Engadget

Killer Wireless-N 1202 and E2200 Ethernet controller launch, aim to squash your ping times

Darren Murph — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:30:00 EST

Killer Technology -- formerly known as Bigfoot Networks -- has certainly come a long way from its days as a scrappy startup, and now the outfit's taking one more step towards ping domination with the introduction of two new products. Qualcomm Atheros is actually doing the honors, as it formally reveals the Killer Wireless-N 1202 WiFi module with Bluetooth as well as the Killer E2200 gigabit Ethernet controller. Each one is aimed at DIYers and OEMs, enabling machines based on them to automatically classify and prioritizing gaming, video and audio network data -- a bit of behind-the-scenes black magic that's said to "provide a superior, uninterrupted online entertainment experience." As you'd expect, both will include the Killer Network Manager software on associated rigs, giving end users a borderline ridiculous amount of control over how bandwidth is used. We're told that the 1202 will ship next month, while the E2200 is available now; pricing remains a mystery on both, though.

Killer Wireless-N 1202 and E2200 Ethernet controller launch, aim to squash your ping times originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alienware adds jitter-killing Killer Wireless-N technology to M18x, M17x, M14x and M11x

Darren Murph — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

And this, friends, is how you make the leap into the mainstream. Bigfoot Networks has been toiling away in an effort to get its gaming-optimized networking guts into just about everything -- there's also a VisionTek GPU with Killer innards, and a trifecta of mainboard makers announced that they too would be joining the bustling integration party earlier in the year. Now, however, the outfit's really got something to hang its hat on: a handshake with Dell's Alienware unit. The Killer Wireless-N 1103 networking adapter will now be listed as an option for the Alienware M18x, M17x, M14x and M11x, promising data rates as high as 450Mbps as well as its Advanced Stream Detect to intelligently classify and prioritize network traffic. Mum's the word on how much the upgrade will be, but based on prior reviews, we'd say the premium will be well worth it for the hardcore among us.

Continue reading Alienware adds jitter-killing Killer Wireless-N technology to M18x, M17x, M14x and M11x

Alienware adds jitter-killing Killer Wireless-N technology to M18x, M17x, M14x and M11x originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Maps routes itself to v5.2, gets hotpot tweets, Latitude 'pings' and better search results

Darren Murph — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:10:00 EST

We're still waiting for someone to one-up Google Maps Navigation, but until that fateful day shines down upon us, it looks as if we'll have to once again point our attention to El Goog. Google Maps has just been updated to version 5.2, with three main additions to focus on. For one, the new edition allows users to tweet their reviews of places and share recommendations with Hotpot friends. Next up, there's Latitude pinging, which enables you to send a quick message to a nearby Latitude friend rather than having to use a text or call; they'll receive an Android notification from you asking them to check in at a place, and when they check in using your request, you'll get a notification right back so you know which place to go to meet up with them. Finally, a new 'Search More Places' button has been added under the standard list of places to check in at, which ought to prove helpful in highly congested cities with multiple places stacked atop one another. Hit that Android Market link below to get your update going, and if you're fixing to use that new ping feature, you and your friends will need v5.2 (or higher, if you're reading this in the year 2043).

Google Maps routes itself to v5.2, gets hotpot tweets, Latitude 'pings' and better search results originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iTunes 10 now offering social playlists with Ping

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 05:49:00 EST

After Twitter integration and iPad migration, looks like the next stop for Ping is social playlists. That's right -- the next time you make a mix in iTunes 10, clicking on the playlist arrow will give you two options: you can either purchase the playlist as a gift to your friend or loved one, or publish the playlist to Ping itself. Once your playlist is published, you can even give your friends on the network the option to edit it, making it a community playlist of sorts. Of course, this last option only works if you really trust your friends' taste. After all, it just wouldn't do to have Philip Glass invade your "Core Workout Playlist" featuring such beloved anthems Move This by Technotronic and Whoomp! There It Is by Tag Team.

iTunes 10 now offering social playlists with Ping originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 05:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ping sneaks onto iPad

Sean Hollister — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 18:01:00 EST

It's no iOS 4.2, but it's an interesting little update nonetheless -- through the magic of an iTunes backend overhaul, Ping has come to the iPad. Now, the untold millions who enjoy broadcasting that they've purchased an iTunes track can do so on a larger screen. Assuming, of course, that they didn't migrate their Ping experience to Twitter yesterday evening.

Ping sneaks onto iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Nov 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Twitter teams up with Ping

Paul Miller — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:33:00 EST

It's a social network... for music. Get it? Well, now it's sort of two social networks, because Twitter is getting some pretty deep Ping integration. Basically, any of your Ping activity (posts, purchases, likes, reviews) can be tweeted, all it takes is linking your Twitter account to your Ping account from within iTunes. Unfortunately, right now it looks like the Tweets are an all-or-nothing affair (you don't get to choose which aspects of your Ping activity you want broadcast), so get ready for everybody to know you bought that Colbie Caillat album. The good news on the Twitter end is that Ping tweets will include album art and song previews right from the fancy new Twitter UI, along with a purchase link, of course. Can you taste the synergy?

Twitter teams up with Ping originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iOS 4.1 is live, available to download right now

Paul Miller — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:09:00 EST

If you can just put down Angry Birds for one minute and plug your iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch 2nd generation, iPod touch 3rd generation, or iPod touch 4th generation into iTunes, you should be in for a pleasant non-surprise: iOS 4.1 is finally out and ready for your consumption. It's not a huge update, but Game Center is an exciting addition (for the few, proud devices that are getting it), and we're sure your face will be happy to stop getting accused for iPhone 4 hang-ups with the long overdue proximity sensor fix (shots of the changelog are after the break). Let us know how 4.1 is treating you in comments below.

Continue reading iOS 4.1 is live, available to download right now

iOS 4.1 is live, available to download right now originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's Ping gains a million users in first two days

Nilay Patel — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:39:00 EST

We're still trying to figure out exactly what Apple's new Ping social network is good for, but apparently quite a few people are curious about it: it's already racked up a million users in its first two days. That's just a third of the people who've downloaded iTunes 10, so we're sure the numbers are will grow even faster as more people snag iTunes and the network effect starts to kick in -- and things will get really crazy if Apple and Facebook ever work out their little tiff. Just remember: it's a social network... for music.

Apple's Ping gains a million users in first two days originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All Things D: Facebook blocked Apple's Ping service for unauthorized use

Nilay Patel — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:43:00 EST

We'd already heard whispers that Apple had to yank Facebook Connect integration from its new Ping music network because the connection was being denied by Facebook, and now Kara Swisher at All Things D is confirming it -- and she's saying Facebook shut down access on purpose after Apple used the find-your-friends API without permission. Juicy! Here's the deal: Facebook's friend-finding API is generally open access, but anyone that wants to hit it an extreme number of times has to sign a deal agreeing to protect Facebook user data and limit network impact. Given the sheer size of the iTunes customer base, it's no surprise that Facebook wanted such a deal, but apparently negotiations broke down -- possibly over what Steve Jobs referred to as "onerous terms" -- and Apple decided to just go ahead and use the API anyway. (Which, truth be told, is pretty in character for Apple.) Facebook then blocked access, Apple had to scramble to clean up all the Facebook references, and here we are. Only possibly not for long: Swisher also says Apple and Facebook are still negotiating, and Facebook Connect might eventually reappear in Ping. There is no word when Ping might actually be useful or interesting, however.

All Things D: Facebook blocked Apple's Ping service for unauthorized use originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iTunes 10 (with Ping) mercifully becomes available for download (update: iOS 4 has Ping, too)

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:53:00 EST

Sure, they said it would be available immediately, but they lied. Now, the lie has become the truth, and the truth is just a fleeting dream, caught in between worlds we can't hope to understand, let alone grasp. Meaning: go download iTunes 10 with Ping.

Update: We've added direct download links below. Thanks commenters!

Update 2: A word of warning -- if you activate Ping, it will potentially make all of the nasty reviews you've written available for the world to see. So now they'll know who panned their recording debut and ruined their career.

Update 3: Got an iPhone or iPod touch with iOS 4 on board? Ping may have magically appeared in your iTunes app, ready to help you wax introspective on the go. [Thanks, Kruze]

iTunes 10 (with Ping) mercifully becomes available for download (update: iOS 4 has Ping, too) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple announces iTunes 10 with Ping social network

Donald Melanson — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:39:00 EST

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. Head on past the break for the full press release.

Gallery: Apple announces iTunes 10 with Ping social network

Gallery: iTunes 10

Continue reading Apple announces iTunes 10 with Ping social network

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

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Stupid netbook tricks: DIY microwave shield testing

Joseph L. Flatley — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:42:00 EST

So, we're guessing that at some point in your life you've wondered whether or not your microwave oven has sufficient shielding. Well, we certainly haven't -- but maybe we're the fools for trusting the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Then again, in Russia they don't even have a "United States Consumer Product Safety Commission" (for obvious reasons). Clearly, someone over there was nagged by the thought that this appliance was scattering radiation where it didn't belong, so he got this bright idea: as microwave ovens operate at 2.45 MHz, and 802.11d WiFi operates on a 2.4 GHz frequency, any netbook placed in a closed microwave should be woefully un-pingable. And you know what? When he placed his netbook in a closed microwave, it couldn't be pinged. Clearly relieved that his microwave oven was amply shielded, the author has one final piece of advice for any of you who might be thinking about conducting this test for yourself: "Don't try to turn your microwave on, while experiment." Action photos after the break.

Continue reading Stupid netbook tricks: DIY microwave shield testing

Filed under: Laptops

Stupid netbook tricks: DIY microwave shield testing originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 May 2009 07:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opera Audio's Ping weds CD player, amplifier, and USB connectivity

Darren Murph — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 05:43:00 EST

These days, it's not often that a CD player makes you take a second glance, but Opera Audio's Forbidden City Ping is just one of those devices. The interestingly-styled box consists of a Linear Concept CD player meshed with a 100-watt Class A amplifier, AM / FM tuner, and a USB port for streaming tunes in from your PC. The "three-in-one" audio system also sports a 16-bit TDA1543 DAC and the ability to recover the current time from the USB port to display on the front-panel LCD. The Ping comes in black with your choice of red or silver accent plates, and while we're not sure of the asking price just yet, we'll go ahead and assume that this thing is more suited for the affluent set judging by the company's reputation.

[Via AudioJunkies]

Filed under: Other hardware, Players, Others

Opera Audio's Ping weds CD player, amplifier, and USB connectivity originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jun 2007 05:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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