Donald Melanson

Apple announces iTunes 10 with Ping social network

By Donald Melanson on September 1, 2010

Not a huge surprise here, but Apple’s just announced iTunes 10 alongside all those new iPods, complete with a brand new logo that finally ditches the CD. What is something of a surprise, however, is the standout feature of iTunes 10: Ping. That’s Apple’s take on a music-centered social network (think Last.fm), which will let you follow people (including artists), establish a “circle of friends,” post comments, check out custom song and album charts, and even find over 17,000 concert listings (which you can of course let folks know your attending). What’s more, Ping is also making the jump to the iPhone and iPod touch, and it’s available with iTunes 10 today.

Check out our live coverage here!

Gallery: Apple announces iTunes 10

Apple announces iTunes 10 with Ping social network originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple announces iOS 4.1

By Donald Melanson on September 1, 2010

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/news/technology/apple_announces_ios_4_1_engadget’; Apple’s just announced iOS 4.1 boasting a number bug fixes and some pretty notable additions. Those fixes include remedies for the proximity sensor issue, Bluetooth, and iPhone 3G performance, while the new features include High Dynamic Range photos, HD video uploads over WiFi, TV show rentals, and, at long last, Game Center. That latter bit is pretty much what we’ve been seeing all along, and boasts a range of new capabilities for multiplayer gaming, including the ability to challenge friends, keep track of scores, and new ways to find games — of which there will be some pretty interesting new ones that take advantage of the added capabilties. Look for the update to hit iTunes sometime next week as a free download for your iPhone or iPod touch.

Check out our liveblog of the keynote event right here!

Gallery: Apple announces iOS 4.1

Gallery: Apple Game Center for iOS

Apple announces iOS 4.1 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony announces Bloggie Touch pocket video camera

By Donald Melanson on September 1, 2010

Remember Sony’s Bloggie line of pocket camcorders announced back at CES? While those may have been a bit forgettable, the company’s just-announced Bloggie Touch video camera makes a considerably stronger first impression (if you can get past the name). Boasting a 3-inch capacitive touchscreen wrapped in what appears to be a brushed aluminum body, this one packs 4GB or 8GB of internal memory, and will capture full 1080p video as well as 12.8-megapixel still images courtesy of the F2.8 wide angle lens and Exmor CMOS sensor. You’ll also get a built-in USB connector, HDMI output, and of course plenty of options to easily share your photos and videos on various social networking sites. Look for this one to hit shelves in October in your choice of black or silver for $180 or $200 depending on the capacity. Hit up the gallery below for a closer look, and head on past the break for the full press release.

Gallery: Sony Bloggie Touch

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Sony announces Bloggie Touch pocket video camera originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BeamAtic Premium headlights let you keep your high beams on all night long

By Donald Melanson on August 31, 2010

It looks like the highways of Japan could soon get a bit brighter — at least if these new BeamAtic Premium head lights from Ichikoh Industries ever catch on. Developed by France’s Valeo SA, the headlights make use of an on-board camera and some image processing software that tracks oncoming vehicles, and some movable dousers attached to the headlights that are able to deflect the light so it doesn’t bother other drivers; the idea there being that you could simply leave your high beams on all the time without worrying about blinding anyone. No word on any plans for a release over here, but you’ll apparently be able to get them in Japan next month, and the company is also reportedly looking to talk some Japanese automakers into offering them as a factory-installed option.

BeamAtic Premium headlights let you keep your high beams on all night long originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Prepaid Droid, BlackBerry and Palm phones coming to Verizon? (update: confirmed, box spotting)

By Donald Melanson on August 31, 2010

We’d heard a few rumors of some new prepaid offerings from Verizon recently, but it now looks like the carrier could really be about to expand things in a big way — at least if some purportedly authentic leaked documents are any indication. Apparently received by Android Does from a helpful tipster, the documents list a whole new lineup of prepaid phones, including a slew of BlackBerrys, the Palm Pre and Pixi Plus, and just about every Android-based phone Verizon offers (including all of the Droids and even the yet-to-be released Samsung Fascinate — again listed for September 9th). While there’s no indication of prepaid pricing for the phones themselves, they would apparently be available with an unlimited $30 a month data plan, which would have to be tacked on top of a minimum $45 a month voice plan. Yeah, that’s pretty aggressive for Verizon any way you slice it — maybe too aggressive to be true?

[Thanks, Bryan]

Update: Well, it looks like this chances of this happening just got a whole lot better — head on past the break for a shot we received of a Verizon Prepaid BlackBerry Curve box. If you look closely at the back of the box, you’ll also notice that the pricing matches up with the leaked documents, including monthly plans from $45 to 75 a month, and unlimited email and web for $30 a month. What’s more, while there’s no shots just yet, we’re hearing that the prepaid Droids are also a go (with the same plans), and that at least the Droid 2 has been specifically mentioned.

Update 2: As if that wasn’t enough, we’ve also now gotten a handful more tips confirming that this is the real deal, and that it will apparently include BlackBerry, Android and Palm phones only (at least when it comes to smartphones).

Update 3: And just in case you still don’t believe us, we just got screenshots of Verizon’s inventory system listing all the current Droids, the LG Ally, the Motorola Devour, the Palm Pre / Pixi Plus, and a host of Blackberrys as pre-paid capable phones. Check it in the gallery.

Gallery: Verizon pre-paid smartphones

Continue reading Prepaid Droid, BlackBerry and Palm phones coming to Verizon? (update: confirmed, box spotting)

Prepaid Droid, BlackBerry and Palm phones coming to Verizon? (update: confirmed, box spotting) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iFixit goes beige with RCA Studio II teardown

By Donald Melanson on August 31, 2010

The RCA Studio II is already a pretty rare sight as is, but rarer still is a detailed look inside what’s been described as one of the worst game consoles of all time. Thankfully, the folks at iFixit have now come through once again, and followed up their dissection of the Magnavox Odyssey 100 with a teardown of the circa-1977 “Home TV Programmer.” In addition to an abundance of beige, the team also discovered a considerable amount of solder that’s characteristic of 70s electronics, and even a few surprises like some white chip packages that are rarely (if ever) used these days. Hit up the link below for the complete blow-by-blow, and keep en eye out for even more vintage gadget teardowns during the rest of the week.

iFixit goes beige with RCA Studio II teardown originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG’s Android-based Optimus Pad gets pictured, looking tablet-like

By Donald Melanson on August 31, 2010

We’ve already heard LG talk up its forthcoming Optimus tablet, and it looks like we now have our first look at it. As you can see above in a slide apparently shown during LG’s pre-IFA Dealer Days event, the Android-based tablet is now apparently known as the “Optimus Pad,” and it’s described as boasting “superior performance” and being “thinner and lighter than many competitors’ tablets.” Not much more than that at the moment, unfortunately, but here’s hoping that “more information to come” teaser is a lead-up to a full announcement at IFA this week.

[Thanks, Nicole]

LG’s Android-based Optimus Pad gets pictured, looking tablet-like originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Robotic Yale Aerial Manipulator grabs a can of Guinness

By Donald Melanson on August 30, 2010

There’s plenty of UAVs out there capable of dropping things, but comparatively fewer that are able to pick things up. Some researchers at Yale University doing their part to change that, however, and have recently shown off their so-called Yale Aerial Manipulator; a UAV with a robotic hand. While that may not exactly sound like much, the four-fingered hand is able to “autonomously” grab objects that weigh up to two kilograms while the UAV is in flight, and the helicopter itself is able to reach a top speed of 120 kilometers per hour. That, the researchers say, could let the UAV pick up bombs or packages in difficult to reach areas, or even simply be used to make deliveries in urban areas — like that can of Guinness you’ve been craving, for instance. Head on past the break to check it out in action.

Continue reading Robotic Yale Aerial Manipulator grabs a can of Guinness

Robotic Yale Aerial Manipulator grabs a can of Guinness originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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