, brings an iPad app

Monty Python and the Holy Grail comes to Blu-ray March 6th, brings an iPad app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google + Nicknames = Hilarity
January 24, 2012 at 8:27 AM
 
Google's so desperate for the boys to come to its yard that it won't be long before it buys a milkshake factory. Until then, it's relaxing its ban on nicknames for Google+ users: now amusingly nicknamed composer W.G. "Snuffy" Walden can get back to being himself. Just remember that any name change will carry through Google's entire online service, so try to avoid anything too raunchy if you also use Gmail for work. If you use a pseudonym (say "Madonna") then you'll have to submit scanned copies of you getting papped in Hollywood before you'll be able to use your assumed name. The service will be quietly rolling out to users in the next week, to add your own hilarious nickname, just edit your profile's name and hit the More Options text to the right.

Google + Nicknames = Hilarity originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista  |  sourceGoogle+  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Microsoft outlines Windows 8 wireless improvements
January 24, 2012 at 8:10 AM
 
It wasn't long ago that wireless networking in Windows was a hodgepodge mess of vendor-specific drivers and apps all conspiring against Microsoft's default interface. Windows 7 solved this in part by streamlining WiFi connectivity, but it appears once again that Microsoft wants to extend the idea to 3G and 4G networking in Windows 8 -- with built-in data activation and usage tools to boot. So, if you've been longing to show VZAccess Manager the door, you'll find more details in the source link below.

Microsoft outlines Windows 8 wireless improvements originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink AnandTech, CNET  |  sourceMSDN  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Living la vita hacker: PS3 firmware exploit expands Vita Remote Play options
January 24, 2012 at 7:50 AM
 
Those gosh-darned hackers just refuse to get off Sony's lawn, serving up yet another exploit for the outfit's latest baby, the PlayStation Vita. Well, sort of -- the Vita's own code hasn't been breached, but it sure plays nice with PlayStation 3 custom firmware 3.55. The PS3 tweak apparently recognizes the Vita as a mobile phone, which somehow allows it to Remote Play a wider assortment of PS3 games than normal. It's not all unicorns and double rainbows, however, as input lag appears to be an issue -- but it should help tide over enterprising Vita owners until Sony officially expands its list of Remote Play-compatible titles. In the meantime, those on the straight and narrow can console themselves with the Vita's recently updated 3G data plan. Hit the break to see the trick cram Battlefield 3 onto the small screen.

Continue reading Living la vita hacker: PS3 firmware exploit expands Vita Remote Play options

Living la vita hacker: PS3 firmware exploit expands Vita Remote Play options originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |  sourceYouTube  | Email this | Comments
   
   
PlayStation 3 video editor to hit Europe in Q1, 10 Euros at launch
January 24, 2012 at 7:34 AM
 

While Mr. Blurrycam already spotted the upcoming PlayStation 3 video editor at CES, he was unable to divulge any details on release dates. We were similarly unable to wring out much more when we hit the show floor ourselves. Now, Sony has finally outed a few key tidbits, including the fact that Europe can expect it to arrive by the end of Q1 and that you'll have to fork out for the pleasure -- priced at around €10 ($13). According to Electricpig, the PlayMemories Studio will offer up cropping and zooming tools, slow-mo, and a medley of sound and visual effects. Incoming versions of the movie editor for iOS and Android, however, will still arrive gratis. Are you willing to stump up to get your Spielberg on? While there's nothing concrete on a US launch date just yet, we'd expect to see the editor to make a similar appearance over the next few months.

PlayStation 3 video editor to hit Europe in Q1, 10 Euros at launch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceElectricpig  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Verizon releases Q4 results, sees jump in revenue, broadband subscribers, net loss
January 24, 2012 at 6:52 AM
 
Verizon has just come out with its Q4 results this morning, ending the fiscal year with yet another solid revenue report, and a decidedly less rosy net loss. According to the provider, total revenue reached $18.3 billion during the final quarter of 2011, up 13 percent from last year. Verizon saw a particularly notable spike in data revenue, which reached $6.3 billion, representing a 19.2 percent increase over the year, and comprising nearly 42 percent of all revenue. Overall, though, VZW finished the quarter with a net loss of $2.02 billion, compared to the $2.64 billion profit it saw last year. The company also saw an increase in its subscriber base, adding 98,000 broadband customers in the span of a quarter, including 201,000 FiOS internet users, 194,000 new FiOS video subscribers, and a net addition of 1.2 million postpaid customers. As far as demographics go, smartphones now comprise a full 44 percent of Verizon's consumer base, up from 39 percent last quarter. For the full year, total revenue finished at $70.2 billion, up 10.6 percent from Big Red's 2010 figures. For more stats and breakdowns, check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading Verizon releases Q4 results, sees jump in revenue, broadband subscribers, net loss

Verizon releases Q4 results, sees jump in revenue, broadband subscribers, net loss originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Bloomberg  |   | Email this | Comments
   
   
Verizon releases Q4 results, sees jump in revenue, broadband subscribers
January 24, 2012 at 6:52 AM
 
Verizon has just come out with its Q4 results this morning, ending the fiscal year with yet another solid performance. According to the provider, total revenue reached $18.3 billion during the final quarter of 2011, up 13 percent from last year. Verizon saw a particularly notable spike in data revenue, which reached $6.3 billion, representing a 19.2 percent increase over the year, and nearly 42 percent of all revenue. The company also saw an increase in its subscriber base, adding 98,000 broadband customers in the span of a quarter, along with a net increase of 1.2 million postpaid subscribers. For the full year, total revenue finished at $70.2 billion, up 10.6 percent from Big Red's 2010 figures. For more stats and breakdowns, check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading Verizon releases Q4 results, sees jump in revenue, broadband subscribers

Verizon releases Q4 results, sees jump in revenue, broadband subscribers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia penalised for texting tips to Aussie users, regrets not adding unsubscribe option
January 24, 2012 at 6:31 AM
 
Here's a bit of bad news for those who actually enjoy receiving Nokia's regular tips via SMS: Reuters reports that the Australian Communications and Media Authority has slapped the Finnish company a hefty A$55,000 ($58,000) fine, with the reason being that there was no way to unsubscribe from said messages. This kind of flaw sure is a surprise at this day and age, but Nokia's already taken action by simply axing this spammy service entirely in Australia, while at the same time "ramping it down elsewhere" just to be safe, according to Reuters. If Pope Benedict is still going about his texting business over there, we sure hope he won't be next on the Aussie naughty list.

[Image credit: Ester Inbar]

Nokia penalised for texting tips to Aussie users, regrets not adding unsubscribe option originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Dutch court rejects Apple appeal, says Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is legal
January 24, 2012 at 5:33 AM
 
A court in the Hague has just cleared the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 for sale in the Netherlands, rejecting Apple's requests for a nationwide ban. As NU.nl reports, a different Dutch court had already issued a similar ruling in October, which Cupertino promptly appealed, claiming that Sammy's slate was too similar to its own iPad 2. Today, though, the Court of the Hague shot down Apple's arguments, determining that there are enough differences between the two products to legally justify their coexistence. Granted, this is only one of many patent battles that the two companies are currently waging, but for today, at least, it looks like Samsung has come out on top.

Dutch court rejects Apple appeal, says Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is legal originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Tweakers.net  |  sourceNU.nl  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Judge forces defendant to decrypt laptop, fuels debate over Fifth Amendment rights
January 24, 2012 at 5:13 AM
 
A judge in Colorado yesterday ordered a defendant to decrypt her laptop's hard drive at the prosecution's request, adding new fire to the ongoing debate surrounding consumer technology and the Fifth Amendment. The defendant, Ramona Fricosu, is facing charges of bank fraud, stemming from a federal investigation launched in 2010. As part of this investigation, federal authorities used a search warrant to seize her Toshiba Satellite M305 laptop. Fricosu's legal team had previously refused to decrypt the computer, on the grounds that doing so would violate her Fifth Amendment rights to avoid self-incrimination. On Monday, though, US District Judge Robert Blackburn ruled against the defendant, arguing that the prosecution retained the right to access her device, as stipulated under the All Writs Act -- a law that requires mobile operators to comply with federal surveillance.

"I conclude that the Fifth Amendment is not implicated by requiring production of the unencrypted contents of the Toshiba Satellite M305 laptop computer," Blackburn wrote, adding that there was strong evidence to suggest that Fricosu's computer contained information pertinent to the case. Fricosu's lawyer, Phil Dubois, is hoping to obtain a stay on the ruling, in the hopes of taking the case to an appeals court. "I think it's a matter of national importance," Dubois explained. "It should not be treated as though it's just another day in Fourth Amendment litigation." It remains to be seen whether Dubois succeeds in his appeal, though civil libertarians are already paying close attention to the case, since the US Supreme Court has yet to weigh in on the matter.

Judge forces defendant to decrypt laptop, fuels debate over Fifth Amendment rights originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Wired  |  sourceCourt order (PDF)  | Email this | Comments
   
   
NBC News grows a digital publishing arm, plans 30 titles for 2012
January 24, 2012 at 4:15 AM
 
Because you can never have your fingers in too many media pies, the powers that be at NBC News are now extending their reach into the eReader space. Under the company's newly minted NBC Publishing imprint, coverage related to current events, docs and bios, in addition to content culled from other NBC Universal divisions, will get a second life as either digital singles (think: longer than an article, shorter than a few chapters) or straight-up eBooks, with about 30 titles slated for this year. The venture, spearheaded by GM Michael Fabiano, will also reportedly serve as a platform for indie authors that rely heavily upon NBC's own archives for sourcing in their work. So, will this brave, new embrace of a 21st century business model manage to wean news junkies off that 24/7 cable drip and back into the Peacock's greedy eager arms? Hard to say until that first title hits virtual stands next month. But when it does, here's to hoping it's more Brian Williams: A Man Mad About Lana Del Rey, than Telemundo: Inside the Telenovela. Just sayin'.

NBC News grows a digital publishing arm, plans 30 titles for 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MediaBistro  |  sourcePublishers Weekly  | Email this | Comments
   
     
 
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