| Brookstone fuel cell USB charger to keep phones powered for two weeks, Engadget editors happy May 9th 2012, 08:41  If there's a pain that Engadget writers know all too well, it's running out of battery life for a smartphone when we need it most. Say, at a major trade show. That's why we're enthused to hear of an upcoming fuel cell USB charger that Lilliputian Systems is developing for Brookstone. The lighter fluid-filled tank should provide up to 14 full charges for your phone before you need to spend a few dollars to top up, or two weeks if you power up daily -- we'd call that about two CES' worth in our lingo. Better still, using a solid oxide membrane on silicon not only makes a long fuel cell runtime possible, longer than we've seen for methanol, but makes the phone-sized pack safe to carry on the airliners we ride entirely too often. Pricing has yet to be sorted out, but with Brookstone stores likely to start carrying the fuel cell before the end of the year, it should be ready just in time for our next big trip to Las Vegas. Brookstone fuel cell USB charger to keep phones powered for two weeks, Engadget editors happy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 04:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | CNET | Email this | Comments | | Logitech Alert 750n adds wide-angle night vision for improved indoor snooping, we go hands-on May 9th 2012, 08:00  Unable to sleep soundly because of the lingering fear that someone's rummaging around your living room? Logitech's newest surveillance gizmo, the 750n Indoor Master System, should ease your worries, since it adds 130-degree night vision and illuminates whatever's lurking in the darkness at a distance of up to 50 feet. Like Logitech's older products, such as the Alert Master, the 750n records video at 960 x 720p, and it uses the same HomePlug adapter for installation. If you're already feeding your paranoia with a Logitech Alert Master, you can upgrade to the night-vision capabilities with the 700n Indoor Add-On Camera. The products cost $300 and $230, respectively, and will be available before the end of the month, but you can join us after the break for our impressions. Continue reading Logitech Alert 750n adds wide-angle night vision for improved indoor snooping, we go hands-on Logitech Alert 750n adds wide-angle night vision for improved indoor snooping, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Aperion unveils the ARIS wireless speaker, invites Windows devices to the wireless shindig for $499 May 9th 2012, 07:38  Jealous of your iOS-wielding mates and their fancy AirPlay docks? If so, Aperion Audio is looking provide some relief. The outfit has revealed the ARIS, a wireless speaker that makes use of the Play To feature that resides within the Windows OS. You can expect WiFi or Ethernet connectivity via your home network at the push of a button, enabling the 100W RMS speaker to blast your tunes from across the room without creating a cable obstacle course. The kit is housed in a brushed aluminum enclosure that rests atop an adjustable / removable steel base and features three sounds modes for your listening pleasure: natural, bass boost and enhanced stereo. There's also an ARIS app that allows you to select music from any device on the network for playback on the speaker -- transforming your smartphone into a remote control of sorts. Should the need arise for wired streaming (via non-Windows devices, we'd surmise), an auxiliary jack resides on the speaker's backside. If you're looking to snag one, it'll set you back $499. Still interested? Take a gander at the gallery below before hitting the source link to pre-order yours to ship next month. Continue reading Aperion unveils the ARIS wireless speaker, invites Windows devices to the wireless shindig for $499 Aperion unveils the ARIS wireless speaker, invites Windows devices to the wireless shindig for $499 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 03:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Aperion Audio | Email this | Comments | | Sony Xperia GX packs 13MP camera and 4.6-inch HD display, joined by Xperia SX to offer LTE in Japan May 9th 2012, 07:24  Sony's announced its first two LTE-capable phones for its Japanese customers -- and there's two of 'em. The Xperia GX is up first, with a 720p 4.6-inch display squeezed in alongside a new 13-megapixel camera -- a first for Sony's mobile family, and presumably its new CMOS sensor. A 1.5 GHz dual-core processor ensures it should all tick along nicely, while the hardware design follows the curves of last year's Xperia Arc, this time with a matte finish. The camera upgrade and huge screen makes a good case for this to be Sony's new flagship device -- mere months since the Xperia S debuted in Europe -- and before the Xperia Ion has even had chance to launch in the US. It's joined by the Xperia XS, which Sony claims is the world's lightest LTE capable handset, weighing in at just under 100g. It packs a smaller 3.7-inch screen with the same Mobile Bravia engine found on its bigger brother -- and the rest of Sony's recent handsets. It's joined by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor (although there's no specifics on what type just yet), a more standard 8-megapixel camera and it wouldn't be a Japanese phone without infrared connectivity, mobile wallet and a mobile TV -- they're all built-in. Both phones will launch in black and white, and Android fans can rest easy, as they'll both arrive with Android 4.0 installed when they hit stores in Japan this summer. [Thanks Thorzten] Sony Xperia GX packs 13MP camera and 4.6-inch HD display, joined by Xperia SX to offer LTE in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 03:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Sony Mobile | Email this | Comments | | Carl Icahn unloads his LightSquared debt, creditor talks trudge on May 9th 2012, 07:11  Carl Icahn is no stranger in this field -- he's been caught tussling with Motorola and bidding Yahoo's board adieu in recent years -- and most recently, he's managed to get caught up in one of the bigger wireless whirlwinds this planet has ever seen. Just months after Icahn swooped in to buy some $250 million in company debt at around 40 cents on the dollar, he has managed to offload that very chunk for 60 cents on the dollar. Not surprisingly, his cash coffers are growing in turn, despite LightSquared's position as a whole looking only marginally less bleak. According to a Reuters report, creditors have agreed to another week-long extension (until May 14th) in order to talk things over with head honcho Philip Falcone. As of now, the startup has around $1.6 billion in debt, and while talks may delay the pain, we're still not getting the impression that the FCC (or anyone else, really) is warming to its propositions. Then again, maybe Facebook can just buy it in an act of charity prior to its IPO. Carl Icahn unloads his LightSquared debt, creditor talks trudge on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 03:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Reuters | Email this | Comments | |