News & Innovations

 

Skype for iPad leaked in promo video
If you've lost sleep over the lack of a dedicated Skype app for your iPad, you can rest easy tonight knowing somewhere out there it does exist -- or at least a promo video does. Earlier today, someone over at Skype unintentionally (we assume) posted what looks like an ad for a real-deal app for the iOS slab. Of course, the evidence has since been pulled, but you can check out a ripped version (sans audio) after the break. It looks like the days of blowing up ye ole iPhone Skype are numbered. Update: The folks over at TUAW had a chat with Skype's Rick Osterloh about the iPad app, and he says you can expect most of the functionality to carry over from the iPhone. There are, unfortunately, a few desktop features, like file sharing, that won't make an appearance. Sadly, Osterloh didn't spill the release-date beans.Continue reading Skype for iPad leaked in promo videoSkype for iPad leaked in promo video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Shason Briscoe  | Email this | Comments

 

TiVo's retail plans for quad-tuner Premiere DVR revealed in FCC filing
If your TiVo-loving heart was crushed last week when we found out the new Premiere Q DVR was only for cable companies with no plans for retail sales, allow us to put the pieces back together. Zatz Not Funny has dug up an FCC filing, dated June 7th, indicating TiVo will bring the quad tuner Premiere Elite DVR with 2TB of hard drive space to retail. The purpose of the filing? To get the FCC to waive requirements that the Elite -- which is designed for digital cable reception only -- contain an analog tuner that it claims would increase costs by $80 - $100. There's no word on price or timing but it's clearly intended as a high end product that TiVo plans to offer online, through custom installers or specialty outlets like Best Buy's Magnolia stores. If it gets approved we could still see the Elite set-top box this year, assuming the FCC has its approval stamp ready and inked.TiVo's retail plans for quad-tuner Premiere DVR revealed in FCC filing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Zatz Not Funny  | Email this | Comments

 

UK students' 1,980 MPG car scores first place in marathon race, by a 1,000 MPG margin
A car that looks like the one above and gets the "equivalent" of 1,980 miles to the gallon (and one gallon only) is certainly impressive enough on its own, but it's all the more so when you consider that it's driven by a 14-year-old and built by his classmates (with a little assistance, of course). This particular vehicle hails from Kingdown School in Wiltshire, England, and it won the recent Mallory Park Mileage Marathon by a margin of more than 1,000 MPG over its next closest competitor. Not surprisingly, however, the students are already looking to improve things for next years' race, and say they're planning on upgrading the engine for starters. No word if they're considering an X-Prize challenge after that.UK students' 1,980 MPG car scores first place in marathon race, by a 1,000 MPG margin originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  BBC News  | Email this | Comments

 

iOS 5 beta 2 now available for developers
Hey iOS developers, guess what? iOS 5 beta 2 is now available for your downloading pleasure, and from what we understand, it ushers in wireless syncing for Macs running iTunes 10.5 beta 2. So hop on over and download it already, and don't hesitate to tell us how it's treating you in the comments below. We'll return the favor if we find anything remarkable -- we promise. [Thanks, Haseeb]iOS 5 beta 2 now available for developers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  TechnoBolt, Apple  | Email this | Comments

 

Conan's editors really love Final Cut Pro X... or maybe they don't (video)
The web is abuzz with talk of Apple's new slimmed-down, low-cost Final Cut Pro X, but Cupertino's beloved video editing platform has also caused quite a stir among professionals, who note its lack of features and glaring absence of backwards compatibility. Conan O'Brien's editors have already downloaded the new app, and threw together a segment for last night's show highlighting some of its new features. Jump past the break for a clip of Final Cut Pro's 90 seconds of fame, or warm up that credit card and head over to the Mac App Store to give it a spin for yourself. Just don't dump Final Cut Pro 7 yet -- you'll need to have it around to open legacy projects, output to tape, utilize multiple editing sequences, and access Photoshop layers, along with one or two other tiny omissions.Continue reading Conan's editors really love Final Cut Pro X... or maybe they don't (video)Conan's editors really love Final Cut Pro X... or maybe they don't (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink CNET  |  Team Coco  | Email this | Comments

 

Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 now syncs with your Mac, updated Kies software to thank
You heard right -- Samsung's slimmest slate yet is now on speaking terms with OS X, well over a month after the first ones slipped out to developers at Google I/O. Oddly enough, it looks as if Android File Transfer is still stuck in yesteryear, with Samsung itself pushing out a revised build of Kies to enable Tab-to-Mac relations. If this discussion is relevant to your interests, the source links below will be as well.Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 now syncs with your Mac, updated Kies software to thank originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Liliputing  |  Samsung (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

 

Spectral Layers promises to let you edit audio Photoshop-style (video)
Visually editing audio files isn't exactly a new idea, of course, but Divide Frame's new Spectral Layers application looks to take things to an even more Photoshop-style extreme than other tools. While still in the alpha stage and not available to the public just yet (though both Windows and Mac versions are promised), the software does appear to be fairly complete, including the ability to use multiple layers, work with multi-channel audio, and extract individual voices, instruments, or any other noises. Perhaps just as notably, the actual process of editing seems to be a kind of weird mish-mash of otherworldly visuals and disjointed sounds-- something that we could easily see leading to some unexpected and interesting results. See for yourself in the video after the break.Continue reading Spectral Layers promises to let you edit audio Photoshop-style (video)Spectral Layers promises to let you edit audio Photoshop-style (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 02:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Divide Frame  | Email this | Comments

 

Camera-equipped hexacopter turns summer vacation videos into aerial masterworks (video)
Wakeboarding is so 2005. Wakeboarding with a camera-packing six-rotor MikroKopter tracking your every jump and belly flop? Now that sounds like something we can get behind. The folks over at MikroKopter have renewed our interest in the sport by mounting a FollowMe transmitter (which lets the drone track your every move), along with a GoPro camera to one watersportsman's helmet. They then sent a hexacopter drone, equipped with a Canon T2i, into the air to follow the boarder as he rode across the water. The resulting video definitely puts any and all of our family vacation videos to shame. High-flying video evidence awaits you after the break.Continue reading Camera-equipped hexacopter turns summer vacation videos into aerial masterworks (video)Camera-equipped hexacopter turns summer vacation videos into aerial masterworks (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 23:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Hack a Day  |  MikroKopter  | Email this | Comments

 

Potential Hulu deal with Disney increases ads, value to prospective buyers
Now that Hulu's owners have apparently decided the best thing to do is sell it to someone else, long arrangements for content are needed to bring the highest price. Bloomberg is reporting that after cutting a deal with Fox a few days ago Hulu has now tentatively reached a deal with another of its owners, Disney. While both arrangements could keep the TV shows flowing, they also reportedly include provisions to increase the number of ads shown on the service. That would also put it in position to reach a similar agreement with Comcast-owned NBCUniversal, because of the media giant's FCC promise to reach similar agreements as its competitors for online content. A change of ownership and including more ad breaks could turn off viewers, but really what else are they going to do, go back to watching Saturday Night Live on TV?Potential Hulu deal with Disney increases ads, value to prospective buyers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 23:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Bloomberg, The Hollywood Reporter  | Email this | Comments

 

Fujitsu delays TH40/D release, puts slide-out tablet dreams on hold
If you've been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the latest shape-shifting slate, it looks like you're just going to have to wait. Fujitsu's just announced that it will postpone the release of the convertible TH40/D tablet -- the Windows 7 slide-out was originally slated for a late June debut in Japan. Unfortunately, the outfit's being rather tight-lipped when it comes to details, saying simply that the holdup is due to "development delays." Of course, we'll keep you posted with details if / when Fujitsu decides to open up.Fujitsu delays TH40/D release, puts slide-out tablet dreams on hold originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink PC Watch  |  Fujitsu  | Email this | Comments

 

Apple product managers respond to Final Cut Pro X criticism
During our call to discuss Final Cut Pro X earlier this week, an Apple product manager boasted about the product's low price, media management, and ground-up redesign. Unfortunately, when starting from scratch, developers seem to have overlooked a few features that professional users have come to depend on, prompting widespread backlash -- both on internet forums and even on Apple's own App Store, where the $300 download-only app currently has a rating of just 2.5 stars (out of five), including nearly 500 one-star ratings. (Note: you must purchase the app before submitting a rating or review.) The New York Times spoke to product managers about these issues, which include an inability to import old FCP files, no multicamera editing, no support for RED cameras, and no ability to specify QuickTime export settings, among many others. Apple says there are (pricey) workarounds available, or fixes on the way for all but the first issue, but head over to the source link for the full rundown at NYT.Apple product managers respond to Final Cut Pro X criticism originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink AppleInsider  |  The New York Times  | Email this | Comments

 

Mountkestrel DuoPod turns your shaky shoulders into a DSLR steadicam (video)
So you've got an expensive new DSLR that can shoot video, and you've seen all of the press about people using the things to make movies and music videos. But really, you're not going to become a DIY Kubrick without the proper accessories. The Mountkestrel DuoPod is a pretty solid looking option if you're looking to do the steadicam thing with your DSLR, slipping over your shoulders for on-the-go shots. It's a little unwieldy compared to a lot of consumer camera stands, but that's pretty par for the course for these sorts of rigs. As its name suggests, the DuoPod also doubles as a two-legged stand for those times when your shoulders need a break. Check out a fittingly shaky video of the stand in action after the jump.Continue reading Mountkestrel DuoPod turns your shaky shoulders into a DSLR steadicam (video)Mountkestrel DuoPod turns your shaky shoulders into a DSLR steadicam (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 04:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Yanko Design  |  Curve Creative  | Email this | Comments

 

Updated Time Capsule opened, server-grade hard drive nowhere to be found?
Well, fancy that -- a teardown of last week's refreshed Time Capsule has revealed a regular, non-enterprise drive lurking within. Curious, as Cupertino's website lists a "Serial ATA server-grade hard disk" as standard equipment on the device's official spec sheet. It's generally assumed that for a drive model to be qualified as "enterprise," it must sustain a mean time between failure -- MTBF for short -- in excess of one million hours. So what's the MTBF for the Western Digital's WD20EARS (Caviar Green) in HardMac's Time Capsule? Conveniently, the hard drive maker wouldn't say. Of course, we guess the definition here is up for interpretation, but given past experiences with the wireless backup gizmo, we'd certainly hope this improved revision fares better.Continue reading Updated Time Capsule opened, server-grade hard drive nowhere to be found?Updated Time Capsule opened, server-grade hard drive nowhere to be found? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 06:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink SlashGear  |  Hardmac (1), (2), Apple  | Email this | Comments

 

UrtheCast to stream live HD footage of Earth from ISS, like Stickam for space
Space nerds, get your browsers ready -- UrtheCast will soon be streaming HD video of Earth straight from the ISS. The system will actually consists of a pair of cameras, one still and one video, that will be mounted on the Russian arm of the station. The still shots will be very wide, covering about 30 miles with a resolution of 18-feet per pixel. Much more exciting will be the three feet per-pixel stream of 3.25fps video that will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You probably won't be able to see yourself waving as the ISS passes overhead, but you should be able to spot your cardboard box fort house. The feeds won't be your typical boring NASA fare either -- you'll be able to search, rewind, and tag objects or events, and UrtheCast is providing APIs for developers to build upon the service. The project won't be launching until June 28th, so bide your time by checking out the video and PR after the break.Continue reading UrtheCast to stream live HD footage of Earth from ISS, like Stickam for spaceUrtheCast to stream live HD footage of Earth from ISS, like Stickam for space originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 09:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

 

Ask Engadget: best gaming mouse for first-person shooters?
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 inquiry is coming to us from Alex, who seems to be sick and tired (but mostly sick) of doing poorly in deathmatches due to a troublesome mouse. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I'm thinking about getting an Alienware M14x. What's the best gaming mouse for first person shooters?" That's about as brief as they come, folks. We're guessing he wants something on the portable side given his machine of choice, and while we'd personally recommend the Orochi, we're sure the hivemind has a few answers, too. Spill 'em in comments below!Ask Engadget: best gaming mouse for first-person shooters? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 22:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

 

AMP camera records 1080p HDR video, you probably can't have one
We've already seen cameras that let you pretend you live in a radioactive apocalypse shoot HDR video, combining overexposed and underexposed images into one surreal composite. But so far, that kind of dystopian trippiness has been relegated to experiments and rigs using two lenses. But here we have AMP, a portable-enough five-pound camera that splits the light into three sensors, giving it a range of 17.5 stops to "reveal reality" in our drab, incomplete lives. The single-lens camera shoots 1080p video at 24fps or 30fps, records raw, uncompressed data to an SSD, and works with Nikon F-Mount-compatible lenses. To give you some perspective on the amount of sheer storage required, AMP promises a 256GB SSD can hold 30-plus minutes of footage, with 24fps video consuming less space than the 30 fps variety. It'll be available later this summer for some unknown sum, but not as a mass-produced product. Rather, it'll end up in the hands of a select few prosumers who add themselves to a waiting list. Assuming you won't be one of the chosen, you can get your fill of reality in a pair of demo videos after the break.Continue reading AMP camera records 1080p HDR video, you probably can't have oneAMP camera records 1080p HDR video, you probably can't have one originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 21:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Gizmodo  | Email this | Comments

 

Reserve Power: When inventor meets informercial, Part 2
Ross Rubin contributes Reserve Power, a column focused on personal perspectives and products. Last week's Reserve Power took you behind the scenes of technology and infomercials, and this week we're bringing it to its natural conclusion. Catch up by reading last week's installment here, and catch the rest just below.Continue reading Reserve Power: When inventor meets informercial, Part 2Reserve Power: When inventor meets informercial, Part 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

 

Is this the next Sony VAIO Z?
We haven't heard much about Sony's ultra slim VAIO Z in months, but when we have, we've always been left with more questions than answers. We've seen its specs (but not handsome face) splashed on various European websites, while Sony, for its part, has only made the coy promise that its newly redesigned S series thin-and-lights are not meant to replace the more premium Z line. Lo and behold, we're now seeing photos of what purports to be the next-gen Z series and, as always, we're left wanting more. In these pics, you've supposedly got the Z -- sometimes with a black lid, sometimes gold -- sitting next to an external dock housing what appears to be an optical drive. If you drop in on the gossip circles in NotebookReview's forum, you'll read some speculation that there's an external GPU baked in there, too -- a compelling idea, though even "Eddie," the guy who leaked these photos, doesn't seem completely confident as to what that peripheral actually does. Given that the Z series has been MIA from Sony's site for months now, we hope the company gets a move on and outs this thing -- if this is, indeed, what it is. Until then, amuse yourselves with photos and crowd-sourced specs at the source links.Continue reading Is this the next Sony VAIO Z?Is this the next Sony VAIO Z? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 18:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Benyouhui, NotebookReview (forum)  | Email this | Comments

 

Tokyo researchers hijack your hand, help you play the koto (video)
Researchers over in the land of the robot-obsessed have found a new, non-invasive way to control your hand while your brain recoils in horror. Reassuringly named the PossessedHand, this belt of electro-stimulation wraps its pad of twenty-eight electrodes around your forearm triggering a range of sixteen bewitched joint actions. Project leader Emi Tamaki claims it feels more like a light massage than say, a full-on Freejack. However, one test subject confessed, "[It was] like my body was hacked" -- so that's comforting. This joint production between the University of Tokyo's Rekimoto Lab and Sony Computer Science Laboratories was first tested as a musical training aide, but could someday help stroke victims regain mobility. For now, the stimulation isn't strong enough to turn you into an automated Steve Vai (or secret assassin), but it definitely lends new meaning to 'hands-off.' Check the video after the break for a demonstration and some unsettling narration.Continue reading Tokyo researchers hijack your hand, help you play the koto (video)Tokyo researchers hijack your hand, help you play the koto (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink DVICE  |  Rekimoto Lab  | Email this | Comments

 

OnLive Viewer hits HTC Flyer, ripped and posted for other Android gaming voyeurs (video)
Those of you toting around an HTC Flyer probably just got an update that loaded OnLive Viewer on your 7-inch tablet. Don't get too excited though, the name of the app says it all -- this is a viewer not a player. So, if you've got a voyeuristic streak, you can watch others shoot their way through F.E.A.R. 3, but you won't slowing down time yourself. If that sounds like a blast but you don't have a Flyer, fear not, the folks at the XDA forums were kind enough to rip the APK and post it for all the world to enjoy. We successfully tested it on a Droid X, and reports are that it's up and running on the EVO 4G, Desire HD, and even a hacked Nook Color. Once installed you'll just need a WiFi connection (the app kicks you back to the homescreen on 3G) and low expectations -- the video quality was less than impressive. Hit up the source link to download it for yourself, and check out the video our tipster sent us after the break. [Thanks, Phil]Continue reading OnLive Viewer hits HTC Flyer, ripped and posted for other Android gaming voyeurs (video)OnLive Viewer hits HTC Flyer, ripped and posted for other Android gaming voyeurs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 06:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  XDA Developers Forum  | Email this | Comments

 

NextComputing wants you to take your desktop for a stroll, preferably a short one
After watching NextComputing dance around the definition of mobile computing for so long, we're not all that surprised to see the firm tease its first suitcase-desktop sporting an internal battery. The headlining promise of two to four hours of battery life, however? We'll take the whole salt shaker, thanks. NextComputing's half-minute demo shows an unnamed workstation disconnected, unplugged, and lugged off. We're not really sure where it's going, or why it needs to be left on for the trip, but hey -- a desktop with a battery still beats a laptop without one. NextComputing wants you to take your desktop for a stroll, preferably a short one originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 03:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  NextComputing (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments

 

Cowon C2 portable media player review
And here you were assuming the tried-and-true PMP was dead. Au contraire. Cowon's not giving up on its dream quite yet, but after the D2 hung around at the company's low-end for the better part of four years, it's an alphabetic step backwards that's taking over as the successor. The diminutive C2 is about as simple as a PMP gets -- design wise, anyway -- but it's actually capable of supporting both music and video on its 2.6-inch resistive touchpanel. And then there's the purported 55 hours of battery life, included microSD card for expansion and the company's world-class audio quality. Still, $135 goes a long (long!) way in the portable music industry these days -- does the C2 pack enough punch to make your short list? Head on past the break to find out. Gallery: Cowon C2 hands-on and unboxingContinue reading Cowon C2 portable media player reviewCowon C2 portable media player review originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

 

DARPA's XC2V FLYPMode crowd-sourced combat vehicle revealed, now in desert khaki (video)
Okay, so perhaps the specific color here is up for debate, but one thing is clear: the XC2V FLYPMode is one imposing looking vehicle. Also known as the Experimental Crowd-derived Combat Support Vehicle, DARPA has billed this mean machine as the "first crowd-sourced, militarily relevant vehicle design." After being selected as the winning entry to DARPA's design-the-next-Humvee competition, Local Motors tricked out the XC2V FLYPMode in just 14 weeks. For now, it is but a "proof of principle project," meaning we probably won't see this thing riding dirty in the desert anytime soon, if ever. You can, however, see at least a portion of the beast's birth in a time-lapse video after the break.Continue reading DARPA's XC2V FLYPMode crowd-sourced combat vehicle revealed, now in desert khaki (video)DARPA's XC2V FLYPMode crowd-sourced combat vehicle revealed, now in desert khaki (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 12:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink DVICE  |  DARPA  | Email this | Comments

 

Lenovo ThinkPad, IdeaPad tablets coming later this month?
Well, what do we have here? From the looks of it, we've got ourselves launch dates for a slate of new Lenovo tablets. A little note from the outfit's Affiliate Program, pictured above, shows the Android-packing IdeaPad K1 will, unsurprisingly, debut in late June or July, with a June 28th arrival being pegged for its rumored ThinkPad tablet. What's more, we could see a refresh of the company's IdeaCentre nettop coming our way August 30th. Looks like this summer could be a hot one for Lenovo, but we'll just have to wait and see how things pan out.Lenovo ThinkPad, IdeaPad tablets coming later this month? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 11:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  liliputing  | Email this | Comments

 

Nokia N9: are you buying one?
Why hello Nokia, we can see you've lost a few buttons and gussied yourself up with a new version of MeeGo. Very nice. That new outfit is a one-off affair, you say? Not to be repeated? We're a little sorry to hear that, although we have to admit -- those metro threads don't look half bad on you either. We wonder what your adoring public will think? Shall we ask? Yes, let's. View PollNokia N9: are you buying one? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 22:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

 

Inhabitat's Week in Green: 'round the clock solar plants, USB camping pot and wave energy farms
Green transportation soared to new heights this week as Inhabitat showcased the world's first true hybrid-electric airplane, and we spotted plans for a zero-emission hypersonic jet capable of traveling from London to New York in a single hour. Meanwhile, Japan gave the green for the construction of a blazing fast 313 MPH maglev train line, and we spotted a crazy high-speed rail concept that would allow passengers to change trains while speeding along the tracks. We also watched as an 11-year-old student piloted a 1,325 MPG hypermiling supercar and we saw an 8-ton Volkswagen beetle sculpture sink into the sea to start a new life as an artificial reef. It's been a scorching summer for solar power as Torresol opened the world's first 24/7 solar plant in Spain, and Samsung unveiled the first photovoltaic-laden laptop to be sold in the US. We also saw Aquamarine Power break ground on a massive wave energy farm in Orkney, while Germany hatched a plan to store excess wind power in abandoned coal mines. Finally, we spotted several novel incredibly odd new energy-generating gizmos -- a t-shirt that converts rock music into electricity and a power-generating USB camping pot that charges your gadgets as you cook. Speaking of renewable energy, this week we caught a first look at the amazing EDV-01 shelter -- a high-tech solar-powered building with a luminous LED facade that is capable of doubling its capacity with the flick of a switch. We also brought you Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill's plans for the world's 4th tallest skyscraper, and we showcased an ultramodern paperless office in the Netherlands that looks like a meteor fallen from space. Last but not least, we took an exclusive first look inside BIG's mountainous green-roofed eco village in Copenhagen, and tech expert Peter Rojas tackled the question of whether it's better to turn your laptop off or set it to sleep in our Ask a Tech Geek column.Inhabitat's Week in Green: 'round the clock solar plants, USB camping pot and wave energy farms originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

 

Is this the Olympus E-P3?
There's only one way to make leaked blurrycam images appear even less legit: shoot 'em in black and white. That's exactly what we have here with the claimed leak of a new Olympus camera -- the E-P3, according to Photo Rumors -- in all its Micro Four Thirds glory. The camera appears to be a hybrid of both the E-P2 and E-PL2, including a P2-style button layout, but with a pop-up flash and sloping top plate reminiscent of the PL2. The new cam is also rumored to include a new 12 megapixel sensor, a max sensitivity of ISO 12,800, a high-res touchscreen, much-needed AF improvements, and an updated UI. Photo Rumors expects Olympus to announce the E-P3 on June 30th, along with an E-PL3 and E-PM1. That last model would be the first in the rumored Pen Mini series. We don't expect the E-PM1 to best the new Pentax Q's record-breaking small size, but with a significantly smaller sensor, the Q will be no match for any of Olympus's new Micro Four Thirds offerings.Is this the Olympus E-P3? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 19:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Photo Rumors  | Email this | Comments

 

Switched On: Light music
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Last month, Switched On discussed two of the Android expansion initiatives announced at Google's I/O conference -- the relatively easy to execute Android Open Accessory program and the relatively difficult to execute Android@Home initiative. In support of the latter, which would seek to wedge a new home networking standard among wireless systems such as Zigbee, Z-Wave and Insteon. In making the case for Android@Home, Google showed off a new LED light bulb from Lighting Science Group that included the necessary data radio embedded in the bulb. The advantage versus traditional lighting controls is that it removes the requirement for an electrician (or at least advanced DIYer) to build the radio into the wall plate. NXP Semiconductors has also shown off both compact flourescent and LED bulbs that can be controlled wirelessly via smartphones and other devices. But in a quest to tackle two staples of the smart home in one flip of a switch,, speaker house Artison has teamed up with lighting company Sylvania. to create MusicLites. As its name suggests, MusicLites combines lighting controls and multi-zone distributed audio in in a single product, but is it an approach you'll buy into?Continue reading Switched On: Light musicSwitched On: Light music originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

 

Nokia's N950 splayed by FCC, 12-megapixel camera lurking within
Our friends over at the FCC have somehow both scored and already torn asunder Nokia's new flagship MeeGo development phone. Slicing and dicing Espoo's latest confirms the watered-down N9 specs we'd previously heard about, except for one: a 12-megapixel camera. An intriguing addition, as the N950's official specs list an 8-megapixel shooter, which the Finnish firm touted as "different" than the unit in its brother. Perhaps different means the additional 4-megapixels we spotted earlier this year? Sure, last minute component changes aren't unheard of, but if you ever manage to convince the Finns to throw one your way, do us a favor and let us know what it's packing. Ok?Nokia's N950 splayed by FCC, 12-megapixel camera lurking within originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 16:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink SlashGear  |  My Nokia Blog  | Email this | Comments