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NYPD handing out flyers asking people to upgrade to iOS 7
If you're in New York City the next time a cop stops you, he may want you to...update your iPhone to iOS 7. According to a flurry of reports on Twitter, NYC police are handing out fliers (one pictured above from @jimrosenberg and another pictured below from @Hoffm) asking people to upgrade to iOS 7. From first glance, the fact that New York City's finest are handing out fliers promoting Apple's latest iOS might seem like a huge marketing win (and / or brainwashing initiative) by Apple. But because mobile phones are now the number one item stolen in large cities, taking a proactive approach to helping users know about the security advantages of the latest iOS is actually in the police's favor. As AllThingsD points out, iOS 7 features a new tool called Activation Lock that requires the phone's Apple ID and password to be entered before it can be erased or before Find My iPhone has been deactivated. So if you haven't upgraded to iOS 7, do it now -- police's orders.
Verizon service coming to 36 NYC subway stations later this year
When it rains it pours -- and pouring rain only stops New York City's 100-year-old mass transit system some of the time. Following its fellow carriers underground, Verizon this morning let it be know that it has inked a deal with Transit Wireless (which has already announced similar partnerships with Sprint, AT&T and the like) that'll bring 3G and LTE voice and data to those 36 Manhattan stations that are already online, later this year. Phase two, meanwhile, will bring 40 additional stations throughout Manhattan and Queens. That part is expected to be completed early next year.
Sprint's LTE rollout in NYC begins
Sprint is finally rolling out LTE service for parts of New York City, including the Bronx and Brooklyn. Sprint says it will flip the switch for those areas on July 30. Sprint has been way behind AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in rolling out high-speed LTE services. There is currently some coverage in Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island, although there has been no official start date announced. New York City is the most populated city in America, and implementing new cell service is difficult due to interference from tall buildings and finding locations for hardware. Not to mention all the people fighting for bandwidth on those towers. In the last six months, Sprint has added 12 new towers in the New York City area, and 906 data speed upgrades. Sprint says it has 110 4G markets, and New York City will make 111. Sprint is also working on cell service in all 277 subway stations, beginning with 36 stations it hopes to have up and running in early 2014. AT&T and T-Mobile already offer cellular connections in select underground locations. Verizon and Sprint are signed up with Transit Wireless for the underground connectivity. Sprint was the third US carrier to offer the iPhone, signing on with Apple in October 2011.
eBay's large retail screens could make 'window shopping' more expensive
You might argue that eBay is a virtual store of sorts already. But according to reports, the auction giant is planning a new spin on the term. Reuters claims that eBay plans to place 9-foot by 2-foot screens in closed retail units in a variety of locations around New York. The idea being that real shoppers will be able to paw at the virtual stores through the glass, and have purchases delivered to them in under an hour -- ideal for those who just can't wait. There's already one client onboard (Fith & Pacific Companies) which plans to use the screens to launch a new fashion brand without having to kit out physical stores. The firm does plan on furnishing actual bricks and mortar outlets eventually, but won't ditch the screens after. Instead making them a permanent fixture in-store to add items that aren't always available in current stock.
Fifth Avenue Apple Store experiences a water leak
The Apple Store on New York's Fifth Avenue is a veritable marvel of engineering, with its glass cube leading down into an underground space. But putting the store underground like that makes it more vulnerable to water leaks, and sure enough, that's what's happened earlier today in New York. The Post reports that heavy rain in the city caused water to erupt through the ceiling of the store, sending employees running and sliding tables around to protect the merchandise. The issue doesn't sound so bad; the water was mopped up quickly, and the store never actually closed. But the Post also says that one worker on site claims there's an issue with the stone slabs in the store entryway, which sit above the underground retail space. Incoming customers walk across those every day, and past construction in the area may not have been up to snuff. If that's the case, it seems there might be more renovation in the Fifth Avenue store's future -- hopefully the employees there can avoid another indoor downpour.
Fund manager David Einhorn sues Apple, wants cash to go back to shareholders
David Einhorn is a fund manager at Greenlight Capital, and he's leading the charge with a lawsuit against Apple, claiming that the company hasn't done enough to make sure its shareholders receive the benefits of their success. Apple's been making plenty of money lately, of course, but Einhorn's problem isn't with the making, it's with what Apple is doing with that money. The company from Cupertino has built up a cash bank of nearly $100 billion, and investors have already made it clear they're not happy that Apple hasn't turned that money back into bonuses for shareholders. "We understand that many of our fellow shareholders share our frustration with Apple's capital allocation policies," says Einhorn. "Apple has $145 per share of cash on its balance sheet. As a shareholder, this is your money," he told fellow investors. And so Einhorn has filed suit in a New York court to try and modify a proposal Apple has pending, and change the company's stance on paying off its shareholders. We'll have to see how this plays out. Certainly Apple has a duty to its stockholders, and that is definitely a lot of money (more than any one company's ever seen before). But Apple's R&D costs are rising all the time. If Tim Cook has a good reason to have such a big cash pile, odds are it'll come out in this case.
NYPD launches crime-reporting app for citizens
The New York Police Department has launched its first official app today. The NYPD app was designed to help facilitate the NYDP's mission to "enhance the quality of life in New York City by working in partnership with the community and in accordance with constitutional rights to enforce the laws, preserve the peace, reduce fear and provide for a safe environment." That app seems to fulfill that goal by leaps and bounds. Not only does it allow citizens to easily access crime statistics, see Most Wanted lists, get precinct information and view rewards for information about past crimes, it also lets users submit anonymous tips about crimes they have witnessed. The tip section asks users to enter the suspect's description including gender, race, appearance; the crime's description including what, where and when; and the vehicle description (if used) including make, model, color, year and license plate. It also allows you to choose a photo from your camera roll of take a photo right from the tip form. I'm sure some users may be concerned whether their tips are truly anonymous, but if the NYPD's app were sending data back to the police that could identify the user of the app it would not have made it through Apple's approval process. NYPD is a free download.
Real-time arrivals for some NYC subway lines now accessible on iPhone (Updated)
Update: The capable (not to mention iPhone 5- and Retina-aware) subway scheduler app NextStop has been updated to include the realtime info for the relevant lines. It's a much prettier and effective way to get at this info than the MTA's app, which should be considered a beta at best and a technology demonstration at worst. Pity the overwhelmed iOS-equipped NYC straphanger. Not only are owners of iPhones and iPads uniquely responsible for the increase in New York's property crime count this year (as victims, not perpetrators, we hope), but even if they can keep a grip on their much-prized tech, they have to cope with the increased hurdles to getting accurate transit directions via iOS 6's Maps app. It's not all darkness and grime for subway riders, however. Outgoing MTA Chief / mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, who led the heroic effort to bring the subterranean system back online after Superstorm Sandy, said that today is "the day that generations of dreamers and futurists have waited for" as he announced MTA Subway Time, the first mobile app to deliver real-time train arrival countdowns for subway riders. The WSJ notes that New York's initial effort lags far behind the time-aware apps from other transit systems. The Second Avenue Sagas subway blog has a quick take on the app, pointing out the features and flaws of the MTA's approach. On the plus side, the app and the companion website deliver the same data that appears on platform next-train clocks, giving riders the best possible chance to make their trains. Unfortunately, without cellular or WiFi access, you're stuck with the estimated timetables used by apps like Embark, iTrans and NextStop. Aside from the network access challenge and the rather utilitarian design of the app (not optimized for iPhone 5), other issues are somewhat more deeply knotted into New York's subway infrastructure. Rather than the reasonably modern and automated switching systems used on mass transit networks built out in the 1960s and later, most of New York's subway lines are still controlled via fixed-block signaling that was leading-edge back in the 19th century. That's why only the A Division lines (the legacy IRT lines, with numbered designations, plus the 42nd Street Shuttle) are getting this real-time support now; they have the signal upgrades that provide live train progress. Other lines with upgraded signaling already done (the L train) or planned (the 7 line) will be joining the app's list when ready, but the remainder of the system could be stuck in the data drought for years or decades until the signaling overhauls are complete. The MTA knows that third-party developers are eager to make use of this real-time train schedule data, and indeed those working on their own apps can get access to the live feed. Keep an eye out for updates to NYC transit apps early in 2013 featuring live train schedules. (Remember, if you loved Google's transit info, you can use Google Maps in hybrid mode with iOS 6 Maps now if you want.) [Hat tip Matt Flegenheimer]
The Secret World Issue #5 is live
With the end of the world hitting the planet on Friday, The Secret World's fifth monthly update could obviously only be enjoyed if it hit servers before then, right? So good news -- Issue #5 is live right now! So you can right hop in and help one of Solomon Island's denizens avoid meeting her end with bad hair and find out what really happened to Tyler Freeborn. Along with the usual assortment of new missions and investigations, this update adds a third auxiliary weapon (the quantum bracers), allows players to assign inventory items to hotkeys, opens a new nightclub in London, and makes all investigation missions repeatable. Want to see what's in store come Friday when the End of Days special event starts? Get a glimpse of the Harbingers themselves in the Issue #5 preview video after the cut.
RIM will unveil BlackBerry 10 on January 30th in New York
Just a few weeks until CES, and just under a month and half until we see BlackBerry 10 in its final, finished form. Invites to the US event have now been sent out, with calendars being circled for January 30th at a location somewhere in New York. Not only will we get the full details of RIM's new software, but those first devices that the new OS will arrive on. We'll be on hand ready to see exactly how the phone-maker plans to reverse its fortunes.
Build a better payphone: NYC hosts public design challenge to reinvent public telephones
New York City's SmartScreen payphone refits may be revitalizing a handful of its 11,000 public kiosks, but the information scrubbing touchscreens lack a key communication feature: a telephone. With its existing payphone vender agreements due to expire in 2014, the city sees an opportunity to revitalize its communication infrastructure, and is asking the public to help them build the payphone of tomorrow. There's room for hardware innovation -- the city says most payphone locations can be augmented with fiber connections, opening the potential to expand functionality beyond basic voice calls. Designers are challenged to propose solutions that enhance local aesthetics, utilize sustainable power sources, combat vandalism, account for emergency scenarios, ensure accessibility to disabled persons and, of course, generate at least as much revenue for the City of New York as contemporary payphones. Entrants have until February 18th to submit their prototypes and designs, and 15 semi-finalists will have to face down a panel of judges in March. Want to get started? Check out the project's home page at the adjacent source link, and dig in -- the city is offering resources on payphone locations, WiFi service metrics and a Collabfinder page to help prospective designers find a team.
Engadget's New York City meetup wrap-up!
Wow. Thank you, New York City! We had a blast at last night's reader meetup, and judging from everyone we spoke to, a Roseland Ballroom packed full of Gotham gadget geeks had a grand 'ole time as well. Twelve lucky readers walked away with a Samsung Galaxy Note II on Sprint and nearly 30 people took home house cleaning bots from the folks at iRobot -- not to mention the Nook tablets, Oakley Airwave goggles and VestGuard UK Ballistic bulletproof case and iPad, to name but a few. We tested readers' tech (and Wu Tang) knowledge and dancing and singing skills. There were booths from Sprint, Samsung, Garmin, Speck, Dell, Barnes & Noble, MakerBot, iRobot, Oakley and GoGo Inflight, or as attendee Peter M. put it, a "mini-CES meets A Night at the Improv." Relive the magic in the gallery below. %Gallery-172379% Zach Honig contributed to this report.
Google's 'gallery for everyone' lets you take over Times Square, say thank you for...
What would be a neat trick to round off a perfect holiday with friends, family, and -- if you're lucky -- some bargain-priced tech? How about getting your smug, contented face up on the screens in Times Square? Not got the big corporate budget? No worries, as Google's here to pick up the tab as part of a Chromebook promotion, and possibly make it happen for you. Submit a picture at the source link, along with a snappy "For... " caption, and you could find yourself, your mom, your cat, or football team up there for all to see. We were going to submit one of our own, but, well y'know, we're still wearing the t-shirt.
Engadget's next reader meetup is in New York City this month! More tickets available!
Do you feel that? There's excitement in the air. The next Engadget reader meetup is approaching. We're still buzzing from our Seattle event and are excited to bring some of that gadgety magic to the New York area. We've also been given the go ahead to open up some more tickets for the event, which will be going down on November 29th at Roseland in Manhattan. Make sure you're on the list by entering all of the pertinent info here. Oh, and if you're interested in sponsoring the event, there's still time. Just drop us a line at sponsors [at] engadget [dot] com.
AT&T and T-Mobile temporarily share networks in New York City and New Jersey, shoulder the post-hurricane load
Communication has been all too spotty across much of New York City and New Jersey since Hurricane Sandy struck the region, and those who can get through on their cellphones have found themselves on particularly crowded networks. AT&T and T-Mobile are providing some much-needed, if temporary, relief: the two have struck a deal to share their GSM and 3G networks in the area with no roaming fees or plan changes while the networks come back, with the best-functioning network taking precedence in any given connection. A return to the normal state of affairs hasn't been fixed in stone and will likely depend on many, many factors, but it's a much appreciated gesture for residents who might not have a choice to relocate for a vital phone call.
Boxee hands out free Boxee TVs to its most eager cloud DVR fans
If you like the idea of the Boxee TV, you'll be glad to hear that Boxee is handing units out like so much Halloween candy... as long as you live in the right areas, that is. Those who've signed up for product notifications and live in the cloud DVR coverage areas of Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Washington, DC can get a free Boxee TV just by filling out a survey. They'll even have the privilege of getting their units ahead of everyone else. Boxee hasn't said if any new sign-ups will qualify, though it can't hurt to try the source link and potentially get a welcome treat.
Google postpones October 29th event over Hurricane Sandy worries
We hope you weren't basing your calendar around Google's big Android event on October 29th. The company has confirmed to us that it's postponing the event to an as yet undetermined point in the future due to Hurricane Sandy, whose East coast arrival will follow so closely before the New York City gathering that Google isn't willing to take the chance on its big day. If you're experiencing a sense of déja vu, you're not alone -- Google delayed last year's event revealing the Galaxy Nexus out of respect for the late Steve Jobs. While it's not what we'd call an auspicious start to Google's holiday launches, we can at least hope for an abundance of riches when the company is ready once again. The full statement waits below. "We are canceling our Monday morning event in New York due to Hurricane Sandy. We will let you know our plans as soon as we know more."
Aereo opens its streaming TV to Mac and Windows web browsers
If you'd wanted to watch Aereo's unique antenna-to-internet TV streaming until today, you had to tune in from an iOS device or Roku box. That's not a lot of choice for placeshifting, is it? A fresh update to the company's streaming service has widened the choices considerably for New Yorkers to include all the major browsers on Macs and Windows PCs. As long as you're using a recent version of Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera or Safari, you can catch up on Ion or Telemundo while you're checking email. About the only restrictions left are the continued lack of Android support and occasional lawsuits from traditionalist broadcasters.
Engadget's next reader meetup is in New York City on November 29th!
Don't worry, East Coast, we haven't forgotten about you. We haven't even gotten around to that whole Seattle meetup, and we're already ready to let you in on our next big event. We're holding another reader meetup exactly a month later in the Big Apple. The big event is going down at Roseland on Thursday, November 29th, so mark those calendars and make sure you're on the list by snagging a ticket here. Come on out, meet some editors, check out some great gadgets and, yes, win some fabulous prizes! We'll be revealing more information about the festivities in the very near future. In the meantime, if you're interested in sponsoring the event, drop us a line at sponsors [at] engadget [dot] com.
Samsung confirms October 24th event is for the US Galaxy Note II, removes what doubt was left
Ever since Samsung issued invitations for its October 24th event, it's become increasingly clearer that the New York City gathering would center on the Galaxy Note II. After all, we've tried almost every US version so far, and nothing else has loomed on the horizon. Just in case there was any lingering uncertainty, though, Samsung sent us that promised formal invitation with exact details of what's going on: it's the US stop for the Galaxy Note II World Tour, with a press event that night followed by a "consumer celebration" later on that might bring a public side to the affair. Most American editions of the phablet have been announced or re-announced, which suggests to us that we'll primarily get firmer release dates and prices while we're busy hobnobbing.
