Cedric Paul Alberto

Kodak to shutter digital camera production this year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Symantec said that folks running its pcAnywhere utility were at an "increased risk" when it revealed that the company had been hacked and its source codes pilfered, and advised customers to stop using pcAnywhere for the time being. Sage advice, as a hacker with the handle YamaTough -- who's affiliated with Anonymous -- helped do the deed and has now published the code for all the world to see. Apparently, the hacker and hackee had attempted to broker a deal for $50,000 to keep the code private, but neither side negotiated in good faith -- YamaTough always intended to release the code, and law enforcement was doing the talking for Symantec to catch he and his hacking cohorts. The good news is, Symantec has released several patches to protect pcAnywhere users going forward. As for the stolen code for Norton Antivirus, Internet Security and other Symantec software? Well, the company's expecting it to be disclosed, too, but because the code is from 2006, customers with current versions can rest easy.

Hacker spites Symantec, puts pcAnywhere's source code out in the open originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple announcing iPad 3 first week of March? Anonymous sources think so originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A couple of months after making its long (really long) awaited appearance in "select markets" the DirecTiVo is now officially available nationwide. Die-hard fans of the combo of peanut remote and satellite TV finally have a crack at the box for the same $199 up front price tag, plus attached service fee, HD access fee and DVR fee. This also means foregoing things like 3D, multiroom support, Premiere UI and live streaming iPad apps, but that's part of the deal for the TiVo HD DVR from DirecTV. Check the press release after the break for more details on what the box can do, or just hit the source link to head directly to DirecTV's info page.

Continue reading DirecTiVo now available nationwide, please try to contain your excitement

DirecTiVo now available nationwide, please try to contain your excitement originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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German court upholds ruling against Apple, clears Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1N for sale originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's been almost a year since we last wrote about the BMW i8 being winter-tested and here it is again -- this time in production prototype form -- doing donuts (!) in the snow. This plug-in gasoline electric hybrid vehicle started life as the Vision EfficientDynamics, promising sub five-second 0 - 60mph times while still achieving an impressive 87mpg (2.7 liters per 100km). We last saw the i8 concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show but the sporty coupé with the funky gullwing-like doors isn't expected in BMW showrooms until sometime in 2014. So until then sit back, relax and check out the video above.

BMW i8 production prototype goes dancing in a winter wonderland (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DoubleTwist update brings podcast support to auditory Android users originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Security hounds over at zvelo have discovered a vulnerability in Google Wallet that means your precious PIN can be "easily revealed." Digging through the app's code and using Google's open resources to reveal its contents, they uncovered a piratical treasure trove of data: unique user IDs, Google account information, and the PIN stored as a SHA256 hex-encoded string. Since this string is known to carry four digits, it only takes a "trivial" brute-force attack involving a maximum of 10,000 calculations to decode it. To prove their point, the researchers made a Wallet Cracker app -- demoed after the break -- that does the job quicker than you can say "unexpected overdraft."

Google has been receptive to these findings, but its attempts at a fix have so far been hampered by the need to coordinate with the banks, since changing the way the PIN is stored could also change which agency is responsible for its security. In the meantime, zvelo advises that there are some measures users can take themselves, aside from putting a protective hand over their pockets: refrain from rooting your phone, enable your lock screen, disable USB debugging, enable Full Disk Encryption and keep your handset up-to-date.

Update: Google has responded by emphasizing that it's only users of rooted devices who are at risk. In a statement to TNW it said: "We strongly encourage people to not install Google Wallet on rooted devices and to always set up a screen lock as an additional layer of security for their phone."

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]

Continue reading PSA: Google Wallet vulnerable to 'brute-force' PIN attacks (update: affects rooted devices)

PSA: Google Wallet vulnerable to 'brute-force' PIN attacks (update: affects rooted devices) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Lenovo releases Q3 earnings report, shipments rise, profits soar

Lenovo releases Q3 earnings report, shipments rise, profits soar originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Chrome update brings speedier browsing, enhanced security, joy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Sony's 3D Library lets Aussies borrow products free of charge

Sony's 3D Library lets Aussies borrow products free of charge originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You may have thought that Sony's Cyber-shot TX200V was the company's most powerful point-and-shoot to date, but that's not exactly true. The company has a Japan-only version of the TX200V called the TX300V, and it's quite a compelling upgrade. The camera's most apealing addition comes in the form of a wireless charging and transfer dock -- it refuels your pocket snapper through inductive charging while also wirelessly transferring images to your computer using TransferJet. It can also draw power from your computer's USB port (no AC adapter required). Oh, and it ships in the camera box.

Sadly, there aren't any plans to sell this iteration outside of Japan, and Sony's mum on pricing and availability. The camera transferred images and charged without issue during our demo (the Charge indicator lit up, at least -- we didn't stick around to watch it charge the camera). We went hands-on with the TX300V and its charging dock at CP+ in Yokohama, and you can check the camera kit out in all its glossy black glory just past the break.

Continue reading Sony Cyber-shot TX300V inductive charging camera and dock hands-on (video)

Sony Cyber-shot TX300V inductive charging camera and dock hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By now we're quite familiar with the Olympus E-M5's attractive external appearance, but what does it look like on the inside? The company carefully disassembled its new flagship model, and displayed the components in ten layers for us to examine at CP+ in Yokohama, Japan. The image sensor module is perhaps the most impressive component, due in part to its five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization. We can also spot the magnesium alloy shell, main system board and top plate. Another display encased a compete E-M5 kit, with a lens, split right down the middle. You'll find a variety of views in the gallery below, along with a special treat: the all-black version of the E-M5, in all its smooth metal glory.

Olympus black E-M5 Micro Four Thirds camera and internals eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Have you been holding out on that NEX purchase because of the currently limited E-mount lens selection? Well, Sony's got some good news for you -- there will soon be eight additional lenses to choose from (for a total of 15), with all models making it into circulation by the end of 2013. That's still no match for the hundreds of optics available for Canon or Nikon DSLRs, but you'll at least be able to build a collection that covers (almost) all of your bases. Sony hasn't detailed any of these upcoming models, but the company's chart above lists a few categories, including a High Performance Standard Zoom in the pricey Zeiss category, along with High-magnification, Standard, Wide Angle and Mid-magnification Zooms. There will also be a trio of prime lenses, including a Large Aperture Standard lens, a Middle Telephoto and a "Snap" (pancake) optic. We're just as anxious as you to find out exactly what Sony has in mind for each of these categories, but you should at least take some comfort in knowing that the E-mount collection is far from complete.

Sony promises eight more NEX E-mount lenses by the end of 2013, doesn't elaborate originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After Pentax boasted about the performance of its incredibly small Q mirrorless cam, we're certainly justified in approaching the company's latest ILC with a bit of skepticism -- especially given its blatant toy-like appearance. But after spending a few minutes with the K-01 at Pentax's CP+ booth, we can confirm that the compact camera doesn't feel nearly as cheap as its looks may imply. The camera includes a brand new 16.28-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor -- a far cry from the 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch imager included with the petite Pentax Q. There's also a bright 920k-dot 3-inch LCD, a sensitivity range of ISO 100-25,600 (!) and 1080/30p video capture. It's also, believe it or not, compatible with Pentax's range of K-mount DSLR lenses.

The K-01 is a bit hefty for a mirrorless camera -- it dwarfs the near-pocketable Pentax Q -- and has a weight to match its rather large footprint. The cam actually feels quite durable, though we're definitely not sold on its "fun" Michael-Graves-meets-Fisher-Price design (think smooth corners and bright colors). There's a built-in pop-up flash, along with a hot shoe positioned just over the lens. There's also -- much to our surprise -- a microphone input. We can't imagine pairing this thing with a pricey external mic rig, but if you're not too embarrassed using this for professional applications, the included audio input may come in handy. Jump past the break for a quick video walkthrough from Japan, and keep an eye out for the camera closer to home -- the $750 (body only) K-01 is expected to hit stores next month.

Continue reading Pentax K-01 mirrorless camera doesn't feel as cheap as it looks, we go hands-on (video)

Pentax K-01 mirrorless camera doesn't feel as cheap as it looks, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading The Engadget Interview: Words With Friends creator, Paul Bettner

The Engadget Interview: Words With Friends creator, Paul Bettner originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus's inaugural OM-D mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the E-M5, boasts the world's fastest autofocus and a pretty fantastic design, but it's also the first camera to implement a new five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization technology, that allows the lens to compensate for camera shake. The company was on hand at CP+ 2012 to demo the new sensor, which really does shift every which way to keep your photos and video still. We'll of course need to spend some time shooting photos and video with the E-M5 before labeling the five-axis sensor a success, but from the demo we saw today, it looks pretty darn promising. Jump past the break for a video hands-on, and scroll through the photos below for an up-close view of Olympus's latest Micro Four Thirds masterpiece.

Continue reading Olympus OM-D E-M5 five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization hands-on (video)

Olympus OM-D E-M5 five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As Macworld continues on its path towards irrelevance, another post-CES trade show is gaining heat on the other side of the Pacific. This is our first year at the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show, taking place at Pacifico Yokohama, just a short from JR train ride away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. While the show itself is little known outside of Japan, it's prompted a barrage of camera announcements over the last few weeks. In addition to the dozens of new consumer models that are set to hit the market, CP+ also gives us another chance to fire off some flagship professional DSLRs, including the Canon 1D X, and the Nikon D4 and D800. We're also expecting to take a behind-the-scenes look at some new sensor tech -- and who knows, we may even find ourselves standing below an RC photo chopper or two -- so check back often to get your fill from what's shaping up to be one of the biggest photography trade shows of the year.

We're live from CP+ 2012 in Yokohama, Japan! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japan to reduce rare earth consumption in response to China's export controls originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anyone who's ever attempted to ride a bike in San Francisco can attest to just how rough the city's numerous hills can be on the lower body. Thankfully, government dollars are set to go a ways toward making electric bicycles a tiny bit more prevalent amongst the local populace. The city by the bay's CarShare program will be getting funding to bring some 90 e-bikes to 25 locations in SF and nearby Berkeley, beginning with 45 bikes in the second half of this year. Forty-five more will be coming in 2013.

San Francisco gearing up for electric bike sharing program originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Since 1993, the FCC has held the ability to restrict bidders' participation in spectrum auctions based on their current spectrum holdings, needs and dominance in the marketplace. Given that wireless spectrum is a public resource, the current law tasks the FCC with the responsibility to ensure competition in the marketplace and prevent monopolies and duopolies from forming. A new proposal contained within the JOBS Act, H.R. 3630 -- a sweeping bill that primarily addresses the extension of unemployment benefits -- threatens to strip the FCC of this authority and return spectrum auctions to the freewheeling wild west era. The bill is so controversial that former FCC chairman, Reed Hundt, recently called this proposal "the single worst telecom bill" he'd ever seen, and, "a repudiation of the smartest auction theorists in the world." Today, the CEOs from many of the US's smaller telecoms -- which include Sprint, T-Mobile, Cricket, C Spire and Bluegrass Cellular (among others) -- officially lodged their objections to this proposed bill based on the notion that, left unrestricted, AT&T and Verizon Wireless could start bullying smaller carriers in the race to acquire more spectrum.

While the majority of the bill deals with making additional spectrum available, Section 4105 of Title V -- the controversial bit in question -- is ostensibly the work of lobbying efforts on behalf of AT&T and Verizon. Are the nation's top two carriers legitimately concerned that the FCC will limit their ability to participate in future auctions? Sprint contends that the current law has worked rather well for both top dogs, which together control approximately 73 percent of the spectrum under 1GHz. There's no doubt that spectrum is the bread and butter of the wireless industry, but as a public resource, it deserves to be allocated in a way that promotes competition and best serves the citizens. Regardless of your gut reaction, it seems that the topic deserves some legitimate debate. If the proposed bill hits the Congressional floor and is mired down amongst discussions of unemployment benefits and flood insurance reform, just how much of this important discussion will fall on deaf ears?

[Tower photo via Shutterstock]

AT&T and Verizon lobby for less FCC spectrum control, Sprint and other carriers respond originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Paul McCartney: 'You can keep free streaming for the birds and bees, now give me money'

Paul McCartney: 'You can keep free streaming for the birds and bees, now give me money' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jumping to Earth from the edge of space is no mean feat. Not only are you dropping like a stone, there's also the minor issue of your blood boiling as you do so. These are challenges daredevil Felix Baumgartner and the Red Bull Stratos team will be taking head-on -- literally -- with their record-breaking 120,000 foot "spacedive." To ensure Baumgartner lives to claim his honors, the Stratos team is using a custom spacesuit. It's designed by the David Clark Company, which made the first pressurized suits for World War II fighters, and includes a gas-filled bladder and integrated valve to maintain pressure over the various altitudes. While Baumgartner hopes to set new freefall distance, and time (5 minutes 30 seconds) records, there'll also be a lasting contribution to science, with team medical director Dr. Jonathan Clark hoping the developments can lead to advances in space travel and tourism. So in the future when you're opening your pretzels, looking down upon the Earth, raise a complimentary glass to Felix

Continue reading Record-breaking freefall advances space suit technology (video)

Record-breaking freefall advances space suit technology (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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That sound you can hear is the studios dashing around as they look for a new scapegoat. Disney's got Redbox and Netflix in its sights as it declares plans to impose a 28-day window before it'll make its titles available for rental. Despite conceding that the studio hadn't seen any impact on overall DVD sales, CEO Bob Iger pointed to a 16 percent drop in quarterly revenue compared to 2010 as the motivation. It's also collecting splinters in its backside as it watches to see how well digital locker service UltraViolet fares with consumers before committing to join the program. Of course, given the legitimacy of First Sale Doctrine, it's possible Redbox will do as its done with Warner titles and just buy 'em at retail -- as long as it can cover its costs as it does so.

Disney considering 28-day rental window, because 'On Stranger Tides' was that good originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some of you thought it would never happen. You thought that these two mortal enemies would spend the rest of their multinational corporate lives alternately at each other throats and eyeing the other with suspicion from across the boardroom. After dropping some claims and winning others, Rambus has signed an agreement with NVIDIA that puts to rest their remaining legal disputes. The deal will allow NVIDIA to use patented Rambus tech in its products for the next five years, without fear of legal action -- though, neither side will say how much that privilege cost. Now that the battle between the two, which began way back in 2008, has finally come to a close we can all finally get back to the very important business of forgetting who or what Rambus is.

NVIDIA and Rambus settle, sign patent deal, kiss and make up originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The path to the executive apologies is paved with good intentions -- like the one issued today by Dave Morin. The Path CEO / co-founder posted a note apologizing for the contact sharing functionality that got his iPhone app in hot water. The letter titled, simply, "We're Sorry," outlines the company's focus on security (which it takes "very, very seriously") and the intended use for the feature, which uploaded user contact info to help connect people on the service. As a sign of good faith, the company will be deleting all of the uploaded information and making available version 2.0.6 of the service, which allows users to opt-in or out of contact sharing.

Path apologizes, deletes user contact data and updates app originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Like many other web and media companies, we do panel research to help better serve our users by learning more about people's media use, on the web and elsewhere. This panel is one such small project that started near the beginning of the year. Of course, this is completely optional to join. People can choose to participate if it's of interest (or if the gift appeals) and everyone who does participate has complete transparency and control over what Internet use is being included in the panel. People can stay on the panel as long as they'd like, or leave at any time.

Google Screenwise panel will pay you to track your every move online originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boston Dynamics' LS3, better known 'round these parts as AlphaDog, has already wowed us with a display of its stability, power and mobility. Thing is, that little clip we caught back in October took place entirely within the safe and purposefully laid out confines of a laboratory. So, the question is, what happens when you take the rather noisy quadruped outside and strap a bunch of weight to it? Well, pretty much the same thing that happened while it was nice and cozy inside -- the beast powered through the reasonably rugged terrain with nary a hitch. By the end of the tests DARPA hopes to have a mighty robotic porter capable of carrying 400 pounds of gear up to 20 miles without refueling. Though, the trek is expected to be slow and arduous as a full 24 hours is target time frame for such a journey. For full PR and to see the bot in action head on after the break.

Continue reading AlphaDog robo pack-mule begins outdoor trials, noisily hikes into your nightmares

AlphaDog robo pack-mule begins outdoor trials, noisily hikes into your nightmares originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tweetbot hits 2.0, heads to iPad with new features and UI in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's not the first time we've seen HTML5 used in conjunction with a Kinect hack, but George MacKerron's so-called Depthcam takes things to some interesting new levels. It's a live webcam that you can interact with in your web browser (Chrome only, for now). As you might expect, the ability to explore is a bit limited, but you are able to pan and zoom around the scene -- which is certainly impressive enough on its on. You can try it our yourself a the source link below (resources permitting), or get an idea of what it's like in the video after the break.

Continue reading HTML5-based Depthcam puts a fresh spin on Kinect hacks

HTML5-based Depthcam puts a fresh spin on Kinect hacks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You may remember that during the TouchPad fire sale, a few slates slipped out with a rather primitive Froyo build on them. Well, HP doesn't seem to know how the tablets hit shelves with Android on board, but its decided to release the source code for the OS nonetheless. Devs had previously called on the company to hand over the code, but the request was refused since HP had never intended for TouchPads to ship with Android, and thus were not obligated to abide by the open-source requirements. As a gesture of goodwill to the community (and under a certain amount of pressure from it) the former purveyor of all things webOS has reversed course though, and let the TouchPad-specific kernel loose on the internet for others to repurpose as they see fit. Hit up the source link to download it now.

HP releases Android kernel for TouchPad, makes hackers' lives easier originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It took awhile, and the price tag is quite a bit steeper than previously thought (shocking, right?), but the FAA is finally getting the funding it needs to bring the nation's air traffic control system up to date. Congress just passed the bill to make it happen, allotting $11 billion to the FAA to upgrade the nation's 35 busiest airports air traffic controls from radar to GPS. The deadline for the conversion is June 2015, and when complete, it'll allow for more precise positioning of aircraft -- GPS pings for the planes' locations every second, while radar updates their locations every 6 to 12 seconds. With such technology enabled, airplanes will be able to take-off and land more closely together while utilizing steeper descents than is currently possible to conserve fuel. So, now that we've got the new traffic control system to improve airline punctuality, we just need the FAA and the FCC to team up and eliminate the "Terrible 10,000 feet" and flying might actually be fun.

Congress passes bill giving the FAA $11 billion to get off radar, onto GPS originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It looks like Verizon's about to double up on double data. According to the Los Angeles Times, Big Red is about to reintroduce the double data promotion that first rolled out in November, and came to a close at year's end. Under the offer, customers signing up for a 4G plan will receive double the amount of monthly data (at no extra charge) for the duration of their contracts, as long as they sign up for two-year deals. Unfortunately, though, the promotion only applies to first time 4G subscribers (or those looking to upgrade from a non-4G plan), and is restricted to smartphones, leaving tablet owners in the dark. As with its original campaign, the redux will only be available for a limited time, though Verizon has yet to announce a closing date. It all kicks off this Friday, when, not coincidentally, the carrier will officially welcome the Droid 4 to the fold, as well.

[Thanks, Tyler]

Verizon's double data deal returns this Friday, prepare yourselves accordingly originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How do you fancy a 20 percent boost to your processor's performance? Research from the North Carolina State University claims to offer just that. Despite the emergence of fused architechture SoCs, the CPU and GPU cores typically still work independently. The University hoped that by assigning tasks based on each processor's abilities, performance efficiency would be increased. As the CPU and GPU can fetch data at comparable speeds, the researchers set the GPUs to execute the computational functions, while the CPUs did the prefetching. With that data ready in advance, the graphics processor unit has more resources free, yielding an average performance boost of 21.4 percent though it's unclear what metrics the researchers were using. Incidentally, the research was funded by AMD, so no prizes for guessing which chips we might see using the technique first.

Researchers get CPUs and GPUs talking, boost PC performance by 20 percent originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two US startups are breaking solar efficiency records in their quest to bring clean, cost-effective, eco-friendly energy to a power grid near you. Alta Devices, based in Santa Clara, CA, has achieved a 23.5 percent efficiency rating with its standard solar panel, while Semprius, a Durham, NC company, has achieved a rating of 33.9 percent with its concentrated photovoltaic offering -- besting the previous records of 22.9 percent and 33 percent, respectively. Interestingly enough, both outfits chose to utilize a new material to construct their sun-sopping cells: gallium arsenide. The material, while more expensive, is better suited for absorbing the sun's energy, especially when compared to silicon, the cheaper element typically used. Alta and Semprius are looking to proliferate solar power by further refining the technology, making its price per kilowatt equivalent to that of fossil fuels without the use of government subsides. Here comes the sun...

Two US startups break solar efficiency records, aim to light up your life originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Vonage Mobile app allows free calls and texts worldwide to fellow Android and iOS users

Vonage Mobile app allows free calls and texts worldwide to fellow Android and iOS users originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Staring forlorn at that two-year-old MacBook, just sitting there in the corner? Well, there's good news; Apple's decided to furnish those 2010 models with a new EFI firmware update. Arriving on its MacBook Air (late 2010), iMac (mid 2010) and MacBook Pro (early 2010) models, it adds support for Lion's internet-based recovery feature -- something that's very useful for those optical drive-less MacBook Airs and Mac minis. The update also fixes a bug on Air models, where it would reset if the power button was pressed immediately after booting from deep sleep mode. You can consult your Mac's software updater for the new firmware -- it's out there now.

Apple updates EFI firmware on 2010 Macs: offers Lion internet recovery, not much else originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft celebrating leap year right by launching Windows 8 Consumer Preview at MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you ask us, miracles are pretty hard to come by, and it would take a great amount of gusto for a smartphone manufacturer to bestow such a weighty name upon a rather middling handset. The crew at Pocketnow claim that's exactly what LG's done with its latest Windows Phone, however, which was previously known as the Fantasy. That's right, folks, you're looking at a purported Miracle -- weren't you expecting more? The phone is said to contain a 1GHz (naturally single-core) Snapdragon SoC, a 4-inch NOVA display (that we can safely assume to be WVGA), 8GB of storage and a five megapixel primary cam that shoots video at 720p, along with a run-of-the-mill VGA front-facer. As connectivity goes, we're told to expect a 14.4Mbps HSPA radio and 2.4GHz / 5GHz WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and -- get this -- NFC. Whether this Miracle comes to fruition is anybody's guess; perhaps it was just a Fantasy all along.

[Thanks, Mark]

Could LG's Fantasy be an outright Miracle? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baking your own bread is a great way to save money, but if you store and freeze the dough it takes a while for it to rise before you can pop it in the oven. DIY blog The Pink Peony of Le Jardin suggests leaving your frozen bread on a heating pad to speed up the process. More »

A new study in the psychology journal Acta Psychologica suggests that improving your working memory changes your perception of time and makes it seem like time moves faster. Working memory controls your ability to pay attention, plan, and remember things. It's also a skill you can improve. More »

iPhone: Waze, our favorite turn-by-turn navigation app for iPhone (and Android) just added a great new feature: hands-free operation. Now you can control Waze with a wave of your hand and the power of your voice. More »

iOS (Jailbroken): One of the quirks of the iPhone is that apps can access your personal information, including your contacts, without you knowing about it. If this bothers you, ContactPrivacy is a tweak that sends an alert when apps start digging through your address book. More »

No one ever said that single-serving coffee machines and the coffee cups and brewing pods you need to operate them were cheaper than buying and brewing your own coffee at home, but they're certainly more convenient. Each of us has to decide how much we're willing to pay for convenience, but the price of that convenience can be as high as $51/lb, according to a new study that compared the costs of buying by the pound and brewing your own versus single-serving makers. More »

Flickr user Tim Garbarino reminds us that for those of us in the northern hemisphere, winter isn't quite over yet with this gorgeous, serene setting sun behind a lonely snowball. The setup is functional too—Tim has his favorite feeds on the right, upcoming appointments at the top, and a spring-loaded dock on the left. More »

iOS: Tweetbot, our pick for the best Twitter client for the iPhone just rolled out a new update that adds in-line image viewing, single-tap-to-launch links, an overhauled UI, and easy access to people who have retweeted you. Tweetbot has also finally landed on the iPad, with an interface that makes use of the tablet's larger display, multiple-account support, push notifications, and support for third party apps like Instagram, Readability, and Instapaper. More »

Readers offer their best tips for sifting through your Chrome history, watching Amazon videos on iOS devices, and sharing desktop links with Chrome for Android. More »

Android: Microsoft's popular note taking and organization app, OneNote, is now available on Android, so you can have your notes with you wherever you go. More »

Windows 8 Consumer Preview is coming, Chrome for Android won't be getting Flash, and the iPhone 3GS may be nearing the end of its run. More »

You may have heard of Windows 7's Homegroup feature before, but never really understood what it did. It's actually the simplest way to share files between two Windows machines, and it takes seconds to set up. If you have more than one computer in your home (or a friend who comes over and likes to borrow your music), here's how to set it up. More »

We've always been fans of Amazon Prime, even though its new streaming service didn't have the most expansive selection. Today, they added a bunch of new TV shows to their library, from channels like Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, and VH1, which brings their total number of shows up more than 15,000 (not including the 100,000 other titles you can rent or buy separately). That still isn't quite as big as a Netflix subscription offers, but coupled with free two-day shipping on things in the Amazon store, Prime is starting to look quite a bit more tempting. Hit the link to read more, and if you use Amazon Prime to stream video, let us know how it stacks up in the comments. [Amazon] More »

The Daily App Deals post is a round-up of the best app discounts of the day, as well as some notable mentions for ones that are on sale. More »

A camera is only as capable as the person using it, but snapping some awesome images doesn't require years of training. Here are five photography pro tips that everybody ought to know. More »

Googler Daniel Russell knows how to find the answers to questions you can't get to with a simple Google query. In his weekly Search Research column, Russell issues a search challenge, then follows up later in the week with his solution—using whatever search technology and methodology fits the bill. This week's challenge: Where can I find that tool? More »

A simple change in perspective turns a magazine holder into a useful and decorative catch-all shelf for your keys, change, gadgets, receipts, and whatever else you like. More »

Sick of mailto: links in your browser opening Outlook or Mail.app whenever you click them? You can tackle this problem with extensions or through other means, but Googler and HTML5 guru Paul Irish offers a simple, no-add-ons-required approach. Here's how it works: More »

We've previously mentioned that you can make your own screen protector on the cheap with adhesive vinyl. Although it's a simple process to understand in theory, it helps to actually see it in practice. This video from Household Hacker demonstrates how to make a vinyl screen protector and apply it to your device in just a few minutes. More »

Picture this: After hours of web browsing, your body is contorted in various unnatural positions over time. Your legs up on the table, or you're lying on the bed sideways with the laptop rotated sideways as well. Does that sound familiar? More »

Every day we're on the lookout for ways to make your work easier and your life better, but Lifehacker readers are smart, insightful folks with all kinds of expertise to share, and we want to give everyone regular access to that exceptional hive mind. Help Yourself is a daily thread where readers can ask and answer questions about tech, productivity, life hacks, and whatever else you need help with. More »

The view from your computer may not be ideal, but even if you can't see the world in reality you can easily shift your desktop to another part of the world with a great image. Here are our favorite worldwide wallpapers. We've got a lot this week! More »

It's hard to argue that there's a better virtual assistant for the iPhone when you've got Siri, because Apple can create app that is completely integrated with iOS. That said, if you don't have Siri there are plenty of great options that may even be better some day. Here's a look at why Siri's great but plenty of other excellent alternatives as well. More »

Google is releasing a major update to Chrome today that will make browsing the web seem faster and also add security protections. More »

Dear Lifehacker, More »

Do your loved ones a favor and organize these important documents so in case something happens to you they can easily make financial decisions and act on your behalf. The Wall Street Journal explains which policies and documents to make accessible. More »

Buying in bulk at Costco can save your family lots of money—depending on what you buy. To find out exactly which items are the best deals at the wholesale club, personal finance blog Squawkfox did a shopping experiment comparing unit prices on fresh, frozen, and packaged goods between a local grocery and Costco. More »

Today's featured workspace is described by owner Stephen Coles as a "glorious place to work"—no doubt thanks to the great view, all that natural light, and lots of room to work. More »

Whether due to modesty, timidity, or just a desire not to annoy anyone, most of us suck at self-promotion. But the fact is, promoting yourself and getting your name out there is an essential part of getting the job you want, making new contacts, building your network, and meeting the people who can help you make the most of your talents and abilities. After all, no one's going to do it for you, and no one's going to make sure you get the credit you deserve. The problem: How do you promote yourself without coming off as a sleazy pest? Here's how. More »

Apple's Photo Stream service for iCloud is a great way to keep your photos on your iPhone in sync with your computer, but it requires you use the newest version of iPhoto. If you're not a fan of iPhoto, Macworld forum member DJF3 came up with a script to automate the process and skip iPhoto. More »

iPhone/iPad: If you dabble in electronics tinkering with the likes of Arduino or you enjoy popping open your electronics and poking at them, Circuit Playground is an app that offers quick reference to decipher between components and make calculations. More »

Having trouble finding the proper output jack on the back of your computer for your headphones? Instructables user philip42 suggests using a school supply favorite, reinforcement labels, to help you find the right audio jack easier. More »

There's a strange joy in keeping 20 tabs open and pretending like you have the ability to multitask and actually manage all of them. But in reality, most browsers buckle under the pressure of too many tabs and you start to lose track of what you have open. Thankfully, there are a few great remedies for this. Here's a look at some of the best tab management tools for Chrome and Firefox that accomplish a variety of different tasks, from your browser's built-in features to the best powerful extensions. More »

Whether you just need a little help getting out of bed after a long night or a nap, or you just like the idea of a wake-up call in the morning, WakeupDialer will call you for free and play back one of 30 random messages recorded by Stephen Fry to coax you out of bed. More »

Android (Rooted): If you live outside of the United States, you know how difficult it can be to get some of the hottest new apps that are inexplicably US-only, and you know the pain of not being able to use the Amazon App Store at all. Market Unlocker is an Android app for rooted devices that makes your phone look to the Android Market and to the Amazon App Store like a US-based Verizon Wireless phone, so you can browse, buy, and download apps to your heart's content. More »

One of the best things about Google+ is that the user-base there is generally really engaged and interested in discussing the material in their news streams. If you're up for a little conversation, consider adding the Lifehacker Google+ page to your circles to stay up on our new stories there and discuss them with the Google+ community. More »

iOS: If your office is plagued by lengthy meetings that drag on while everyone has to have their say, MeetingCalc is the mobile app for you. Start the timer, set the hourly rate of everyone in the room combined, and the app will keep a running log of how much the meeting is costing the company in terms of everyone's salary as the minutes tick past. More »

Reader Ammar Githam took a slightly different approach to home screen creation, placing all of his icons on the wallpaper itself for more freedom to create this handwriting-on-paper look. Here's how he put it together. More »

Facebook can't make your embarrassing photos go away, hackers make good on their threats to Symantec, and Kubuntu's future is uncertain. More »

If you have trouble remembering long numbers—like phone numbers—Redditor Fealiks shares a simple way to keep everything straight. More »

Just a few weeks after filing for bankruptcy, Kodak says it will stop producing digital cameras, pocket video cameras, and digital picture frames in the first half of 2012. The move will reportedly save Kodak $100 million a year. Instead, the legendary camera company will focus its efforts on printers. Sad. We really like the Kodak Playsport pocket camera. In fact, it's still featured in the top image for our monthly Bestmodo posts. [AP via The Verge] More »

You may not know him, but that guy on the right is one of the most influential industrial designers in history, Apple's first Jonny Ive. He designed the original Apple Macintosh, a model that influenced generations to come and defined the all-in-one personal computer. It's a classic that sits today at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. More »

What will children of the digital age complain about when they are 70? I personally can't wait to see the shock on my grandkids' faces when I tell them about the days of dial-up modems and the world before Youtube. Watch this video for a look into the crystal ball. [YouTube] More »

After watching this 14 years of weather timelapse in the United States, I've confirmed the one thing I already knew: Every state's weather sucks except for California's. Watch it and you'll agree with me. More »

AllThingsD is reporting that Apple will host an event to announce the iPad 3 in March. Sources have told them that the iPad 3 event will be held during the first week of March though they're not sure when it'll officially launch in stores. More »

The focus-free Lytro camera is so good that Steve Jobs reportedly wanted to roll the technology into the iPhone. Though it's not quite ready for sale yet, a teardown has revealed that the camera is capable of communicating via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. More »

According to the Wall Street Journal, Google is closer than ever to launching the company's cloud-based storage service that will rival now established services like Dropbox and Apple's iCloud. In fact, it could be available in just a few weeks. More »

Amazon's Kindle ads have long gone after tablets over readability in sunlight. Which, fair! But now that its Kindle Fire is a glare-prone LCD turbo-tab itself, the company has chosen a new battlefield: price. Which, hold on a sec! More »

There have been plenty of legal wranglings between Motorola and Apple, and with Google buying Motorola that doesn't show signs of stopping. Now, Google plans to grab 2.25 per cent of every iPhone sale because of the patents it owns through the purchase of Moto. More »

More »

Earlier this week, we gave you an exclusive first look at OK Go's new video for "Needing/Getting". When a music video's that complex, you can bet a behind-the-scenes glimpse is going to be interesting — so here's one to get you started. More »

Now Facebook's IPO is filed, soon anybody will be able to buy a piece of a Facebook. But going public won't stop Zuckerberg having control — especially given that he buys out the voting rights of current shareholders, $100 at a time. More »

It takes a very certain mind to re-imagine images using quirky media. Artist Brock Davis has that kind of mind: his latest project involves recreating famous explosions using... cauliflower? More »

Foxconn has more to worry about. As well as struggling to deal with allegations of exploitative working conditions in its factories, it's now had the bad fortune of being hacked, having login and password information spread across the web. More »

Since it came to light how bad working conditions are in Chinese factories that make iPhones and iPads, many have muttered about boycotting Apple. If that's you, you should join a globally coordinated protest against it, which is happening today. But do you care enough? More »

Remember the old Crazy Glue commercial where the guy suspended himself from his hard hat with just a dab of the adhesive? If he had been using the sugary compounds this bacteria naturally produces, he could have suspended a dump truck with the same amount. More »

After Warner Brothers, Universal, and Fox, have knocked their Netflix release dates back to at least four weeks, Disney has announced that it too is considering imposing a streaming content delay. Fan-freaking-tastic. More »

The security PIN system that Google Wallet users have to enter to verify transactions has been compromised. Thankfully, the chances of your wallet being used against you is relatively low—assuming you haven't rooted your phone, that is. More »

Google has made the newest version of its popular browser available, offering more secure downloads and faster-loading web pages. Here's what's new. More »

We just reported a few weeks ago on the successful masking of objects from microwaves. Now a research team from Hamburg, Germany has figured out how to make iron (57Fe) transparent to X-rays—and presumably Superman. More »

Per a report from Chinese tech blog DoNews, the Siri voice-assistant may be speaking the three new languages by March. The website cites an unnamed Apple engineer working on the Mandarin version, which is reportedly already in testing. More »

Seems like everyone is lining up to take shots at the search giant. Besides lawmakers investigating how it will use the unified data and regulators investigating whether the company prioritizes its own services in search results, a public interest group is now suing to prevent Google from implementing its privacy policy changes. More »

Kodak's decision to stop producing Kodachrome film in 2009 left a hole in people's nostalgia-seeking hearts. This documentary short by Xander Robin takes us into Dwayne's Photo, the last remaining lab to develop the coveted film. It really shows how cumbersome and complex the process of developing film is/was, and why analogue photography never really stood a chance against the onslaught of digital technology. [Vimeo via LaughingSquid via PetaPixel] More »

Path faced a privacy flap when it was revealed that the company was uploading users' address book data to its servers without permission. While it stopped doing that and deleted all the data it had stored, a larger issue remains. More »

A Tennessee man, Marvin Potter (on the right), is in police custody tonight, charged with two counts of first degree murder in the shooting deaths of a couple who had unfriended his 30-year-old daughter on the popular social site. More »

A uranium core? A miniature sun? Molten lava? None of the above I'm afraid. Like the blacksmiths of yesteryear, the Cook-Air uses bellows, or in this case a fan, to provide an ample source of oxygen to fuel the flames. More »

Kenneth Robinson, an American hero who found a loophole in the system to buy a $330,000 house for 16 bucks, has sadly been evicted from his "house" because Bank of America claimed ownership of the property. Dammit. Does that mean there really aren't any shortcuts in life? More »

Scientists believe that this is the animal from which everything else evolved. The first multicellular being that spawned every living being in this world through billions of mutations, from fish to amphibians to reptiles to birds to mammals to you. More »

Electricity is beautiful, but transmission towers are eyesores. That contradiction hurts my brain. How am I supposed to feel when I look at a beautiful landscape, and it's ruined by giant towers disappearing into the horizon? We NEED the towers so we might as well get used to them. More »

Raising the bar on nerdy wedding proposals, YouTuber doctorpappa (possibly not a real doctor) decided to ask his girlfriend to marry him by donning a paper-mache Futurama Bender mask, and popping the question in binary. More »

You can run around shooting people or build a railroad. Are you the soldier or the builder? These are the hard questions you have answer in the world of apps. No wait, you can be both because the games are on sale. Hooray for capitalism! But if shooting and building aren't your thing, you can also be a musician in today's app deals. More »

I've always wanted to swim in Duck Tales' vault of gold. Alas, it's not in my cards (and besides, diving into scraps of metal isn't exactly good for the joints). These 33 photographs will need to do the trick. More »

What's not to love about a GoPro camera? Absolutely nothing. At least that's what you'd think after watching CBS This Morning's report on GoPro and its founder, Nick Woodman. Woodman has done pretty well with the wearable camera, selling about 800,000 cameras in 2011. And frankly, some of the footage GoPros have captured is every bit as gushworthy as the report would imply. More »

Anonymous is on a destruction spree lately—after Megaupload was killed, their reaction was swift and powerful. They made it look easy—and that's because thanks to the HOIC (High Orbit Ion Cannon), it is. Here's the newest hacker superweapon. More »

Let's play a little game. We have three solid state drives-one each from Patriot, OCZ, and Intel. Two of them are powered by the ubiquitous SandForce SF-2281 controller, and the other marks the consumer debut of a new 6Gb/s SATA controller. Guess which drive has the new controller?  More »

I have something of a sleep problem. Or I guess, more accurately, a waking up problem. And my alarm clock died. So I bought this re-issue of Braun's Dietrich Labs and Dieter Rams-designed BNC004 travel alarm clock. You should not. More »

The little mobile-only social network kicked up a big privacy debacle by uploading its members address book data to its servers without their knowledge. Today, Path announced that it's deleting that data, and released a new version of its app. More »

A picnic in the park is a lovely way to spend Valentine's Day if you live somewhere warm. And imagine how enamored your true love will be if you break out this adorable heart-shaped and eco-friendlier Heart Part cutlery. More »