Tech News Updates

In the early, chaotic, primordial years of the mobile phone era, you had to press real, actual “buttons” to get things done. Almost barbaric to think about now, isn’t it? As society advanced and we gradually became a more civilized species, buttons gave way to touchscreens and voice control, mercifully giving the atrophied sausages we call “arms” and “fingers” a bit of respite every time we needed to surf through cyberspace, place a phone call, or send a text message. Now, it seems the evolution of Homo sapiens is reaching its inevitable final stage with the release of the PLX XWave, headgear that plugs into your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad and — after a bit of training — lets you control the device with your mind alone. As you might expect, the headset makes use of the NeuroSky technology that we’ve seen several times through the years and will be made available with a number of apps upon its release next month including a game, dedicated training app, a music controller (which will let you compare brainwaves with other XWave users, interestingly), and an “Om Meditation Timer.” If none of those titles have captured your imagination, you’ll be able to write your own apps with the device’s SDK; needless to say, we’ll be patiently waiting for the levitation app depicted here. Orders are online now for $100 with delivery in October. Continue reading XWave lets you control your iPhone with your noodle, levitate if you’re lucky XWave lets you control your iPhone with your noodle, levitate if you’re lucky originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

In the early, chaotic, primordial years of the mobile phone era, you had to press real, actual “buttons” to get things done. Almost barbaric to think about now, isn’t it? As society advanced and we gradually became a more civilized species, buttons gave way to touchscreens and voice control, mercifully giving the atrophied sausages we call “arms” and “fingers” a bit of respite every time we needed to surf through cyberspace, place a phone call, or send a text message. Now, it seems the evolution of Homo sapiens is reaching its inevitable final stage with the release of the PLX XWave, headgear that plugs into your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad and — after a bit of training — lets you control the device with your mind alone. As you might expect, the headset makes use of the NeuroSky technology that we’ve seen several times through the years and will be made available with a number of apps upon its release next month including a game, dedicated training app, a music controller (which will let you compare brainwaves with other XWave users, interestingly), and an “Om Meditation Timer.” If none of those titles have captured your imagination, you’ll be able to write your own apps with the device’s SDK; needless to say, we’ll be patiently waiting for the levitation app depicted here. Orders are online now for $100 with delivery in October. Continue reading XWave lets you control your iPhone with your noodle, levitate if you’re lucky XWave lets you control your iPhone with your noodle, levitate if you’re lucky originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Well, thar she blows — we just got this shot of the HP’s seven-inch Zeen Android tablet that’s shipping with the leaked PhotoSmart eStation C510 printer system just straight chilling in the wilds of China. Apparently this unit is a little bit closer to final than the one our other tipsters have been playing with — and unfortunately, the stock Android homescreen has been totally removed in favor of the TouchSmart UI. As we’d guessed, there’s also no Gmail app or Market access, although there is a homegrown email client and a fair bit of integration with Yahoo services like Mail and Messenger. Facebook is also preloaded, and the screenshot shows apps for 60 Minutes, MSNBC, and Dreamworks, so it looks like there’ll be some video action going on — and that Barnes & Noble logo all but confirms the Nook compatibility our previous tipsters had mentioned. There’s also a printing app and that Coupons app, which we’re guessing… prints coupons, but maybe HP’s trying to surprise us. We’re told the software is better than on earlier Zeen units and that the previously-bad touchscreen has been improved, but that there’s still work to be done before the projected late September launch. Don’t get your hopes up about snagging this one without a printer, though — we’re told the solo SKU has been canceled, and only the $399 bundle with the Zeus printer will be available. Makes sense — we’re guessing it’s all webOS for HP from here on out. One more pic after the break. Continue reading Exclusive: HP’s Zeen C510 Android tablet in the wild Exclusive: HP’s Zeen C510 Android tablet in the wild originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Nike’s dalliances with technology should be familiar to our readers by now, with the crowning jewel of course being the Nike+ run-tracking software that pairs a shoe-mounted sensor with your iPhone or iPod. Well, it was . The gargantuan sportswear company is moving with the times and throwing the hardware away with the introduction of its all-new Nike+ GPS application. No longer restricting our running shoe choice is groovy, but the app itself has the even loftier aim of simultaneously acting as your fitness guru, motivator and record keeper. And all it asks in return is access to the accelerometer and GPS modules in your iOS 4 -equipped iPhone or iPod touch. So, let’s see how this baby runs, shall we? Gallery: Nike+ GPS app screenshots Continue reading App review: Nike+ GPS App review: Nike+ GPS originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

RIM has yet to officially announce the upcoming Style 9670 flip, but the leakfest continues today with a handful of new videos — professionally-produced ones this time — that show off key features of the UI and how to use them. Unlike the Torch , the Style lacks a touchscreen — it just wouldn’t be prudent in a clamshell form factor — which means we’re seeing just what it’s like to navigate the finer points of BlackBerry 6’s user interface with an optical pad (and secondary display) alone on a larger, portrait-oriented display. We’re hopeful that RIM’s new platform has a certain… well, a certain “something” on non-touchscreen devices that the Torch lacks, but time will tell, we suppose. Follow the break for the full video series. Continue reading BlackBerry Style 9670’s UI demoed in leaked official videos BlackBerry Style 9670’s UI demoed in leaked official videos originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Looks as if the Internet Explorer 9 Beta has now leaked on video, and — surprise, surprise — it looks exactly like Internet Explorer! If you were out hoping for a major overhaul, it looks as if you’ll need to pick a new wish to cross your fingers for. Design wise, the IE9 beta shown in the video past the break is no drastic departure from IE8, though the internals should obviously be revamped quite a bit. The rest of the world is still awaiting that September 15th launch date, but you and your impatient soul can watch an early build peak at 95/100 (so close!) on the Acid3 test with just a couple of clicks. Enjoy! [Thanks, pradeep] Continue reading Internet Explorer 9 Beta sees video demo, hits 95/100 on Acid3 test Internet Explorer 9 Beta sees video demo, hits 95/100 on Acid3 test originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

As you’re probably well aware, the Wintermute-like intelligence known as Google has designs on your television. Not only is Samsung contemplating Android for its sets, but Eric Schmidt has stated that its Google TV service is on track for launch this autumn (as a beta, undoubtedly). Finally, Maps on your plasma! Unfortunately Samsung’s plans are far less certain, with company President Yoon Boo Keun offering little more than a “[w]e will have to see, but we are reviewing,” when asked whether the OS will make a suitable platform for coach potatoes the world o’er. According to Yoon, about half of the company’s 3-D TVs rock web browsers, a figure that will only increase over the next couple years. We only hope that if they do go with Android, the implementation is better than that of some of their handsets . Google TV set to launch this year, Samsung considering Android for its TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Did you know that Ford ’s first electric car, the Comuta, was released way back in 1967? It was a perfectly goofy looking thing, with a top speed of 37mph and a range of 40 miles — if you didn’t go near that top speed. More of a concept than anything, only a handful were made available for sale, and at this point it certainly looks like the company’s immediate plans for EVs are similarly conservative. DailyTech pulled together an analysis of Ford’s future offerings in the electric and plug-in hybrid space and it’s obvious the Blue Oval is taking its time making sure the EV water is warm before jumping in. First up is the Transit Connect , a 100 mile range electric van intended for fleet use and, with a price well north of $30,000, not expected to sell in droves. Next will be the Focus Electric , due next year and, while this one will be substantially cheaper and more consumer-friendly, Ford execs expect it too will have low demand. The primary reason for this is that Ford still believes that pure EVs are not ready for mainstream adoption, with battery technology unable to provide reliable power at the range of temperatures people actually want to go somewhere. The Focus Electric mitigates this with both liquid heating and cooling, but for now the company thinks the best mix is a traditional, power-split hybrid, where the gas engine can drive the wheels if the batteries can’t cope. That’s unlike the Chevy Volt , which is only driven by batteries. To this end Ford has a new, mystery plug-in hybrid vehicle coming in 2012. What kind of car? All we know is it’s “not a Focus.” That can mean only one thing: F-350 Super Duty PHEV edition. [Photo credit: Ford Motor Company] Looking back at Ford’s EV past, forward to the 2012 Focus Electric and a 2013 plug-in hybrid originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Well, it looks like Ricoh is still sticking to the if-it’s-not-broke-don’t-fix-it model with its CX series of cameras. Just as it found in its review of the CX3 , Photography Blo g says that the new CX4 model delivers some modest improvements over its predecessor, but likely not enough to warrant an upgrade — or stand out from the competition, for that matter. The improvements this time around include some improved image stabilization, as well as a handful of new features like a multi-shot night landscape mode and subject-tracking AF, which both apparently work reasonably well. One of the other new changes also proved to be one of the camera’s biggest drawbacks, however, as the reduced handgrip makes the CX4 harder to hold comfortably than earlier models. Hit up the source link below for the full review. Ricoh CX4 gets reviewed: slight improvement over the CX3 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Amazon’s gaming related job postings are starting to bear exotic fruit having just nabbed Microsoft’s Director of Game Platform Strategy, Andre Vrignaud . Vrignaud started with Microsoft in 2002 as Director of Xbox Live Platform Strategy and more recently helped manage Microsoft’s overall gaming platform strategy with a hand in figuring out how to roll out Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7. Obviously, this leads to speculation that Amazon is looking to expand further into digital games as it’s already done with music, video, and digital books. And with Amazon working on non-Kindle hardware with ambitions for dual-screen readers , well, we’d say the question isn’t what, but when? Amazon steals Microsoft’s Director of Game Platform Strategy for some reason originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 06:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink