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Engadget Eurocast 058 - 3.28.14
We've got our game faces on, but you can't see them because you're strapped into your Oculus Rift. That's all well and good because we're doing a deep dive into Facebook's recent purchase deal for Oculus VR. The social network laid down $2 billion to buy this nascent, yet popular VR hardware company and the responses are definitely mixed. Additionally, the Eurocast crew discuss HTC's new One (M8) smartphone and surprisingly none of them ended up using "mate" as a stand-in for M8. Both of these hot news stories have lots of little nooks and crannies worth exploring, and that's what you'll get in this edition of the Engadget Eurocast. Hosts: Dan Cooper, Matt Brian, Sharif Sakr Producer: Jon Turi Hear the Podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 391 - 3.27.14
Keeping it real used to be the goal, but now it seems that real reality just isn't that interesting anymore. Virtual reality, on the other hand, that's taken the tech world by storm lately. Both Sony and Oculus demoed their latest VR wares at GDC last week, and this week Facebook decided to drop some big news. The social network has just purchased Oculus VR for a whopping $2 billion. Ben and Richard dig into the positive and potentially negative aspects of this deal and what it could mean for the future. On top of that, Netflix decides to pay ISP tolls for its heavy bandwidth use, while AT&T feels that these things are really the subscribers' problem. It's a complicated web of news these days, but luckily you have the Engadget HD Podcast to help break it down into a more digestible format. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
ZTE's giant Nubia X6 has 13MP cameras on the front and back
If you believe that China gets all the good phones, this won't change your mind. ZTE's premium Nubia brand has just launched the X6, a handset-cum-tablet with a 6.44-inch, 1080p screen. As with Oppo's Find 7, ZTE lavished it with top-notch specs, including a Snapdragon 801 chip, 3GB max RAM, up to 128GB storage and a 4,250 mAh battery. The kicker, though, is the pair of 13-megapixel cameras on the front and back -- a rare setup for a non-monkey phone. The front shooter puts many smartphones' main cameras to shame with backside illumination, video auto-focus and an f/2.2 lens. The back-facing camera ups the ante with an f/2.0 lens, optical image stabilization and dual flashes. Alas, if you were looking to wrap your (presumably large) mitts around one in the US or Europe, the Nubia X6 will likely stay put in China. It's now up for pre-order at $HK 5,010, or around $640 for the top model.
Engadget Eurocast 057 - 3.24.14
The Eurocast is back after a brief hiatus and this week's festivities are hosted by Matt Brian and Steve Dent. Google's just announced its Android Wear platform and that means a slew of new wearables will be hitting the scene, possibly by the end of this year. Chromecast has also officially touched down in the UK, which means regular consumers can now get Google's low-cost, diminutive dongle and catch up to those early adopters. Not to be left out, Apple's made a more affordable option of its iPhone 5c available, with a discounted 8GB version for European and Chinese markets. All the details on these and other topics are under the microscope for this episode of the Engadget Eurocast. Hosts: Matt Brian, Steve Dent Producer: Jon Turi Hear the Podcast:
Engadget Podcast 389 - 3.21.14
Join us for an out-of-this-world episode with Joseph, @terrenceobrien and Ben (who's Skyping in from the land of blue skies and balmy weather). Experience Mars with Sony's Project Morpheus, hear Joseph's pitch for virtual reality installations at arcades around the country, and learn the truth about your pet cat -- spoiler alert: it's an alien. We've heard that robots are coming soon to a wrist near you courtesy of Google's new Android Wear platform, but is the wearable world ready for a smartSwatch? There's news, speculation and insight, but definitely no Virtual Boy in this week's edition of the Engadget Podcast. Hosts: Terrence O'Brien, Joseph Volpe, Ben Gilbert Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget HD Podcast 390 - 3.19.14
Streaming services, set-top boxes and dongles are dominating HD news this week, and there's quite a few to discuss. Rumors are bubbling up about more Amazon hardware to match the competition's offerings and Chromecast continues to make headlines with the international roll out of its diminutive device. Surprisingly, Richard isn't going on about March Madness and Ben is lukewarm about the arrival of an ACC Sports channel for Apple TV. Signs of the robopocalypse perhaps? We hope not, since there's plenty of Titanfall still to play and the Xbox One was catching up to PlayStation 4 sales numbers. Keep in mind that Microsoft has only just decided to take its console global. We've got plenty in store and its all packed into this episode of the Engadget HD Podcast, conveniently located at the streaming links below. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget Mobile Podcast 201 - The proposed Sprint / T-Mobile merger
Spring is approaching and change is in the air, not only for the Mobile Podcast, but also for US carriers. Your host Brad is kicking off a new podcast format by interviewing industry analyst Jan Dawson of Jackdaw Research about the ins and outs of a potential Sprint and T-Mobile merger. This segment is followed by a continuing dialog on the topic with Engadget editor and self-proclaimed mobile fiend Chris Velazco. What you get is a double dose of cogent discussion about the proposed merger, delving into the potential impact on the consumer and the companies involved. Head on down to the streaming links below to catch this week's episode of the Engadget Mobile Podcast. Hosts: Brad Molen Guest: Jan Dawson, Chris Velazco Producer: Jon Turi Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International) Hear the podcast:
Engadget Podcast 388 - 3.14.14
This week's podcast begins with some behind the scenes perspective of SXSW before Ben's allowed to get all Titanfall on us. That said, there's a melange of topics under discussion, from the Game of Thrones/HBO experience to tales of a 6-year-old Chelsea Clinton and her kitchen table opinion coaching. Joseph exposes his vicious nature while playing the real-world SXSW version of Mario Kart and Terrence reflects on the addictive nature of his recently acquired Android version of Threes. Finally, Ben gets to tell us that Titanfall is definitely worth the $60 and after some verbal judo, Joseph adds that penny loafers will get you across the river Styx (if you have the penny, apparently). It's all pure info and entertainment, so please join us for this wild episode of the Engadget Podcast! Hosts: Ben Gilbert, Terrence O'Brien, Joseph Volpe Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Google Wallet's tap-to-pay feature will require Android 4.4 KitKat starting April 14th
It's time to upgrade that old phone you've been using for Google Wallet payments at the local store. Google is now telling Android users that they'll have to run KitKat to use Wallet's tap-to-pay feature from April 14th onward. The company prefers the newer OS' "improved experience" for NFC-based payments; in other words, it would rather use a more universal, cloud-based approach to processing your banking info. You may be out of luck even if you are using KitKat, though, since the new requirements rule out support for the EVO 4G LTE, Galaxy Note 3 and 2012-era Nexus 7. We suspect that many Wallet fans are early adopters that already carry qualifying devices, but Google's move could have many shoppers looking for alternatives.
EU law to require that all cellphones charge through a common standard
The EU successfully pushed for voluntary adoption of a cellphone charging standard a few years ago, and it's now close to making that standard mandatory. The European Parliament has voted in favor of a draft law requiring that cellphones work with a common charger. Provided the Council of Ministers green lights the regulation, EU countries will have until 2016 to put it into their local laws; phone makers will have until 2017 to change their hardware. The charger requirement is a formality when many phone designers already support the concept, but it could force some companies to shape up -- and spare more Europeans from tossing out power adapters when they switch handsets. [Image credit: Thierry Monasse/AFP/Getty Images]
Dish's Super Joey DVR extender arrives, lets you record eight shows at once
Dish subscribers who fret over choosing shows to record can relax a little today. The satellite provider has just released its promised Super Joey, which both extends the Hopper DVR to other rooms and adds two tuners to the Hopper's already plentiful six. As the math suggests, the device combo lets you record a full eight shows at the same time -- four of your own choosing, plus four from the biggest US networks (ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC). Dish hasn't said how much it will cost to bring a Super Joey into your home as of this writing, although we'd expect it to carry a premium over a run-of-the-mill Joey.
Google Translate for Android now deciphers handwriting in 13 more languages
If you're an Android user traveling to the Middle East or southern Asia, you'll likely want to grab a just-released update to Google Translate. The new app expands on a recent iOS upgrade with handwriting recognition for 13 extra languages that mostly come from the above two regions; you can now write in Arabic and Persian as well as Indian dialects like Gujarati, Kannada, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu. You'll also find support for Bosnian, Cebuano, Hmong, Maltese, Mongolian and Somali. This isn't the biggest Google Translate refresh that we've seen, but it could make all the difference if you're visiting Dubai or New Delhi.
Engadget HD Podcast 389 - 3.12.14
If the Titanfall release had coincided with the start of March Madness, there probably wouldn't have been a podcast this week. As it is, we had to tear Richard away from his Xbox One to help Ben review the HD details that have been pouring in. There's a constant shuffle of content, ISP deals and updates to go through, as well as a certain monstrous LED-lit HD display to ogle. Your hosts leverage their experience and know-how to help speed you through the week's news, leaving some extra time to watch some TV. We hear Neil deGrasse Tyson and Seth MacFarlane's reboot of Cosmos has gotten some great buzz and rated an introduction by the POTUS. As always, there's plenty of HD to go around, so head on down to the streaming links to join us for this weeks episode. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget Podcast 387 - 3.7.14
Ben Gilbert is joined by Engadget editor and former Best Buy celeb Chris Velazco, along with our social media guru John Colucci who's managed to drag himself away from Grumpy Cat and 3D-printed Oreos long enough to share his thoughts on SXSW. While Ben flexes his verbal Shaq Fu to keep the podcast on track, the real Shaquille is actually scheduled to host a panel on wearables at the Austin event this week. There's a good deal of strange news to talk about, but none quite as odd as Dorian Nakamoto's #bitcoinchase on Thursday. Of course there's a method to all this madness and it can be found at the streaming links below, steganographically embedded into this week's episode of the Engadget Podcast. Enjoy! Hosts: Ben Gilbert Guests: Chris Velazco, John Colucci Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget Eurocast 056 - 3.7.14
The Eurocast welcomes academic and author Aleks Krotoski to the show today to discuss Oscar selfies, Bitcoin drama and Facebook drones. This episode arrives direct from the thriving and cacaphonous heart of London, so please excuse the occasional lorry rumble or siren blast, and as our guest is wont to say: don't panic! At least when it comes to the web, and what doesn't these days? So grab those ear goggles, settle in and get clicking at the streaming links below to catch the latest edition of the Engadget Eurocast. Hosts: Dan Cooper, James Trew Guest: Aleks Krotoski Producer: Jon Turi Hear the Podcast:
Opera's Android browser catches up to rivals with support for webpage video chats
Given Google's Chrome dominance, it's easy to forget that there are other Android browsers. Opera is one of the also-rans, and it's just brought a new version with a nice round number, 20, for your consideration. It's touting WebRTC as the main hook, which lets you do video calls straight from Opera to any recipient with another WebRTC browser. That includes Opera, Chrome or Firefox, since the latter two apps have actually supported WebRTC on Android for quite awhile. Other additions include a new UI layout that you can customize for tablets or phones, an update to the Chromium 33 core (yes, Opera now uses WebKit), search improvements and a new download manager. It still claims to use less data than other browsers thanks to its off-road function, so if you're pushing that hard carrier limit, check the source.
Engadget HD Podcast 388 - 3.5.14
It's the week of HD content news in its many various guises: streaming, video, award shows and service cancellations, all wedged in amidst a couple of physical devices. Actually, the hardware is content-enabling as well, with the new Roku Streaming Stick and an N64 mod that gives your classic gear an HDMI upgrade. Ben and Richard get their wish with Netflix's experiments in sleep tracking (courtesy of a Fitbit) and Microsoft continues to fine tune the Xbox One with updates in audio, Kinect options and a UK glitch fix. Just hop on down to the streaming links to enjoy this episode of the Engadget HD Podcast in all its informational glory. Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Dish's TV streaming app is now available for newer Kindle Fire tablets
Dish subscribers are no longer stuck if they want to catch up on TV shows from one of Amazon's tablets -- the satellite provider has released a version of Dish Anywhere for Kindle Fire HDX devices. As with the regular Android app, HDX owners using Sling-equipped Dish DVRs (such as the Hopper with Sling) can watch live, on-demand and recorded TV from any reasonably fast internet connection. There's no word yet on support for the lower-cost Kindle Fire HD, but those who own Amazon's latest and greatest hardware can grab Dish Anywhere today.
Imo drops support for third-party chat networks to focus on its own
Imo has long served as a chat network aggregator, putting all your conversations in one place. However, the company believes that this strategy has led to compromises that hold back its own messaging efforts. To sharpen its focus, it's dropping support for all third-party services. The firm will start turning off the lights on March 3rd, and you'll have until March 7th to download your chat history from outside platforms. Imo argues that the narrower scope will help it create the "fastest and most reliable" communication service on the planet. The company may need to act quickly on that goal if it wants to keep and grow its fan base -- we can't imagine that many users are happy with Imo losing one of its most appealing features.
Engadget Podcast 386 - 2.28.14
With most of the regular crew away, Terrence decides to call in some heavy-duty reinforcements. Richard joins us with critical insights into HD and the Netflix bottleneck debacle. Meanwhile, Brad is perfect for a providing a rundown of the best from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, including first-hand insight into Samsung's newest devices. There's plenty to learn by tuning in this week, so head to the streaming links for the full episode of the Engadget Podcast. Hosts: Terrence O'Brien, Richard Lawler, Brad Molen Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast: