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[Facebook PS Vita app hits US PlayStation Store]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/facebook-ps-vita-app-hits-us-playstation-store/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/facebook-ps-vita-app-hits-us-playstation-store/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/facebook-ps-vita-app-hits-us-playstation-store/#comments Although the PlayStation Vita's official US launch brought with it the pleasures of LiveTweeting, WiFi-only Netflix access and Flickr's photo-based networking, its Facebook and Foursquare apps were curiously absent. Today that's partially changed, however, as Sony's announced that the service that Zuckerberg built is now available as a free 12MB download from the PlayStation Store (on the wall of its PlayStation Facebook profile no less). We've gained access to the social network without a hitch, so be sure to let us know how it goes on your side of the screen in the comments. Hopefully it's more pleasing than AR table soccer.

Gallery: PS Vita Facebook app screenshots (US)



[Thanks, Mauricio]

Facebook PS Vita app hits US PlayStation Store originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appfacebookMark ZuckerbergMarkZuckerbergminipostplaystationPlayStation Storeplaystation store usPlaystationStorePlaystationStoreUsps vitaPsVitasceasocial networkingSocialNetworkingSONYusvitaWed, 22 Feb 2012 22:43:00 EST<![CDATA['Select' PS Vita apps hit the US PlayStation Store: Netflix, LiveTweet and Flickr (Update: video hands-on)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/select-ps-vita-apps-hit-the-us-playstation-store-netflix-liv/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/select-ps-vita-apps-hit-the-us-playstation-store-netflix-liv/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/select-ps-vita-apps-hit-the-us-playstation-store-netflix-liv/#comments Did you just brave the lines of a midnight launch party and snag yourself a PS Vita in the US? Good news ye early adopters, Sony's PlayStation.Blog.US has just announced that select free apps will be available as part of today's PlayStation Store update. Currently, you'll find Netflix, LiveTweet and Flickr, but there's still nary of trace of Facebook or Foursquare among the bunch (nor any official word on release dates for that matter). We gave each app a download and quick spin prior to them being officially listed without much in the way of hiccups -- however, Netflix does take its sweet time to start-up. Disappointingly, Vita's 20MB cap on 3G data is totally in effect on Netflix, as switching to our cellular connection denied us any access to the service. We're giving the apps some extended use to bring you our initial impressions shortly, but for now, you'll find more info at the source link below.

Update: We've added gallery below and a brief video hands-on just past the break to let you grab a taste of each app before downloading them for yourself.

Gallery: PS Vita apps: Netflix, LiveTweet and Flickr (US)

Continue reading 'Select' PS Vita apps hit the US PlayStation Store: Netflix, LiveTweet and Flickr (Update: video hands-on)

'Select' PS Vita apps hit the US PlayStation Store: Netflix, LiveTweet and Flickr (Update: video hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsflickrgaminghands-onlive tweetlivetweetnetflixplaystationplaystation blogplaystation blog usplaystation storeplaystation vitaPlaystationBlogPlaystationBlogUsPlaystationStorePlaystationVitaportable gamingportableaudioPortableGamingps vitaps vita appsPsVitaPsVitaAppssceasonytwitterusvideoWed, 22 Feb 2012 01:31:00 EST<![CDATA[NHTSA issues "distraction guidelines" proposal for in-vehicle electronics, MyFord Touch frets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/17/nhtsa-issues-distraction-guidelines-proposal-for-in-vehicle-el/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/17/nhtsa-issues-distraction-guidelines-proposal-for-in-vehicle-el/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/17/nhtsa-issues-distraction-guidelines-proposal-for-in-vehicle-el/#comments
With companies like Tesla and Ford replacing tactile, in-dash systems with touchscreens and gizmos, the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration wants to set "distraction guidelines" for how automakers implement factory-installed in-car electronics. Nearly a year after discussing the possibility of bringing restrictions to in-car information, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood unveiled phase one of a (potential) three-part, "first-ever federal proposal" loaded with suggestions for keeping driver's eyes and attention on the road. Notably, these voluntary guidelines take aim at "communications, entertainment, information gathering and navigation devices or functions that are not required to safely operate the vehicle." According to Reuters, though, the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers claims that "elements" of the guidelines have been in practice for nearly ten years.

The ideas range from ensuring that one hand is always left free for steering and restricting the entry of text, such as an address, unless the your car is in park, to limiting in-dash text prompts to "no more than 30 characters of text unrelated to the driving task" so that your eyes can't wander off of the road for too long. Passengers, of course, would be free to do whatever they wish. Vehicles under 10,000 pounds are said to be the primary focus, with the NHTSA noting that electronic warning systems will not be on the radar as they intend to help drivers, well, drive. Before the proposal spins into action, beginning in March it will be up for public comment for 60 days L.A., Washington D.C. and Chicago. Depending on how the phase one guidelines pan out, phase two will focus on devices brought into vehicles, like cellphones, while phase three would set its sights on voice controls. If you're curious about all of the specifics, you'll find more info in the press release after the break and the full proposal draft at the source link below.

Continue reading NHTSA issues "distraction guidelines" proposal for in-vehicle electronics, MyFord Touch frets

NHTSA issues "distraction guidelines" proposal for in-vehicle electronics, MyFord Touch frets originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>department of transportationDepartmentOfTransportationdotelectronicsgovernmentNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministrationnhtsaobamaproposalray lahoodRayLahoodtransportationTransportation SecretaryTransportationSecretaryunited statesUnitedStatesusus dotusaUsDotFri, 17 Feb 2012 06:20:00 EST<![CDATA[WTO ruling revives debate over China's rare earths trade]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/wto-ruling-revives-debate-over-chinas-rare-earths-trade/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/wto-ruling-revives-debate-over-chinas-rare-earths-trade/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/wto-ruling-revives-debate-over-chinas-rare-earths-trade/#comments
China suffered another setback at the WTO yesterday, thanks to a ruling that could spell trouble for its controversial rare earths industry. In a decision issued Monday, a WTO panel determined that the Chinese government has been acting in violation of international trade rules, due to export restrictions on a number of raw materials. These restrictions, the panel said, allowed Beijing to inflate global market prices, while giving an advantage to domestic producers. As a result, China will likely have to adjust its trade policies to comply with WTO regulations. In a statement, the country's Ministry of Commerce said it "deeply regrets" the decision, but confirmed that the People's Republic will adhere to it. This week's ruling applies to materials like bauxite, coke, magnesium, manganese and zinc, but, most notably, does not apply to rare earths -- a group of 17 elements critical to the production of tablets, smartphones and myriad other gadgets.

China has maintained a rather tight grip over the world's rare earths market, thanks to a slew of export controls, quotas and government-erected barriers to entry. The country has come under intense international pressure in recent years, with the US, EU and Mexico filing complaints with the WTO, arguing that China's price-inflating restrictions violate international trade agreements. Beijing, for its part, has long maintained that its export controls are designed to minimize the environmental impact of rare earth mining, while meeting the country's surging domestic demand. It's an argument that's come up a lot during this debate but one that the WTO, on Monday, deemed illegitimate, stating that China has thus far been "unable to demonstrate" the environmental benefits of its policies. The decision won't have any immediate bearing on these policies, but some observers are hopeful that it may be a sign of things to come. Michael Silver, CEO of rare earth processor American Elements, told Reuters that the ruling "confirms the existence of the two-tiered price structure that has caused so much concern," with EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht adding that the decision should force China to remove restrictions on both the aforementioned raw materials and rare earths, alike. Others, however, aren't so optimistic, pointing out that, with a full 95 percent of the rare earths market under its aegis, China could realistically afford to ignore any decisions handed down from the WTO in the future.

WTO ruling revives debate over China's rare earths trade originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinadecisionenvironmentEUexport controlsExportControlsexportsfree tradeFreeTradeMexicorare earth mineralsrare earthsRareEarthMineralsRareEarthsraw materialsRawMaterialsrestrictionrulingtradeUSworld trade organizationWorldTradeOrganizationwtoTue, 31 Jan 2012 10:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: futuristic AMELIA aircraft (theoretically) soars through NASA wind tunnel]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/30/amelia-airplane-nasa-test-future-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/30/amelia-airplane-nasa-test-future-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/30/amelia-airplane-nasa-test-future-flight/#comments It's the Advanced Model for Extreme Lift and Improved Aeroacoustics, and it's the brainchild of many, many intelligent beings planted at California Polytechnic State University. The aircraft has been in design courtesy of a grant from NASA, touting engines above the wings and the ability to achieve shockingly short takeoffs and landings. And did we mention it looks sexier than a freshly-washed 787? Yeah.

Continue reading Visualized: futuristic AMELIA aircraft (theoretically) soars through NASA wind tunnel

Visualized: futuristic AMELIA aircraft (theoretically) soars through NASA wind tunnel originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Advanced Model for Extreme Lift and Improved AeroacousticsAdvancedModelForExtremeLiftAndImprovedAeroacousticsair forceAirForceairplaneameliafuturemilitarytesttestingtransportationtunnelususaVisualizedwargadgetwind tunnelWindTunnelMon, 30 Jan 2012 11:31:00 EST<![CDATA[US government rules three Barth patents invalid, sends Rambus scrambling]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/30/us-government-rambus-barth-patents-invalid-ruling/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/30/us-government-rambus-barth-patents-invalid-ruling/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/30/us-government-rambus-barth-patents-invalid-ruling/#comments Suing's easy. It's the "winning" that trips folks up. Such is the case with Rambus, who has been relying oh-so-heavily on the so-called trio of Barth patents to actively pursue just about every technology company on the planet. For those unaware, Rambus has christened itself as a "technology licensing company," but with the last of three patents used to win infringement suits against NVIDIA and HP being declared invalid, it's probably scrambling for new tactics. According to a Reuters report, an appeals board at the US Patent and Trademark Office declared the patent invalid a few days back, with the previous two being knocked back in September. A couple of months back, Rambus' stock lost 60 percent of its value after a court decision led to the loss of a $4 billion antitrust lawsuit against Micron and Hynix, and we're guessing things won't be any happier when the markets open back up on Monday. The company's next move? "We're evaluating our options," said spokeswoman Linda Ashmore.

US government rules three Barth patents invalid, sends Rambus scrambling originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Barth patentsBarthPatentsdramgovernmenthpinfringementinvalidmemorynandnvidiapatentpatent infringementPatentInfringementpatentsramrambusstorageususaMon, 30 Jan 2012 07:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Shocker! New RIM CEO targets existing BlackBerry users for upgrades]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/shocker-new-rim-ceo-targets-existing-blackberry-users-for-upgra/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/shocker-new-rim-ceo-targets-existing-blackberry-users-for-upgra/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/shocker-new-rim-ceo-targets-existing-blackberry-users-for-upgra/#commentsAll of new RIM CEO Thorsten Heins' fresh ideas will apparently still be revealed to the company's board in a couple of weeks, but he's already dropped some gems in interviews with the Wall Street Journal and Reuters (update: and Bloomberg). First item on the agenda? Getting current users upgraded to the latest and greatest BlackBerry hardware. Citing internal statistics that indicate 80- to 90- percent of the company's customer base aren't running BlackBerry 7 hardware yet, it will work closely with US carriers to promote upgrades until the new BB10 devices hit later this year. There's no word on what the carrier deals include, but he hinted at device or preloaded app bundles. He also promised an LTE version of the PlayBook would arrive this spring, with LTE connected handsets also planned for the BlackBerry 10 lineup. Is that enough to turn around RIM's fortunes in the US, where he acknowledged the company is "a turnaround candidate"? We'll find out, but as obvious as the need to placate the already BBM-addicted may be, execution of the plan is everything.

Shocker! New RIM CEO targets existing BlackBerry users for upgrades originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bb7BlackBerryblackberry 10blackberry 7blackberry osBlackberry10Blackberry7BlackberryOscarriersltemobilepostminiplaybookrimshockertabletThorstenHeinsupgradeusFri, 27 Jan 2012 22:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Hawaii's proposed online tracking law comes under fire from ISPs, civil libertarians]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/hawaiis-proposed-online-tracking-law-comes-under-fire-from-isps/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/hawaiis-proposed-online-tracking-law-comes-under-fire-from-isps/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/hawaiis-proposed-online-tracking-law-comes-under-fire-from-isps/#comments
There may be some trouble brewing in paradise, thanks to a seemingly draconian law currently under consideration in Hawaii's state legislature. If passed, H.B. 2288 would require all ISPs within the state to track and store information on their customers, including details on every website they visit, as well as their own names and addresses. The measure, introduced on Friday, also calls for this information to be recorded on each customer's digital file and stored for a full two years. Perhaps most troubling is the fact that the bill includes virtually no restrictions on how ISPs can use (read: "sell") this information, nor does it specify whether law enforcement authorities would need a court order to obtain a user's dossier from an ISP. And, because it applies to any firm that "provides access to the Internet," the law could conceivably be expanded to include not just service providers, but internet cafes, hotels or other businesses.

Democratic Representative John Mizuno is the lead sponsor of the bill, though his support already seems to be waning. Not long after H.B. 2288 was introduced, Republican Representative Kymberly Pine told CNET that she would be withdrawing her support for it, adding that her intent was not to track Hawaiian web surfing, but to simply protect "victims of crime." "We do not want to know where everyone goes on the Internet," Pine explained. "That's not our interest. We just want the ability for law enforcement to be able to capture the activities of crime." Pine went on to acknowledge that the proposal has come under fire from many civil libertarians and internet companies within the state, and that the measure will likely be revised. In retrospect, she said, the concept of storing personal information "was a little broad," and Hawaii's lawmakers "deserved" the criticism they received during today's hearing.

Hawaii's proposed online tracking law comes under fire from ISPs, civil libertarians originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessconstitutiondemocratfourth amendmentFourthAmendmentgovernmenthawaiiinternet service providerInternetServiceProviderISPlawlegislationpoliticsprivacyrepublicantrackingUSwebFri, 27 Jan 2012 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Stat Alert: More connected phones than computers in key markets, says Google (updated)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/stat-alert-more-connected-phones-than-computers-in-key-markets/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/stat-alert-more-connected-phones-than-computers-in-key-markets/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/stat-alert-more-connected-phones-than-computers-in-key-markets/#comments There are obvious stats, bizarre ones, and then the good old informative ones. New data from Google revealed by Ad Age, falls into the latter category. According to Goog's numbers, more people have a mobile internet-capable device than a PC or laptop in the five key markets it tested (US, UK, Germany, France and Japan). In the US, this figure is nearly 10% more, some 76% against 68%. The numbers were taken in September and October last year, which means any impact Christmas may have had won't be taken into account. The trend away from feature phones towards smartphones is also drilled home, but that won't be news to many people 'round these parts. No matter how you connect these days, any savvy netizen will tell you: it's quality, not quantity that counts anyway.

Update: The complete report is now up online and, while smartphone and tablet use is skyrocketing, it doesn't appear to be eating into PC sales. Check out the more coverage link for all the slides.

Stat Alert: More connected phones than computers in key markets, says Google (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adagedatadesktopdesktopsfeaturephoneFeaturePhonesFranceGermanygoogleinternet usageInternetUsagejapanlaptopsMobile internetmobile internet accessMobile Internet DeviceMobileInternetMobileInternetAccessMobileInternetDevicesmartphonesmartphonesstatisticsUKUSWed, 25 Jan 2012 09:56:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T's proposed spectrum transfer mapped out in T-Mobile magenta]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/att-tmobile-spectrum-transfer-map/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/att-tmobile-spectrum-transfer-map/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/att-tmobile-spectrum-transfer-map/#comments
Wondering what AT&T's proposed spectrum transfer would mean for T-Mobile? Check out the above graphic, from GigaOM. Created by a reader named Andrew Shepherd, this map displays which regional coverage T-Mobile will gain from the transfer, which was submitted to the FCC this week following the companies' failed merger. As you can see, AT&T is poised to sacrifice some of its AWS spectrum in some key markets, including Boston, Seattle and the Bay Area. According to Shepherd, however, the carrier only gave up enough AWS spectrum in areas where it had enough 700MHz capacity to fill the gap, without posing too great a risk to its LTE expansion. For a closer look, check out the source link below.

AT&T's proposed spectrum transfer mapped out in T-Mobile magenta originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10mhz20Mhz700mhzattawsbusinesscarriercoveragedealfccgraphicindustryLTElte-advancedmapmobilepostminimoneynetworkspectrumspectrum transferSpectrumTransfert-mobileUSUSAwirelessWed, 25 Jan 2012 08:33:00 EST<![CDATA[EU online spending estimated to grow 16 percent, reach €232 billion in 2012]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/eu-online-spending-to-reach-232-billion/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/eu-online-spending-to-reach-232-billion/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/eu-online-spending-to-reach-232-billion/#comments Pardon us Americans as we act surprised, but it turns out that we have one more thing in common with our Euro brethren: a growing number of us dislike shopping in stores. According to Kelkoo estimates, online spending in the European Union is projected to continue its upward trend, which is said to reach somewhere in the neighborhood of €232 billion before year's end. If the estimate holds, this would be a 16 percent increase over the €200 billion raked by e-tailers during 2011, and is naturally assumed to come at the expense of traditional brick and mortar outfits, whose growth is projected to increase by a mere 1.8 percent.

The data gathered also suggest there's significant room for expansion, however, as online spending accounted for just 7.8 percent of all EU retail sales in 2011, with the UK, Germany and France being responsible for a whopping 71 percent of that tally. The 16 percent projected growth is a slight decline from 2011, which saw EU online spending grow by 18 percent -- although, Europe's growing habit for click-and-ship continues to outpace the US, which grew by only 12.8 percent in 2011. Now, since you've crammed all these numbers, why not check the funny pages?

[Shopping button via Shutterstock]

EU online spending estimated to grow 16 percent, reach €232 billion in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20112012consumer spendingConsumerSpendingenglandestimateestimateseueuropeEuropean unionEuropeanUnionforecastfrancegermanykelkooonlineonline salesonline shoppingonline spendingOnlineSalesOnlineShoppingOnlineSpendingretailsalessales figuresSalesFiguresshoppingspendingukunited statesUnitedStatesusFri, 20 Jan 2012 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[ZTE reaches for the sky, aims to double phone shipments in 2012]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/zte-double-shipments-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/zte-double-shipments-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/zte-double-shipments-2012/#commentsTalk about a New Years Resolution: ZTE's head of handset strategy Lv Qianhao, in an interview with Reuters, mentioned that in 2012 his company expects to double the number of smartphone shipments made last year, as well as expand its Windows Phone efforts. While we're not completely certain as to what that specific number was, Lv stated that it far exceeded its target of 12 million. Regardless of how much it shipped last year, we can't imagine it would be terribly easy to double it, but it signifies ZTE's intent to grow and expand in markets like the US and China. This news seems to coincide with the company's plans to introduce high-end LTE-capable smartphones in the US market in the middle of this year. Does this mean the OEM will be pushing hard to gain more acceptance from stateside carriers? If it results in new top-notch devices coming into the market, then we sure hope so.

ZTE reaches for the sky, aims to double phone shipments in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012chinaexpansiongoalsltemobilepostminismartphonesuswindows phoneWindowsPhonezteTue, 17 Jan 2012 22:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Gobandit Live with WiFi offers thrill-seekers quicker sharing, speedier self-indulgence]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/12/gobandit-live-gps-camcorder-with-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/12/gobandit-live-gps-camcorder-with-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/12/gobandit-live-gps-camcorder-with-wifi/#comments Two years ago, the Gobandit GPS HD brought an action camcorder to the masses that actively tracked location, speed and altitude. In the same tradition, the Gobandit Live brings an expanded set of features geared toward adrenaline junkies, which include a gyroscopic sensor, 1080p capture at 30fps, a 170-degree f/2.8 wide angle lens and -- oh yeah, WiFi. While this last feature certainly won't be usable on the mountain or along the trail, it allows clips to be uploaded instantly once the camera is back within range. For those who'd rather do without WiFi, the Gobandit Race provides an otherwise similar feature set at a lower price. Both will be available in the US and Canada beginning March 1st, and will retail for $419 and $319, respectively. The full PR is just beyond the break, though if you want to learn more, check the company's website instead.

Continue reading Gobandit Live with WiFi offers thrill-seekers quicker sharing, speedier self-indulgence

Gobandit Live with WiFi offers thrill-seekers quicker sharing, speedier self-indulgence originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080paction camActionCamavailabilitycamcordercanadagobanditgobandit livegobandit raceGobanditLiveGobanditRacehelmet camHelmetCamlivepricingraceuswifiThu, 12 Jan 2012 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[China Telecom eyes network expansion in France, Germany and US]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/china-telecom-network-expansion-france-germany-us/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/china-telecom-network-expansion-france-germany-us/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/china-telecom-network-expansion-france-germany-us/#commentsThe world's largest CDMA mobile operator, China Telecom, is looking to further expand its network footprint in Europe. With wireless assets already secured in the UK, Bloomberg reports that France and Germany may be next on the communication giant's proverbial hit-list. CT hopes to win the wireless business of jet-setters and Chinese citizens living outside of The People's Republic with competitive international roaming rates and its familiar brand. A separate report states that the company's interest is not confined to the Euro Zone and China Telecom may try and bring its services to the US sometime in 2012. Something tells us AT&T won't make a play to buy 'em, though.

China Telecom eyes network expansion in France, Germany and US originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CDMACellularChinaChina TelecomChina Telecommunications CorpChinaTelecomChinaTelecommunicationsCorpexpansionGlobalGlobal RoamingGlobalRoamingmobilepostminiNetworkolympicsRoamingTelecomTelecommunicationsUKUnited KingdomUnited StatesUnitedKingdomUnitedStatesUSWed, 04 Jan 2012 23:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon offers vague statement, no apology for LTE downtime]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/30/verizon-offers-vague-statement-no-apology-for-lte-downtime/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/30/verizon-offers-vague-statement-no-apology-for-lte-downtime/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/30/verizon-offers-vague-statement-no-apology-for-lte-downtime/#comments Earlier this week, you may have noticed that your Verizon Wireless LTE smartphone couldn't do inconsequential things like update your inbox, or pull up a webpage. This happened once. Then twice. And finally a third time this month. And what's the root cause? "Growing pains," according to the carrier's latest statement. And since growing pains are a natural consequence of adolescence, there's no reason for Verizon to issue any kind of apology to its paying customers, who naturally expect such inconsistencies from "the most advanced 4GLTE wireless network in the world." Now, some of you also reported issues connecting to the 3G network, which Verizon reps claim didn't experience any downtime. Instead, your hiccups were a result of being "unable to connect to the 3G Network as quickly as [Verizon] would have liked." Have any questions? Of course you don't. Such can be expected from any carrier, just like the requirement to fork over two bucks for the convenience of paying your monthly bill.

Continue reading Verizon offers vague statement, no apology for LTE downtime

Verizon offers vague statement, no apology for LTE downtime originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g4g4g lte4gLtecomedydatadata connectiondata networkdata outageDataConnectionDataNetworkDataOutagehumorltemobilepostcrossnetworkoutagepsaUSverizonverizon outageverizon wirelessVerizonOutageVerizonWirelessvzwFri, 30 Dec 2011 10:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon confirms latest LTE outage restored, again claims 3G operated normally]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/verizon-confirms-latest-lte-outage-restored-again-claims-3g-ope/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/verizon-confirms-latest-lte-outage-restored-again-claims-3g-ope/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/verizon-confirms-latest-lte-outage-restored-again-claims-3g-ope/#comments Verizon Wireless appears to be standing behind its claims of operating "the nation's largest, most reliable 3G network and the nation's largest 4G LTE network," following this month's latest nationwide data outage. A Verizon spokesperson wrote in to inform us that "the 4GLTE issue was resolved overnight. 3G operated normally; calling, texting were unaffected." We were unable to access data on both LTE and 3G CDMA networks with our Galaxy Nexus yesterday, however. Verizon may be working furiously to add cities to its LTE coverage map, but with repeated outages and little clarification this month, it may be a very long time before the carrier can include 4G reliability in its corporate maxim.

Verizon confirms latest LTE outage restored, again claims 3G operated normally originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g4g4g lte4gLtedatadata connectiondata networkdata outageDataConnectionDataNetworkDataOutageltemobilepostcrossnetworkoutagepsaUSverizonverizon outageverizon wirelessVerizonOutageVerizonWirelessvzwThu, 29 Dec 2011 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon confirms LTE data services fully restored, 3G never affected]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/21/verizon-confirms-lte-data-services-fully-restored-3g-never-affe/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/21/verizon-confirms-lte-data-services-fully-restored-3g-never-affe/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/21/verizon-confirms-lte-data-services-fully-restored-3g-never-affe/#comments Several hours after service issues were first reported this morning, Verizon Wireless has confirmed that 4G LTE service has been restored throughout the country, and that 3G CDMA services were never affected. So that miserable half-day of reliving the pain of 3G speeds is now behind us, hopefully never to return.

Verizon confirms LTE data services fully restored, 3G never affected originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g4g4g lte4gLtedatadata connectiondata networkdata outageDataConnectionDataNetworkDataOutageltemobilepostcrossnetworkoutagepsaUSverizonverizon outageverizon wirelessVerizonOutageVerizonWirelessvzwWed, 21 Dec 2011 14:17:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Verizon users reporting data outages across the US (update: back up)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/21/psa-verizon-users-reporting-data-outages-across-the-us/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/21/psa-verizon-users-reporting-data-outages-across-the-us/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/21/psa-verizon-users-reporting-data-outages-across-the-us/#commentsIf you're having trouble getting a data connection on your Verizon-branded handset this morning, you're not alone. We've been receiving a bevy of tips from disgruntled Verizon customers, due to an apparently widespread outage across the carrier's mobile data network. Based on what we're seeing on Verizon's @vzwsupport Twitter feed and forums (linked below), it looks as if both 3G and 4G networks have been affected. We tested some handsets in the San Francisco area, and can confirm that data connections there are indeed down at the moment. We've reached out to Verizon for comment, and will let you know as soon as we hear more.

Update: Verizon's 3G CDMA network appears to be up, but 4G LTE services are still unavailable. Meanwhile, Verizon reps confirmed to us that the company is looking into the outage.

Update: LTE users in New Jersey are reporting that the service is back up, and we're online in New York City as well.

Update (again): And now for something completely different: a statement from Verizon.

Verizon Wireless 4G LTE service is returning to normal this morning after company engineers worked to resolve an issue with the 4G network during the early morning hours today. Throughout this time, 4G LTE customers were able to make voice calls and send and receive text messages. The 3G data network operated normally.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

PSA: Verizon users reporting data outages across the US (update: back up) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g4g4g lte4gLtedatadata connectiondata networkdata outageDataConnectionDataNetworkDataOutageltemobilepostcrossnetworkoutagepsaUSverizonverizon outageverizon wirelessVerizonOutageVerizonWirelessvzwWed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bing almost catches up with Yahoo! in latest ComScore US figures]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/bing-almost-catches-up-with-yahoo-in-latest-comscore-us-figures/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/bing-almost-catches-up-with-yahoo-in-latest-comscore-us-figures/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/bing-almost-catches-up-with-yahoo-in-latest-comscore-us-figures/#comments Bing already claimed its title as the world's second favorite search engine, but in the US it has continued to lag in third place behind Yahoo!. The gap is closing rapidly, however, with ComScore's latest stats revealing a 15.0 percent share for Redmond versus Yahoo!'s 15.1 percent. What's more, those figures don't reflect mobile search, which must surely be a growth area for Bing as Windows Phone gathers American followers. Meanwhile, Ask Network remains static in fourth place and AOL (Engadget's parent company) comes a distant fifth -- although it did show a little growth spurt between October and November, taking 1.6 percent of the 17.8 billion recorded searches and pretending not to notice Google way up there on top. Full ranking after the break.

Continue reading Bing almost catches up with Yahoo! in latest ComScore US figures

Bing almost catches up with Yahoo! in latest ComScore US figures originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AmericaAOLAsk NetworkAskNetworkBingComScorefiguresGoogleMicrosoftMicrosoft BingMicrosoftBingNorth AmericaNorthAmericarankingsearchsearch enginesearch figuressearch shareSearchEngineSearchFiguresSearchSharestatisticsUSUSAYahooMon, 19 Dec 2011 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Google gives the gift of gab, extends free domestic calling in Gmail]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/14/google-gives-the-gift-of-gab-extends-free-domestic-calling-in-g/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/14/google-gives-the-gift-of-gab-extends-free-domestic-calling-in-g/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/14/google-gives-the-gift-of-gab-extends-free-domestic-calling-in-g/#comments
Just in time to thank Grandma for that polyester blend sweater, comes more free domestic calling in Gmail for the US and Canada. In the spirit of holiday giving, Mountain View has decided to extend its gratis VoIP program for another year of free chatter. Of course, we're not sure if the holiday cheer will last forever, which may once again give us a valid excuse to avoid Uncle Lester's calls.

Google gives the gift of gab, extends free domestic calling in Gmail originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>callingCanadadomesticgmailgoogleUSvoice over IPVoiceOverIpvoipvoip callingVoipCallingWed, 14 Dec 2011 00:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Deezer announces ambitious global rollout, ignores US and Japan]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/deezer-announces-ambitious-global-rollout-ignores-us-and-japan/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/deezer-announces-ambitious-global-rollout-ignores-us-and-japan/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/deezer-announces-ambitious-global-rollout-ignores-us-and-japan/#comments Deezer added a few notches to its music streaming belt yesterday, with the announcement of its long awaited rollout to (nearly) every corner of the globe. The launch, confirmed at Le Web in Paris yesterday, has already brought the service to both Ireland and the Netherlands, with plans to expand across Europe by the end of this month. Users in Canada and Latin America can expect to receive the French service by the end of January, Australia and Africa should see it by the end of February, and everyone else by the middle of next year. Conspicuously absent from that list are the US and Japanese markets, both of which have been passed over "due to market saturation and low growth forecasts," as well as the fact that the two countries comprise "only" 25 percent of worldwide music consumption. Le sigh.

[Thanks, Paulo]

Deezer announces ambitious global rollout, ignores US and Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadadeezereuropeexpansionfacebookfrancefrenchindustryinternationaljapanlatin americaLatinAmericalaunchmusicmusic industrymusic streamingMusicIndustryMusicStreamingorangerecord labelrecording industryRecordingIndustryRecordLabelrolloutstreamingUSFri, 09 Dec 2011 16:04:00 EST<![CDATA[ZTE expects to launch high-end LTE smartphones in the US by mid-2012]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/08/zte-expects-to-launch-high-end-lte-smartphones-in-the-us-by-mid/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/08/zte-expects-to-launch-high-end-lte-smartphones-in-the-us-by-mid/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/08/zte-expects-to-launch-high-end-lte-smartphones-in-the-us-by-mid/#commentsZTE's no small company by any stretch of the imagination, but it's still largely an unknown in the US. The phone manufacturer has been focused on selling lower-end devices in the prepaid market -- often with carrier-specific branding -- but is now hoping to steer the ship in a different direction. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, North American president Lixin Cheng mentioned the company intends to bring LTE-capable high-end smartphones to the US at some point in the middle of next year. While he didn't cough up details on availability, he said that the vendor is in talks with all four of the country's national carriers and would likely be based on either Android or Windows Phone. Cheng also stated that he expects the US to be ZTE's "largest market for handsets" by 2015. Lofty goals, of course, but definitely reachable.

ZTE expects to launch high-end LTE smartphones in the US by mid-2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carrierhigh-endltemobilepostminismartphoneuszteThu, 08 Dec 2011 16:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan Leaf branches out to an additional six states, plus one Island]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/07/nissan-leaf-branches-out-to-an-additional-six-states-plus-one-i/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/07/nissan-leaf-branches-out-to-an-additional-six-states-plus-one-i/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/07/nissan-leaf-branches-out-to-an-additional-six-states-plus-one-i/#comments
The Nissan Leaf is inching closer to national ubiquity, with the addition of seven new markets across the continental US. In a statement issued yesterday, the manufacturer announced that its EV will soon be available within Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, with the first deliveries scheduled to roll out in Spring 2012. This expansion, which comes nearly one year after the Leaf's grand debut, means that the plug-in is now available in a full 30 US states (including Washington, DC), though Nissan hopes to bring it to the full 50 by March of next year. Rustle past the break for the full PR.

Continue reading Nissan Leaf branches out to an additional six states, plus one Island

Nissan Leaf branches out to an additional six states, plus one Island originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autocarcarsdeliveryelectricelectric carElectricCarEVgreenindustrymanufacturingmarketmoneynissannissan leafNissanLeafplug inPlugInstatestransporttransportationUSWed, 07 Dec 2011 17:58:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Mophie and Best Buy issue separate iDevice battery pack recalls due to overheating concerns]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/psa-mophie-and-best-buy-issue-seperate-idevice-battery-pack-rec/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/psa-mophie-and-best-buy-issue-seperate-idevice-battery-pack-rec/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/psa-mophie-and-best-buy-issue-seperate-idevice-battery-pack-rec/#comments
Sporting an external battery pack on your iPod Touch or iPhone? If it happens to be from Mophie or Best Buy's Rocketfish brand, we'd advise you to take note and avoid getting burned. Rocketfish's RF-KL12 battery case for the iPhone 3G / 3GS has been reported in a small number of burn and "minor" fire incidents, while Mophie's announced that a select number of Juice Pack Air models for the 4th generation iPod Touch (seen above) are at risk for overheating, and potentially even melting. Suffice it to say, if you're currently in possession of said battery extenders you should stop using it immediately. Best Buy asks that owners of the Rocketfish case get in touch to facilitate a return, which will be met with a $70 gift card in the US ($105 in Canada) as compensation. As for Mophie? If your Juice Pack Air is among the affected serial numbers, you'll be able to initiate a swap for a fresh unit via a return form on its website. Hit those source links below for all the details -- this is one case where you definitely won't want to feel the burn.

PSA: Mophie and Best Buy issue separate iDevice battery pack recalls due to overheating concerns originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebatterybattery caseBatteryCasebest buybest buy mobileBestBuyBestBuyMobilecanadafire hazardFireHazardipodipod touchipod touch 4gIpodTouchIpodTouch4gminipostmophieMophie Juice Packmophie juice pack airMophieJuicePackMophieJuicePackAiroverheatingpsarecallRF-KL12USFri, 02 Dec 2011 14:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Google brings free voice calls to Hangouts, really wants you to hang out]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/google-brings-free-voice-calls-to-hangouts-really-wants-you-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/google-brings-free-voice-calls-to-hangouts-really-wants-you-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/google-brings-free-voice-calls-to-hangouts-really-wants-you-to/#comments
Google's Hangout feature has just become a little more Hangout-y, now that the folks in Mountain View have integrated free voice calls within Google+. Available to users within the US and Canada, this new "extra" feature allows social networkers to place calls directly from a Hangout, allowing the recipient to remotely join in on the conversation at hand. To set it up, all you have to do is start a Hangout, hit the "Invite" button, and dial up your friend's number. Users can also use the feature to place individual calls without setting up a Google Voice account, though they'll need one if they wanna talk to someone overseas.

Google brings free voice calls to Hangouts, really wants you to hang out originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>callCanadachatconference callConferenceCallgooglegoogle hangoutgoogle plusgoogle voicegoogle+GoogleHangoutGooglePlusGoogleVoicehangoutminipostsocial networkingSocialNetworkingUSvoice callVoiceCallFri, 02 Dec 2011 12:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Strategy Analytics: China leapfrogs US to become world's top smartphone market]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/23/strategy-analytics-china-leapfrogs-us-to-become-worlds-top-sma/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/23/strategy-analytics-china-leapfrogs-us-to-become-worlds-top-sma/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/23/strategy-analytics-china-leapfrogs-us-to-become-worlds-top-sma/#comments
The winds of tech consumerism are changing course. More specifically, they're heading east. According to the latest Q3 figures from Strategy Analytics, China is now the world's largest smartphone market by volume, overtaking the US for the first time. According to the research firm, smartphone shipments in China reached a record high of 23.9 million units during the third quarter of this year, up 58 percent from Q2. Compare that with the US, which saw shipments decline by seven percent over the quarter, to 23.3 million units. The Boston-based firm attributed much of China's growth to a spike in cheaper, Android-based handsets from companies like ZTE, as well as a flowering of subsidized higher-end models, like the iPhone. Nokia leads the way within the People's Republic, accounting for 28 percent of all quarterly shipments, followed by Samsung, with an 18 percent share. Find more quotes and charts in the press release after the break, or hit up the source link below for the full report.

Continue reading Strategy Analytics: China leapfrogs US to become world's top smartphone market

Strategy Analytics: China leapfrogs US to become world's top smartphone market originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapplebusinesscarrierchinacostdemandeconomicsgooglehandsetindustryiphonemanufacturingmarketmobilepostminimoneynokiasamsungshipmentsmartphonesupplyunited statesUnitedStatesUSzteWed, 23 Nov 2011 06:04:00 EST<![CDATA[How-to: use Google Music from anywhere (yes, outside of the United States)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/19/how-to-use-google-music-from-anywhere-yes-outside-of-the-unit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/19/how-to-use-google-music-from-anywhere-yes-outside-of-the-unit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/19/how-to-use-google-music-from-anywhere-yes-outside-of-the-unit/#comments Now that Google Music has finally clawed its way out of the realm of beta-ware, anybody in the US can sign up to play without an invitation. Of course, that leaves many folks out of the equation, so we thought it a good time to point out at least one other route to let you get involved in the service, no matter where you live. See, the rub seems to be that Google checks your IP address on your first attempt to log in, and accept its terms of use -- only the first time, and yeah, you're definitely going to be ignoring that doc by following this guide.

So, in essence all we need to do is find a way to gently tiptoe past that gatekeeper and we're home free. Keep in mind that while you can upload your music, buying new tracks isn't going to happen until it rolls out in your neck of the woods in a more official way -- but hey, most of a good thing is still a good thing. There are various means to get this done, and we've found a pretty straightforward route, and if you're up to it click on through to the guide.

Continue reading How-to: use Google Music from anywhere (yes, outside of the United States)

How-to: use Google Music from anywhere (yes, outside of the United States) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Nov 2011 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcanadaglobalgooglegoogle musicgoogle music canadagoogle music europegoogle music hackGoogleMusicGoogleMusicCanadaGoogleMusicEuropeGoogleMusicHackhackhow tohow-tohowtointernationalmobilepostcrossmusicproxyususavideoworkaroundSat, 19 Nov 2011 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's latest PS Move Bundles let you go Medieval, get your groove on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/13/sonys-latest-ps-move-bundles-let-you-go-medieval-get-your-groo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/13/sonys-latest-ps-move-bundles-let-you-go-medieval-get-your-groo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/13/sonys-latest-ps-move-bundles-let-you-go-medieval-get-your-groo/#comments
Good ol' gaming bundles can be enticing when you're on the prowl for a new console or accessory set, and we have to admit, we'd be excited to lay some motion-controlled moves down with Sony's latest PlayStation offerings. Back at E3, we had a chance to slice enemies with virtual swords in Medieval Heros: Deadmunds Quest, thanks to the PS Move's 1:1 tracking abilities. With the game releasing next week, Sony's decided to offer it in a $100 bundle, packing a PS Eye, Move controller and a copy of Sports Champions (which Deadmund shares its gameplay mechanics with). If you don't already own a PS3 -- and love getting your groove on -- the Everybody Dance bundle may be your $300 ticket to the wand-waving fun; it features a 320GB PS3 Slim, PS Eye and Move controller, along with a DualShock 3 for when Duty Calls. These likely won't be Sony's last PlayStation-related bundles to hit shelves before the year's through, but if it sounds like your kind of party you'll find more info at the source link below.

Sony's latest PS Move Bundles let you go Medieval, get your groove on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1:1bundleconsoleeverbody danceEverbodyDancegamingMedieval Moves: Deadmunds QuestMedievalMoves:DeadmundsQuestmotion controlmotion controllerMotionControlMotionControllerplaystationplaystation blogPlaystationBlogpsps eyeps moveps3ps3 slimPs3SlimPsEyePsMovesonysports championsSportsChampionsusSun, 13 Nov 2011 15:33:00 EST<![CDATA[2012 London Olympics Super Hi-Vision broadcast coming to select US, Japan, UK locations]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/13/2012-london-olympics-super-hi-vision-broadcast-coming-to-se/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/13/2012-london-olympics-super-hi-vision-broadcast-coming-to-se/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/13/2012-london-olympics-super-hi-vision-broadcast-coming-to-se/#comments While Super Hi-Vision isn't expected to bring its 7,680 x 4,320 resolution (16x more detail than your 1080p display, for those keeping count) home for several years, the NHK and BBC have confirmed it will be available for public screenings next year during the 2012 London Olympics. Screening dates have been arranged for three countries (Japan, UK, and US), and it appears domestic viewers will want to plan on visiting the Washington D.C. area next July / August to get a taste of the 33 megapixel video and 22.2 channel surround sound for themselves. Next year's Games have already put extensive 3D coverage on the schedule and NBC has promised every event will be available for viewing live as it happens for the first time, so there's plenty for everyone to look forward to. The only question now? Whether or not that silly false start rule can be changed so we don't face the prospect of a men's 100m dash final without Usain Bolt in it.

2012 London Olympics Super Hi-Vision broadcast coming to select US, Japan, UK locations originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 Olympics2012Olympics33mpbbchdpostminijapanlondon olympicslondon olympics 2012LondonOlympicsLondonOlympics2012nbcnhkolympic gamesOlympicGamesolympicsshvsportssuper hi-visionSuperHi-visionukultra hdtvUltraHdtvuswashington d.c.WashingtonD.c.Sun, 13 Nov 2011 13:47:00 EST<![CDATA[China Telecom looking to expand into US consumer market, eyes 2012 launch]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/10/china-telecom-looking-to-expand-into-us-consumer-market-eyes-20/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/10/china-telecom-looking-to-expand-into-us-consumer-market-eyes-20/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/10/china-telecom-looking-to-expand-into-us-consumer-market-eyes-20/#comments
Instead of resting on its laurels as China's third-largest wireless provider, China Telecom is now looking to branch out into relatively uncharted waters -- namely, the US consumer market. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Donald Tan, president of China Telecom Americas, confirmed that his company plans to bring its own branded wireless service to select US markets next year, in the hopes of capitalizing on the large Chinese communities and consumer bases scattered across the country. According to Tan, the proposed service would provide customers with handsets that could be used in both China and the US, theoretically appealing to Chinese-Americans, students or businessmen who travel frequently between the two countries. The exec didn't reveal much in the way of pricing, saying only that it would be "competitive," though he did acknowledge that the service is already undergoing trials with several unnamed wholesale partners. If the trial goes swimmingly, he added, China Telecom may expand it to Canada, as well, and would even consider purchasing or constructing its own network in the States (pending FCC approval, of course). The provider, which has already been marketing its services to US corporations for a decade, also has the capacity to spend "hundreds of millions or billions" on stateside acquisitions, though none are currently on the table. "We want some acquisitions in the U.S. and other countries on this continent," Tan explained. "It's a very quick way to growth."

China Telecom looking to expand into US consumer market, eyes 2012 launch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionsbusinessCanadacarrierchinachina telecomChinaTelecomchineseconsumerdonald tanDonaldTanenterpriseexpansionfixed lineFixedLineindustrymarketmobilepostmininetworkNorth AmericaNorthAmericaoperatorproviderUSThu, 10 Nov 2011 10:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Want a Nokia N9 in the US? Expansys has some, but it'll cost ya]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/want-a-nokia-n9-in-the-us-expansys-has-some-but-itll-cost-ya/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/want-a-nokia-n9-in-the-us-expansys-has-some-but-itll-cost-ya/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/want-a-nokia-n9-in-the-us-expansys-has-some-but-itll-cost-ya/#comments
So you have a hankerin' for a new phone and seven Benjamins burning a hole in your pocket. What's a person to do? Even though Nokia won't be selling the N9 -- the company's one and only MeeGo device -- in the US through official channels, you can at least pick up one with relative ease courtesy of Expansys for a mere $690. From what we can tell, it only appears to be available in black for the moment. We'd love to see the myriad other colors come to the States as well, but when we do the math, one is still at least more than zero. Head to the source to see for yourself.

Want a Nokia N9 in the US? Expansys has some, but it'll cost ya originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansysmeegomobilepostminin9nokianokia n9NokiaN9united statesUnitedStatesusMon, 07 Nov 2011 14:05:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC's 'Connect America Fund' redirects phone fees to provide rural broadband]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/fccs-connect-america-fund-redirects-phone-fees-to-provide-rur/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/fccs-connect-america-fund-redirects-phone-fees-to-provide-rur/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/fccs-connect-america-fund-redirects-phone-fees-to-provide-rur/#comments The Federal Communications Commission has just unveiled a new plan that'll overhaul an $8 billion fund that's currently used to "subsidize phone service in rural areas and for the poor," pointing that money towards buildouts in the ambitious rural broadband initiative. Most critics suggest that the existing fee model is severely outdated, and in fact, encourages "perverse schemes by carriers to stimulate certain kinds of phone traffic." Not surprisingly, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has said that he "doesn't expect" phone rates to increase for most consumers, and the agency's currently estimating a $2.2 billion savings from fees that are currently paid out to phone companies. Politics aside, the goal here is to provide broadband access (however that's defined) to every American by the end of the decade, with Genachowski quipping: "We are taking a system designed for the Alexander Graham Bell era of rotary telephones and modernizing it for the era of Steve Jobs and the internet future he imagined." Pretty sure more than just Jobs had visions of a connected future, but we're following the logic, Jules.

Continue reading FCC's 'Connect America Fund' redirects phone fees to provide rural broadband

FCC's 'Connect America Fund' redirects phone fees to provide rural broadband originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>americabroadbandconnect america fundConnectAmericaFundfccfundJulius GenachowskiJuliusGenachowskiruralrural broadbandRuralBroadbandususaThu, 27 Oct 2011 18:57:00 EST<![CDATA[NASA's Mars rover Curiosity gains DAN apparatus, new lust for water]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/nasas-mars-rover-curiosity-gains-dan-apparatus-new-lust-for-wa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/nasas-mars-rover-curiosity-gains-dan-apparatus-new-lust-for-wa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/nasas-mars-rover-curiosity-gains-dan-apparatus-new-lust-for-wa/#comments "You can think of DAN as a reconnaissance instrument." That's a quote from Igor Mitrofanov of the Space Research Institute, Russia, who is being deemed the "principal investigator" of the Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons. Shortened to DAN for obvious reasons, this guy will soon be affixed to NASA's Mars rover Curiosity, with one primary purpose: to "check for any water that might be bound into shallow underground minerals along the rover's path." In total, ten instruments on Curiosity will be dedicated to investigating whether the area selected for the mission has ever offered environmental conditions favorable for life and favorable for preserving evidence about life. We're told that while in active mode, it's sensitive enough to detect water content as low as one-tenth of one percent in the ground beneath the rover, but there's still no indication of when it'll actually prove that Mars truly is the next major relocation hotspot. Something tells us Richard Branson will be ready, regardless.

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity gains DAN apparatus, new lust for water originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CuriosityDANDynamic Albedo of NeutronsDynamicAlbedoOfNeutronsgalaxyjplmarsmars roverMars Science LaboratoryMarsRoverMarsScienceLaboratoryNASAroverrussiasciencescoutspaceSpace Research InstituteSpaceResearchInstituteususawaterThu, 27 Oct 2011 14:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Nature Valley creating Street View-style tour of National Parks, chews through countless granola bars to do so]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/nature-valley-creating-street-view-style-tour-of-national-parks/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/nature-valley-creating-street-view-style-tour-of-national-parks/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/nature-valley-creating-street-view-style-tour-of-national-parks/#comments "There's a good reason why Street View is done in cars." That's a quote from Mat Bisher, associate creative director at McCann, who is teaming up with granola connoisseur Nature Valley in order to deliver a "Street View-style tour" of America's National Parks. Fast Company reports that the two have embarked on quite the ambitious initiative (dubbed Trail View), sending a cadre of well-trained hikers to some of America's most gorgeous locales with specially-rigged camera setups in tow. The goal? To capture views from near-limitless hiking trails, and bring them to your web browser starting in February 2012. Sadly, it won't be integrated into any of the platforms already in existence; it'll be its own standalone thing, but hopefully the likes of Microsoft or Google will take notice and either contribute or convert it. We're told that "layers for user-generated content, social networking and mobility, and perhaps form partnerships with travel sites" are on tap, and yes, Woodrow Wilson's ghost has purportedly approved.

Update: We've added a few shots of the actual capturing in the gallery below.

Gallery: Nature Valley Street View-style capturing of National Parks

Nature Valley creating Street View-style tour of National Parks, chews through countless granola bars to do so originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conceptgrand canyonGrandCanyonhikehikingmapmapsMcCann EricksonMccannEricksonnational parknational park serviceNationalParkNationalParkServiceNature ValleyNatureValleystreet viewStreetViewtrailTrail ViewTrailViewtraveltravelingususaWoodrow WilsonWoodrowWilsonThu, 27 Oct 2011 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Lumia 710 makes an appearance on Nokia's US site without its Windows Phone counterpart]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/lumia-710-makes-an-appearance-on-nokias-us-site-without-its-win/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/lumia-710-makes-an-appearance-on-nokias-us-site-without-its-win/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/lumia-710-makes-an-appearance-on-nokias-us-site-without-its-win/#comments When Nokia made it known that the Meego-running N9 wouldn't be making any official tour to the US, the sound of crushed dreams could be faintly heard in households across the nation. Would the newly-announced Lumia series suffer the same fate somehow? Might Uncle Sam's invitation to the family BBQ get lost in the mail a second straight time? Thanks to Nokia's US website, we know that at least one of the two Windows Phones will leave Espoo and land somewhere between sea and shining sea, as the budget-conscious Lumia 710 appears front and center on the OEM's home page while the 800 is nowhere to be found. We're not giving up just yet -- if absence makes the heart grow fonder, we don't want to get enamored with the AWOL phone this fast.

Update: Dampen down those hopes and dreams, kids. Nokia has said that it will be making a splash in the USA at the start of next year, but it won't be with the Lumia phones. The page went up just for your information.

Lumia 710 makes an appearance on Nokia's US site without its Windows Phone counterpart originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>710800keephopealivelumialumia 710lumia 800Lumia710Lumia800mangomicrosoftmobilepostcrossnokianokia lumianokia lumia 710nokia lumia 800NokiaLumiaNokiaLumia710NokiaLumia800USwindows phonewindows phone mangoWindowsPhoneWindowsPhoneMangowp7wp7.5Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Major Chinese supplier halts rare earths production in attempt to boost prices]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/major-chinese-supplier-halts-rare-earths-production-in-attempt-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/major-chinese-supplier-halts-rare-earths-production-in-attempt-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/major-chinese-supplier-halts-rare-earths-production-in-attempt-t/#comments
With prices sliding and uncertainty rising, China's biggest producer of rare earth minerals has suddenly decided to suspend all operations, in a move that could strain already tense relations with the West. Baotou Steel, a miner, refiner and vendor located in Inner Mongolia, announced the decision in a statement today, explaining that it's simply looking to "balance supply and demand" in response to a prolonged price slump within China. Since June, in fact, prices of neodymium oxide and europium oxide have declined by 34 and 35 percent, respectively, with many analysts attributing the drop to mounting economic uncertainty in the US and Europe. Earlier this year, the Chinese government announced plans to merge or close some 35 rare earths producers within the mineral-rich northern region of Inner Mongolia, effectively crowning Baotou Steel as the industry's epicenter. Now, of course, that's all changed, though the shutdown will only last for one month. It's also worth noting that China still exerts rather considerable influence upon the market, accounting for roughly 97 percent of all production of rare earths -- a group of 17 minerals used to manufacture gadgets like cellphones, flat-screen TVs and EV batteries, among others. And while new deposits and market projections may point to a transforming landscape, it's unlikely that Chinese influence will wane anytime soon -- much to the chagrin of Western free trade advocates.

Major Chinese supplier halts rare earths production in attempt to boost prices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Baotou SteelBaotouSteelchinademandeconomicseuropeexportgovernmentindustryinner mongoliaInnerMongoliamanufacturingmarketmetalmineralpoliticspriceprice controlPriceControlrare earthrare earth metalsrare earth mineralsrare earthsRareEarthRareEarthMetalsRareEarthMineralsRareEarthsresourcesupplytradeUSWTOThu, 20 Oct 2011 10:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: Apple's celebration of Steve Jobs' life in Cupertino (Update: video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/visualized-apples-celebration-of-steve-jobs-life-in-cupertino/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/visualized-apples-celebration-of-steve-jobs-life-in-cupertino/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/visualized-apples-celebration-of-steve-jobs-life-in-cupertino/#comments The state of California made October 16th "Steve Jobs Day," and on October 19th, the company he co-founded with Steve Wozniak celebrated his life on campus in Cupertino. The photo here, provided by Apple, shows CEO Tim Cook addressing throngs of people who came to the memorial.

Update: Apple has updated their homepage with a video of the event. See the source link (3) below.

Visualized: Apple's celebration of Steve Jobs' life in Cupertino (Update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecaliforniacelebrationcupertinomacmemorialos xOsXsteve jobsSteveJobstim cookTimCookususaWed, 19 Oct 2011 22:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Huawei blocked from first responder network contract, US cites 'national security concerns']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/huawei-blocked-from-first-responder-network-contract-us-cites/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/huawei-blocked-from-first-responder-network-contract-us-cites/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/huawei-blocked-from-first-responder-network-contract-us-cites/#commentsThe inability to win US government approval isn't exactly an unfamiliar issue for Huawei, which by now must be conditioned not to expect a nod from major US telecom companies. But now, The Daily Beast reports that the U.S. Commerce Department has made it very clear that the Chinese company won't have a role in building the country's new dedicated first responder wireless network. A spokesman wasn't shy about the reason, either, explaining that Huawei "will not be taking part in the building of America's interoperable wireless emergency network for first responders due to U.S. government national security concerns." And what about those national security concerns? Well, Huawei president Ren Zhengfei's former role as a People's Liberation Army technologist may have something to do with it, considering it wouldn't be unreasonable to suspect that he still has some fairly close ties to Chinese government officials. We haven't heard a peep from the feds regarding Huawei's invitation for US officials to investigate the company earlier this year, but it's safe to assume that the investigation either didn't go very well, or more likely that it hasn't happened at all. We imagine that whole corporate espionage debacle probably didn't help the company, either.

Huawei blocked from first responder network contract, US cites 'national security concerns' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bidbiddingbigsbusinesscellphonechinachina hackingChinaHackingchinesechinese hackingChineseHackingcontractcontractorcorporate espionageCorporateEspionagedefense departmentDefenseDepartmentespionagefirst responderfirst responder networkFirstResponderFirstResponderNetworkgovernmentgovernment contractGovernmentContractHuaweiindustrymobilemobilepostcrossmotorolanational securityNationalSecurityPeoples Liberation ArmyPeoplesLiberationArmyRen ZhengfeiRenZhengfeisecurityspyspyingususawirelesswireless networkWirelessNetworkFri, 14 Oct 2011 11:42:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM clarifies global service outage, doesn't provide ETA for restore]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/12/rim-clarifies-global-service-outage-doesnt-provide-eta-for-res/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/12/rim-clarifies-global-service-outage-doesnt-provide-eta-for-res/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/12/rim-clarifies-global-service-outage-doesnt-provide-eta-for-res/#comments If you don't own a BlackBerry yourself, chances are you know somebody who does. And if that person lives in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America or South America, they're probably quite unhappy with RIM at the moment. This week's service outage began with a server failure in the UK, and spread like wildfire to Africa and the Middle East, before continuing on to parts of Asia, the US, Canada and a good portion of South America. This is only the latest BlackBerry service outage for RIM, bringing email, BBM and web browsing services to a halt. But with BlackBerry services playing a critical role in real-time business and government communications, any interruption is unacceptable, and costly for all.

RIM CTO David Yach responded to questions during a press conference this afternoon, explaining the original cause of the outage (that UK server failure, along with a series of failed redundancies), and how that grew into the global outage we're experiencing now:

"It's a backlog issue. Clearly we have a backlog in Europe, based on the initial outage and the time it's taken to stabilize that. At this point, we have not throttled the other regions, but as you can imagine, with the global reach of BlackBerry, people using it to contact others around the world, there's a lot of messages coming to Europe from Asia and the Americas, and those would be backed up on the other system. It's looking like over time that backlog built, and started impacting those other systems."

The obvious solution would be to clear the backlog and restore service, but in doing so, RIM would purge any undelivered messages. Yach said that all emails will eventually be delivered, however, so you shouldn't have anything to worry about there (there was no related comment regarding BBM messages). When asked what the company would be doing to "make right" by way of its customers, Yach emphasized that his focus was only on restoring service at this point, and made no promises of restitution.

Is the BlackBerry outage affecting you? Let us know by voting in our poll, or leaving a comment after the break.

Continue reading RIM clarifies global service outage, doesn't provide ETA for restore

RIM clarifies global service outage, doesn't provide ETA for restore originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>africablackberryblackberry outageBlackberryOutagecanadadavid yachDavidYacheuropemiddle eastMiddleEastmobilepostcrossoutageresearch in motionResearchInMotionrimrim outageRimOutageunited statesUnitedStatesusvideoWed, 12 Oct 2011 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Mobile devices may outnumber humans in the US, but they can't take our soul]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/12/mobile-devices-may-outnumber-humans-in-the-us-but-they-cant-ta/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/12/mobile-devices-may-outnumber-humans-in-the-us-but-they-cant-ta/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/12/mobile-devices-may-outnumber-humans-in-the-us-but-they-cant-ta/#comments
We're not really sure what to make of this, but it looks like Americans may be under siege... from their own cellphones. No, seriously -- according to the latest survey from CTIA, there are now more mobile devices in the US than there are human beings. The trade association's semi-annual statistics show that during the first six months of 2011, the number of wireless subscriptions rose by nine percent over the previous year, to a total of 327.6 million. The combined population of the US, Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Islands, by comparison, is around 315 million. That translates to a nationwide wireless penetration rate of 103.9 percent, and, not surprisingly, a 111 percent surge in data usage. CTIA says these results highlight "the industry's need to purchase more spectrum from the federal government," as well as our collective need to get a life. You can find more crunch-able numbers in the full PR, after the break.
[Image courtesy of Wrong Side of the Art]

Continue reading Mobile devices may outnumber humans in the US, but they can't take our soul

Mobile devices may outnumber humans in the US, but they can't take our soul originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>americabusinessconsumerismctiactiaeactiaea2011datademographicshouseholdindustrymobile deviceMobileDevicemobilepostcrosspopulationsemi-annualstatisticssubscriptionsurveyunited statesUnitedStatesUSUSAwireless subscriptionWirelessSubscriptionWed, 12 Oct 2011 10:43:00 EST