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  • The Engadget Show - 013: NASA Technologist Bobby Braun, exclusive mobile demos from TAT, Tim Wu on net neutrality, and more!

    by 
    Chad Mumm
    Chad Mumm
    09.17.2010

    Get ready humans, because we have an all new, amazing Engadget Show fresh out of the box. For your viewing pleasure, Josh sits down with NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun to find out about the next generation of NASA technology. Next, Engadget explains wireless net neutrality with animation and Rick Karr sits down with Columbia law professor and author of The Master Switch, Tim Wu in an interview that you absolutely do not want to miss, with Nilay and Rick breaking it all down afterward on stage. Up next, Josh and Nilay welcome Paul Blomdahl of TAT, The Astonishing Tribe, for a look at some never-before-seen mobile interface concepts... including TAT's upcoming Android skin and some of the most exciting uses of 3D we've ever seen. One lucky audience member walks away with a brand new Parrot AR Drone and Starscream brings the show to a close with a set of mind-bending chiptunes music with visuals from J.Y.K. What are you waiting for? Watch it now! Hit up the new video stream after the break, now with convenient chapter markers! Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Rick Karr Special guests: Bobby Braun, Tim Wu, Paul Blomdahl Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm Executive Producer: Joshua Fruhlinger Edited by: Danny Madden Music by: Starscream Visuals by: J.Y.K. Net Neutrality Animation by: Ornana Films Opening titles by: Julien Nantiec Taped live at The Times Center Download the Show: The Engadget Show - 013 (HD) / The Engadget Show - 013 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted) 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.

  • The Engadget Show returns September 14th with NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun, net neutrality advocate Tim Wu, giveaways, and more!

    by 
    Chad Mumm
    Chad Mumm
    09.13.2010

    Guess what humans? The Engadget Show is back in a big way on September 14th at 8pm! We're celebrating our first birthday and lucky 13th episode with an incredible show for you... first up, Josh is sitting down with NASA's new Chief Technologist Bobby Braun, the man tasked with recharging NASA technology! Next, Engadget investigative correspondent Rick Karr is back for a deep look at wireless net neutrality with Columbia law professor and author Tim Wu. Then, Nilay and Josh sit down with interface designers TAT, The Astonishing Tribe, to check out some never-before-seen prototype UIs and demonstrations. Oh, and did we mention that one lucky audience member will be walking away with a Parrot AR Drone remote quadricopter? We're rounding the night out with live chiptunes music from Starscream and some more special giveaways at the live show only, so make the trek and join us at The Times Center in person. We have a new ticketing policy, so if you're coming to the live show, be sure to read about it below. If you're geographically incapable of joining us in New York City, just tune into the stream at right here on Engadget. The Engadget Show is sponsored by Sprint, and will take place at the Times Center, part of The New York Times Building in the heart of New York City at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues (see map after the break). Tickets are -- as always -- free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served... so get there early! Here's the updated info on our new ticketing policy that you need to know: There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free The event is all ages Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 2:00PM on Tuesday, September 14th, doors will open for seating at 7:15PM, and the show begins at 8PM We now have assigned seating, so the first people to get their tickets -- and the Sprint text-to-win winners (see below) -- will get priority seating. This also means that once you get a ticket, your seat is guaranteed -- you won't have to get back in line to get a good seat. Ticketing will continue until all tickets are given away. You cannot collect tickets for friends or family -- anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket Seating capacity in the Times Center is about 340, and once we're full, we're full The venue is located at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City (map after the break) The show length is around an hour If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com. 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.

  • The Engadget Show returns next Tuesday, September 14th with NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun, net neutrality advocate Tim Wu, giveaways, and more!

    by 
    Chad Mumm
    Chad Mumm
    09.09.2010

    Guess what humans? The Engadget Show is back in a big way next Tuesday, September 14th at 8pm! We're celebrating our first birthday and lucky 13th episode with an incredible show for you... first up, Josh is sitting down with NASA's new Chief Technologist Bobby Braun, the man tasked with recharging NASA technology! Next, Engadget investigative correspondent Rick Karr is back for a deep look at wireless net neutrality with Columbia law professor and Free Press chair Tim Wu. Then, Nilay and Josh sit down with interface designers TAT, The Astonishing Tribe, to check out some never-before-seen prototype UIs and demonstrations. Oh, and did we mention that one lucky audience member will be walking away with a Parrot AR Drone remote quadricopter? We're rounding the night out with live chiptunes music from Starscream and some more special giveaways at the live show only, so make the trek and join us at The Times Center in person. We have a new ticketing policy, so if you're coming to the live show, be sure to read about it below. If you're geographically incapable of joining us in New York City, just tune into the stream at right here on Engadget. The Engadget Show is sponsored by Sprint, and will take place at the Times Center, part of The New York Times Building in the heart of New York City at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues (see map after the break). Tickets are -- as always -- free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served... so get there early! Here's the updated info on our new ticketing policy that you need to know: There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free The event is all ages Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 2:00PM on Tuesday, September 14th, doors will open for seating at 7:15PM, and the show begins at 8PM We now have assigned seating, so the first people to get their tickets -- and the Sprint text-to-win winners (see below) -- will get priority seating. This also means that once you get a ticket, your seat is guaranteed -- you won't have to get back in line to get a good seat. Ticketing will continue until all tickets are given away. You cannot collect tickets for friends or family -- anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket Seating capacity in the Times Center is about 340, and once we're full, we're full The venue is located at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City (map after the break) The show length is around an hour If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com. Sprint is offering 50 guaranteed tickets to the Engadget Show taping to the first 50 entrants who text "ENGADGET" to 467467 or enter online! Standard text messaging rates apply. Click for the Official Rules and see how to enter online. 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.

  • Engadget's back to school guide: Fun stuff!

    by 
    Richard Lai
    Richard Lai
    08.26.2010

    Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. On the menu today are a handful of fun yet practical gadgets, but feel free to check out our Back to School hub for more recommendations in other categories. It's a tough road ahead for aspiring students like yourself (yes, you!), but that doesn't mean one should abstain from any form of entertainment throughout the course. If anything, you'll be needing a few fun gadgets from our Back to School guide to impress your schoolmates -- it's not like your Facebook page will be automagically adding friends any time soon. But as the old saying goes, "work hard, play hard," so we've also thrown in a few picks that'll aid your study. When you're ready, click along for our latest list of awesomeness.

  • Parrot AR.Drone now available for pre-order, shipping September 3rd

    by 
    Donald Melanson
    Donald Melanson
    07.29.2010

    Been itching to get your hands on the Parrot AR.Drone ever since it first took flight at CES way back in January? Well, you can now finally get your $299 pre-order in to ensure it ships to you on the September 3rd launch date. What's more, Parrot has also announced that the Drone will be exclusively available at Brookstone stores in the U.S., where you'll be able to try it out first-hand through October 31st. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and be sure to check out our recent hands-on if you need a reminder of the iPhone-controlled shenanigans possible with the device.

  • Parrot AR.Drone hits the US this September for $299, we go hands-on with video!

    by 
    Donald Melanson
    Donald Melanson
    06.15.2010

    Parrot promised to reveal the launch details for its AR.Drone at E3 this week, and it's now delivered -- the remote-controlled quadricopter will be available in the U.S. this September for $299. Of course, this is hardly your ordinary remote-controlled quadricopter, as it's not only controlled via WiFi, but via an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch -- something we got well acquainted with both at CES and on the Engadget Show back in January. Incidentally, an Android app for the device was also recently demoed by the company, but it's apparently still not quite official. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and hit up the gallery below for a closer look at the Drone itself in some of its various configurations. Update: We swung by the company's demo station outside the show floors here at E3, spoke with the company CEO, got a little more information about the post-release plans for this thing, and dive-bombed a few PR reps before running for the hills. All those details and a funky fresh new video are waiting for you after the break. %Gallery-95346%

  • Found footage: Fly an RC plane? There's an iPhone app for that

    by 
    Mike Schramm
    Mike Schramm
    06.05.2010

    We're supposed to hear more about the AR.Drone at E3 in a few weeks, but you may not have to wait that long -- Flypad is an app coming soon to the App Store that purports to let you fly any RC-controlled plane with an iPhone, just by connecting the iPhone's audio out signal up to an adapter. The iPhone can even be connected directly to a PC with the use of special RC simulation software, and from there you can use the dual-joystick setup to control any other games or software. It's not an all-in-one solution like the AR.Drone (and the controller is just that, no video or special AR included). But if you already have a plane and a transmitter that's compatible with this setup, the app could be a cheaper way to use your iPhone as a controller. No price yet, but the app is under Apple's review right now.

  • Parrot AR.Drone to get price, release date at E3

    by 
    Mike Schramm
    Mike Schramm
    05.25.2010

    The folks at Parrot recently sent around notice that they'll be attending the E3 conference here in LA in about a month or so; at that show, they finally expect to announce a price and release date for the iPhone-controlled quadricopter that some of our readers have been craving ever since it was announced back at CES. Back when we played with the device at Macworld, we were told that it would be around $500 and would come out sometime before the end of this year, but of course, both price and date are still up in the air. That will remain true until around June 15th, when E3 starts. I'll be there in person, and as soon as I hear a price and date, you will as well. If I get to give it another fly, I'll try not to crash it quite so quickly. My bad on that one. %Gallery-85172%

  • Parrot AR.Drone to get official launch, price, street date at E3 2010 (update: Android client video!)

    by 
    Joseph L. Flatley
    Joseph L. Flatley
    05.25.2010

    If you've been chomping at the bit to get your hands on the AR.Drone iPhone controlled, augmented reality-sporting, WiFi quadricopter (and you know we have been) we've good news for you. According to a brief blip on Parrot's Facebook page, the thing will get its official US launch, complete with pricing and street date, at E3 come June 15. Sort of makes WowWee's Tinkerbell look silly in comparison, don't it? Update: As our main man Kefs has pointed out, the gang at Parrot demoed the AR.Drone Android client at Google I/O last month week. Now we're waiting on news of a BlackBerry client -- which we sure hope makes the scene at E3! See it in action after the break.

  • GDC10: The expo in pictures

    by 
    Seraphina Brennan
    Seraphina Brennan
    03.17.2010

    We have a saying around the Massively offices -- "When we go to a show, our readers go to the show." We hope you guys have really enjoyed our crazy coverage of GDC10 as much as we enjoyed running around the show like crazy people grabbing all of that information. But, while we were running around, we got some great photos from the show for you! Now you too can live the experience of running from booth to booth, passing legions upon legions of companies explaining their newest technologies and how they can improve your gaming experience. So come along with us for a whirlwind trip through GDC! Trust us, it's exciting. %Gallery-88462%

  • GDC 2010: The Parrot AR.Drone's augmented reality

    by 
    Mike Schramm
    Mike Schramm
    03.15.2010

    We actually got to play with the iPhone-controlled Parrot AR.Drone quadricopter back at Macworld a little while ago, but we didn't get a chance to see the "AR" part of it (augmented reality, of course) until GDC last week. Parrot pulled out the AR targets for us, and while the games they had running were very rudimentary, we did get a good feel for the action. The verdict? It works, but it's not that fun yet. Sure enough, when the Drone's cameras picked up the weird pattern of black and white dots and/or the striped tube that the company attached to the top of a second Drone, the iPhone displayed a lock-on target or the weird robot that you can see above (that's the iPhone's video running out to a television, something that's technically a no-no under the current SDK). And when the drone moved around it, the display faithfully showed the 3D model -- it didn't look actually real, but you could fly around and interact with it. And after you blasted it with enough missiles, it exploded.

  • Macworld 2010: Hands-on with the Parrot AR.Drone

    by 
    Mike Schramm
    Mike Schramm
    02.10.2010

    We first heard about the Parrot AR.Drone, an iPhone-controlled RC quadrocopter, back when it made such a big splash at CES, but unfortunately, since we weren't there, we didn't get to see it in person. Fortunately Parrot did come by Macworld, and the day before the show, we finally got to see their iPhone-controlled, dual camera-equipped, high tech toy in action. So what's the verdict? It's not super easy to fly (we crashed it into the walls, the ground, and even their marketing guy), but it's the real thing -- the extremely light (3/4 of a pound, as our own Steve Sande estimated with remarkable accuracy) quadricopter is packed with all kinds of fun gadgets, including variable speed rotors, the ability to lift off, hover, and land on its own, and super-sensitive touch controls along with two 640x480 VGA camera feeds running back to the iPhone via 802.11G Wi-Fi. We're not sure how ready it actually is for market (or what it'll cost yet), but the AR.Drone does what it says on the not-yet-designed box: Allows you to control a real quadricopter with and through your iPhone. Read our impressions of the hands-on below, and don't forget to stay tuned -- we'll have video of our demonstration later on. %Gallery-85172%

  • The Engadget Show - 005: Google's Erick Tseng, CES wrap-up, WiDi, AR.Drone, and more!

    by 
    Chad Mumm
    Chad Mumm
    01.19.2010

    Well it's been a wild couple of weeks here at Engadget. Between CES 2010 (our biggest show ever), the Nexus One launch, forthcoming Apple announcements (and loads of Apple rumors), it's unlikely we'll forget the start of our new decade anytime soon. Still, amidst all the craziness we had time to sit down for another Engadget Show -- and what a show it was. Grab a loved one and a tasty beverage of your choosing and settle in to watch our in-depth interview with Erick Tseng, a wrap-up of all things CES, plus fascinating demos of Intel's new Wireless Display, Parrot's crazy AR.Drone, the Plastic Logic QUE, Alienware's M11X, and so much more. Tune in now -- you'll kick yourself if you miss this. Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, Nilay Patel Special guest: Erick Tseng Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm Executive Producer: Joshua Fruhlinger Edited by: Michael Slavens Music by: Glomag Visuals by: Dan Winckler Opening titles by: Julien Nantiec Download the Show: The Engadget Show - 005 (HD) / The Engadget Show - 005 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted) 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.

  • Parrot AR.Drone hands-on: a quadricopter for the rest of us

    by 
    Sean Cooper
    Sean Cooper
    01.07.2010

    The Parrot AR.Drone was definitely one of the highlights of our day; how can you top a quadricopter that can fight with another using augmented reality, is easy to fly, and only needs an iPhone to control it? You simply can't -- this is just pure joy and is exactly what a gadget should be: it's an electronic aircraft, has multiple cameras (two to be exact), uses WiFi for control (via an ad-hoc connection), and likely has more intelligence on board than a lunar lander. This early version can only be controlled via iPhone, or iPod touch, but Parrot's Henri Seydoux mentioned that it could be (and we're really hoping will be) controllable by BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and so on. The AR.Drone uses a pile of pretty sophisticated magic to enable it to fly -- those aforementioned cameras are just the start (one forward facing, one facing down running at 60 fps that allows stability in light wind) because you've also got two ultrasonic transmitters for vertical stability, a three-axis accelerometer, and a two-axis gyroscope paired with a single-axis yaw precision gyroscope for good measure. Needless to say, casual gamers and folks looking for a nice $30 gift need not apply. Read on for more impressions and video! %Gallery-81915%