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Engadget Podcast 374 - 12.26.13
This week's podcast ditches the studio and delivers the mellifluous voices of Brian, Terrence and Billy without all that video nonsense, leaving much to the imagination. The news tidbits are real, however, and the discussion launches into tasty gadget gifts, spearheaded by Apple's shiny new Mac Pro. Avegant has a new immersive display arriving soon and Canonical is giving the gift of dual-booting this season, so that Android users can get in on the Ubuntu experience, too. It's a festive bit of banter this week, so heat up those leftovers, grab a tasty beverage and settle in for another edition of the Engadget Podcast. Hosts: Brian Heater, Terrence O'Brien, Billy Steele Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget Eurocast 049 Christmas Edition - 12.25.13
The Engadget Eurocast team is obviously delirious on eggnog, as they've chosen to spend a good portion of their Christmas day together nestled in Snuggies and sitting around a warm fire to bring you this special holiday podcast. Your host Daniel Cooper gets things rolling with a specially crafted, year-in-review tech quiz that elicits both insightful chatter and raucous tangents. It's game on for Jamie who aims to win all the quiz points and that's fine with Matt as his Avengers sticker book is all he needs this holiday. Steve will probably just spend the rest of the day on his Xbox One and Dan will be trading his Snuggie for a toolbelt, as he's in for a bit of D.I.Y. It's a warm and inviting chat, and we hope that you'll be able to stop by. Grab your eggnog (it's BYOE) and head on down to the streaming links below for this episode of the Engadget Eurocast! Hosts: Dan Cooper, Matt Brian, Jamie Rigg, Steve Dent Producer: Jon Turi Hear the Podcast:
Oppo R1 smartphone arrives in China with a bright camera and high style
It's tough to stand out in the mid-range Android crowd, but Oppo may have found a way to separate itself from the pack. Its newly launched R1 smartphone carries a gold-effect metal frame that adds a touch of class around the 5-inch screen. Camera quality may also lure in a few buyers. The R1 carries a bright 8-megapixel, f/2.0 aperture shooter like that in the R819, and there's an upgraded 5-megapixel camera at the front. No one will mistake Oppo's latest hardware for a flagship, though. There's a modest 1.3GHz, quad-core MediaTek chip inside, and neither the 720p display resolution nor the 16GB of non-expandable storage will please video lovers. The real obstacle for some may be the price -- the R1 sells for ¥2,498 ($411) in its native China, which is a lot to pay when the Vivo X3 offers slightly better performance in a slimmer design.
Facebook for Windows Phone 8 now lets you pin chats and events to the home screen
Windows Phone-toting Facebook users no longer have to worry about missing an important conversation or party update. A revamped Facebook app for Windows Phone 8 lets socialites pin seemingly any Facebook content to the home screen as a Live Tile, including chats, events, groups, pages and photo albums. The app's redesigned main Live Tile also shows wall updates, and Microsoft has spent time bolstering both the language support and overall performance. Whether or not you need to watch your friend activity like a hawk, there's enough here to justify swinging by the Windows Phone Store for an upgrade.
BLU's Life Pure smartphone delivers 1080p, a 13-megapixel camera and 32GB of space for $349
BLU Products can offer a lot of smartphone for the money, but its devices seldom come with the sharp screens and ample memory that you'd expect from rivals. The company is closing that gap with its new Life Pure, however. The $349 unlocked handset carries the same 5-inch, 1080p screen that you've seen on flagships from the past year, including the HTC Droid DNA; it even stuffs in a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front camera and 32GB of storage, giving it more overall media prowess than a similarly-priced Nexus 5. With that said, you won't want to chuck your reference Google phone out the window just yet. The Life Pure is running on a slower 1.5GHz quad-core MediaTek chip (albeit with 2GB of RAM), doesn't include LTE and uses Android 4.2. This isn't an early adopter's phone, then. Still, we can see some buyers trading performance for features when the Life Pure goes on sale in the near future.
Google Play Books for Android temporarily loses PDF upload support
We hope you weren't too attached to Google Play Books' PDF upload support on Android, because you just lost it -- albeit temporarily. Following some code sleuthing, Android Police has confirmed that Google removed PDF uploading; for now, you're limited to transferring EPUB books. The PDF support was experimental, Google says, and should come back with a future app update. That's unfortunate for anyone hoping to save documents to Play Books, but we won't object too much when there are at least a few alternatives for sending PDFs to the cloud.
500px brings its photo sharing to Windows Phone
Windows Phone users wanting to browse 500px photo galleries have so far had to rely on unofficial apps, but they can now go straight to the source thanks to an official app for Microsoft's platform. As on Android and iOS, this is primarily a passive experience; you can check out friends' activity with the Flow feature and search for interesting snapshots, but direct uploads aren't an option. There are two OS-specific perks, though -- you can introduce 500px photos to both a Live Tile as well as your phone's lock screen. Grab the app from the Windows Phone Store today if you're looking for an alternative to other services like Flickr.
Vine for Android comes to Gingerbread phones, but only for viewing
Android fans running Gingerbread no longer have to sit out the Vine video craze. An updated Vine app now supports playback on the 2010-era Google OS, giving the many people using older Android phones a chance to see all the short clips they've been missing. They shouldn't expect to record clips, though -- Vine says that "device limitations" prevent Gingerbread users from creating their own content. That negates much of the app's reason for being, but the expanded support still represents a kindness toward those who'd otherwise be left out of the (video) loop.
Engadget Eurocast 048 - 12.17.13
While the overall state of news has been sparse, the ever-vigilant Daniel Cooper and his co-hosts have managed to find some choice topics to chew the fat over this week. Sharif delivers his first-person perspective of the e-inked, dual-screen YotaPhone and Matt drops some science on the discount tablet scene. The cherry on top of this news sundae, though, is Google's recent acquisition of the robot-centric Boston Dynamics. Hopefully the Doctor will be around if we get overrun by Cybermen again this holiday. But what's really in question is whether or not Sharif will enjoy Better Call Saul if Breaking Bad didn't do it for him. All of these important topics are up for careful consideration on this week's edition of the Engadget Eurocast. Hosts: Dan Cooper, Matt Brian, Sharif Sakr Producer: Jon Turi Hear the Podcast:
BLU unveils two budget Android phones with 3G on more North American carriers
BLU Products' unlocked smartphones have only been truly useful in North America when using bigger carriers like AT&T and Rogers, but the company is giving us a few more choices today. Its new Advance 4.0 and Studio 5.0 II both support HSPA+ data on smaller networks like T-Mobile, Solavei and Wind Mobile; if you want to jump to a cheaper provider, you won't have to give up 3G in the process. The handsets are otherwise modest. Both Android 4.2 devices come with a dual-core 1.3GHz MediaTek processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of expandable storage, a 5-megapixel rear camera and a front VGA camera. You're mostly left deciding between the Advance 4.0's 4-inch TFT display and the Studio 5.0 II's 5-inch IPS panel. Whichever phone you choose, it won't cost much. BLU is offering the Advance 4.0 today for $89 outright, while its Studio 5.0 II cousin sells for $139.
Dropbox for Android now lets you share folders with friends
Dropbox members no longer have to wait until they're at a desktop to share a whole folder. An updated Dropbox for Android lets users both invite others to shared folders and manage the relevant permissions. There aren't many other interface additions, although anyone eager to upgrade to Pro service can now subscribe through Google Play instead of the web. And don't worry, iOS fans -- Dropbox is bringing invitation support to your app in early 2014.
Mailbox for iOS now handles your iCloud or Yahoo email account
Mailbox has only handled Gmail since launch, but compulsive email checkers finally have a few more account options thanks to an update. The iOS app now supports both iCloud addresses (including me.com and mac.com) as well as Yahoo, with prioritization and push notifications intact. The upgrade also introduces background syncing, which should save iOS 7 users the trouble of downloading all their new mail at once. Those who've been waiting for expanded support to try Mailbox can give it a spin today at the source link.
Google Maps Navigation for Android makes its way to 25 more countries
Eager to go on a driving trip to an exotic locale? You'll be glad to hear that Google Maps Navigation is now available in 25 more countries. Most of the additions are in Africa, including Libya, Somalia and Tunisia. The rest of the coverage is scattered across the globe: Caribbean travelers can find their way through Guadeloupe and Haiti, while European visitors can navigate Andorra, Croatia and Serbia. There's even support for relatively remote places like Bhutan and Vanuatu. Maps Navigation still isn't a truly global service when it reaches 99 countries, but it now reaches far enough that it will be a surprise if you can't get your bearings while traveling abroad.
Engadget HD Podcast 378 - 12.11.13
While Ben digs into his holiday movie archive and Richard warms himself by a virtual yuletide fire, HD news continues to pour forth. The Xbox One received some post-launch updates, Dolby demoed some tech you might not have thought you needed, Google's Chromecast added more apps to its streaming quiver and Netflix announced a director for its Daredevil series. Add to that, an extensive review of Must See HDTV and some disappointing fantasy football stats, and you've got another informative episode of the HD Podcast, patiently waiting for you at the streaming links below. Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler Producer: Jon Turi Hear the podcast:
Engadget Eurocast 047 - 12.10.13
Pulled pork sandwiches are on the crew's mind, but they'll only be on one dinner table tonight, leaving your host Daniel Cooper to wrangle a hungry and rowdy set of co-hosts. Topics range from the NSA's reported intrusion into the world of gaming to the continuing saga of Google's Nexus 5 camera. Steve tries to stay awake while the lads discuss the world-saving power of soccer and Jamie shares his love for Vietnamese holiday biscuits. You won't want to miss this weird and wild ride, so make haste for the streaming links below to bask in the warm holiday glow of this week's Engadget Eurocast. Hosts: Dan Cooper, Matt Brian, Steve Dent, Jamie Rigg Producer: Jon Turi Hear the Podcast:
Skype for Windows Phone comes to China with app upgrades in tow
Skype's newest Chinese partnership may not allay fears of government snooping, but it's paying dividends for mobile users -- Skype for Windows Phone has just reached the country for the first time as part of a larger app update. Microsoft's messaging client appears to be the same regardless of region, suggesting that the Chinese aren't losing any features. That's good news, as there's a few noteworthy updates in store. Users can now copy and paste instant messages, and there's a new high contrast mode for those with vision trouble; the app should load faster, too. No matter where you live, you can grab the Skype update today from the Windows Phone Store.
iPhone 5s and 5c come to Straight Talk and Net10 on December 13th
Cost-conscious iPhone 5s or 5c buyers will soon have a pair of fresh choices for prepaid service. Tracfone has announced that both Straight Talk and Net10 will sell Apple's latest smartphones through Walmart on December 13th. As with unlocked devices, you'll be paying at least $549 for an iPhone 5c or $649 for its 5s counterpart; the real savings come from the plans, which start at $45 per month for unlimited calls, (throttled) data and text. You'll still want to visit carriers like T-Mobile or Virgin for the cheapest possible rates, but the new Tracfone options may be ideal for iPhone fans who want full service without a full price.
AT&T strikes deal to offer LTE data roaming in Canada
AT&T subscribers visiting their Canadian neighbors no longer have to worry about giving up 4G speeds when crossing the border. The carrier has just unveiled a roaming deal with Rogers that will provide quick LTE data anywhere the Canadian provider has compatible coverage, including major cities like Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. You'll only get to do so much with the improved performance while traveling up North, though. When AT&T's global add-ons still include a meager amount of international data per month, you'll just be racking up overage fees that much faster.
T-Mobile to launch data-free $35 Unlimited Talk and Text plan on December 8th
T-Mobile's Simple Choice plans are relatively cheap ways to get unlimited voice and messaging, but not everyone is eager to pay for the accompanying data. The carrier is clearly aware of this, as it's launching a data-free $35 Unlimited Talk and Text prepaid plan on December 8th. It's a "limited-time" offer for thrifty customers who still want to chat as much as they like, the company explains to TmoNews. We'd argue that T-Mobile's $30 plan with unlimited data and 100 minutes of voice is ultimately the better deal, but the new rate could be appealing to basic phone owners and those who spend all their time on WiFi.
Engadget Eurocast 046 - 12.5.13
The Eurocast crew, led by the fearless Daniel Cooper, divine the spirit of HD this week as they discuss HBO's deal with Google in the UK and the merits of today's "golden age of television." While the country sees some new shows, its nearly century old paper car tax is being shown the door, and it's not the only thing on the way out. The HTC Mini is now banned in the UK due to a patent ruling in favor of Nokia and both Steve Dent and Matt Brian mourn the loss of this quality handset. It's not all a downer this week, however, as Three UK subscribers finally gain a leg up in spots around the globe, with normally priced service being extended to various international locations. Want to enjoy a bit of international flavor without leaving your couch? You're in luck, because there are at least two different accents to enjoy in this week's edition of the Engadget Eurocast. Cheers! Hosts: Dan Cooper, Matt Brian, Steve Dent Producer: Jon Turi Hear the Podcast: