Back to Mobile View
Engadget for Windows Phone 7 - get the app now!

Latest Posts

All News
Reviews
Reviews

DOJ greenlights bid by Apple, Microsoft and RIM to buy Nortel patents

The US Department of Justice didn't just give the go-ahead to Google's acquisition of Motorola today, it also gave the greenlight to a $4.5 billion bid on Nortel's patents from a consortium of companies including Apple, Microsoft and RIM (who have dubbed themselves Rockstar Bidco). Nortel's portfolio includes some 6,000 patents, and the DOJ says the approval comes after it received clear commitments from Apple and Microsoft to license so-called standard essential patents on "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, as well as their commitments not to seek injunctions in disputes involving SEPs." To round things out for the day, the Justice Department has also given its clearance to Apple's acquisition of certain Novell patents, which have been held by CPTN Holdings pending approval. Its full statement can be found after the break.
READ MORE

US gives its blessing to Google's Moto purchase

Google / Motorola
When it rains, it pours. Just hours after European regulators gave the green light to Google to snatch up Motorola Mobility, the US Justice Department gave the couple its own blessing. The $12.5 billion purchase has drawn serious scrutiny from both regulators and Big G's own partners, though, consensus seems to be that Mountain View is more interested in Moto's patents than in entering the hardware business. Though the Justice Department doesn't see the merger as an immediate threat to competition, it did issue a stern warning that it "will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action to stop any anticompetitive use of SEP (standard essential patent) rights." The concern is an understandable one since all the major players in the mobile space, Motorola included, have been at each other's legal throats for some time now. There are still a few more interested parties who will have to give their own consent to the combination including China, Israel and Taiwan. But, with two of the biggest potential blockades giving Google the thumbs up, it's looking more and more likely that the purchase will go through.

VLC hits version 2.0: brings presents to all the platforms (update: it's the RC version)

Open-source friend to all the video codecs, VLC media player, has hit version 2.0, bringing with it a raft of new features across Mac OS, Windows and Unix versions. VideoLAN's also brought ...

Tesla's Model X struts its stuff on video, gets serenaded by Elon Musk

We may have attended the Model X premiere, but despite us pleading for a ride-along, Tesla PR insisted only those who'd plunked cash for a pre-order that evening would get the chauffeur treatment. Thankfully there's YouTube user TheSpeedRead, who either threw down enough cash or was swift enough to evade security, slipping into a Model X and gratuitously posting it for all to see. In the video above you'll catch a glimpse of the interior, which features the same 17-inch touchscreen as in the Model S. In addition, a Tesla employee muses about the advantages of its dual motor AWD system and low center of gravity as he sashays the crossover through a slalom course outside Tesla's design HQ. Our friends at Autoblog Green also culled a video from SmartPlanet featuring the company's CEO, Elon Musk, reflecting on the advantages of the Model X's unique "Falcon Wing" rear doors and touting the advantages of not having a space-hogging combustion engine in its front -- enabling the front trunk, or Frunk, to serve as a crumple zone "two to three times greater" than in competing vehicles. Get the full sales pitch from the entrepreneur extraordinaire after the break.
READ MORE

ESA's Vega rocket takes flight, delivers low-tonnage objects to high places

ESA's Vega rocket takes flight, delivers low-tonnage objects to high places
On Monday, the European Space Agency (ESA) conducted a successful test of its newest projectile, the Vega rocket. Designed to carry up to nine objects totaling less than 2.5 metric tons ("tonnes," for those in the know) into orbit, the four-stage vehicle stands 30 meters tall and weighs in at just under 140 metric tons when fully loaded. The rocket aims to solve a key -- if slightly humdrum -- problem: at present, European researchers send their instrumentation into space on retrofitted Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). The Vega platform should provide greater launch flexibility and reduce the delay (which can be months) scientists experience while waiting to hitch a ride on an ICBM. Although still in the testing stage, Monday's maiden voyage was a promising first step for the new spacecraft. Hit the source for more rocket-related excitement.

Canon PowerShot G1 X review

Canon's G1 X boasts a beefy 14-megapixel resolution and a tank-load of ambition. Its mandate, no less, is to deliver the image quality and control of a DSLR inside the discreet body of a compact, aiming to attract serious photographers who want to travel light or supplement their main kit. That's why the G1 X houses a substantial 1.5-inch CMOS sensor, stretching to around 80 percent of the size of APS-C, along with an anti-minimalist array of dials, knobs and buttons to provide quick access to manual settings. It also explains why the G1 X is 30 percent heavier than both its evolutionary ancestor and some of its competitors, and why its price tag is equally hefty: $800, which is SLR-like in all the wrong ways. We've had this shooter long enough to gather our thoughts, but as to whether it deserves a smile or a snarl, you'll have to read on to find out.
READ MORE

Canon C300 takes to the sky, hopefully still under warranty

We're not sure what sending your $16,000 (plus lens) video camera into the sky does to its warranty, but here's hoping that the folks at Horizon AP don't have to find out the hard way. ...

BlackBerry PlayBook Dock revealed in back room of DevCon

Somewhere, in a dark room at the back of DevCon, someone was showing off a bundle of PlayBook gear marked "Top Secret." BlackBerry Czech was able to grab some pics (more at the source link) of a keyboard case that handles multi-touch and the long-desired docking station for the currently moribund slate. According to the site, the dock offers HDMI-out, three USB ports and even an ethernet jack to let you surf without WiFi. Apparently it's got a hefty wireless receiver / speakerphone that would allow you to make VoIP calls from your PlayBook. What's not mentioned is if we can expect to see this available for some cold, hard currency any time soon (hint: get it on shelves). On the same post, there's also a mention of the mythical 10-inch second generation edition of RIM's device, but no photos were allowed -- so we'll just have to file that under "Hmmm" until we get closer to MWC, shall we?

Joystiq's PlayStation Vita launch guide

Vita Launch Guide
The PlayStation Vita launches this week in the form of a "First Edition" bundle. The for-real hardware launch will take place on February 22. We'll be covering the hardware and its games continuously through that period, and rounding it up here for ease of reference.
READ MORE

Firefox on Windows 8: Metro build is in the works

Firefox on Windows 8: Metro build is in the works
We all know that Windows 8 will have a split personality, with a Windows 7 style "Classic" desktop environment working hand-in-hand with a finger-friendly Metro UI. Given that Firefox has a significant market share in the PC web browsing market, it's only natural for Mozilla to accommodate both parts of Microsoft's new OS. According to its 2012 Strategy & Roadmap, the company has plans for a proof-of-concept Win8 Firefox release in Q2 of this year. In that document, Mozilla reveals that a "simple evolution" of its existing browser will work with the "Classic" environment, but brand new new front-end and integration code is needed for Firefox to play nice with Metro. The plan is to build a Gecko-based browser that brings full Firefox capabilities and can handle Windows 8's unique requirements like being suspended by the OS when it's not being viewed and supporting multiple "snap" states to ensure a good browsing experience when multiple apps are open. Looks like Mozilla's crew of coders has their work cut out for them, and you can peep the full to-do list at the source link below.

Iran blocking access to Google's encrypted search, YouTube, and webmail

Iran has restricted access to the internet for years now, but it seems the land of Persia is clamping down even further on its citizens' ability to surf the web as they wish. Bloomberg has confirmed with Google that Iranians haven't had access to Google's encrypted search, YouTube and Gmail since February 10th. Iran's Mehr news agency has reported restrictions on other email services, including Hotmail, plus increased difficulties getting to domestic and news websites as well. 30 million folks, give or take, are currently locked out of their email, and there's no indication when, or if, access will be granted again.

Google gets European Commission approval for its purchase of Motorola Mobility

Google gets EU approval for its purchase of Motorola Mobility
Google is one step closer to making it through the gauntlet of regulatory approval for its proposed acquisition of Motorola Mobility, as it now has the thumbs-up from the European Commission, according to Reuters. Commissioner Joaquin Almunia stated that the transaction was approved because it "does not itself raise competition issues." That's not to say the EU won't be watching Mountain View like a hawk to ensure it doesn't go overboard on patent disputes, however, as each legal matter will be reviewed separately for compliance with antitrust laws. And while this is an incredibly important step for Google, the software giant's not through with the regulatory process -- it still needs to be signed off by the US Justice Department (expected later this week), as well as governing bodies in China, Israel and Taiwan.

Prada phone by LG 3.0 review

LG and Prada have a history of collaboration; their debut phone arrived around the same time as the first iPhone, sporting a black and white display, a petite footprint and a 2-megapixel camera. Next, the Prada II brandished a sliding QWERTY keyboard, a 5-megapixel camera and arrived at a time when WiFi functionality was a big enough deal to note on the press release. Four years on, the pair have rolled their sleeves and attempted to reclaim a place among the top devices, with classy aesthetics backed up by a strong hardware and attractively customized software. This is the team's first attempt at an Android device, and on paper it's got some respectable specifications, including a 4.3-inch NOVA Plus display, a dual-core processor and an 8-megapixel camera sensor that appears to be the same one found on LG's 2011 flagship models. Granted, LG probably wasn't ever planning to include its latest HD IPS screen on a phone where branding was dominated by the other partner, but this smartphone still wants to appeal beyond its good looks.

It's now appeared in Korea and Western Europe and we were fortunate enough to borrow one from UK retailer Phones 4U for review. Are people willing to stump up the top-tier smartphone cash for a device with last year's specifications? Do people want a Prada phone? Might a fashionista be more likely to plump for an iPhone? Or is it too popular? And what about that monochrome skin? We'll talk it all out after the break.

READ MORE

The Engadget Show returns with DJ Spooky and Google, Saturday February 18th!

Happy Valentine's week! What better way to show that we care than with an exciting new February edition of the Engadget Show? We're moving to bigger digs this time out, bringing the magic to the Times Center in midtown Manhattan. Hopefully it will be large enough to contain all of the show we've got planned for you. That Subliminal Kid, DJ Spooky will be popping by the studio to perform some iPad songs and discuss his post-modern approach to music making. We'll also swing by Google's Mountain View headquarters, visit a pinball museum in Asbury Park and play around at Toy Fair.

Best of all, if you're in New York City, you can be a part of the live show. We'll be letting you know how to get tickets soon so stay tuned!

Subscribe to the Show:

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V).
[Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V).
[RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.

AT&T U-Verse iPad app combines DVR control and companion features

It's been over a year since we saw AT&T first demo a U-verse connected tablet app with second screen companion features it called "ComplemenTV" and last week it officially launched for ...

Inhabitat's Week in Green: solar tulip, new discovered molecule and a colossal statue of Coca Cola crates

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. The big news that had the world of green ...

iFixit pries apart the Droid 4, strips slider to see its silicon insides

Verizon's Droid 4 was officially released last week, so naturally, iFixit spent the weekend pulling the phone apart for all to see. Among the nuggets of knowledge uncovered during the teardown is the discovery that the fourth iteration breaks from Droid tradition in a couple of not-so-positive ways. First off, Moto decided to integrate the keyboard into the motherboard, meaning if one of your keys quits working, you'll have to replace the motherboard, too. Not only that, but the Droid 4's battery is purportedly no longer user-replaceable, though iFixit's deft disembodied hands were able to pry it loose with some effort. It's not all bad, as the teardown did confirm that the handset does, in fact, pack the promised 16GB of onboard storage. Don't take our word for it, though, there's a bevy of pics of the flayed phone for your perusal at the source link below, so hop on over for the full monty.

Battle Machines hands-on (video)

Battle Machines
When Jada invited us up to its private show room at Toy Fair to do "battle" we were a little concerned -- last we checked we'd done nothing to offend the company. Thankfully, it just wanted to challenge us to a duel with its Battle Machines line of RC toys. A couple of years back the company debuted the line with a pair of cars that drive around playing laser tag with each other. Then, last year, things got really interesting Air vs. Land -- an RC chopper and turret that duked it for IR-equipped superiority. This year the company is expanding the line with Battle Quads (laser-wielding ATVs complete with rider) and Battle Heli (essentially one half of the Air vs. Land package, but programmed to perform rotor-powered dog fights). Neither of the new products were quite ready for a test run yet, but we did give the turret and copter combo a try... just for the heck of it. The toys are complete with blaster noises and, when shot down, an internal IC takes over the helicopter and does a little aerial death dance. After about 15 minutes we finally started to get the hang of piloting the aircraft but, by then, the Jada rep had us plummeting from the sky. Both the Battle Heli and the Battle Quads should be hitting shelves in August for $30 and $60, respectively. Check out the video and PR after the break.

Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.
READ MORE

Engadget Giveaway: win one of five Nokia Lumia 710s on T-Mobile, courtesy of Nokia!

Engadget Giveaway: win one of five Nokia Lumia 710s on T-Mobile, courtesy of Nokia!
Last week we launched our weekly giveaway with a killer device, and for week two we're following up with another solid offering. Our friends at Nokia are showing up big, offering not one but five T-Mobile branded Lumia 710 units for our lucky readers! Indeed, we'll be picking out five winners and shipping one out to each. So head on below to leave a comment, and good luck!

Note: You'll definitely want to read the fine print this time around, as there are a few caveats: the Lumia 710s being given out are strictly locked to work with T-Mobile US SIMs, and service is not coming with the prizes.
READ MORE

Nokia Lumia 800's CDMA cousin coming to China Telecom in March?

An employee of the Qingzhou branch of China Telecom went a bit camera-happy over the weekend, but we'd do the same if we were handed a CDMA Nokia Lumia 800. The since-pulled images and ...

Googleplex expansion plans hint at Project X lab, wireless testing facilities

Googleplex expansion plans hint at Project X lab, wireless testing facilities
Google's eyeing up some vacant space at the end of its lawn to throw $120 million at a Grand Designs-style extension to its Mountain View campus. Residents will soon see the @Home lab, purportedly to test fully formed consumer devices and whatever secret home entertainment / wireless communications gear we've heard rumblings about. The new development will enable Project X (the interesting one with the James Bond-gizmos, not the lecture series website) to move into a meatier facility where they can perfect projects like Majel and the self-driving car. The most notable development (according to business-types, anyway) is the "Experience Center," a 120,000 square foot private museum / demonstration space for Google to schmooze its most important clients in style (wait, aren't we the most important clients?). VIPs will be invited to play with the newest toys the company can produce before gorging themselves on canapés, or something. Californians wandering past 1600 Shoreline Blvd down the road from the Googleplex, might also notice a new building that's not covered in official branding -- because it's going to be a new wireless testing facility that's being shielded from external signals. At least, that's where we'll be pitching a tent with a couple of long lenses when it opens for business.

iCade 8-Bitty hands-on (video)

iCade 8-bitty
It's still about two months out, but when the 8-bitty hits shelves it might just become our favorite member of the iCade family. At the moment the Bluetooth gamepad is little more than a hand-made prototype with some AA batteries taped to the underside and a sticker printed on the office InkJet slapped on the front. As a production quality controller, though, it should be the perfect handheld button mashers for those of you with a taste for the retro. The boxy, rectangular 8-bitty may be wireless and the final version will likely sport six buttons -- still, you can't help but be whisked back to your days spent blowing into dusty Contra cartridges and tapping out the Konami code. We gave the early prototype a quick try and the D-pad and red buttons feel just like their '80s inspiration. Unfortunately they're not quite as responsive yet, but we're figuring there's still some kinks to be worked out before it ships this Spring. The 8-bitty should be launching exclusively with ThinkGeek for between $25 and $30. Check out the gallery below and the video after the break.

Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.
READ MORE

LTE-equipped Galaxy Tab 8.9 gets European approval

Galaxy Tab 8.9
LTE isn't quite as wide spread in the Old World as it is over here in the western hemisphere but, as many European countries race to get their 4G deployed, top notch devices are already starting to roll in. The GT-P7320, better known as the Galaxy Tab 8.9, just passed through the Global Certification Forum, bound for unspecified EU nation. This particular model supports both HSPA on the 900MHz and 2100MHz bands, and LTE over 800MHz and 2.6GHz. Carrier, release date, price -- pretty much everything about the device's debut is a mystery at this point. But, with Mobile World Congress just a couple of weeks away, we're sure it won't hold on to its secrets for long.

PlayStation Vita review

Look familiar? It should: that's the PlayStation Vita, Sony's up-and-coming challenger to the mobile gaming throne. It's made the rounds a few times before, from E3, to Tokyo Game Show, to San Francisco's Vita Hill Social Club, and it even took an early pass through Engadget's review gauntlet -- courtesy of the Land of the Rising Sun, of course. After a strong start in its homeland (followed by a quick holiday slump), the budding portable hit the books, brushed up on its English and barreled its way back into Engadget's game room, demanding another review. And why not? We're happy to oblige.

And here it is, an extremely familiar looking slab of plastic, glass and electronics that calls itself the North American 3G / WiFi PlayStation Vita. Sony's new region-free tradition ensures that it won't be too different than Japan's native model, but we're diving in for a more detailed look anyway. Read on for a peek at its content management system, backward compatibility, the particulars of its fancy new thumbsticks, the latest firmware update's contribution to the platform and much more.
READ MORE

Apple opens up inspection of its Foxconn plants to Fair Labor Association

Apple opens up inspection of its Foxconn plants to Fair Labor Association
One of Apple's major manufacturing cogs, Foxconn, will receive voluntary audits from the Fair Labor Association on factories in both Shenzhen and Chengdu in China. These inspections already began earlier today over in "Foxconn City", where the FLA has started polling "thousands" of employees, covering both their working and living conditions. Facilities (including dormitories) will be inspected by the FLA, which will also sift through all the required employment documents, with its findings set to be published in March. In total, the assessment will cover more than 90 percent of Apple's assembly locations. It following its self-published supplier responsibility report and recent concern over its production methods and worker conditions. See how Apple breaks it down in its press release after the break.

READ MORE
LATEST ISSUE! LATEST EPISODE!
Engadget's latest hardware and software reviews
Feb 13th 2012
Feb 13th 2012
Feb 13th 2012
Feb 10th 2012
Feb 7th 2012
Feb 6th 2012
Feb 1st 2012
Jan 31st 2012
Jan 28th 2012

Engadget Apps

Download a native Engadget app for the platform of your choice. If you want. No pressure.



February 2012
1
Feb 1st 2012
48 POSTS
2
Feb 2nd 2012
42 POSTS
3
Feb 3rd 2012
42 POSTS
4
Feb 4th 2012
12 POSTS
5
Feb 5th 2012
15 POSTS
6
Feb 6th 2012
39 POSTS
7
Feb 7th 2012
45 POSTS
8
Feb 8th 2012
48 POSTS
9
Feb 9th 2012
39 POSTS
10
Feb 10th 2012
36 POSTS
11
Feb 11th 2012
12 POSTS
12
Feb 12th 2012
15 POSTS
13
Feb 13th 2012
32 POSTS
14
Feb 14th 2012
0 POSTS
15
Feb 15th 2012
0 POSTS
16
Feb 16th 2012
0 POSTS
17
Feb 17th 2012
0 POSTS
18
Feb 18th 2012
0 POSTS
19
Feb 19th 2012
0 POSTS
20
Feb 20th 2012
0 POSTS
21
Feb 21st 2012
0 POSTS
22
Feb 22nd 2012
0 POSTS
23
Feb 23rd 2012
0 POSTS
24
Feb 24th 2012
0 POSTS
25
Feb 25th 2012
0 POSTS
26
Feb 26th 2012
0 POSTS
27
Feb 27th 2012
0 POSTS
28
Feb 28th 2012
0 POSTS
29
Feb 29th 2012
0 POSTS
Let the hive mind of Engadget get that for you.
"I am looking for some AirPlay-enabled speakers that I can use to travel with. They should support 110 to 240 volt and have WiFi built-in so I don't have to carry around an AP. Also, it would be cool if this WiFi could connect to the hotel network, if possible. Thanks!"
Leafs
3875
Volts
2754

Number of Nissan Leafs and Chevy Volts sold

Nissan is winning the race to put the most electric cars in American driveways, selling 3,875 Leafs in the first six months of 2011, while Chevy only managed to put 2,754 Volt keys in the hands of consumers.

All told, the Optimus 3D is a perfectly serviceable, largely inoffensive smartphone that just so happens to possess 3D capabilities.

Boss of the Year Entry Form

Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.

Tip Us