Neutrinos could deliver millisecond advantage to cyborg Gordon Gekkos

Neutrinos could deliver millisecond advantage to cyborg Gordon Gekkos

In a world where stocks are traded based on price changes monitored at the millisecond level, every sliver of a speed advantage gained counts. And, to get that edge, financial firms will go to almost any lengths, including building high powered particle accelerators in their basements. Well, at least that's what we imagine. Banks and high-frequency trading companies are looking to the neutrino as a potential communications tool. Scientists have already shown that the subatomic particles can travel through walls, now there's every reason to believe messages could be passed straight through the E arth, saving up to 44 milliseconds on each communique. Of course, there's one problem with this idea -- creating neutrinos currently requires either a nuclear reactor or a particle accelerator, something even the largest of financial firms don't usually keep on hand. Either the world's banks will have to snatch up CERN or build their own atom smashers. Neither of which seems like it's very likely to happen in the immediate future.

Engadget

Angry Birds Space hits 50 million milestone, smashes it, crushes pigs in the process

Angry Birds Space hits 50 million milestone, smashes it, crushes pigs in the process

It helps to be free on the fastest-growing mobile platform, but that shouldn't draw all the attention away from Rovio's latest announcement. It's space-based reinvention of Angry Birds has now topped 50 million downloads in under 35 days, breaking its (and presumably everyone else's) record for mobile game downloads. In Rovios's own way, it recently thanked eager gamers for their consistent downloading support by slathering ten additional levels on both the iOS and Android version last week.

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Samsung Canada begins rollout of ICS today

Samsung Canada begins rollout of ICS today

Let's not speak of the several months it took for Ice Cream Sandwich to finally begin showing up on Samsung devices. Rather, the fine mobile-loving folks in Canada should just take a brief moment to embrace the present and not-too-distant future, because Samsung is now officially rolling out its long-awaited Android update to the nation up north -- complete with the latest version of TouchWiz -- to select devices today and continuing throughout the rest of the quarter. The list of featured products include the Galaxy S II (along with its LTE, LTE HD and X variants), Galaxy Note and several Galaxy Tabs, such as the 7.0, 7.0 Plus, 8.9 and 10.1. Of course, not everyone will get the beloved installation invitation today, since thes e large-scale rollouts seem to take a healthy amount of time. If you simply can't wait, it couldn't hurt to give the 'ol manual update method a try.

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Samsung Canada Offers Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Upgrade

Samsung Electronics Canada Inc.
4/30/2012 11:33 AM EDT

Now available in Canada for Select Samsung GALAXY devices

MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 30, 2012 /CNW/ - Samsung Electronics Canada is pleased to announce the availability of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) software upgrade for Samsung GALAXY devices. The upgrade will be available today on select devices in Canada and will continue rolling out to devices and carriers throughout the quarter.

Ice Cream Sandwich brings a fresh look and feel to Android. It has a new user interface with improved multi-tasking, notifications, Wi-Fi hotspot, a full Web browsing experience and innovations such as Face Unlock, which uses the front facing camera for facial recognition to unlock the smartphone.

"We are passionate about providing the best possible mobile experience to Canadians and the upgrade to Android 4.0 will offer an improved user experience for Samsung GALAXY devices," said Paul Brannen, Vice President, Mobile Communications at Samsung Canada. "We expect that our customers will enjoy an enhanced experience with their GALAXY device through this upgrade and we remain committed, alongside our carrier partners, to satisfy our customer needs".

Devices eligible for an ICS upgrade include:

GALAXY S II
GALAXY S II LTE
GALAXY S II LTE HD
GALAXY S II X
GALAXY Note
GALAXY Tab 7.0
GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus
GALAXY Tab 8.9
GALAXY Tab 10.1

Recently introduced to the Canadian marketplace, Samsung GALAXY S II X and Samsung GALAXY S II LTE HD are NFC enabled, which enables consumers to utilize Android Beam™. Android Beam allows users to quickly share Web pages, apps and YouTube™ videos with friends by simply tapping two phones back-to-back. Users can even use fun effects while shooting video or video chatting with Google Talk™.

The availability and scheduling of the software upgrade and specific models upgradable to Android 4.0 will vary by market and wireless carriers' requirements. For carrier specific details, please visit your nearest carrier retailer. For more information on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, please visit www.samsung.com.

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Nintendo 3DS turning purple on May 20th, takes a bruising from the ugly stick

Nintendo 3DS turning purple on May 20th, takes a bruising from the ugly stick

Pink, red, aqua and black not good enough for you? Fine. Have a purple one -- if that's what you really want. On May 20th you can pick up this Grimace-hued Nintendo 3DS for the usual price of $ 169.99 alongside Mario Tennis Open. Hoping for something a bit more subtle, perhaps a nice clean white or a nice two-tone gray? Tough. You're getting purple.

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Nintendo 3DS Gets a Royal New Color on May 20: Midnight Purple
April 30, 2012

Just as lilacs and hyacinth bloom throughout the spring, so too a new color is blooming for the Nintendo 3DS system. Midnight Purple gives the hand-held a royal new look. The new color will launch May 20, the same day Mario Tennis Open becomes available.

The Midnight Purple Nintendo 3DS, offered at a suggested retail price of $ 169.99 in the United States, becomes the fifth color in the always-stylish Nintendo 3DS color palette, joining Cosmo Black, Aqua Blue, Flame Red and Pearl Pink. Now fans have another option to customize the look of their systems to suit their individual styles and personalities.

Nintendo 3DS lets users enjoy games and videos in 3D without the use of special glasses. Mario Tennis Open adds to the strong library of Nintendo 3DS games, which also includes Super Mario 3D Land, Kid Icarus: Uprising and Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir. Fans also can check out 3D videos on Nintendo Video and access new and classic downloadable games in the Nintendo eShop.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parenta l controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

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Study says wind turbines raise surrounding area temperature, but only at night

Study says wind turbines raise surrounding area temperature, but only at night

Who said the butterfly effect couldn't apply to renewable energy? Though wind farms are considered pretty green on the energy-generating spectrum, it looks like they, too, have an impact on the planet. According to a study published today in the journal Nature Climate Change, turbines can raise the local temperature -- albeit slightly. From 2003 to 2011, researchers monitored satellite data for west-central Texas, which is home to 2,350-plus turbines and four of the world's largest wind farms. In that decade, scientists observed a temperature increase of 0.72 degrees in wind farm regions compared to areas without turbines. That warming trend was especially marked at night, when the temperature difference between the ground and the air is highest. The temperature increase was also higher in winter; researchers say that these cooler, windier conditions cause turbines to generate more electricity and therefore create more heat. Since the study didn't find any change in daytime temperatures, it looks like we don't have to ring the global warming alarm just yet.

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Verizon gets new prepaid plans, adds Jetpack hotspot to contract-free lineup

Verizon gets new prepaid plans, adds Jetpack hotspot to contract-free lineup

And just like that Verizon has revamped its prepaid pricing structure. Starting tomorrow, May 1st, the carrier will be offering unlimited talk and text packaged with 1GB of data for $ 80 a month. The new offering will be available first with the Samsung Illusion, a disappointingly 3G handset, though, one that wont demand a two year commitment to Big Red. Verizon is also adding the Jetpack MiFi 4510L LT E mobile hotspot to its contract-free offerings for $ 130. Prepaid plans for the 4G wireless hotspot start at $ 15 for 250 MB a week, but quickly climb to $ 60 and $ 90 for 3GB and 10GB, respectively. For more info check out the PR after the break.

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Verizon Wireless Announces New Prepaid Plans

Unlimited Talk, Text and 1 GB of Data Smartphone Plan for $ 80 per Month; First Prepaid 4G Jetpack Offers a Variety of Mobile Broadband Data Plan Options

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless today announced the availability of a new prepaid plan beginning May 1, offering unlimited talk and text messaging, as well as 1 GB of data for $ 80 per month. This monthly plan, available on the prepaid Samsung Illusion™, provides customers with an affordable, flexible option to take advantage of the nation's largest, most reliable 3G network without the commitment of an annual contract. The Samsung Illusion prepaid package will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $ 169.99. In the coming weeks, the Samsung Illusion prepaid will also be available at Best Buy®, Target®, RadioShack and Walmart.

Additionally, starting May 1, customers can purchase a prepaid Verizon Jetpack™ 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi® 4510L and take advantage of new prepaid Mobile Broadband plans. With the prepaid Jetpack, customers can now create a personal Wi-Fi cloud capable of sharing the high-speed Internet connectivity of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously. Prepaid 4G LTE Mobile Broadband plans are as follows:
$ 15 for 250 MB of data weekly
$ 60 for 3 GB of data monthly
$ 90 for 10 GB of data monthly

The Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi 4510L prepaid package will be available in Verizon Wireless Comm unications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $ 129.99. In the coming weeks, it will also be available at Best Buy, RadioShack and Walmart.

From keeping in touch with friends to surfing the Web, Verizon Wireless gives customers the power and flexibility to stay connected with no annual contract to America's largest and most reliable high-speed wireless network. For more information on prepaid plan offerings, visit www.verizonwireless.com/prepay.

For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 93.0 million retail customers, including 88.0 million retail postpaid customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 80,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireles s is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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LightSquared founder Philip Falcone to step down 'eventually', attempts to dodge the bankruptcy bullet

LightSquared founder Philip Falcone to step down 'eventually', attempts to dodge the bankruptcy bullet

In an effort keep the troubled LightSquared from the brink of defaulting on its debt, its founder will step down from the company. While it doesn't look immediate, (people "familiar with the negotiations" are using the word "eventually") it's Philip Falcone's latest attempt to extend a debt-term violation that expires this morning. According to the same sources, if the initial extension is okayed, Falcone and LightSquared's lenders are aiming for a greater period of around 18 months to repay $ 1.6 billion in loans and pass the FCC's requirements for its network. The company's board is still deliberating on whether to accept the deal, which would stop the company filing for bankruptcy protection. Unfortunately, it looks like those new 4G network dreams just got hazier.

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Apple spits out Android option from Chomp app navigator

Apple spits out Android option from Chomp app navigator

It's taken a bit longer than we expected, but following Apple's acquisition of app search engine Chomp, the Android option has now been cut out from its homepage. We're now left with the choice between iPhone and iPad categories, alongside existing shortcuts for popular freebies and apps on sale, in a few efforts to cut through Cupertino's 600,000-strong app selection. Hit up the source to give it a run for yourself.

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Amazon to collect sales tax, create 2,500 jobs in Texas

Amazon to collect sales tax, create 2,500 jobs in Texas

If Amazon's been your internet safe haven from the ravages of sales tax, you may want to sit down. As part of a settlement with the great state of Texas, Bezos' baby will start collecting the state's requisite 6.25-percent sales tax on July 1st. The settlement resolves the online retailer's ongoing dispute with the Lone Star state, which claimed that Amazon owed $ 269 million in back taxes. In addition to taking up collection, Amazon has agreed to create at least 2,500 jobs and invest a minimum of $ 200 million in capital investments, though it admits no fault, and believes "the assessment was without merit," according to its latest SEC filing. Grouped in with Kansas, Kentucky, New York, Nor th Dakota and Washington, this agreement makes Texas the sixth state to collect sales tax from Amazon -- and California, Nevada and Arizona will join the collection club in due time. Check out the source links below for the Texas Comptroller's official statement and more reading on Amazon's tax agreements across the nation.

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Nokia could sell luxury Vertu brand to VC firm for $265 million

Nokia could sell luxury Vertu brand to VC firm for $265 million

As much as it'd be interesting to see Windows Phone running on a $ 21,000 gold-plated cigar lighter, that's probably never going to happen. According to the UK's Financial Times, Nokia has been trying to hive off its luxury Vertu brand for months already, and has finally found a suitor with the right cash / sense ratio. Although still far from a done deal, we're told that venture capitalist firm Permira is willing to contribute up to $ 265 million to Nokia's needy coffers -- which might sound like a lot, but is mere costume jewelry to a manufacturer that just lost $ 1.7 billion.

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Google Maps 'Cube' game rolls out, back, up, back again

Google Maps 'Cube' game rolls out, back, up, back again

Cast your mind back to January if you will. Head full of steamy CES action? Of course, but you may also remember Google teased us about a new tilt-and-roll Maps game. Well, it looks like the creators may have missed the original February deadline, having finally snuck it out this week. The browser-based game is a series of maze challenges, that'll take you through the streets of San Francisco, downtown Tokyo and beyond. All atop Google's iconic 3D textured maps, naturally. Eight levels in total are on offer, making it an ideal lunchtime -- or if the boss is away -- afternoon time kill. Roll down to the source link below to give it a spin , nudge and roll.

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GameStop to offer Android tablet and smartphone trade-ins, give you another excuse to upgrade

GameStop to offer Android tablet and smartphone trade-ins, give you another excuse to upgrade

If you've been looking for a reason to replace your aging device with something a tad more contemporary, your local pawnshop GameStop is happy to oblige. According to Gadget Experts, the games retailer is looking to bolster its Android offerings with Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Nexus S and Samsung Infuse 4G trade-ins at select GameStops this summer, expanding to all locations by the end of the year. Have a device that's not on this short list? Don't worry, Gadget Experts says the firm plans to fill out its touchable trade-in inventory with more devices in the future. So, what's a Galaxy Tab worth to gaming's favorite pawn star? We'll let you know when GameStop drops the official details.

Engadget

How would you change the LG Nitro HD?

How would you change the LG Nitro HD?

AT&T's LG Nitro HD is one of those rare devices your writer has actually used. We carried it as our daily driver during this year's CES and were won over by that gorgeous screen, speedy LTE and its thin and light design. Unfortunately our experience matched those in the review: herky-jerky performance and battery life that meant we were always on the lookout for a power point. Of course, you can't have amazing battery life without doubling its thickness, but would you have taken that compromise? We're asking you: how would you change it?

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Apple and Samsung set to meet May 21st, hug it out over 48 hours

Apple and Samsung set to meet May 21st, hug it out over 48 hours

These two brawlers were given until July to come together and mediate over their numerous globe-spanning patent lawsuits, but it appears neither side needs to wait that long. According to Foss Patents, May 21st and 22nd have been circled on the calendar of a certain San Francisco courthouse, where Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero will attempt to arbitrate in a calm, soothing voice for two days straight. Presenting himself as a confidant who sits outside of the main litigation being conducted in San Jose, Spero has already asked both parties to open up and provide "candid" sta tements about the strengths and weaknesses of their own cases, as a first step towards identifying areas of compromise. Fortunately, he still has a few weeks in which to devise further cunning plans.

Engadget

Mozilla dispatches Firefox 3.6, fills its chair with version 13 beta

Mozilla dispatches Firefox 3.6, fills its chair with version 13 beta

If you've been defiantly clinging onto Firefox 3.6 by your fingertips, bad news. Mozilla is officially putting it to sleep -- whether you like it or not -- by auto-updating users to version 12. You've still got a few days to bid your emotional farewells, with the switchover being pegged as early May. But, the browser's creators stop short of setting a date for you to get the flowers delivered by. Official support for the 2010 release finished this week, and the final bout of security fixes was back in January. At the other end of the spectrum, Firefox 13 wobbled up onto its beta legs yesterday, bringing a new homepage, Google's new SPDY protocol and tab extra features with it. If you're making the leap, don't panic if you find some old friends missing.

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Inhabitat's Week in Green: biophotovoltaic table, giant rubber ducky and cushions of shredded cash

Inhabitat's Week in Green: biophotovoltaic table, giant rubber ducky and cushions of shredded cash


Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

Buon giorno! Milan Design Week 2012 is in the rear-view mirror now, but we're still sifting through the incredible furniture, lighting and technology that was showcased all throughout the city this year. Inhabitat sent a couple of correspondents to report on everything that was on display, and they didn't disappoint. We featured a nifty biophotovoltaic table that uses moss to generate electricity through photosynthesis. We also caught wind of a digital camera that IKEA unveiled in Milan that's made of cardboard. And given our love for terrariums, we were pretty excited to find this pendant lamp that doubles as a vegetable garden at this year's fair. But the star of the Milan show this year had to be British designer Tom Dixon, who rolled out countless innovative lamp designs, including the gorgeous Etch Light, which casts geometric shadows all over the room -- and he even invited visitors to design their own flat-pack lamps!

Milan Design Week isn't the only interesting news that we've been tracking in Europe. In Italy, Europe's most modern train, the Italo, hit the tracks for the first time. The bright red high-speed train is modeled after a Ferrari, and it promises to provide more luxury and energy efficiency. In Germany, the automation company Festo created an extraordinary helium-filled flying robot that propels itself through the air by repeatedly turning itself inside-out. We're still wondering how such a robot might be put to use, though.

And art is cropping up in unexpected places. In one of our favorite stories of the week, a giant rubber ducky was spotted floating down the Loire River in France. Why? The 82-foot ducky carries no political meaning (of course); it's simply meant to bring people together, according to artist Florentijn Hofman. In Hamburg, a group of trashmen transformed a fleet of dumpsters into pinhole cameras that take moody black-and-white photos.

In interplanetary news, Google and James Cameron announced plans to fund a venture to mine precious metals and rare minerals from asteroids. They hope to mine platinum-group metals and asteroid water. That's right: water. In an unrelated story, Donald Trump says the Scottish government has "betrayed" him for planning to install an offshore wind farm near Trump's golf resort.

In the world of cars, we were pretty surprised to learn that Ford is planning to use shredded cash in its vehicles. Say what?! You read that right: The automaker intends to recycle tons of old, damaged or out-of-circulation bills to make cushions, insulation and other car components. Audi unveiled its Q5 Hybrid Quattro, a midsize SUV that the company claims will get 34 mpg. And in another step forward for electric vehicles, GE Energy unveiled its new fully-networked WattStation electric vehicle charging platform. The network will enable owners to manage charging stations remotely, and it'll make it easier for drivers to access location and pricing details for charging stations. Tesla was also in the news this week, but not for its speedy cars; the Silicon Valley car company is teaming up with the solar rental company SolarCity to develop a new off-grid solar power storage system for home use.

Engadget

NVIDIA unleashes GeForce GTX 690 graphics card, loads it with dual Kepler GPUs, charges $1k

NVIDIA unleashes GeForce GTX 690 graphics card, loads it with dual Kepler GPUs, charges $1k

Would you look at that? NVIDIA hinted it would be coming today, and it looks like the tease is living up to the hype. The company stormed into the weekend at its Shanghai Game Festival by unleashing its latest offering, the GeForce GTX 690 -- and oh yeah, it's packing two 28nm Kepler GPUs! Trumping the recently released GTX 680 as the "worlds fastest graphics card," it's loaded with a whopping 3,072 Cuda cores. The outer frame is made from trivalent chromium-plated aluminum, while you'll find thixomolded magnesium alloy around the fan for vibration reduction and added cooling. Aiding in coolin g even further, the unit also sports a dual vapor chamber and center-mounted fan. It'll cost you a spendy $ 1,000 to pick up one of these puppies come May 3rd, and you'll likely be tempted to double up -- two can run together in SLI as an effective quad-core card. With that said, NVIDIA claims that a single 690 runs 4dB quieter and handles about twice the framerate as a duo of GTX 680s in SLI -- impressive, but we'll reserve judgement until we see it for ourselves. Check out the press release after the break if you'd like more information in the meantime (...and yes, it runs Crysis -- 2 Ultra to be exact -- at 57.8fps, according to NVIDIA).

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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NVIDIA Unveils GeForce GTX 690 -- Dual Graphics Card Combines World's Fastest Gaming Performance With Sleek, Sexy Design

SHANGHAI -- (Marketwire) -- 04/28/2012 -- GEFORCE LAN/NVIDIA Game Festival 2012 -- NVIDIA today announced the GeForce® GTX 690, the world's fastest consumer graphics card1 -- with a bold industrial design to match.

Powered by dual Kepler™ architecture-based GeForce GPUs, the GTX 690 is meticulously designed -- inside and out -- to deliver the most refined, elegant and smooth PC gaming experience possible.

The surprise announcement was made by NVIDIA CEO and co-founder Jen-Hsun Huang during his keynote address at the NVIDIA Game Festival in Shanghai, which is being attended by more than 6,000 gamers from across China.

Engineered to reach a new threshold in gaming performance, the GTX 690 also looks the part. Its array of innovative technologies is complemented by sleek materials that contribute to the exotic design of the card, including:

An exterior frame made from trivalent chromium-plated aluminum, providing excellent strength and durability

A fan housing made from a thixomolded magnesium alloy, which offers excellent he at dissipation and vibration dampening

High-efficiency power delivery with less resistance, lower power and less heat generated using a 10-phase, heavy-duty power supply with a 10-layer, two-ounce copper printed circuit board

Efficient cooling using dual vapor chambers, a nickel-plated finstack and center-mounted axial fan with optimized fin pitch and air entry angles

Low-profile components and ducted baseplate channels for unobstructed airflow, minimizing turbulence and improving acoustic quality

The GTX 690 is powered by a total of 3,072 NVIDIA CUDA® cores, all working to deliver awesome gaming performance for ultimate gaming setups. Designed for the discriminating gamer and ultra-high-resolution, multimonitor NVIDIA Surround™ configurations, the GTX 690 delivers close to double the frame rates of the closest single GPU product, the GTX 680. Plus, it is more power efficient and quieter when co mpared to systems equipped with two GTX 680 cards2 running in NVIDIA SLI® configuration.

"The GTX 690 is truly a work of art -- gorgeous on the outside with amazing performance on the inside," said Brian Kelleher, senior vice president of GPU engineering at NVIDIA. "Gamers will love playing on multiple screens at high resolutions with all the eye candy turned on. And they'll relish showing their friends how beautiful the cards look inside their systems."

The GTX 690 graphics card is designed using GeForce GPUs based on NVIDIA's 28-nanometer Kepler architecture, following the introduction late last month of the GTX 680.

"The GTX 690 is truly a work of art -- gorgeous on the outside with amazing performance on the inside," said Brian Kelleher, senior vice president of GPU engineering at NVIDIA. "Gamers will love playing on multiple screens at high resolutions with all the eye candy turned on. And they'll relish showing their friends how bea utiful the cards look inside their systems."

The GTX 690 graphics card is designed using GeForce GPUs based on NVIDIA's 28-nanometer Kepler architecture, following the introduction late last month of the GTX 680.

Availability

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 GPU will be available in limited quantities starting May 3, 2012, with wider availability by May 7, 2012 from NVIDIA's add-in card partners, including ASUS, EVGA, Gainward, Galaxy, Gigabyte, Inno3D, MSI, Palit and Zotac. Expected pricing is $ 999.

About NVIDIA
NVIDIA NASDAQ: NVDA) awakened the world to computer graphics when it invented the GPU in 1999. Today, its processors power a broad range of products from smartphones to supercomputers. NVIDIA's mobile processors are used in cell phones, tablets and auto infotainment systems. PC gamers rely on GPUs to enjoy spectacularly immersive worlds. Professionals use them to create 3D graphics and visual effects in movies and to design everything from golf clubs to jumbo jets. And researchers utilize GPUs to advance the frontiers of science with high performance computing. The company has more than 4,500 patents issued, allowed or filed, including ones covering ideas essential to modern computing. For more information, see www.nvidia.com.

(1) Testing was conducting comparing the GeForce GTX 690 versus GTX 680, running at a resolution of 2,500 x 1,600. Driver version used was 301.10. In the Heaven benchmark, with 4xAA/16xAF settings, GTX 690 scored 58.9 fps while the GTX 680 scored 31.1 fps. For Crysis 2 Ultra, the GTX 690 scored 57.8 fps while the GTX 680 scored 32.3 fps. In Dirt 3, with 8xAA/16xAF, the GTX 690 scored 111.2 fps, while the GTX 680 scored 62.3 fps. For performance, a higher number is better.

(2) GTX 690 acoustic measurement was 47 dB versus 51 dB for the GTX 680 SLI. For acoustic testing, a lower number is better.

Certain statements in this pre ss release including, but not limited to statements as to: the availability GeForce GTX 690 GPUs; and the effects of the company's patents on modern computing are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic conditions; our reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test our products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to our existing product and technologies; market acceptance of our products or our partners products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of our products or technologies when integrated into systems; as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including its Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended January 29, 2012. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company's website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

© 2012 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, CUDA, GeForce, Kepler, and Surround are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Engadget

Refresh Roundup: week of April 23rd, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of April 23rd, 2012

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Official Android updates

• Asus Eee Pad Transformer: Users of the TF101 will now find software version 9.2.1.21 awaits for download, which is said to bring improved system stability, support for WiFi Direct and the ability to unzip files. [SlashGear]
• Acer Iconia Tab A100: Like the A500, Ice Cream Sandwich is now rolling out for this 7-inch tablet. [Android Community]
• Samsung Galaxy S II: A bit more patience is needed for SaskTel subscribers in Canada. The carrier has announced that the Android 4.0 refresh won't arrive until mid-May. [MobileSyrup]
• Samsung Galaxy S II: The UK division of T-Mobile has begun delivery of Android 4.0. Here's to being fashionably late. [CNET UK]
• Samsung Galaxy S II: This long-awaited Ice Cream Sandwich update is similarly now available for Telstra subscribers in Australia. [TechnoBuffalo]
• HTC One S: Fresh off of its debut at T-Mobile, a software patch is available for download that's said to resolve battery drain when using WiFi Call ing. [Android Central]
• Motorola Photon 4G: The manufacturer has opened up a soak test, which hints at a future update for this handset. Only 1,000 slots are available for those willing to play with this pre-release build. [Android Central]
• HTC Sensation: Android 4.0 and its Sense 3.6 overlay is now available for users of this smartphone on Cincinnati Bell. The carrier expects the rollout to be complete by April 30th. [Android Central]
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Google's premiere handset has recently struggled with a bout of connectivity woes, and Sprint's variant isn't immune. Fortunately, news suggests that the carrier is working to push an update out the door in the very near term. [Phandroid]

Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery

• HTC Amaze 4G: It has one of the best cameras you can find on a smartphone, and now, the handset from T-Mobile can be loaded with a pre-release build of Ice Cream Sandwich with Sense 3.6. [TmoNews]
• Sony Xperia S: Good news for owners wanting to dive into the custom ROM scene -- this handset has been blessed with unofficial builds of both ClockworkMod Recovery and CyanogenMod 9. [Android Community]
• Samsung Epic 4G Touch: Owners of this Galaxy S II variant for Sprint may now take advantage of a leaked, pre-release build of Ice Cream Sandwich. Grab a taste of the forbidden in the source links. [Thanks, Andy] [xda-developers (1), (2)]
• HTC: S-Off status is now possible for the Amaze 4G, myTouch 4G Slide, Rezound, Sensation, Sensation XE, Vivid, Raider and Velocity. [Android Police]
• Nova Launcher: This alternative launcher for Android 4.0 has now reached version 1.1. Among the new features are the ability to scroll vertically in the app drawer and configure transparency settings. It's also said to bring many optimizations and bug fixes. [Phandroid]
• Motorola: A universal root method is now availa ble for all Motorola handsets running Android 2.3. On the downside, it appears that Linux is necessary admission. [Phandroid]

Other platforms

• Nokia Lumia 900: Like AT&T, Rogers in Canada is now pushing out the update to quell those data connectivity woes for Nokia's premiere smartphone. [wpcentral]
• Nokia Belle: A quality improvement update is now available to Symbian users, which is said to fix a critical bug in Qt 4.7.4. [All About Symbian]
• BlackBerry Curve 9380 and BlackBerry Bold 9790: Nothing official here, but version 7.1.0.402 of the BlackBerry OS has leaked into the wild for these two handsets. [CrackBerry (1), (2)]

Refreshes we covered this week

• Acer releases app to hurry the ICS-ification of Iconia slates (video)
• Leaked T-Mobile roadmap outlines Ice Cream Sandwich updates, new myTouch devices
• Verizon ICS update schedule leaks: Rezound, RAZR and Xoom being tested now
• Some Iconia Tab A500s getting Ice Cream Sandwich early, Acer Ring is MIA
• Twitter app update brings improved discover, search and notifications to iOS and Android
• Sony Tablet S gets a wedge of Ice Cream Sandwich
• O2 UK launches new wallet service, helps you empty yours (video)
• Send to Kindle arrives on Macs
• Google Wallet up and running on Galaxy Nexus with T-Mobile
• Scalado Album launches for Android, we go hands-on (video)
• PSA: Nintendo 3DS firmware update now live in North America
• Microsoft cuts pre-Mango holdouts, Zune desktop software off from WP7 app purchases
• Bell Canada launches revamped push-to-talk service, now with added 4G
• Google Drive preview: an in-depth look at features and functionality
• Meizu plans ICS update for MX and M9 this June, slaps it with a Flyme OS skin
• Android 4.0.4 factory images hit the web for GSM Galaxy Nex us
• Facebook for Windows Phone getting a major refresh
• Samsung details Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades for American carriers
• Skype for Windows Phone working on Nokia Lumia 610, scoffs at memory restrictions
• Transformer Prime gets power of reincarnation with Team Win Recovery Project 2.1.2
• Nokia flips internet sharing switch on for Lumia 710 and 800c in Tango update
• Nokia releases Browser 2.0 update for Series 40 handsets with improved speed, multitasking in tow
• SkyDrive app for Windows Phone gets 2.0 update, reduces free storage capacity

Engadget

Ask Engadget: best 'money is no object' laptop?

Ask Engadget: best 'money is no object' laptop?

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Chris, who simply has too much money to blow on a super-laptop. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I sold my business and I want to replace my laptop [HP Pavilion G6] with a completely unreasonably expensive top of the line machine. I want it to do everything I do (gaming, coding, web design) all at the same time. Apart from the fact I need two hard drive bays, I'm completely open-minded, so what should I be buying? Thank you!"

Quell your gnashing teeth, members of the 99 percent, he's done well for himself and now he needs our help. We were able to trick out an Alienware M18x to full capacity for $ 6,700 -- with an over-clocked 4GHz Intel Core i7 CPU, 32GB of RAM, two 2GB NVIDIA GTX 675M GPUs in SLI mode and 1.2TB of SSD RAID storage. That's the benchmark, folks: who out there can find something more powerful?

Engadget

Engadget Podcast 291 - 04.27.2012

Engadget Podcast 291 - 04.27.2012

It's the Engadget Podcast, the only podcast in the multiverse that tried to change its name to "My Podcast Beat Up Your NPR's Science Friday."

Host: Brian Heater, Dana Wollman, Terrence O'Brien
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Orbital - Never

00:01:44 - Reminder: Webby Award voting ends tomorrow, give the Engadget Show some love
00:02:30 - The Engadget Show 32: ASUS, Huawei and a trip to Asia's gadget markets
00:05:00 - Google Drive official: 5GB of free storage, Chrome web apps, Wave-like sharing and editing (video)
00:18:33 - Apple's WWDC hitting San Francisco on June 11th
00:23:22 - Apple Q2 2012 earnings: $ 39.2 billion in revenue, net profit of $ 11.6 billion
00:28:10 - ASUS Tran sformer Pad TF300 review
00:35:00 - Tim Cook: Apple focusing more on iPad for enterprise
00:37:09 - Nintendo posts first annual loss of $ 460 million, predicts turnaround next year
00:38:45 - Nintendo confirms that it's selling 3DS at a loss, expects that to change
00:43:15 - Facebook updates S-1, adds Q1 earnings, revenue up 45% over last year
00:46:48 - Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight review
00:52:45 - DIY Cellphone has the footprint of an ice cream sandwich, definitely doesn't run ICS (hands-on)
00:58:00 - Star Wars Arcade gets fan-made mini-me, weeps tears of joy (video)
01:00:00 - Listener questions

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Send your questions to @tim_stevens.
Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005)
E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot com
Twitter: @bheater, @danawollman @terrenceobrien Engadget

Acer releases app to hurry the ICS-ification of Iconia slates (video)

Acer releases app to hurry the ICS-ification of Iconia slates (video)

Patience, they say, is a virtue. Try telling that to a tech-savvy tablet owner, whose friend already got an ICS update. Acer started pushing out an Android 4 update to lucky Iconia 500 owners earlier in the week, but for those who've yet to receive it, all is not lost. The tablet maker has taken the unusual step of releasing an app dedicated to getting you the upgrade asap. Can't wait a moment longer? Point your slate at the Play store and search for "Acer" and then simply look for the free Iconia Tab Update Enhancement app. Virtues are overrated anyway.

Engadget

Origin PC joins the 11-inch, rebadged gaming laptop party, outs the EON 11-S

Origin PC joins the 11-inch, rebadged gaming laptop party, outs the EON 11-S

Last week may have drawn to a close, but the march of Clevo news continues. On the heels of Maingear announcing an 11-inch gaming notebook, Origin PC is throwing its own ultraportable into the ring: the EON 11-S. Though this is a new model for the company (the smallest laptop it's ever sold, in fact), it's not quite fresh to us: this is the same exact Clevo-made notebook Maingear unveiled two days ago, only re-badged under Origin PC's brand and available in a wider range of colors. As far as performance goes, then, that means you can expect Ivy Bridge processors, a 2GB NVIDIA GT 650M GPU, Optimus graphics-switching technology and a battery rated for 6.5 hours of runtime. In Origin PC's case, the laptop starts at $ 999 (compared with $ 1,099 for Maingear), though you'll have to head over to Origin's site for a breakdown of what specs you'll be getting at that lower price. (Spoiler alert: adding an Ivy Bridge CPU instantly bumps the price to $ 1,294.)Origin PC EON 11-S

Show full PR text

ORIGIN PC Announces the New Comp act EON11-S High Performance Laptop and Intel 3rd Generation "Ivy Bridge" Processors
11-inch Laptop Available Now starting at $ 999

Miami, FL – April 29, 2012, 12:01 a.m. Eastern – ORIGIN PC announces the availability of their smallest laptop yet, the powerful, lightweight, new EON11-S and Intel's new 3rd Generation "Ivy Bridge" Core Processors. The new compact high performance laptop debuts with ORIGIN PC's exclusive new laptop design, Intel's 3rd generation mobile processors, NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 650M graphics, and NVIDIA Optimus Technology. Origin PC is also offering Intel's 3rd generation "Ivy Bridge" processors to their full line of award winning desktops and laptops for gamers, artists, enthusiasts and professionals.

ORIGIN PC's EON11-S features:
- Exclusive ORIGIN PC Laptop Design: Available as a free upgrade in matte black, matte red, glossy silver, or your choice of custom paint. Traditional style also optional

- Intel's 3rd Generation Mobile Processors: The highly anticipated mobile processors offer significant performance and improved onboard graphics with DirectX 11 support

- NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M Graphics: NVIDIA's powerful mobile graphics come with 2GB of DDR5 memory and can play all of the latest PC games smoothly in stunning high detail

- NVIDIA Optimus Technology: Enables over 6.5 hours of battery life on the EON11-S by automatically switching on and off the GPU so that it runs only when needed

- Lightweight Design: Weighing less than 4lbs, the EON11-S is the perfect compact powerhouse that's easy to carry and easy to travel with

- THX TruStudio Pro: THX TruStudio Pro gives you the ability to tweak your audio to perfection and enjoy games and movies in crisp, clear quality

- Full Connectivity: The EON11-S has everything for mobile power users including Bluetooth 4.0, Wireless networking, USB 3.0 and HDMI out to connect to your favorite HD TV or display

- Free Lifetime 24/7 Support: Every ORIGIN PC comes with industry leading Lifetime 24/7 Support based in the United States

The EON11-S is Fully Customizable starting at $ 999.00

High Res Images:
Download high resolution images of the EON11-S : https://plus.google.com/photos/104873050393049882329/albums/5735333760586081153?authkey=CMLF_ca-xe3bvwE

Intel 3rd Generation Core™ Processors Features:
- Amazing new 22 nm manufacturing process with Tri-Gate Transistors

- Improved memory controller for faster memory and improved stability

- ORIGIN PC Professional Overclocking capability on the Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor

"ORIGIN PC continues to lead the industry by unveiling our powerful, compact, lightweight EON 11-S and adding Intel's highly anticipated 3rd generation processors to our award winning l ineup of desktops and laptops." said Kevin Wasielewski ORIGIN PC CEO and co-founder. "Everyone dreams of a laptop that is smaller, lighter, has a longer battery life and has the ability to play all of the latest PC games well. The EON11-S makes that dream a reality and without making any "ultra-sacrifices"."

All ORIGIN PC systems come with free lifetime 24/7 phone and online service based in the United States. Each customer has a dedicated support team and free lifetime labor for upgrade needs. ORIGIN PC's Evolve Upgrade Program allows customers to purchase a custom PC now, and trade in their parts whenever they want to upgrade. Every ORIGIN PC features a 1 to 3 year free part replacement warranty combined with the best in class integration, quality testing and support.

Follow ORIGIN PC:
www.twitter.com/originpc
www.facebook.com/originpc
www.youtube.com/originpc
www.raptr.com/topic/originpc/wall

Engadget

Space travel coming to an airport near you? Maybe, if Skylon keeps its cool

Space travel coming to an airport near you? Maybe, if Skylon keeps its cool

Want to get from New York to Perth in under 4 hours, or maybe just head to outer space on a lark? Reaction Engines' "Skylon" mach 5 spaceplane might be your chariot -- or not. Its scheme of ingesting oxygen from the atmosphere instead of stowing it like a 50-year old modern multi-stage rocket sounds good, but the project's fate may hang on critical new tests. Failure is still a possibility, but if the high-speed, superhot gases can be cooled enough for the hybrid Sabre engines to work, and if Reaction Engines Limited can secure another round of funding, punching your space-ticket could soon be a very real p ossibility.

Engadget

MIT develops fog resistant, glare-free glass, it's clearly amazing (video)

MIT develops fog resistant, glare-free glass, it's clearly amazing (video)

It sounds like it's not just us that spend half our sweet time with lint-free cloth in hand. Researchers at MIT have developed a new type of glass that "virtually eliminates" reflections, and is also water-repellent. By using techniques from the semiconductor industry, conical nano-textures etched into the layered surface that give the wonder-glass its fog, glare and self-cleaning properties. The hope is that the technology will find its way into our many daily screens and even windows. It's not all about gadget vanity though; solar panels lose efficiency over time through residual surface build up, and using the new glass could go some way to eliminate that issue. If they can just remember where they put the ultra-clear test sample that is.

Engadget

Sony Xperia ST21i with ICS leaks out, shows off its chunky physique

Sony Xperia ST21i with ICS leaks out, shows off its chunky physique

It may not be as sleek as its S kin, or even as powerful as that mid-level U, but this recently leaked Xperia ST21i might just have enough goodies to lure a handful of you in. According to Techblog, this thick, 3.2-inch unit packs some pretty run-of-the-mill features, including an 800MHz Qualcomm chip paired with 512MB of RAM, a 3-megapixel shooter to help with those Instagram shots and a low 480 x 320 screen res. Unlike a few of the other Xperias still waiting to be served, though, the ST21i has already been filled with a portion of Google's famous ICS. No word yet on when the pudgy device will see a legit introduction, but un til then you can peek at some extra photos at the source link below.

Engadget

Rocketfish's Sound Prism is triangu-lovely

Rocketfish's Sound Prism is triangu-lovely

Cunning design is a wonderful thing, and this triangular bundle of smarts is almost meta! Rocketfish's Sound Prism is exactly what it says it is, a three-sided speaker bar with a twist (metaphorically speaking.) Inventors, CRE8 Design studio, cooked up the clever idea of using the empty space created by a folded Apple Smart Cover. This fella neatly slips into the cubby-hole of the folded case, and attaches itself magnetically. It's Bluetooth, so can pair up with any compatible device, but won't look quite so snug as when used as nature -- or rather its creators -- intended. How much for a slice of the Pythagorean action? That'll be 80 rectangular dollars, sir.

Engadget

Business-minded HP 'Slate 8' tablet surfaces in leaked image

Business-minded HP 'Slate 8' tablet surfaces in leaked image

This one is still very much unconfirmed, but a "trusted source" recently provided Neowin.net with the image you see above, which purports to be a mockup of a forthcoming business-minded tablet from HP dubbed the Slate 8. That's obviously a Windows 8 tablet and, if the details are to be believed, you can expect a 10.1-inch display, eight to ten hours of battery life, optional pen-based input, a docking station of some sort, an outdoor viewing option and a number of business-friendly security measures -- all in a package that's 9.2mm thick and about 1.5 pounds. Adding some weight to leak is ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, who hasn't been able to confirm it outright, but says that after a bit o f investigation she is "inclined to believe this is a real mock-up and is part of HP's line up of business desktops and laptops it will be touting this year."

Engadget

Time Warner Cable is preparing for TWC TV IPTV streaming on Roku boxes

Time Warner Cable is preparing for TWC TV IPTV streaming on Roku boxes

Time Warner Cable's TWC TV streaming TV service has already arrived on iOS and Android 4.0, so what's next? According to information we've received, the next stop should be connected TV platforms, starting with the popular Roku media streaming boxes. We already got a glimpse of TWC TV on an HDTV during CES 2012 when it was being demonstrated at the Panasonic and Samsung booths, and were told at the time that it could launch on "multiple platforms" later this year. While company personnel are currently being briefed on compatibility with Roku the launch could still be some time off, as previous preparations for rollouts lik e streaming to PCs came months ahead. We contacted reps for the company about the plan and received a "no comment" in response, so there's nothing in the way of official word just yet. Either way, if all you want to do is ditch the bulky cable box for a diminutive hockey puck, it seems like 2012 could finally be the year.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Engadget

Mobile Miscellany: week of April 23rd, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of April 23rd, 2012

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, we learned that ZTE intends to release a phablet of its own, and Samsung unseated Nokia as the world's largest supplier of mobile phones. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of April 23rd, 2012.

ZTE plans to release a phablet (or two) of its own

A popular quotation is attributed to Gandhi as once having said, "First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they attack you. Then you win." Whi le it's too early in the game to declare a victor, this adage could easily apply to the Samsung Galaxy Note. Not only has LG joined the race with its Optimus Vu, but in an attempt to break into the premium handset market, ZTE has announced that it'll also introduce a phone / tablet hybrid of its own. Not to stop at just one, Reuters reports that the company will unleash two phablets onto the market later this year. As one of our favorite features of the Galaxy Note is the multi-functional S Pen, it'll certainly be interesting to see just how thoroughly ZTE clones the original. [SlashGear, Reuters]

Inventory leak suggests Lumia 900 coming to Finland on May 2nd

You might've thought that Nokia's premiere smartphone would be available in its home country by now, but as the story goes, the company is still struggling to meet demand in the US. Earlier this week, a magenta Lumia 900 was spotted at a Finnish e-tailer, and most recently, an inventory leak suggested that the handset may become available in the country as early as May 2nd. Should this pan out, Finland will have a slight advantage over the UK, where the Lumia 900 is expected to make its official debut with Phones 4u on May 14th. [WMPoweruser]

GSM / EDGE support discovered for Motorola Droid 4 and Bionic

Okay, so this is hardly an ideal setup, but it's hard to deny the coolness factor of knowing that both the Droid 4 and Droid Bionic can be finessed to access GSM / EDGE networks. Little research has been done to determine specifically which bands these phones support, although quadband access seems quite likely. Previous ly, a similar stunt was performed for the HTC Rezound. Turns out that Verizon Wireless has a veritable lineup of world phones -- if you're willing to put in a bit of elbow grease. [Phandroid, xda-developers]

Samsung unseats Nokia as world's largest supplier of mobile phones

It was inevitable, really, but new data from iSuppli suggest that Samsung has now surpassed Nokia as the leading mobile phone manufacturer. During the first quarter of 2012, the Korean manufacturer managed to push 92 million handsets out the door, whereas Nokia came in second place with 83 million. This coveted spot was previously held by Nokia for 14 years. [SlashGear]

Leap Wireless details $ 94.3m net loss for Q1 2012

It's hard to take the sting off of losing nearly $ 100 million on revenues of $ 774m in just three months, but Leap Wireless -- known to the public as Cricket -- is trying to do just that. The company announced an addition of 258,000 subscribers for the first quarter of 2012 and now boasts approximately 6.1 million customers. Leap's CEO, Doug Hutcheson, suggested that the company will soon roll out more expensive plans and similarly drive customers to premium add-on services, which is set to take effect in the second half of this year. Also of note, the carrier will add up to seven new smartphones to its portfolio in time for the back-to-school season. [Fierce Wireless]

Sprint will bring WiMax devices to Boost and Virgin Mobile

Looks like those rumors of the EVO Design 4G making its move to the prepaid realm just got a bit more credible. During the company's earnings call, a Sprint executive confirmed that the network will bring WiMax handsets to its two subsidiaries -- Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile -- in the next quarter. The carrier's agreement with Clearwire allows for such a move, which Sprint will leverage as it gears up for LTE deployment. [CNET]

Other random tidbits

• Without a mention to specific carriers, HTC has announced that, in the very near term, it'll introduce the Radar for Windows Phone fans in Mexico. [WMPoweruser]
• According to a Comscore report, the number of newly acquired smartphones has surpassed that of feature phones for the first time in Japan. [Textually]
• A new version of Minecraft was unleashed for Android, which now allows players to craft items. [Phandroid]
• AT&T has announced that it'll bring LTE to Salt Lake City later this year. [AT&T]
• Virgin Mobile is sending out notifications to those on its $ 25/mo plan that it'll require users to move to the current pricing tier -- which starts at $ 35/mo -- once they upgrade their phones. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] [Virgin Mobile]
• Aussies can now go about renting Young Einstein from Google Play Movies, as the service became available to the land Down Under this week. [Android Central]

Engadget

Acer Aspire V3 coming to Japan for $1,100 with right processor, wrong ppi

Acer Aspire V3 coming to Japan for $1,100 with right processor, wrong ppi

Want a 2.1GHz Ivy Bridge Core i7 in your next media laptop? Mmm, yes please. And a 1080p LED backlit display to devour movies on? Well, of course. Then keep looking, because the Acer Aspire V3 maxes out at just 1366 x 768 -- despite being equipped with a Blu-ray spinner and Dolby Theater v4, and also despite the eye-popping competition. Then again, at 15.6-inches that resolution might not be a total deal-breaker, plus our hands-on taster at CeBIT (before we even knew about the Ivy Bridge internals) wasn't totally unpleasant. The HD 4000 graphics should give you the odd gaming snack, even if not a full meal, while a 750GB HDD, up to 8GB RAM and a ton of I/O options take care of the ba ck room. The V3 will hit Japanese shelves on April 29th for around $ 1,100 -- but watch out for a 17-incher too (which will do 1080p) plus cheaper Core i5 variants coming later.

Engadget

Leaked Rayman Legends for Wii U trailer showcases NFC feature (video)

Leaked Rayman Legends for Wii U trailer showcases NFC feature (video)

If you're counting down the days till the Wii U is released, you might recall that back in January Nintendo chief Satoru Iwata said the console will ship with an NFC chip inside. Well, you can now get a taste of how games will incorporate that feature, thanks to this just-leaked trailer for Rayman Legends. According to the video, Rayman Rabbid action figures can jump into the game when a player taps them to the Wii U's screen. (It looks like that trick will work with an Assassin's Creed Ezio Auditore da Firenze figurine too.) Check out the trailer, courtesy of Gamekult, while you can -- after all, Ubisoft didn't want you to glimpse the U's magical powers just yet.

Engadget

LG gives away 2,000 specially modified phones for the blind

LG gives away 2,000 specially modified phones for the blind

Skipping on the LTE, HD IPS screen or dual-processor is usually not a recipe that will land your phone on the pages of Engadget. But, these LG-LU2700Ss are not just any unspectacular flip phone. The handset has been specially modified for use by the blind and visually impaired. The manual is printed in braille and, rather than require the constant mashing of buttons, the phone is controlled primarily through voice commands. 2,000 of the devices were given away as part of the company's donation program. Now if only they would mass produce them, LG would earn some serious cred.

Engadget

Patterned by Nature: it's big, blocky and earth-approved (video)

Patterned by Nature: it's big, blocky and earth-approved (video)

Quick quiz: which consumes more power, an "energy-efficient" 55-inch LED TV, or the 90-foot "Patterned by Nature" video installation at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences? It's actually a trick question, because the sculpture does eat less power -- just 75 watts -- but then it only has a fraction of the TV's pixels. Each of its 3600 "dots" is in fact a 6-inch glass pane which can vary its transparency, a decidedly more lo-fi approach than similar tech we've seen before, but no less arresting as a result. As the video shows, it combines an eight channel soundtrack with twenty Mario-like animations on its serpentine skin -- ranging from bacteria to flocking geese -- to bring mother nature to the viewer without sapping her energy.

Engadget

Nokia experiments with location-based white space services in Cambridge, UK (video)

Nokia experiments with location-based white space services in Cambridge, UK (video)

Following news of the first successful white space trials in Cambridge, UK, Nokia is now touting its research in the area with a demonstration of location-based services for the unlicensed spectrum. Traditionally, proponents of white space usage have positioned this unused portion of the airwaves as a viable, low-cost method of data transmission, but the Nokia folks have now demonstrated its ability to pinpoint one's location with much greater accuracy than either WiFi or cellular networks. Think of it as a counterpoint to NFC, if you will, but in the following clip, we're shown how an individual might move throughout a museum, and as they approach various exhibits, one's smartphone could provide supplemental information for the nearby artifacts. Beyond its use in museums, Nokia also foresees the technology as useful in the retail space, where businesses may provide consumers with promotions as they walk by. Currently, the necessary equipment to make this all possible is much too large to fit within a typical smartphone, but Nokia hypothesizes that the necessary chipsets and industry standards may be in place by 2015. Until then, you can dream of what might be with the following video.

Engadget

Woz: Windows Phone is 'beautiful,' Android 'no contest,' still loves iPhone, ask again tomorrow

Woz: Windows Phone is 'beautiful,' Android 'no contest,' still loves iPhone, ask again tomorrow

When Steve Wozniak talks mobile, people love to listen. Last time we checked in, he was lauding some of Android's finer points, and now he's raining praise on Windows Phone. In an interview with A New Domain, the Apple co-founder was all too happy to share his recent positive experiences with the Espoo / Redmond collaboration. In particular, Woz waxes about how intuitive the interface is, and how naturally apps lead you around. He goes on to say how there's nothing he's seen that isn't more beautiful (than iOS and Android) on the Windows system, before claiming Android is "no contest" when it comes to the interface. It's not all lemonade and roses, however, as he then admits he's no fan of the voice control functionality compared to the other two platforms. When pushed to admit what he uses as default, it's still the iPhone -- two of them in fact -- but Woz's ability to see the best in all mobile operating systems will be sure to further confirm his status as one of tech's most liked. Head down to the source to hear for yourself.

[Thanks everyone who sent this in]

Engadget

ShelfX's Vending Fridge nixes the cashier, uses QR codes, RFID to 'know what you took'

ShelfX's Vending Fridge nixes the cashier, uses QR codes, RFID to 'know what you took'

QR codes and RFID tags aren't uncommon when it comes to automated payment applications, and now Colorado-based ShelfX has purposed them for its new wireless-equipped Vending Fridges. Eliminating the need for a cashier -- or cash, for that matter -- each unit allows you to purchase any items packed inside by scanning a QR code with your phone (using the company's app) or an RFID badge. Upon presenting either method to the machine, it's able to tell who you are and unlocks its door. From there, you can grab whatever you 'd like, while ShelfX automatically pulls funds your account for what's been removed. The system is also smart enough to know when goods are put back, so you won't have to worry about being charged while making up your mind. All of the money goes through ShelfX, allowing it to take "a small percentage" for itself before sending a monthly payment to owners. The Vending Fridge is currently on sale for $ 600, and a retrofitting kit for your own fridge is also available for half that amount -- no word on whether it has kid-blocking or crab-proofing options, though. You'll find more information in the press release just after the break.

Show full PR text

ShelfX Releases A Fridge That Knows What You Took

SHELFX, INC. VENDING FRIDGE ShelfX Vending Fridge. (PRNewsFoto/ShelfX, Inc.) BOULDER, CO UNITED STATES

BOULDER, Colo., April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- ShelfX, provider of revolutionary self-checkout and inventory management solutions, an nounces the availability of the Vending Fridge. As the next-generation vending machine, the Vending Fridge lets consumers use a simple QR code scanner from their mobile phone and the ShelfX Mobile App to seamlessly purchase refrigerated products. The Vending Fridge can be conveniently installed in hotels, offices, retail stores, gyms, coffee shops, schools, libraries or various other locations where flexible food vending is needed.

With the Vending Fridge installed, a customer simply uses their mobile phone to scan a QR code on the fridge, prompting the download of the ShelfX app from which accounts are created and payment information is entered. Within seconds, scanning the QR code again will unlock the fridge door and beverages, sandwiches, apples, whatever is offered, will be available for the taking.

For added simplicity, existing customers will also receive an RFID-enabled XCard in the mail, which acts as the same as the app on their mobile phone. New customers are also offered the convenience of creating their accounts online to start shopping without hassle or lines.

And for the owner of the Vending Fridge, the process is just as easy; owners only need to stock the fridge. ShelfX handles account creations, payment processing, and sends owners a payment each month, deducting only a small percentage of sales for services rendered.

Just as with the ShelfX retail system, the Vending Fridge is equipped with the company's proprietary Smart Shelf that knows the exact quantity and type of products that are stocked on it. The Vending Fridge also knows what the consumer removes from, or returns to its shelves; and through wireless communication, the Vending Fridge updates accounts and instantly automates billing.

This award-winning Vending Fridge is now available for sale at $ 599 USD. For skilled technicians and do-it-yourself owners, the ShelfX Vending Fridge kit is also available for $ 29 9 USD. Start cashing in on this revolutionary new vending technology; reserve your Vending Fridge today at shop.shelfx.com.

Engadget

Google MapsGL updates 3D buildings, improves virtual tourism

Google MapsGL updates 3D buildings, improves virtual tourism

Google's been spending some quality time with its Maps offering of late. Most recently, it overhauled the 3D buildings and landmarks to make them, well, better. This time, its Maps' juiced up sibling MapsGL that's been feeling the paternal love. The WebGL-based 3D renderings have been the same treatment, making your virtual aerial tours all the more realistic. Now, as you glide over the landscape, your view of the buildings is much more like real life. Or you could just take the lazy tourism one step further. Hit the source for examples.

Engadget

AT&T stockholders vote down net neutrality proposal

AT&T stockholders vote down net neutrality proposal

AT&T stockholders took to the ballot box today at their annual meeting and voted not only to reelect the entire board of directors, but also on a number of measures concerning how the company should conduct business. Chief amongst them was a provision that would have required the carrier to operate its network according to the tenets of net neutrality. Unfortunately for you (unless you're an AT&T exec), the proposal was voted down by a pretty stunning margin. 94.1 percent of shareholders opposed, with only 5.9 casting their voice in favor of true network neutrality. For more info check out the PR after the break.

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AT&T Announces Preliminary Results of 2012 Annual Meeting

SALT LAKE CITY, April 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- At its annual meeting of stockholders today, AT&T Inc.* (NYSE: T) announced that each of the 11 nominees were reelected to the company's board of directors for one-year terms, with each member receiving at least 96.3 percent of the shares voted.

Additionally, AT&T stockholders voted to approve the following items proposed by the board of directors:

The appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the company's independent auditor, with 98.4 percent of shares cast in favor and 1.6 percent cast against.
The compensation of AT&T's executive officers as described in the 2012 proxy statement, with 93.2 percent of shares cast in favor and 6.8 percent cast against.

The board of directors proposed a fourth item - an amendment to the company's certificate of incorporation to eliminate the article requiring the approval of two- thirds of the outstanding shares for action by written consent. Under Delaware law, the amendment to the certificate of incorporation requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares. This proposal received the approval of 50.9 percent of shares outstanding and did not pass.

The following proposals from stockholders were also voted on:

A proposal asking AT&T to issue a semi-annual report on political contributions and the policies and procedures for making such contributions was defeated by a vote of 61.4 percent against to 38.6 percent in favor.
A proposal asking that AT&T commit to operating its wireless network without the ability to privilege, degrade or prioritize any traffic was defeated by a vote of 94.1 percent against to 5.9 percent in favor.
A proposal asking that AT&T adopt a policy that the chairman of the board be an independent director was defeated by a vote of 56.2 percent against to 43.8 percent in favor.

When final voting results are available, they will be posted on the AT&T Investor Relations website.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It a lso offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

© 2012 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 4G not available everywhere. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

Engadget

Micromax's Superfone A50 Ninja enters India with AISHA voice assistant, forgets its shuriken

Micromax's Superfone A50 Ninja enters India with AISHA voice assistant, forgets its shuriken

Hoping to compete with the Siris of the world, Micromax has announced its new Superfone A50 Ninja alongside a novel feature dubbed AISHA -- which is short for Artificial Intelligence Speech Handset Assistant. Similar to Cupertino's personal secretary, AISHA vows to help folks with every-day elements such as making calls, setting up calendar events and even reporting what the weather looks like. Much to our disappointment, however, the A50 Ninja runs a not-so-new flavor of Android -- Gingerbread to be exact -- and Micromax left out any mention of Android 4.0. On the specs fro nt, the dual-SIM Superfone sports a 3.1-inch display (mum's the word on the resolution), a two-megapixel shooter, Bluetooth 2.0 capabilities and an unspecified 650MHz processor. All in all, thanks to its 4,999 rupees (around $ 95) budget price, we can't imagine you'd complain too much. Be sure to hit up the Micromax link below if you're interested in grabbing one of these.

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Micromax Informatics Limited ("Micromax"), the 12th largest handset manufacturer in the World (According to Global Handset Vendor Market share report from Strategy Analytics) today announced the launch of A50 Ninja, which comes with an Artificial Intelligence Speech Handset Assistant, "AISHA".

Priced at Rs. 4,999/- the Micromax A50 Ninja makes an effort to provide an affordable smartphone solution for the masses who have longed for a phone which is not just smart but an intelligent device. In succession to A85, A75, A73 and A78, Micromax intensifies its Superfon e portfolio by introducing A50 and thus offering handsets ranging from Rs. 4,999 to Rs. 12, 500.

A50 runs on Android version 2.3.6 (Gingerbread) with a processor speed of 650 MHz .The phone features a 7.9 cms multi touch capacitive screen to provide ease to the users. It's another dual SIM Android powered offering from Micromax. However, with A50 Micromax offers a new innovation to the user in form of AISHA. Through the voice recognition tool, Users can initiate a Google search, view stock market details, Know phone status, movie reviews, make calls, read news of desired locations, know horoscopes, make language translations and also view recipes through AISHA. This is not just enough, AISHA helps you to inquire your missed calls, send message, inquire date and time, weather conditions, pose knowledge questions and a number of jobs to count on.

For the smooth functioning of AISHA to provide an intelligent and immediate response, Micromax has back-end ti e up with Indian portals such as Timesjob.com, Simplymarry.com etc

Through AISHA, the users can update their status on Facebook and Twitter. A50 comes on the Gingerbread platform and the users can discover a hub of apps that awaits them at the Google Play Store ranging from entertainment to music apps. Micromax A50 sports a 2.0 MP camera.

Superfone A50 Ninja is available at an attractive price of Rs. 4,999. This model will be available across all leading retail outlets in India. For more information, please visit www.micromaxsuperfone.com.

Engadget

Maingear's Pulse 11-inch gaming laptop has designs on M11x mourners

Maingear's Pulse 11-inch gaming laptop has designs on M11x mourners

Gamers who'd been eyeing up an Alienware M11x may have been rightly irked when the 11-inch form factor was yanked off shelves. Fortunately, Maingear is stepping in with a laptop that slots an Ivy Bridge CPU into equally compact hardware. The Pulse 11 has an 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 LED-backlit display, supports up to 16GB of dual-channel DDR3 RAM while packing HDMI-out 1.4a, USB 3.0 and THX TruStudio Pro sound. Graphics-wise, there's an NVIDIA GeForce GT650M with 2GB RAM for fragging your enemies, and an Intel GMA HD GPU for fragging your spreadsheets. The hardware will begin shipping on June 3rd, with prices starting from $ 1,099 for a Core i5, 8GB RAM and a 320GB HDD.

Engadget