Mophie readies Galaxy S III Juice Packs, coming very soon

Mophie readies Galaxy S III Juice Packs, coming very soon

If you thought Mophie was planning to keep its smartphone Juice Packs exclusively Apple-based -- we'd have probably agreed with you. But then we got to take a look at this pair of cases crafted for Samsung's Galaxy S III. Yep, the battery-packing cover (which looks likely to fit all the current iterations) promises to give "over double the battery life" of your un-augmented handset. This was just a brief peek -- but expect the (as-yet unpriced) cases to appear in stores around the end of October, early November.

Engadget

Sennheiser's Momentum headphones bring their leathery, metal goodness to IFA, we go hands-on (video)

Sennheiser's Momentum headphones bring their leathery, metal goodness to IFA, we go hands-on (video)

Now these are some seriously nice-looking headphones -- and really, that's sort of the thing here. After all, internally, these cans are quite similar to older models from Sennheiser, and spending a little time underneath them was a fully engrossing experience, the cups dampening out a lot of noise of the show floor even without music playing. What was even more immediately noticeable about the Momentum, however, was just how comfortable they were, thanks in no small part, to the use of hair-sheep skin straight out of Somerset, England -- yep, if you're anti-leather, these aren't the headphones for you. But man, the material feels really, really nice.

The headphones are also quite light, which helps, so they shouldn't be too much of a strain when you wear them on the go -- and the Sennheiser rep we spoke with assured us that your ears still breathe well with them on, unlike a lot of over-ear pairs. The headband is made of a brushed stainless steel, which meets even more leather on the top of the headphones. Move down the wire and you'll see a panel with three buttons -- these control volume and let you pick up calls on your iPhone. Further down still ia a metal jack that bends, so you can keep the headphones at either a 180- or 90-degree angle from your device.

Of course, all that fine sheep leather and metal doesn't come cheap -- these guys will run you a cool $ 350 when they hit the states this fall. Check out a hands-on video after the break.Sennheiser Momentum ears-on

Engadget

Open webOS beta will become available to developers today

Open webOS beta will become available to developers today

Just like that, HP is making good on its promise to release Open webOS in beta. The code is available today under the Apache 2.0 license, and is landing slightly ahead of schedule (HP long ago said the software would arrive in September). All told, the beta release is comprised of 54 components, totaling more than 450,000 lines of code. As you'd expect, too, the desktop build incorporates all the elements released so far on Ubuntu. The software also includes an ARM emulator, running db8, node.js and other services. Other highlights: the System Manager now supports applications, including key ones like Calendar and Contacts. Many third-party Enyo apps are supported too, HP says. Been waiting all these months to g et your coding on? Hit up the source link below for more information. And if necessary, keep refreshing: as of this writing, the code hasn't hit HP's servers, but it should very soon.

Engadget

Acer announces Aspire M3 and Aspire V5 laptops with touchscreens (update: hands-on photos)

Acer announces Aspire M3 and Aspire V5 laptops with touchscreens (update: hands-on photos)

In case you haven't noticed, there are two kinds of Windows 8 devices on display at IFA this week: laptop / tablet hybrids, and already-announced laptops, refreshed to include touchscreens. Acer's newest two Ultrabooks fall into that second category: the company just announced touch-enabled versions of its Aspire M3 Ultrabook and Aspire V5 thin-and-light. For now, Acer isn't saying a word about price or availability, so for now you'll have to be content with a few spec details, all embedded after the break.

Update: We've added some more pictures of Acer's new touch-friendly Ultrabooks in the flesh.

Acer Aspire M3 Touch Ultrabook hands-onAcer Aspire M3 Touch

Starting with the Aspire M3 Touch, it has a frameless, 15.6-inch screen, and the same aluminum design as the older M3. Thanks to that touchscreen, though, its chassis has widened to 22mm thick (the weight is now 2.3kg, or 5.07 pounds). On the inside, though, not much has changed: it will still be offered with Ivy Bridge processors and discrete NVIDIA graphics -- in this case, a GeForce GT640M GPU.Acer Aspire V5 Touch hands-onAcer Aspire V5 Touch

It's a similar story with the Aspire V5 Touch laptops, which wi ll be sold with 14- and 15-inch screens. Here, too, the design resembles already-available V5 laptops, except these have a little extra heft due to touchscreen. Also, the touchpads are said to be larger this time around. Now, they measure a little under 23mm thick, and weigh 2.1kg and 2.4kg, respectively. Though the V5 has always been low-end compared to the M3, it offers potentially similar horsepower, with Ivy Bridge CPUs and discrete NVIDIA graphics.

Mat Smith and Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.

Show full PR text

Acer Aspire M3 touch Series
Excellent touch experience in a powerful Ultrabook®

Berlin, Germany (August 31, 2012) –Improving on a device that is already ultra-thin, ultra-light, powerful and rich with features designed to enhance the user experience is quite a challenge. A challenge that Acer took on. The Acer Aspire M3 sports a 10-point touch display that provides a brilliant navigation exp erience and is ready to support Windows 8.
In an extremely thin and light package - just 22 mm thin for a mere 2.3 kg of weight – the Aspire M3 packs a beautiful, frameless 15.6-inch display offering a larger viewing area for a full web browsing experience and greater multimedia enjoyment.

The Aspire M3's smart, yet stylish design is an ideal fit whether inside a meeting room or a café, while the latest Intel® Core™ processor and dedicated graphics make it an excellent choice for gaming enthusiasts. The Aspire M3 is the first Acer Ultrabook® to pack a next-generation NVIDIA® GeForce® GT640M GPU to enjoy the latest graphics-intensive games with ultimate detail, smooth curves, and life-like animation. Not to mention the flawless streaming of Internet video and movies.

A nimble and swift machine, the Aspire M3 lets you easily handle your daily tasks as well as relax with a movie or a game. To add to the overa ll experience, the M3 flaunts Dolby® Home Theater® v4 audio enhancement and premium speakers.

In the Acer Timeline notebook series long battery life is standard and the M3 is no exception, offering a full day of productivity and entertainment on a single charge. What's more, it keeps up with your pace, thanks to Acer Green Instant-On, which springs to life and resumes from sleep mode in just 1.5 seconds. In addition, Acer Instant Connect reconnects to favorite access points in 2.5 seconds.

Encased in an elegant dark chassis made of aluminum alloy to increase durability, the Aspire M3 houses a responsive chiclet keyboard with a numeric keypad for a fast and comfortable typing experience, while the oversized touchpad offers more precise control. The built-in battery seamlessly integrates in the design enhancing its minimalist, modern look.

Acer Aspire V5 touch Series
Slender and light with 10-point touch display

Berlin, Germany (August 31, 2012) –Acer Aspire V5 Series presents added user-friendliness with 10-point touch display and a larger trackpad, designed to enhance multi-gesture content consumption and to take advantage of the features offered by Windows 8. This new range of thin and light notebooks suits users looking for impressive performance, thermal comfort, cool style, and more convenient mobile usability.

The current trend is towards thinner and lighter notebooks that allow users to enjoy both entertainment and content creation anytime, anywhere. The V5 Series notebooks are all 30% slimmer than the same class in 2-spindle design with DVD and ergonomic thermal so they're extremely easy to handle on the go. The 14-inch model includes an optical drive and still is less than 21 mm thin and weights 2.1 kg; the 15.6-inch model, also with an optical drive, is thinner than 23 mm, and weighs 2.4 kg.

Powerful Intel® Core™ family proces sors and renowned NVIDIA® GeForce® GT Series graphics deliver excellent performance for impressive daily multitasking and content creation, while the HD ready 10-point touch display offers multimedia enjoyment and optimizes the touch experience.

A smart power management and component layout optimizes acoustics and thermal comfort without compromising performance. These notebooks can be used quietly and comfortably on the lap whether you are working or enjoying your favorite entertainment. ENERGY STAR® qualified, the V5 Series conserves power to help you be environment-friendly.

Easy to use on the go, the V5 Series features Acer Instant Connect, which automatically scans and registers most-visited access points, letting users connect to the Internet in just 2.5 seconds, which is four times faster than conventional methods.

Users can enjoy all-round mobility with LAN/VGA combo port to easily extend connectivity online and exte rnal display from one cable. Sharing files among other digital devices is also quick and easy via USB 3.0 ports.

The cool, fluid design has smooth surfaces that make this notebook comfortable to the touch. The full-size chiclet keyboard and large click-pad are well-placed and ergonomic for easy navigation and enhanced productivity. The new range of Aspire V5 is ultra-slim and modern with a cool design, available in a selection of appealing colors.
Users can enjoy all-round mobility with LAN/VGA combo port to easily extend connectivity online and external display from one cable. Sharing files among other digital devices is also quick and easy via USB 3.0 ports.

Engadget

AcerCloud blows into Europe, bringing remote access to your (Acer) laptop

AcerCloud blows into Europe, bringing remote access to your (Acer) laptop

We took a good look at the AcerCloud service early this year and its companion Android handset, the award-winning CloudMobile phone. Now, Acer has launched a beta service in Europe, so buyers of the company's new laptops and desktop machines over there will be able to try it out for themselves. To get it working, you can install the portal app onto your Android device and Acer PC, allowing you to download images and other files between the pair. You can also send files back to your computer for backup, expanding the storage of your smartphone or slate through your own mini-cloud. Everything will be synced through the service, which will store the data if your home machine isn't fired up -- and transfer everything when it's alive again. There's no word on when users will be able to partake stateside, but if you're across the pond, hit the source link for the mobile app.

Show full PR text

AcerCloud debuts in Europe

Berlin, Germany (August 31, 2012) – A cloud hovers above Europe. No worries! AcerCloud is the ultimate solution that enables users to connect all their digital devices wirelessly and automatically at anytime and anywhere. Starting from August 31, AcerCloud Beta will be initially available in France, Germany, Italy, and UK, and users will find it preloaded on their new Acer notebooks and desktops.
If you have an Android device you can already download AcerCloud from Google Play store.
AcerCloud means users no longer need to use cables to sync all their photos amongst their devices like smartphones, tablets, and PCs or send themselves emails with heavy attachments to PowerPoint files on their tablet or smartphone. They won't miss the most recent and favorite music while they are away from their PC. And they can forget forever all worries about not having sufficient storage capacity.

AcerCloud brings instant pics streaming

AcerCloud PicStream enables users to push their photos to all of their devices anytime and anywhere. Through AcerCloud PicStream, users can take pictures with their smartphones and view them on their PCs or tablets instantly. These pictures will be synced via AcerCloud and remain available for 30 days from the day pictures were taken. Most importantly, there are no limits in storage capacity. In addition, users can manage their pictures on their PC and view them on their smartphones and tablets.

AcerCloud brings effortless portability

AcerCloud enables users to push Microsoft Office documents to their smartphone and tablet anytime and anywhere. The most convenie nt application for office workers is AcerCloud Docs. AcerCloud Docs lets users access the most updated files in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. A document edited and saved on the PC will be available for download to the smartphone and tablet. These files will be synced via AcerCloud and remain available for 30 days from the day files were last modified. Most importantly, there are no limits for storage capacity.

AcerCloud brings up-to-date multimedia enjoyment

AcerCloud enables users to listen to all their music, and watch their videos anytime and anywhere. All the music and videos are available from AcerCloud. They can be downloaded to the smartphone and tablet anytime and anywhere from the PC.

AcerCloud brings maximum storage capacity.

AcerCloud enables users to enjoy their digital life more freely. By accessing free hard drive space via the PC, users have full control of cloud storage needs and the space is absolutely free of charge.

Experience AcerCloud beta now!

AcerCloud brings "always on" wireless connectivity, anytime, anywhere, and on any device.
AcerCloud will be available across the entire range of Acer products, starting from 16 series of Notebooks and Netbooks and 25 Desktops series.

About Acer
Since its founding in 1976, Acer has broken barriers between people and technology, enabling users to explore, create and grow. Acer ranks No. 2 for notebook PCs globally (Gartner data 2011). The Acer Group employs 8,000 people across the globe, and revenues for 2011 reached US$ 15.7 billion.
Acer's channel business model is instrumental to the company's success, while its multi-brand approach integrates Acer, Gateway, and Packard Bell brands in worldwide markets. Acer designs environmentally friendly products and, with its vendors, has established a green supply chain.
Acer is proud to be a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Movemen t. That includes supporting the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and London 2012 Olympic Games.
More information is at www.acer-group.com.

Engadget

Sony demos Bravia HX950 flagship HDTV at IFA, confirms pricing from €2,999 (hands-on video)

Sony demos Bravia HX950 flagship HDTV at IFA, confirms pricing from €2,999 (hands-on video)

Eager to get your hands on a top-of-the-line set without shelling out five figures for a super-slick 55-inch OLED? Sony's Bravia HX950 may have caught your eye, with its Intelligent Peak LED Backlight that's said to deliver "the best contrast Sony has to offer." According to representatives at IFA (who don't always tend to offer the most consistent specifications), the full-array system includes 196 individual zones, letting the television adjust backlighting on a more granular level, resulting in brighter whites and deeper blacks. We caught up with both the 55- and 65-inch flavors of Sony's HX950 at the company's booth, where several demo stations were arranged to highlight the backlighting, along with features called 3D Super-Resolution, Internet Video Super Resolution and HD Super Resolution. All of the side-by-side demonstrations provided noticeable improvements, though all three Super Resolution settings may be a tad too sharp for some viewers.

The set itself is as gorgeous as you'd expect for a flagship model, with a black glossy bezel and a narrow design that's sufficiently svelte without stepping into ultra-thin territory. The specially designed glass panel does indeed help to reduce glare, as we experienced in the visually congested IFA booth. Perhaps most interesting is the price -- €2,999 (about $ 3,800) for the 55-inch model, and €4,999 (about $ 6,300) for the 65 incher -- a steep drop from the 650,000 yen (about $ 8,270) the HDTV is commanding in Japan. We weren't able to confirm US availability or pricing, which will likely come in below the European tag, but reps did quote a November 1st ship date, which seems to be in line with the November 10th date we heard for Japan earlier this week. You'll have but two months to wait before adding this monster to your collection, but you can snag a look today in our gallery below and hands-on video after the break.Sony Bravia HX950 HDTV hands-on

Engadget

Purported Nokia Lumia 820, 920 Pureview pics arrive on Twitter

Purported Nokia Lumia 820, 920 Pureview pics arrive on Twitter

Our old friend, the @evleaks Twitter account is back, claiming that it's gotten the first official shots of Nokia's Lumia 820 and 920 with Pureview. The terse tweets claim that the 820 is a 4.3-inch handset, while the 4.5-inch 920 will arrive with Nokia's magical new imaging technology. We're understandably skeptical, given the small size of the lens on the 920 (pictured, left) compared to the 808, but we can't fault the feed's track record for leaks so far.

Engadget

Samsung Smart TV with Google TV on display at IFA 2012, ships 'later this year' (update: hands-on)

Samsung Smart TV with Google TV on display at IFA 2012, ships 'later this year' (update: hands-on)

It wasn't a part of Samsung's IFA 2012 press conference, but Samsung is showing off Google TV hardware for the first time since CES 2011 (pictured above), and will release a Smart TV with Google TV later this year. According to its press release and a blog post by the Google TV team, it will "enhance the Smart TV experience" with premium content from its Samsung Apps services. How exactly it will be merged we should see soon, but now that ARM chips are powering a cheaper, more conventionally built experience we figure whatever hung up the deal has been squashed. We sh ould get an eye on it if it's anywhere on the show floor soon, as well as the Google TV box from Hisense, and Sony's NSZ-GS7 which already launched in the US and UK, but is coming to Germany, France and the Netherlands soon.

Update: We caught up with working hardware at Samsung's booth, but the device was disconnected from the internet, so we weren't able to take it for a proper spin. You can take a somewhat superficial look in our hands-on gallery below, along with the video after the break.Samsung Smart TV with Google TV hands-on

Zach Honig contributed to this report.

Engadget

Huawei's Ascend G600 will be available starting next month in 'select markets'

Huawei's Ascend G600 will be available starting next month in 'select markets'

By now, you're likely aware that Huawei has pushed out a plethora of new slabs at IFA 2012, including a couple of fresh Ascends and a pair of new MediaPads. What you see above is the company's G600, which, as you might've noticed during our hands-on time with this 4.5-inch handset, comes boasting a slice of Google's Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0.4, to be precise), a dual-core 1.2GHz CPU, 4GB of onboard storage and a screen resolution of 960 x 540 -- of course, let's not forget it's also sporting the novel Emotion UI. More importantly, however, Huawei's noting the G600 is set to be up for grabs as soon as next month -- but, unfortunately, that's only expected to be in some undisclosed "select markets." Either way, at least you know you'll be able to take your pick between that Mysterious Black or Pure White when it eventually comes to your area (if it does at all).

Show full PR text

Huawei Launches the Ascend G600 Smartphone - More Visual Clarity, More Speed and More Power

Shenzhen, August 31, 2012: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today launched the HUAWEI Ascend G600 smartphone. Running on Android 4.0 with an 8-megapixel BSI auto focus (AF) rear-facing camera, and double speakers with DTS surround sound, the HUAWEI Ascend G600 is at the forefront of innovation placing great technology within reach for more people around the world.

The HUAWEI Ascend G600 provides more of the features that improve peoples' mobile phone experiences, everyday. The mega 4.5-in ch LCD IPS HD screen with 960 x 540 pixel resolution brings unsurpassed visual clarity. Powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU with industry-leading 1930mAh Li-Polymer battery, the Huawei Ascend G600 can be fully charged in four hours, powered on in five seconds, and with Huawei's power saving technology, provides more than 15 days of standby time.

"We are very excited to introduce the new HUAWEI Ascend G600, which gives more functionality and power for people who expect more from their technology," said Shao Yang, Chief Marketing Officer, Huawei Device. "Building on the success of the Ascend range of smartphones, the HUAWEI Ascend G600 is the latest in our range of flagship products that make exceptional product experiences accessible for more people globally."

The HUAWEI Ascend G600 offers more connectivity and file sharing with Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth and DLNA. Its 768MB RAM and 4GB ROM storage can be supplemented with MicroUSB 2.0 and Micro-SD up to 32GB . With its dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, the Ascend G600 also provides access to NFC, the latest mobile payment technology giving users the ability to purchase quickly and efficiently while on the go.

The HUAWEI Ascend G600 will be available in black and white in selected markets from September 2012.

Engadget

TomTom announces HD Traffic upgrade, BMW Partnership

TomTom announces HD Traffic upgrade, BMW Partnership

TomTom is announcing HD Traffic 6.0, an upgrade to its live traffic service that's reportedly 90 percent better at identifying roadworks and 65 percent better at spotting closed roads. At the same time, the company's teaming up with BMW to offer GoLive device integration with selected 1, 3, X1 and X3-series vehicles. Pop down to your local dealer, and a specially designed mount will integrate the gear with your car's entertainment and audio systems, muting directions when you're on a call and so-forth. Both are available from today, with HD Traffic expanding to a further 23 countries before the end of the year.

Show full PR text

Faster journeys with TomTom HD Traffic 6.0

~ More accurate road information and more precise traffic jam location data ~

BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TomTom today releases the latest version of its real-time traffic information service, TomTom HD Traffic at the IFA consumer electronics show. TomTom HD Traffic 6.0 offers more precise information about roadworks, road closures and jam locations, helping drivers to get to their destinations faster.

"TomTom HD Traffic 6.0 is testimony to that, giving our customers improved routing, making their journey faster, safer and more enjoyable."

New to HD Traffic 6.0

More accurate traffic information

The locations of traffic jams on highways are reported five times more accurately than with the previous version of TomTom HD Traffic, and up to 15 times more precisely then industry standard Traffic Message Channels (TMC).

More precise road closur e and roadwork information

TomTom's real-time driving community automatically detects road closures and roadworks even when they are not reported by official sources. Tests indicate that up to 65% more closed roads are identified when using TomTom HD Traffic 6.0 compared to HD Traffic 5.0. And up to 90% of roadwork reports that come from governmental and journalistic sources are now corrected automatically by TomTom's updated service.

"We are committed to the continual improvement of the accuracy and precision of our real-time traffic information service," says Ralf-Peter Schäfer, Head of Traffic at TomTom. "TomTom HD Traffic 6.0 is testimony to that, giving our customers improved routing, making their journey faster, safer and more enjoyable."

TomTom HD Traffic has recently been accredited by the TÜV SÜD Group, for providing highly accurate and precise jam information on highways, A-roads and all main roads.

---

TomTom LIVE navigation offered by major car manufacturer

BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TomTom today announces a partnership with BMW to integrate its GO LIVE navigation devices in selected models of BMW 1 Series, 3 Series, X1 and X3 cars. BMW dealers across Europe can now install customised TomTom devices, designed to connect with BMW's existing in-car entertainment systems. TomTom LIVE Services include HD Traffic, TomTom's real time traffic information service.

A specially-designed mount attaches the five inch touch screen TomTom device onto the dashboard of the car. The device seamlessly integrates with BMW's Car Entertainment System via the active dock. Navigation directions and hands-free phone calls will be given over the car's speakers and temporarily mute any other audio sources to ensure navigation instructions as well as phone conversations are heard loud and clear.

BMW customers can now take advantage of TomTom's connected servic es, including HD Traffic, allowing them to beat the congestion, making their journeys faster, safer and easier.

Drivers can visit their BMW dealership to get the TomTom GO LIVE PND fitted onto the dashboard of their car.

Availability

The TomTom LIVE PND is available as an integrated solution in selected models of BMW 1 Series, 3 Series, X1 and X3.

Drivers can visit their local BMW dealership to get the device fitted into their car.

The integrated solution is available across Europe.

Engadget

Motorola RAZR HD global edition hits FCC with LTE included

Motorola RAZR HD global edition hits FCC with LTE included

The global edition of the still-unannounced Motorola Droid RAZR HD, also known as the XT925, was just seen getting FCC approval. This likely won't come as a shocker to many, since this device (alongside its Verizon counterpart) has been the victim of numerous leaks. What we did find as a little surprise, however, was the inclusion of LTE radios, specifically in bands 4 (AWS) and 17 (700MHz). Of course, we're not expecting to see AT&T (the US carrier that utilizes both bands) pick this particular device up -- especially since it recently launched the similarly specced Atrix HD -- but it'll be great for importers. The presence of AWS LTE indicates we'll likely be seeing the XT925 flourish in Canada, and the 2G / 3G bands will certainly make it a prime candidate for sales in other markets around the world. Head to the source link to take a look at the docs, and the More Coverage section to view the XT925's User Agent Profile. We're still expecting to see Verizon's variant (the XT926) on September 5th, though we'll likely see the global version pop up pretty soon afterward.

Engadget

T-Mobile's latest Galaxy S II update silently removed 'universal search' feature

T-Mobile's latest Galaxy S II update silently removed 'universal search' feature

As you may or may not know, there's been an issue related to the universal search feature inside a region-specific batch of Samsung Galaxy S IIIs; with the Korean company going as far as "inadvertently" removing it from some Euro handsets a while back, before eventually bringing it back to life. Now, thanks to great, thorough inspecting by the folks from Android Police, it appears T-Mobile's S II flavor is the latest galactic slab to have such searching trait completely wiped out from the device. Apparently, this took place during the T989UVLH1 update from T-Mo a couple of days ago, but mu ch to everyone's surprise, mentions of any "universal search" tweaks were nowhere to be found on the changelog. More importantly, how's it looking on your end? Do let us know in the comments below.

Engadget

HBO Nordic to offer internet streaming subscriptions, no cable or satellite service required

HBO Nordic to offer internet streaming subscriptions, no cable or satellite service required

While in the US, requests for an HBO Go subscription option that brings the channel's programming without being tethered to a cable or satellite-TV package go unheeded, HBO revealed today that its Scandinavian offering will do just that. While the HBO Nordic joint venture between HBO and Parsifal International will be available over "local distribution partners," it is also available strictly as an over-the-top service for VOD and subscription access to premium content for less than €10 when it launches in October. It brings all the HBO current and catalog content you'd expect (subtitled for the local markets in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark) and it's also tossing in content from other providers, like the popular Canadian show Continuum. CEO Hervé Payan says it will be available on "any" internet connected device, and says the decision to go over the top is because its target group of viewer have changed their consumption to multiple screens.

Netflix revealed its own plans to expand to the region this fall on the same day HBO Nordic was originally announced, and CEO Reed Hastings welcomed the competition with a message on Facebook asking when HBO would bring the service to the USA, and joking that it expected the first match-up to be in Albania. In case you forgot, that last dig was a reference to Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes 2010 statement comparing Netflix to the possibility of the Albanian army taking over the world. The battle is on this fall, we'll see if it's just a dry run for other regions soon.

Show full PR text

HBO NORDIC TO LAUNC H MID-OCTOBER

----

The first HBO® branded service will be available in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark offering hit series like Boardwalk Empireâ„ , The Newsroomâ„ , Game of Thronesâ„ , True Bloodâ„ , Veepâ„ , Girlsâ„  plus films, documentaries and much more.

-----

Stockholm, August 30th, 2012 – HBO Nordic AB, the newly formed joint venture of Home Box Office, Inc. and Parsifal International, has announced that it will launch its linear and on-demand premium pay TV service mid-October 2012 in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

As the first HBO-branded service in the region, HBO Nordic will offer a premium, 24-hour, advertising-free channel. HBO will offer both subscription and transactional video-on-demand services, providing premium content directly to consumers via HBO Nordic's untethered, "over-the-top" platform, hbonordic.com, and also via local distribution partners.< /p>

"We saw a rapid change in Nordic TV consumption these past years. Our target group is younger and more urban than the existing premium pay TV subscribers and they consume TV on multiple screens, particularly on computers, smartphones and tablets. Most of them associate HBO with best in class series. We view this as a unique opportunity for HBO to grow digital pay-TV subscriptions in the region", says Hervé Payan, CEO of HBO Nordic.

HBO Nordic will offer subscribers all seasons and behind- the-scene materials of hit series, including Boardwalk Empireâ„ , The Newsroomâ„ , Game of Thronesâ„ , True Bloodâ„ , Veepâ„  and Girlsâ„ , as well as classics like Sex and the Cityâ„ , The SopranosSM and The WireSM and new series premiering in the Nordics from other content providers including titles such as Magic Cityâ„ , Hit and Missâ„ , Continuumâ„ , and Borgia. The HBO Nordic offering will also include feature films from major Hollywood and international studios, local distributors and independents.

"HBO Nordic is the first service in the Nordic countries to combine day-and-date delivery and streaming of the latest episodes of an HBO original series subtitled in the local language, with all past seasons. This service will be available on any internet connected device", says Hervé Payan.

All programs will be available to subscribers for less than €10 via the network's streaming service hbonordic.com.

Engadget

DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket returns to PS3 in time for the upcoming football season

DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket returns to PS3 in time for the upcoming football season

With this year's National Football League season almost ready to kick off (not taking pre-season games into consideration, of course), DirecTV's properly preparing itself on all entertainment cylinders. The satellite provider announced earlier today that the well-known Sunday Ticket package will be returning to the PlayStation 3 on September 4th via a PS Store update, allowing current subscribers to stream full-HD games directly to Sony's renowned console. As for those without any current attachments to DirecTV, however, there is an option out there -- one which costs a familiar $ 300 per NFL season. We've still got a few days until the madness gets started, which should be plenty of time to get approval from your better half to snag the action-packed ticket.

Engadget

HTC EVO 4G LTE update brings Android 4.0.4 and Sense 4.1, dash of improved data for good measure

HTC EVO 4G LTE update brings Android 4.0.4 and Sense 4.1, dash of improved data for good measure

Give your HTC EVO 4G LTE a quick update scan if you haven't lately. Sprint has started pushing out an upgrade that brings its flagship phone both to Android 4.0.4 and to Sense 4.1, putting the EVO's software on a par with the just-unveiled Desire X. Patching up doesn't bring a revolution in features -- you'll mostly notice the known option to change the multitasking button's functionality and hide the on-screen menu key. However, there's a lot of Sprint-specific fixes that make the update worthwhile, such as an LTE "scanning improvement" that som e owners suggest is improving their overall cellular data quality. If you already have the update, let fellow readers know how well it's working for you in the comments.

[Thanks, Jason]

Engadget

Fido switches on LTE, gives Canadians a taste of slightly more budget-minded 4G

Fido switches on LTE, gives Canadians a taste of slightly more budget-minded 4G

Canadians have had fairly limited options for LTE-based 4G if they didn't want to turn to the three main carrier brands: they could go to a Bell-owned Virgin Mobile, and that's it. While there isn't a truly independent LTE carrier yet, Rogers' lower-cost Fido label has just taken its promised LTE access live to at least offer some competition among the smaller names in the field. Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, St. John's, Toronto and Vancouver can immediately hop on the network at speeds of up to 100Mbps. Bring-your-own-device users don't have to pay a premium to get the faste r speeds, although there's currently little choice in hardware if you want to buy straight from the source: the lone LTE device on offer is Sierra Wireless' AirCard 763S hotspot, which costs $ 50 on a two-year contract. The flexible rate data-only plan also isn't the greatest deal, starting at $ 22 for a gone-in-five-minutes 100MB per month to $ 92 for 9GB. All the same, light data users in the True North will be glad to know they don't have to be relegated to 3G to save a few dollars.

Engadget