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Sony Google TV gets update this week, brings speedier Chrome and 3D Blu-ray support

If a simple tweet by the Google TV squad is to be believed, those of you who own Sony-branded hardware should be receiving an update within the next few days. In a scant 140-characters, Big G promises a Chrome browser that "works faster," as well as the ability to get your Blu-ray content in all three dees (if that's your thing). Google's not telling precisely when the fresh features will make their way to Sony's set-top boxes, so you'll just have to stay glued to your GTV and wait for it to magically appear.

Sony Google TV gets update this week, brings speedier Chrome and 3D Blu-ray support originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hawaii's online tracking law is all but dead, lead sponsor confirms

The Hawaii state legislature has apparently pulled an about face on a proposed internet tracking bill, amid swelling concerns from civil libertarians and internet service providers alike. First introduced last week, the controversial measure calls for all ISPs to track and record a user's online activity and identity within individual digital dossiers. The law's supporters trumpeted it as a vital step in protecting "victims of crime," but its momentum has all but come to a halt, now that its lead champion has proclaimed its death. In a recent interview with CNET, Democratic Representative John Mizuno (pictured left) confirmed that his bill has been shelved, attributing the decision to the avalanche of critical feedback he's received (see the coverage links, below). "It's generated a lot of national attention," Mizuno explained. "I've taken into consideration the thousands of e-mails (which were often) colorful and passionate, which is absolutely fine... This bill just isn't ready. It needs a lot of work." Unfortunately, this doesn't mean spell an outright death for the law, as Mizuno still believes that keeping a record of browsing history could help authorities hunt down pedophiles and other evil doers. "I think both would be very strong pieces of evidence if there's going to be a criminal proceeding," he argued. Despite our own fundamental misgivings with Mizuno's approach, it's still encouraging to see politicians respond to public outcry so swiftly and, as with the SOPA debacle, appropriately.

Hawaii's online tracking law is all but dead, lead sponsor confirms originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Spectrum review

Let's just get this out of the way, shall we? If the LG Spectrum looks familiar, you're not imagining things. It may have been a highlight at the company's CES press event last month, but the handset bears more than a passing resemblance to its older, more excitingly-named sibling, the LG Nitro HD -- and, by extension, the globe-trotting Optimus LTE. Beneath their 4.5-inch IPS displays, you'll find virtually identical guts, including a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1,830mAh battery and 4GB of internal storage, coupled with a 16GB microSD. There are some important distinctions here, of course -- namely, changes to the phone's shell and, of course, a shift from AT&T to Verizon. So, how does world-weary Optimus fare from its jump to Big Red? Find the answer past the break.

Gallery: LG Spectrum review

Continue reading LG Spectrum review

LG Spectrum review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Docs for Android updates: adds offline support, better tablet experience

Google clearly didn't want to blow everyone's mind right away with its Google Docs app for Android. That's why it's been slowly rolling out the updates, incrementally adding features and turning what began life (more or less) as a glorified web browser into a useful app. The latest upgrades deliver possibly the most requested feature -- offline access. Now there's an option to pin individual files for local storage and the app will automatically sync the latest version anytime you're on WiFi. If that's not often enough, you can manually update whenever you have a data connection. There's also a new layout for viewing docs on tablets that allows you to swipe left and right to flip between pages and a scrubber at the bottom for quickly jumping from one part of the doc to another. Hit up the Android Market now to score the update for yourself.

Gallery: Google Docs for Android offline access

Google Docs for Android updates: adds offline support, better tablet experience originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac OS X 10.7.3 hits Software Update, ready to plug bugs on your Wednesday

How about a 700+ megabyte download to spice up your Wednesday? Apple's just unleashed an update to Lion, bumping its feline all the way up 10.7.3. Those braving the rather portly update can look forward to a bevy of new languages, a new version of Safari (5.1.3) and a fix for a nasty WiFi reconnection bug upon waking from sleep. Also buried in the release notes are RAW support for "more cameras" and a bevy of tweaks for those sharing files with Windows machines. Don't believe us? Hit Cupertino's source link for the full rundown.

Mac OS X 10.7.3 hits Software Update, ready to plug bugs on your Wednesday originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW |

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Qualcomm announces Q1 earnings: revenues up 40%, $1.4 billion in profit

The mobile revolution has been good to Qualcomm. Its Q4 2011 earnings were impressive enough, but the company is kicking off 2012 with even more staggering numbers. The Snapdragon creator pulled in $4.68 billion in revenue during Q1, a 40 percent increase over the same time last year and 14 percent higher than last quarter. Profits were also way up, hitting $1.4 billion, a 20 percent increase over last year and a whopping 33 percent higher sequentially. The company appears to have roundly beat analyst expectations, earning 97 cents per share. It's also worth noting that this doesn't include any boost from the spectrum deal with AT&T. Sales of its MSM chips were, of course, the big star here shipping 156 million units -- an impressive 23 percent more than last quarter. For all the financial finery check out the source link.

Continue reading Qualcomm announces Q1 earnings: revenues up 40%, $1.4 billion in profit

Qualcomm announces Q1 earnings: revenues up 40%, $1.4 billion in profit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook files $5 billion IPO, values the company at nearly $100 billion

The rumor, speculation and awkward Winklevii jokes can end (at least for now) as Facebook has officially filed for its public offering. Underwritten by Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs amongst others, the internet's most popular site seeks to trade under the stock symbol "FB" when it goes public later this year. The company is seeking to raise $5 billion, according to this early filing, amounting to a lofty (and still tentative) valuation north of $50 billion. If that turns out to be accurate, though, Zuck will be one (especially) rich man: with a nearly thirty percent share in the company, his net worth would balloon to almost $30 billion.

The process of going public also provides a rare glimpse into internal stats previously kept private, with documents revealing the service has 845 million active users each month -- nearly half of which log in and actuate 2.7 billion likes and comments each day. The filing also sheds light on the company's balance sheet, with revenues of $777 million, $1.97 billion and $3.71 billion in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. All told, it logged profits of $229 million and $606 million in those years -- earnings that were bested by the $1 billion it netted in 2011. The majority of its revenue comes from advertising, yet a sizable chunk (12 percent) of last year's figure comes courtesy of Zynga. All in all, that's enabled the company to stash away nearly $4 billion in cash -- a sizable nest egg for a company only eight years old. As for Zuck, his 2011 salary of $500,000 will be cut to $1 as of January 2013, but he'll be more than comfortable, thanks to that 28.4 percent stake in the company.

Facebook files $5 billion IPO, values the company at nearly $100 billion originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, SEC | Email this | Comments

Shocker: PS Vita downloads cheaper than boxed games

Digital copies of games that you download bypass the time-and-money-consuming manufacturing, logistics and retail processes. It's only natural that we as consumers expect some of that saving to be passed along to our own wallets. There's a fair chunk of evidence to suggest that downloading PS Vita games over PSN will result in a ten percent saving on the boxed edition (that you'd have to drive to a store for, and everything). Of course, it would be unseemly to point out that those few dollars will spell the death-knell for thousands of jobs, so we won't.

Shocker: PS Vita downloads cheaper than boxed games originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq | source

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Zuckerberg outlines idealistic Facebook mission in IPO filing

IPO filings aren't just a great way to raise money, they're also a perfect place for young CEOs and idealistic internet companies to grandstand and proclaim their altruistic motives. Whether or not you buy what they're ~~shoveling~~ selling is something different. Google had "do no evil," now Facebook has it's own mission statement, though, it's admittedly quite scatter brained. Buried deep in the IPO filing is a letter from Mark Zuckerberg to investors in which he lays out Facebook's mission and role in improving the world. Zuck doesn't think his social network is about poking cute girls and tilling virtual fields, he "hope[s] to change how people relate to their governments and social institutions." And, lest you think every move is some calculated ploy to free you from the burden of cash or personal information, the billionaire CEO explains, "we don't build services to make money; we make money to build better services." For the complete letter head on after the break. Trust us, whether you trust and like Zuckerberg or not, it's an interesting read.

Continue reading Zuckerberg outlines idealistic Facebook mission in IPO filing

Zuckerberg outlines idealistic Facebook mission in IPO filing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Supposed next-gen iPod Nano with camera leaks again, clip back in tow

If you'll recall, it was April of last year when we reported on pictures from Apple.pro, which claimed to show a seventh-generation iPod Nano chassis with room for a camera. Not long after, the site posted a second leak of the device, hinting at the omission of the Nano's famous clip in favor of optics. Fast forward to the present, and we're now looking another supposed shot of the unit, however, this time the clip is back and it's made room for the shooter. Like prior Nano-camera efforts, this prototype's loaded with a less-than-whopping 1.3-megapixels of resolution, which M.I.C Gadget claims in its non-final form, took overexposed photos. Apple's apparently also been toying with 2-megapixel prototypes, but those too were apparently deemed unsatisfactory. M.I.C. Gadget also muses the two month old prototype is nearing release, and that it could be released before the traditional fall schedule. Seeing as the Nano's long overdue for a hardware refresh, we'd file that under definitively maybe, but before believing, take copious amounts of salt as you hit the source link below for a bevy of pics.

Supposed next-gen iPod Nano with camera leaks again, clip back in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TechnoBuffalo, MacRumors | source

Apple.pro | Email this | Comments

Comcast's Internet Essentials program expanding as digital literacy project soars

If everyone needs the internet, then poor kids need it more -- since so much learning material is dependent on technology. Comcast teamed up with the FCC to produce Internet Essentials: a $10 a month broadband plan and $150 computers to get the nation's poorest families online. Six months later, the program's been a colossal success, leading to the company adding some sweeteners: eligibility is being relaxed to include any family who qualifies for discounted lunches (swelling the catchment group by a further 300,000). It's also doubling the speed of the available connection: 3 Mbps down and 768 Kbps up and is allowing community groups to bulk-buy packages to directly supply the most impecunious households. It's also pairing up with the "connect to compete" initiative to reduce computer costs, enrich digital literacy materials and connect those outside of Comcast's core service areas. You can head on down to our source link to read the extended report and see how families are benefiting from a little corporate good deed.

Comcast's Internet Essentials program expanding as digital literacy project soars originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kyocera DuraPlus: a Sprint phone so masculine it'll kick your face in for misdialing

Sprint's announced that it'll carry the Kyocera DuraPlus -- a rugged cellphone that recalls a lifetime of tedious internet memes. It's certified to "Military Standard 810G," for its resistance to dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, humidity and it's able to withstand water depths of one meter for, erm, up to half an hour. You'll also find an embedded LED flashlight capable of lighting the darkest of very dark rooms. Using Direct Connect, you can push-to-talk to other subscribers or use Group Connect to chat with 20 at a time. It'll ship with a 1650 mAh battery (9.5 hours of talk time) with an additional 2300 mAh battery for those long trips round the secure compound. You'll also be able to buy an external charging port to juice multiple units at once -- if you're running your own private militia and need to swap out devices on the go, for example. It'll be available in the first half of the year for an undisclosed price, but we'd wager it'll be something really manly, like the teeth of a wild animal you've vanquished or in exchange for capturing Denis Leary.

Continue reading Kyocera DuraPlus: a Sprint phone so masculine it'll kick your face in for misdialing

Kyocera DuraPlus: a Sprint phone so masculine it'll kick your face in for misdialing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seagate GoFlex Thunderbolt Adapter now shipping, snag one for $100

Keeping its Q1 delivery promise, Seagate is now shipping its GoFlex Thunderbolt Adapter for portable drives of the same moniker. We got our mits on this bad boy back at CES, witnessing first-hand the much improved transfer speeds of Intel's tech over the standard USB 2.0 for the smaller external drives. You can snag yours now, via the source link for a whole Benjamin. If you're in need of a refresher before making the investment, hit the gallery below for another peek at our hands-on.

Gallery: Seagate Thunderbolt Adapter at CES 2012 hands-on

Seagate GoFlex Thunderbolt Adapter now shipping, snag one for $100 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GigaOM |

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Vizio reveals $3,499 price for its 58-inch ultrawidescreen HDTV

We were told at CES last month to expect Vizio's ultrawidescreen LCDs would hit the market sooner rather than later, now we know how it will fit into our budgets, even if we're not sure how the aspect ratio will fit in our living rooms. Similar to the way its first Theater 3D TVs popped up last year, the XVT 3D CinemaWide product page reveals a 58-inch model (50- and 71-inchers are also planned) sporting its trademark 21:9 aspect ratio (compared to a traditional HDTV's 16:9) and 2560x1080 resolution will start at $3,499. It also has an array of specs, measuring the 120Hz Edge LED lit screen at 56.7-inches wide by 29-inches high and 1.8-inches deep. Just as we saw when they were first announced at CES 2011, Vizio upscales Blu-ray and other wider-than-widescreen sources to fill the screen without those black bars we've become accustomed to. If you're watching standard HD programming, the extra space alongside can accommodate tiles for Yahoo! Widgets pulling information from the internet without blocking the picture at all. Check our gallery below for a better look and a demo video after the break, we'll keep an ear to the ground to find out when and where these displays might hit the market first.

[Thanks, chilipalm]

Continue reading Vizio reveals $3,499 price for its 58-inch ultrawidescreen HDTV

Vizio reveals $3,499 price for its 58-inch ultrawidescreen HDTV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JVC's NX-BX3 is an iPod dock that you can put things on top of

The next time you buy an iPod dock, ask yourself this important question: can I put a lamp on it? If not, what's the point, really? While we're sure that's not the main selling point with JVC's NX-BX3 home theater sound system with integrated stand, it's certainly an important one. The system features an FM tuner, SRS StudioSound HD and can also hold glasses or a flower vase on its top -- really, the sky the limit (plus some general weight restrictions, we'd imagine) when it comes to the things you can place on top of it. The dock arrives in Japan this month.

JVC's NX-BX3 is an iPod dock that you can put things on top of originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Akihabara News | source

JVC (translation) | Email this | Comments

Pentax K-01 leaks, wants to be your retro-looking mirrorless friend

Above is a purported leak of Pentax's upcoming K-01 -- a retro-inspired mirrorless camera which is apparently set for reveal soon. Divulged in a bevy of official-looking shots on Pentax Forums, the diminutive shooter will apparently be available in several colors alongside its incredibly-thin 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens. Also shown are closeups of a dedicated HDR mode up-top, alongside dedicated red and green buttons, and a curious signature by designer Marc Newson adjacent to its battery cover. Perplexed by the sum of its parts like we are? Well, until Pentax reveals all, get a acquainted with it in the source links below.

[Thanks, Ben]

Pentax K-01 leaks, wants to be your retro-looking mirrorless friend originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pentax Forums, Club Snap Forums | Email this | Comments

The Xappr, because your smartphone doesn't look enough like a gun

You love your smartphone -- and who can blame you, really? There's seemingly no limit to what it can do. But ask yourself this: does it look enough like a gun? The answer is almost certainly a big, fat "no." Thankfully, the Xappr is on its way from Metal Compass, set to help smartphones everywhere live up to their full laser gun potential. The company tells us that the accessory will work with iPhones and Android and Windows handsets (though only iOS and Android games are available, at present). Metal Compass expects to ship the thing in June, but you can pre-order one now, if you dare, for the low, low price of $30 (plus a full $15 in shipping, here in the States). Shoot past the break for a press release.

Continue reading The Xappr, because your smartphone doesn't look enough like a gun

The Xappr, because your smartphone doesn't look enough like a gun originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xappr, Chip Chick | source

Xappr Gun | Email this | Comments

EasySignMobile enters the Facebook fray for iPhone and iPad

Need to sign a contract, like, now? There's an app for that. Several actually, but the folks who create EasySignMobile have gone and made their service a bit more accessible to the unwashed masses with an updated version that supports Facebook authentication. The new feature is currently available only for iOS, although we'd imagine Android users will find similar love in the near future, as the company released its first version for Google's platform last October. Also on deck for iPhone and iPad fans, the latest version of EasySignMobile offers integration with Dropbox and Box.net for easy file storage and retrieval. So next time you need to make your mark, perhaps you can reach into your pocket rather than rummage for a pen. Those interested will find the full PR after the break.

Continue reading EasySignMobile enters the Facebook fray for iPhone and iPad

EasySignMobile enters the Facebook fray for iPhone and iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iTunes | Email this | Comments

French court fines Google France 500,000 Euros for gratis Maps

A Parisian commercial court has upheld a lower court's ruling against Google France, ordering the company to pay a fine of €500,000 for giving away its maps services. The plaintiff, Bottin Cartographes, claims that Google leveraged the market share of its Maps platform -- and the fact that it's free -- to undercut and stifle competition attempting to sell their topographical wares. "We proved the illegality of [Google's] strategy," said Bottin's counsel, noting that this was the first time Google has been convicted of malfeasance for this particular piece of software in the country. A representative from the search giant said it plans to appeal the decision, and reiterated the company's belief that competition exists in the space. Personally, we think the court got it right. Why should people get an awesome product for free when they can pay for an inferior one, right?

French court fines Google France 500,000 Euros for gratis Maps originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PhysOrg | source

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Sony's Q3 earnings are in: wider than expected full year loss, lowered sales projections

Sony already revealed Kazuo Hirai will take over for Howard Stringer as CEO and President April 1st last night, and with the big shocker out of the way it's time for the fiscal Q3 reports. After posting a net loss of $346 million last quarter, Sony is now expecting a bigger loss for 2011 than it had previously estimated, as well as lower sales. It's currently showing a net loss for the quarter of 159 billion yen ($2~ billion), or a $1.2 billion operating loss. Blame is put on a larger than expected effect from the flooding in Thailand, strong yen and weakness in cellphones. Sales for the quarter were about $23 billion, down 17.4 percent from the same quarter last year. The consumer products and services division (HDTVs, PS3s, etc.) in particular caught a brick, with an operating loss of over a billion dollars on sales that dropped 24 percent from last year. It recorded a loss on its sale of shares in the S-LCD venture with Samsung, LCD TVs sold for prices lower than its cost reductions, and the PlayStation 3 had the killer combo of higher marketing costs and lower unit sales. Check the PDF and slides linked below for more bad news. We'll let you know what we hear on the earnings call in a few, but until then, Kaz, may we suggest bringing in Jimmy Rollins for tips on breaking out of a slump?

Continue reading Sony's Q3 earnings are in: wider than expected full year loss, lowered sales projections

Sony's Q3 earnings are in: wider than expected full year loss, lowered sales projections originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Q3 2011 earnings (PDF), Slides | Email this | Comments

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