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ComScore report finds drastic shift from web-based to mobile email among younger users in past year

Donald Melanson — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:12:00 EDT

ComScore released its annual US Digital Future in Focus report this week, offering a year-end wrap of many of the trends its tracked throughout the past year and a look towards the next. One of the more telling stats concerns email use among those in their teens and twenties. According to the report, web-based email use among 12-17 year olds dropped 31 percent in the past year, while use among those 18 to 24 saw an even bigger drop of 34 percent. Some of that can no doubt be attributed to Facebook and other email alternatives, but a big factor is the growth of email use on mobile devices; both of those age groups saw double-digit growth in that respect, with mobile email use jumping 32 percent among 18 to 24 year olds.

In terms of sheer growth in the past couple of years, though, there's not much that matches the trajectory of tablets (obviously aided by one in particular). ComScore notes that that US tablet sales over the past two years have topped 40 million, a figure that it took smartphones as a category a full seven years to reach. Another area that saw some considerable growth in 2011 is digital downloads and subscriptions (including e-books), which jumped 26 percent compared to the previous year, leading all other areas of e-commerce. The full report and some videos of the highlights can be found at the source link below.

Continue reading ComScore report finds drastic shift from web-based to mobile email among younger users in past year

ComScore report finds drastic shift from web-based to mobile email among younger users in past year originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple seeks injunction against Samsung in California with newly acquired patents (update: Galaxy Nexus targeted)

Donald Melanson — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:07:00 EDT

You can now add one more case to the long list of disputes between Apple and Samsung. As PaidContent reports, Apple filed a lawsuit against Samsung in the Northern District of California federal court on Tuesday, seeking a temporary injunction on the basis of two patents it obtained in December. One of those reportedly concerns the autocorrect feature found on iPhones and iPads, but details on the case otherwise remain a bit light as the complaint itself is still under seal. We'll keep you posted as we get more information.

Update: Some additional details from the complaint have now come to light, and it turns out Apple is citing two additional patents in addition to the pair acquired in December (one of them related to the slide-to-unlock feature). What's more, it's also been revealed that Apple is targeting one specific device in this case: the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Given the patents, however, it's pretty clear that Apple taking aim at the Android 4.0 operating system rather than the phone's hardware, as it has in earlier cases against Samsung.

Apple seeks injunction against Samsung in California with newly acquired patents (update: Galaxy Nexus targeted) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Droid 4 available on Verizon today for $200

Donald Melanson — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:11:00 EDT

It can be tough to keep track of which Droid is launching when these days, but those waiting patiently for the Motorola Droid 4 will be glad to know that the QWERTY slider is available on Verizon today for $200 on-contract. That of course buys you a pass onto Verizon's LTE network, along with a 4-inch qHD display, a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, a 8-megapixel camera (paired with a lower-res front-facing cam), 16GB of storage and Android 2.3.5 for an OS. An Ice Cream Sandwich update is promised, but there's unfortunately no date for its release just yet. We'll have a full review of the phone shortly, but in the meantime you can check out our hands-on with the device from last month.

Motorola Droid 4 available on Verizon today for $200 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfram Alpha Pro now available, $4.99 a month will let you throw almost anything at it for analysis

Donald Melanson — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:07:00 EDT

Wolfram Alpha has made some fairly big strides in its few short years of existence, but the so-called computational knowledge engine has now rolled out what founder Stephen Wolfram says is the "the single most important development for Wolfram Alpha since the original website launched in 2009." That development is Wolfram Alpha Pro, a new premium service that will run you $4.99 a month (or $2.99/month for students) and give you access to a wealth of new options for both input and output. On the input end, you can now upload images, audio and other files (over 60 types in all) for automatic analysis and a detailed report -- according to Stephen Wolfram, the ultimate goal being "to do what a top data scientist would do if given the user's data." As for output, you'll now be able to take advantage of a number of richer download options, including the ability to interact with and tailor the reports to your liking. As you might expect, however, that's just scratching the surface -- you can get a detailed look at the new service at the links below, or take it for a spin yourself with a free trial subscription.

Continue reading Wolfram Alpha Pro now available, $4.99 a month will let you throw almost anything at it for analysis

Wolfram Alpha Pro now available, $4.99 a month will let you throw almost anything at it for analysis originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth SIG forms new working group focused on fitness gadgets

Donald Melanson — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:44:00 EDT

We've been seeing Bluetooth make more and more inroads into fitness gadgets as of late, and it looks like the Bluetooth Special Interest Group is intent on seeing that trend continue. It announced the formation of a new Sports and Fitness Working Group today, which will be tasked with increasing the interoperability between wearable gadgets and other sensors and so-called "hub" devices like smartphones, TVs and gym equipment. That's a fairly natural fit for Bluetooth now, but it's taken until Bluetooth 4.0 for the standard to really emerge as a viable alternative to lower-power options like ANT+ (now commonly used in heart rate monitors and the like).

Continue reading Bluetooth SIG forms new working group focused on fitness gadgets

Bluetooth SIG forms new working group focused on fitness gadgets originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rogers One Number service offers free computer-based calls and texting, unified inbox

Donald Melanson — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:33:00 EDT

Got a Rogers wireless account? Then you can now take advantage of a new service that, for a change, won't cost you anything extra. While it's not quite a full-on Google Voice alternative, the company's new Rogers One Number service will let you make phones calls, video calls, and send and receive text messages for free from your computer (Windows or Mac), as well as let you maintain a unified inbox and contact list across all of your devices (assuming you use Gmail or Yahoo Mail). You're also able to switch a call from your cellphone to your computer without hanging up, and then turn that voice call into a video call if you choose, but your options are otherwise a bit limited on the mobile end; you can manage your contacts and such, but not use one number for multiple devices, or take advantage of free calling or texting. Rogers' demo video can be found after the break, and you can get a more in-depth look courtesy of MobileSyrup's hands-on at the link below.

[Thanks, Adam]

Continue reading Rogers One Number service offers free computer-based calls and texting, unified inbox

Rogers One Number service offers free computer-based calls and texting, unified inbox originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google reportedly working on wireless home entertainment system to be sold under its own brand

Donald Melanson — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:09:00 EDT

Details are still fairly light at the moment, but The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that Google could be about to make big push into the hardware business. Citing people briefed on the company's plans, the WSJ says that Google is now developing a home entertainment system that would stream music wirelessly throughout the home (including to web-connected devices and "Google-made speakers"), and be able to be controlled using a smartphone or tablet -- making it sound a whole lot like a Sonos competitor. What's more, unlike current Android and Google TV devices, this system will reportedly be marketed under Google's own brand. An attempt to really turn it up to eleven, perhaps?

Google reportedly working on wireless home entertainment system to be sold under its own brand originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft details Windows for ARM at length: desktop Office applications confirmed, first devices expected with Windows 8 release

Donald Melanson — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:35:00 EDT

We've been getting some mixed signals about Windows 8 for ARM-based devices as of late, but Microsoft's Steven Sinofsky has now returned with another of his exhaustive Building Windows 8 blog posts and cleared up some of the confusion. The short of it is that Windows for ARM promises to offer the same out of the box experience as the x86 edition of Windows 8. That includes the full Windows desktop (complete with File Explorer and the like), and the same desktop Office applications including Word, Excel and PowerPoint (but only Office applications, it seems). So-called Metro-style apps from the Windows Store will also be able to support both Windows on ARM and Windows for x86/64, and you can expected hardware-accelerated HTML5 support with Internet Explorer 10.

What's more, Sinofsky also notes that PC manufacturers are now working on devices designed specifically for WOA (or Windows on ARM), and that their "collective goal" is for them to ship at the same time as PCs designed for the x86 edition of Windows 8. While details on those devices remain light, Sinofksy did offer a new peek at one of the devices Microsoft used during the initial development of Windows for ARM when ARM-based tablets were hard to come by: an early Windows Phone. You can see it running the full desktop environment after the break (along with a video overview of WOA itself), but Sinofsky emphasizes that it is "not a product plan or even a hint at a product." Plenty more details can also be found at the source link below, though you may want to prepare a cup of coffee before diving in.

Continue reading Microsoft details Windows for ARM at length: desktop Office applications confirmed, first devices expected with Windows 8 release

Microsoft details Windows for ARM at length: desktop Office applications confirmed, first devices expected with Windows 8 release originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTML5-based Depthcam puts a fresh spin on Kinect hacks

Donald Melanson — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:31:00 EDT

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.

Permalink The Verge | George MacKerron: code blog | Email this | Comments

Microsoft strikes deal with 24/7, promises to 'redefine' customer service

Donald Melanson — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:46:00 EDT

A partnership between Microsoft and customer service company 24/7 may not exactly sound like the most exciting proposition on the face of things, but the two are making some fairly lofty promises, and Microsoft seems to be making a serious investment in the initiative. As ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley reports, part of the deal will see Microsoft send at least some of the 400 employees it brought on in its 2007 acquisition of TellMe Networks to 24/7, and it will also license some of its speech-related IP to the company (in addition to taking an equity stake in it). The goal there being to combine natural user interfaces with a cloud-based customer service platform, which Microsoft promises will "redefine what customer service looks like." To that end, it gives the example of a credit card company getting in touch with you to report suspicious behavior; rather than a phone call, you could get a notification with all the pertinent details sent directly to your phone, which could anticipate a number of potential actions and let you respond by voice (or touch, presumably). Unfortunately, while the two are talking plenty about the future of customer service, there's not a lot of word as to when that might arrive.

Continue reading Microsoft strikes deal with 24/7, promises to 'redefine' customer service

Microsoft strikes deal with 24/7, promises to 'redefine' customer service originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Fiber rollout now ready to begin in both Kansas Cities

Donald Melanson — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:23:00 EDT

It reportedly suffered a slight delay due to some disagreement with local officials over just how its thousands of miles of wires would be hung, but Google announced today that it's finally ready to begin the rollout of its Google Fiber network in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. Expectedly, that effort will initially focus on the network's backbone, after which Google will then turn its attention towards connecting homes and businesses in the two cities to the gigabit network (promising speeds 100 times faster than the average high-speed connection). Unfortunately, there's still no firm word as to when the first customers can expect that to happen.

Google Fiber rollout now ready to begin in both Kansas Cities originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox co-creator brings together Atari 'dream team' for mobile gaming startup

Donald Melanson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:38:00 EDT

A new mobile gaming startup that's yet to release a single game isn't the sort of thing we'd normally cover 'round here, but the story behind Los Angeles-based Innovative Leisure is anything but ordinary. The man behind the company is the co-creator of the Xbox, Seamus Blackley, and he's brought with him eleven industry veterans that he calls "the dream team from Atari," including the likes of Van Burnham, Ed Logg, Rich Adam, Tim Skelly, Owen Rubin, and Ed Rotberg. While those names may not be familiar to everyone, you'll surely recognize some of the games they were responsible for: Asteroids, Centipede, Gauntlet, Missile Command, Battlezone, S.T.U.N. Runner, Major Havoc and Space Duel, to name a few.

Speaking with VentureBeat, Blackley describes mobile devices as "the new arcade" and 99 cent games as the "new quarter," adding that he's aiming to carry on where Atari left off, "focusing on innovation in gameplay." To help with that, the company has secured backing from THQ, which has reportedly agreed to an initial slate of ten games, seven of which are now in development (with only the iPhone and iPad mentioned as supported platforms so far). Unfortunately, details remain light beyond that, with Blackley only offering late summer or fall as an estimated release date for the first titles. In the meantime, you can find more of the backstory at the links below (THQ's press release can also be found after the break).

Continue reading Xbox co-creator brings together Atari 'dream team' for mobile gaming startup

Xbox co-creator brings together Atari 'dream team' for mobile gaming startup originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skype rolls out update for Windows with full HD video calling, group screen sharing

Donald Melanson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:54:00 EDT

Skype rolled out its version 5.8 software update for Windows users today, and it brings with it a couple of fairly notable features. That includes full HD video calling (provided you have a suitable webcam and internet connection, of course), video calling to Facebook users (regardless of whether they have Skype installed or not), and group screen sharing, which will let folks share either their entire desktop or a single application with other participants on a conference call. That last feature is only available with Skype Premium, though. Other new features include a "push to talk" option that will let you set up a hotkey to trigger your microphone (for multiplayer gaming, for instance), the ability to hide offline Facebook contacts, and one possible fruit of the Microsoft acquisition: Bing toolbar integration.

Skype rolls out update for Windows with full HD video calling, group screen sharing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VeriSign revealed to have suffered repeated security breaches in 2010

Donald Melanson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:16:00 EDT

It took some digging through more than 2,000 pages of SEC documents, but Reuters revealed today that VeriSign was attacked "repeatedly" by hackers in 2010, and that some undisclosed information was stolen from the company. The key danger there is the DNS records that the company manages -- which ensure that URLs take you to the correct website -- but VeriSign says that its executives "do not believe these attacks breached the servers that support our Domain Name System network." As Reuters notes, however, the company isn't ruling anything out. Details on the attacks themselves (or the exact number and timing of them) are otherwise hard to come by, but it's reported that VeriSign's security staff did not notify top management until September of 2011 -- although they are said to have "responded" to the attacks themselves.

VeriSign revealed to have suffered repeated security breaches in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASA debuts two new educational games for iOS, Facebook

Donald Melanson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:05:00 EDT

NASA is no stranger to apps, but the space agency is branching out further into some new territory with its two latest offerings: a pair of educational games. The first is Sector 33, an air traffic control simulator for iOS devices that certainly won't be confused with Flight Control, but which NASA hopes will help teach math and possibly get folks interested in aviation. Those who prefer their games a bit more casual can also now try out NASA's very first multiplayer Facebook game, Space Race Blast Off, which tests folks' knowledge of various space-related topics (and is considerably more challenging than it first appears). Additional details and the games themselves can be found at the source links below.

[Thanks, Mo]

NASA debuts two new educational games for iOS, Facebook originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Mashable, PhoneRPT | NASA, iTunes, Space Race Blast Off (Facebook) | Email this | Comments

Humble Bundle expands to Android with World of Goo, Anomaly and more

Donald Melanson — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:47:00 EDT

The choose-your-own-price Humble Bundle has proven to be a runaway success on desktop platforms -- helping fund indie developers and causes like Child's Play and the EFF alike -- and it's now finally taken the plunge onto mobile devices. That move was kicked off today with the Humble Bundle for Android, which includes the games Anomaly: Warzone Earth, Osmos, and EDGE. Those three are available for any price you choose, but you'll also get World of Goo thrown in if you pay more than the average price (just over $5 as of this writing). As always, you can also choose how you'd like your contribution split between developers and charity (and the Humble organization itself), and you'll even get access the Windows, Mac and Linux versions of the same games as an added bonus. Hit the source link below to get started, or head on past the break for a video if you need any more convincing. We should also note that the Android games are offered as direct downloads, not through the Android Market; installations instructions are provided following your purchase.

Update: Toki Tori has now been added to the bundle as well, and an alpha release of Humble Bundle's own Android app has also been made available for those looking for an easier way to download and manage their apps.

Continue reading Humble Bundle expands to Android with World of Goo, Anomaly and more

Humble Bundle expands to Android with World of Goo, Anomaly and more originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon announces Q4 2011 results: sales jump to $17.43 billion, but profits drop 58 percent

Donald Melanson — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:26:00 EDT

Amazon's just announced its earnings for the fourth quarter of the year, and it's a bit of a mixed bag. While net sales were up 35 percent year-over-year to $17.43 billion, net income dropped a hefty 58 percent to $177 million, or 38 cents a share -- that's off analysts' expectations, who were looking for sales in the neighborhood of $18.3 billion and earnings of 17 cents a share. As always, the company is remaining mum on any specific Kindle sales figures, but it says that sales of all Kindle devices nearly tripled over the holiday shopping season, and that the Kindle Fire remains the bestselling item across all of the products it offers; of course, the loss it's taking on each one is also one of the big reasons for that drop in profits.

Specific figures are equally hard to come by for some of Amazon's other services, but the company says the number of Appstore for Android customers has nearly tripled from the previous quarter (with them downloading more apps in Q4 than all of the previous quarters combined), and that the number of Instant Video customers has more than doubled year-over-year (with the number of streams increasing 300 percent from the previous quarter). Looking at the full year, sales for all of 2011 totaled $48.08 billion, up 41 percent from $34.2 billion in 2010, while net income dropped 45 percent to $631 million (down from $1.15 billion in 2010). And as for the future, Amazon is also lowering expectations somewhat for the first quarter of 2012, projecting that revenue will come in at $12 to $13.4 billion, and that net income could range from a $200 million loss to a gain of $100 million.

Continue reading Amazon announces Q4 2011 results: sales jump to $17.43 billion, but profits drop 58 percent

Amazon announces Q4 2011 results: sales jump to $17.43 billion, but profits drop 58 percent originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nanotech-enhanced 'smart paint' promises to detect structural damage

Donald Melanson — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:58:00 EDT

We've seen scientists explore a number of ways to make paint "smarter" over the years, and now a team of researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow have devised a method that they say could do nothing short of "revolutionize structural safety." The key to that is some novel nanotechnology that effectively turns the paint into a sensor network that's able to detect minor structural faults before they become a severe problem. More specifically, the paint consists of a mix of highly aligned carbon nanotubes and a recycled waste material known as fly ash -- when the nanotubes bend, the conductivity changes, indicating that there could be a structural problem developing. What's more, the fly ash is also said to give the paint a cement-like structure, which the researchers say could let it be used in harsh conditions where traditional structural monitoring can prove difficult (and expensive).

Continue reading Nanotech-enhanced 'smart paint' promises to detect structural damage

Nanotech-enhanced 'smart paint' promises to detect structural damage originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First White House Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra, steps down

Donald Melanson — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:42:00 EDT

He was appointed with a fair bit of fanfare as the United States' first Chief Technology Officer back in May of 2009, but it looks like Aneesh Chopra has decided that it's now time to make room for the nation's second CTO. The White House confirmed today that Chopra is stepping down from his position, noting that he has amassed a "dizzying array of accomplishments." Among those are his contributions to the Obama administration's national wireless strategy, a set of internet policy making principals, and a number of efforts related to the President's open government strategy, including the Data.gov platform. No word on his successor just yet, nor is there any official word on what Chopra plans to do next -- although The Washington Post reports that he's expected to run for lieutenant governor of Virginia.

First White House Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra, steps down originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft reportedly working on Kinect-enabled laptops

Donald Melanson — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:48:00 EDT

It remains to be seen when or if they'll turn into actual products, but The Daily reports that Microsoft is at least working on getting its Kinect technology shoved into laptops. While details are light, the iPad-based publication says that it's seen a pair of prototypes that "appear to be Asus netbooks running Windows 8," but which have had their webcams replaced with an array of sensors that run along the top of the screen (a set of LEDs are said to be at the bottom). The Daily also says that it's confirmed with a source at Microsoft that the devices are indeed official prototypes of a Kinect-enabled laptop, and it unsurprisingly suggests that Microsoft would likely license the technology to laptop manufacturers rather than build its own hardware.

Microsoft reportedly working on Kinect-enabled laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile urges Congress, FCC to keep spectrum auctions competitive

Donald Melanson — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:35:00 EDT

T-Mobile may be getting a new batch of spectrum as a result of its failed merger with AT&T, but it's obviously going to always be on the hunt for more, and it's now urging Congress to ensure that the playing field for future auctions is level for all bidders big and small. Specifically, it's asking members of Congress to reconsider some pending legislation that it says would "effectively preclude the FCC from considering existing spectrum holdings in determining the qualifications for participation in auctions." That, it suggests, would put smaller players like itself at a disadvantage to the big spectrum holders in future auctions (namely, AT&T and Verizon), and would represent a drastic break from the past twenty years -- during which it says the FCC has continued to fine-tune it's process to ensure "pro-competitive auction rules." T-Mobile's full case, laid out by VP of Federal Regulatory Affairs Kathleen Ham, can be found at the source link below.

T-Mobile urges Congress, FCC to keep spectrum auctions competitive originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spotify tops three million paying subscribers, 20 percent of its active user base

Donald Melanson — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:18:00 EDT

It hit two million paying subscribers in September of last year and 2.5 million in November, and now Spotify has hit another big milestone. According to the Financial Times, it now has three million subscribers paying for one of its premium services, which reportedly represents more than 20 percent of its active user base. As the FT notes, that percentage is up from 15 percent in March of last year, and Spotify says that its "active" users don't include folks who signed up for a a free trial of its premium service but didn't continue to use the free service. Interestingly, the company also revealed that over half of its paying subscribers are under 30, which Spotify's Ken Parks says is a "remarkable number of people who are generally hard to monetize."

Spotify tops three million paying subscribers, 20 percent of its active user base originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola announces Q4 2011 earnings: $3.4 billion revenue, $80 million net loss

Donald Melanson — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:52:00 EDT

Motorola offered a estimate that lowered expectations for its Q4 2011 earnings earlier this month, and it's now out with the final numbers, reporting net revenues of $3.4 billion and a GAAP net loss of $80 million. That's a swing in the opposite direction from $80 million in net earnings during the same quarter a year ago, although the company did achieve the "modest profitability" it had promised on a non-GAAP basis, reporting earnings of $61 million by that accounting standard. Its earlier estimates of device shipments for the quarter also proved to be on the mark, with the company confirming that it shipped 10.5 million mobile devices in total, 5.3 million of which were smartphones. Mobile device shipments for all of 2011 totaled 42.4 million, with 18.7 million of those being smartphones.

As for the company's efforts to break into the tablet business, it says it "shipped" 200,000 tablets in Q4 and an even one million during the year, although there's no word on actual sale figures to consumers. Motorola's Sanjay Jha also says that the company remains "energized" about the proposed merger with Google, which is still expected to close in early 2012 (it's also, incidentally, precluded an earnings call for today). Those interested can find all of the company's numbers at the source link below.

Continue reading Motorola announces Q4 2011 earnings: $3.4 billion revenue, $80 million net loss

Motorola announces Q4 2011 earnings: $3.4 billion revenue, $80 million net loss originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google strikes deal to bring 27,000 Chromebooks to US schools in three states

Donald Melanson — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:15:00 EDT

It remains to be seen if they'll be the big game-changer in education that Google hopes they will be, but the company is making some progress at getting its Chromebooks into schools. The latest push is a deal with three US school districts, which will see some 27,000 Chromebooks land in the hand of students in Iowa, Illinois and South Carolina. As CNET reports, South Carolina's Richland School District Two is making by far the biggest investment of the lot, ordering 19,000 Chromebooks that will be used as part of a three-year program for students in the third through twelfth grades. As for Google itself, it still isn't being too specific on the total number of Chromebooks now being used by schools, noting only that "hundreds" of schools across 41 states are using them in at least one classroom.

Google strikes deal to bring 27,000 Chromebooks to US schools in three states originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZTE Light Tab 2 hits the UK next month for £235, still runs Android 2.3

Donald Melanson — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:27:00 EDT

ZTE may have shown off a 7-inch tablet running Android 4.0 at CES, but the company still has a bit of a backlog of previously announced devices to actually push out the door. The latest to resurface is the ZTE V9A Light Tab 2, which we first saw at Mobile Asia Congress back in November, and is now confirmed to be hitting the UK in late February for £235 (VAT included), which should translate to something less than the $365 direct conversion if it ever lands in the US. That buys you a 7-inch capacitive screen, a 1.4GHz single-core processor, WiFi and 3G connectivity, front and rear-facing cameras, and Android 2.3 for an OS (with no word on a possible ICS upgrade). Those curious for more can find the complete specs from retailer Clove at the link below.

ZTE Light Tab 2 hits the UK next month for £235, still runs Android 2.3 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T unearths Jim Henson's 1963 Robot short for Bell

Donald Melanson — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:59:00 EDT

AT&T has released some real gems from its videos archives over the past year, but it's truly outdone itself this week. It's dug up a rarely-seen short film titled Robot that Jim Henson made for Bell in 1963, which was intended to explain computers and data communications to business owners at "elite seminars." It does so with phrases like "Correction: the machine does not have a soul. It has no bothersome emotions. While mere mortals wallow in a sea of emotionalism, the machine is busy digesting vast oceans of information in a single, all-encompassing gulp." Enjoy.

AT&T unearths Jim Henson's 1963 Robot short for Bell originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's Q1 hardware sales: 37 million iPhones, 15.43 million iPads, 5.2 million Macs, 15.4 million iPods

Donald Melanson — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EDT

We touched on the numbers in our report on Apple's Q1 earnings, but the company's throwing out a lot of "record" figures so we thought we'd take a moment to focus on just how its hardware sales stack up. The standout number is, of course, the 37.04 million iPhones sold during the quarter, which is up 128 percent from the same quarter a year ago (and up from 17 million in the previous quarter, a jump of 117 percent). That notably puts Apple back ahead of Samsung, which sold a total of 35 million smartphones in its most recent quarter. And as if that wasn't enough, Apple's Tim Cook also said on the company's earnings call that it could have sold even more if it had more supply.

iPad sales also set a new record with 15.43 million units sold during the quarter, which is a 111 percent jump from the 7.3 million sold a year ago, and a 39 percent increase from the 11.1 million moved in Q4 2011. Once again, however, iPods are the one category that continues to decline in the face of the growth of smartphones. Apple sold a total of 15.4 million iPods -- over half of which were iPod touches -- which represents a 21 percent decline from the 19.4 million sold a year ago. The holiday shopping season did boost sales considerably from the 6.6 million sold in the previous quarter, though.

Mac sales were also on the upswing, totaling 5.2 million units -- a 26 percent increase year-over-year. Breaking things down further, that translates to 1.48 million desktops (including iMac, Mac Mini and Mac Pro), and 3.7 million laptops (including the basic MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro). As for the company's "hobby," the Apple TV, it rang up 1.4 million in sales for the quarter, and 2.8 million for the 2011 fiscal year. Fans of charts can get their fix after the break.

Continue reading Apple's Q1 hardware sales: 37 million iPhones, 15.43 million iPads, 5.2 million Macs, 15.4 million iPods

Apple's Q1 hardware sales: 37 million iPhones, 15.43 million iPads, 5.2 million Macs, 15.4 million iPods originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boxee Box Live TV starts shipping, Boxee 1.5 software update now rolling out

Donald Melanson — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:37:00 EDT

Both have been promised as coming soon in recent weeks, and now Boxee has confirmed that two fairly big new rollouts are underway. The first is the Boxee Box Live TV dongle, which is now shipping and will let you augment your Boxee Box with some OTA TV channels for $50. You can get a closer look at it in our hands-on from CES earlier this month. Alongside it, Boxee is also rolling out its Boxee 1.5 software update, which boasts a new UI and a number of other refinements including better search, new library screens and filtering options, browser pop-up management, and the addition of Rotten Tomatoes listings. Boxee says it's staggering the release over the next 72 hours, but those eager to check it out can find instructions for a manual update at the support link below.

Boxee Box Live TV starts shipping, Boxee 1.5 software update now rolling out originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Boxee Blog, Boxee Support | Email this | Comments

Supreme Court says police must get search warrant to use GPS tracking devices

Donald Melanson — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EDT

The US Supreme Court ruled today that police must first obtain a search warrant before using GPS devices to track a suspect's vehicle, agreeing with an earlier appeals court ruling but rejecting the Obama administration's position on the case. In delivering the decision, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote that the court holds "that the government's installation of a GPS device on a target's vehicle, and its use of that device to monitor the vehicle's movements, constitutes a 'search,'" and therefore violated the individual's Fourth Amendment rights. The case itself concerned a Washington DC nightclub owner and suspected drug dealer, Antoine Jones, who had his car's movements monitored for a month and was eventually sentenced to life in prison, only to see that conviction overturned by the aforementioned appeals court on the grounds that the police did not have a search warrant when they placed the GPS tracking device on his vehicle.

[Image courtesy Wired]

Supreme Court says police must get search warrant to use GPS tracking devices originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canadian researchers aim to build a more life-like robot, one piece at a time

Donald Melanson — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:13:00 EDT

It may not be all that human-like in its current state, but a team of researchers at the University of Ottawa are promising that this robot will get there sooner or later. Dubbed "Pumpkin," the bot will apparently have its parts replaced piece-by-piece with more life-like counterparts over time, including parts that make use of a new artificial skin the researchers have developed. It not only includes the usual array of sensors that give the robot some degree of tactile sensitivity, but a network of tubes that circulate hot water to actually increase the temperature of the skin. According to the researchers, the eventual goal is to have a robot that appears and behaves naturally enough to make humans feel at ease when they're interacting with it, but it might get a bit worse before it gets better -- the next step is to replace the head with an anatomically correct model of the human skull, which will have the aforementioned artificial skin stretched over it.

[Thanks, Jeff]

Continue reading Canadian researchers aim to build a more life-like robot, one piece at a time

Canadian researchers aim to build a more life-like robot, one piece at a time originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The White House joins Google+, invites you to Hangout

Donald Melanson — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:23:00 EDT

President Obama may have been on Google+ since November, but the administration is now stepping up its presence on the social network even further in anticipation of next week's State of the Union address and the forthcoming presidential campaign. It now has an official White House Google+ page, where it plans to post the usual news, photos and videos, and also host regular Hangout video chats. There's no promises yet that the President himself will take part, but the White House says it will regularly have administration officials and policy experts take part in the conversations, which will also be streamed on YouTube and WhiteHouse.gov. Those interested can click the link below to add the page to their Circles.

The White House joins Google+, invites you to Hangout originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge | The White House (Google+), The White House Blog | Email this | Comments

Editorial: Don't call it an ultrabook

Donald Melanson — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EDT

Every year at CES, the tech-watching masses engage in a bit of trendspotting -- an attempt to identify the one or two big themes of the show that may or may not come to define the year in technology. Some years those are easy to spot (tablets and 3D TV were two big ones recently), and other times they involve a bit of guesswork. This year, one of the most oft-cited trends is the "ultrabook." Judging from the companies' announcements at the show and some of the coverage they've received, you might think that's a new sort of device or a radically new type of laptop. But, really, they're just laptops. Small, thin laptops -- but laptops.

It's actually Ultrabook, with a capital "U," and a (TM). The name is a wholly-owned creation of Intel, and the hype you've seen for them at CES is only just the beginning. Intel is reportedly planning its biggest advertising push in eight years to promote Ultrabooks, and it's clearly already done a decent job of bringing hardware manufacturers on board the bandwagon. How many new "laptop" announcements do you remember from CES?

Continue reading Editorial: Don't call it an ultrabook

Editorial: Don't call it an ultrabook originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft announces Q2 earnings: record $20.89 billion in revenue, $6.62 billion net income

Donald Melanson — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:24:00 EDT

Microsoft has just announced its second quarter earnings, and it's touting a record $20.89 billion in revenue, up five percent year-over-year. Net income came in at $6.62 billion, which isn't far off at all from the $6.63 billion it netted in the same quarter a year ago. Breaking things down further, the company's Business Division saw a 3 percent increase in revenue to $6.28 billion, its Server & Tools business jumped 11 percent to $4.77 billion, its Windows and Windows Live Division dropped 6 percent to $4.74 billion, its Online Services business was up 10 percent to $784 million and, last but not least, its Entertainment & Devices Division jumped a full 15 percent to $4.24 billion. On that last bit, the company also reminded folks that it's now sold 66 million Xbox 360 consoles and 18 million Kinect sensors, and that its Xbox Live user base now stands at 40 million worldwide. As for Windows, while the division saw a dip in revenue, Microsoft continues to move plenty of Windows 7 licenses -- those now stand at 525 million, up from 400 million in July of last year.

Continue reading Microsoft announces Q2 earnings: record $20.89 billion in revenue, $6.62 billion net income

Microsoft announces Q2 earnings: record $20.89 billion in revenue, $6.62 billion net income originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Federal prosecutors shut down Megaupload file-sharing site, founders charged

Donald Melanson — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:35:00 EDT

Details are still somewhat light at the moment, but reports are now coming out that the popular Megaupload file-sharing site has been shut down by Federal prosecutors in the US, and that the site's founders and other individuals have been charged with violating piracy laws. According to The New York Times, the indictment says that the company has cost copyright holders some $500 million in lost revenue, and that the site was at one time the 13th most popular on the internet. As the Times also notes, this news comes a day after Megaupload voluntarily blacked out its website to protest the SOPA and PIPA anti-piracy legislation now being considered by Congress.

Update: As The Verge reports, the indictment itself doesn't mince any words, calling Megaupload an "international organized criminal enterprise allegedly responsible for massive worldwide online piracy," and alleging that Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom et al generated more than $175 million in "criminal proceeds." Those charges also come with some potentially hefty prison sentences, including a maximum 20 years for conspiracy to commit racketeering, five years for copyright infringement, 20 years for money laundering, and five years for each of the substantive charges of criminal copyright infringement.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Federal prosecutors shut down Megaupload file-sharing site, founders charged originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tomorrow's Apple event to focus on digital textbook publishing tools, says Bloomberg

Donald Melanson — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:59:00 EDT

We've already seen some rumors about what Apple has in store for its education-minded announcement in New York City tomorrow, and now Bloomberg is out with a report of its own that backs up some of those earlier rumblings and offers a few new details. Citing two people with knowledge of the announcement, it says that the main focus of the event will be a set of tools that will "make it easier to publish interactive textbooks and other digital educational content." That not only includes tools for the big textbook publishers, but self-publishers as well -- Bloomberg gives the example of teachers preparing materials for that week's lesson, or scientists and historians who could publish professional-looking content without a publishing deal. According to Bloomberg's sources, Apple is expected to use a modified version of the ePub standard for the content, and it's main focus is said to be the K-12 market.

In case you needed a reminder, we'll be there live to report on the announcement as it happens -- the event gets underway tomorrow at 10AM Eastern.

Tomorrow's Apple event to focus on digital textbook publishing tools, says Bloomberg originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Das Keyboard Model S mechanical keyboard heads to the Mac this April

Donald Melanson — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:19:00 EDT

We just got a look at one new mechanical keyboard designed for Macs at CES last week (Matias' Tactile One), and now we have word of another option for those who take their typing seriously. Das Keyboard confirmed today that a Mac version of its Model S Professional keyboard will be available on April 15th, and that you can pre-order it now for $113 (a 15% discount off its list price). It brings with it the same gold-plated mechanical key switches found on the existing Model S, but with the additional of all the keys you'd expect on a Mac-specific keyboard -- plus some other bonuses like a two-port USB hub and an instant sleep function. Unfortunately, Mac users looking to go truly minimalist with an Ultimate edition will either have to wait and hope that one's coming or break out some black paint.

Continue reading Das Keyboard Model S mechanical keyboard heads to the Mac this April

Das Keyboard Model S mechanical keyboard heads to the Mac this April originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint remains tepid on Windows Phone at CES, confirms no new WiMAX phones are planned

Donald Melanson — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:36:00 EDT

This may have been a fairly big CES for Windows Phone, but it looks like Microsoft still has a fair bit of convincing to do in order to bring all the carriers fully on board. That includes Sprint, which does currently have a Windows Phone in its lineup (and is apparently considering more in the "August-September time period"), but remains decidedly unenthusiastic about the platform as a whole. As PCMag reports, Sprint's David Owens said that the carrier is willing to train its reps on Windows Phone, but that Microsoft has to "build the enthusiasm for the product," adding that the "number-one reason the product was returned was the user experience." Sprint's director of product development, Lois Fagan, further added that the carrier remains "cautiously optimistic," but that Windows Phone "just hasn't taken off." In other news, Owens also confirmed that Sprint would expectedly now be focusing all of its intention on its new LTE network, and not produce any more WiMAX-based phones -- although, as it's noted previously Sprint will continue to support the network itself through 2015.

Sprint remains tepid on Windows Phone at CES, confirms no new WiMAX phones are planned originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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White House responds to SOPA petition as hearing is delayed, DNS blocking on the outs

Donald Melanson — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:01:00 EDT

It's turned out to be a big weekend for those concerned about the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act. Yesterday came word that a key House hearing originally scheduled for Wednesday will be delayed until there is a "consensus" on the bill, and today the White House has issued an official statement on SOPA (and the Protect IP Act, its counterpart in the Senate) in response to a petition that drew thousands of signatures. While it doesn't go quite as far as to issue a firm veto threat from the President, it does lay out the administration's position in the clearest terms yet, including the condition that any proposed law "must not tamper with the technical architecture of the Internet through manipulation of the Domain Name System." That follows word late last week that Representative Lamar Smith and Senator Patrick Leahy would indeed pull the DNS provisions from SOPA and PIPA. The White House statement is less specific in other respects, but it broadly states that the administration will "not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovative global Internet."

In related news, the planned blackouts to protest SOPA and PIPA only seem to be increasing, with the popular xda-developers forum recently announcing that it will go dark at 8AM on January 18th, and return either at 8PM or as soon as it's able to get 50,000 people to sign a pledge to contact their local Senator or Representative.

White House responds to SOPA petition as hearing is delayed, DNS blocking on the outs originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Ars Technica, BoingBoing | WhiteHouse.gov, xda-developers | Email this | Comments

Nook Tablet bootloader bypassed, Android 4.0 takes its first steps onto the platform

Donald Melanson — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:11:00 EDT

No points for calling this one, but it looks like Android 4.0 is well on its way to the Nook Tablet -- in a decidedly unofficial manner, of course. Just a few days after the tablet's bootloader was bypassed, developer Brandon Bennet (aka Nemith) has now apparently managed to get an early version of the Android 4.0-based CyanogenMod 9 up and running on the device, although you'll still have to wait a bit longer for something that's actually useable. What's more, some other developers have also managed to get the tablet to boot from a microSD card, and there's been some progress with Ubuntu on the tablet as well. Hit the links below for all the details and the latest from the xda-developers forum.

Nook Tablet bootloader bypassed, Android 4.0 takes its first steps onto the platform originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Liliputing (1), (2) | xda-developers | Email this | Comments

Motorola website points to January 26th launch for Droid RAZR Maxx

Donald Melanson — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:02:00 EDT

Motorola didn't provide a launch date for the Droid RAZR Maxx when it officially announced the consonant-heavy phone at CES earlier this week, but it's now filled in that little detail on its website. Assuming it's not a mistake of some sort, you can look for the latest addition to the RAZR family to be available on January 26th from both Verizon and Motorola itself. If you missed the announcement, the Maxx is mostly identical to the existing Droid RAZR, with the notable exception of a longer-lasting battery that promises 21 hours of use on a charge, and a total of 32GB of storage. It'll also set you back $100 more than the standard RAZR.

Motorola website points to January 26th launch for Droid RAZR Maxx originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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