| Microsoft pilfers Surface name from its smart table, now called the PixelSense (video) Jun 19th 2012, 11:31  If Microsoft's recent Surface announcement made you think about a funky LED table, that's because it wasn't long ago that a joint effort with Samsung bore that moniker instead. While Redmond appropriated the name for its new tablet, the two companies are still selling the original device -- now the Samsung SUR40 with Microsoft PixelSense -- as a business collaboration tool. Though there's no mention of price on Samsung's site, the last time we checked, the 1920 x 1080 gorilla glass device was running a mere $8,400. For that sum, it might be useful for deep pocketed institutions -- so hopefully early adopters hoping to earn some hipster cred didn't end up with buyer's remorse.
[Thanks, swaggernaut812] Continue reading Microsoft pilfers Surface name from its smart table, now called the PixelSense (video) Microsoft pilfers Surface name from its smart table, now called the PixelSense (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 07:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  TechCrunch |  Microsoft PixelSense, Samsung SUR40 | Email this | Comments | | Spotify brings radio feature to iOS, offers streaming to non-premium users Jun 19th 2012, 11:00  Swedish music streamer extraordinaire Spotify is updating its iOS app this morning with a key new feature. Radio, introduced late last year for the desktop version of the service, is making its way onto iPads and iPhones in the States for both premium and free users. As with its desktop counterpart, users can generate an unlimited number of Pandora / Slacker-like radio stations using artists, albums, songs and Spotify playlists. The social functionality that Spotify loves so much is intact as well, with both songs and radio stations appearing in friends' Facebook streams. And since the radio feature is available across Spotify's pages, you can make stations based on friends' playlists -- or you can just pick "Create a New Station" from the top of the Radio tab. You can thumb up or thumb down tracks, with songs you dig populating a "Like From Radio" playlist, making those tracks accessible on different devices. Inter-device functionality also means that you can start a radio station on, say, your iPad and pick up where you left off by firing it up on your iPhone. Premium users get an unlimited number of song skips -- when asked how many skips free users get, Spotify simply told us that it would be "industry standard" (ie, the same number you get on competing services). Asked when such functionality will be hitting Android handsets, the company told us, "we think it's core to the mobile experience, and we're looking to bring it to all of the major platforms in due time." In the meantime, iPhone and iPad owners can download the update today. Update: Spotify dropped us a line to let it know that the update apparently isn't quite ready for prime time. Rather than actually dropping today, the latest version of the iOS app "will be available in the next few days." Continue reading Spotify brings radio feature to iOS, offers streaming to non-premium users Spotify brings radio feature to iOS, offers streaming to non-premium users originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 07:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | New Google+ API gives Flipboard a cuddle, Currents looks away angrily Jun 19th 2012, 10:22  If you're just taking down the decorations from your latest Google+ party, hang fire, it looks like there's more good news for the ever-burgeoning social starlet. It's just been announced that Google has developed an API that will make users' photos, posts and videos available on popular social reader Flipboard. Until now, the search giant's social network had been notable by its absence, but soon you'll be able to flick your way through your circles, just like your other streams. There's no indication as to when, but the new API shows Google isn't shy about spreading the love, even if it means treading on its own toes. New Google+ API gives Flipboard a cuddle, Currents looks away angrily originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 06:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Robert Scoble (Google+) | Email this | Comments | |
