Hard drive shipments recover from floods in Thailand, expected to reach record high

Hard drive shipments recover from floods in Thailand, expected to reach record high

Last year's floods in Thailand caused hard drive shortages after wreaking havoc on a number of electronics manufacturers, but new stats from IHS iSuppli indicate that the HDD market for PCs has fully recovered and is poised to hit an all time high. The firm expects 524 million units for internal use in PCs to ship this year, besting the previous record by 4.3 percent. What's giving the recovery an added boost? According to the analytics group, the extra demand comes courtesy of Windows 8 and Ultrabooks. Unfortunately for deal hounds, the company note d in a report earlier this year that prices aren't expected to dip below the pre-flood range until 2014. If IHS iSuppli projections hold true, total annual hard drive shipments could reach 575.1 million by 2016.

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PBS draws link between digital music ethics and magic spells, somehow makes it look simple (video)

PBS draws link between digital music ethics and magic spells, somehow makes it look simple (video)

AAC files and the arcane don't have much in common on the surface. After some digging, however, PBS' Idea Channel has found that magic is an uncannily good analogy for digital music rights and explaining the thorny ethical issues that come with them. Both music and spells stem from grassroots cultures that give away their content for free, but (at least until an anti-magic clampdown at eBay) have since become businesses. That nature poses a key ethical question: when we're used to a free experience and can copy songs or spells as much as we like, what does it take to keep us as honest customers? As show host Mike Rugnetta suggests, it's a matter of personal responsibility -- if we want more of either, we have to think of the commerce as showing support for future work. You can catch Mike's clever train of thought after the break, and ponder what constitutes DRM for a potion while you're at it.

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Sony shuts down PSP Comic Store after October 30th, leaves most of us in the lurch for now

Sony shuts down PSP Comic Store after October 30th, leaves most of us in the lurch for now

PSP Comic Store, we hardly knew ye. No really, we hardly knew ye -- which is probably why Sony is warning PSP owners that its comic book portal is shutting down after October 30th. Come Hallowe'en, we'll lose the option to download the necessary app or buy additional titles. Any currently owned comics will be available to download again until mid-January, but readers will be on their own to preserve existing libraries after that. Outside of Japan, that creates significant problems for literary PlayStation fans: while PS Vita owners in Sony's home country will get a Manga store and reader in October, there's no equivalent crutch for other countries (or any PSP owners) at this stage. The console maker is non-committal and says there's nothing it can discuss "at the moment," which to us is a hint that we shouldn't plan our reading hours around a PSP or PS Vita in the near future.

[Thanks, Sooraj]

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B&N makes the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight's $20 price drop official

B&N makes the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight's $20 price drop official

The Nook's $ 20 price drop is more than the whim of a few major retailers -- it's Barnes & Noble's new MSRP. Following Walmart and Target's recent discounts, the company's own website is now listing the glowing e-reader at its new $ 119 price. The reduction is almost assuredly in preparation for Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite, as B&N's announcement makes a point of bragging about the Simple Touch with Glowlight's included AC adapter and aversion to built-in ads. See the punchy press release for yourself after the break.

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NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight™ Now Available for the Incredible New Low Price of Just $ 119 – Unbeat able Value with No Distracting Ads

Award-Winning First E Ink® Reader Designed for Reading in the Dark and in Bright Sunlight, At Lowest Price Ever

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world's largest bookseller and leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced its highly-acclaimed NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is now available for the great low price of just $ 119. As always, the award-winning product – a favorite among leading product reviewers and customers alike – is available ad-free, with an AC power adapter included in-box, making it a better value than other products on the market.

NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is the most versatile reader ever created, and is the first Reader designed to address E Ink readers' number-one request: the ability to read in the dark in bed and avoid disrupting a significant other. Featuring Barnes & Noble's in novative lighting technology, GlowLight shines uniformly across the display, turns on instantly and adjusts with just a touch, so customers can control the amount of light illuminating their device, whether in a dimly lit or pitch dark room. At under 7 ounces, NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is also Barnes & Noble's lightest NOOK ever, even lighter than Kindle's new competitor to Barnes & Noble's innovative device. The device's ergonomic back and soft-touch design makes it super comfortable to hold in just one hand – perfect for staying up all night in bed with a can't-put-it-down novel, or for carrying everywhere.

"At just $ 119, our high-quality, top-rated NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is an unbeatable value for customers who are seeking an unparalleled, ad-free reading experience that goes from bed to beach, day or night," said Jamie Iannone, President of Digital Products at Barnes & Noble. "NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is the first R eader to hit the market with built-in illumination for reading in the dark and includes a power adapter for quick and easy charging. NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is fully stocked at Barnes & Noble stores and leading retailers and available today for customers to enjoy our best-in-class digital reading experience and robust content catalog at an unbelievable price."

Like having two Readers in one, NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight doubles as the ideal reading device for outdoors, featuring a revolutionary built-in screen protector offering paper-like reading with no glare, even in bright sunlight. The company's exclusive Best-Text™ technology with adjustable fonts optimizes each letter, so words are crisp and clear. It's easy to navigate, shop and read with just the touch of a finger on the device's precise, ultra-responsive 6-inch infrared touch screen. Customers can touch to look up words, highlight passages and customize their reading experience by adjusting the font size and style, and experience lightning-fast page turns by swiping or using the device's contoured physical buttons. NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight provides access to one of the world's largest digital bookstores featuring more than 3 million books, magazines and newspapers and enables customers to borrow digital books from public libraries as well. The device can hold up to 1,000 NOOK Books and more content using expandable memory.

Offering a quick and convenient way to charge the battery, NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight comes with a power adapter at no additional cost (something a competitor charges customers an additional $ 10 for), and features a long lasting battery life with over one month of reading on a single charge with the light on or over two months with GlowLight off*.

NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is available to purchase immediately at www.nook.com or at NOOK Digital Shops™ and displays in one of Barnes &a mp; Noble's nearly 700 bookstores and other leading retailers. Barnes & Noble offers Always Free NOOK Support in all of its neighborhood bookstores, with more than 40,000 NOOKsellers across the country ready to assist customers with setting up their NOOK devices or choosing their next great read.

*Battery tests based on a half hour of daily reading time with Wi-Fi® off, with GlowLight on at default brightness setting

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Samsung Galaxy Note II variants for AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon possibly caught at the FCC

Samsung Galaxy Note II variants for AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon possibly caught at the FCC

It's no secret that Samsung plans to bring the Galaxy Note II to many US carriers by mid-fall. Even so, getting there requires the FCC's blessing -- which makes us glad to see the regulator approve what might be three carriers' variants of the giant Android phone. The SGH-i317 looks to be the model for AT&T and Canadian carriers, having been greenlit for their key 3G and 4G bands while lining up with a briefly available benchmark of the device sharing the Note II's HD screen and use of Jelly Bean. The SCH-i605? Based on its inclu sions of both CDMA and GSM, a lone 700MHz LTE band and a past screen capture leak, it's a dual-mode Note II destined for Verizon. As for the SGH-T889, it's even more conspicuous beyond what we've already seen: the T889's HSPA includes the 1,700MHz AWS frequency that T-Mobile will still call home for a long while. LTE likewise exists on the 1,700MHz and roaming-friendly 700MHz bands in possible instances of futureproofing. While we rarely want to say a mobile device is confirmed until we see it first-hand, the convenient timing and natures of the three FCC approvals only help to fuel suspicions that Samsung's pen-focused event on October 24th is all about the Note II's American launch.

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Inhabitat's Week in Green: ECOLAR house, transparent solar panel and Star Wars terrariums

Inhabitat's Week in Green: ECOLAR house, transparent solar panel and Star Wars terrariums


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.

For the past two weeks Inhabitat has been reporting live from the Solar Decathlon Europe in Madrid, where 18 student teams from around the world have been competing for the title of the world's most efficient solar-powered prefab house. As usual, suspense was running high in the final days of the competition, and we're excited to announce that Team Rhône-Alpes' Canopea House has been na med this year's winner! The beautiful modular house took top honors in the architecture and sustainability categories, and it features a 10.7 kW photovoltaic array on the roof that produces more than enough energy to power the home.

Some of the other standouts at the Solar Decathlon Europe include Germany's ECOLAR House, which features a flexible, modular design that can expand or shrink to accommodate the needs of its owners. It came as no surprise that the German team was tops in the engineering category, and the team incorporated hemp insulation in the floors, walls and ceiling to prevent thermal loss. Team Andalucia's Patio 2.12 House, which consists of four separate prefabricated modules built around an interior courtyard, scored high marks for energy efficiency and innovation. And although Italy's MED in Italy House might not look like much on the outside, step inside and you'll enter a different world altogether. The highly efficient home features a central cou rtyard and a rooftop photovoltaic array that generates about 9.33 kWh of energy per year -- roughly double what it needs. Team Rome also added wall layers that can be filled with heavy materials to provide high thermal mass once the home is installed.

The Solar Decathlon isn't the only green architecture story we've been tracking this week, though. In China, Broad Sustainable Building is planning to break ground on the world's tallest building in November. But that's not all: The 220-story building will be prefabricated, and it's expected to take less than six months to build. In downtown Cape Town, Tsai Design has floated a proposal for an amazing High Line-style park on an unfinished elevated highway. And in the ocean off the coast of Grenada, artist Jason deCaires Taylor has added to his underwater sculpture garden, sinking a handful of suburban-looking concrete houses that will provide a home for coral, starfish and seaweed.

We've also been gearing up for the Paris Motor Show, which kicked off this week. Among the early headliners were Mercedes-Benz, which unveiled its sizzling new all-electric SLS AMG Coupe, and Porsche, which unveiled the new Panamera Sport Turismo plug-in hybrid concept. In other exciting green automotive news, the "Nemesis," a modified Lotus Exige, broke the UK speed record for electric vehicles when it reached a top speed of 151 mph. And Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill legalizing self-driving cars in California. A company called Scoot launched an electric scooter-sharing service in San Francisco, and Amtrak began testing 165-mph trains on its Northeast Corridor.

New green energy innovations continue to make it easier to satisfy our electricity needs without fossil fuels. This week, Sharp unveiled a transparent solar panel that can be mounted on high-rise windows without obstructing the view. Japanese electronics giant Hitachi invented a glass "disk" that's safe from fire, chemicals and water, and a Chicago-based entrepreneur unveiled plans for Everpurse, a handbag insert that will enable you to charge your phone on the go. Google made some news of its own this week by releasing new panoramic "sea views" of six of the most spectacular coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean. And in one of our favorite discoveries of the week, we stumbled upon artist Tony Larson's amazing Star Wars terrariums, in which he recreates iconic landscapes that are populated by Yoda, R2D2 and Ewoks.

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Indian government tells carriers to end 3G roaming pacts, doesn't stop to explain why

Indian government tells carriers to end 3G roaming pacts, doesn't stop to explain why

For those of us on the outside, India's telecommunications setup can seem a little murky. While the country has 900 million mobile connections, for example, every 2G license issued after January 2008 were cancelled in February. Now, authorities are asking 3G carriers to suspend the practice of allowing customers to switch between different operators as they roam across the country's 22 wireless regions -- with no explanation as to why. Roaming was originally outlawed back in December, but a number of networks appealed -- a move which only seems to have postponed the final ruling until today.

Update: Plenty of our commenters have shared their knowledge to help further explain this situation. No network other than BSNL purchased a nationwide 3G license during the auction. The other carriers each bought smaller (and cheaper) access -- but teamed up to offer a virtual national-network. They then started to sell services in regions (or "circles") that they had no license for, causing the Government to try to clamp down on the process by outlawing the agreements.

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Logitech Harmony Touch remote pops up unannounced at Best Buy (Update: Pictures)

Logitech Harmony Touch remote pops up unannounced at Best Buy (Update: Pictures)

It's been a long time since we've seen any new blood refreshing Logitech's line of universal remotes, but after indications of new devices on the way in an earnings call earlier this year tipster Andrew spotted this brand new Harmony Touch on store shelves. Arriving at Best Buy unheralded by any official announcement or specs so far, the box shots and list of features show the ability to control 15 different devices and (of course) that center mounted touchscreen. There's no mention of it on the Logitech site either, however one leaked blog post we spotted referred to this device and a Har mony Plus.

As our friends at Tech of the Hub note, the Touch clearly draws a lot of its heritage from the Harmony One and 1100 touchscreen remotes although to have ditched the dedicated Activity button for "one touch" control. The touchscreen itself supports both taps and swipes as well as up to 50 customizable channel icons, and the box lists both online setup and on-remote customization as features. According to Andrew it's rocking a price tag of $ 249 -- $ 50 above the current price of the Harmony One but $ 100 shy of the RF-equipped Harmony 900 -- hopefully we'll find out soon if what Logitech has added this time around makes it worth the wait.

Update: Another one of our readers, Zachary also saw it at Best Buy and bought one, check out a few out of the box pics in the gallery below, and drop any questions about its capabilities in the comments. He's digging it so far, saying that the touchscreen is responsive and it found icons for his area quickly, wit h options to change background, LCD brightness and screen timeout. There does not appear to be any RF support however, so it's IR control only. Logitech Harmony Touch universal remote

[Thanks, Andrew]

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LightSquared pitches new plans to FCC in attempt to end GPS interference hex

LightSquared pitches new plans to FCC in attempt to end GPS interference hex

If you thought filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy was the final chapter in LightSquared's wireless network saga, you'd be wrong. Hedge-fund manager Philip Falcone is back at the FCC's doorstep with yet another proposal, which he hopes might snatch the maligned network from the jaws of GPS interference-related troubles. Two filings placed with the commission apparently outline plans to use its broadband network in a way that it believes won't interfere with GPS signals, along with the 5MHz of spectrum that are known not to cause any issues. Along with the proposed changes, LightSquared is reportedly set to ask for more time to h ave exclusive rights to propose a reorganization plan. If granted, this could finally mean some progress for the beleaguered project, but with investors worried that money being spent on this could be better-placed back in their pockets, Falcone will have everything crossed, while the FCC deliberates the situation.

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Alt-week 9.29.12: 3D pictures of the moon, 4D clocks and laser-controlled worms

Alt-week 9.29.12: 3D pictures of the moon, 4D clocks and laser-controlled worms

Alt-week peels back the covers on some of the more curious sci-tech stories from the last seven days.

Dimensions, they're like buses. You wait for ages, and then three come along at once. And then another one right after that. While that might be about where the analogy ends, this week sees us off to the moon, where we then leap from the third, right into the fourth. Once there, we'll learn how we could eventually be controlled by lasers, before getting up close and personal with a 300 million-year old bug. Sound like some sort of psychedelic dream? Better than that, this is al t-week.

We've all seen the moon, like, a thousand times. Sometimes it's full, sometimes it's a waxing gibbous, sometimes it's even blue. Sadly, though, for most of us at least, the best we can hope for is a big bright flat-looking glimpse of the same old face we've come to know and love. New pictures, however, might change that. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been circling our moon since 2009 collecting high-resolution, yet decidedly two-dimensional, images as it goes. However, by using images of the same locations from different orbits and angles, scientists developed an automatic image processing system to stitch 'em together and create red-cyan 3D anaglyphs. The resulting images should allow most people to see our nearest neighbor like never before, with craters, volcanic flows and that face lava tubes all available (eventually) online in tri-dimensional glory. You just need to check that bottom drawer for those promotional Jaws specs.

3D is great an' all, but when it comes to dimensions, we say you can never have too many.
This is particularly true when it comes to clocks. Just three? That's so vanilla. So when we heard about a 4D one, that could outlast the universe, our interest was piqued. The concept is actually a space-time crystal, and it's not a new idea in and of itself. But, for the first time, brains at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have put forward an experimental design using an electric-field ion trap and the repulsion of similarly-charged particles. Cutting through a lot of science, the result is a crystal that is discrete in both space and time. The 4D design would als o be a many-body system, which would provide science with tools to better understand this complex area of physics. It's not all just lofty concepts though, with one of the group's co-authors noting that the work could "open doors to fundamentally new technologies and devices for variety of applications." There's no mention of whether it would have a stop-watch or not.

We'll dial down the dimensions a little for this next one. We all know that our ultimate and untimely demise will likely be at the hands of a laser-wielding robots. But, if you thought the pain would be over in one sharp blast, you could be wrong. A research team at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute genetically created a worm with neurons that emit light and respond to light. Using a laser to activate neurons one at a time, the researchers were able to make the worm move left, right, perform a loop, and trick it into thinking food was nearby. The scientists claim that the idea is to learn more about which neurons control what. But, we're stocking up on tin-foil all the same.

You know how they say cockroaches will survive a nuclear fallout? Well this guy obviously didn't, but still managed to live on, in its own way. These images are taken from CT scans of fossils, performed by the University of Manchester, England. A total of over 3,000 X-rays from a variety of positions were compiled, enabling researchers to create 3D models of the 300 million year-old 'roach ancestors. While thes e bugs might resemble one of our least favorite creepy-crawly cohabitants, the spiny critter is actually a never-before seen species. It's believed that it ultimately met its demise thanks to the rise of amphibious insectivores, who likely found these flightless creatures an easy target. We're not sure what's worse though, the idea of bequeathing the planet to the insect's descendants, or the thought of having to swallow one.

Seen any other far-out articles that you'd like considered for Alt-week? Working on a project or research that's too cool to keep to yourself? Drop us a line at alt [at] engadget [dot] com.

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Cubify lets you skin, 3D print your own personal Android

Cubify lets you skin, 3D print your own personal Android

Sick of letting everyone else skin your Android for you? 3D printing service Cubify is helping you fight back with Bugdroids, a customizable version of Google's lovable green mascot. You can change its colors, add accessories like hats, horns glasses, mustaches and bling (that's "bling," not Bing, mind), and then the service will 3D print one out and ship it to you -- well, after you drop an admittedly pricey $ 30 to $ 40, figurine size depending.

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BlackBerry 10 L-series tutorial videos surface online, give a literal peek at the future (video)

BlackBerry 10 L-series tutorial videos surface online, give a literal peek at the future (video)

Those of us who've used a BlackBerry PlayBook will be familiar with the inevitable first-boot tutorials showing how to navigate the swipe-driven interface before we're let loose. Thanks to a series of demonstration videos leaked by BlackBerryItalia, it's apparent that we won't escape that educational process on BlackBerry 10 devices, either. The four clips show the basics of what we know the gesture experience will be like on full-touch L-series phones, including the signature BlackBerry Peek to check notifications and the unified inbox. Anyone looking for a direct clue as to what production BlackBerry 10 hardware will entail might be frustrated, mind you -- the rendered phone appears to be a placeholder rather than the L-series or a Dev Alpha B, and the device name is censored in an attempt to protect the source. That said, the clips provide a very straightforward explanation of the new interface concept and give us one more indication that RIM is closer to launch.

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Maingear announces Nomad 17 gaming laptop, comes with custom paint job

Maingear announces Nomad 17 gaming laptop, comes with custom paint job

Maingear certainly loves to turn out solidly specificated hardware, and today is no exception. Its latest offering? The Nomad 17. As the name suggests this is a 17-inch notebook for gamers on the go. (Nomad, get it?) The new addition will support third-gen Intel Core i7 chips (up to 3.8GHz) and a maximum 32GB of RAM, with a choice of hard drive configurations. It's not all about the under-the-hood grunt, though, with Maingear offering a choice of six colors for what it's calling "hand-painted premium automotive paint jobs." As for the other spec options? You can expect NVIDIA GeForce GTX 67 5M or 680M graphics, a 1,920 x 1080 display, combo Blue-ray optical drive, b / g / n wireless along with USB 2 / 3, DVI-I, HDMI and Fire Wire ports. So, this definitely sounds like a ride you can make your own. Assuming you're good with the $ 1,599 starting sticker price that is.

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MAINGEAR UNVEILS THE NOMAD 17 CUSTOM GAMING LAPTOP – MUSCLE AND BEAUTY ON THE GO

MAINGEAR offers its greatest gaming laptop yet featuring the latest 3rd generation Intel® Core™ i7 mobile processors that performs as good as it looks with an array of custom paint options for free to customers.

Kenilworth, New Jersey - September 30, 2012 - MAINGEAR, an award-winning PC system builder offering custom desktops, notebooks, and workstations is unveiling the new NOMAD 17 custom notebook as the perfect performance mobile solution for gamers and PC enthusiasts alike. It boasts top tier mobile hardware such as 3rd generation Int el® Core™ i7 processors and NVIDIA GTX 600 series graphics, but also keeps user interface and aesthetics close to heart.

Technological Wizardry
The NOMAD 17 gaming laptop supports 3rd generation Intel® quad-core processors up to 3.8GHz for blazing performance and offers cool operation with maximum battery life, up to 32GB of DDR3-1600MHz RAM, and a full array of hard drive support including full size SSD and RAID 0 and 1 arrays. For those looking for faster boot up, there is an SSD caching option that works automatically for faster load times and disk-intensive tasks.

Gaming performance is as sleek as any desktop counterpart thanks to full DX11 and PhysX support, as well as NVIDIA's Kepler architecture in their new 600 series graphics solutions. The powerhouse machine comes stock with NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 675M, upgradeable to the GeForce GTX680M; both featuring NVIDIA's unique Optimus Technology that maximizes power savings b y dynamically assigning workload to either the built-in Intel® HD Graphics or the GeForce GPU. The NOMAD 17 also has no lack of connectivity, with USB 3.0, 2.0, eSATA, Bluetooth, Ethernet, 802.11n, HDMI, and VGA out ports.

Style and Functionality
The NOMAD 17 is also making history as the only gaming laptop in the industry to have hand-painted premium automotive paint jobs, free of charge. Customers can select one of the six sexy glossy colors available that matches their color palette. But the indulgence to the senses does not stop there: the NOMAD 17 comes with a fully backlit keyboard, a full HD 1080P 17" matte display, multi-touch trackpad with gesture and scrolling support, and dual speakers with a built-in subwoofer.

"The 3rd generation Intel® Core™ i7 processors are a perfect fit for MAINGEAR's NOMAD 17," said Joakim Algstam, Gaming Segment Ecosystem Marketing Manager at Intel. "MAINGEAR strives to place top tier compo nents in their system, and the great performance and battery life that our solutions deliver make sure that gamers' tough demands are met."

"The NOMAD 17 is a thing of beauty," said Wallace Santos, CEO and founder of MAINGEAR. "With a custom automotive paint job and performance parts, this roadster of a machine is quite a work of art, technologically and aesthetically. Quite simply, it is the finest gaming laptop we have ever offered."

Technical Specification:
· Processor: Up to 3rd generation Intel® i7-3840QM
· Video Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 675M or 680M
· Display: 17.3" Full HD 1920 x 1080 - (1080p) (16:9 Aspect Ratio) Anti-glare LED Backlit Matte Finish
· Memory: Up to 32GB Dual Channel DDR5 - 1600Mhz
· Optical Drive: Up to 2X Blu-ray reader/8x Multi Combo (BD-R, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
· Hard Drive: Up to dual 512GB Solid State Drive or dual 750GB 7200RPM SATA 2.5
· Network Adapter: Integrated 802.11n b/g/n wireless
· Audio: THX TruStudio Pro Integrated High-Definition Audio HD Audio with speakers by DynAudio
· Media Card Reader: Built in 4-in-1 Media Card Reader
· Operating System: Genuine Windows® 7 Home, Professional or Ultimate 64-Bit
· Battery: Removable Li-Polymer Lithium-Ion
· I/O Ports: 1 HDMI out, 1 DVI-I out, 2 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3.0, 1 IEEE-1394 Fire Wire,
1 S/PDIF out, 1 RJ-45 LAN, 1 RJ-11
· Dimensions: (W)16.85" x (H)2.17" x (D)11.34"
· Price: Starts at $ 1,599

All of MAINGEAR products are supported with lifetime labor and phone support with one to three year hardware warranty. For more information about MAINGEAR's NOMAD 17 gaming notebook, visit: www.maingear.com/nomad17

Engadget

T-Mobile leases 7,200 mobile towers to Crown Castle in a 28-year, $2.4 billion deal

T-Mobile leases 7,200 mobile towers to Crown Castle in a 28-year, $2.4 billion deal

T-Mobile's just received a hefty cash boost thanks to a tower-leasing agreement it's entered into with Crown Castle. The deal leases 7,200 wireless towers to the infrastructure firm for a term of 28 years in exchange for $ 2.4 billion -- that T-Mobile's parent Deutsche Telekom will use to pay off debt. As part of the contract, Crown Castle can buy the towers outright when the deal ends in 2040 for a further $ 2.4 billion -- and is planning to make money by adding another tenant to T-Mobile's system, so depending on your carrier, you might find your coverage suddenly getting a lot better.

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CROWN CASTLE AND T-MOBILE USA ANNOUNCE $ 2.4 BILLION TOWER TRANSACTION

Houston, Texas and Bellevue, Wash. - Sep. 28, 2012 -
Reinforces Crown Castle's position as largest provider of wireless infrastructure in the US

Urban-centric portfolio with 83% of the towers in top 100 US markets and 72% in top 50 US markets

Strengthens T-Mobile's position within the US market by helping to support funding of previously announced growth initiatives

T-Mobile to continue focus on network modernization, LTE launch in 2013 and other previously announced initiatives

Crown Castle International Corp. (NYSE: CCI) and T-Mobile USA, Inc. ("T-Mobile"), a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, AG ("DT"), announced today that they have entered into definitive agreements pursuant to which Crown Castle will acquire rights to approximately 7,200 T-Mobile towers for $ 2.4 billion in cash at closing (su bject to certain adjustments).

Under the definitive agreements, Crown Castle will have the exclusive right to lease and operate the T-Mobile towers for a weighted average term of approximately 28 years. In addition, Crown Castle will have the option to purchase such towers at the end of the respective lease terms for aggregate option payments of approximately $ 2.4 billion, which payments, if exercised would be primarily between 2025 and 2048. The transaction is expected to close in fourth quarter 2012.

"We are pleased to reach this mutually beneficial agreement with Crown Castle and take another step closer to realizing the bold vision outlined in our Challenger strategy to solidify our competitiveness in the industry by investing in areas where we anticipate the strongest return for our customers," said John Legere, Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile USA. "T-Mobile USA is working aggressively to make our 4G network stronger, faster and more dependab le for consumers, and this transaction will support our ongoing $ 4 billion network modernization initiative that is the cornerstone of this effort as we work tirelessly to continue to deliver our amazing 4G services nationwide."

"We are very pleased with our agreement with T-Mobile, which strengthens our position as the largest provider of shared wireless infrastructure in the US, which we believe is the largest, fastest growing and most profitable wireless market in the world," stated Ben Moreland, Crown Castle's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Consistent with our focus on the top 100 US markets, the T-Mobile towers are similarly well-located, with 83% of the towers in the top 100 markets and 72% located in the top 50 markets. The T-Mobile assets are expected to provide significant growth driven by the continued demand for wireless data services, particularly in the most densely populated areas in the US. While this transaction increases our tower count by approximately 33%, the transaction consideration represents only approximately 9% of our enterprise value. Further, we expect the impact from the contemplated transaction and related expected debt financing to be accretive to our 2013 adjusted funds from operations per share and approximately 5% accretive to our long-term adjusted funds from operations per share."

Crown Castle expects to fund the transaction with cash on hand and debt financing. DT will use the proceeds from the transaction to retire corporate debt and strengthen its financial position to provide for funding of growth investments, including T-Mobile's Challenger strategy.

Following the contemplated transaction, Crown Castle will continue to be the largest wireless infrastructure operator in the US with approximately 30,000 towers and extensive small cell operations in over 50 markets. T-Mobile's nationwide network remains unchanged today, consisting of approximately 51,000 cel l sites, the vast majority of which are leased from third parties, as is common in the industry across the US.

Crown Castle estimates the T-Mobile towers will produce approximately $ 125 million to $ 130 million in adjusted funds from operations ("AFFO") before financing costs in 2013, and have sufficient capacity to accommodate at least one additional tenant per tower without significant incremental capital. T-Mobile has committed to maintain its communications facilities on the towers from Crown Castle for a minimum of 10 years with annual rent escalation provisions tied to the consumer price index. Further, T-Mobile's rent includes the rights, subject to certain limitations, to complete its current network modernization on these sites.

It is expected that the net effect of this transaction, as reported under US GAAP, will not have a material impact to adjusted OIBDA or annual operating income in 2012 for T-Mobile USA. DT reports results under IFRS. The transaction is expected to result in a material gain impacting Net Income and EBITDA under IFRS for 2012.

A fact sheet outlining Crown Castle's tower portfolio, is available on the Crown Castle website at http://investor.crowncastle.com.

Crown Castle has scheduled a conference call for Friday, September 28, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the transaction. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 480-629-9645 and asking for the Crown Castle call at least 30 minutes prior to the start time. The conference call may also be accessed live over the Internet at http://investor.crowncastle.com. Any supplemental materials for the call will be posted on the Crown Castle website at http://investor.crowncastle.com.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available from 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time on September 28, 2012 through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 5, 2012, and may be accessed by dialing 303-590-3030 using access code 4567732. An audio archive will also be available on the company's website at http://investor.crowncastle.com shortly after the call and will be accessible for approximately 90 days.

T-Mobile is being advised by TAP Advisors and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. as financial advisors, as well as Jones Day and Lape Mansfield & Nakasian, LLC as legal advisors. Crown Castle is being advised by Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP as legal advisor.

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Xi3 goes the crowdfunding route for future X3A, X7A modular PCs (video)

Xi3 goes the crowdfunding route for future X3A, X7A modular PCs (video)

Xi3 has been one of the more inventive PC builders in the field, designing its Modular Computers in the belief that small, more upgradable desktops are the way of the future. The company is planning two new systems to further that dream, the X3A and X7A, but it wants our help: it's running a Kickstarter funding drive until October 28th to assist the development and garner some early adopters. Put down $ 503 or $ 603 and you'll get the entry-level X3A, a dual-core 1.65GHz (likely AMD E-450-based) PC with 4GB of RAM, a 32GB SSD and either Linux or Windows installed; splurge with $ 1,103 or more and you'll get the more performance-driven X7A, which jumps to a quad-core chip with a 3.2GHz peak speed, a Windows-loaded 64GB SSD and faster graphics. Assuming Xi3 makes its target, we should see the X3A and X7A arrive in January and February respectively, with Kickstarter supporters beating the larger herd by a week. Even existing owners are accounted for through a Primary I/O Board upgrade, due before the end of this year, that carries more Ethernet and USB 3.0 ports. Crowdfunding is an unusual approach to buying that next PC, without the certainties of shopping at an online store -- but we're also dealing with an unusual PC from the get-go.

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Touch Bionics releases new prosthetic fingers, flips the old ones the bird

Touch Bionics releases new prosthetic fingers, flips the old ones the bird

The only upgrades available for our puny human hands are gaming controller calluses, but if you're sporting an i-LIMB digits hand prosthesis, you can now grab a set of improved fingers. Touch Bionics' "smaller, lighter and more anatomically accurate" appendages are now available worldwide, as well as a new wrist-band unit which houses all the necessary computing power and juice for their function. Best of all, these developments allow more people to adopt the tech than the previous generation, including those with more petite hands or finger amputations closer to the knuckle. We don't know how much it 'll cost for a fresh set, but we'll let health agencies and insurance companies deal with that part. With these upgrades and RSL Steeper's latest offering, it won't be long before our flesh-based variants are meager in comparison.

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Touch Bionics announces global availability of new bionic finger technologies

New i-limb digits developments increase dexterity, comfort, and ease of assembly

Mansfield, MA and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - September 28, 2012 - Touch Bionics, a provider of world-leading prosthetic technologies, today announced the worldwide launch of its latest prosthetic innovations for people with missing fingers. The company revealed new wrist-band and digit technologies for its i-limb digits solution that will help bring the benefits of the prostheses to a greater population.

In addition to its market-leading prosthetic hand products, Touch Bionics was also the first in the world to develop a pro sthetic finger solution with articulating digits in 2009, and over 500 people have since been fitted with its i-limb digits technology.

Today, Touch Bionics revealed new additions to the i-limb digits product line, including a shorter, lighter prosthetic finger and a wrist-band unit that incorporates all of the processing and power systems for the prosthesis.

"The new finger development enables i-limb digits prostheses to be made smaller, lighter and more anatomically accurate, and therefore suitable for a wider population, such as those with smaller hands, or whose amputations are closer to the base of the fingers," said Ian Stevens, CEO, Touch Bionics. "The wrist-band unit provides the ability to build an i-limb digits prosthesis that has full wrist mobility and with easily interchangeable and rechargeable batteries."

Partial hand amputations, where people lose one or more digits, are more common than whole hand amputations or loss. Histori cally, people with such injuries have not had a suitable prosthetic option, despite experiencing a high level of disability. The amputee population that can benefit from i-limb digits is estimated to be over 1.2 million worldwide.

"By using i-limb digits to increase their overall ability to complete daily tasks, we see that people experience an increase in self-confidence and independence, and can benefit by being able to return to work or to their favourite pastimes and hobbies," said Stevens. "Our goal as a company is to maximise the number of people that can experience these benefits, and the developments that we have announced today take us closer to that goal."

Touch Bionics is in Brazil this week as part of a UK Government Trade Mission.

UK Trade and Investment Minister Lord Green said:

"Brazil's fast growing economy offers many opportunities for UK companies. Trade between our two nations increased by a quarter in the last t wo years and London's successful summer of sport has helped to raise the profile of British companies even further.

"I congratulate Touch Bionics for securing new business in Brazil. Getting more companies exporting is a crucial part of the Government's plan for growth."

"As Touch Bionics' distributor in Brazil we are excited to be able to offer these new i-limb digits developments to the Brazilian market," said Jairo Blumenthal of Blumenthal Disitribuidora. "Before i-limb digits became available, all Brazilian patients had to use passive or mechanical prosthetic solutions, but now they can benefit from the electronic articulating fingers invented by Touch Bionics. Our workshops are ready to provide information and training to all Brazilian patients and practitioners interested in Touch Bionics' products."

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Logitech promises continued support for Squeezebox, says it won't force a switch to UE Smart Radio

Logitech promises continued support for Squeezebox, says it won't force a switch to UE Smart Radio

With Logitech's Squeezebox platform having quietly and unexpectedly reached its EOL status, the company found it necessary to let its customers know where they stand going forward. In a very detailed letter from UE product director Ariel Fischer, the Harmony maker reassured current Squeezebox owners it will continue to offer support for these products, adding that the current "mysqueezebox" website and certain apps will still work with existing devices. What's more, those who managed to snag one of those Squeezebox Radios will have the option to u pgrade to the outfit's new UE Smart Radio service -- which, according to Logitech, can play nicely alongside existing Squeezebox products, though this "will operate and be controlled separately." All in all, it could be worse -- and, in age where customer service can sometimes be rather unpleasant, we're sure most of us can appreciate the transparency being shown in the open letter. Speaking of which, you'll find that at the source link below.

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Kodak dropping out of the consumer inkjet printer business in 2013

Kodak dropping out of the consumer inkjet printer business in 2013

More gloomy news from Kodak: the company just announced that it will stop selling consumer inkjet printers in 2013 and instead focus its efforts on commercial printing products. This decision hardly comes as a surprise: Kodak filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year and attempted to auction off a stockpile of patents valued at up to $ 2.6 billion. The company stated on Friday that it expects to take a $ 90 million hit due to its floundering inkjet business. Kodak's garage sale attracted interest from unlikely alliances in the form of Apple and Microsoft versus Google and Samsung, but reportedl y only reeled in disappointing offers under the $ 500 million mark. Hoping to rebound next year as a "lean," mean, successful machine, we'll just have to wait and see what develops for this fallen photography frontrunner.

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Kodak Continues Progress toward Emergence
Requests to extend exclusive right to file plan of reorganization, outlines demonstrated progress in restructuring

ROCHESTER, N.Y., September 28 --
Eastman Kodak Company will highlight its restructuring accomplishments to date in a motion it plans to submit today to the Bankruptcy Court to extend until February 28, 2013, its exclusive right to file a plan of reorganization. The extension will assist the company as it continues its progress toward successful emergence in the first half of 2013.

In its motion, Kodak describes the substantial progress it has made toward reorganization goals since filing for Chapter 11 on January 19, 2012. Koda k's case is large and complex, involving some $ 5 billion in assets, global operations, thousands of contracts and leases, thousands of potential creditors, and ongoing asset sales. Kodak's progress includes the successful stabilization of its business, the development of its emergence plan, significant operating improvements, the expansion of customer and vendor relationships, and substantial cost reductions.

Kodak previously announced its intention to emerge as a company focused on commercial, packaging & functional printing solutions and enterprise services, as well as processes to sell its Personalized Imaging and Document Imaging businesses. Consistent with that emergence strategy, Kodak has continued to manage its Consumer Inkjet business for profitability, and the company announced today that, starting in 2013, it will focus that business on the sale of ink to its installed base, and wind down sales of consumer inkjet printers. Kodak expects that this decision will significantly improve cash flow in the U.S. beginning in the first half of 2013.

"Kodak is making good progress toward emergence from Chapter 11, taking significant actions to reorganize our core ongoing businesses, reduce costs, sell assets, and streamline our organizational structure," said Antonio M. Perez, Kodak Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Steps such as the sale of Personalized Imaging and Document Imaging, and the Consumer Inkjet decision, will substantially advance the transformation of our business to focus on commercial, packaging & functional printing solutions and enterprise services. As we complete the other key objectives of our restructuring in the weeks ahead, we will be well positioned to emerge successfully in 2013."

Kodak remains committed to its significant installed base of consumer inkjet printer customers, who recognize the value proposition of affordable ink, high-quality output because of Kodak's uniqu e pigment-based inks, and advanced features including cloud printing. The company will provide its customers and retail partners the same level of service and support they have come to expect from Kodak.

In its motion to the Court, Kodak described specific accomplishments thus far, including:

The formulation of a business strategy focused on commercial, packaging & functional printing solutions and enterprise services that will be the cornerstone of a plan of reorganization;
The stabilization of its global business resulting in the maintenance of key customer and supplier relationships around the world;
An extensive operational restructuring that has streamlined businesses and reduced corporate costs. This restructuring includes the reduction of Kodak's global workforce by more than 2,700 positions so far in 2012, with the current expectation of a further reduction of at least 1,200 employees (up 200 from the 1,000 previously announc ed). This 23% headcount reduction will result in a savings of more than $ 340 million per year and a smaller workforce of approximately 13,100 employees;
Negotiations with respect to a fair, equitable and permanent resolution of Kodak's U.S. retiree benefit (OPEB) liability, which amounts to approximately $ 1.2 billion;
Use of the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code to renegotiate existing supply contracts or to enforce prepetition contracts to achieve substantial cost savings;
Actions to exit or sell unprofitable and declining businesses, such as the digital camera and on-line photo services businesses;
Commencement of a process to sell the market-leading Personalized Imaging and Document Imaging businesses, which are not core to Kodak's future. Kodak noted that, while the sale process is still in its early stages, there has already been significant interest among potential buyers for these businesses;
Continued negotiation s with respect to the sale of its intellectual property assets and the development of alternatives in the event a transaction on acceptable terms is not reached, and
Continuation of normal global operations while aggressively conserving cash, with worldwide cash balances consistently in excess of $ 1 billion and with Days Payable Outstanding remaining stable.
The company anticipates that in the near term, it will begin realizing savings from its new, more strategically focused business, workforce reductions and other cost-reduction initiatives. Kodak continues its analysis of further operational and workforce reductions in an effort to streamline operations and generate profits.

"The actions we are taking are significant steps toward our successful emergence," said Perez. "We are committed to take the remaining steps required for our emergence in 2013 as a profitable, sustainable company."

An Omnibus Hearing to consider the motion and o ther matters is scheduled for October 17, 2012.

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Sony starts delivering Ice Cream Sandwich update to Xperia go, Xperia U and Xperia sola

Sony starts delivering Ice Cream Sandwich update to Xperia go, Xperia U and Xperia sola

Well, it looks like Sony's in-house software developers have decided this is the perfect week to deliver delicious treats to a large portion of the company's mobile lineup. Not long after outing updates for the Tablet S and Xperia Ion (in the US), the electronics giant is now bringing Ice Cream Sandwich to handsets such as the Xperia go, Xperia U and Xperia sola. The refresh itself brings a slew of novel traits to the trio of Xperia slabs, including a "new way to experience" music, photos and video, improvements to the lockscreen, the ability to resize widg ets and the addition of a "multitasking" button. While the standout features remain the same across the board, the Xperia sola does get an added bonus in the form of a so-called, self-explanatory glove mode -- which is made possible by the device's "floating touch" technology. Sony does note that availability of the 4.0 upgrade will vary by market and, not surprisingly, carrier requirements. Let's just hope you get to enjoy the changes soon.

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FCC votes in favor of rethinking spectrum holding rules, goading broadcasters into wireless selloffs

FCC votes in favor of rethinking spectrum holding rules, goading broadcasters into wireless selloffs

FCC meetings can be momentous occasions under the right circumstances, although it's seldom the case that we see the agency pass two potentially far-reaching measures in one sitting, like we just saw on Friday. To start, regulators have voted in favor of a proposal that will review spectrum sale rules and might drop the case-by-case determinations in favor of a more consistent screening mechanism. The reexamination will also consider a change to the ownership rules surrounding wireless frequencies that treats bands below 1GHz differently than those above -- the better to address a chorus of smaller carriers that don't like all the prime spectrum going to the companies with the most existing clout, namely AT&T and Verizon. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski argues that reform could spur innovation through more competition, although dissenting Commissioner Robert McDowell is worried that consistent rules will somehow create "uncertainty."

Side-by-side with the review, the FCC is proposing an incentive-based reverse auction strategy to have TV broadcasters voluntarily give up their spectrum for cellular and data use. The multi-phase approach would have TV providers set the price at which they're willing to sell their spectrum to the FCC; those that just can't bear to part with their airwaves would be corralled into a tighter band range to make for larger available frequency blocks in the auction that follows. As with other FCC proposals, there's likely to be a long interval between the auction vote, the review and any definitive rulemaking, let alone an impact -- auctions by themselves can take years to play out. Still, any success with the measures could head off spectrum crunches while simultaneously preventing any solutions from consolidating too much power and creating their own problems.

[Tower photo via Shutterstock]

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AT&T 4G LTE adds Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, Galaxy Express and Galaxy Rugby Pro to lineup

AT&T 4G LTE adds Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, Galaxy Express and Galaxy Rugby Pro to lineup

Of the four big US carriers, AT&T's always been a solid go-to for variety across its wireless product portfolio. And today, the operator's welcoming a gaggle of Android devices from Samsung to bolster its 4G LTE offerings. Headlining this galactic quartet is the Galaxy Note II, the company's 5.5-inch phablet sequel which, though previously announced, has yet to receive a solid ship date. Also sharing that spotlight is an actual tablet, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, and two new smartphones: the Galaxy Express and Galaxy Rugby Pro. Wh ile that latter handset is a mere update to the rugged, water-, shock- and dust-proof OG Rugby Smart, the Express is a fresh 4.5-inch ICS device that reps a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU and considerable 2,000mAh battery. All are said to be arriving within the "coming months" which, in non-PR garble, should translate to a pre-holiday release. Check out the official presser after the break.

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AT&T Continues To Build 4G LTE Android Portfolio With The Addition Of Three Smartphones And One Tablet From Samsung

DALLAS, Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile)1 announced three new 4G LTE Android™ smartphones– Galaxy Express™, Galaxy Rugby Pro™ and the Galaxy Note® II – and one new 4G LTE Android tablet, Galaxy Tab® 2 (10.1), available in the coming months.

Samsung Galaxy Express
First-time smartphone users will find their pe rfect match with the Samsung Galaxy Express, a 4G LTE smartphone that combines high performance features at a great price. Galaxy Express runs Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and sports a clear and bright 4.5-inch Super AMOLED™ Plus screen. The 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 2000 mAh battery helps users stay productive throughout the day; while the 5-megapixel rear facing camera lets you capture and share images easily through text messages, email and social networks.

Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro
An ideal mix of brains and brawn, the Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro gives customers with active lifestyles access to a 4G LTE smartphone that can handle whatever life throws at it. The Rugby Pro is built to military specifications (810g specifications) and is waterproof**, shock resistant and dust proof. It features a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display and a 5-megapixel rear facing camera that lets you record HD video in 720p. Business customers can rest assured that in addition to being protected from every day wear and tear, Rugby Pro also comes with full device encryption and EAS corporate email support. The device will have access to Enhanced Push-to-Talk functionality upon launch of the service.

Samsung Galaxy Note II
Announced earlier this month, Samsung Galaxy Note II continues to expand the popular category created by the Galaxy Note with improved battery life, a thinner and narrower design and enhancements to the S Pen™. Arriving later this year running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), Galaxy Note II with 4G LTE combines the productivity of a tablet with the convenience of a smartphone and the S Pen features you need to unleash your creativity in a single device. With a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED™ display and 1.6 GHz quad-core Exynos™ processor with integrated graphics processing unit (GPU), the Galaxy Note II provides PC-like processing power and advanced features like Popup Video, new Gallery views and great gaming performance in a truly pocketable device.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1"
This 4G LTE Android 4.0 tablet delivers entertainment and productivity to fit your whole life. Galaxy Tab 2 10.1" offers a 10.1-inch display and premium entertainment options including Media Hub, Smart Remote and AllShare® Play. Features like on-device encryption and VPN access ensure your tablet is secure for business use. The 7000 mAh battery allows you to stay connected throughout the day.

AT&T customers have access to the nation's largest 4G network***, covering 275 million people. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. That means AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you may be on a much slower 3G n etwork.

All of these devices will be available from AT&T in the coming months.

Samsung, Express, Note, Rugby Pro, Super AMOLED, Exynos, S Pen, and AllShare are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

1 Samsung Mobile is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics, North America Handset Vendor Marketshare, Q2 2012. Samsung Electronics Company is the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: Q2 2012.

*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.

**Waterproof against incidental exposure to water when all ports (incl. USB and earphone ports) are tightly closed. NOT designed or intended for in water use. Submersible up to 1 meter for u p to 30 minutes. Waterproof based on IP57 rating.

***4G speeds not available everywhere. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.

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Nokia Parking helps you find and pay for a spot, we go hands-on (video)

Nokia Parking helps you find and pay for a spot, we go hands-on (video)

Parking in Paris is a nightmare. No, it's worse -- it's bad enough to keep you awake at night, worrying that your precious machine will be scratched up or simply missing the next morning. Nokia, at least, is trying to make things a little easier with an upcoming service it's just calling Nokia Parking. It's a comprehensive parking database launching in Europe in November that can not only help you find parking but even help you pay for it once you do. More details, and a video demo, after the break.

Let's get this up there first: despite having this demonstrated on a Windows Phone (a Lumia 800, to be exact) this is not an app that Nokia is introducing. Rather, this is a service that, like so many other aspects of Navteq's business, will be licensed to others and basically blended into other apps. So, while you're unlikely to ever get a Nokia Parking app yourself, you may some day in the not-too-distant future get a parking app from your local municipality which itself is using Nokia Parking in the background.

Got it? Good. Here's how it works in its current guise: using GPS coordinates the service determines all available parking nearby. Parking garages have information about their size represented, including minimum heights that could be problematic if you're of the SUV persuasion. But, even more exciting, the app also tracks, in real-time, available spaces just waiting for you to show off those parallel parking skills that earned you a reluctant smile from the judge on your drivers license test.

The service can also aggregate payment information, so once you're an appropriate distance from the curb you can tap a button on your phone and start paying for the parking spot. Then, when you leave, you can tap another button and your payment is automatically processed -- transparently. Or, if you're using the service on something like a 3G-connected navigation unit in your car, the car itself could automatically start and stop payment parking based on its location.

No more fumbling for change and no more hunting for parking spaces -- in theory. The service launches next month in a few cities across Europe and will be built out quickly after that. When will it come to your town? Well, that largely depends on when some local business wants to partners up with Nokia and develop the necessary services. That, we think, could take awhile.

Steve Dent contributed to this report.

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Google optimizes Flight Search for tablets, makes booking trips easier

Google optimizes Flight Search for tablets, makes booking trips easier

It feels like it was only yesterday that we were praising Google for giving us access to a plethora of handy, everyday tools -- oh wait, it was yesterday. At any rate, today the folks from Mountain View are back with more travel-friendly software for you to enjoy, announcing that its useful Flight Search service is now fully-optimized for use with, as Google points out, tablets such as its own Nexus 7 and, naturally, Cupertino's iPad. Jet-setters can see the changes now by simply hitting the Flights link below, and with the dearest holidays just around the corner, now is probably a good time to make use of that "lowest fare" tool.

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PSA: $25 Google Play credit for Nexus 7 ends this weekend

PSA: $25 Google Play credit for Nexus 7 ends this weekend

Those who have been keeping a close eye on Google's 7-inch, Jelly Bean-loaded Nexus 7 would know that the company kindly includes 25 bucks worth of Play credit with any purchase of said tablet. Unfortunately, as the famed cliché would tell us, all good things must come to an end -- and, well, such is the case with this neat promotion, which will expire on Sunday, September 30th. Here's the good news, however: there's still a relatively good amount of time for folks interested to get it on the Google Play deal, so now would be the perfect moment to snag what some are calling the best $ 200 tablet -- and who kn ows, this might even lead to a post-order Gangnam Style celebration of your own.

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Ibis hotels to have robots paint art while they track your sleep: no, that's not creepy at all (video)

Ibis hotels to have robots paint art while they track your sleep: no, that's not creepy at all (video)

First they invaded our factories, and now it's our hotel rooms. Is nowhere safe from the robots? In truth, Ibis' upcoming Sleep Art project is very slick, even if it smacks of robot voyeurism. Ibis hotels in Berlin, London and Paris will let 40 successful applicants sleep on beds that each have 80 sensors translating movements, sound and temperature into truly unique acrylic paintings by robotic arms connected through WiFi. You don't have to worry that the machines are literally watching you sleep -- there's no cameras or other visua l records of the night's tossing and turning, apart from the abstract lines on the canvas. All the same, if you succeed in landing a stay in one of the Sleep Art hotel rooms between October 13th and November 23rd, you're a brave person. We all know how this ends.

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Microsoft details its own Windows 8 rollout, lessons learned from 'dogfooding'

Microsoft details its own Windows 8 rollout, lessons learned from 'dogfooding'

If a company won't use its own products, how can it expect others to? Many customers, especially on the enterprise side of the equation, are understandably a little wary of the drastic change that awaits them when upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8. So, Microsoft decided to share what it has learned from its own experience dogfooding the new OS around the Redmond campus (and likely beyond). While the company is a little light on specifics of the low-volume rollout, it does highlight some of the features available to IT departments that should make transitioning ea sier. It even offers a few pointers along the way. Sure, there's plenty of back-patting involved, but tips like using IT Easy Installer to automate deployments and trim install times by half shouldn't be dismissed. There's also some information about its support system for early adopters which included a knowledge base called Pointers that helped highlight the most important issues needing to be addressed. For more details hit up the source link and get ready to embrace your inner IT nerd.

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Wikipad CEO James Bower defends his gaming tablet's $500 pricing, why one device beats two

Wikipad CEO James Bower defends his gaming tablet's $500 pricing, why one device beats two

No matter which way you cut it, the Android-based Wikipad gaming tablet -- dubbed as much despite not having any connection to Wikipedia -- is unusually expensive. As a 10.1-inch Android tablet, it's comparably priced with the leaders of the market (of the Apple and Samsung variety). The obvious problem comparatively with the big dogs: visibility. What is Wikipad, anyway? And who made it?

"This is our first product into the market," consummate salesman and Wikipad CEO James Bower told us in an interview earlier this week -- yes, the company's name is shared with its first p roduct. "We've self-funded the whole concept to this point with a couple of us founders. No VC money or anything," he said (the company did, however, just close its first round of venture capital funding for marketing costs, post-development). Bower's company took the idea of an Android-based gaming tablet with a proprietary, physical (and removable) gamepad from concept to reality in the last year, first revealing the tablet at CES 2012. "We've been able to accomplish a lot very efficiently and very effectively to this point," Bower said, in reference to the approximately 80 people who created the device.

That said, despite our positive hands-on time with the Wikipad (even in its prototype state), $ 500 is a heck of a lot of money to plunk down on an unproven device from an unproven company. The argument gets harder when you remember Sony's PlayStation Vita -- an arguably much nicer device with a far larger library of gaming content that costs half the Wikipad's pri ce at $ 249.99. Bower doesn't see the logic in this argument. "It's double the price, but it's also double the size," he pointed out. "If you buy a tablet that's seven inches, you can get a $ 199 tablet -- it's called a Google Nexus or a Kindle Fire. If you're gonna get a full 10-inch tablet, a tablet to this quality, you're gonna spend $ 499 to $ 749 ... if we were talking about a 7-inch device or a 5-inch device, and we were at this price point, then it'd be a different story." Admittedly, the tablet -- as a standalone device -- isn't too shabby. But will it woo consumers away from the likes of Apple and Samsung? Bower hopes as much, but we're not so sure.Wikipad hands-on

"What we like to say is, 'If you're gonna spend $ 249 to get your Vita, and you're gonna spend $ 499 on an iPad, why don't you just spend $ 499 and get the Wikipad? That way you can have the best of both worlds,'" he argued. Ideally, Bower wants his gaming tablet to cross over between students, gamers, and businesspeople. But with GameStop partnering with Wikipad for pre-orders, the company's messaging certainly seems aimed at the gamer crowd -- the extremely fickle, price-averse gaming crowd. Sure, the tablet will also be available at "all the usual suspects," Bower said, but partnering with the largest video game retailer in the United States is certainly making a statement.

Wikipad -- the company -- isn't public, so Bower wouldn't share sales projections for this holiday, but he did say, "We don't have to sell but tens of thousands to do extremely well." And he also pointed out that, "with what we have in pre-sales and pre-orders, we're already gonna be profitable this year." From there? "It's all about going into next year, and the product development and the marketing, and building the brand from there," Bower said. "It's up to us to craft the message correctly and get everybody excited about this device."

Following next month's launch of the Wikipad, the company is planning to release a television dongle that'll enable second-screen streaming from the tablet directly to TV screens -- for existing TVs with WiFi Direct, it'll connect and function right out of the box. "But if you're looking at pure interaction and minimal latency for gameplay, that's where you're gonna need our accessory to do that," Bower said. Always a salesman.

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Google gives users an easy out, adds YouTube to Takeout data transfer tool

Google gives users an easy out, adds YouTube to Takeout data transfer tool

Breaking up with a web-based ecosystem is hard to do, especially when you have several gigabytes of data invested in a specific platform. However, things just got a whole lot easier for disgruntled vloggers. Google recently added YouTube to its Takeout data migration service, which now gives users the ability to pull all of their uploaded videos from the company's servers in a single stroke. This groovy tool should definitely come in handy when you're busy shopping around your latest foreign film to different movie studios. In addition to being extremely easy to use, the service will also send an email letting you know that your download has finished. Simply set it and forget it!

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Tim Cook apologizes for Maps mess

Tim Cook apologizes for Maps mess

Well, it's hardly a secret that customers are unhappy with Apple's new mapping solution in iOS 6. And, while the company has admitted that, perhaps, it's not quite up to snuff yet, it has played down Maps' flaws and urged customers to be patient. Today, in an open letter to the Apple faithful, Tim Cook struck a far more candid and conciliatory tone, apologizing for failing to deliver a "world-class" product. Cook went so far as to suggest that unhappy customers could check out offerings from competitors like Bing, MapQuest, Google and Nokia -- at least until Cupertino sorts this mess out. You'll find the complete text of the letter after the break.

Update: As CNET reports, Apple has now also gone one step further and added a new list of featured mapping alternatives to the App Store, including apps from TeleNav, Garmin, Magellan and others.

You can read our editorial on Apple apologies since the launch of the iPhone here.

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To our customers,

At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.

We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up.

There are already more than 100 mi llion iOS devices using the new Apple Maps, with more and more joining us every day. In just over a week, iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations. The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you.

While we're improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app.

Everything we do at Apple is aimed at making our products the best in the world. We know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard.

Tim Cook
Apple's CEO

Engadget

Sony Tablet S gets chunky update: better multi-tasking and IR, 'guest mode', new media apps (correction)

Sony Tablet S gets chunky update: better multi-tasking and IR, 'guest mode', new media apps (correction)

The original Tablet S has already absorbed a few interesting updates and now it's getting one more: devices are waking up to an Android 4.0.3 update that brings significant additions like a Guest Mode for creating restricted user accounts, revamped media and social aggregation apps, and six assignable macro buttons on the IR Remote Control app. Sony has also bolstered its Small Apps function, allowing you to overlay a browser, IR remote and other utilities in a window on top of another app. What this update isn't is Jelly Bean, which is headed to the Tablet S's similarly-named replacement, the Xperia Tablet S.

Correction: We originally confused the Tablet S with the newer Xperia-branded model. Thanks to all who spotted the error.

Engadget

Engadget Podcast 311 - 09.28.2012

Engadget Podcast 311 - 09.28.2012

It's been a long time, and we shouldn't have left you without a dope 'cast to Jam to, but we're back, inmates-running-the-asylum style, reporting on the bleeding edge of the future of the #3 mobile phone dominator position. In this rap-rock edition of the Engadget podcast we'll also tackle the age-old question: are magazines dead, or just in sleep mode?

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

02:08 - Engadget Live: Join us at 4AM ET for an 'ask me anything' Q&A with Nokia CEO Stephen Elop!
02:50 - From the lab: Lumia 920 low-light shootout with Nokia 808, iPhone 5, HTC One X and Galaxy S III
12:10 - Live from Blackberry Jam Americas 2012!
13:18 - RIM reveals more details about Blackberry 10
13:53 - RIM pledges ongoing support for BlackBerry devs by serenading them (video)
15:00 - RIM puts BlackBerry 10 on display: new alarm, Peek gesture and more
16:00 - BlackBerry's new Dev Alpha B handset runs BB10, we go hands-on
30:45 - RIM shows off native Facebook and Foursquare apps for BlackBerry 10, confirms Twitter and LinkedIn for launch
31:07 - RIM: BlackBerry 10 carrier testing starts in October, OS remains on schedule
31:23 - BlackBerry App World to sell music and movies, open to BB 10 app submissions on October 10th
32:45 - Barnes & Noble launching Nook Video this fall with a little help from HBO, Sony, Disney, Viacom, more
33:07 - Barnes & Noble's Nook HD 7-inch Android tablet, hands-on (video)
34:04 - Barnes & Noble announces Nook HD+ 9-inch tablet, we go hands-on (video)
47:25 - Hands-on with Wikipad, the $ 500 Android gaming tablet (video)
50:35 - Lytro light-field camera hittin g Amazon, Target and Best Buy sites next month


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Cellcom to offer iPhone 5 for $149 and up starting Friday

Cellcom to offer iPhone 5 for $149 and up starting Friday

Small carrier Cellcom just announced pricing details for the iPhone 5, which it will offer starting this Friday, September 28th. Apple's latest smartphone will run on the carrier's 3G network, and pricing for the various models is as follows: $ 149 for the 16GB version, $ 249 for 32GB and $ 349 for 64GB. iPhone 5 owners on Cellcom will have to choose one of four plans, ranging from $ 69.95 for unlimited testing and 200 voice minutes to $ 109.95 for unlimited voice, text and 2,048MB of data. (Of course, there's a mandatory two-year contract as well.) Head past the break for the carrier's full press release.

Show full PR text

Cellcom to Offer iPhone 5 on September 28

De Pere, WI (September 27, 2012) - Cellcom today announced it will offer iPhone 5 beginning Friday, September 28. iPhone 5 will be available for a suggested retail price of $ 149 for the 16GB model, $ 249 for the 32GB model and $ 349 for the 64GB model in Cellcom retail stores and agent locations. In addition, iPhone 4S will be available for $ 49 and iPhone 4 will be available for free. Cellcom will allow iPhone 5 customers to connect to its fast 3G network.

iPhone 5 is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, completely redesigned to feature a stunning new 4-inch Retina display; an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance; and ultrafast wireless technology-all while delivering even better battery life. iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world's most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features including: the all new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography and turn-by-turn navigation; Facebook integration; Passbook organization and even more Siri fea tures and languages.

"We've seen the anticipation for iPhone 5 grow and are excited to soon offer our customers this fantastic phone on our network," said Pat Riordan, president and CEO of Cellcom.

iPhone 5 requires activation on one of Cellcom's individual or family voice and data plans:

Engadget

Kingston Digital SDXC cards arrive with lower price, larger capacities

Kingston Digital SDXC cards arrive with lower price, larger capacities

Kingston's unveiled two new SDXC cards for anyone looking to upgrade the capacity (or performance speed) of their current removable storage of choice without denting the bank balance too much. The SDXC Class 10 cards arrive in 64GB and 128GB sizes, and Kingston reckons they'd go great with your new digital camera -- as long as it's compatible with the SDXC format, naturally. Both are available to buy now, direct from the storage manufacturer, alongside smaller capacities, with the 128GB card priced at $ 182 and the 64GB setting you back $ 80. The full press release is after the break.

Show full PR text

Kingston Digital Releases SDXC Class 10 Value Card for Price-Conscious Consumers

Perfect for Smartphones, Tablets and High-quality Still and Video Cameras
Great Price-performance Ratio
Available in Capacities Up to 128GB
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced a new SDXC Class 10 memory card that is ideal for price-conscious consumers. The card captures full HD videos and high-resolution photos at an affordable price that will not break the budget.

"Consumers need to make sure that their camera or camcorder carries the SDXC logo to ensure compatibility and make the most of the new, huge capacity options."
Fully compliant with the latest SD Association specification, Kingston's Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC) Class 10 card operates on the exFAT fil e system, which is designed to handle extremely large volumes of data, such as files bigger than 4GB. Available in 64GB and 128GB, these cards are an excellent choice to meet the storage demands of high-quality digital still and video cameras as well as other personal electronic devices that are SDXC compatible. Additionally, SDXC cards offer a speed "class" rating known as Class 10† that delivers a 10MB/s minimum sustained transfer rate for optimum performance with SDXC-compatible devices.

"It is important to note that although SDXC cards are identical in size to standard SD cards, they have a different design and are only recognized by SDXC host devices," said Andrew Ewing, Flash memory business manager, Kingston. "Consumers need to make sure that their camera or camcorder carries the SDXC logo to ensure compatibility and make the most of the new, huge capacity options."

For added reliability and durability, Kingston's solid-state SDXC memory c ards are built of nonvolatile memory components and have no moving parts that could wear out or break. All cards are 100-percent tested and are backed by a lifetime warranty as well as free live technical support. For more information, visit www.kingston.com.

Engadget

RIM posts Q2 earnings: $2.87 billion in revenue, softer $235 million loss

RIM posts Q2 earnings: $2.87 billion in revenue, softer $235 million loss

RIM may have given us hope that its transition to BlackBerry 10 has turned a corner, but that doesn't mean the dark clouds have entirely broken just yet. The company's second fiscal quarter saw it generate $ 2.9 billion in revenue, a slight gain over last quarter, while it posted a net loss of $ 235 million -- again better than expected, but not the best news it could deliver. Waterloo's main challenge was holding on to its smartphone base. While RIM did expand the total BlackBerry user base to 80 million, its phone shipments dropped from 7.8 million to 7.4 million and were braced by shipments of just 130,000 PlayBooks, or half as many tablets as were delivered in the spri ng.

The sunshine is mostly found in the total picture. RIM says it's still on track to deliver the first BlackBerry 10 phones in early 2013; while the smartphone maker is bracing for an operating loss in its ongoing third quarter, the higher revenue and reduced losses suggest to CEO Thorsten Heins that RIM is getting its fiscal house in order before BlackBerry 10 (hopefully) renews interest. Full details of the company's financial performance are available after the break.

Show full PR text

Research In Motion Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2013 Results

WATERLOO, ONTARIO, Sep 27, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Research In Motion Limited (RIM) RIMM +13.17% CA:RIM +1.16% , a world leader in the mobile communications market, today reported second quarter results for the three months ended September 1, 2012 (all figures in U.S. dollars and U.S. GAAP, except where otherwise indicated).

Highlights:

-- BlackBerry s ubscriber base increased to approximately 80 million global
subscribers
-- Cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments increased
by approximately $ 100 million to $ 2.3 billion at the end of the second
quarter
-- Cash flow from operations was approximately $ 432 million in the second
quarter
-- Revenue of $ 2.9 billion in Q2, up 2% from $ 2.8 billion in Q1
-- GAAP net loss in Q2 of $ 235 million, or $ 0.45 per share diluted,
including $ 136 million in pre-tax restructuring costs; adjusted net loss
of $ 142 million, or $ 0.27 per share diluted
-- Shipments of BlackBerry smartphones were 7.4 million and shipments of
BlackBerry PlayBook tablets were approximately 130,000

Q2 Results

Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 was $ 2.9 billion, up 2% from $ 2.8 billion in the previous quarter and down 31% from $ 4.2 billion in the same quarter of fiscal 2012. The revenue breakdown for the quarter was approximately 60% for hardware, 35% for service and 5% for software and other revenue. During the quarter, RIM shipped approximately 7.4 million BlackBerry smartphones and shipped approximately 130,000 BlackBerry PlayBook tablets.

GAAP net loss for the quarter was $ 235 million, or $ 0.45 per share diluted, compared with the GAAP net loss of $ 518 million, or $ 0.99 per share diluted, in the prior quarter and GAAP net income of $ 329 million, or $ 0.63 per share diluted, in the same quarter last year.

Adjusted net loss for the second quarter was $ 142 million, or $ 0.27 per share diluted. Adjusted net loss and adjusted diluted loss per share exclude the impact of pre-tax charges of $ 136 million ($ 93 million on an after-tax basis) related to the Cost Optimization and Resource Efficiency ("CORE") program. This charge and its related impact on GAAP net loss and diluted loss per share are summarized in the table below.

"Despite the significant changes we are implementing across the organization, our second quarter results demonstrate that RIM is progressing on its financial and operational commitments during this major transition," said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO. "Subscribers grew to approximately 80 million global users, revenue grew sequentially from the first quarter, cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments increased by approximately $ 100 million to $ 2.3 billion, and carriers and developers are responding well to previews of our upcoming BlackBerry 10 platform. Make no mistake about it, we understand that we have much more work to do, but we are making the organizational changes to drive improvements across the company, our employees are committed and motivated, and BlackBerry 10 is on track to launch in the first calendar quarter of 2013."

The total of cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments was $ 2.3 billion as of September 1, 2012, compared to $ 2.2 billion at the end of the previous quarter, an increase of approximately $ 100 million from the prior quarter. Cash flow from operations in Q2 was approximately $ 432 million. Uses of cash included intangible asset additions of approximately $ 253 million and capital expenditures of approximately $ 87 million.

Outlook

The Company expects that there will be continued pressure on operating results for the remainder of the fiscal year based on the increasing competitive environment, lower handset volumes, increased marketing expense associated with the launch of BlackBerry 10, and some impact from pressure by customers to reduce RIM's monthly infrastructure access fees. Also, the Company plans to continue to invest in targeted marketing and sales programs to aggressively drive sales of BlackBerry 7 handheld devices before the anticipated launch of the BlackBerry 10 smartphones. The Company expects to report an operating loss in the third quarter of fiscal 2013 as RIM continues to work through the transition to BlackBerry 10 and completes its CORE program. This outlook excludes any benefits or future impact of charges related to the CORE program.

Reconciliation of GAAP net loss and diluted loss per share to adjusted net loss and adjusted diluted loss per share:

(United States dollars, in millions except per share data)

Three months ended
September 1, 2012
------------------------------
Diluted loss
Net Loss per share
(net of (net of
income tax) income tax)
------------------------------
As reported $ (235) $ (0.45)
Adjustment:
CORE Program (net of tax)(1) 93 0.18
------------------------------
Adjusted $ (142) $ (0.27)
------------------------------
--------------------------- ---
------------------------------------------------------------

Note: Adjusted net loss and adjusted diluted loss per share do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and thus are not comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other issuers. The Company believes that the presentation of adjusted net loss and adjusted diluted loss per share enables the Company and its shareholders to better assess RIM's operating results relative to its operating results in prior periods and improves the comparability of the information presented. Investors should consider these non-GAAP measures in the context of RIM's GAAP results.

(1) As part of the Company's ongoing effort to streamline its operations and increase efficiency, the Company commenced the CORE program in March 2012. During the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company incurred approximately $ 136 million in total pre-tax charges related to the CORE program. Substantially a ll of the pre-tax charges are related to one-time employee termination benefits, facilities costs and manufacturing network simplification costs. During the second quarter of fiscal 2013, pre-tax charges of approximately $ 68 million were included in cost of sales, charges of approximately $ 20 million were included in research and development and charges of approximately $ 48 million were included in selling, marketing, and administration expenses. Additional charges for headcount related costs associated with the CORE program will also be incurred in subsequent quarters.

Conference Call and Webcast

A conference call and live webcast will be held beginning at 5 pm ET, September 27, 2012, which can be accessed by dialing-1-800-814-4859 (North America), (+1)416-644-3414 (outside North America), or through your personal computer or BlackBerry(R) PlayBook(TM) tablet at www.rim.com/investors/events/index.shtml . A replay of the conference call will also be available at approximately 7 pm ET by dialing (+1)416-640-1917 and entering pass code 4501367#. A replay of the webcast will be available on your personal computer or BlackBerry PlayBook tablet by clicking the link above. This replay will be available until midnight ET, October 11, 2012.

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