| Nokia Maps for Windows Phone makeover brings friends' photos and reviews, favorites syncing Jun 5th 2012, 19:16  Nokia Maps is a cornerstone of the Lumia line, so it's more than a little vital that the Windows Phone app keep up with the smartphone pack. The just-posted 2.0 update catches up in a big way to Google Maps on social location: travelers can now add reviews and photos to locations, both helping spot that French café and decide whether or not it's worth a visit. If you're that much in love with the cappuccino, you'll be glad to know there's now favorites syncing that will carry over to other Nokia phones as well as the web apps, should you moonlight with Android or an iPhone. The chronically lost even have something to cheer about, since the new app makes it possible to pin directions, not just locations, to the home screen. Upgrading is free; provided you've addressed the small matter of owning a Lumia phone, there's every good reason to check Windows Phone Marketplace and get to downloading. Nokia Maps for Windows Phone makeover brings friends' photos and reviews, favorites syncing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Nokia Conversations | Email this | Comments | | Airtime lets you share media while you video chat, reminds you That Napster Guy is still around Jun 5th 2012, 19:01  Hey, remember the guy that created Napster, Shawn Fanning? Do you remember Facebook co-founder (and supposed Justin Timberlake doppelganger) Sean Parker? Good, as that'll make it easier to understand why the two have created Airtime, a heavily hyped new peer-to-peer video chat service. The aim is to offer a one-on-one conversation that helps people understand each other, with shared interests and the ability to quickly fling that LOLcat video to a friend or significant other. It's launching first on Facebook, which is nothing new for video chat, but the absence of any in-between servers and special plugins beyond Flash eliminates a lot of the usual hurdles. More features are coming in the near future, including a decidedly Flash-free iOS app, music streaming and games -- leaving us with considerably more things to do while we reconnect, or at least a more engaging way to reminisce about the Napster days. Airtime lets you share media while you video chat, reminds you That Napster Guy is still around originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  TechCrunch | Airtime | Email this | Comments | | Fujitsu brings its Lifebook Ultrabooks to the US, NH532 and Esprimos tag along for the ride Jun 5th 2012, 18:45  Did you eye Fujitsu's new U772/E Ultrabook and dream of bringing that 0.69-inch thick, Ivy Bridge-packing Lifebook across the Pacific? The company has clearly been reading your mind, since it's just started shipping the portable and a few of its companions to the US. In American guise, you'll find the more simply-titled U772 carrying a choice of Core i5 or i7 chips, as much as a 500GB spinning hard drive or a 256GB SSD for storage, a trio of USB ports, HDMI and an SD card slot. It's joined by a more budget-oriented brother, the UH572 Ultrabook, which is slightly more portly (0.71 inches and 3.5 pounds) but otherwise touts the same credentials. The two are shipping right away and will offer that Japanese Ultrabook flavor at prices of $1,149 for the U772 and $999 for the UH572. Those more accepting of big-boned computers aren't left out of the mix. On the still semi-portable side, the Lifebook NH532 takes Ivy Bridge to a desktop replacement size, albeit with precious few other details besides its 17.3-inch screen. Three Esprimo desktops (sadly, not pictured) are making the leap to third-generation Core chips as well, including the extra-quiet Q910 mini desktop as well as the fast-booting P710 microtower and full-size E710 desktop. While Fujitsu isn't giving us a full peek at the larger side of the roster, none of them stretch budgets: the NH532 sits in the mid-range at $749, while the E710 / P710 and Q910 are also easy on the finances at their respective $649 and $999 asking prices. Continue reading Fujitsu brings its Lifebook Ultrabooks to the US, NH532 and Esprimos tag along for the ride Fujitsu brings its Lifebook Ultrabooks to the US, NH532 and Esprimos tag along for the ride originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Fujitsu | Email this | Comments | | Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video) Jun 5th 2012, 18:15  Nintendo's pre-E3 media briefing has wrapped up and the doors have opened, doors containing the latest and final revision of the Wii U hardware. Reggie & Co. failed to give us any concrete launch details beyond "holiday" this year, so we can't quite be sure of a date or a price or, really, much of anything. But, we do know about more of the launch titles. NintendoLand is, apparently, the premiere title, a sort of touchscreen-friendly version of Wii Sports that digs up many of the company's storied brands and squeezes them into mini-game format. How does it play? And, how is the new, refined Wii U controller? Join us after the break to find out! Continue reading Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video) Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Turtle Beach unveiling more headsets at E3, Black Ops II and Wii U licensed gear in tow Jun 5th 2012, 18:00  If you thought Turtle Beach was only announcing its MLG-approved gaming headsets at E3, let us tell you that those are only a sliver of everything it plans to offer this fall. As per usual with most Call of Duty releases, you can expect a barrage of Black Ops II headsets from the company when it hits shelves, including the Ear Force Earbuds, Tango, Sierra, X-ray and Kilo and priced $80 to $300. You can expect LED lights, Bluetooth functionality, and virtual surround sound on some of the more expensive models. Moving along, TB has partnered with Nintendo to created licensed headsets for the Wii U that'll also work for the 3DS, and a we're told prototype model will be on display at the show floor. As if that weren't enough, a new series of smaller "La" ear-blasters have also been detailed. You'll have choice between the USB-powered PLa (PS3) XLa (Xbox) which feature 40mm drivers, independent game and chat controls, microphone monitoring and bass boost functionality for when you need more wub. A computer version dubbed XLa will also be available, stripping away most of the aforementioned features in favor of 4-pole 3.5mm jack for easy compatibility between your devices. Lastly, the M7 has been added to the company's lifestyle lineup, featuring 50mm drivers, an inline remote / mic, a faux-leather headband and memory foam earcup pads for noise isolation. There's no word on pricing or availability for the LA and M-series headsets -- nor are any images available yet for the Black Ops II headsets -- but you'll find more details on everything mentioned in the press release after the break. We'll be sure to update you with more info when we have it. Continue reading Turtle Beach unveiling more headsets at E3, Black Ops II and Wii U licensed gear in tow Turtle Beach unveiling more headsets at E3, Black Ops II and Wii U licensed gear in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Apple possibly held back by Google for years on iOS' Maps features, might bring turn-by-turn nav to WWDC Jun 5th 2012, 17:40  The tales of Apple possibly dumping Google Maps as the backend for iOS 6's Maps app are gathering steam, but we're now learning just how much forethought may have gone into the split. According to the WSJ's favorite tipsters, "people familiar with the matter," Apple isn't just hoping to spurn Android -- it's reacting to push-back it got years earlier. Google supposedly delayed Street View, and blocked Google Maps Navigation outright, as it wasn't getting the limelight for branding and couldn't push in social tracking services that tend to make a privacy-sensitive Apple jittery, like Latitude. The August 2009 buyout of Placebase was ground zero for Apple's shift, which saw subsequent deals for Poly9 and C3 Technologies flesh out the project. As for the end results? They supposedly include turn-by-turn navigation that mimics an "in-car GPS device," and regular mapping should now be free to integrate with other apps: Calendar might warn you if a traffic jam on Interstate 280 will affect that appointment at 1 Infinite Loop, as an example. We might not have long to wait for the truth behind the new tips and earlier leaked shots, as the contacts believe Apple could show its Maps overhaul when WWDC starts next week. Apple possibly held back by Google for years on iOS' Maps features, might bring turn-by-turn nav to WWDC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | WSJ | Email this | Comments | | Nyko Free Fighter joystick brings flexible controls, arcade flair to the PS3 Jun 5th 2012, 17:32  Every June, Nyko outs all sorts of gaming peripherals at E3, and this year is no different. It's latest is the ambidextrous Free Fighter arcade-style joystick for PS3 that can be set up for either left- or right-handed gamers. It can be further customized to suit button-mashers of all styles with two variable-speed turbo keys and four programmable macros to let you perform complex combos with a single press. Plus, every button's backlit, and the whole thing comes with a detachable, expandable base to keep it from sliding around in your lap while you're hurling hadoukens and slinging sonic booms. It'll hit store shelves in September with $180 price tag, but if you can't wait until then, check the gallery of press pics below and stay tuned for our hands-on from the E3 show floor. Continue reading Nyko Free Fighter joystick brings flexible controls, arcade flair to the PS3 Nyko Free Fighter joystick brings flexible controls, arcade flair to the PS3 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | |
