| Skype adds photo sharing to iPad and iPhone app, soups up performance for both Aug 21st 2012, 14:23  Sure there are already a slew of photo sharing options for mobile apps, but those do who most of their chatting in Skype will surely welcome the addition of the feature for iOS devices. Thanks to a new update, folks utilizing the VoIP service on their iPhone and iPad will be able to send photos of any size on their mobile devices. The update also brings some boosts to overall performance, according to Skype, including faster load times and less power hogging. The update is available for devices running iOS 4.3 or later, including the 3G, 3GS, 4 and 4S over on the iPhone side of things. More info can be found in the source link below. Filed under: Cellphones, Software Skype adds photo sharing to iPad and iPhone app, soups up performance for both originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Skype | Email this | Comments | | Insert Coin: Instacube is a hip, Android-based digital photo frame for your Instagram feeds Aug 21st 2012, 13:24 In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.  Ever wished you had another option aside from using Instagram's mobile apps and permalinks for viewing your retrofied photos? The folks at D2M certainly did, resulting in what it likes to call Instacube. The square gizmo is essentially a 7.5-inch (2.5 inches deep), OneStep-themed digital photo frame purposed specifically for displaying and interacting with Instagram photo feeds. Up front, a 6.5-inch LCD touchscreen (600 x 600, the full resolution of photos on the service) allows you to tap between pictures and type when needed. Apart from that, three physical buttons on its top handle power, switching feeds and favoriting photos. Basically, the unit looks out for your specified hashtags so it can follow multiple Instagram feeds and automatically cycle through the images -- niche yes, but it's still undeniably cool. Android runs the show (no word on what version) atop an undisclosed ARM processor that's bundled with 4GB of storage and 256MB of RAM, while b/g/n WiFi keeps it connected to Instagram independently. Speaking to its OS, tinkerers should be pleased to know that D2M plans to continually enhance its functionality, and potentially open it up to developers. Also worth note, Instacube sports a built-in rechargeable battery, allowing you have it operate completely untethered when the mood strikes. Interested in pledging your own coin to help fund the project? 1,000 backers can get in on their own Instacube for a cool $99, after which it'll jump to $150. Another 1,000 can get a duo for $199, and the same goes for a limited edition "vintage spring" green variant that'll set you back $249 a piece. Past that, bulk options are on offer maxing out at $5,000 for 40 units, and $10,000 for 25 and a "Design Experience" with D2M. All in all, the Instacube project has 31 days to reach a $250,000 funding goal, with the first units set to ship in March 2013 if all goes well -- hopefully we'll see more than just renders of it well before then. Hit up the project at source link and the video overview past the break if you're interested in liberating your Instagram snaps to that larger display. Continue reading Insert Coin: Instacube is a hip, Android-based digital photo frame for your Instagram feeds Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Insert Coin: Instacube is a hip, Android-based digital photo frame for your Instagram feeds originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Instacube (Kickstarter) | Email this | Comments | | Canon announces PowerShot SX500 IS, SX160 IS superzoom cameras ahead of Photokina Aug 21st 2012, 13:00  Digital imaging buffs are certain to experience a whirlwind autumn, but there's nothing on the books saying that manufacturers need wait for the biennial Photokina expo to roll out new models. Just in time for the back-to-school season, Canon is announcing two new superzoom cams -- the SX160 IS will serve as the successor to the SX150, while the SX500 IS is an entirely new camera, set to sit alongside the company's SX40 HS and SX260 HS point-and-shoots. Both new models include identical 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensors, intelligent image stabilization, a relatively modest ISO range of 100-800 and the ability to capture 720p video at 25 frames-per-second. As you may have guessed the SX500 IS is the higher-end flavor, offering a 30x, 24-720mm lens with a maximum aperture range of f/3.4-5.8. That model boasts autofocus improvements of 32 percent and decreased shutter lag of 33 percent over the SX40 HS, Canon's former top model in this category. The SX160 IS, for its part, packs a 16x, 28-448mm f/3.5-5.9 lens and offers 22 percent faster autofocus and 46 percent less shutter lag than the SX150 it replaces. It's also powered by AA batteries, which some users may find to be an advantage, considering wide availability during trips abroad. Both cameras include 3-inch LCDs -- 461k-dot for the SX500 and 230k-dot with the SX160 -- and are set to ship in September, with the black SX500 IS priced at $330 and the SX160 IS available for $230, in both red and black. Continue reading Canon announces PowerShot SX500 IS, SX160 IS superzoom cameras ahead of Photokina Filed under: Digital Cameras Canon announces PowerShot SX500 IS, SX160 IS superzoom cameras ahead of Photokina originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Jawbone takes a cue from Colorware, will let customers order the Jambox speaker in custom colors Aug 21st 2012, 13:00  Want a blue-and-black Bluetooth speaker to match your Engadget t-shirt, messenger bag and whatever other paraphernalia you have lying around? You're in luck: Jawbone is about to start accepting orders for the Jambox speaker in custom colors. All told, you'll be able to choose from 13 shades for the grill, and nine for the end caps. Jawbone says it can see customers choosing school and team colors, not that you need an excuse to want an orange piece of kit. The personalization is free of charge, meaning the price of the speaker is still $200. The only downside, so far as we can tell, is that the Big Jambox isn't included. For now, the site is only open to select users (i.e., loyal customers who have participated in company forums, surveys and such), but starting August 28th it'll be open to everybody. In the meantime, which of you has the cojones to order it in purple and yellow? Jawbone takes a cue from Colorware, will let customers order the Jambox speaker in custom colors originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Diamond Multimedia outs AMP1000 Android set-top box: Gingerbread-based, 1080p, sells for $120 Aug 21st 2012, 13:00  Diamond Multimedia's more commonly known around the web for selling Mac and PC capture cards (among other things), but as of today, the company's officially entering the set-top box game with its AMP1000. The media player itself is running a not-so-new flavor of Android -- Gingerbread, to be exact -- which will be used to bring a slew of familiar entertainment tidbits to the bigger screen, such as a media player capable of 1080p playback, an evolved internet browser and an oversized photo viewer, as well as other content like games, ebooks and magazines -- all of which can be downloaded from Google's Play repertoire. Although Diamond Multimedia's formally pricing the AMP1000 at $120, there's a Facebook-only offer that knocks the price down to a mere $100. Now, will it be enough to compete with, say, Vizio's $99 Google TV box? We'll let you be the judge of that. Continue reading Diamond Multimedia outs AMP1000 Android set-top box: Gingerbread-based, 1080p, sells for $120 Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Home Entertainment Diamond Multimedia outs AMP1000 Android set-top box: Gingerbread-based, 1080p, sells for $120 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Diamond Multimedia | Email this | Comments | |
