Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Distro Issue 43 has arrived with Thomas Dolby: TED talks, cell phone deals and the Floating City]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/01/distro-issue-43-thomas-dolby/http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/01/distro-issue-43-thomas-dolby/http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/01/distro-issue-43-thomas-dolby/#comments Distro Issue 43 has arrived with Thomas Dolby: TED talks, cell phone deals and the Floating City

What's that? You've already worked your requisite 40 hours this week and you're ready to throw in the towel? Well, we've got something far more enjoyable for your Friday afternoon relaxation. Hot off of the e-presses, this week's issue of Distro is packed with a week's worth of leisurely readings. The focus this time around is on Thomas Dolby and our own Brian Heater details the '80s pop star's journey back to the stage with TED, cellphones and his own virtual world. As far as reviews go, we spend some quality time getting to know the latest Chrome OS arsenal from Google, ASUS Zenbook Prime UX21A and the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S III. Our hands-on section is still a young Padawan, but this week we breakdown Nokia 808 PureView sample shots and the recently outted Facebook Camera app. Do you have gaming on the brain with E3 less than a week away? If so, Reaction Time should hold you over with new releases and a discussion of the aforementioned gaming expo. Stat takes a look at copyright and piracy claims, we go eyes-on with the Lumia lineage, BAROBO's Graham Ryland stops by for the Q&A, Switched On tackles Cisco, IRL let's you get cozy with our gear and Rehashed looks back at the week that was in 140 characters or less. The days are winding down until it'll be too hot to enjoy that hammock, so don't waste any more time. Hit your weekly download link and snag a copy of our tablet mag.

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Distro Issue 43 has arrived with Thomas Dolby: TED talks, cell phone deals and the Floating City originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>43BAROBBox BrownBoxBrowncartooncartoonscomicdistroeditorialeditorialsengadgetengadget cartoonengadget comicengadget distroEngadgetCartoonEngadgetComicEngadgetDistroeyes oneyes-onEyesOnhands onhands-onHandsOnhdpostcrossissue 43Issue43joystiqmobilepostcrossreaction timeReactionTimeswitched onSwitchedOntablet magazineTabletMagazinethe stripTheStripThomas DolbyThomasDolbytime machinesTimeMachinesFri, 01 Jun 2012 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Facebook's ecosystem dilemma]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/27/switched-on-facebooks-ecosystem-dilemma/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/27/switched-on-facebooks-ecosystem-dilemma/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/27/switched-on-facebooks-ecosystem-dilemma/#comments Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

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Despite amassing something close to a billion users, Facebook has mainly stayed true to the startup mantra of staying focused on a few core things. In this case, that has been promoting openness and sharing among friends and, increasingly, the world at large. Such was the case for its rival Google at the launch of the search company's IPO. Since then, however, the company has launched a pair of operating systems powering handsets and tablets around the world, a digital media store selling everything from apps to books, and its own social sharing service (at least twice).

With the vast capital infusion that comes with an IPO, Facebook has an opportunity to expand far beyond its own site and Like buttons that now line up in a row next to sharing buttons using Twitter and Google+. The company certainly has no love for Google and has kept Apple at arm's length, but it has had a strong partnership with Microsoft, which made a financially shrewd $240 million investment in Facebook back in 2007. Windows Phone would be a poorer experience were it not for its tight Facebook integration. The giant social network would gain from entering the device market or spinning its own version of Android as Amazon has done, but there would also be significant challenges to striking out into its own ecosystem.

Continue reading Switched On: Facebook's ecosystem dilemma

Switched On: Facebook's ecosystem dilemma originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 21:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonapplefacebookgooglegoogle+gowallakindle fireKindleFiremicrosoftOSsocial marketingsocial networkSocialMarketingSocialNetworkswitchedonswitchedoncolumntwitterwindows phoneWindowsPhoneSun, 27 May 2012 21:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Distro Issue 42 lands with the Engadget Summer Gear Guide, a handsome new look and more!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/distro-issue-summer-gear-guide/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/distro-issue-summer-gear-guide/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/distro-issue-summer-gear-guide/#comments Distro Issue 42 lands with the Engadget Summer Gear Guide, a handsome new look and more!

Get ready, folks. We've got quite the treat for you this week. Not only do we have a brand spanking new issue of our weekly for your peepers to consume this weekend, but we've redesigned said e-publication as well. Of course, the real star this week is the Summer Gear Guide. That's right, our editors have painstakingly selected their top choices in all of the major categories to keep you blazin' the balmy trail with the best gadget arsenal possible. To go along with the refined digs, we introduce some new pages this week, too. Time Machines will test your geek cred by removing the easily identifiable logos from a classic device for your trivia pleasure. We'll also go eyes-on each week with some quite dapper offerings to satisfy the design nerd inside us all. Speaking of recent additions, we break down our recent hands-on impressions while Reaction Time offers some thoughts on next-gen gaming and upcoming releases. Switched On chats about what's next for Facebook, the Stat tallies the rise of mobile apps in the last year, Fusion-io CEO and Chairman David Flynn admits his love of Flowbee in the Q&A and Sean Pryor returns for The Strip. So, what are you waiting for? Hit the download link below that you fancy the most and you'll have a copy of this week's e-magazine before you know it.

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Distro Issue 42 lands with the Engadget Summer Gear Guide, a handsome new look and more! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>42bagscamerascartooncartoonscasescomicDavid FlynnDavidFlynndesktopsdistrodockse readerse-readerseditorialeditorialsengadgetengadget cartoonengadget comicengadget distroEngadgetCartoonEngadgetComicEngadgetDistroEReaderseyes-onfusion-iogaminggear guideGearGuidehands-onhdpostcrosshome theaterHomeTheaterissue 42Issue42joystiqlaptopsmobilepostcrossportable audioPortableAudioreaction timeReactionTimeSean PryorSeanPryorsggsmartphonessummer gear guideSummerGearGuideswitched onSwitchedOntablet magazineTabletMagazinetabletstime machinesTimeMachinesweeklyweekly magazineWeeklyMagazineFri, 25 May 2012 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Clash of the troubled titans]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/20/clash-of-the-troubled-titans/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/20/clash-of-the-troubled-titans/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/20/clash-of-the-troubled-titans/#comments Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

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Fans of the Lincoln-Kennedy coincidences can appreciate similarly contrived dynamics in comparing Nokia and RIM (neither of which, contrary to the occasionally expressed opinion, has been murdered despite "Apple and Android" consisting of three words and 15 letters). Both companies are former smartphone market share leaders -- RIM in North America, Nokia globally. Both have had success in developing economies with efficient operating systems that they plan to support indefinitely. Both developed reputations for high build quality and good antenna design, and both were initially dismissive of the iPhone as they continue to see Android as the path to commoditization. And after precipitous market share declines, both hired new CEOs. Nokia, a European company, hired a CEO raised in Canada. RIM, a Canadian company, hired a CEO raised in Europe. These men now struggle with keeping their companies part of a viable alternative to the two dominant marketplace offerings.

Since embarking on their new operating system strategies, though, there have been many contrasts. While Nokia hired an outsider as a CEO, RIM hired an insider. Nokia decided to adopt a licensed OS; RIM decided to build its own (based largely on acquisitions). And now that both the Mobile World Congress and BlackBerry World conferences have passed, there's an opportunity to assess their comeback progress.

Continue reading Switched On: Clash of the troubled titans

Switched On: Clash of the troubled titans originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 May 2012 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidblackberrycellphone. switchedonCellphone.SwitchedoncolumniPhonemeegon9nokiaoperating systemsOperatingSystemsosplaybookrimsmartphonesmartphone warSmartphoneWarSwitched OnSwitchedOnweboswindows mobilewindows phoneWindowsMobileWindowsPhoneSun, 20 May 2012 18:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Distro Issue 41: a visit to the Lowcountry's Twelve South, TiVo Premiere XL4 and HTC EVO 4G LTE]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/distro-issue-41-twelve-south/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/distro-issue-41-twelve-south/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/distro-issue-41-twelve-south/#comments Distro Issue 41 features a visit to the Lowcountry home of Twelve South, TiVo Premiere XL4 and HTC EVO 4G LTE

It's the most wonderful time of the week once again, pals. Like most seven-day periods, this one comes to a close with the latest issue of our e-magazine for your gadget reading pleasure. Front and center this time around, our own Darren Murph pays a visit to the South Carolina HQ of accessory maker Twelve South to chat about making a big splash while staying small. On the review side of things, we take a gander at the TiVo Premiere XL4 and the HTC EVO 4G LTE to see how they stack up and we go hands-on with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon and Sounder's iOS app. Reaction Time makes an appearance too -- taking a long look at Max Payne 3 while listing this week's must-have game releases. The usual suspects fall in line as well, as you might expect. Switched On discusses RIM and Nokia, IRL sneaks a look in at our gear collections, former Doctor Who script editor Christopher H. Bidmead pauses for the Q&A and Dustin Harbin has the Last Word on what killed dinosaurs. Go ahead. Grab the device of your choice and hit the appropriate download link to grab a copy of this week's e-publication.

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Distro Issue 41: a visit to the Lowcountry's Twelve South, TiVo Premiere XL4 and HTC EVO 4G LTE originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>41cartooncartoonscomicdistrodustin harbinDustinHarbindvreditorialeditorialsengadgetengadget cartoonengadget comicengadget distroEngadgetCartoonEngadgetComicEngadgetDistroEngadgetIrlhands-onhdpostcrossIRLissue 41Issue41joystiqmobilepostcrossreaction timeReactionTimereviewreviewssmarswitched onSwitchedOntablet magazineTabletMagazinetwelve southTwelveSouthweeklyweekly magazineWeeklyMagazineFri, 18 May 2012 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: And smartplayers for all]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/13/and-smartplayers-for-all/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/13/and-smartplayers-for-all/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/13/and-smartplayers-for-all/#comments Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

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A few weeks ago, Switched On noted the challenges that even wildly popular, highly penetrated devices such as MP3 players and portable GPS devices have faced in the era of the converged device. Some of these devices, such as digital cameras, still hold on because of genuine advantages such as better image quality or optical zoom. For others devices, though, such as MP3 players and portable GPS devices, the grim news is that one of the main reasons consumers use them is to save smartphone battery life.

Continue reading Switched On: And smartplayers for all

Switched On: And smartplayers for all originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backup batteryBackupBatterycolumngalaxy playerGalaxyPlayeripadiphoneipodipod batteryIpodBatterymp3offline navigationOfflineNavigationrhapsodyslackersmartplayerSwitched OnswitchedontuneinSun, 13 May 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Distro Issue 40: the battle for smartphone dominance continues and we go hands-on at CTIA 2012]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/distro-issue-40-smartphone-battle-continues/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/distro-issue-40-smartphone-battle-continues/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/distro-issue-40-smartphone-battle-continues/#comments Distro Issue 40: the battle for smartphone dominance continues and we go hands-on at CTIA 2012

Having trouble with the barrage of smartphone news in recent weeks? Don't worry, we've got you covered in this Friday's edition of our e-publication. The focus this week is the on-going quest for the ultimate smartphone champion. In our search, we take a look at the recently outted Samsung Galaxy S III while putting both the AT&T HTC One X and the Sprint Galaxy Nexus through their paces. While he's a fan of their thin frames, Darren Murph demands better battery life in new laptops and his editorial offers some thoughts on the matter. Our hands-on section is all CTIA this week, as we look back at a handful of gadgets that caught our eye. Smartphone reviews just not doing the trick this week? Well, we take the Jawbone Big Jambox for a spin in this week's issue as well. Yes, all the regulars are here -- including Reaction Time with a word on The Avengers and Call of Duty. Stat takes a look at phone profits, Switched On tackles smartplayers, IRL takes another peek in our backpacks, Square's CTO Bob Lee gets cozy with the Q&A and Dustin Harbin offers the Last Word on excessive texters. So, grab a seat in your favorite reading chair and hit the download link of your choice to get your copy of our tablet mag.

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Distro Issue 40: the battle for smartphone dominance continues and we go hands-on at CTIA 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 May 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>40cartooncartoonscomicCTIACTIA 2012Ctia2012ctiawireless2012distroDustin HDustinHeditorialeditorialsengadgetengadget cartoonengadget comicengadget distroEngadgetCartoonEngadgetComicEngadgetDistrohands-onhdpostcrossIRLissue 40Issue40joystiqmobilepostcrossreaction timeReactionTimereviewreviewssmartphonesswitched onSwitchedOntablet magazineTabletMagazineweeklyweekly magazineWeeklyMagazineFri, 11 May 2012 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Competing by hook or by Nook]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/06/competing-by-hook-or-by-nook/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/06/competing-by-hook-or-by-nook/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/06/competing-by-hook-or-by-nook/#comments Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

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Microsoft has a long history of supporting bitter rivals -- even those that have long publicly disparaged the company, offering funds to Nokia, Corel and, most famously, Apple. It also has a long history of supporting e-reading. Prior to ending development last year, the company offered its Microsoft Reader software for about a decade -- first on handheld devices using Windows CE and Windows Mobile and later on desktop Windows. Those two traditions intersected yesterday as Microsoft invested in a new Nook e-book business designed to compete better against Apple and especially Amazon.com.

Continue reading Switched On: Competing by hook or by Nook

Switched On: Competing by hook or by Nook originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 May 2012 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columne booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readersross rubinRossRubinswitched onSwitchedOnSun, 06 May 2012 18:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Distro Issue 39 takes a look back at 40 years of Atari and the console's cultural impact]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/distro-issue-39-40-years-of-atari/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/distro-issue-39-40-years-of-atari/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/distro-issue-39-40-years-of-atari/#comments Distro Issue 39 takes a look back at 40 years of Atari and the console's cultural impact

If you're in the market for some weekend reading, we've got quite the issue of our weekly tablet mag in the hopper. James Trew takes a look back at 40 years of cultural impact at the hands of Atari in this installment's feature. It doesn't matter to Darren Murph that Apple isn't making an iPad / MacBook Air hybrid, he still wants one and he tells why. Keeping with the gaming theme, Ludwig Kietzmann asks if Trials Evolution is the perfect game in this week's Reaction Time. The hands-on section pays a visit to BlackBerry World while spending some time with Spotify's iPad app and Microsoft's new SkyDrive software offerings. On the reviews side of things, we put the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight, Acer Iconia Tab A510 and a duo of throwback mirrorless cameras through the wringer. Speaking of e-readers, Switched On offers some thoughts on the matter and IRL lets you in on three more of our go-to gadgets. If that's not enough, Stat shows how Android slates are feeling the Kindle Fire's heat, The Next Web's Martin Bryant has a go at the Q&A and Box Brown has the Last Word on a hero's required pixel density. Ready to feed that retro gaming appetite? Visit your link of choice below to grab a copy of the weekly to get started.

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Distro Issue 39 takes a look back at 40 years of Atari and the console's cultural impact originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 May 2012 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>39appleatariBox BrownBoxBrowncartooncartoonscomicdistroeditorialeditorialsengadgetengadget cartoonengadget comicengadget distroEngadgetCartoonEngadgetComicEngadgetDistrohands-onhdpostcrossIRLissue 39Issue39joystiqmobilepostcrossreaction timeReactionTimereviewreviewsswitched onSwitchedOntablet magazineTabletMagazineweeklyweekly magazineWeeklyMagazineFri, 04 May 2012 09:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Big kicks, not all for starters]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/29/big-kicks-not-all-for-starters/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/29/big-kicks-not-all-for-starters/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/29/big-kicks-not-all-for-starters/#comments Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

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The end of last week's Switched On left doubt for the future of dedicated devices that tread on the turf of smartphones. After all, funding is key to every major new product initiative and, despite the vast fortunes of many Silicon Valley engineers that have been accumulated via IPOs and acquisitions, few wish to take on the risk of fronting a new consumer device themselves.(In 2007, the handheld FlipStart PC was hatched from FlipStart Labs, funded by Vulcan Ventures, the investment arm of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.)

Most venture capitalists abhor the device business; it is a rare device that makes it to the spotlight of startup debutante balls such as DEMO, TechCrunch Disrupt, or Launch. Even most of the 94 companies at CES' Eureka Park were not developing end-user devices Where, then, can a device entrepreneur go for funding and pick up some publicity in the process?

Continue reading Switched On: Big kicks, not all for starters

Switched On: Big kicks, not all for starters originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloudftpcolumndevelopmentdevicesEureka ParkEurekaParkFlipstartLabshyperdriveinpulsekickstartermicrosoftpebbleSanhoSanho HyperDriveSanhoHyperdriveSmartWatchSwitched OnswitchedonSun, 29 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: When the smartphone giveth, Part 2]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/22/when-the-smartphone-giveth-part-2/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/22/when-the-smartphone-giveth-part-2/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/22/when-the-smartphone-giveth-part-2/#comments Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.



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In case you missed it, Part I of this article can be found here

Last week's Switched On discussed the Slacker Portable, Sony eMarker and TrafficGauge, three dedicated devices that didn't make it but saw their functionality ultimately realized via smartphones. But there have been other idea for which the idea ultimately proved popular as smartphone bits rather than separately packaged atoms.

Continue reading Switched On: When the smartphone giveth, Part 2

Switched On: When the smartphone giveth, Part 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnKodak EasyshareKodakEasysharemodo.netross rubinRossRubinsmart displaySmartDisplaysmartphonesswitched onSwitchedOnSun, 22 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: When the smartphone giveth, Part 1]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/15/when-the-smartphone-giveth-part-1/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/15/when-the-smartphone-giveth-part-1/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/15/when-the-smartphone-giveth-part-1/#comments Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

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Part II of this article will be coming next week -- stay tuned!

The rise of smartphones hasn't been kind to makers of devices such as digital cameras, digital music players and portable GPS devices. Handsets with a rich selection of apps have been increasingly cannibalizing sales of these products, leaving few ways for these once hot holiday gift items to compete. In some cases, though, they have enabled functionality that was once envisioned for standalone products that either failed in the market or never went much beyond a niche audience. Here are five examples of failed devices that never made much headway. The concepts behind them, though, ultimately found acceptance on smartphones.

Continue reading Switched On: When the smartphone giveth, Part 1

Switched On: When the smartphone giveth, Part 1 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appcolumneMarkergooglekludgynavigationoutdatedperipheralsretroshazamslackersmarphoneSonysoundhoundswitched onswitchedonTrafficgaugewazeSun, 15 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Not weaned from Windows]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/08/not-weaned-from-windows/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/08/not-weaned-from-windows/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/08/not-weaned-from-windows/#comments Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

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This recent announcement that Dell would not be pursuing new smartphones for the time being following the retirement of its Venue Windows Phone devices raised the spotlight on PC companies -- at least those other than Apple -- and why they have struggled so mightily in the US smartphone market. Virtually every major PC company, including HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, Toshiba and ASUS, has either passed completely on entering the domestic market or released only a handful of models without much carrier support behind them. HP, of course, made the largest investment in mobile with the purchase of an ailing developer of devices and operating systems. But even before that Palm slapped its forehead, HP had only casually flirted with smartphones, releasing a few token Windows Mobile smartphones.

PC companies have been fighting the battle with some heavy handicaps.

To be fair to these companies, the investment demands of the ultra-competitive smartphone market have proven formidable for many companies, including many, like Motorola, Nokia and RIM, that were once considered masters of the game. Even companies that have not seen such a prolonged decline, like HTC, can find the tables turned on them in the course of a financial quarter. But PC companies have been fighting the battle with some heavy handicaps.

Continue reading Switched On: Not weaned from Windows

Switched On: Not weaned from Windows originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AcerAMDARMASUScolumncompetitive marketCompetitiveMarketDelldisqusGoogleHPHTCLenovomicrosoftmobilemotorolaNIVIDIAnokiaOEMQualcommSamsungsmartphone marketSmartphoneMarketSwitched onswitchedonTexas InstrumentsTexasInstrumentsToshibawebOSwindowsWindows mobileWindowsMobileSun, 08 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Angry Nerds]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/01/angry-nerds/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/01/angry-nerds/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/01/angry-nerds/#comments ImageOh no! The evil pigs of purchase inhibition taken the valuable eggs of smartphone desire and captured them within a complex structure. Fortunately, there are a number of powerful birds that can be slung through the air, space or various sets of children's movies to smash down the structure. Why can't they just fly through the air since they're birds, you may ask? Gee, you sure ask a lot of questions. Just plunk down your $0.99 and gear up for in-app purchases for these valuable premiums.

Continue reading Switched On: Angry Nerds

Switched On: Angry Nerds originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidangry birdsangry nerdsAngryBirdsAngryNerdsblackberryblackberry 10Blackberry10columnIcecreamsandwichICSipadmetromicrosoftplaybookRIMswitched onswitchedonwindowswindows8windowsmetroSun, 01 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Tablets are toys. No, really.]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/25/tablets-are-toys-no-really/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/25/tablets-are-toys-no-really/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/25/tablets-are-toys-no-really/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
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Ever since the tablet market exploded, we've seen a wide range of designs find both success and failure. But most of the tablets on the market have something in common: they are primarily designed for adults or at least children old enough to be responsible for a fragile device. Particularly for the popular iPad, we have seen a number of specialized cases design to protect the tablet for use with young ones. But a small cadre of tablets aimed specifically at kids -- including preschoolers -- begs several questions. Are tablets good tools for kids? Is there value in optimizing them for kids? And if so, how should they be optimized?

Continue reading Switched On: Tablets are toys. No, really.

Switched On: Tablets are toys. No, really. originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>childrenchildrens tabletsChildrensTabletsdiscovery bayDiscoveryBaydisneyiPadkidsmattelNabioregon scientificOregonScientificsmartphonesswitched onswitchedontabletVinciSun, 25 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Extra Sensory Perception]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/18/extra-sensory-perception/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/18/extra-sensory-perception/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/18/extra-sensory-perception/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

At Intel's CES 2012 press conference, the giant chipmaker justified calling thin notebook PCs "ultrabooks" by noting how the devices would increasingly be characterized by more than their thinness.

The integration of sensors has become so core to the modern smartphone experience that their absence would make using such devices untenable.

Most of that differentiation was based on plans to integrate the kinds of sensors that have become commonplace in smartphones and tablets, sensors that can detect location, motion, orientation and proximity. The integration of sensors has become so core to the modern smartphone experience that their absence would make using such devices untenable. Imagine if we had to manually reorient a display every time we wanted to play a game or take a photo or if we had to avoid activating a button with our cheeks when holding a phone against them.

But as Switched On discussed in taking on how screen size affects form factors, what is a limitation of form factor today may not hold true tomorrow. Already, of course, smartphones can tap into remote intelligence for applications such as remote camera viewing or unlocking of doors via services from home security companies such as ADT and Vivint. From around the world, you can even remotely start a vehicle using the Viper SmartStart app. But there are increasing opportunities for smartphones to act on information from sensors that are not embedded into their shells.

Continue reading Switched On: Extra Sensory Perception

Switched On: Extra Sensory Perception originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerometerADTappconnectivitygyroscopeinfraredintegrationintelkickstarterlocationmotionnodesensorsmartphoneSmartStartswitched onswitchedontabletTWINEultrabooksVivintSun, 18 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: The iPad's landscape orientation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/11/switched-on-the-ipads-landscape-orientation/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/11/switched-on-the-ipads-landscape-orientation/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/11/switched-on-the-ipads-landscape-orientation/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
The two major classes of tablet seeking to grab a share of the iPad's market have in many ways been driven by operating system advances. Windows 8 will bring the new Metro user interface and ARM support to allow what has historically been the more powerful PC class to scale down. Android 4.0 unifies the platform's tablet and smartphone operating systems, encouraging it to take better advantage of the larger screen capabilities and scale up.

Indeed, the full potential of the new iPad won't be known until the release of iOS 6 to fuel Apple's historically tight pairing of hardware and software; that other shoe will likely drop at its developer conference in June. Despite the lack of a new operating system or form factor, the third-generation iPad and its now price-reduced predecessor have set the stage for how Apple plans to defend against Android and Windows tablets.

Continue reading Switched On: The iPad's landscape orientation

Switched On: The iPad's landscape orientation originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleform factorFormFactoriosipadipad 3ipad hdIpad3IpadHdnew ipadNewIpadross rubinRossRubinslateswitched onSwitchedOntabletthird-genSun, 11 Mar 2012 22:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Metro and the Mac]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/04/switched-on-metro-and-the-mac/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/04/switched-on-metro-and-the-mac/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/04/switched-on-metro-and-the-mac/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

With the release of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, more consumers can more easily experience Metro, along with Metro-style apps. With this new approach, Microsoft is making the most radical shift in user interface it's ever attempted -- a change so drastic it will supplant the desktop as the default user experience.

Continue reading Switched On: Metro and the Mac

Switched On: Metro and the Mac originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleappscolumnGarageBandiMovieiPadiWorkMetroMetro styleMetroStylemicrosoftPageMakerPhotoshopSwitched Onswitchedonuser experienceUserExperienceWindows 8windows app storeWindows8WindowsAppStoreSun, 04 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Mountain Lion brings iOS apps, malware traps]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/switched-on-mountain-lion-brings-ios-apps-malware-traps/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/switched-on-mountain-lion-brings-ios-apps-malware-traps/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/switched-on-mountain-lion-brings-ios-apps-malware-traps/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

According to Wikipedia, the mountain lion, also known as the cougar, is distinguished by having the greatest range of any large wild terrestrial animal in the Western Hemisphere. Indeed, from what we've seen so far of Apple's forthcoming Mac operating system, its new features will likely find favor with a broader range of Apple users than Lion.

Continue reading Switched On: Mountain Lion brings iOS apps, malware traps

Switched On: Mountain Lion brings iOS apps, malware traps originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecolumnfeaturesgatekeeperiCloudiOSiPadLionMacMac os xMacOsXmalwaremirroringmountain lionMountainLionnewNotificationsos xOsXRemindersSwitched OnswitchedonSun, 26 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Think form factors, not PCs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/19/switched-on-think-form-factors-not-pcs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/19/switched-on-think-form-factors-not-pcs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/19/switched-on-think-form-factors-not-pcs/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.


The iPad, launched in 2010, kicked off the post-PC era. The combination of a multitouch display and keyboard-less design enabled mobile computing in a way not done before. On the other hand, maybe the IBM Simon, launched in 1992, kicked off the post-PC era. Widely considered to be the first smartphone, it enabled mobile computing in a way that was not done before. Then again, maybe the Osborne I, launched in 1981, marked the beginning of the post-PC era. After all, it was widely considered to be the first portable computer, enabling mobile computing in a way that was not done before.

Continue reading Switched On: Think form factors, not PCs

Switched On: Think form factors, not PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columndesignIBMinput technologiesInputTechnologiesinterfaceipadMac OSMacOsmobile OSMobileOsOSOsborne IOsborneIpost PC eraPostPcEraproductivityslatesswitched onSwitchedOntabletsToshibatouchWindows 8Windows8Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: The fit and the pendulum]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/12/switched-on-the-fit-and-the-pendulum/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/12/switched-on-the-fit-and-the-pendulum/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/12/switched-on-the-fit-and-the-pendulum/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.


In the pre-smartphone era, the industry focused on making cell phones smaller. In the 2001 movie Zoolander, the title character played by Ben Stiller uses a humorously diminutive flip phone closer to the size of a Bluetooth headset than the StarTAC it parodies. But if the movie were being made today (IMDB lists a sequel slated for 2014), the fictional male model might hold up an iPad 2 or Toshiba Excite to his head: particularly since 2010, phones have been expanding to accommodate their sprawling displays.

Continue reading Switched On: The fit and the pendulum

Switched On: The fit and the pendulum originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ATTbluetoothcellcellphonecolumnEVOGalaxy NexusGalaxyNexusHP VeerHpVeerHTClarge displaysLargeDisplaysLTEphabletRAZR MAXXRazrMaxxSamsungsmartphoneSwitched Onswitchedontablet phoneTabletPhonewebOSSun, 12 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: New world recorder]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/switched-on-new-world-recorder/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/switched-on-new-world-recorder/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/switched-on-new-world-recorder/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.


When it comes to time-shifting television viewing, the conversation these days usually involves premium streaming services -- namely, Netflix and Hulu Plus. But consumers routinely shell out more than they do for either of these services -- in fact, sometimes more than for both of them combined -- simply to have more convenient access to the television from their existing cable or satellite subscriptions. Not only that, they're often willing to put up with a large, relatively noisy (and failure-prone!) box for this privilege. That box is the digital video recorder.

Continue reading Switched On: New world recorder

Switched On: New world recorder originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blockbustercable providerCableProvidercolumnDishhome tvHomeTvHuluHulu plusHuluPlusNetflixrecorderReplay TVReplayTvsatellite tvSatelliteTvSimple.TvSRS TruVolumeSrsTruvolumestreaming tvStreamingTvswitched onSwitchedOntvVideoNowSun, 05 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: You tell me it's the institution]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/apple-ibooks-learning-education-schools/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/apple-ibooks-learning-education-schools/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/apple-ibooks-learning-education-schools/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Apple rose to dominate sales of digital music by more or less mirroring the way consumers acquired music in the physical world -- that is, purchasing songs, but providing a greater degree of granularity. This worked well for music and has also held true for apps and best-selling books, but hasn't been as in step with consumer media acquisition habits for other content.

For example, before Apple brought sales of video material to iTunes, most consumers did not generally own TV shows except for perhaps a few cherished series on DVD. They either watched them as they aired as part of a cable-like subscription or paid a flat monthly fee for the privilege of recording them on a DVR to be viewed after they aired. Furthermore, both Blockbuster physical stores and later Netflix's DVD by mail feature relied on a system of one-time consumption via rental or subscription that eschewed ownership of movies. And today, Vevo.com offers free streaming of many music videos that Apple still seeks to sell.

Continue reading Switched On: You tell me it's the institution

Switched On: You tell me it's the institution originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecollegecolumne booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readerse-textbooke-textbookseducationhigh schoolHighSchoolibook authorIbookAuthoribooksibooks 2ibooks authorIbooks2IbooksAuthoriosipadipad 2Ipad2iPhoneitunesitunes storeItunesStorelearningmusicswitched onSwitchedOntextbooktextbooksSun, 29 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Connected Electronics Show]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/22/switched-on-CES-connected-electronics-show/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/22/switched-on-CES-connected-electronics-show/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/22/switched-on-CES-connected-electronics-show/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Compared to CES 2011, which featured an explosion of tablets and high-powered smartphones poised to jump on emerging 4G networks, this year's edition of Gear and Gloating in Las Vegas was a more muted affair when it came to mobile devices. Sure, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile trotted out a few devices and there were even a few standouts, such as the Transformer Primesque Lenovo IdeaTab S2 with its its docking keyboard as well as the heavily promoted Galaxy Note, coming soon the U.S. after launching in Europe.

Continue reading Switched On: Connected Electronics Show

Switched On: Connected Electronics Show originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4gAppleBoxeeces 2012Ces2012CetoncolumnDishDVREyefiG.hnGalaxy NoteGalaxyNoteGoFLex SatelliteGoflexSatelliteHomeGridHomePlugIdeaTab S2IdeatabS2LTEOLED TVOledTvRokuSimplet.TVsmartphonesswitched onSwitchedOntabletsTaggVoxxSun, 22 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: The three Ds of CES TV]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/switched-on-the-three-ds-of-ces-tv/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/switched-on-the-three-ds-of-ces-tv/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/switched-on-the-three-ds-of-ces-tv/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.


The walls of Las Vegas casinos -- devoid of clocks and windows -- form chambers in which time loses its mastery over the existence of those who dwell within them. So is it too for the products on display at CES, which run the gamut from things currently in stores to concept products that may not materialize for years, if ever.

Nonetheless, with Mobile World Congress and the CTIA Wireless show still vying for the attention of handset introductions and Apple and Microsoft relying more on their own events for major PC OS announcements, television remains a staple of the show, with nearly all major U.S. brands having a presence on the show floor or off-site. At CES 2012, one can surely still expect a lot of focus on 3D television. Increasingly, though, three other "D"s are coming to represent the direction of television.

Continue reading Switched On: The three Ds of CES TV

Switched On: The three Ds of CES TV originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AmazonApplebluerayCESces 2012Ces2012columnCTIAHDTVhighdefinitionMicrosoftMobile World CongressMobileWorldCongressNetflixswitched onSwitchedOntelevisionTVSun, 08 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: The 2011 Switchies]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/01/switched-on-the-2011-switchies/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/01/switched-on-the-2011-switchies/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/01/switched-on-the-2011-switchies/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.


It's that special time of year between the post-holiday sales and the pre-CES hype that presents an opportunity to consider some of the most innovative devices of the year. Switched On is proud to present the Saluting Wares Improving Technology's Contribution to Humanity awards, also known as The Switchies. This year marks the sixth annual Switchies, which are decided based on a rigorous examination of the opinion of me, and do not reflect the opinion of Engadget or its editors. For that latter honor, nominees will need to win an Engadget Award. Let's roll out the red carpet then.

Continue reading Switched On: The 2011 Switchies

Switched On: The 2011 Switchies originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d cinema displays3dCinemaDisplaysapple samsungAppleSamsungASUS Eee PadAsusEeePadcolumndroid razorDroidRazorgalaxy nexusGalaxyNexusipad 2Ipad2iPhone 4sIphone4sLenovaLGlytromacbook airMacbookAirMOTOACTVPocketFinderRoku 2 XSRoku2Xsswitched onSwitchedOntransformer primeTransformerPrimeWimmWIMM LabsWIMM OneWimmLabsWimmOneSun, 01 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: The year of reversal]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/witched-on-the-year-of-reversal/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/witched-on-the-year-of-reversal/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/witched-on-the-year-of-reversal/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.


Back in 2005, Switched On dubbed its first full year of existence "The Year of the Switch" as IBM sold its PC business to Lenovo, Apple announced plans to leave the PowerPC platform for Macs and Microsoft moved to PowerPC processors for the XBox 360. But the dramatic reversals we saw in 2011 made even some of those decisions look tame by comparison.

Continue reading Switched On: The year of reversal

Switched On: The year of reversal originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeattcolumnflashflash playerFlashPlayerhpmangomicrosoftnokiaswitched onSwitchedOnweboswindows phonewindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7Sun, 25 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Open source, open issues for webOS]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/switched-on-open-source-open-issues-for-webos/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/switched-on-open-source-open-issues-for-webos/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/switched-on-open-source-open-issues-for-webos/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.


HP's decision to contribute webOS to the open source community represents, at the very least, a detour from the company's plans to "double down" on the operating system acquired from Palm, Inc. The good news for fans of the OS is that HP will continue to invest in the software's development, albeit probably not at the unsustainable rate at which it was going it alone. And for webOS fans, the decision is certainly more favorable than another possibility that HP considered -- ending the development of webOS software as abruptly as it ended the hardware..

Still, webOS faces an uphill climb if it is to emerge as a viable option for device makers. HP itself says that it may not enter the webOS device market again until 2013 and we've seen no public statements from other major device makers champing at the bit to build devices based on the software, at least not in its current state. That means that the addressable market for webOS updates is the relatively meager installed base of TouchPads and the handful of Pres, Veers and Pixis, and many owners of those smartphones will likely move on as their contracts expire..

Continue reading Switched On: Open source, open issues for webOS

Switched On: Open source, open issues for webOS originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidAsuscolumnHPiOSMeeGoMicrosoftopen sourceopen-sourceOpenSourceOSpalmPixisRIMsoftwareSwitched onswitchedonTouchPadswebOSThu, 22 Dec 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: A road trip with Siri]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/11/switched-on-a-road-trip-with-siri/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/11/switched-on-a-road-trip-with-siri/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/11/switched-on-a-road-trip-with-siri/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
When considering the great technology advances of the past few decades, GPS tends to get short shrift compared to such culture-rocking innovations as the internet and cellular networks. But it is a marvel nonetheless. Just a few generations ago, the idea of hopping in a car with no clue how to get to a particular destination was foolishness (or at least fodder for gender-stereotyping comedians). Today, with an inexpensive device or smartphone software, we can do so with near certainty of finding our way.

Developers of navigation apps and hardware must place great care in creating an experience that doesn't unnecessarily distract the driver. For example, quite a few involve "lane assist" features that starkly indicate the options when coming to a fork in the road so that the driver avoids having to stare at the screen too long to figure out the right path. In addition, spoken instructions have long been a defining commodity. While Telenav, for example, offers a free version of its navigation app, it doesn't include such audio. And Nokia recently followed suit with its distribution strategy around Nokia Drive, leaving the version with spoken turn-by-turn directions exclusive to its Windows Phones.

Continue reading Switched On: A road trip with Siri

Switched On: A road trip with Siri originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecolumnGPSios5iphoneiphone 4sIphone4snavigation appsNavigationAppsNokia DriveNokiaDriveSat NavSatNavSiriswitched onSwitchedOnTelenavtransportationWazeSun, 11 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Keeping the 'app' out of Apple's TV]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/04/switched-on-keeping-the-app-out-of-apples-tv/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/04/switched-on-keeping-the-app-out-of-apples-tv/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/04/switched-on-keeping-the-app-out-of-apples-tv/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Rumors continue to heat up that Apple will enter the television market next year, stepping up its Apple TV "hobby" into a greater revenue-generating vocation. The company would clearly like to repeat the kind of rousing success it has seen in smartphones. There, it entered a market at least as crowded and competitive as that for televisions whereas most of its Windows rivals have barely been able to eke out a few models with nominal share.

Indeed, the challenge is not as much about competition as commoditization. At first glance, this would be a curious time for Apple to enter the TV space. The HD and flat-panel transitions on which premium manufacturer brands and retailers once feasted has long passed. "Flat-panel TV" and "HDTV" are now just "TV." And prices for smaller sets are settling into a range familiar to those who remember what they cost back in the heyday of CRTs.

Continue reading Switched On: Keeping the 'app' out of Apple's TV

Switched On: Keeping the 'app' out of Apple's TV originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appapp storeAppleAppStorecablecolumnNetflixSIRIswitched onSwitchedOntvSun, 04 Dec 2011 20:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: HTC goes back to the feature]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/27/switched-on-htc-goes-back-to-the-future/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/27/switched-on-htc-goes-back-to-the-future/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/27/switched-on-htc-goes-back-to-the-future/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Motorola's Droid RAZR takes enough pages out of the classic textbook of smartphone differentiation to assemble its own chapter. It sets a new standard for thinness in LTE devices, uses leading-edge display technology, resists flexing, glass breakage and water damage, has a striking design and thoughtfully selected materials, stretches battery life, matches with a bevy of optimized accessories, and enables remote file and media access via Motocast software . Who's it for? Just about any Verizon customer willing to pony up.

Its rival HTC has also long played the one-upsmanship game. It has invested in a software layer designed to have populist appeal. Moreover, it has catered to US carriers' priorities by being first out of the gate to support T-Mobile's 3G network (with the first Android phone, the G1) and Sprint's and Verizon's 4G efforts, as well as one of two to initially support AT&T's LTE network.

Continue reading Switched On: HTC goes back to the feature

Switched On: HTC goes back to the feature originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the 1988 comedy Coming to America, a blatant McDonald's rip-off named McDowell's draws the legal ire of the empire built by Ray Kroc. In explaining his pathetic defense that includes noting that McDowell's uses golden arcs instead of golden arches, the eatery's manager notes that while both the Big Mac and his Big Mick both include the 1970s jingle-immortalized ingredients of two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions, the McDowell's flagship burger bun has, in fact, no sesame seeds.

This state of differentiation isn't a far cry from what characterized some of the earliest 10-inch Honeycomb devices -- a few fractions of an inch of thickness, a higher-quality display, a full-sized USB port, an hour or two of running time and some bundled apps constituted how many of the tablets asserted their competitiveness. Of course, there was the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer with its keyboard add-on and its follow up, the Eee Pad Slider, which finally brought an integrated one. But whether it's been from a lack of options for manufacturers or disadvantages of the overall Honeycomb approach, larger Android tablets have made limited inroads versus the similarly sized iPad and are now going after it more aggressively on price.

Continue reading Switched On: Between a Nook and a hard place

Switched On: Between a Nook and a hard place originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonandroidandroid tabletAndroidTabletb and nBAndNbarnes and nobleBarnesAndNoblecolumne booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readersgooglehoneycombipadkindle fireKindleFireLenovonooknook colornook tabletNookColorNookTabletSwitchedOntablettabletsSun, 20 Nov 2011 17:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Next for the nano]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/13/switched-on-next-for-the-nano/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/13/switched-on-next-for-the-nano/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/13/switched-on-next-for-the-nano/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

For all the grousing about the minimal changes from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S, Apple's fastest smartphone incorporates sweeping shifts compared to what the company did with its iPod line. From keeping the waning iPod classic in the lineup to leaving the still-potent iPod touch untouched save for a blanching and price reduction, the venerable digital media player line seemed all but ignored at a time of year when Apple once primed the holiday pump for MP3 players.

Yet, while the iPod touch may not have received the processor boost or Siri-ousness of the iPhone 4S, it at least continues to remain vibrant via access to Apple's app store. That's not the case for the nano, once the flagship of the line. While Apple's smallest touchscreen device gained new software that enlarged the main icons and brought new clock faces, these improvements are also being offered to owners of the last-generation iPod nano via a software update.

Continue reading Switched On: Next for the nano

Switched On: Next for the nano originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecolumnipadipodipod nanoIpodNanonanoswitched onSwitchedOnSun, 13 Nov 2011 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Motorola's manic modularity]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/06/switched-on-motorolas-manic-modularity/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/06/switched-on-motorolas-manic-modularity/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/06/switched-on-motorolas-manic-modularity/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

When newly independent Motorola Mobility introduced its Atrix handset on AT&T at CES, the smartphone was generally well-received. But what drew more attention was the range of accessories that the company has continued to support through other high-end launches such as those of the Photon on Sprint and the Droid Bionic on Verizon.

These products now include a car dock for navigation, HDMI dock for entertainment, and lapdock for enhanced productivity. Motorola wasn't the first company to introduce an HDMI dock, and Asus' Padfone embeds a handset more directly into another device than do Motorola's products. Taken together, though, the Motorola dock derby best positions the handset as the heart of a mobile lifestyle -- one that can be easily transplanted so that it can overcome the limitations of its native form factor. It is a fitting push for one of the few smartphone companies not vested in other traditional electronic devices such as PCs or televisions.

Continue reading Switched On: Motorola's manic modularity

Switched On: Motorola's manic modularity originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atrixcolumngooglelapdockmobilepostcrossmotorolamotorola mobilityMotorolaMobilityswitched onSwitchedOnSun, 06 Nov 2011 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: The clamshell mystique]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/30/switched-on-the-clamshell-mystique/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/30/switched-on-the-clamshell-mystique/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/30/switched-on-the-clamshell-mystique/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

In 2009, Switched On discussed the potential of Android on netbooks, finding an uneasy match between what was then high-flying hardware and still nascent software. More than two years later, though, the tables have turned in terms of momentum. As netbooks have settled into a relatively small part of the overall PC market, Android is leaping beyond the smartphone. In doing so, though, it is focused on tablets, not clamshells,

There are a few ways today to get Android on a diminutive notebook, but all have major flaws. On eBay, for example, you can buy cheaply made 7-inch Android netbooks for about $100. These are little more than novelties with poor ergonomics and battery life. Or one can download the Android x86 distribution and fire it up on an Asus Eee or other netbooks, but this is a hobbyist pursuit.

Continue reading Switched On: The clamshell mystique

Switched On: The clamshell mystique originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnSwitched OnSwitchedOnSun, 30 Oct 2011 22:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Android's tablet traversal]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/23/switched-on-androids-tablet-traversal/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/23/switched-on-androids-tablet-traversal/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/23/switched-on-androids-tablet-traversal/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

At AsiaD this week, Google's Andy Rubin noted that there were at least six million Android tablets in use. That number included only those running Google services. One could question whether the briskly selling Nook Color -- which is not open to Android apps at large -- is relevant to that tally, at least from a developer perspective. It will certainly be the case, though, that the Kindle Fire -- also expected to be a hot seller -- will be an important addition to the number moving forward.

Still, Rubin conceded, it was a tally far behind that of the 30 million cumulative units of the iPad, which broke open the modern-day tablet category, extended its lead with the iPad 2, and will likely see another revision this coming spring. When Apple introduced its tablet device, it set a precedent for third-party developers by rewriting core applications to take advantage of the iPad's larger display with "HD" versions. And while there are still far fewer native iPad apps than iPhone apps, Apple is far ahead in the race for native tablet software.

But not everyone wants to join that race.

Continue reading Switched On: Android's tablet traversal

Switched On: Android's tablet traversal originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all things dAllThingsDandroidandroid 3.0android 4.0android tabletAndroid3.0Android4.0AndroidTabletasiadasiad 2011Asiad2011googlegoogle androidGoogleAndroidhoneycombice cream sandwichIceCreamSandwichicsslateSwitched OnSwitchedOntablettablet pcTabletPcSun, 23 Oct 2011 16:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: As Siri gets serious]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/16/switched-on-as-siri-gets-serious/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/16/switched-on-as-siri-gets-serious/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/16/switched-on-as-siri-gets-serious/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Nearly 15 years passed between Apple's first foray into handheld electronics -- the Newton MessagePad -- and the far more successful iPhone. But while phones have replaced PDAs for all intents and purposes, few if any have tried to be what Newton really aspired to -- an intelligent assistant that would seamlessly blend into your life. That has changed with Siri, the standout feature of iOS 5 on the iPhone 4S, which could aptly be described as a "personal digital assistant" if there weren't so much baggage tied to that term.

Siri is far more than parlor entertainment or a simple leapfrogging the voice control support in Android and Windows Phone. At the other end of the potential spectrum, Siri may not be a new platform in itself (although at this point Apple has somewhat sandboxed the experience). In any case, though, Siri certainly paves the way for voice as an important component for a rich multi-input digital experience. It steps toward the life-management set of functionality that the bow-tied agent immortalized in Apple's 1987 Knowledge Navigator video could achieve.

Continue reading Switched On: As Siri gets serious

Switched On: As Siri gets serious originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Oct 2011 21:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiappleapple iphoneapple iphone 4apple iphone 4sAppleIphoneAppleIphone4AppleIphone4sartificial intelligenceArtificialIntelligencecolumniosios 5Ios5iphone 4iphone 4sIphone4Iphone4smobilepostcrosspersonal assistantPersonalAssistantsirismartphoneswitched onSwitchedOnSun, 16 Oct 2011 21:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: The four Ses of the iPhone 4S]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/09/switched-on-the-four-ses-of-the-iphone-4s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/09/switched-on-the-four-ses-of-the-iphone-4s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/09/switched-on-the-four-ses-of-the-iphone-4s/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

The most surprising thing about the iPhone 4S is that people were surprised by the iPhone 4S, for there is ample precedent to the company both confining upgrades largely to a speed bump and to saying no to a host of potential new features. As to the former, the iPhone 4S is straight out of the playbook of Apple's successful upgrade of the Apple 3G to the 3GS, although the competition wasn't as strong as it is today.

Similarly, when Apple first lowered the price of the iPod touch below $200 in 2009 amidst widespread speculation that it would add a front-facing camera for FaceTime (which it did in the next generation), the company noted that it didn't think the product needed any more "stuff." So, what, then, defines the iPhone 4S? The differentiators can be thought of as four "Ses."

Continue reading Switched On: The four Ses of the iPhone 4S

Switched On: The four Ses of the iPhone 4S originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple iphoneapple iphone 4apple iphone 4sAppleIphoneAppleIphone4AppleIphone4scolumniosios 5Ios5iphoneiphone 4iphone 4sIphone4Iphone4smobilepostcrosssmartphoneswitched onSwitchedOnSun, 09 Oct 2011 20:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Assets in gear]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/02/switched-on-assets-in-gear/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/02/switched-on-assets-in-gear/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/02/switched-on-assets-in-gear/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Ecosystems take years to build and depend on other companies. Really, who has the time these days? Plus, they kick in only if a product reaches critical mass. Microsoft and SanDisk demonstrated the risk a few years back with their digital media players in seeding the market with third-party cases and docks using their own proprietary and now abandoned connectors. Over the past year, though, we've seen a number of tech companies take a new approach to mobile product development -- the corporate showcase -- where they convincingly shun any notion of silos by throwing just about everything they've got into a product.

Continue reading Switched On: Assets in gear

Switched On: Assets in gear originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindle fireAmazonKindleFireandroidandroid tabletAndroidTabletcolumne booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readersfirekindlekindle fireKindleFiremicrosoftsonyswitched onSwitchedOntablettablet sTabletSwindowswindows 7windows 8Windows7Windows8Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: No new wires, one new caveat]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/25/switched-on-no-new-wires-one-new-caveat/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/25/switched-on-no-new-wires-one-new-caveat/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/25/switched-on-no-new-wires-one-new-caveat/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

In the decade that WiFi has blanketed home networks across the United States, several technologies aimed at using existing wiring in the home have met with limited success. These have included MoCA (Multimedia over Coax, which has been adopted by some service providers for implementing multi-room DVRs) and HomePNA (originally for phone lines but later expanded to coax cable as well). At least three dueling standards have also sought to bring high-speed connectivity over electrical wiring. HomePlug, the most successful of these, has had several iterations. The latest - HomePlug AV - is rated at a theoretical throughput of 200 Mbits/sec. However, power line technologies have been held back by high prices and occasional interoperability problems.

But a new approach seeks to be the one protocol to rule them all, operating over phone lines, power lines or coax. Dubbed G.hn, the ITU standard promises up to 1Gbps theoretical throughput, with real-world usage over electrical lines expected to reach between 250Mbps and 400Mbps. If that sounds appealing to you, you're not alone. Service providers like the idea of G.hn since it allows them more flexibility than previous efforts. In fact, they like it so much that -- despite G.hn's capacity -- they have insisted on quality of service standards that could limit or prevent consumers from installing it themselves after they buy adapters from retailers.

Continue reading Switched On: No new wires, one new caveat

Switched On: No new wires, one new caveat originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnG.hnghnhdpostcrossHomePlugHomePlug AVHomeplugAvHomePNAituMoCAnetworkingpowerlinepowerline networkingPowerlineNetworkingprotocolstandardstreamstreamingswitched onSwitchedOnwireless streamingWirelessStreamingSun, 25 Sep 2011 20:14:00 EST