BlackBerry Playbook 2.0 developer beta previewed, Android apps look right at home (video)

Are you in DevCon withdrawal? Need a little BBX preview to ferry you safely into the weekend’s arms? Well, you’re in luck, as German site Macberry.de took the time to film a walkthrough of the recently released BlackBerry Playbook 2.0 developer beta. The homescreen of this new build now offers users folder options similar to that on iOS, neatly collecting your gaggles of data into appropriate bundles — like documents and games. But you probably care less about that, and more about seeing BlackBerry Runtime for Android apps in action. We’re happy to report those Google-specific applications are shown here running quite smoothly, filling the 7-inch tab’s screen without any hint of lag. You can download the dev build now for your own first-hand account, or simply click on past the break to gawk at the silent tour.

Continue reading BlackBerry Playbook 2.0 developer beta previewed, Android apps look right at home (video)

BlackBerry Playbook 2.0 developer beta previewed, Android apps look right at home (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Droid-Life  |  sourceMacberry.de (Translated)  | Email this | Comments

Microsoft talks Windows 8 portrait mode, really wants you to be proud of it (video)

Windows 8 in portrait mode

If Apple is that paranoid friend that has four deadbolts on his door and a loaded weapon in every room, then Microsoft is the over-sharer who tweets where, when and what he had for lunch — including both before and after photos (and we’re not talking about pictures of a clean plate). Redmond wants you to know about everything it does — no accomplishment is too minor for a lengthy explanation of the what and why. Take for example, portrait mode. Windows 8 will have one. We know what you’re thinking, “well I would frackin’ hope so,” but the devs want you to know this isn’t just some feature they slapped in the OS knowing people would expect it. The team studied users both familiar with and new to the tablet form factor. They looked at grip, posture and when people chose to rotate their slates. And, if you’re some weirdo who likes reading things on their side, there’s a rotation lock option. For more details hit up the source link and the video after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft talks Windows 8 portrait mode, really wants you to be proud of it (video)

Microsoft talks Windows 8 portrait mode, really wants you to be proud of it (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink SlashGear, WinRumors  |  sourceBuilding Windows 8  | Email this | Comments

ASUS hints at next-generation Transformer in brief teaser video

ASUS has just posted a new video teaser for what appears to be a next-generation Eee Pad Transformer. Titled “The next Transformation,” the clip is pretty light on details, though the mysterious device does make a brief appearance toward the end, sporting a design similar to what we saw last week, with ASUS’ Zenbook lineup. No word yet on whether the forthcoming Transformer will be powered by NVIDIA’s quad-core Kal El, as rumored, but you can see the teaser for yourself after the break.

[Thanks, Lorenz]

Continue reading ASUS hints at next-generation Transformer in brief teaser video

ASUS hints at next-generation Transformer in brief teaser video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ice Cream Sandwich face unlock demo (video)

When Matias Duarte tried to unlock his Nexus Galaxy on-stage at today’s Samsung event things didn’t go so well. Some combination of his makeup and the lighting conspired to keep him from getting into his device, but after spending a little time with one ourselves we can confirm that it does indeed work — and quickly. To program the feature, go into the settings and it’ll train itself to recognize your mug. As it locks in a ring of circles frames your face and, hey presto, it’s ready. After that you set up a backup form of identification and you’re good to go.

Once it’s ready we found it takes only a second or two to recognize and unlock the phone, meaning this should be even faster than swiping or punching in an unlock code. But, you still will need to do that from time to time, either when the lighting conditions are less than optimal or, apparently, when you weren’t born with it and were relying a little too much on the Maybelline.

Continue reading Ice Cream Sandwich face unlock demo (video)

Ice Cream Sandwich face unlock demo (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus with Ice Cream Sandwich hands-on (video)

Remember the Droid RAZR? That’s so yesterday. Or, earlier today. Whatever. The point is, Samsung’s just busted out the planet’s first Ice Cream Sandwich-based smartphone here in Hong Kong, a few days late but hardly worse for the wear. The Galaxy Nexus (formerly referred to as the Nexus Prime) carries on the Nexus torch in spectacular fashion, and we’ve just spent a few quality moments with one here at the launch event. Design-wise, it’s clear that the Nexus S DNA is here, though the rear reminds us most of the Galaxy S II. Those who abhor physical buttons will also be delighted, and while we’d gotten used to the whole Power + Home for a screenshot on the GSII, Power + Volume Down works just fine on this fellow.

The 1.2GHz dual-core processor was startlingly fast. It actually felt a wee bit quicker than our Galaxy S II, and given that Ice Cream Sandwich and the Galaxy Nexus were apparently built for one another, we’re assuming there’s some deeply ingrained optimizations to thank. Swiping from pane to pane was faster than its ever been on Android, and the new Roboto font actually is super eye-pleasing. The touch response of the capacitive buttons — much like those on the original Nexus One — take a bit of getting used to, and we had to mash ’em just a touch harder than we anticipated to elicit a response. [Update: turns out our demo phone was a bit of an early build; we touched another model later in the day, and our response gripes were gone. Perfectly responsive. Hopefully that’s the one that’ll ship out.] Not necessarily a bad thing, just a thing worth noting. We’ve built our impressions after the break, replete with a video. Enjoy!

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Nexus with Ice Cream Sandwich hands-on (video)

Samsung Galaxy Nexus with Ice Cream Sandwich hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google announces NFC-based Android Beam for sharing between phones (video)

Google’s already embraced NFC for mobile payments, and it’s now ready to do some sharing as well. That comes in the form of the new Android Beam feature for Ice Cream Sandwich, which the company just announced at its joint event with Samsung in Hong Kong. Much like HP’s ill-fated Touch-to-share functionality, it will let you simply tap two NFC-enabled devices together to share a piece of information. That will work with a range of apps and services in Android, including YouTube videos, contact information, maps, web pages, and even links to apps in the Android Market. What’s more, Google also announced that the SDK is available for download today — get it at the source link below.

Update: We’ve now added a video of the demo from the keynote after the break. You’re welcome.

Continue reading Google announces NFC-based Android Beam for sharing between phones (video)

Google announces NFC-based Android Beam for sharing between phones (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ice Cream Sandwich revamps Android camera and gallery features

It’s been a long time coming, but with the introduction of Ice Cream Sandwich, Android finally takes a significant leap forward in terms of camera and gallery features. The camera interface is completely new — it’s faster and easier to use with instant access from the lock screen. Shots are taken immediately thanks to zero shutter lag and continuous autofocus with automatic face detection. Touch-to-focus with exposure lock is now supported, and the UI adds a proper digital zoom slider. The camera app also includes a new sweep panorama feature.

The gallery app is also significantly improved, with Instagram-like “hipster filters” and a built-in photo editor that lets you crop and rotate pictures at arbitrary angles. Any tweaks you make are saved in a separate file, keeping the original shot intact. Images can now be sorted by location (using geotagging), and by person (if manually tagged). Video also receives a serious boost in functionality with 1080p capture, continuous autofocus, and the ability to zoom while recording. Additionally, it’s now possible to create time lapse videos right from your phone.

It’s too early to tell if all these features will trickle down to legacy devices or remain exclusive to the Galaxy Nexus, but we’ll find out soon enough.

Ice Cream Sandwich revamps Android camera and gallery features originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus gets handled on video

We’re still a few hours away from Samsung’s big Ice Cream Sandwich event, but it looks like the company just can’t keep the Galaxy Nexus under wraps. First it showed up on the company’s site, and now here it is getting man-handled by Mr. Blurrycam. The footage is a little dark and hard to see, but that certainly looks like an ice cream sandwich running on there — and crashing from time to time. The video popped up on YouTube and was promptly pulled — but don’t worry, we kept a copy. Enjoy that after the break, and swing on back by here in a few hours for the liveblog.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Nexus gets handled on video

Samsung Galaxy Nexus gets handled on video originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google thinks your digital books belong on a digital bookcase, digitally (video)

How to best view the Google Books collections? Why, a digital bookcase, of course. But this isn’t just any bookcase, it’s a giant spinning 3D helix of a bookcase, collecting more than 10,000 titles in 28 subjects. Users can navigate the WebGL Bookcase by spinning it around or swiping it up and down. Sure, it’s not the quickest way to locate a title amongst tens of thousands of books, but perhaps it’ll offer up some small consolation for those who miss browsing real-life bookstores. You can check out the experiment in the source link below — be forewarned, however, that it’s a bit of a resource hog.

Continue reading Google thinks your digital books belong on a digital bookcase, digitally (video)

Google thinks your digital books belong on a digital bookcase, digitally (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Official Google Blog  |  sourceGoogle WebGL Bookcase  | Email this | Comments

Motorola Xoom Family Edition includes kid-friendly apps, will hit Best Buy Sunday for $379

Just a week after we received a tip that a mysterious big box retailer would be getting a kid-friendly flavor of Motorola’s Xoom tablet, Best Buy has come forth to make things official with the Xoom Family Edition. Everything seems to be in line with what we already knew, including the $40 software bundle — yes, yes Zoodles comes preloaded, as does Asphalt 6 and SIM City Deluxe. And after the kids are done playing, mom and dad can catch up on homework with Quickoffice Pro HD. The Android 3.1-powered tablet includes a rather modest 16GB of storage, and will run you $379 when it hits Best Buy stores on Sunday. Any questions? Jump past the break for the full Moto rundown.

Continue reading Motorola Xoom Family Edition includes kid-friendly apps, will hit Best Buy Sunday for $379

Motorola Xoom Family Edition includes kid-friendly apps, will hit Best Buy Sunday for $379 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CyanogenMod for TouchPad alpha released, is surprisingly functional (video)





Tired of seeing TouchPad Android demos that you can’t quite get your hands on? Buck up buttercup, CyanogenMod 7.1.0’s unique flavor of Gingerbread has finally made its way to HP’s disowned slate; but beware — they’re calling this one the “lower your expectations” edition for a reason. A new video and forum update belabors the point that the alpha is an early, buggy build that is not intended for the general public. However, if you’re brave enough to install CyanogenMod anyway, you’ll wind up with a neat assortment of usable features, including multiboot support, ten-point multitouch, functional WiFi, camera support for video chat, limited GPU acceleration and a ton of other features that are either working now, or are near completion. The team says there are too many nonfunctional features to properly list at the moment, but advise brave testers to expect app incompatibility and poorly optimized power consumption. Ready to throw caution to the wind? Hit the source link below, as it’s chock full of cautionary tales, installation instructions, and download links.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

CyanogenMod for TouchPad alpha released, is surprisingly functional (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceRootzWiki  | Email this | Comments

BlueStacks App Player lets you run Android apps on Windows PCs or tablets (video)

If you’ve been dreaming of a world where Android apps are free to roam across your Windows desktop, you’re in luck, because BlueStacks has just turned your reverie into reality. Today, the startup unveiled an alpha version of its App Player — software that allows users to run a host of Android apps on Windows PCs, tablets or desktops, without requiring them to make modifications to their original OS. Available as a free download, this early test version comes pre-loaded with ten apps, and can support an extra 26, on top of that. BlueStacks’ free Cloud Connect app, meanwhile, allows you to port third-party apps directly from your handset to your computer, though some games, including Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja, are prohibited. Those, it turns out, will be included under a paid version of the App Player, which BlueStacks hopes to launch at a later date. You can take the free software for a spin at the source link below, or meander past the break for a demo video, along with a pair of press releases.

Continue reading BlueStacks App Player lets you run Android apps on Windows PCs or tablets (video)

BlueStacks App Player lets you run Android apps on Windows PCs or tablets (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink All Things Digital  |  sourceBlueStacks  | Email this | Comments

SlingPlayer app now available for Honeycomb tablets, priced at $30

It was teased back in September and now, it’s finally arrived — the SlingPlayer Android app optimized specifically for Honeycomb tablets. Available today on the Android Market, Sling Media’s latest app allows Slingbox owners to stream TV directly to their slates, and features a new program guide, designed to help users browse content and change channels with greater ease. The SlingPlayer app for Android handsets, meanwhile, will continue to function on tablets in “compatibility mode,” without exacting extra charges, though it won’t offer the same resolution quality you’ll find on a Honeycomb-laced device. Interested parties can grab the app for the familiar price of $30, at the source link below. Otherwise, click past the break for more details in Sling’s refreshingly brief press release.

Continue reading SlingPlayer app now available for Honeycomb tablets, priced at $30

SlingPlayer app now available for Honeycomb tablets, priced at $30 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 06:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bobsled by T-Mobile’s free VoIP magic now available via browser, Android or iOS

Initially, T-Mobile’s Bobsled brand simply offered a way to VoIP call your Facebook friends for free but with that angle sufficiently covered, it has moved on to wider access. Starting today it supports dialing out to mobile and landline numbers in the US, Canada or Puerto Rico right from your desktop browser. Also new are free apps for Android and iOS devices, however those are still limited to calling your Facebook friends (and enemies.) Still not quite sure what all this newfangled internet telephone business is? Check out the video demo above and press release embedded after the break.

Continue reading Bobsled by T-Mobile’s free VoIP magic now available via browser, Android or iOS

Bobsled by T-Mobile’s free VoIP magic now available via browser, Android or iOS originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 01:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBobsled  | Email this | Comments

Mountain Biker vs. African Antelope

So you think you've had some rough days on the mountain biking trails? Check out the video below in which rider Evan van der Spuy of South Africa literally gets bowled over by a red hartbeest, a type of antelope, that according to the Adventure Journal, can grow to be in excess of 300 pounds and run at 40 miles per hour.

This encounter took place near Albert Falls Dam in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Fortunately, Evan came away with just a sore neck, but had to go to the hospital to be checked-out none the less. He did have his helmet broken in the encounter as well.

So what’t the wildest thing you’ve come across out on the trail? I’ve encountered a few deer on occasion, but that’s about it. They’ve mostly left me alone though, and fortunately didn’t decided that I was a mate that they wanted to chase down.

Microsoft reportedly preparing Silverlight-like app framework ahead of Xbox Live update

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced a new slate of Xbox Live partnerships with Verizon, Comcast, and a host of other content providers. Now, the company has unveiled new details about the code upon which these new apps will run. Sources close to the situation tell GigaOM that the new framework, code-named “Lakeview,” will be based on Silverlight, but will also bring a few new features from Xbox Kinect, including voice recognition and gesture-based controls. More intriguing, perhaps, are insider claims that Microsoft’s new content partners stream video using Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming, rather than Redmond’s Smooth Streaming. GigaOM‘s sources went on to say that Microsoft has been introducing major changes to the platform over the past few weeks, in the hopes of having it ready for third-party developers once the Xbox Live update rolls out. Spokespersons for Xbox and Silverlight said they have “nothing to announce” about the new framework, though GigaOM reports that Redmond is aiming to release the update on Black Friday.

Microsoft reportedly preparing Silverlight-like app framework ahead of Xbox Live update originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Techmeme  |  sourceGigaOM  | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy Nexus spotted in the wild? (video)

Leaks are flying left and right as Samsung’s Unpacked event approaches, with the latest coming from Romania’s Mobilissimo.ro. Today, the site published new images and video of what could be the Samsung Galaxy Nexus — the long-awaited follow-up to the Nexus S. At this point, it’s difficult to say whether the device (model number “Tuna”) totally jibes with the leaked specs we saw earlier this week, though its spacious display (rumored to be of 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED stock) does look rather sharp — the screenshots we’ve seen are indeed at 720 x 1280 resolution. Other than that, the handset appears to boast a 1,750mAh battery, along with a five megapixel camera and that rumored Ice Cream Sandwich UI, replete with onscreen buttons.

Compared with the Nexus S, the front-facing camera on this handset is shifted further to the right, with the proximity sensor nestled between the earpiece and the shooter, rather than all the way on the left. Its corners, meanwhile, seem less rounded than what you’ll find on the earlier version, though we noticed that it does have a micro-USB port lurking at the bottom center, much like its ancestor. Of course, we’ll have to wait until October 11th to see whether these shots are as good as advertised, but you can head past the break to see the purportedly authentic video or to gaze at some extra screenshots.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Nexus spotted in the wild? (video)

Samsung Galaxy Nexus spotted in the wild? (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 05:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceMobilissimo.ro  | Email this | Comments