Author: Terren

We told you about Google’s new social news reader, code-named Propeller, about a month ago, and it looks like a launch could take place this week. Propeller will be a lot like Flipboard, which has been a big hit on the Apple iPad. It will also compete with the likes of Pulse, Taptu, and News360. Furthermore, we are hearing Yahoo! will also launch a similar offering this Wednesday called Livestand.

We aren’t sure if Propeller will be the actual name since it’s a code name, but there are reports that “Currents” could be the choice. It’s an HTML5 reader, and it will be available for both Android and the Apple iPad. Propeller will have plenty of media partners, and it will integrate with the Google+ social network.

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Google’s answer to Flipboard could launch this week

The St. Louis Cardinals won a remarkable World Series they weren’t even supposed to reach, beating the Texas Rangers 6-2 in Game 7 on Friday night with another key hit by hometown star David Freese and six gutty innings from Chris Carpenter.

From the outside, the iPhone 4S looks exactly like its predecessor, but the guts of the device are an entirely different story. A faster processor and baseband, along with an improved camera and slightly larger battery should make for significantly improved performance. But some customers are noting that their new phones, pre-loaded with iOS5, are experiencing poor battery life — some up to 10% drain per hour.

According to The Guardian newspaper, several iPhone 4S customers have been contacted directly by Apple engineers who are looking into the issue. They have been asked to voluntarily install monitoring software — all anonymously collected, of course — in order to determine what could be the cause of the aberrant battery drain. Some have speculated that Siri, the new always-on personal assistant, needs a constant connection to the internet, slowly trickling the battery dry. Others say it could be background processes at play, which have more free reign to update over previous versions of iOS. There have also been reports of corrupted iCloud or Google sync data — specifically corrupted contact lists — which, once wiped clean and re-installed, solve the problem.

While there doesn’t seem to be anything official yet from the company, it’s good to know that Apple is looking into the issue. Have you experienced a decline in battery life over your iPhone 4? If so, let us know in the comments.

Source: The Guardian

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Samsung Italy has confirmed that a number of devices will be receiving the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update.  And though we figured these would make the list, it’s nice to have it writing.

Devices:

• Galaxy S II
• Galaxy Note
• Galaxy Tab 10.1
• Galaxy Tab 8.9
• Galaxy Tab 7.7
• Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus

We’re digging deep on whether or not the original Galaxy S device will be receiving the update as its specs are sort of yesterday’s specs.  However, if they do, you’ll be the first to know.

Samsung Italy Outs Several Devices To Receive Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

From rumors to reality: YouTube is taking a crack at original programing. Sources close to the Wall Street Journal say that the streaming outfit is partnering with a broad mix of media firms, production companies, and savvy content creators to launch 100 channels, generating over 25 hours of original content each day. Most of these channels aren’t slated to launch until next year, but when they do they are said to be backed by names like Ashton Kutcher, Tony Hawk, Jay-Z, and Madonna. YouTube is reportedly paying content partners over $100 million to jump-start this project, and hopes to create quality that can be sold to Advertisers. YouTube’s blog confirmed that the first of these premium channels is set to launch next month, with subsequent channels coming in waves over the next year. Hit the source link below so see YouTube’s official announcement and an early list of channels and content providers. We know you’ll join us in giddy anticipation of Shaquille O’Neal’s Comedy Shaq Network .

Google gets ready to play traditional TV, preps original YouTube channels originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looks like the tablet that wouldn’t die is finally dead — well, kind of sort, for now. HP sent out a note to let the world know that it’s “officially out of stock” of the zombie TouchPad. It’s not all bad news, however — apparently you can still pick one up at Best Buy, so long as you buy an HP computer at the same time. Mourn another quasi-death for the webOS slate with Boyz II Men after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading HP ‘officially’ out of TouchPads, Best Buy can still help you out

HP ‘officially’ out of TouchPads, Best Buy can still help you out originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Results from independent cross-checks of last month's FTL neutrino findings wont start rolling in for at least a few more months. In the meantime, however, physicists at the OPERA lab who made the initial observations will be running their experiment yet again — only this time they'll be measuring things a little differently. More »

It has been a long year for Google TV. The first (and only, so far) round of hardware started shipping in October 2010 and at the time, promised the Android Marketplace with its wealth of third party apps early in the next year. That clearly didn’t happen, and it quickly became most notable for what it was being blocked from doing, like streaming video from TV providers like Hulu and various network TV websites. After various false starts and delays, Sony Google TV and Logitech Revue hardware will finally receive updates to Android 3.1 Honeycomb (congratulations Google, now where's Ice Cream Sandwich?) starting this weekend with Sony up first and Logitech "shortly thereafter." The biggest additions are the aforementioned apps, a new interface, and a refocused system for content discovery that starts with the new TV & Movies app pictured above. Check out the gallery for more pictures of the new Google TV, while more details and videos follow after the break.

Continue reading Google TV, take two, arrives next week with Honeycomb, Android Market

Google TV, take two, arrives next week with Honeycomb, Android Market originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The federal government is considering mothballing some or all of its four British-made diesel-powered submarines and buying nuclear subs to replace them, CBC News has learned.

Over the past few weeks both Apple and Samsung have been highlighting the impressive results of their flagship devices. Apple boasted first weekend iPhone 4S sales of over 4 million, probably the next time we’ll hear something more is when they reach 10 million. Samsung just announced that the Galaxy S and Galaxy S II have combined total sales of over 30 million units.

Now that the Q3 smartphone manufacturer numbers are out, Strategy Analytics has compiled all the results and stated that “Samsung Becomes World’s Number One Smartphone Vendor in Q3 2011″. In Q3 2011, Samsung shipped 27.8 million smartphones and raked in 23.8% global market share. Apple slipped to second place with 17.1 million iPhones shipped, representing 14.6% market share. Even though Nokia has been in a heavy transition period they managed to hold onto 3rd place with 16.8 million smartphones shipped, claiming 14.4% market share. RIM, LG, Sony Ericsson, Motorola all make up the “others” category.

Strategy Anaytics also noted that global smartphone shipments grew 44% over last year to reach a record 117 million units (81 million smartphones shipped in Q3 2010). It’ll be interesting to see who takes top spot in the peak Q4 period because we’ll see the iPhone 4S results, the Galaxy S II lineup and the Galaxy Nexus, plus Nokia’s entry with Windows Phone devices.

Source: Business Wire

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That’s right, double what Japanese authorities originally estimated. That’s a lot of cesium-137 to miss, so where did it all disappear to? More »

The CRTC is investigating Rogers Communications because it believes the way the company deliberately slows down some of its internet traffic violates federal rules.

While everyone was in a tizzy about Amazon’s $199 Kindle Fire price point, the Indian government was busily working to help bring out the $35 Aakash Android tablet. The tablet was developed with similarly good intentions as OLPC’s XO laptop before it — an attempt to get low-cost computing devices into the hands of students. One of the tablets landed in the VentureBeat offices this week. The site spent some hands-on time with the Froyo slate, and mostly liked what it saw, noting that seeming compromises made for price and a speedy release date ultimately benefit the whole of the device. The tablet will start hitting India next month, at the $35 government-subsidized pricepoint (actual retail price is a still mega-cheap $60).

$35 Aakash Android tablet gets the hands-on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Saskatchewan Party’s promise to change the school year to start after the Labour Day long weekend is not sitting well with organizations that represent teachers and school boards.

A Conservative senator says it’s time Canada was symbolized by something more majestic than a buck-toothed rodent.

Things were starting to look pretty bleak in Q2 for AMD, but Q3 is an entirely different story. The company reported a revenue of $1.69 billion, up 7-percent from last quarter. More importantly, net income climbed to $97 million, up from just $61 million in Q2 and a far cry from the $118 million loss posted this time last year. Even the graphics division had good news to share. After the former ATI ran at an operating loss of $7 million last quarter, it netted $12 million in operating income in Q2. We wouldn’t exactly call this the second coming of the CPU underdog, but it certainly should make fans and investors sleep a little better at night. Check out the complete PR after the break.

Continue reading AMD reports $1.69 billion in revenue for Q3, net income of $97 million

AMD reports $1.69 billion in revenue for Q3, net income of $97 million originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The upcoming BBX “superphones” from Research In Motion are going to very exciting – ones that we hope will truly bring the company back into a leadership position. A couple concept videos have surfaced online that are reminiscent to Micorsoft’s “Office 2019” futuristic video. RIM has labeled these as the “BlackBerry Enterprising Minds” and gives their take on what the next few years might look like: lots of touchscreens, heavy on security with your phone becoming your personal access pass, and overall simple to use. The design of the BlackBerry devices (smartphones and tablets) seems to be a bit thick, but the way people will mainly communicate is through video calling. Check them out below.

Source: PocketNow

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