Reality Bites
We recently posted a comparison between the latest tablets, but many of you noted that it was a tad unfair excluding the imminent iPad 2. Now that it’s out, Droid Life has crafted a new chart for your viewing pleasure. More »
Woah, now here’s a juicy rumor to start your Thursday morning off with. BGR reports word from multiple trusted sources that RIM intends to take its BlackBerry Messenger outside the cozy confines of the BB ecosystem and straight into its competitors’ app stores. BBM is reputedly all set to make its debut as a messaging app on both iOS and Android, though the specifics of what it might cost you have yet to be ironed out. It’ll come in a stripped down version, you’ll still need to own a BlackBerry for the full-flavored BBM experience, but that should nonetheless be extremely welcome news for folks finding themselves torn between platforms. The Android version is expected this year, say the sources, while the iOS app may take a little while longer thanks to Apple’s more capricious approval requirements.
RIM preparing to bring BBM to iOS and Android, change everything again? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 09:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Cities who want cash for new sports arenas are out of luck, the federal government announced Wednesday through a leaked email.
Shortly after our first hands-on encounter with LG’s Optimus Pad, we came across a press release from the company announcing the price for its 8.9-inch Android Honeycomb tablet in Germany: €999 ($1,380). We rubbed our eyes and pinched our cheeks, but we weren't dreaming — that's LG's recommended retail price, alright. Now Amazon has listed its pre-order page for the same slinky slate, though it's sagely opted to chop €100 off and offer it up at €899. We still don't know who exactly will be jumping at this opportunity, even with 32GB of onboard storage, a dual-core CPU and a dual-camera array on the back allowing for 3D video recording, when equally or more compelling products are about to hit the market at lower price points. At least shipping’s free.
Update: And just like that, Amazon’s listing is gone. Did we just alert them to LG’s RRP or something?
LG Optimus Pad listed on Amazon.de for a slightly less crazy €899 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 05:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
We’re willing to bet Qualcomm’s Adreno 220 GPU is an abstract concept to most readers, but we can put it into perspective real quick — here it is in the HP TouchPad, pumping pixels and mapping textures to a seriously stunning little air combat game. We got our hands on the webOS 3.0 tablet and gave Polarbit’s Armageddon Squadron II a whirl at GDC 2011, and the
experience felt pretty solid overall, framerate only dipping significantly when unleashing a hefty barrage of rockets upon your foes. What’s more, the tablet easily — and automatically — paused our game when flexing webOS’s multitasking muscle to check a text message that had just come in. What’s that you say? You’re wondering how the HP TouchPad does text messages? Well, it doesn’t quite — it requires a webOS smartphone paired via Bluetooth to share the cellular modem for texts and calls. But you knew that already, right?
Armageddon Squadron wasn’t the only title Qualcomm had handy to show off the power of the Adreno 220, though, as SouthEnd Interactive’s Desert Winds seems to be the feather in the company’s cap. It’s a 3D action-adventure title starring some very fancy lighting effects for a mobile game — not to mention a buxom female swordslinger who dredges up memories of ATI’s Ruby. See that after the break!
Update: Adreno 220 is actually a single-core GPU, part of the dual-core Snapdragon 8×60 system-on-a-chip.
Continue reading HP TouchPad shoots down planes, shows off next-gen Snapdragon’s GPU (video)
HP TouchPad shoots down planes, shows off next-gen Snapdragon’s GPU (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Admit it: You’ve searched for yourself on Google. We all have. No shame there, in fact you should. If you haven’t searched for yourself, then you’ve probably searched for friends, classmates or co-workers.
Two years ago, we launched Google Profiles to help you manage your online identity. Since then, we’ve enhanced profiles to help you connect to other public online services and improve your search results. Today, we’re starting to give Google Profiles a new look and feel, making it even easier for you to control and enrich your public profile.
We think this new design helps highlight the information that’s most important to you, making it easier for people who visit your profile to get to know you. As the new layout gradually rolls out, current users of Google Profiles will notice that their existing profile will automatically update to the new style. To update and add to your profile, simply click on the new “Edit Profile” button.
Because Google Profiles are designed to be public pages on the web, used to help connect and find real people, we’ll be asking people to provide the name they are commonly referred to in the real world. We recently outlined how we think about the different modes of online interaction across our products.
While profiles work well for individuals, we’ll continue to work on new ways for businesses to engage with their customers, so stay tuned for updates.
Don’t have a Google profile yet? Visit profiles.google.com and create a profile that best represents the way you want to be seen by the world.
Posted by Greg Marra, Product Manager
Want to show off your Xbox 360 Avatar in real life? Well now you can. You can get a huge (up to 4 ft x 6 1/2 ft) poster, like the one on the left or a fully detailed 3-D replica.
By Joe Wilcox, Betanews
Today’s iPad 2 launch came with a couple surprises: Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who is on medical leave, officiated the media event. It’s a smart way of quelling rumors about his health, without ever having to disclose any real information. The other surprise: The new iPad isn’t remarkably different from the 1st generation model. Like many other second generation Apple products, the iPad 2 is evolution not revolution, a pattern of product development Jobs instituted long ago.
Apple typically develops its products incrementally, starting with a showstopper that Jobs often calls “one more thing.” There is a consistent pattern: “One more thing” debuts with modest hardware features but something else nevertheless killer — something people want, or think they do. During the launch event, Jobs performs his marketing magic, demonstrating how this “one more thing” will make peoples’ lives better. Often the product lacks something compared to competing wares but offers something more elsewhere.
People pay more to be Cool
Once Apple releases that “one more thing,” the company then iterates — incrementally improves — the product over time. The process is essential to Apple maximizing margins. “One more thing” products typically have initial higher selling prices or same as the replaced product(s). They’re cool. People are willing to pay more, and Apple certainly doesn’t discourage them from doing so.
“One more thing” is very much about selling the coolest thing. Plenty of buyers demand the newest, coolest product, and they’re willing to pay a premium price to get it. To many of these buyers, the tech gadget is as much an accessory — statement of their coolness, superiority — as useful product. Apple engages in a tried-and-true retail practice. It’s good business. Clothing stores take a similar approach. There are teens who must have the newest wears from Aeropostale, American Eagle, Gap or Hollister at full price; they can’t wait for sales. They want to be cool. Apple sometimes charges more for fashion, just like clothiers. Remember the black MacBook, which cost $150 more than the white model, simply for the color?
However, as a product’s lifecycle progresses and Apple maximizes margins at the front end, incremental improvements begin. The company typically starts by offering better hardware for the same price. Later, Apple adds substantially better hardware or features and cuts the price. Eventually, Apple retires the product and introduces another “one more thing.”
The iPhone is a good example of this process. The iPhone 4's design somewhat differs from the "one more thing" model that went on sale in June 2007, but the user interface, basic features and most functions have only incrementally changed since. The original iPhone lacked 3G, video and MMS, but offered slicker user interface, a capacitive touchscreen, more enjoyable media playback and better calling features than comparable handsets. The iPhone was less and more comparatively, then. But buyers paid. Apple and AT&T sold the 1st generation iPhone for $499 or $599 at launch; Apple lowered the price to $399 a few months later. New models brought lower prices — $199 and $299. The older 3GS is still available, now for 50 bucks. Apple has already maximized margins on the 3GS, which now exists to capture buyers unwilling or unable to pay more.
When Change isn’t Enough to “Wow”
The iPad 2 clearly follows the approach of incremental development, by offering small improvements with substantial benefits, without dramatically changing basic form and function. The new model is 33-percent thinner than its predecessor but basically same height and width, but lighter (1.3 pounds). However, battery life is comparable, Jobs claims. LED screen size and resolution are unchanged from the original model. Apple’s newest tablet packs a dual-core processor, which matches the trend among Android 3.0 “Honeycomb” tablets. There is now a gyroscope, two cameras and extra-cost accessory for connecting to HDMI cables. Apple also made many software tweaks, such as offering FaceTime video streaming and Mac OS X’s Photo Booth feature, both supporting the addition of cameras. Apple also introduced some new apps, most notably Garage Band.
There are plenty of incremental tweaks, which as a whole should improve the overall user experience but not dramatically change it. If I were in the market for an iPad, I would take the original model at $299 (16GB WiFi) or $399 (32GB WiFi), if Apple were to offer such prices. Update: After I posted, Apple started offering 1st gen models for $399 and $499, respectively (they’re not cheap enough). Hey, this incremental approach is why Apple can still successfully sell the iPhone 3G, even though it lacks hardware features found on iPhone 4.
Keeping with this incremental approach and maximizing margins upfront in the product development and distribution cycle, Apple kept the price for iPad 2 models the same as the originals — from $499 to $829. I would expect any price cuts to come with the next product release, which likely will more dramatically improve features and functionality — keeping with Apple’s incremental design approach.
Measuring iPad 2’s Incremental Improvements
How does the new iPad, which goes on sale March 11, compare to some other tablets?
iPad: 1GHz A4 processor (single core); 9.7-inch LED display with 1024 by 768 resolution; 16GB, 32GB or 64GB internal memory; accelerometer; ambient light sensor; compass; WiFi; 3G (on some models); iOS 4.2.
iPad 2: 1GHz A5 dual-core processor; 9.7-inch LED display with 1024 by 768 resolution; front-and-rear facing cameras; 16GB, 32GB or 64GB internal memory; 720p video recording; accelerometer; ambient light sensor; compass; gyroscope; WiFi; 3G (on some models); iOS 4.3.
Galaxy Tab 10.1: 1GHz dual-core processor; 10.1-inch TFT display with 1280 by 800 resolution; two cameras — rear-facing 8-megapixels with LED flash; front-facing 2MP; 16GB or 32GB internal memory; Flash 10.1; 1080p video recording; WiFi; 3G, with support for HSPA+ 21Mbps networks; GPS; Android 3.0.
HTC Flyer: 1.5GHz processor; 7-inch display 1GB of RAM; 32 GB of internal storage, expandable with microSD to 64 GB; a 5-megapixel back-facing and 1.3-megapixel front-facing cameras; light sensor; velocity sensor; digital compass; Bluetooth 3.0; GPS; Android 2.4.
Motorola XOOM: 1GHz dual-core nVidia Tegra 2 processor; 10.1-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution; 1GB of RAM; 32GB internal storage, expandable with MicroSD card; 5-megapixel back-facing and 2-megapixel front-facing cameras; 720p video recording; 1080p video playback; HDMI and USB 2.0 ports; accelerometer; barometer; gyroscope; Android 3.0.
Which would you buy, if any of them?
Sony’s PlayStation 3 was yanked from retail stores across Europe, after court in the Netherlands requested all shipments to be stopped until further notice. The decision is believed to be fallout from a dispute between Sony and LG.
The two companies have have been duking it out over the PlayStation Blu-ray disc playback feature. On this side of the pond, Sony is suing over LG phones. Both companies claim that the other is infringing on patents.
This is part of a new set of lawsuits over patent infringement in the past couple of weeks. Sony has issued a public statement over the suit, saying that it is currently looking into the matter. LG, on the other hand, has not yet issued a response.
Via X Bit Labs
Hey, remember all the fun last month when Samsung’s Lee Young-hee said that Galaxy Tab sales were “quite smooth” but everyone heard “quite small?” Yeah, well, Steve Jobs doesn’t. Before unveiling the iPad 2 today the man in black and denim listed that early misquote — which was widely and officially corrected — as evidence to prove that the iPad‘s competition was floundering. Admittedly that isn’t far from the truth, but there’s no need to go putting words in other executives’ mouths to make a point.
CE-Oh no he didn’t!: Steve Jobs misquotes Samsung, asks what you’re gonna do about it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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You might recall we ran this comparison about a month back when HP’s TouchPad was announced, but now we’re back with a full set of 2011 devices as Apple’s brand new iPad 2 has joined the fray. There’s no need for excessive introductions, really, just leap past the break to get swalloped up by an avalanche of next-generation tablet specs.
iPad 2 vs. Motorola Xoom vs. HP TouchPad vs. BlackBerry PlayBook: the tale of the tape originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple finally graced us with the long awaited second generation of the iPad. CEO Steve Jobs stated that “We think 2011 will be the year of iPad 2″. For us Canadians this will be available on March 25th. Jobs said the pricing will be the same but did not confirm Canadian pricing – so one […]
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Well there you have it folks — the absurdly thin new iPad 2. We just got our hands all over the next greatest tablet from Apple and it’s… very much the same, save for that new body. There’s no question that the industrial design is top notch, and we did notice some speedier behavior when jumping around — but the core OS remains unchanged, so this won’t be a major shock. We’re spending more time with the device and getting impressions, but for now, feast your eyes on the galleries below.
Update: Okay, we’ve had a chance to play around the with iPad 2 some more, and here are our big takeaways from the experience.
Update 2: We’ve got some video after the break!
Update 3: More videos!
Gallery: Apple iPad 2 hands-on
Gallery: iPad 2, more close-ups
Continue reading iPad 2 first hands-on! (update: even more video!)
iPad 2 first hands-on! (update: even more video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Shockingly enough, Apple found plenty of things to tweak and update on its spectacularly successful iPad. Alright, so the screen resolution didn’t improve and we didn’t get that ultra-speedy Thunderbolt connector on board, but the iPad 2 is thinner and lighter while somehow becoming more powerful — a 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 SOC lurks within. Check out our full breakdown of the key spec differences in the chart after the break. It’s great fun, we promise!
P.S. – While you’re poring over these stats, don’t forget that Apple’s decided to slap a $100 price cut on the original iPads, making them eminently more desirable today than they were yesterday.
Continue reading iPad 2 vs. original iPad: what’s changed?
iPad 2 vs. original iPad: what’s changed? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Japan, Mitsubishi
According to Gayu Eusegi, head of global product development for Mitsubishi, the Lancer Evolution X will be the last Evo the Japanese automaker ever builds. Eusegi says the move is part of a shift in strategy to put the company’s product focus and ethos on leadership in EV technology.
To that end, Autocar indicates that Mitsubishi will release eight fully-electric or hybrid-electric cars by the time 2015 rolls around, and make a grab for a big portion of the CO2-reduction market share. It goes without saying that the fun-yet-fuel-swilling Evo just doesn’t fit that mindset, particularly since it apes a rally car that no longer exists.
Despite the Evo’s huge popularity, Mitsubishi apparently isn’t scared of the step and says it’s confident that consumers will glom on to the idea and rally behind the brand. By killing the Evo, they’re making their intentions plain to an increasingly environmentally-conscious car-buying public.
Eusegi killed dead any notion that the brand would roll out a performance-oriented hybrid as well. “Maybe the world can change, and maybe someday we can do a motor race by electric vehicles. Maybe then we can enter the market agian,” he said.
This report of the Evo’s death would seem to stand in contrast to multiple reports that an Evo XI is in the works with a hybrid drivetrain. We’re taking this latest Autocar missive with a few grains of salt, as we can see how Eusegi may have simply meant that an Evo that relies exclusively on internal combustion is dead – a hybrid Evo would seem to offer a nice technological bridge to Mitsubishi’s more electrically minded future. Hat tip to Dennis!
Gallery: 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
[Source: Autocar]
Report: Mitsubishi official says Evo franchise is dead originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The Saskatchewan government will spend $30 million to create a new nuclear research centre at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
Shared by Terren
Much better video quality then my previous post about Terra Nova. This looks promising!
The last trailer we saw from Steven Spielberg’s dino drama Terra Nova was a bit blurry at best. But now we’ve got a brand new clip with new dialog and better dinosaurs. More »
