Friday, June 15, 2012

Your 2 hourly digest for Engadget

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Apple files for a patent on an iPhone with swappable lenses, picky mobile photographers rejoice
Jun 14th 2012, 17:36

Apple files for a patent on an iPhone with swappable lenses,

Taking phone photography seriously is certainly possible. Short of tacking on a slightly ludicrous add-on case, however, you're normally stuck with whatever lens the phone designer deems fit. Unless Apple uses technology from a very out-of-left-field patent application, that is. The invention would make an iPhone's back panel removable so that owners could swap out lenses like they would with a DSLR or a mirrorless camera. Apple has even raised the possibility of a panel with two lenses built-in at opposite corners: to switch to a telephoto lens or a different filter, you'd only need to flip the panel around to use the additional glass. It's all quite wild, although it's for that reason that the patent might never get used. The company isn't a fan of replaceable parts, after all. But if the photographer for your future wedding shows up with nothing but an iPhone and a bag full of back plates, you'll know why -- even if you're still left scratching your head.

Apple files for a patent on an iPhone with swappable lenses, picky mobile photographers rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kikori CNC gantry router eyes-on (video)
Jun 14th 2012, 17:20

Image

Judah Sher's cubicle wasn't originally on our slate of scheduled stops during yesterday's trip to the Artisan's Asylum hacker space in Somerville, Massachusetts, but the man behind the Kikori CNC gantry router lured us in with a rather large piece of plywood leaned up against a wall, reading "Sindrian Arts Welcomes Engadget," our familiar logo carved out in big letters. The wood was cut in Sher's sawdust-covered space, using the Kikori, one of the more unwieldy devices in the space's 118 cubes.

Continue reading Kikori CNC gantry router eyes-on (video)

Kikori CNC gantry router eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceSindrian Arts  | Email this | Comments

Microsoft plans 'major announcement' for Monday, June 18th
Jun 14th 2012, 17:13

It's not offering much in the way of hints, but Microsoft has just invited the press to an event in Los Angeles on Monday, June 18th for what it promises will be a "major Microsoft announcement." While it didn't have any more to say than that, the company's Windows Phone summit does follow later that week, and there's been no shortage of Microsoft-related rumors as of late, including a possible acquisition of Yammer (reported today by Bloomberg), and long-running talk of Office for iPad, which was again revived earlier this month. Whatever it is, we'll be there to bring you the news as it happens.

Update: Citing "sources outside the company," AllThingsD is reporting that the event will focus on Windows RT for ARM-based tablets, and that Microsoft will be showing off devices running the OS as well as some of the programs and services that will be available for them.

Microsoft plans 'major announcement' for Monday, June 18th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Pacemaker DJ app for BlackBerry PlayBook drops into the mix today
Jun 14th 2012, 16:54

Pacemaker DJ app for BlackBerry PlayBook drops into the mix today

What started as hardware, back in 2008, has since been superseded by advances tablet-tech. Logical then that the team behind Pacemaker has remixed the idea for 2012. We've already had a sneaky peek at the PlayBook app, but that was back in beta-land. Today, it launches proper. The official unveiling will be at Barcelona's Sonar festival, but if you didn't get a ticket (or even if you did) you can get your hands on it today from BlackBerry App World for $19. A little more than Cut the Rope, sure, but small change compared to the original hardware's $850 price tag.

Continue reading PSA: Pacemaker DJ app for BlackBerry PlayBook drops into the mix today

PSA: Pacemaker DJ app for BlackBerry PlayBook drops into the mix today originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cher Wang: HTC will grab as many patents as it can
Jun 14th 2012, 16:32

Cher Wang HTC will grab as many patents as it can

HTC co-founder and chair Cher Wang has said that her company plans to register and buy a host of patents in order to maintain parity with its competition. Speaking at the firm's 15th anniversary party, she said that despite being unable to use S3 Graphics' patents in ongoing litigation, the company will register and purchase patents in a variety of "different fields." It looks like we can expect to see a lot more filings at the USPTO in the future, and perhaps a few more buyouts along the way.

[Image Credit: WSJ / Zuma Press]

Cher Wang: HTC will grab as many patents as it can originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CNET  |  sourceChina Post  | Email this | Comments

HTC Media Link HD review
Jun 14th 2012, 16:00

HTC Media Link HD review

As wireless technology becomes more advanced, the demand for more sophisticated options to stream media from your mobile device to your HDTV steadily increases. It's hard to keep track of the various solutions companies are using to deliver this feature to their customers. DLNA, the most popular standard, is compatible with an army of dozens -- if not hundreds -- of products, while giants like Apple and Samsung have chosen different routes. After an arguably unsuccessful attempt at offering the DLNA standard via the original Media Link, HTC has decided to fly solo with the Media Link HD in the hopes that the accessory will add value to the company's high-end One handsets.

We have little doubt that HTC is trying to keep the Media Link HD small and simple: it's a credit-card-sized dongle that easily fits in the palm of your hand, and only takes a smooth, three-finger gesture to pair it up with your One X or One S. Once connected, it gives you the opportunity to stream movies to your television and perform other tasks on your phone at the same time. A solid concept, to be sure, but is it worth shelling out at least $90 for this little darling? Tune in below to find out.

Continue reading HTC Media Link HD review

HTC Media Link HD review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opera 12 for the desktop goes live with camera support, browser themes
Jun 14th 2012, 15:50

Opera 12 for the desktop goes live with camera support, browser themes

Version 12 of Opera's desktop browser has been in beta for some time, but today it's making the step up to a full release for Macs and PCs. Along with hardware acceleration, speed improvements and an overhauled security badge, the update includes new browser skins (some 100 themes are available). One of the biggest tweaks, however, is the addition of camera support -- Opera 12 lets your webcam work with web applications, including an Asteroids-style game called FaceKat and Photo Booth. Head to the source link for more info.

Opera 12 for the desktop goes live with camera support, browser themes originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TechCrunch  |  sourceOpera  | Email this | Comments

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