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Netflix cancels Meghan Markle animated series ‘Pearl’
The streaming service has made a number of cutbacks after a drop in subscribers.
'Pokémon Go' gets a little bigger with 'Diamond' and 'Pearl' monsters
The Pokémon Company has announced that monsters from the Sinnoh region -- the Diamond and Pearl games -- are now available in Pokémon Go. Players will now be able to capture favorites like Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup as they make their debut in the still-popular mobile AR game.
Firmware suggests the next iPhone will use infrared face unlock
Ever since our close look at an alleged render of the next iPhone back in May, there have been rumors of 3D face scanning plus a large screen-to-body ratio flying about. Today, we finally bring you some solid evidence about these features, courtesy of -- surprise, surprise -- Apple itself. After digging up new details about the Apple HomePod in its leaked firmware, iOS developer Steve Troughton-Smith came across some code that confirm the use of infrared face unlock in BiometricKit for the next iPhone. More interestingly, in the same firmware, fellow developer Guilherme Rambo found an icon that suggests a near-bezel-less design -- one that matches rumored schematics going as far back as late May. For those in doubt, Troughton-Smith assured us that this icon is "specific to D22, the iPhone that has Pearl (Face ID)."
Acaia's Bluetooth scale tracks your morning coffee ritual
I'll admit it: I'm a coffee snob. I wasn't even that invested until I became friends with two roasters. Fast forward a few years and I have equipment in my kitchen for six different brewing methods. Yes, it's a bit much. However, that still didn't stop me from being enticed by the Acaia Pearl Bluetooth-equipped scale, which aims to make the daily ritual as consistent and accurate as possible. Do you really need a $129 gadget to help you make better coffee, though? Or will a cheap kitchen scale and timer do the job just fine? After a few weeks with the priciest "Pearl Black" model, which sells for $150, I'm not ready to give up my budget gear just yet.
A first-hand quest for the future of sex, Part 2: Mission diverted
I'd just returned from CES, where it was obvious that sex and tech were finally coming together. Despite my rather unfortunate experiences weeks prior, I was feeling inspired. That's when Kiiroo came into my life. Like a serendipitous orgasm harbinger, it promised to take my "sex life to new heights" through teledildonics. Teledildonics is the sex industry's contribution to the Internet of Things, allowing users to remote control vibrators and sex sleeves, sync those toys to VR videos, interact with an adult cam star in real-time, "feel" a long-distance lover and, as I'd come to discover, bring new meaning to one of my favorite internet initialisms: GFY. NSFW Warning: This story may contain links to and descriptions or images of explicit sexual acts. This is the conclusion of a two-part series exploring the future of sex. To read the first installment, click here at your own risk.
Adult Themes: Digital sex just isn't 'sexy'
The attic room is sparsely furnished, with just a bed, a side table and a bookcase made from cheap plywood, shelves sagging from overuse. It's sufficiently cold in here that clouds of vapor peel from my lips, but the location, at least, offers the privacy I need. After balancing my laptop on some books, with the webcam strategically pointed above waist-height, I slide my trousers down and pull out the ominous, black cylinder from a bag. It's a Kiiroo Onyx, a $249 teledildonic device that, the company promises, will enable me to have sex with my significant other (or anyone else) through the internet.
Sony's VPL-HW50ES projector revealed at IFA, ships in October
Slotting in above the VPL-HW30ES, this VPL-HW50ES uses a version of the same technology seen in the VW1000ES to process images for 4K does not do 4K at all and of course supports 3D. We're all very familiar with the company's SXRD projectors by now but if you need more information the press release is after the break. While we know these are due to ship across Europe in both black and white by the end of October, what you won't find, at least so far, is a price tag. We'll keep our eyes peeled at CEDIA next week for more information. Update: Whoops, no, this is not a part of Sony's all-4K everything push, and brings merely 1080p resolution with some fancy image processing tech. We're now not quite as excited to see it, but 1,700 lumens of brightness, built-in 3D transmitter and wider lens shift range aren't too disappointing.
Cybook prepping Odyssey reader with High Speed Ink System screen
It looks like Bookeen may finally be through teasing us -- the company is preparing to unleash the Odyssey, a reader sporting its High Speed Ink System. The modified Pearl E Ink screen has been shown off multiple times, playing back video and browsing the web. Now it will finally make the transition from interesting tech demo to actual product. Better yet, the 6-inch, full motion-capable screen has been paired with a touch layer, which means it could deliver a tablet-like experience with battery life closer to a traditional e-reader. Underneath the hood is a an 800MHz Cortex A8 processor from Texas Instruments and a WiFi radio, presumably for downloading content and browsing the web. The Odyssey is expect to start shipping in Europe in the next few weeks, but Bookeen has yet to reveal a price. You can check out the machine translated PR at the source link.
Sony's new internet TV box, projector and Blu-ray player make an appearance at IFA
They didn't earn highlights during Sony's IFA 2011 keynote, but it did slip out a few more pieces of home theater hardware that are more likely to end up in your living room than its outlandish 3D helmet. The SMP-N200 replaces the earlier Netbox that debuted last year with a refreshed design and support for HD and 3D. Unsurprisingly, this Blu-ray player (without the Blu-ray) also supports DLNA "throwing" of content, making it a natural Apple TV-style tie-in for the Tablet S and Tablet P once they launch. Moving on, the VPL-VW95ES is a proper replacement for last year's VPL-VW90ES that we'll probably get more properly acquainted with later this week at CEDIA. For 2011 it's been refreshed with 3D conversion capabilities, an integrated 3D emitter to sync the glasses and the ability to set and memorize different lens positions to switch seamlessly between 16:9 and ultrawidescreen projecting. Finally, the BDP-S185 Blu-ray player was announced, with compact size and power consumption that Sony claims is 47 percent less than the previous year's models as its most notable features. All should start shipping in October, no specific word on pricing yet.
Hands-on with the Sony Reader Wi-Fi (video)
The Sony Reader doesn't have all that large a presence here in the States, where the market is largely dominated by Amazon, and, to a lesser extent, Barnes & Noble. The Sony Reader Wi-Fi does go a ways toward keeping up with the competition, offering up WiFi (as advertised), an infrared touchscreen, and the Pearl E-Ink display seen on past versions. The hardware is nice, though it doesn't feel quite as natural in the hand as the Nook or Kobo -- it did indeed feel light, as advertised, though it's hard to get a final judgement, seeing as how the demo product on the show room floor was all wired up. The software also zips along quite nicely, and pinch to zoom functionality is certainly a welcome addition in the e-reader market. Unlike many other Sony Readers, the thing also does well for itself pricewise, at $149. Hands-on video after the break.%Gallery-132193%
Sony's new Reader Wi-Fi is the world's lightest 6-inch e-reader with multitouch screen (update: powered by Android)
Sony's just been showing off its Reader Store for the Android-powered Tablet S and Tablet P, but it hasn't forgotten its more eye-friendly options. Announced at IFA just now, the self-explanatory Reader Wi-Fi (PRS-T1) claims to be the world's lightest 6-inch e-reader with an "enhanced" touchscreen -- the "enhanced" bit referring to its "Clear Touch Infrared" technology that supports multitouch for pinch-to-zoom, though it's also bundled with a stylus. At 168 grams (5.93 ounces) light and 8.9mm thin, this device packs a 600 x 800, 16-level gray scale E Ink Pearl display, along with 1.3 GB of usable internal storage plus microSD expansion of up to 32GB. The built-in 802.11b/g/n WiFi connectivity also lets users wirelessly borrow eBooks from public libraries -- a first for e-readers, apparently -- in the UK, US, and Canada. As for battery life, a single battery charge will keep digital bookworms busy for up to three weeks with WiFi enabled, or up to a month without WiFi (based on a half-hour reading time per day). Expect this ePub-compatible Reader Wi-Fi to hit the US and Europe in October for around $149, and it'll come in a color choice of either red, white or black. Press release after the break. Update: We now have confirmation that this reader is running on a heavily disguised Android (which is somewhat hinted by the buttons, anyway), so yeah, let the rooting begin!
BeBook Club 'S' boosts speed, contrast, leaves off nothing for savings
The respectable, if not exactly mind-blowing, BeBook Club e-reader is getting an update and adding an "S." So, what exactly does the BeBook Club 'S' bring to the party? Well, one of them fancy Pearl e-ink screens for starters, but also storage (it now sports 1GB of internal flash) and speed (it's got a beefy new 800MHz CPU). The design remains the same, but we're hoping the price doesn't. At $179 the original BeBook Club was always a tough sell, and with the price of the Kindle and Nook tumbling fast the 'S' here better also stand for savings. %Gallery-131829%
Gresso flaunts $30,000 white iPhone 4, holds more ice than a skating rink
Sure, you probably waited longer than you should have to get the elusive white iPhone 4. But, you know what's better than a boring regular model? One with diamonds, crystals and pearls... of course! Known for its ridiculous custom mobile devices, Gresso may force you to refinance your house and hock a kidney to afford its latest creation, the Lady Blanche. A solid diamond-coated mineral glass backing, three independent Swiss clocks and pearl dials replace the usual body on this iced-out iPhone. If the $30k diamond model is a bit out of your price range, the much more affordable Swarovski crystal version will only set you back 7,000 bones. Release details are unclear at this point, but when they drop you better act fast -- only 150 of these gems will be available. Heck, if you have that kind of cash lying around, just get the salesman to throw in one of these for your iPad, too.
Sony reveals midrange VPL-HW30ES 3D projector on the way (Update: US pricing)
We all know you deserve to live the projector lifestyle, but fitting Sony's first home projector with 3D -- the $10k (MSRP) VPL-VW90ES that launched last fall -- into one's budget might be a little tough. Now the company is launching the "affordable" VPL-HW30ES for the rest of us this year, featuring some of the same 240Hz SXRD tech in a cheaper package. There's no word yet on pricing or a ship date here in the US, but Europe and Japan get it next month with a pricetag of 370,000 yen ($4,626 US) in the latter. That lower price nabs specs like a claimed 70,000:1 contrast ratio and 1,300 lumens of brightness and all the picture adjustment settings befitting a product rocking the Elevated Standard tag, along with an upgraded 3D system to reduce crosstalk. 3D compatibility is achieved with Sony's new lighter active shutter 3D glasses and an add-on IR sync device that are both sold separately -- no complex lens switching necessary. Update: Sony sent over the US press release with pricing ($3,699) and other information, check it out here.
Motorola leaks Xoom 2 tablet, Tracy XL watchphone, and Slimline, Zaha, Targa, and Pearl handsets
So here's the story: Pocketnow was able to snatch some screengrabs from a Motorola Mobility site redesign. The image above (and two more after the break) is what they saw. In addition to the Tracy XL homage to the Dick Tracy watchphone, we can also see the back of the Slimline handset and the front of the Zaha. The grabs also show a bit of the "Xoom 2" tablet and Pearl handset along the bottom of the screen in addition to a fleeting glimpse of the previously rumored Verizon LTE handset known as Targa. And you know what makes this all truly compelling? The fact that Motorola made Pocketnow remove the images from its site.
E Ink dashes hopes of a next gen display in 2011, but pencils in full-motion video for 2012
E Ink Holdings is brazenly making us wait until 2012 before producing a successor to its popular Pearl electronic paper display. One of the company's VPs dropped into CNET's offices to spill the bad news: developing and testing a next-generation display "takes some time", apparently, and it is sticking to a two year product cycle. Perhaps E Ink has shifted its focus to the LCD screen in Amazon's rumoured tablet. Or maybe it's still working on the Triton color e-ink display that left us so underwhelmed at CES. Either way, the monochrome Pearl has been knocking around in the Kindle and other e-readers for a while now and although it has better contrast than earlier iterations, it is still ripe for a revamp -- especially a faster refresh rate. But the E Ink VP did hint at some brighter news: the next-gen display, when it does finally arrive, could sport full-motion video. So far e-ink video has failed to go beyond a slightly jittery 10-15fps, so full-motion 24fps or 30fps could definitely be worth the wait.
BlackBerry 6 shows up on Bold 9700, Pearl 3G -- and we check it out
To the untrained eye, you might think you're looking at a garden variety Bold 9700 here -- but you'd be wrong. So wrong! It's actually running BlackBerry 6, something that no device other than the touchscreen-equipped Torch has managed to do in public (in an official capacity, anyway) so far. We're not convinced that the multiple home screen navigation bar concept translates very well here -- you've got to scroll up then left or right to move between bars, which seems like too much trouble when you can just get to your entire list of apps with approximately the same amount of effort. The WebKit browser is unquestionably a huge improvement over what BlackBerry OS 5.0 users are used to, but we still witnessed it bog down significantly when checking out ye olde standby engadget.com, to the point where other UI actions in the OS were impacted. We guess it's going to take another generation of hardware or two with quicker cores (and more RAM) to fix up that stuff... hopefully. In addition to the 9700, we also checked out the re-upped Pearl 3G, which is exactly what you'd expect in practice: the same user experience, just narrower. A rep told us that the updates are expected to launch within a few weeks, though it'll depend on your carrier. Follow the break for some quick videos! %Gallery-103541%
Colorware freshens up BlackBerry Pearl 3G and Flip UltraHD with bodacious new paintjobs
Say, are you finding your 3G-equipped BlackBerry isn't looking quite so Pearlescent now that the Curve has also gone 3G and BlackBerry 6 seems to have moved things along (a bit)? Maybe it's time you gave that zany bunch at Colorware a call, as they've just started taking orders for repainting Pearl 3G (aka 9100) handsets into whatever shade of awesome you desire. Prices are still ludicrous, starting out at $165 for a respray or $640 for a brand new phone, though if you want some more affordable customization, you can opt to send in your Flip UltraHD for a $50 change of hue (or grab a new one for $260). Sure, none of it makes much fiscal sense, but then blinging out your gear was never about rationality anyway.
BlackBerry Pearl 3G turns up on Cincinnati Bell
Wondering what ever happened to the BlackBerry Pearl 3G that made its debut way back in April and then all but disappeared? Well, we've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that you can now actually buy one in the US. The bad news is that it's seemingly only available on Cincinnati Bell at the moment. If that happens to be your carrier of choice, however, you can get your order in right now for $99.99 on a two-year contract, or simply snag the slim, SureType device outright for $349.99. Still no word on when other carriers will be getting the phone but, if the FCC is any indication, it should be headed elsewhere sooner or later. [Thanks, Adam]
Amazon's graphite Kindle DX now shipping
Amazon promised that its new, Pearl display-equipped graphite Kindle DX would start shipping today and, as a helpful tipster informs us, the first shipping notices are now indeed going out. What's more, unlike some past Kindle debuts, the e-reader is also still listed as in stock, so it looks like you're not out of luck if you didn't get your pre-order in. Of course, it's not clear if that's due to increased supply or reduced demand -- although, at $379, we'd have to guess it's moving a bit slower than the regular $189 Kindle.