Tech News Updates

Patience has had to be your foremost virtue if you were eager to use Google Maps Navigation outside the US or UK , but you might be in luck today as a sizable new batch of countries is getting the free turn-by-turn nav service activated. Googleites in Canada and most of mainland Europe will now be able to hear their Android (version 1.6 and above) giving them voice directions, and as an extra bonus, some nations are also seeing voice search activated, with Canada and German-speaking countries among them. Google’s clearly not sitting on its laurels here, so why not power up your phone and let us know how well it finds its way around De Wallen? List of confirmed new countries so far: Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Google Maps Navigation comes to Canada and mainland Europe, remains free as a bird originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 06:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Lovely home except for those pesky leaks . This Nokia house built (circa 2010) upon on a foundation of Symbian with a MeeGo roof is also sporting an interesting looking S-series smokestack. Most of the building blocks we’ve already seen including the flagship N8 . The N9 is almost certainly Nokia’s followup to the N900 and Espoo’s first handset to feature its new MeeGo OS. But what’s with the business-class E7, mainstream C7, and socially entertaining X7? None of these handsets have been announced, yet all three are at the top-end of their respective series meaning mean more functionality at a higher price. Still, the most interesting revelation is the S-series which Nokia has never referenced under its new naming scheme. The translated text from the S-series bullet describes it as, “A name reserved for limited phones. Mobiles that do not fit in other categories come in here.” The first Moorestown phone to run MeeGo, perhaps? Hey, we can dream. [Thanks, Mark] Nokia’s 16 model house reveals a smokin’ S series, N9 MeeGo? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 05:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

If you’re running an Android phone and you’re lucky enough to be using 1.6 or above (our deepest apologies, CLIQ owners), we might recommend you pop open the Market and score the latest version of Google Maps that just launched today. What’s new? It adds support for bicycle routing (something they’ve had on the desktop for a while now) and sharing of destinations via the usual array of mediums like email, Facebook, Twitter, and so on, but the most significant change might also be the smallest: the addition of a dedicated icon for Google Maps Navigation . The product is still in beta, but this seems like an early sign that it’s starting to come of age — and on a more practical level, this obviously makes it quite a bit easier to launch right into a route when you saddle up in the car. Anywho, Motorola, about that CLIQ update? Google Maps for Android adds bike routes, sharing, dedicated navigation icon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

T-Mobile and Garmin-Asus have just gotten down to the nitty gritty with us on the long anticipated Garminfone : the phone ships in June for $199 on a two year contract. Just to show they’re serious, they also let us play with the phone, which is running a speedy, heavily custom Garmin UI on top of Android. Check out some hands-on shots below, and stand by for more coverage of the handset as we get to cuddle up with it during some long, geotagged walks on the beach. Gallery: T-Mobile Garminfone hands-on T-Mobile shipping the Garminfone for $199 in June, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 17:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

So word has it that O2’s network’s been a bit dodgy in some parts of the UK this evening. Did Gordon Brown’s resignation cause such an outage? Did all the texts about David Cameron’s shiny forehead lead to this network overload? We don’t know, but our own phone’s been running just fine all evening in Central London. Anyhow, let us know if you were affected — just don’t say it’s Nick Clegg’s fault. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] View Poll O2’s UK network hung up, just like the Parliament — were you affected? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Ooh, goodie! Try as we may, we’ve yet to really find a (good) free alternative to Google Maps Navigation on the iPhone, and while Navigon’s MobileNavigator gets our highest recommendations in the paid GPS department, Google’s own turn-by-turn option is just about enough to make any iPhone-toting traveler jump ship and snag an Android handset. Thankfully for us all, it seems as if this predicament won’t be nearly as trying in the near future, with the company’s own Steve Lee confirming to TechRadar that Google Maps Navigation would be coming to “other platforms” in due time. MacUser specifically mentions the solution coming to iPhone OS, and frankly, we couldn’t think of a better app to ship alongside version 4.0 than this. You’re good at taking hints, right Goog? Google Maps Navigation could come to iPhone, other platforms soon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Justin, who can’t afford both a high-end HTPC and textbooks for next semester. If you’re looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com . “I am a college student looking for a cheap way to hook up to my standard-def TV. It’s not HD capable but has an HDMI input. What do you think would be the best sub $500 HTPC for my home use?” We served up a similar question a few years back for the high-end crowd, and we taught you how to build your own Blu-ray-capable HTPC last year for a solid grand, but this sub-$500 territory is all new. Anyone have any decent HTPC options that won’t break the bank? Any tips on constructing your own from an older desktop? Go on and share in comments below — it’s good for the soul, we tell ya. Ask Engadget: best HTPC for under $500? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

This shot courtesy of Mr. Blurrycam might not give the ” Oh my .” reaction we were expecting from the ads but it appears Sharp’s latest and greatest LCDs are showing up at retail, including this 40-inch Quattron model for $1,599. Our man spotted 46- and 55-inch versions as well but if that’s not your speed, we also have word that Amazon is shipping the 240Hz Samsung LN46C750 a few weeks ahead of its anticipated May ship date. Sure, it’s not a super slim LED model like the rest of the 3D lineup , but at $1,450 (no glasses) it is the cheapest 3DTV we’re likely to see anytime soon. Choose wisely. [Thanks, kalistyles11] Sharp’s four-color HDTV, Samsung’s cheapest 3DTV now on sale originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Enthusiasts have had plenty to cheer about with the convergence of electronics and bicycling over the years, from bikes that pedal themselves to the various devices and apps that assist them with their training. And for those of us who just want to get from one place to another? Google Maps has added bicycling directions to its walking, car, and public transport options — with travel times calculated to include things like the number of hills and fatigue over time. But that ain’t all! The company has also partnered with Rails-to-Trails to provide information on bike trails in more than 150 cities. According to Google, thousands of miles of trails in the US have already been added to the map, with more to come. For the time being, however, only those planning trips in their home or office need apply: while available on the web, those using a Google Maps smartphone app are being excluded for the time being. So much for ” mobile first ,” guys. Video after the break. Continue reading Google Maps adds bicycle directions, turns out its nothing like ‘Quicksilver’ Google Maps adds bicycle directions, turns out its nothing like ‘Quicksilver’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Motorola Droid Motorola DROID first hands-on! (update: video, impressions, more pics) Motorola Droid unboxing! Motorola DROID official on Verizon: $199 on contract, coming November 6th (video) How-to: hack your own DROID dock with magnets and cardboard Motorola DROID spotted in fine GSM form (video) Google Maps Navigation (Beta) Google adds free turn-by-turn navigation, car dock UI to Android 2.0 (video) Google Navigation video hands-on: you want this The game has changed HTC HTC confirmed to be cooking up Android 2.0 update for Hero, other devices unclear HTC Droid Eris allegedly already in stock — if you know who to talk to HTC Droid Eris priced at $99 for Verizon? Everything Else Windows 7 receives 7,000 domino salute (video) ASUS changes course, unveils ‘first’ USB 3.0 / SATA 6Gbps motherboards Netflix streaming purportedly hitting Nintendo’s Wii next Mobile SonyStyle unleashes Sony Ericsson Aino in the US for $600 Storm2 now available from Verizon for those who waited HD LG’s transparent 15-inch AMOLED display is amazing, possibly useless Microsoft temporarily suspends Sky Player for Xbox 360 The daily roundup: this is, in fact, the DROID you are looking for originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink