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Droid 2 cases arrive at Best Buy, Droid 2s soon to follow?

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:44:00 MST

At this point, we're starting to think that Motorola is intentionally (and cruelly) teasing us with its Droid successor. Today we can add to the parade of leaks preceding the Droid 2's debut in the form of the above hard case, which has just landed in Best Buy's storerooms. Before you go off on some conspiracy theory comparing this to the iPhone's Bumper and questioning whether this Droid might need a jacket, you should be aware that Rocketfish does similar paraphernalia for the Droid Incredible, marking this out as an entirely unremarkable run-of-the-mill accessory. Which might be the best news of all, we figure -- if the unexciting peripherals are already being shipped, the handset itself shouldn't be too far behind.

[Thanks, Justin]

Continue reading Droid 2 cases arrive at Best Buy, Droid 2s soon to follow?

Droid 2 cases arrive at Best Buy, Droid 2s soon to follow? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung SCH-R900 approved by FCC: first US LTE phone is go

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:53:00 MST

We first caught wind of the SCH-R900 after MetroPCS announced that it would be first to carry the Samsung handset when its fledgling LTE network lights up in select markets sometime after the summer. Now the FCC has been kind enough to bless a preproduction R900 with its approval. Not much is known about the dual-mode CDMA / LTE device other than what we can glean off the broad-shouldered image above and certifications for Bluetooth, 802.11b/g WiFi, dual-band 1700 / 1900 LTE and EvDO data. The future: it's what's for breakfast.

Samsung SCH-R900 approved by FCC: first US LTE phone is go originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Army private sent to Virginia amid leak investigation

CNN — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:48:24 MST

An Army private suspected of leaking classified material, including videos, has been transferred from Kuwait to a Marine Corps brig in Quantico, Virginia.

Ask Engadget: best robot platform for under $400?

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:29:00 MST

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 Ryan, who reckons it's about time he stopped playing with Lego blocks and began playing with a real man's robot platform. Just kidding about the Lego bit. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I am an aspiring roboticist who has been using Lego Mindstorms NXT for a few years and I am looking for the next step up. I have a budget of about $400. I am looking for something that has more motors, more sensors, and a way to have it live feed video back to a computer. I would also like a platform that has a large amount of building that can be done on top of it, such as adding an arm or another array of sensors, or a different drive base. I'm new to the world of robotics outside of the NXT, so any tips would be appreciated as well. Thanks!"

Come on over, robot lovers. Toss those gloves and goggles aside for a moment and throw this guy some advice. What platform keeps you up in the garage at night?

Ask Engadget: best robot platform for under $400? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redbox rolling out $1.50 Blu-ray rentals at 13,000-plus kiosks, nationwide by fall

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:31:00 MST

It's really no surprise that Redbox is going nationwide with its $1.50 Blu-ray rentals, at every step along the way of its Hollwood dealmaking, the company has pointed out its aim towards procuring a supply of high definition movies, and now the day is finally here. The high definition disc packing kiosks currently number 13,300, and the plan is to have Blu-ray in all 26,000 locations by the fall. While we spotted plenty of Blu-ray enabled locations with a San Francisco zip code, other areas in the Midwest and East Coast weren't so lucky. The site points out a few of the movies on offer, including Green Zone, Book of Eli and Bounty Hunter, but there's no way to check which movies are in stock at each box. Of course, at this price, we might be willing to take our chances until Redbox gets things straightened out, or starts offering an online competitor to Netflix.

Continue reading Redbox rolling out $1.50 Blu-ray rentals at 13,000-plus kiosks, nationwide by fall

Redbox rolling out $1.50 Blu-ray rentals at 13,000-plus kiosks, nationwide by fall originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feds, parish leaders devise recovery

CNN — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:13:17 MST

The man overseeing the federal response to the Gulf oil disaster will meet New Orleans parish presidents Thursday to outline the plans after the well is permanently sealed.

Governor appeals immigration law

CNN — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:11:52 MST

The legal battle over Arizona's new immigration law entered its next stage when Gov. Jan Brewer filed an expedited appeal.

Protests mark 1 year of hikers in Iran

CNN — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:02:43 MST

A protest Friday afternoon outside Iran's U.N. mission in New York kicks off a weekend of events demanding the country release three American hikers it has held for one year.

Police: Ex-NBA player shot in homicide

CNN — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:04:15 MST

A body found in Memphis this week was identified as former NBA player Lorenzen Wright, police said. The death was ruled a "homicide by gunshot wound."

Drug lord killed in raid, officials say

CNN — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:36:41 MST

Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel, a top leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel, was killed Thursday during a military raid in a suburb of Guadalajara, Mexico, sources with knowledge of the operation told CNN en Espa?ol.

Apple to Begin Taking Orders for New Mac Pro on August 9th

MacRumors — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:06:57 MST

Several readers have informed us and we have confirmed that Apple Store representatives are telling potential buyers of the company's new Mac Pro announced earlier this week that the updated models are set to become available for ordering on ...

Ellen DeGeneres to leave 'Idol'

CNN — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:40:06 MST

Ellen DeGeneres is calling it quits after spending one season with the Fox hit "American Idol," according to a statement from the star and the network.

LG VL600 LTE / CDMA modem for Verizon in the wild?

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:36:00 MST

You might remember that an LTE modem for Verizon passed FCC muster not long ago -- now, it seems we're getting our first glimpse of it. As is usually the case with these early devices on next-gen networks, this USB stick doesn't look quite as svelte as we'd probably like it to be, but we have little doubt that they'll get progressively thinner and sexier over the course of a year or three. And hey, in the meantime, far be it from us to steer clear of faster download speeds just because the modem's a little chubby, you know?

LG VL600 LTE / CDMA modem for Verizon in the wild? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ballmer: Microsoft-Powered Tablets Are 'Job One Urgency'

MacRumors — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:33:39 MST

Steve Ballmer demoing Windows-based HP slate at CES in January 2010
CNET reports on comments from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer today at the company's conference for financial analysts revealing that Apple's longtime rival is continuing ...

Spy Video: Nissan GT-R SpecM gets wrung out at the 'Ring

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:58:00 MST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Europe, Japan, Nissan

Nissan GT-R SpecM - Click above to watch video after the jump

Just when we thought the softer-riding Nissan GT-R SpecM had disappeared for good, the car shows up at the Nurburgring for a little abuse. The crew from Auto Motor und Sport managed to lay their hands on a lengthy video of a few barely-cloaked examples of the car scooting around Green Hell, and everyone's best guess is that the vehicles are a peek at what we can expect out of the Nissan 2011 supercar lineup. As you likely recall, the SpecM is designed to be a more comfortable interpretation of the company's no-holds barred bruiser. The suspension is tuned more for the street than busting around your favorite road course, and the interior is supposedly swaddled in more high-grade materials.

Judging from what we see in the video, we're guessing that the new SpecM will wear aero additions borrowed from the mighty Spec-V, along with wheels swiped from the same car. Hit the jump to see the flick for yourself.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via Carscoop]

Continue reading Spy Video: Nissan GT-R SpecM gets wrung out at the 'Ring

Spy Video: Nissan GT-R SpecM gets wrung out at the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NetJets begins Aircell in-flight WiFi installations, won't stop anytime soon

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:37:00 MST

It's one thing to expect in-flight WiFi on a commercial flight serving two or three hundred addicted peons, but how on Earth has it taken until now for NetJets to hop onboard this bandwagon? For those unaware, NetJets hosts the world's largest fractional fleet of business-oriented aircraft, and those that lay claim to portions of its herd are amongst the most wealthy this world has to offer. Currently, the outfit has just over 800 planes, and starting next month over 250 of them (in the midsize and large-cabin categories) will be equipped with Aircell's high speed internet service. In time, NetJets is planning to have "all future fleet aircraft, including light cabin models, delivered from the factory with high speed internet," and we're guessing that the jetsetters who drop the Benjamins to have their own plane are as anxious as ever for the future to be now. After all, who wouldn't want to tweet images of filet mignon from 35,000 feet?

Continue reading NetJets begins Aircell in-flight WiFi installations, won't stop anytime soon

NetJets begins Aircell in-flight WiFi installations, won't stop anytime soon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Elon Musk chats it up on The Colbert Report

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:26:00 MST

Filed under: Videos, Celebrities, Humor, Tesla, Electric

Elon Musk on The Colbert Report - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Elon Musk apparently has a sense of humor. Proof of which can be found in the video after the break, where you'll see the co-founder of Paypal, Tesla Motors and Space X sit-down with Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report.

As always, Colbert takes a lighthearted slant with the interview, making a few comic-relief jabs along the way. For instance, after detailing Musk's seemingly heroic take on the automotive and space exploration industries, Colbert point-blank asks Musk whether he's a super hero or a super villain. We'll let you figure that one out...

Our favorite quote, though, is this: "You have these electric cars that uses no fossil fuels, but then you've also got this rocket, this Space X that puts the rocket into space, using about as much fuel as 2,000,000 Hummers. So... are you just trying to break even as spectacularly as possible?"

There are plenty more gems in the video, and we don't want to spoil the whole thing for you. So just check out the video after the break.

[Source: The Colbert Report]

Continue reading Video: Elon Musk chats it up on The Colbert Report

Video: Elon Musk chats it up on The Colbert Report originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.29.10

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:20:00 MST

Review: 2010 Honda Civic Si HFP not fast, is curious

In a world where sport compacts are mainly turbocharged hatchbacks, can the Civic Si still hold its own?

Regrets, I've Had a Few: Jonny Lieberman bids farewell to Autoblog

Before Lieberman leaves for an editorship at Motor Trend, he reflects on his time at Autoblog and lists off a few things he would've done differently.

Toyota to recall 373,000 2000-2004 Avalon sedans in U.S. over faulty steering locks

More recalls from Toyota and this time it includes over 300,000 Avalons equipped with faulty steering locks.

Also of interest:

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.29.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari trots out past and future at N�rburgring

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:58:00 MST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Ferrari, Racing

Retired Ferrari F1 cars take to the Nurburgring - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you're ~~lucky~~ wealthy enough to own one of Ferrari's retired works Formula One machines, the automaker's F1 Client department takes care of maintenance and preparation of your historic racer, whether it be Nigel Mansell's ex-F190, Michael Schumacher's championship-winning F2001 or any number of pedigreed prancing ponies.

This week, the crew brought 10 of its most prized possessions out to the Nürburgring so current owners could spend some quality time behind the wheel. And the open wheelers weren't the only exotic wares in Germany. Four of the Enzo-based FXXs and 15 of the newer 599XXs were on hand, each track-only variant equipped with cutting-edge technologies that the Maranello boffins are experimenting with for future products. The "owners" of these XX models are essentially paying for the privilege of being Ferrari beta testers, but to our eyes, there are worse ways to spend a few days at the Green Hell.

Gallery: Ferrari past at future at the Nurburgring

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari trots out past and future at N�rburgring

Ferrari trots out past and future at N�rburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ethics panel charges Democrat Rangel

CNN — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:49:37 MST

The House ethics panel accused veteran Rep. Charles Rangel of 13 violations of House rules involving alleged financial wrongdoing and harming Congress' credibility.

Lou Gehrig's victim: Kill me for organs

CNN — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:15:49 MST

A Georgia man suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease says he wants to die by having his organs harvested rather than wait for his degenerative nerve ailment to kill him.

Google search blocked in China, again; other services partially blocked (update: false alarm, ...

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:44:00 MST

A conciliatory end? Looks like we spoke too soon. Yes, Google and China seem to be on a collision course yet again, with the company's "Mainland China service availability page" showing that web search and ads have once again been fully blocked. Additionally, image and news search have been downgraded from "fully accessible" yesterday to "partially blocked" today. YouTube, Picasa, and other services already blocked remain as such. Looks like the saga continues.

Update: TechCrunch reports hearing back from Google, who now say this is all much ado about nothing -- or rather, it's a false alarm. Apparently there was "relatively small blockage" last night, but it has since returned to normal.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Google search blocked in China, again; other services partially blocked (update: false alarm, says Google) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Xbox 360 4GB's packaging shows off 250GB HDD upgrade option

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:41:00 MST

It seems like a no-brainer, but at this point Microsoft has yet to confirm a separate 250GB HDD for its new Xbox 360 consoles -- and really, if you're picking up the 4GB model next month, that might come in handy. Newer press shots show a different side of the packaging, however, and if you get a high-res snapshot, you can see that it's touting the various accessories you can buy to enhance your new Xbox 360 4GB experience: wireless controllers, Kinect, and... a 250GB HDD. Now, it could very well be misleading advertising -- such a disc drive already exists, but you have to buy the current slimmed-down model or Halo Reach special edition bundle to get it. Somehow, though, we get the feeling this HDD is destined to be wrapped in separate packaging all by its lonesome -- Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg even insinuated as much not two weeks ago. Only question is, when and for how much?

New Xbox 360 4GB's packaging shows off 250GB HDD upgrade option originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVO 4G's Android 2.2 update starts trickling out tomorrow, loads of new features and fixes in ...

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:35:00 MST

We're not certain that this date is going to hold -- things like this have an uncanny tendency to slip at the last possible moment -- but we're at least hopeful to see some internal Sprint communication that they're trying to get the EVO 4G updated to Froyo as soon as tomorrow, July 30. It'd be the perfect way to kick off the weekend, wouldn't it? Turns out this is no mere 2.2 upgrade, though -- they're making a bunch of changes, too, including a host of new preloaded widgets, a flashlight mode for the camera's LED flash, light-assisted 720p video, and "improvement" to the quality of said video capture (something we specifically complained about in our review). Unfortunately, it looks like the hotspot hack might be sealed off with this update, but that really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. As we said, we're hopefully the date sticks, because Sprint has identified it as a "high priority for competitive reasons" -- in other words, these guys must be feeling the Droid heat -- but the PR is apparently going to identify the week of August 1 as the first push, so the devices getting the OTA tomorrow might just be a very small, select group to ensure that nothing spectacularly bad happens. We're pulling for you, EVO owners.

Gallery: EVO 4G getting Android 2.2, loads of new features and fixes tomorrow?

Update: It's been made official! Notifications will go out starting August 3, but Sprint's doing something extremely cool by allowing eager users to opt-in early and grab the download at their choosing. Follow the break for the full press release.

Continue reading EVO 4G's Android 2.2 update starts trickling out tomorrow, loads of new features and fixes in store? (update: official for August 3rd!)

EVO 4G's Android 2.2 update starts trickling out tomorrow, loads of new features and fixes in store? (update: official for August 3rd!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sounds About Right: San Francisco spending $25M to determine how much parking should cost

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:32:00 MST

Filed under: Government/Legal

If you reside or frequent a large metropolitan area, you're probably all too aware of the cost to park your vehicle. In cities like New York or Chicago, you can pay upwards of $30 or more for a full day of parking. To make matters worse, even with astronomical costs many drivers can't even find an open spot.

San Francisco is looking for a permanent solution to its parking problems by going high tech and paying big bucks to do it. Frisco is investing $25 million on a new electronic parking system that will constantly gauge demand for spots and raise or lower pricing accordingly. So why go to all this expense and trouble to set parking prices?

Parking that's too cheap may lead to spots getting filled too quickly, which will lead to cars circling around waiting for spots, clogging streets with unnecessary congestion. The goal of the $25 million project is to make parking cheap enough for people to afford it while at the same time expensive enough to ensure spots are always available.

The electronic parking system will work as a network, setting prices between a quarter and $6 per hour depending on demand. The high-tech solution will start with 190 new meters in the Hayes Valley area of San Francisco and in two years end with 6,000 metered spaces and 12,250 spots at the city's 15 parking garages. The system will eventually make it possible for advanced planners to go online to find where the most spots are located. Distracted driving aficionados will be able to search for spots on their smartphone, making it easier for multi-taskers to park and harder for pedestrians and other drivers to avoid getting hit.

[Source: NPR | Image: Ingrid Taylar - C.C. License 2.0]

Sounds About Right: San Francisco spending $25M to determine how much parking should cost originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Obama says presidential BlackBerry ownership is 'no fun,' should've gone with the Sectera Edge

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:06:00 MST

It's hard out there for a prez, you know? Hardly anyone knows better than one Barack Obama, who sat down this morning on ABC's The View in order to talk smack with a few ladies who undoubtedly helped put him in office. If you'll recall, Obama fought hard early on for the privilege of maintaining his prized BlackBerry, and while he eventually won out, we learned today that a grand total of ten individuals are authorized to ping it. Yeah, ten. Needless to say, he described that depressing fact as "no fun," and even the folks that are cleared to make contact with it won't send over anything juicy. Why? They know that messages sent to it "will probably be subject to the presidential records act," so those lucky enough to have the digits are also smart enough to divert their ramblings to Texts From Last Night. But hey, at least hanging in there despite the limitations grants you early access to BlackBerry OS 6, right? Right?

Obama says presidential BlackBerry ownership is 'no fun,' should've gone with the Sectera Edge originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man spends nearly $200,000 to win right to park truck in his own driveway [w/video]

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:02:00 MST

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Government/Legal, Videos, Work, Ford

Man pays nearly $200,000 to park truck in his own drive - click above to watch the video

Beware of the home owner's association. Considered this country's most basic, ruthless unit of government, HOAs are typically organized and manned by retirees with little better to do than tell you what to do with your property - something A.J. Vizzi recently learned the hard way. When Vizzi purchased his home in Odessa, Florida, he was told he would be allowed to park his Ford F-350 Super Duty in his home's driveway, even though the neighborhood's rules forbade keeping vehicles anywhere other than the garage. The truck didn't fit in the home's garage.

The local HOA soon changed its mind, and before long a lawsuit ensued. In 2008, a judge ruled in Vizzi's favor, but the association quickly appealed the decision. In March, a second judge sided with Vizzi, and the courts awarded him $187,000 in legal fees to be paid by the HOA. In total, the association claims that the ordeal has cost over $300,000, including the cash it now has to pay to Vizzi. Take a look after the jump to watch a local news report on the legal battle. Thanks for the tip, Sea Urchin!

[Source: My Fox Tampa Bay]

Continue reading Man spends nearly $200,000 to win right to park truck in his own driveway [w/video]

Man spends nearly $200,000 to win right to park truck in his own driveway [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take calcium, boost heart attack risk?

CNN — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:00:46 MST

The millions of people who take calcium supplements to strengthen aging bones and ward off osteoporosis may be putting themselves at increased risk of a heart attack, a new study has found.

Canadian iPhone 4 launch details emerge: Rogers offers 6GB for $30, iPad sharing for $20 ...

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:48:00 MST

The iPhone 4 may be launching on all the major Canadian carriers tomorrow, but we're only just now starting to get the actual details on what they'll be offering. Rogers is the first out of the gate and, for a change, it looks like folks in the US may just be a tad jealous of their northern neighbors. It's not only offering the iPhone 4 for a further discounted price -- $159 for the 16GB and $269 for the 32GB on a three-year contract (for both new and existing customers eligible for a hardware upgrade) -- but it's bringing back its 6GB data plan for $30 a month as well. On top of that, Rogers is also offering a new iPad sharing plan that will let you share those 6GB between the two devices for an extra $20 a month. Still no official word from the other carriers, but MobileSyrup has turned up a leak that suggests Bell will be offering 6GB for $30 as well, and iPad sharing for just $10 a month -- although that's yet to be confirmed. We'll keep you posted as more plans are announced.

Update: Bell just flipped the switch, and their numbers are largely the same with one notable exception -- iPad data sharing is an additional $10 a month instead of $20, just as had been rumored. Thanks, everyone!

Canadian iPhone 4 launch details emerge: Rogers offers 6GB for $30, iPad sharing for $20 (update: Bell's iPad deal cheaper) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MobileSyrup | Rogers Redboard, MobileSyrup | Email this | Comments

Unlikely Pacer: Ford Fiesta to lead the field at CarFax 400

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:33:00 MST

Filed under: Motorsports, Budget, Sedan, Ford

Sure enough, the upcoming Sprint Cup Carfax 400 will be paced by none other than the Blue Oval's tiny 2011 Fiesta Sedan. With less than a third of the displacement of the tube-frame beasts lapping Michigan International Speedway, we wouldn't quite expect lightning-quick pace laps, but hey - safety first. While pace cars are typically some sort of performance product, manufacturers aren't past parading less than muscular new hardware in front of the captive audiences of the raceway.

If Ford was looking for a way to bring its marketing for the Fiesta out of the social media realm and into a more mainstream American venue, they could have hardly done better than the Sprint Cup. On average, the series races net 7.9 million viewers. On Sunday, August 15, each and every one of those souls will get to watch a maroon four door fiesta lead the pack, complete with a massive Blue Oval decal down the side. Talk about cheap advertising. Check out the gallery for a few shots from the car's unveiling.

Gallery: Ford Fiesta Pace Car

[Source: Ford Racing via Facebook]

Unlikely Pacer: Ford Fiesta to lead the field at CarFax 400 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ballmer on iPad: 'they've sold certainly more than I'd like them to have sold'

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:32:00 MST

Poor guy can't catch a break. Talking to analysts today about the world of tablets, Steve Ballmer put on a brave face about his lack of a strong competitor to the iPad, saying of Windows 7 products in the works with third parties: "They'll be shipping as soon as they are ready." Unfortunately, Apple's iPad looms large, with Ballmer stating that "they've sold certainly more than I'd like them to have sold." Perhaps more revelatory, Steve likened the tablet challenge to the situation Microsoft faced when the netbook started out as a Linux product, mentioning that part of their chore is "tuning Windows 7," in addition to working with hardware partners. Obviously Microsoft is down, not out, when it comes to tablets, but will a few million iPads be their eventual demise or the impetus they need to succeed? Tune in ~~next week~~ someday for the thrilling conclusion!

Ballmer on iPad: 'they've sold certainly more than I'd like them to have sold' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"Animal connection" helps separate humans from other species

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:10:00 MST

For centuries, people have tried to pinpoint what makes humans unique. The most current scientific theory suggests that three main qualities separate Homo sapiens from other animals: the construction and use of complex tools, the use of symbolic behavior including language, art, and ritual, and the domestication of other plants and animals. However, in a new paper in Current Anthropology, Dr. Pat Shipman suggests a fourth trait unique to humans.

Shipman cites humans' long history of learning about and understanding animals as a unique trait, calling this tendency "the animal connection." She claims that this relationship is the common unifying factor that underlies each of the other three previously recognized human traits, and has played a major role in human evolution over the last 2.6 million years.

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The Engadget Show returns Wednesday, August 4th with game designer Peter Molyneux, Windows ...

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:02:00 MST

Well ladies and gentlemen, it's that time again -- the Engadget Show is back in a big way on Wednesday, August 4th at 8pm! This time around, we'll have the inimitable Peter Molyneux, one of the world's most forward-thinking game designers and creator of "Black & White" and the "Fable" franchise. What's more, we'll have a rousing roundtable with Josh, Paul, and Nilay, some fine, fine music from Zen Albatross, mind-bending visuals from invaderbacca, and a few other big surprises. As usual, we'll be doing tons of giveaways at the live show only, so make the trek and join us at The Times Center in person. If you're geographically incapable of joining us in New York City, just tune into the stream at right here on Engadget.

The Engadget Show is sponsored by Sprint, and will take place at the Times Center, part of The New York Times Building in the heart of New York City at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues (see map after the break). Tickets are -- as always -- free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served... so get there early! Here's all the info you need:

There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free
The event is all ages
Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 5:30PM on Wednesday, doors will open for seating at 7:30PM, and the show begins at 8PM. It's probably going to be hot, so if you want to come early to wait for tickets, bring some water! Again, we won't be doing any ticketing prior to 5:30PM.
You cannot collect tickets for friends or family -- anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket
Seating capacity in the Times Center is about 340, and once we're full, we're full
The venue is located at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City (map after the break)
The show length is around an hour

If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com.

Sprint is also offering 50 guaranteed tickets to the Engadget Show taping to the first 50 entrants who text "ENGADGET" to 467467 or enter online! Standard text messaging rates apply. Click for the Official Rules and see how to enter online.

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Continue reading The Engadget Show returns Wednesday, August 4th with game designer Peter Molyneux, Windows Phone 7, and much more!

The Engadget Show returns Wednesday, August 4th with game designer Peter Molyneux, Windows Phone 7, and much more! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan reveals new object detection, rear-collision avoidance systems [w/video]

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:56:00 MST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Nissan

Nissan object detection and Forward Collision Avoidance Assist Concept - click above for high-res image gallery

Vehicles from an increasing number of automakers are becoming more aware of their surroundings than the drivers that operate them. The latest is Nissan, which has announced several new safety technologies set to be added to its lineup, including a Forward Collision Avoidance Assist Concept. The system works like similar systems from other manufacturers including Acura, Lexus, Ford and Mercedes-Benz, but evolves the concept even further.

A front-mounted radar sensor detects when the vehicle is closing too quickly and first warns the driver and then applies the brakes automatically to avoid or minimize the effects of a crash.

Additionally, the moving object detection uses the surround-view camera system to determine if there are pedestrians or other objects moving in proximity of the vehicle. Unlike pedestrian detection systems from Volvo and Lexus, this system only functions at very low speeds and doesn't apply the brakes. Instead, the driver gets an audible and visual warning of anything moving around them. No specific vehicle applications or timing have been announced, but it's safe to assume we'll be seeing this tech featured on Infiniti's wares sometime next year.

Gallery: Nissan object detection and Forward Collision Avoidance Assist Concept

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan reveals new object detection, rear-collision avoidance systems [w/video]

Nissan reveals new object detection, rear-collision avoidance systems [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo sale to Geely to close next week?

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:31:00 MST

Filed under: China, Europe, Volvo, Earnings/Financials, Luxury

Volvo may finally part ways with Ford by the end of next week. The Detroit Free Press reports that the Blue Oval is aiming to close its $1.8 billion sale of the Swedish automaker to Geely in as little as 10 days, though Ford has merely said that its goal is to hand over the Volvo reigns by the end of the third quarter of this year. The move to send Volvo packing is part of Ford CEO Alan Mulally's strategy to slim the company down to focus on its core brands - a scheme that seems to be working so far.

In the meantime, Volvo managed to turn a profit of $53 million before taxes in the second quarter of this year. The news is a big leap from the same time last year - in the second quarter of 2009, the brand lost a heady $237 million. Ford's sale of Volvo seems to have been on glacial pace, partly due to the number of government agencies in the U.S., Europe and China that were needed to sign off on the deal. By the time the ink dries on the last document, Geely will have secured the largest overseas acquisition of any Chinese automaker so far.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press]

Volvo sale to Geely to close next week? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint set to release 3G-enabling "case" for iPod touch

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:20:00 MST

Recently released FCC documents reveal that Sprint is set to launch what appears to be a new case for the iPod touch that would enable 3G networking on the WiFi-only device. Manufactured by ZTE and called the "Peel," the case is essentially a MiFi-like mobile hotspot that snaps on to an iPod touch, giving it a network connection wherever you can get a Sprint 3G signal.

The Peel has its own 3.4Whr lithium ion battery, which is good for about 40hrs of standby time—there's no mention of how long it would last in active use, but our guess is perhaps a few hours. In addition to giving 3G network access to an iPod touch, it can also connect other WiFi devices. It doesn't appear to have a limit to the number of simultaneously connected devices (the manual submitted to the FCC suggests this number is configurable), unlike most mobile hotspots that usually limit connections to four or five. Phone Scoop also notes that the device is only cleared to operate on the slower EV-DO Rev 0 standard, and not the faster Rev A that most current 3G devices use.

We're not exactly sure what to think of the Peel (Apple, Peel, get it?). It seems that if an iPhone really appealed to you, you wouldn't have opted for the iPod touch to begin with. Then again, there are some users who would rather have an iPhone with data but no voice, and on a different network. Depending on the pricing and data options—especially if there is a pay-as-you-go option—it might be a nice complement to an iPod touch. The added utility of being able to connect multiple devices—one clear advantage over an iPhone—is offset somewhat by the slower 3G speeds.

Sprint tried to attract Apple device users with a similar tack when the WiFi-only iPad was released, offering users a free iPad case with a pocket that would fit the carrier's 4G/3G Overdrive mobile hotspot. Still, we're wondering if there are any iPod touch owners out there excited by this news. If you are, let us know in the comments.

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Apple Job Posting Suggests 'Revolutionary' New Mac OS X Feature

MacRumors — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:16:51 MST

AppleInsider points to a new Apple job listing that appeared on Monday looking for a software engineer to work on a "revolutionary" new Mac OS X feature.

We are looking for a senior softwa...

More details on BMW's rumored X4 swirling about

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:00:00 MST

Filed under: SUV, Europe, BMW, Rumormill, Luxury

2010 BMW X6M - Click above for high-res image gallery

The good people at AutoExpress are doing their best to fan the flames of the BMW X4 rumors. The site claims to have snagged a bevy of information on the Bavarian brand's product plans, including a more detailed account of what we can expect out of the much-rumored X4. Supposedly the new high-rider will borrow a heaping helping of design cues from the X6, so if you aren't a fan of that brute, odds are you won't like the new model, either. Unlike the big boy, the site claims that the X4 will make use of a double-gated hatch in the rear similar to what's found in the 5 Series Gran Turismo - a smart choice to help load and unload parcels.

AutoExpress also lays out drivetrain possibilities, including the likelihood of one very thrifty 2.0-liter turbo diesel mill that promises around 50 mpg. The site says that in that configuration, 0-60 is likely to click off in a somewhat loping 8.6 seconds, though there will be more potent variations available, including one powered by a turbo 3.0-liter inline-six with north of 300 horsepower.

It all sounds good, but BMW itself hasn't said word one about seriously mulling a new 'ute.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 BMW X6 M

Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: AutoExpress]

More details on BMW's rumored X4 swirling about originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hitachi shows off new gesture-based interface, touts grand plans

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:51:00 MST

Hitachi's already dipped its toes (or hands, as it were) into the gesture-based waters before, but it looks to have refined things quite a bit for its latest Minority Report-esque demo, which the company is showing off as part of its 100th anniversary celebration. While complete details are a bit light, the system does seem to be reasonably responsive, and appears to rely on a projection-based system and a single camera to track movements. Perhaps what's most interesting, however, is that Hitachi eventually sees systems like this being used in everything from digital signage to medical applications -- and, yes, even TVs and desktop computers (though not before mid-2011 at the earliest). Head on past the break to check it out in action.

Continue reading Hitachi shows off new gesture-based interface, touts grand plans

Hitachi shows off new gesture-based interface, touts grand plans originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Congress ponders privacy of your underwear, immortal soul

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:44:00 MST

At a Congressional Internet privacy hearing on Tuesday, a group of middle-aged men had some questions about the 'Net. Why was it such a creepy place? How come replying to spammers doesn't get one immediately removed from their e-mail lists? And what is this talk we hear about websites gaining the rights to one's immortal soul?

The creepiness was best summed up by the Senate Commerce Committee's Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), who in his opening statement compared the Internet to a deeply disturbing shopping mall. In this mall, there's "a machine recording every store you enter and every product you look at, and every product you buy. You go into a bookstore. The machine records every book you purchase or peruse. Then, you go to the drugstore. The machine is watching you there, meticulously recording every product you pick up—from the shampoo to the allergy medicine to your personal prescription.

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Almost as Quick as the Car: Porsche builds 25,000th Panamera

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:33:00 MST

Filed under: Sedan, Porsche

2011 Porsche Panamera - Click above for high-res image gallery

When the Porsche Panamera was introduced in 2009, skeptics panned the sedan as oddly proportioned and thoroughly unattractive. Later, as the media began to test and review the all-new Porsche, skepticism gave way to fanaticism as the Panamera's amazing handling and jaw-dropping powertrains won over even some of its biggest doubters. Less than a year after the vehicle's introduction, Porsche has ample reason to celebrate as the Leipzig factory has just built Panamera number 25,000. That's peanuts for a mass-market automaker, but an incredible feat for a sports car maker that in most years is thrilled to produce 100,000 models globally.

Panamera number 25,000 is Ruby Red and packs a 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 that was added to the lineup back in May. The special Panamera will be delivered to the U.S. market, where to date 5,000 copies of the sedan have been sold. Porsche looks to keep up the Panamera momentum with a hybrid variant that is expected to bow in 2011. Hit the jump to get the details in the release.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Porsche Panamera V6

Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Porsche]

Almost as Quick as the Car: Porsche builds 25,000th Panamera originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How many trees must die for iWave's Earth-friendly headphones, iPhone cases? (update)

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:00 MST

We're not experts or anything, but cutting down trees to manufacture your headphones ($30), ear buds ($20), and iPhone cases ($25) does not really seem all that "green" to us. But what good is selling stuff made from "reusable, environmentally friendly and recyclable materials" if you can't broadcast your sense of social responsibility with "rustic wood grain finishes and smooth earthy tones" that "mirror the true beauty that surrounds us?" Is we right, or is we right? The Grass Roots Collection (get it?) starts shipping August 1st. PR after the break.

Update: A rep from iWave just sent in an email to assure us that no trees whatsoever were harmed in the making of the Grass Roots collection. We just want to take this opportunity to set the record straight -- and to point out that the Earth in the above illustration reminds us of a Chia Pet. Thanks!

Continue reading How many trees must die for iWave's Earth-friendly headphones, iPhone cases? (update)

How many trees must die for iWave's Earth-friendly headphones, iPhone cases? (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feature: WiFi "Hole196": major exploit or much ado about little?

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:10:00 MST

The latest hole in WiFi security is quite serious, but it's unlikely to cause widespread disruption in the corporate and government networks for which it would have the potential to cause the biggest headaches.

In fact, the exploit continues to demonstrate a lack of any effective method of cracking the WiFi Alliance WPA/WPA2 certified versions of IEEE encryption standards found in WiFi gear of the past seven years. Brute force and dictionary attacks against short passphrases used typically on home and small-business networks are still the only means of key recovery.

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Parrot AR.Drone now available for pre-order, shipping September 3rd

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:01:00 MST

Been itching to get your hands on the Parrot AR.Drone ever since it first took flight at CES way back in January? Well, you can now finally get your $299 pre-order in to ensure it ships to you on the September 3rd launch date. What's more, Parrot has also announced that the Drone will be exclusively available at Brookstone stores in the U.S., where you'll be able to try it out first-hand through October 31st. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and be sure to check out our recent hands-on if you need a reminder of the iPhone-controlled shenanigans possible with the device.

Continue reading Parrot AR.Drone now available for pre-order, shipping September 3rd

Parrot AR.Drone now available for pre-order, shipping September 3rd originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Regrets, I've Had a Few: Jonny Lieberman bids farewell to Autoblog

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:00:00 MST

Filed under: Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

A little over a month ago, I got a call from Jonny. Something was up. He was excited and anxious, and before the words "MacKenzie offered me a job, and I've accepted" came out of his mouth, I knew he was off to greener pastures.

I'm proud of a lot of things at Autoblog, but getting Dr. Lieberman on board is near the top of that list. And now he's gone, taking the Senior Editor position at Motor Trend after the buff book's editor-in-chief called and said, "We need to talk." Plenty of people have moved on from Autoblog over the years, but given Jonny's penchant for prose and never-say-die attitude, we asked him to pen a farewell letter before heading off to do some ludicrous comparison test for MT. You'll be missed, sir, so the floor is yours... one last time.

Damon Lavrinc - Senior Editor

Working at Autoblog has been one of the best experiences of my car-writing career. As you may or may not know, if there's a website about cars, odds are it's hoisted my byline at some point. From The Truth About Cars to Jalopnik to Clunkbucket and most points in between, I've cranked out some auto-centric virtual ink nearly everywhere. But Autoblog was the feather in my digital cap. No car website commands more respect, is more widely read or opens as many doors. And yeah, a pretty big door just got opened for me.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful men behind the screen. I've worked at some sites filled with mega-friendly people that weren't capable of pouring piss from a boot. Other places were hyper-competent and staffed almost totally with assholes. Autoblog combined near-ruthless professionalism with the kind of positive working environment you only dream about in any job. It really is a wonderful operation, one that sent me Japanese whiskey as a wedding gift. Thanks to Damon Lavrinc for always being in my corner and John Neff for not only giving me the chance, but for running such a tight ship. I'd like to thank especially Drew Phillips, "my photographer," for putting up with my right foot on all those canyon runs.

But of course, it's not all roses and sunshine. There are quite a few things I regret. In true Butthole Surfers fashion, allow me to quote, "Well son, the funny thing about regret is, it's better to regret something you have done, than to regret something you haven't done." Sadly, while there's nothing I regret doing at Autoblog (well, maybe SEMA), there's a whole slew of things I regret not doing. With that in mind, here's a small list of stuff that for one reason (lazy!) or another (extra lazy!) I never got around to sharing. Read on...

Continue reading Regrets, I've Had a Few: Jonny Lieberman bids farewell to Autoblog

Regrets, I've Had a Few: Jonny Lieberman bids farewell to Autoblog originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second Round of iPhone 4 Launches Begins in Australia [Updated x2]

MacRumors — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:40:26 MST

As announced by Apple CEO Steve Jobs earlier this month and confirmed in a company press release earlier this week, Apple has begun its second round of iPhone 4 launches, bringing the device to 17 new countries. Countries in this round of launches i...

NHTSA to update 5-star testing process

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:30:00 MST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Crash Testing - Click above for high-res image gallery

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is set to debut a new testing procedure for the 2011 model year that will make it more difficult for new cars and trucks to earn the government agency's coveted five-star safety rating. Just as interestingly, the recent influx of electronic safety gadgets, such as lane departure and collision warning, will be included in the testing regiment as well.

NHTSA will calculate one simple-to-understand grade for each vehicle based on how it manages to perform throughout the agency's testing. While the revised parameters promise to make safety-minded comparison shopping between new automobiles a bit easier, it also means that pre-2011 ratings will not be directly comparable to the new ones.

A total of 55 new 2011 cars, trucks and minivans (including the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze seen above undergoing GM's internal safety testing) will be tested by NHTSA with the new procedures, and the list is made up of both brand new models and some of the more popular nameplates Americans seem most likely to purchase in large numbers next year. You can check out NHTSA's official release and the initial list of what cars will be subjected to this new testing regime after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Crash Testing

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Continue reading NHTSA to update 5-star testing process

NHTSA to update 5-star testing process originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Internet Explorer 9 beta to arrive in September

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:04:00 MST

Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner revealed today at the company's annual financial analyst meeting that the first beta of the Internet Explorer 9 Web browser is planned for release in September. This is a little later than expected; leaked documents that emerged last month pointed at an August release date for the beta.

Some apparently authentic screenshots of Internet Explorer 9 have leaked, though perhaps surprisingly, they show few changes from the current version. Microsoft has shipped three platform previews to show off the Internet Explorer 9 engine, but these previews used a simple, bare-bones interface; the company wanted to wait before revealing Internet Explorer 9's look and feel. If the new browser really is just a minor evolution of the old browser's interface, that decision seems a little peculiar.

The new browser is eagerly anticipated, especially by Web developers; Internet Explorer 9 is a big improvement on Internet Explorer 8, with considerably improved standards compliance and functionality. News of the beta is certainly welcome, but there's still a marked contrast between Microsoft's release policy and the more frequent updates of browsers like Firefox and Chrome. For all of its improvements, there's a good chance that Microsoft's browser will have been surpassed by its competition by the time it finally ships.

No release date has been announced, but most believe that the final version will not arrive until 2011.

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Subaru releases 2011 rally cars at X-Games

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:02:00 MST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Budget, Performance, Hatchback, Subaru

Subaru has pulled back the sheets on the company's newest breed of rally heathens. Built by Vermont SportsCar, the all-wheel drive bruisers will be piloted by the likes of Travis Pastrana and Sverre Isachsen at this year's X Games. The tuning house started with a bone-stock 2011 WRX STI before gutting the interior, seam-welding the entire chassis and stitching in a full roll cage. The stock gas tank was scrapped for a rally-legal fuel cell, and a fire-suppression system installed in case things go fricassee. Down below, a set of EXE-TC adjustable coilovers were swapped for the stock bits to help the car tackle the varied course of X Games 16.

The speed gurus at Vermont SportsCar managed to yank a full 500 screaming ponies and 560 pound-feet of twist from the turbo 2.0-liter flat four under the hood, even with a 45 mm restrictor plate in place. Not too shabby. The fire-breathing mill is laced with an anti-lag system as well as launch control and bolted to a five-speed dog box transmission. The stock electronically adjustable center differential remains in place, though boasts a more advanced controller.

The X Games is debuting a new rally feature this year. Called SuperRally, the track pits four cars against one another simultaneously. Subaru is hoping the new car will help the company fend off competition in the new event. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading Subaru releases 2011 rally cars at X-Games

Subaru releases 2011 rally cars at X-Games originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Droid 2 manual leaks, teaches you everything you need to know about a phone you don't have

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:57:00 MST

You know the drill: blurry shots of phone get leaked... user's manual gets leaked... excited would-be buyers voraciously consume manual's contents... phone finally gets released. Indeed, that's precisely the same well-trodden path the upcoming Droid 2 is taking, so if you're looking at getting this thing in the next few weeks, you might want to start skimming the documentation so there aren't any embarrassing newbie missteps in your first few moments of ownership. As Droid Life notes, we've got more confirmation here that the phone will be running the same skin as the Droid X, complete with the Swype-enabled (and presumably multitouch-enabled) soft keyboard for those times when you're too lazy to pull out the physical keyboard. We can't imagine what else could possibly leak at this point -- so hey, Verizon, can we recommend you go ahead and get this show on the road?

Droid 2 manual leaks, teaches you everything you need to know about a phone you don't have originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Magic Trackpad or tragic Mac pad? A review

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:37:00 MST

When I was 12, using a Performa 600CD, my parents gave me an external trackpad accessory that connected via ADB (a moment of silence for Apple Desktop Bus, please... thank you) for my birthday. The useable surface area was tiny—maybe three-quarters the size of a 3.5" floppy—and clunky, but I thought it was the coolest thing ever... for about five minutes. I soon learned that tracking around your desktop computer to play Oregon Trail and put together school projects in Microsoft Word 6.0 was Serious Business, and the trackpad wasn't cutting it for me. The small surface was annoying, and the precision even worse. I eventually disconnected it and went back to my trusty mouse.

Seventeen years later, I find myself splitting my time between a 27" iMac and a 13" MacBook Pro; instead of Word 6.0, I deal with MacJournal and the Ars CMS, and instead of Oregon Trail, I play various online Scrabble knockoffs. I use a Magic Mouse and the multitouch trackpad that is built into my MacBook Pro. I constantly find myself trying to perform multitouch gestures—ones that only work on Apple's trackpad—on the mouse, and find myself regularly wishing for a better input device on my desktop.

When Apple introduced the Magic Trackpad, a standalone Bluetooth trackpad designed for use with Apple's desktop machines, I was cautiously optimistic. My previous dalliance in trackpad-on-desktop land ended poorly, but a lot has changed in a couple decades. Or has it?

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2011 BMW 5-Series nabs IIHS Top Safety Pick laurels

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:33:00 MST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Safety, BMW, Luxury

2011 BMW 535i - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 BMW 5 series can stick another feather in its jaunty Alpine cap. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded the German automaker's middle child the coveted Top Safety Pick accolade. The newest generation of the 5er managed to nab the highest ratings possible for front, side, rear and rollover crash protection, becoming the first 5 Series to win the Top Safety Pick in the model's history. Surprisingly enough, the 2011 5 Series is also the first BMW to take the award since the IIHS incorporated its new roll-over test.

The institute says that BMW has made up impressive ground in the area of side impact protection. Last year's car only managed a "marginal" rating during that section of testing, while the new car was granted the highest rating possible. The institute goes on to say that its test replicates an impact from a larger vehicle, such as an SUV of a pickup truck, to accommodate for the higher number of these vehicles on the road today. Full details at the link below.

Gallery: 2011 BMW 5 Series IIHS Crash Test

[Source: IIHS]

2011 BMW 5-Series nabs IIHS Top Safety Pick laurels originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Think City electric car gets bigger American batteries for bigger American roads

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:15:00 MST

The electric Think City has been targeting an American release for well over two years now but, like many EVs, those dates just kept on 'a slipping. Now the cars are finally starting to hit the colonies and, as a reward for the wait, we're receiving models with more powerful batteries. The cells are supplied by Indiana-based Ener1, a new lithium-manganese pack that offers 25kWh. Those cells are said to double the car's previous expected range, up to 100 miles from 50, yet still recharge in a scant four hours -- if you're using a 240v plug. The folks at Green Car Advisor managed a maximum of 68mph in the two-seater and, driving in a decidedly non-eco-minded way, managed 43.5 miles with 38 percent left, giving an estimated 75 miles for those with leaden right foots. That, at least, is promising, and while a $28,000 MSRP is rather a bitter pill, it's a good bit cheaper (though smaller) than the Nissan Leaf. And don't forget that Uncle Sam would be happy to knock at least a few grand off of that price, too.

Think City electric car gets bigger American batteries for bigger American roads originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Recycling Gone Wild: Turn your VW Jetta TDI into a Smyth Performance G3F [w/video]

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:00:00 MST

Smyth Performance G3F concept - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle is the tri-directive that could help us become more sustainable as a society. Soon, a kit for the G3F from Smyth Performance - a new venture by Factory Five Racing co-founder Mark Smith - will follow those guidelines, enabling you to convert a previously-enjoyed Volkswagen Jetta into something you can really look forward to driving. The finished product will be lighter, faster and burn less biodiesel than the original vehicle, offering up to 60 miles per gallon and boasting a very naughty top speed of 140 miles per hour. All for about $10,000 and less than 100 hours of labor.

It's a simple recipe. You start by procuring a TDI diesel Jetta four door sedan. Cut away about 800 lbs of metal, reusing a large chunk of the chassis, including the entire safety structure. The engine gets chipped, modded and moved from in front of the driver to behind. Add the body, seats, wheels and all the other included bits from the kit and voila! You now own a recycled VW that increases your joy of driving while reducing the amount of petroleum product you'll need to pump.

Okay, maybe we're making it sound a little easier than it actually is, but Smith is confident there is enough interest to make a go of it with a line of depositors already being formed. Despite deliveries (optimistically) planned for September, the original prototype is still under construction. The operation doesn't have an official website either - that's coming this fall - but you can follow the progress of both car and company on both Facebook and the unofficial Factory Five forum. Hit the jump for video of Mr. Smith explaining his concept and tell us what you think.

[Source: Boston.com]

Continue reading Recycling Gone Wild: Turn your VW Jetta TDI into a Smyth Performance G3F [w/video]

Recycling Gone Wild: Turn your VW Jetta TDI into a Smyth Performance G3F [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bridging the gap between biomass and petrochemicals

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:00:00 MST

This week's issue of Science takes a look at work that could help bridge the gap between biomass fuel production and traditional petrochemical engineering. Modern society relies on petrochemicals not only for our primary transportation needs, but also for most of the chemicals and polymers that we use. With the increased focus on using woody and agricultural stock to create biofuels, most notably bioethanol, it is worth asking if these feedstocks can support the rest of our petrochemical needs.

The issue contains a letter that focuses on two papers published this year, one by Bond et al. in Science, and one by Lange et al. in Angewandte Chemie International Edition. The articles look into whether carbohydrates from biorefining processes can be used to create compounds that look and react like more traditional petrochemical feedstocks, which have less oxygen than carbohydrates. If this is possible—or, more importantly, if it is feasible—then biomass could be used as a starting material for our existing petrochemical infrastructure.

The two papers focus on the compound levulinic acid, which is formed, along with formic acid, when six-carbon sugars are reacted with acids. The levulinic acid can undergo a hydrogenation reaction to form ?-valeroactone (GVL), at which point the two papers diverged.

Bond's team proposed a method that would eliminate CO₂ from the GVL in water, giving a mixture of isomeric butenes; these can be linked together, or oligimerized, into longer hydrocarbons and be used directly as fuels. As an added bonus, this process is carried out at a pressure where the CO₂ could be reused in other reactions or ready made for sequestration without the need for an expensive compression step.

Lange's team, on the other hand, reacted GVL to form valeric acid (VA) with fairly high completion and selectivity. The VA could then be combined with various alcohols to form Valerate esters. Low molecular weight esters (up to propyl) were found to be suitable gasoline additives, working at 10 to 20 percent by volume. Higher weight esters could act either as a diesel additive or as diesel fuel itself.

The letter acknowledges that there are "technology development" hurdles that must be overcome before either of these processes go into production, let alone steal the spotlight from bioethanol. Even in the face of the challenges, the letter argues that these are promising demonstrations that biofuel stocks can produce intermediates that can be directly inserted into our existing petrochemical plants and processes. The perspective concludes with the hope that such research will spur the use of renewables as a replacement for our limited supply of petrochemical raw materials.

Science, 2010. DOI: 10.1126/science.1191662
Bond et al.: Science, 2010. DOI: 10.1126/science.1184362
Lange et al.: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2010. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201000655

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Sprint to Turn iPod Touch Into 3G Mobile Hotspot?

MacRumors — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:38:31 MST

Phone Scoop yesterday discovered new regulatory filings posted by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission showing a new Sprint-branded 3G mobile hotspot device manufactured by ZTE that appears to be in the form of a designed case to wrap a...

StarCraft 2 is a full game, no matter what whiners say

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:35:00 MST

The Internet, taken as a sort of buzzing collective, can be hard on games. The Amazon ratings for StarCraft 2 have become a battlefield, with many rating the game based on features that gamers feel should have been included, or trashing the game because it's only one-third of the full release; the Zerg and Protoss sections of the campaign will be released at some point in the future. Looking at Blizzard's history with shipping games, we feel safe assuming that it won't be a matter of months.

The question is a good one: is StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty a hobbled experience, cracked into three parts in order to feed the chubby god of Activision's bottom line? We're still spending hours each day playing the game to get ready for the full review on Sunday, but we have thoughts on the matter we're ready to share now.

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Video: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 rolls into Jay Leno's Garage

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:31:00 MST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Porsche, Celebrities

Porsche's 911 GT3 pays a visit to Jay Leno's Garage - click above to watch the video

Porsche recently dropped off a new 911 GT3 at Jay Leno's garage where racer Justin Bell picked it up for a bit of a road trip. Before the trip, Leno and Bell discuss their preference for normally aspirated manual transmission Porsches over the more powerful turbos and dual-clutch PDKs.

On his way to Laguna Seca for the spring American Le Mans Series event, Bell finds a perfect little road for his own private hill climb and gushes over the responsiveness of the non-turbo engine and enormous Brembo binders. At Laguna, Bell hooks up with factory pilot Patrick Long to discuss the differences between the Flying Lizard Motorsports 911 he races and the roadgoing GT3 which spawned it. Even within the limits of the rules set out by the ACO, Flying Lizard and Porsche have managed to find a lot of creative ways to extract more speed out of their competition machine. Check out the full video after the jump.

[Source: Jay Leno's Garage]

Continue reading Video: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 rolls into Jay Leno's Garage

Video: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 rolls into Jay Leno's Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile's apparent myTouch 3G HD gets spied from the rear

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:27:00 MST

So, how do you feel about the look of this myTouch 3G HD we've been seeing this week? Haven't formed a complete opinion yet? Well, maybe this new shot -- seemingly of said phone's backside -- will help. As we've seen on past models, the rear features a tastefully-sized myTouch logo, lending a dose of credibility to the picture that seems to have been covertly snapped off a monitor where the render was being shown. In other words, we don't have much reason to doubt this thing -- and considering that the Vibrant isn't a member of the myTouch line, T-Mobile's overdue for a refreshed non-QWERTY Android device in that segment of the market. Should be an interesting few months for these guys, no?

T-Mobile's apparent myTouch 3G HD gets spied from the rear originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HomePlug Powerline Alliance reveals features of new HomePlug AV2 spec

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:06:00 MST

After a few years of teasing and smoke blowing, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance has finally released the skinny on major enhancements we can expect to see integrated into the HomePlug AV2 powerline networking specification that's scheduled for finalization in Q1 of 2011. Chief among them is MIMO (Multiple-Inputs Multiple-Outputs), which will expand home coverage by increasing the throughput speeds, and transmission ranges, without additional signal power or requiring more spectrum -- but you knew already that didn't you, MacGyver? Compounding this efficiency gain will be the expansion of the operating spectrum by an order of magnitude. Tallied together with other upgrades, the end result for consumers will be a "reported" 5x increase in performance, not to mention support for bigger, more reliable networks. Oh, and it'll also play nicely with original HomePlug AV technology, too. Frankly, that's jolly good news for our dreams of pushing 1080p HD video streams to every room in our house with an outlet -- including the pantry. Doing the same thing for 3D and 4K HD content... well, that's just brilliant! For more details peep the PR below the break.

Continue reading HomePlug Powerline Alliance reveals features of new HomePlug AV2 spec

HomePlug Powerline Alliance reveals features of new HomePlug AV2 spec originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google in the clear over UK WiFi snooping

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:02:00 MST

The Information Commissioner's Office has said that Google did not grab "significant" amounts of personal data when photographing the UK with its StreetView cars, and that the information captured is unlikely to include "meaningful personal details" or information that could be linked to an "identifiable person."

In its statement, the ICO said that Google was "wrong" to collect the information, but that ultimately, there was no evidence that the data collected could cause any "individual detriment."

The advertising and search company is being investigated around the world after it emerged that its StreetView cars were recording data from WiFi networks. The company claims that the logging of data was accidental, and that its intent was only to record public information such as access point names and MAC addresses to allow approximate non-GPS-based positioning services.

The ICO said that it would continue to monitor the other investigations into the company to see if they find that Google has broken any data privacy laws—including another investigation in the UK by the Metropolitan Police.

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Review: 2010 Honda Civic Si HFP not fast, is curious

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:57:00 MST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Performance, Honda, Reviews

2010 Honda Civic Si HFP - Click above for high-res image gallery

There was a time was when any serious discussion of "hot hatches" - small, lightweight economy cars pumped full of go-fast parts and body modifications of dubious taste - always included the Honda Civic Si. Back in the day, the D16Z6-engined Si would routinely do battle against the Volkswagen GTI and Nissan Sentra SE-R for import tuner supremacy. Times, however, change.

These days, the battle for hot hatch supremacy starts and essentially ends with turbocharged beasties like the Mitsubishi Evolution and Subaru WRX/STI, with a dash of MazdaSpeed3 or Mini Cooper S thrown in for flavor. The Sentra SE-R is little more than a sad shell of its former self (a fact we find odd considering just how much cache Nissan has built up for the brand with its exotic-destroying Godzilla GT-R) and the Volkswagen GTI has evolved into an entry-level Audi - lots of interior and NVH refinement, but lacking the kicked-in-the-you-know-where power necessary to keep up with the all-wheel-drive Japanese kids. But what about the Civic Si? Where does it fit into the import tuner lexicon, especially when loaded up with lots of Honda Factory Performance (HFP) parts? Make the jump as we attempt to find out.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda Civic Si HFP

Continue reading Review: 2010 Honda Civic Si HFP not fast, is curious

Review: 2010 Honda Civic Si HFP not fast, is curious originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ewee-PT is how you say 'Segway' in German (video)

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:43:00 MST

Billed as "the Segway's little sister," this self-balancing electro scooter comes from a small German company called Ewee. The idea behind it is pretty simple: file down all the extraneous bits, keep the stuff that keeps you going, and presumably try to sell it to hardy macho types who like the barebones aesthetic. You accelerate by leaning forward and decelerate by doing the opposite, while steering is handled by a joystick (apparently "driving pleasure is gauranteed"). We're not sure how much trust we're willing to invest in either the company or its product, but exclusive retailer fun-components does have it ready for pre-order today, so if you're feeling adventurous with your €799 ($1,039), feel free to pay their site a visit. The rest of us are going after the break to watch the video.

Continue reading Ewee-PT is how you say 'Segway' in German (video)

Ewee-PT is how you say 'Segway' in German (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows 7 trounces Windows XP at green computing

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:37:00 MST

Mindteck, a company that offers embedded software development and consultancy services, has released power consumption data after testing sleep, idle, low-use, and high-use scenarios of various Windows PCs. The researchers also built a model to estimate cost savings (pictured above) by using a centralized power management policy. What really piqued our interest, though, was that Mindteck looked at the effect of processor chipset drivers on the power consumption (in watts) of Windows XP and Windows 7 with varying driver configurations and older hardware:

OS	Windows XP			Windows 7			Percent improvement
	Power consumption (Watts)
PC Configuration	Idle	Low	High	Idle	Low	High	Idle	Low	High
P4 Updated Drivers	64.2	69.7	89.8	57.3	66.1	79.4	10.75	5.16	11.58
P4 Out-of-box	64.2	68.7	106.2	57.3	66.1	79.4	10.75	3.78	25.24
High-end Updated Drivers	47.2	48.0	67.7	45.2	49.1	66.8	4.14	2.29	1.33
High-end Out-of-box	50.5	54.3	78.0	45.2	49.1	66.8	10.50	9.54	14.36

As you can see, the results favor Windows 7 in every single scenario. The out-of-box differences are particularly high. For Windows 7, the consumption levels are actually the same as with the updated drivers—this means that Windows 7 is taking care of the chipset drivers, even on older hardware. The same cannot be said for Windows XP, and even with updated drivers (obtained manually), it still performs worse than Windows 7.

The whitepaper actually focuses on explaining how to "maximize the impact of effective power management with Windows 7," but the comparison to Windows XP was included in the appendix. Mindteck Smart Energy analysts quantified power consumption on five basic hardware platforms: a high-end desktop such as those used in engineering design or media processing, both a business desktop and business laptop, a Pentium 4 class business desktop to investigate prior-generation hardware, and a netbook. If you've already rolled out Windows 7 in your company, or are planning to, the 11-page report should help your CIOs and IT managers alike learn about leveraging Windows 7 to implement a comprehensive power management strategy. Check it out at the link below.

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Report: Rush Limbaugh tears into Chevy Volt, fails to understand how it works

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:30:00 MST

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Chevrolet, GM, Celebrities, Electric

It has long been apparent that the more successful a talk radio host is, the less relevant the facts become. Case in point is this week's apparent tirade by Rush Limbaugh against the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. No doubt the Volt's sticker price came in higher than most of us had hoped at $41,000, and Limbaugh may have had a slight point there. However, suggesting that the federal $7,500 tax credit for plug-in vehicles like the Volt and the Nissan Leaf was there as an admission that no one wants these vehicles strikes us as disingenuous at best, especially when you recall the tax write-offs that were available to people buying Hummers and other large SUVs just a few years ago. As far as we know, Limbaugh also made no mention of the more palatable $350-per-month lease deal available for the Volt.

Limbaugh also ripped into the Volt's 40 mile range, implying that the 40 miles of range from the battery is all that is available. He was either unaware of or chose to ignore the fact that in charge-sustaining mode, the car's onboard engine-generator can keep the battery going for another 300 miles on a tank of gas. If you don't have time to sit around while the battery charges, you can just take a couple of minutes to fill the tank and be on your way again, just as you would in a normal car.

Perhaps we should just give Limbaugh the benefit of the doubt and assume his cochlear implant was on the fritz.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Report: Rush Limbaugh tears into Chevy Volt, fails to understand how it works originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Windows CE-based ATMs especially generous (and vulnerable to hackers)

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:02:00 MST

Speaking at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas, a fellow named Barnaby Jack (really!) used custom software to hack Windows CE-based ATMs on stage. After using an industry standard key to gain entry to the machines (apparently many ATM owners are too lazy to install new locks) Jack was able to load a rootkit on the device using a USB thumb drive. From that point, it was just a matter of running another program that caused all the cash therein to shoot out in a comical manner. The machines used in the presentation were manufactured by Trannax and Triton, both of which have have had a chance to send a security patch to customers prior to the demonstration. However, there are four different machines in common use that are still vulnerable. And no, he won't tell us which ones.

Some Windows CE-based ATMs especially generous (and vulnerable to hackers) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota denies Sequoia discontinuation - sort of

AutoBlog — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:00:00 MST

Filed under: SUV, Toyota, Off-Road

2010 Toyota Sequoia - Click above for high-res image gallery

Earlier this week, we heard word that Toyota would be sending its sluggishly-selling Sequoia out to pasture after this current product cycle came to a close. Those whispers were evidently enough to ruffle a few feathers at the Japanese automaker, as the company has come out with a cleverly-worded denial:

Toyota denies any reports of the discontinuation of the Sequoia. For obvious competitive reasons, Toyota does not discuss future product plans. Sequoia continues to be a profitable, high-quality vehicle for Toyota and several years remain in the life of the current generation. Our focus remains on building our vehicles, including the Sequoia, with the highest possible quality.

Call us crazy, but the statement above doesn't do much to assure us about the future of the high-riding family hauler beyond this generation's expected lifecycle. Either way, we can certainly say that the current Sequoia will continue to dominate mall parking lots for at least a few more years. Past that, Toyota isn't saying what its plans are for its biggest vehicle.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Sequoia

[Source: Toyota]

Toyota denies Sequoia discontinuation - sort of originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iMac's latest 27-inch iteration requires special parts for your own SSD in second drive bay

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:39:00 MST

One of the few highlights of the refreshed 27-inch iMac is the new SSD option for its second drive bay. This sure is good news for performance addicts carrying some spare cash, but with the 256GB SSD addition costing from $750, some may prefer the DIY route to save a few pennies for that gold iPad. Sadly, it won't be as straight forward as sliding in a new drive -- e-tailer OWC noticed in its teardown that you'll be needing a mounting bracket and a couple of cables that are only supplied with Apple's own SSD. That said, if you can find a way to secure the drive in the bay, all you'll need are a SATA male-to-two-female splitter plus a left-angled SATA connector cable, and then a way to partially remove the logic board to access the free port. Yup, it's as easy as really complicated pie.

iMac's latest 27-inch iteration requires special parts for your own SSD in second drive bay originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mozilla's Tab Candy is the first step to sweeter browsing

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:25:00 MST

Tabbed browsing has arguably had a significant impact on the way that people use the Web, but the feature hasn't really scaled to accommodate the increasing complexity of the average surfing session. The existing tab management and overflow handling mechanisms that are present in modern browsers are dated and suffer from some fundamental limitations that significantly detract from user productivity.

As more software shifts into the cloud and users increase their reliance on the browser for daily computing tasks, browser tabs will have to evolve from a primitive mechanism for switching between documents into a full-blown task management system. The mainstream browser vendors have been slow to address this issue and haven't applied much innovation to the problem over the past few years. Mozilla has stepped up to plate and is aiming to hit the ball out of the park with some unique and truly compelling improvements to the tab concept.

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Samsung refreshes X Series laptop lineup with Core i3 ULV chips

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:16:00 MST

If you've got a hankering for some battery-sipping Core i3 ULV processors and live south of a certain 38th parallel line, you'll probably want to take a close look at one of Samsung's new designs. We hear on good authority that Sammy's refreshed its X Series laptops with the 1.2GHz Core i3-330M processor, including the 11.6-inch X180 (with the same 3GB of DDR3 memory, 320GB hard drive and most everything else included in the X170 that came before) and the 14-inch X430, which leapfrogs its predecessor the X420 with dedicated GeForce 310M graphics. Both actually report less battery life than their forbears, as the new laptops are rated closer to eight than nine hours, but in the X430 it's a small sum to pay to avoid integrated Intel video.

We're also hearing word of a AMD-powered 11.6-incher called the Samsung X125, which should be hitting Europe any minute now for €499 (roughly $647). It's got a 1.7GHz Athlon II Neo K125 chip, 3GB memory, ATI Radeon 4225 graphics, and a manufacturer-reported five hours of battery life, all of which honestly sounds pretty unimpressive for the price. We know you can do better, Samsung. We believe.

Samsung refreshes X Series laptop lineup with Core i3 ULV chips originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anybots QB telepresence robot: nag employees remotely for $15,000

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:53:00 MST

Anybots has a new telepresence robot, the QB -- and while it certainly seems to be an advance on the QA, which we saw at CES 2009, we gotta admit that it's not nearly as cute as its predecessor. Marketed towards CEO-types, this bad boy can be controlled via your PC (or eventually your Mac), and it features WiFi b/g connectivity, 5 megapixel camera, speaker, microphone, and a max speed of 3.5 MPH. To be honest, having your boss follow you around the office with a webcam-on-wheels sounds more like a NewsRadio plot than effective office management, but certainly there's someone rich and crazy enough to drop $15,000 on one of these. The first hundred to put down ten percent get membership in the prestigious 100 Club! For reals! Which reminds us, it's been awhile since we've listened to our Sex Pistols Live At The 100 Club CD. PR, video after the break.

Continue reading Anybots QB telepresence robot: nag employees remotely for $15,000

Anybots QB telepresence robot: nag employees remotely for $15,000 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple looking into slow iOS 4 performance on iPhone 3G

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:36:00 MST

Apple is looking into user complaints about hardware and software performance issues reported by iPhone 3G users after upgrading to iOS 4. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company is investigating the myriad complaints that have surfaced since the June release of iOS 4.

The major sticking points share a common factor: performance. Complaints are plentiful online—the Apple discussion thread on the issue currently spans 36 pages. According to many, upgrading to iOS 4.0.1 has done little to ameliorate the issue. There is even a humorous spoof of Apple’s iPhone advertisements about exactly what iOS 4 brings to the iPhone 3G. Less-prominent complaints also include the device overheating and general degradation of battery performance.

From the beginning, Apple explained that there would not be feature parity between the older iPhone 3G, the iPhone 3GS, and the iPhone 4. The iPhone 3G has a 412MHz processor versus the 600MHz processor of the 3GS, and a paltry 128MB of RAM versus 256MB on the 3GS and 512MB on the iPhone 4. And remember, one of the selling features of the 3GS was indeed the handset's speed improvements over the older 3G.

At this point, Apple is in an unenviable position: a handset that is performing undesirably with an operating system that the company said would be at least partially supported. Apple could recommend that users downgrade back to iOS 3.1.3, or tell them that older hardware will always have issues running the latest and greatest software; neither of these would be very popular with the 3G-using public. There is also a third option—put even more time and effort into optimizing the OS for a phone that is now two generations old. That's the least likely option in our view.

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BlackBerry Bold 9780 caught on video running OS 6

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:34:00 MST

This new Bold 9780 is really looking like the real deal, isn't it? The phone, which includes some ultra-minor aesthetic tweaks over the 9700, along with 512MB of RAM to handle the new BlackBerry 6 OS, has been described on paper, caught on camera, and now has gotten the requisite video walkthrough. The video, obtained by Driphter.com, includes some nice WebKit browsing, with fast page loads but some slightly sluggish scroll speeds. Of course, this is still pre-release software, so we'll see where we end up when BlackBerry 6 starts landing on these RAM-bumped devices for reals. Video is after the break.

Continue reading BlackBerry Bold 9780 caught on video running OS 6

BlackBerry Bold 9780 caught on video running OS 6 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese Government Pressing Apple Over First-Generation iPod Nano Fire Risk

MacRumors — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:11:18 MST

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Japanese government is continuing to pursue its long-standing concern over reports of first-generation iPod nanos overheating, following up on a warning to consume...

Researcher demonstrates ATM "jackpotting" at Black Hat Conference

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:56:00 MST

LAS VEGAS—In a city filled with slot machines spilling jackpots, it was a "jackpotted" ATM machine that got the most attention Wednesday at the Black Hat security conference, when researcher Barnaby Jack demonstrated two suave hacks against automated teller machines that allowed him to program them to spew out dozens of crisp bills.

The demonstration was greeted with hoots and applause.

In one of the attacks, Jack reprogrammed the ATM remotely over a network, without touching the machine; the second attack required he open the front panel and plug in a USB stick loaded with malware.

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Amazon sees e-book sales surpassing paper versions, has Mirasol technology in the Kindle labs

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:50:00 MST

Following the launch of Amazon's third-generation Kindle, company CEO Jeff Bezos sat down to discuss the e-reader business with USA Today. We'd recommend giving the whole piece a look-see if you just can't get enough Kindle in your life, but a few choice quotes caught our attention. For starters, Bezos predicted that Kindle e-book sales will "surpass paperback sales sometime in the next 9 to 12 months," and that "sometime after that, we'll surpass the combination of paperback and hardcover." Considering that the Kindle platform is but 33 months old, and that books are just a wee bit older, that's pretty impressive. In a separate sit-down with Pocket-lint, Steve Kessel -- Amazon's senior vice president of Worldwide Digital Media -- teased us all with regard to a color version of the company's famed e-reader. 'Course, we've known that Bezos and Company aren't too hopeful about such a thing in the near-term, but we've yet to actually hear the company confess to having specific color alternatives in the lab. If you'll recall, we found Qualcomm's Mirasol demonstration worthy of laud back at CES, and according to Kessel, "that's in the lab." We're also told that a slew of other color options are always in testing, though, so we're doing our darnedest to not get those hopes too high. It ain't working, but still...

Amazon sees e-book sales surpassing paper versions, has Mirasol technology in the Kindle labs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Look Inside Apple's Magic Trackpad

MacRumors — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:36:57 MST

With its ultra-thin design and single-use functionality, users might think that a teardown of Apple's new Magic Trackpad would be straightforward and uninteresting. But the experts at iFixit show us in one of their famous teardowns how Apple...

PTex 3D texturing becomes a reality at SIGGRAPH

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:20:00 MST

In my 3D modeling and texturing article, I mentioned that a lot of the time involved in 3D texturing is spent dealing with UVs, the coordinate system that all 3D applications use for applying textures to models. It's not a good system because you have to manually create them, like dressing a model with a flat cloth and some scissors, so UV-mapping complex shapes is very tedious. Then you have the problem of seams, especially when bump and displacement maps are involved. And often you have to redo UVs at the end of sculpting because they have been stretched and compressed from the movement of polygons. So you're then forced to bake your textures from a bad-UV model to a good-UV model leaving you with a mountain of cruft of old meshes, new meshes, old textures, new textures. It's just a headache all around.

This is where Ptex comes in. Developed by Brent Burley at Disney Animation Studios, Ptex generated a ton of buzz a couple years ago with its simple promise: no more UVs and no more headaches. It was like someone saying “self-cleaning apartment”—everyone wanted in. With Ptex, textures are parametrically stored per polygonal face and there are no visible seams.

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Apple's Magic Trackpad gets the iFixit teardown treatment, nothing terribly magical found

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:17:00 MST

Well, we knew it wouldn't take very long, and it didn't: iFixit's gotten its hands on Apple's Magic Trackpad and ripped it to shreds. This is one operation they're not shy about calling delicate, folks -- this thing is seriously thin and its components packed in quite lovingly. So what's going on in there? Well, besides the magical dust, they found a Broadcom BCM2042 chip, which is the same one the Magic Mouse uses for Bluetooth connectivity, and a Broadcom BCM5974 touchscreen controller chip, which also powers the iPhone and iPod touch. There is plenty to be seen in the photos at the source, and there's one more below.

Continue reading Apple's Magic Trackpad gets the iFixit teardown treatment, nothing terribly magical found

Apple's Magic Trackpad gets the iFixit teardown treatment, nothing terribly magical found originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS U33Jc-A1 Bamboo series review

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:00:00 MST

Pandas, East Asia, wood. Nope, "laptop" hasn't ever been on the list of words we typically associate with "bamboo," but ASUS sure has us willing to tack it on with the introduction of its U Bamboo Series. The company's newest 13-inch U33Jc is covered in one of the most durable and recyclable materials on earth, and its internals are made of equally strong parts. Sure, the laptop looks incredibly traditional, but the $999 machine actually packs an incredible amount of new technology, including a fresh Core i3 processor, NVIDIA Optimus enabled graphics, USB 3.0 and Intel's wireless display technology. It's truly one of the most impressive laptops we've heard about in the last few months, but a few gripes hold it back from being the killer laptop it could be. Intrigued? Bamboozled? Hit the break for our full review.

Gallery: ASUS Bamboo U33Jc review

Continue reading ASUS U33Jc-A1 Bamboo series review

ASUS U33Jc-A1 Bamboo series review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lookout's App Genome Project warns about sketchy apps you may have already downloaded

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:15:00 MST

If you're an iPhone user, the only privacy notice you'll see from an app regards your current location -- as much a warning about the associated battery hit from the GPS pinging as anything. If you're an Android user, however, things are different, with a tap-through dialog showing you exactly what each app will access on your phone. But, do you read them? You should, with Lookout running a sort of survey across 300,000 apps on those two platforms, finding that many access personal information even though they seemingly don't need to. One particularly scary instance, an app called Jackeey Wallpaper on Android, aggregates your ~~browsing history, text messages~~, could get your voicemail password, and even your SIM ID and beams it all to a server in China. That this app has been downloaded ~~millions~~ thousands of times is a little disconcerting, but it's not just Android users that have to fear, as even more iPhone than Android apps take a look through your contact infos. What to do? Well, be careful what you download to start, on Android read those privacy warnings... and we're sure Lookout wouldn't mind if you took this opportunity to download its security app.

Update: We received a note from Jussi Nieminen, who indicated the data fields being retrieved, as reported by VentureBeat, are incorrect. Texting and browser history are apparently not retrieved, but your phone number, phone ID, and voicemail fields are. And, since it's not unheard of for voicemail entries to include a password when setup on a phone, it's possible they could wind up with that too. Also, the popularity of the app was apparently misstated, with actual downloads somewhere south of 250,000.

Update 2: Kevin, one of the Black Hat speakers from Lookout, wrote us to let us know that the full details on the wallpaper apps have been posted here, if you'd like to read. Meanwhile, estimations of just how many people have downloaded this particular wallpaper app are all over the place, ranging from as low as 50,000 to over four million.

Lookout's App Genome Project warns about sketchy apps you may have already downloaded originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Limbo's ending: what does it all mean? The many theories

Ars Technica — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:10:00 MST

Limbo, on the Xbox Live Arcade, is an interesting game that shows just how far you can push the boundaries with a smaller, downloadable release. The title features a young man who suffers innumerable violent deaths through the course of the game, and before the credits roll you're lead to believe that you've accomplished your goal... possibly. Be sure to look over our final thoughts, and if you haven't bought the game yet this may be a good time to jump on board so you can join the conversation. Trust us, it's worth it.

We're going to talk about what the ending means, and some readers are going to give their own opinions after playing the game through to completion. Spoilers? You betcha, so don't read until you've finished the game for yourself.

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Motorola manages $162 million Q2 profit, turns that frown upside down

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:51:00 MST

It's a good day here, because rather than poor 'ol Sad Moto we get to bust out Happy Moto, as Motorola has released some good news in its Q2 financial report. Earnings were $162 million, up from $26 million this time last year. That sounds like a big jump, but compared to overall sales of $5.4 billion you can see things are still rather tight -- especially since those sales were down from $5.5 billion the year before and all-important mobile device sales figures dropped six percent to $1.7 billion. Also, these numbers were boosted by a "significant legal settlement" valued at $228 million. Maybe intellectual property wasn't the only thing Moto got from RIM?

Motorola manages $162 million Q2 profit, turns that frown upside down originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NZXT Phantom proves there's still life in chunky desktop towers

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:23:00 MST

Did the recent reappearance of the Phantom console spark a tiny bit of nostalgia in you? If so, you'll be happy to hear that NZXT has picked up the moniker for its latest full tower chassis, and it's a fittingly futuristic-looking beast of burden. The angular steel enclosure provides tool-free access to five 5.25-inch drive bays plus the room to fit in 7 HDDs, 7 fans (up to a mammoth 230mm size), and a dual radiator within its walls. A top-mounted mesh window is accessorized with a slightly more useful array of USB, E-SATA and audio ports, while the innards are specifically designed to accommodate the bulkier graphics cards and CPU coolers out there. Sounds like a winner to us, and the $139.99 price seems about right for a flagship product that aims to tick all the boxes -- see the Phantom on video after the break and expect it to arrive, in all its glorious hues, this September.

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NZXT Phantom proves there's still life in chunky desktop towers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic to spend $9.4b on buying out Sanyo and PEW shares, posts robust quarterly profits

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:44:00 MST

Clearly dissatisfied with what it sees in the mirror, Panasonic has today announced its decision to bulk up. A new share issue expected to raise ¥500 billion ($5.7 billion) will be enacted soon as part of raising the cash to complete the buyout of Sanyo Electric and Panasonic Electric Works. Don't ask us why a company named Panasonic has to buy another company with Panasonic in its name, but them's the facts. The total outlay is expected to come in at around $9.4 billion and is justified by Panasonic as fundamental to its future strategy of expanding into environmentally friendly tech and developing a three-pronged operating paradigm by 2012. The Osaka-based company is also reporting a ¥43.7b ($498 million) profit for the last quarter -- a major upswing from a ¥53b loss in the same period last year -- though that's information the market seems to have ignored. Panasonic shares have plunged down 7.7% in the immediate aftermath of the acquisitions being announced, while Sanyo's have shot up. Click past the break for the novella-sized press release explaining the details of the deal.

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Panasonic to spend $9.4b on buying out Sanyo and PEW shares, posts robust quarterly profits originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo issues a 3DS release date date

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:59:00 MST

Find the headline confusing? Well, the explanation won't help to assuage the muddle much. A Nintendo spokesman told Bloomberg Japan that Ninty plans to announce the Nintendo 3DS price and release date on September 29th. Thus far, we've only seen speculation about pricing (between $249 and $299) and release dates (between October and March, 2011). So yeah, we still don't know when or for how much but at least we know when we'll find out when and for how much. Make sense?

Nintendo issues a 3DS release date date originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 and Bravia sales boost quarterly Sony profits above expectations

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:42:00 MST

Earlier this summer, Sony closed another fiscal year of being in the red, but it's starting the 2010/11 ledger with its quill dipped firmly in the black inkwell. For the quarter ending June 30, the Japanese megacorp clocked up ¥25.7 billion ($293 million) in pure, unadulterated profit off the back of a ¥67 billion operating income. When you compare that to the performance this time last year, a ¥37 billion loss, you have to agree that the Stringer purse-tightening program seems to have delivered the desired effect. The primary drivers for the current resurgence are pinpointed as the PlayStation 3 and Bravia lines (frankly, we consider the two utterly inseparable), and Sony's feeling so buoyant about it all that it's revising its projection for the coming year's revenues upwards today. The good news is tempered, however, by the threat of a rising Yen, which has already claimed Nintendo's profits as its first victim.

PS3 and Bravia sales boost quarterly Sony profits above expectations originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A steampunk USB drive that could clean H. G. Wells' house

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:12:00 MST

Site ChipChick nailed it when noting the similarity between this 8GB steampunk USB drive and Rosie the Robot of Jetsons yore. The drive's creator, however, says it was inspired by a "narrow bridge" sign seen on a old country road. Really? Just look at that barrel-shaped cap staring down at you from atop a frilly gear collar; hands on hips in a tempestuous pose that makes us feel like we've somehow wronged her. Regardless, for $300 she'll make a fine addition to your alternate-history abode.

A steampunk USB drive that could clean H. G. Wells' house originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo posts Q1 loss on strong Yen and lower DS prices

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:43:00 MST

Although foreshadowed, it's hard to believe that the once mighty Ninty, a company with unshakable profits even during last year's global economic downturn, just recorded a Q1 net loss of ¥25.22 billion ($288 million) compared to a net profit of ¥42.32 billion during the same 3-month period a year earlier. Revenues dropped from ¥253.50 billion to ¥188.65 billion. Lower DS portable gaming machine prices coupled with a strong Yen (86.5 percent of its sales were outside of Japan) helped pull Nintendo into the red. Regardless, Nintendo continues to forecast a full year net profit of ¥200 billion on revenue of ¥1.4 trillion. We'll see.

Nintendo posts Q1 loss on strong Yen and lower DS prices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sky 3D channel comes home October 1 with Ryder Cup, EPL, movies and more

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:02:00 MST

The Sky 3D channel has so far been officially available only in 1,500 or so UK pubs, but now its residential launch for all Sky+HD customers is slated for October 1. The 2010 Ryder Cup will serve as a launch event with three days of live coverage from Celtic Manor as the US and European teams do battle; the first ever in 3D, but the third such event it's covered in high definition. Golf fans won't be the only ones catered to, Premier League football will be returning once the season starts and today's announcement coincided with a SkyArts 3D filming arranged by the English National Ballet. Hollywood's major studios have already agreed to provide 3D movies including Bolt, Monsters vs. Aliens, Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince and more, while Sky has commissioned its own original 3D flick, Flying Monsters presented by Sir David Attenborough. Not quite ready for the 3D revolution? Feel free to put that on the backburner -- at least until the 2012 London Olympics -- as the network is also adding content from HBO, a large slate of new comedies, Anytime+ VOD, and a Sky Mobile TV iPad app. With an HD channel count of 43 and plans to reach 50 by year-end, there should be a little something there for everyone to enjoy.

Continue reading Sky 3D channel comes home October 1 with Ryder Cup, EPL, movies and more

Sky 3D channel comes home October 1 with Ryder Cup, EPL, movies and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon Announces New Kindles: $139 Wi-Fi, $189 3G

MacRumors — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:50:27 MST

Last night, Amazon announced an all new Wi-Fi only Kindle that starts at only $139 with a 3G-capable one for $189.

Amazon.com is excited to introduce a new generation of Kindle. The all-new Kindle has a new electronic-ink sc...

HTC will ship all Android phones in China with Froyo on board, fuels fire for immediate update ...

Engadget — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:09:00 MST

A wordy headline, to be sure, but a pleasing one nonetheless. We came across HTC's Chinese web portal listing the Desire as coming with Android 2.2 (with Sense!) and simply had to ping the official source for confirmation. It turns out the info up there is no mistake: all HTC Android handsets shipping to China -- which includes the Wildfire and Tianyi -- will do so with Froyo preloaded, cutting down on your upgrade angst at least until the Gingerbread man comes a'knocking. HTC has also reiterated that a 2.2 update for its phones already on the market will be delivered "very soon," so if all goes well, we should be looking at a Froyo-dominated August in the land of High Tech Computers.

[Thanks, Christian]

HTC will ship all Android phones in China with Froyo on board, fuels fire for immediate update closer to home originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia N8 up for official ?469 pre-order in Italy, available in September

Engadget — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:47:00 MST

Nokia's Symbian^3 flagship -- the 3.5-inch N8 with 12 megapixel camera -- just went up for pre-order on Espoo's Italian storefront showing an end of September availability. Now before you get up in arms about the €469 price tag (about $610), remember, the €370 estimated retail price announced was pre tax and pre carrier subsidy. That's just how Europe does things, deal with it. We're not seeing the preorder available elsewhere but we'll update you if that situation changes.

[Thanks, Faisal]

Nokia N8 up for official ?469 pre-order in Italy, available in September originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New 27-Inch iMac Disassembled, Aftermarket SSD Install Deemed Difficult

MacRumors — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:58:48 MST

Yesterday, we noted that Apple's new 27" iMac for the first time allows users to configure their machines with a second hard drive, offering a 256 GB solid state drive as an option for the second bay.

Location of second hard dr...

Amazon rolls out smaller, lighter, WiFi-only Kindle for $139

Ars Technica — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:10:19 MST

Amazon is once again dropping the price of the Kindle, but this time, the Kindle is coming with a makeover as well. The company is introducing a WiFi-only version of the popular e-book reader that will debut at $139, with the WiFi + 3G version remaining at $189. The device will also come with the updated e-ink screen that its bigger brother, the Kindle DX, got earlier this month, and will now come in two colors: graphite and white.

CEO Jeff Bezos told the Wall Street Journal that the company first developed the device for "serious readers," but that the Kindle could reach a much broader audience with the new price points. "People will buy them for their kids," Bezos said. "People won't share Kindles any more."

Amazon's move comes only a month after Barnes & Noble introduced its own WiFi-only model of the Nook that retails for $149. That was the same day Amazon first dropped the Kindle 2 to just $189 (down from $259), meaning that people who bought Kindles between then and late August (preorders start Thursday, and they ship on August 27) will miss out on the higher-contrast e-ink screen and redesigned body. That's right: according to Engadget, the new Kindle will be 21 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than the previous model and, according to the photo, the keyboard layout got a bit of a redesign as well.

Amazon recently announced that Kindle sales had tripled since the company lowered the price to $189—it's clear that the new WiFi-only version is meant to go after an even wider market and undercut Barnes & Noble at the same time.

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Extension performance vastly improved in Safari 5.0.1

Ars Technica — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:35:15 MST

Apple pushed out Safari 5.0.1 on Thursday morning, which includes several bug fixes and enables Safari 5's new extension system by default. Like many geeks, we here at Ars had already enabled extensions via the the debug menu in 5.0, but we ran into numerous performance problems in the 5.0 release. Though there still appear to be a few quirks with some extensions, Apple has definitely addressed the performance issues with this latest update.

With Safari 5.0, loading new extensions sometimes caused performance to slow to a crawl, and often caused beachballs of doom if more than a handful of tabs were open. Disabling the recently installed extensions would eliminate the problem.

Thursday morning, however, I installed Safari 5.0.1 and began installing over a dozen extensions, specifically choosing several that I believed would tax performance if loaded in the 87 tabs I had opened. In addition to installing Twitter, MLB, and several other extensions featured in the newly launched Safari Extensions Gallery, I also enabled extensions that had caused performance problems previously.

With over a dozen extensions installed, including extensions that add toolbars, buttons, status bars, and contextual menu options, Safari kept chugging along without a single performance issue. In fact, only the MLB toolbar caused the fans to ramp up on my aging first-generation MacBook.

Now that the performance issues have been ironed out, however, Apple still needs to put some more work into improving the overall extension system. For instance, loading new extensions will add buttons and toolbars to the current window, but many will only work on newly opened windows. We have also heard reports that some won't work properly until restarting Safari. Repeatedly clicking buttons and toolbars and getting no response is a fairly maddening experience.

And unfortunately, the way the button icons work, your toolbar can quickly fill up with indistinguishable circles and rectangles. Developers have mentioned to Apple that they would like to do more with buttons, such as having color icons, so that may be addressed in a future update.

Still, Safari's extension system offers developers quite a bit of latitude in building additional functionality for Safari. Let us know what your favorite extensions are so far in the comments.

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Do Not Call list tops 200 million, some scammers still ignore it

Ars Technica — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:05:19 MST

The Federal Trade Commission announced a milestone this week: its Do Not Call registry has just passed 200 million numbers.

It's quite amazing that any of this came to pass, really. When the registry was being considered back in 2002, telemarketing opposition was fierce, and for obvious reasons. The industry was large, powerful, and willing to be unbelievably annoying. It also saw quite clearly that a tough Do Not Call rule would chop off its business at the knees.

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Microsoft argues for "neighborhood watch" approach to security

Ars Technica — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:35:00 MST

At the Black Hat security conference today, Microsoft championed a new approach to addressing security issues. The new emphasis is on collaboration between software vendors and security researchers to ensure that customers are kept as safe as possible.

Microsoft likened its approach to Neighborhood Watch schemes—secure computing cannot be achieved with software vendors and researchers all working independently; the landscape is too complex and the attackers are too numerous for this approach to work. Instead, companies must set aside their differences and work together to safeguard customers.

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"Leaked" data of 100M Facebook users came from public info

Ars Technica — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:11:00 MST

Much has been made of a recent Facebook "leak" which allegedly disclosed information on over 100 million Facebook users. What some reports have failed to highlight, however, is that the information was already public to begin with.

Security researcher Ron Bowes wrote a Ruby script that downloads information from Facebook's user directory, a searchable index of public profile pages. The directory does not expose a user's entire profile and only exposes information that the user has allowed Facebook to make public. This includes names, profile images, and small sampling of the user's friends. Users can opt out of inclusion in the search, but could potentially still appear on the directory page of a friend who is searchable.

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Judge: Facebook comments were "puerile," but not defamation

Ars Technica — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:46:00 MST

A New York Supreme Court has dismissed a defamation suit over a private Facebook group that existed primarily for the purpose of mocking a teenaged girl. In the decision, Judge Randy Sue Marber wrote that the group's malicious postings, which were made by a number of teenagers, were clearly not statements of fact—not to mention that they weren't even public.

The case goes back to early 2009 when a New York teenager and her parents sued Facebook and several users (and their parents) for posting mean-spirited comments about her to a private group named "90 Cents Short of a Dollar." The group's postings were not made public, but the contents leaked (let this be a lesson, kids: when trash talking people on the Internet, even your own friends can't be trusted) and the victim, Denise Finkel, was made aware of what her peers were saying about her.

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