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Sounder launches, we go hands-on (video)
We don't know about you, but most of us Engadget editors live in a perpetual state of inbox insanity. Keeping on top of voicemails, text messages, emails, IMs, Twitter DMs, Facebook and Google+ messages -- to name just a few -- is a herculean yet unavoidable task. As a result, personal messages often get drowned out in a sea of work-related correspondence. Sounder is an app that aims to ease the inbox pain a little by providing a simple and immediate way to speak with those people that matter. Pick a few important Facebook friends and the app lets you talk to them directly at the push of a button via VoIP. The goal is to keep you connected to the folks closest to you. Sounder -- which launches today for free -- supports the iPhone and iPod touch, with iPad, desktop and Android versions in the works. A $0.99 in-app upgrade enables a super slick "flip-to-talk" feature which lets you reply without waking your phone -- just turn it over and speak. After meeting founders Nancy Broden (of Twitter fame) and Michael Fortson (former Qik Director) at SXSW, we got the chance to take an early prototype of Sounder for a spin and came away impressed with how simple yet effective it is. Since our demo in Austin, the company's been busy fine tuning the app and putting in the final touches -- like that "flip-to-talk" functionality. Want to know more? You'll find some screen shots in the gallery below and our hands-on video after the break.
Hands-on with TheAppBuilder at SXSW (video)
What if within minutes, anyone could visit a website to build a native iOS, Android and Windows Phone app, then install and run it on any phone? That's exactly what TheAppBuilder -- which launched at Mobile World Congress -- promises. It features a simple HTML5-based user interface that lets you create an app by choosing and populating some widgets -- like RSS feed, webpage, Twitter, Facebook, news and photo gallery (to name a few). Once finished, you'll receive an email with links to download and install a native iOS, Android and Windows Phone version of your app for free. From there you're able to customize and submit your app to the App Store, Play Store, and Marketplace for $29 per month. We caught up with TheAppBuilder's Matthew David at SXSW and put the product's claim to the test by making and deploying our very own Engadget app -- all in record time. Browse the gallery below for some screen shots and hit the break to see the magic unfold in our hands-on video.
eBay launches Watch With eBay iPad app, lets you 'shop like a star'
This year's SXSW isn't all about fancy rides and Instagram teasers, also in the mix is eBay's fresh iPad app, dubbed Watch With eBay. The free goodies will let you spend some cash (at least eBay's hoping you will) on bits related to what you're watching on TV, which is made possible by a zip code-based guide within the app. For example, you can snag a jersey that'll show your true colors while you bask in the majesty of Anthony Davis' unibrow during March Madness. Among other features are the ability to browse through most recently watched shows, bid on items and an option to "shop like your favorite celebrity." So, perhaps you could end up with one of those ugly sweaters from Community. Watch With eBay is live now, and you can grab it by hitting up the App Store on your Cupertino slate or directly from the source link below.
Turntable.fm inks deals with major music labels, promises 'no traditional advertising'
Turntable.fm may not be as much of a household name as some of the other music streaming services out there, but it's certainly doing its best to catch up. After launching in June and releasing an iPhone app in September, the company has now taken another step toward the big leagues, thanks to a quartet of high profile licensing agreements. As Billboard reports, Turntable.fm has officially inked licensing deals with all four of the major music labels, confirming rumors that had been circulating last week. Founders Billy Chasen and Seth Goldstein made the announcement at SXSW yesterday, during their Turntable.fm panel. Details on the terms remain fuzzy, but both sides are already gushing over each other, with the labels seeing the service as a potential platform for talent, as well as a tool to drive purchases and subscriptions. Chasen, in return, lauded the labels for being cooler than he expected. "We felt that from the get-go the labels were absolutely different from what I'd been led to believe," he explained. "They gave us a lot of time and attention. Compared to their user base, we're a tiny service in the broad scheme of things." It remains to be seen whether Turntable.fm can join the ranks of Spotify and its ilk, but according to Goldstein, the service should stand out in at least one respect. "We're really focused on how we can improve the user experience, and we want to associate these brands as bringing value and talent for our consumers," the co-founder said, adding that the site won't feature any "traditional advertising."
Miselu Neiro Android-powered synth hands-on at SXSW (video)
This is the Miselu Neiro, a "portable, net-enabled social music device" which was announced this weekend at SXSW. We were able see and handle the first-ever prototype fresh off the lab bench at the SoundCloud Open House in Austin. The app-based, Android-powered synth features a two octave velocity and pressure-sensitive keyboard, a capacitive multitouch widescreen, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity and even a webcam. Battery life is expected to be in the five to six hour range. The laptop-sized instrument features audio I/O, MIDI I/O, two USB ports, an HDMI port and an SD card slot. It currently runs Gingerbread on a dual-core TI OMAP processor -- although those aren't the final specs. While the silicon valley startup is mum on pricing and availability, it's teamed up with Yamaha to outfit the device with an NSX-1 DSP chip (for high-quality synthesis and effects) and with Retronyms to create a powerful suite of touch-controlled, cloud-enabled musical apps in time for launch. The instrument also includes a dock area for accessories (such as a speaker bar) and the company plans to license the interface to third-party manufacturers. Beyond the Neiro prototype, Miselu also showcased its older, larger, proof-of-concept device (controlling Ableton Live via MIDI / OSC over WiFi) and a USB-powered digital speaker cabinet built in partnership with Onkyo that integrates Trigence's Dnote technology for high-quality audio reproduction using only 500mA of power. Check out the pictures in our gallery below, then hit the break for our hands-on video -- complete with a walkthrough by CEO Yoshinari Yoshikawa and a drum-machine demo.
BMW launches Stitcher integration at SXSW (hands-on video)
BMW announced today at SXSW that it's teaming up with Stitcher to integrate the popular iPhone app's on-demand streaming functionality into vehicles equipped with the BMW Apps and Mini Connected technologies. We ran into BMW's Robert Passaro in the halls of Austin's Convention Center and he was kind enough to give us an exclusive demo of Stitcher inside a lovely BMW 650i convertible ahead of today's launch. Most of the iPhone app's features are available using the vehicle's infotainment system, including the ability to search, provide feedback ("More Like This" and "Listeners Also Like"), and create / remove custom stations -- album art is even displayed in high-resolution alongside show information. Take a look at our gallery below, then watch us tune Stitcher into the Engadget Mobile Podcast right from the BMW's center console in our hands-on video after the break.
Gowalla officially shut down, uses Facebook to check-in at SXSW 2012
SXSW attendees may remember that both Gowalla and Foursquare launched at the aforementioned conference in 2009, and during its 2012 edition, the former is formally saying goodbye. Just three months after we heard that Facebook had picked up (but two months after the shutdown was promised), Gowalla is saying its final words. Specifically: "Thank you for going out with Gowalla. It was a pleasure to journey with you around the world. Download your check-ins, photos and lists here soon."Don't cry, Gowalla -- at least you won't have to deal with any more SXSW registration lines.
Marvel announces augmented reality app, exclusive digital comics at SXSW
Not content with simply doling out free digital comics to fans who favor the tangible page, Marvel is now giving readers a new reason to reach for their tablets: augmented reality. Android and iOS devices will be able to look beyond the page using Marvel AR, an Aurasma-powered app slated to launch alongside Avengers vs. X-Men #1 this April. When pointed at a compatible comic, the app will server up creator commentary videos, extra art and interactive 3D models of Earth's greatest heroes.Don't worry, your standard Marvel Comics app isn't being replaced -- in fact, it's getting a new line of sequential funnybooks called Marvel Infinite Comics. "Writers and artists now have a whole host of new tools at their disposal to redefine the comic book medium," Marvel Comics Editor in Chief Axel Alonso said at SXSW this week, "Current tablets and smartphones, along with comiXology's Guided View technology, allow us to develop new, full length stories for a different medium that are very much truly comics -- but experienced by readers in a way no other major company has ever executed." The digital-exclusive series kicks off with Avengers vs. X-Men #1 Infinite, which incidentally, will be free to folks who pick up the similarly named physical book. Ready for the revolution ReEvolution? Check out the links below for Marvel's official announcement and CNET's hands-on video.
Instagram hits 27 million user milestone, teases Android app at SXSW
Rejoice, photo filter fans, Instagram is heading to Android "very soon," according to founder Kevin Systrom. Speaking at South by Southwest, Systrom raved about the app's growth, boasting of its 27 million registered users. "They're not excited about it because it makes your photos look beautiful," he says, "They're excited because it networks people across the world and it's the single fastest growing thing in mobile period." The Android version is currently being tested in a private beta, and it's reported to be superior than its iOS counterpart. "It's really, really fast," Systrom said. Don't look so surprised, he did tell us, after all, that iOS was just the beginning.
Hands-on with Angry Birds Space at SXSW (video)
All work and no play makes even the hottest smartphone downright dull. It's with this in mind that Samsung is showcasing Rovio's latest creation, Angry Birds Space, running on the Galaxy Note at SXSW in Austin, Texas. We took a moment to get our feisty paws on the demo, which showcases the weightless, space-like trajectories that players must contend with in the game. Exclusive to the Galaxy Note, users will find a bonus level of play, in addition to the free Danger Zone add-on -- a collection of 30 levels that'll be available to the masses as an in-app purchase. If you haven't been keeping score, the game will make its official debut on March 22nd. So what're you waiting for? Hop the break for the PR and watch as we take revenge on those fiendish pigs!Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
Latest UMvC3 costume pack contains mysterious, unexplained Nova outfit
Every time a new costume pack is released for Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Capcom explains the often obscure sources for said costumes. The "Viewtiful Strange" pack that came out last Tuesday, for instance, contains a Doctor Strange variant from a 1960s comic-book subplot, among other esoteric digs.There is however one costume without an explanation, one that leaves our interests sufficiently piqued. Nova's new threads (as seen above) legally cannot be expounded upon, according to Capcom Unity, which means that the inspiration for this costume must come from a Marvel production that is currently unannounced. We know that Marvel will be making some sort of announcement during the SXSW Interactive festival in Austin next month, and while we're not willing to say that Nova will be getting his own game or anything, it's not beyond impossible for the two events to be related.
Texas researchers aim to solve wireless bandwidth bottleneck, hopefully before SXSW 2012
As anyone attempting to stream high-quality video on any major metropolitan subway has likely found, doing so often requires the patience of Job and a willingness to spend more time 'buffering' and less time 'enjoying.' It's a problem that's particularly evident at crowded events like the never-ending South by Southwest, and it's probably no coincidence that a team from The University of Texas at Austin are now spending their waking hours attempting to solve the looming wireless bandwidth crisis. Five faculty in the school's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department have been selected to receive a $900,000 gift from Intel and Cisco to "develop innovative and novel algorithms that could improve the wireless networks ability to store, stream and share mobile videos more efficiently." Their work is part of a five university tie-up, seeking to solve quandaries such as tower interference, selective compression (read: pixelating the areas you don't pay attention to in order to squeeze more out of the existing infrastructure), cell tower intelligence and data output redundancy. Hard to say if any of the major carriers will be implementing proposed solutions in the near future, but we can think of at least one company that's crossing its fingers in hopes of that very outcome.
