Hurricane Sandy has knocked out 25 percent of all cell towers, cable services in 10 states

Hurricane Sandy has knocked out 25 percent of all cell towers, cable services in 10 states

Julius Genachowski has revealed that Hurricane Sandy has knocked out a full quarter of cellphone towers and cable services in the 10 most affected states. The FCC chief believes that, as more towers expend their battery back-ups and the storm's continued presence, the situation's going to get worse before it gets better. He's also reiterated that users should avoid making non-essential calls and use e-mail or social media to avoid overloading the straining networks. One point of interest in the call, was that land line phone outages were much less wides pread -- which might be something to remember if you've ever considered cutting the cord.

Engadget

Microsoft: we misspoke, actually, they're 'Windows Store apps'

Microsoft: we misspoke, actually, they're 'Windows Store apps'

It happens all the time -- someone misspoke. During an address at Build yesterday, a Microsoft employee told a crowd that the company has taken to calling its apps "Windows 8 Store Applications." Turns out that's not quite right -- the proper terminology is the slightly more elegant "Windows Store apps," as per a note from a Redmond spokesperson. So there you go. No more Metro, no more "Windows 8 Store applications" -- just plain, old "Windows Store apps."

Engadget

HP ElitePad 900 travels to the FCC, brings pros closer to Windows 8 tablet utopia

HP ElitePad 900 travels to the FCC, brings pros closer to Windows 8 tablet utopia

HP couldn't help but harsh the mellow of cutting-edge workers when it revealed the ElitePad 900 wouldn't ship until January. Still, there's less chance of any setbacks now that we know the FCC has rubber stamped the Windows 8 tablet. The version passing through the agency is a 3G model for mobile road warriors and touts the 850MHz, 1,700MHz and 1,900MHz bands we'd expect to for HSPA on AT&T, T-Mobile and Canadian networks. Few other surprises exist; we're mostly happy to know that NFC exists alongside dual-band 802.11n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0. No, the approval won't be mu ch consolation to the suits and ties wanting a tablet of their own as of yesterday, but it should be a relief to IT managers planning a much more creative use of the company budget in 2013.

Engadget

Nokia Lumia 822 for Verizon hands-on (video)

Nokia Lumia 822 for Verizon hands-on (video)

Now that Microsoft's officially flooded the world with good tidings of Windows Phone 8, it's the turn of OEMs and carriers to get the word out about their own Microsoft-flavored smartphones. We finally got a chance to play with Nokia's previously leaked and recently announced Lumia 822 for Verizon, a mid-range handset similar to the Lumia 820 on AT&T and the Lumia 810 for T-Mobile that will cost $ 99 with a two-year contract. Availability is slated for sometime in November -- it's been a long time since we've seen a Nokia device on Verizon (sorry, but those Pantech-built models don't count), so this is rather exciting news.

Spec-wis e the Lumia 822 features a 4.3-inch WVGA ClearBlack AMOLED display, an eight-megapixel autofocus Carl Zeiss camera, a 1.2MP front-facing shooter, a Qualcomm dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB or RAM, 16GB of internal flash, microSD support for additional storage, and optional Qi-compatible wireless charging. Radios include CDMA and LTE for Verizon, GSM / GPRS / EDGE / UMTS / HSPA+ for global roaming, WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, A-GPS and NFC.

In terms of design, the Lumia 822 is much curvier than its siblings and the battery cover doesn't wrap around the sides. The camera pod and flash placement matches the longitudinal setup from the Lumia 920 and Lumia 810 instead of the transverse layout found on the Lumia 820. At 142g (5 ounces) it's quite a hefty device, but despite being 11.2mm (0.44 inches) thick, it feels very nice in hand. Build quality is solid, which is pretty much what you'd expect from Nokia. The phone will be available in three colors: black, white and our favorite, a stunning shade of grey. See for yourself in the gallery below, and peek after the break for our hands-on video.Nokia Lumia 822 for Verizon hands-on

Brad Molen contributed to this report.

Engadget

Five iPhone 5s in five days: win a 16GB AT&T model with custom Engadget case, courtesy of Cafepress!

Five iPhone 5s in five days: win a 16GB AT&T model with custom Engadget case, courtesy of Cafepress!

Need ideas for a holiday present for that special someone? We know your significant other would be completely enamored at the sight of a beautiful white custom iPhone 5 case... adorned with Engadget's logo on it (the actual iPhone 5 won't hurt, of course). The phone and case was provided to us by CafePress, an e-tailer that not only specializes in custom cases but clothes, stationary, flair and plenty more. It's definitely worth a look-see, but not until after you enter to win this contest -- as well as the ones we started up Monday and Tuesday (they're still going)!

Our sponsors:

• Monday: Seidio (enter here before November 2nd)
• Tuesday: Tanga.com (enter here before November 3rd)
• Wednesday: Cafepress
• Thursday: Otterbox
• Friday: Heatma.ps

The rules:

• Leave a comment below. Any comment will do. Duplicate entries will be filtered out and discarded, so adding additional comments won't increase your likelihood of winning.
• Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers contest laws if you have to be mad.
• Winners will be chosen randomly. One winner will win one (1) 16GB Apple iPhone 5 on AT&T and a custom case with Engadget logo.
• If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
• This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Cafepress, Apple and Engadget / AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
• The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
• Entries can be submitted until November 4, 2012 at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!

Engadget

AT&T and T-Mobile temporarily share networks in New York City and New Jersey, shoulder the post-hurricane load

AT&T and T-Mobile temporarily share networks in New York City and New Jersey, shoulder the post-hurricane load

Communication has been all too spotty across much of New York City and New Jersey since Hurricane Sandy struck the region, and those who can get through on their cellphones have found themselves on particularly crowded networks. AT&T and T-Mobile are providing some much-needed, if temporary, relief: the two have struck a deal to share their GSM and 3G networks in the area with no roaming fees or plan changes while the networks come back, with the best-functioning network taking precedence in any given co nnection. A return to the normal state of affairs hasn't been fixed in stone and will likely depend on many, many factors, but it's a much appreciated gesture for residents who might not have a choice to relocate for a vital phone call.

Show full PR text

AT&T and T-Mobile Open Networks to Customers of Both Carriers in New York and New Jersey

DALLAS & BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the wake of destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, AT&T and T-Mobile are taking extraordinary measures to make sure our customers can stay in touch.

AT&T and T-Mobile have entered into an agreement to enable roaming on their networks to customers of both companies in the heavily impacted areas and where capacity is available and for subscribers with a compatible device.

AT&T and T-Mobile customers will be able to place calls just as they normally would, but their calls will be carried by whichever network is most operational in their area. This will be seamless for AT&T and T-Mobile customers with no change to their current rate plans or service agreements even if the phone indicates the device is attached to the other carrier's network.

T-Mobile and AT&T both utilize network technology based on GSM and UMTS standards, which allows for this sharing of voice and data traffic.

Engadget

Acer delays Windows RT tablets as it gauges Surface acceptance

Acer delays Windows RT tablets as it gauges Surface acceptance

Acer is no stranger to airing its skepticism of Microsoft Surface, but the company is now adopting caution as the name of the game for its own Windows RT tablets. In an interview with Reuters, company president Jim Wong told the outlet that Acer would deliver its own RT-based tablet no earlier than Q2, as it's now monitoring how Microsoft's own hardware fares in the marketplace. According to Wong, Acer had previously targeted a Q1 debut. As it lets Microsoft serve as the canary in the coal mine, Acer will continue to focus on its full-fledged Windows 8 hardware, as well as develop and refine its own RT offering. "I do n't know what's next, what Microsoft will do," Wong said. "We are watching how Surface is doing ... How is RT accepted by customers... We don't know... We want to see."

Engadget

OWC certifies 480GB Mercury Aura Pro SSD for 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display

OWC certifies 480GB Mercury Aura Pro SSD for 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display

The inside of a MacBook Pro certainly isn't for the faint of heart, but if you're willing to pair your recklessness with a side of wild abandon, then you might just have what it takes to upgrade the storage of the Retina-equipped 13-inch model. OWC is more than willing to test your limits with its 480GB Mercury Aura Pro, an SSD module that's now certified for use with Apple's latest laptop. While its $ 580 price will deter many, the 480GB option compares favorably to the 512GB upgrade from Apple, which rings in at a healthy $ 800. OWC says that additional capacity s izes will be announced this November, which is reason to remain hopeful if this one has priced you out of the market.

Engadget

iPad review (late 2012)

iPad review (late 2012)

Welcome to the new new iPad, same as the old new iPad. Well, mostly, anyway. It was less than eight months ago that Apple grafted a Retina display onto its world-conquering tablet, giving every other slate on the market resolution envy, while enchanting gadget lovers with world-class performance and battery life.

Now, it's obsolete. Put out to pasture just as it was hitting its stride and replaced by this, the fourth-generation iPad -- still just called "new iPad." Other than a Lightning connector on the bottom it's visually indistinguishable from its predecessor. Even its starting MSRP of $ 499 stays the same. But, on the inside where it counts, is the new, fire-breathing A6X process or. Could this be possibly worth buying a second new iPad in just one year, or could this perhaps be the one you've been waiting for? Hold on to your wallets and click on through to find out.Apple iPad 4th-generation hands-on, and comparison to 3rd-generation iPad

Hardware

Chances are you're reasonably familiar with the look and layout of the new iPad by now. The most important point to make here: in terms of look and feel, absolutely nothing has changed compared to the third-generation iPad. We got out our scales and our calipers and couldn't find a fraction of a millimeter difference in dimensions or a gram's adjustment of weight.

So, that means you're looking at a tablet that measures 9.5 x 7.3 inches across its glass-covered front, which of course protects that luscious 2,048 x 1,536 Retina display. The tablet still measures 0.37 inches (9.5mm) thick and weighs 1.44 pounds (632 grams) in WiFi guise, as we tested here, 0.02 pounds (10 grams) heavier if you opt for the cellular model. That's 0.6mm thicker and 0.11 pounds heavier than the iPad 2 -- which, by the way, lives on should you find the new iPad mini a bit too tiny for your tastes.

The gradual refinements of the iPad design have created a tablet that is both comfortable to hold and still striking to look at.

When holding an iPad 2 and a third-gen iPad in either hand it's possible to tell them apart -- just. But, hold a third-gen unit in one hand and a fourth-g en unit in the other and you'll be left gazing at the size of the hole in the bottom to identify one from the other. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as the gradual refinements of the iPad design have created a tablet that is both comfortable to hold and still striking to look at.

Again, it's a 2,048 x 1,536, 9.7-inch LCD up front, with a 720p EyeSight HD camera located front-and-center above the panel and the familiar, concave Home button below. The power/lock button, still slender and made of black plastic, resides on the right side of the top, while the black volume rocker and rotation lock switch can be found on the catty-corner on the right side.

On the bottom, of course, is the major change: the Lightning connector. Apple's new interconnect is far superior in every regard to the old Dock port: thinner and easier to connect, more durable and faster when transferring files. But that might not help assuage the pains of a house (and, perhaps, garage) full of docks and accessories that want the older, fatter, flimsier, clunkier and frankly uglier connector that came before. Apple has you covered with a suite of adapters that will address nearly every incompatibility, but none come for free. Neither does progress, we're afraid to say. (Check out our iPad mini review for a full run-down of those connectors.)

Display

What more can we say? This is still the best display you'll find on a tablet. We went on and on about Retina in our review of the third-gen iPad and while we'll spare you the soliloquy this time, we will say that the Retina display in the new iPad still looks fantastic. Brightness, contrast and viewing angles are all world-class, color reproduction is brilliant and even outdoor visibility is superb. And we haven't even mentioned the resolution yet.

Yes, the 2,048 x 1,536 pixel count beats all other portables (though not for long, thanks to the forthcoming Nexus 10 matching it), but we'll point out yet again that the way iOS scales things means you won't get any more usable display space on the tablet. Icons and buttons and everything else are exactly as big as they were on the iPad 2, but now they are of course rendered with amazing clarity. So, too, is text and other visual controls -- at least in the apps that have been u pdated to support the display, which these days is an awful lot.

Cameras

The new, new iPad has a five megapixel camera on the back and 1.2 megapixel FaceTime HD camera up front, a step up from the VGA unit that was still found wedged inside the bezel of the third-gen iPad. That, then, is a solid improvement, but image quality on the back we didn't find to be much improved from the previous iPad, which in general took pleasing shots. That said, image capture is completed much, much more quickly than before, enabling the kind of rapid-fire shooting we enjoyed on the iPhone 5. Sadly, still no Panorama nor HDR modes here.iPad (late 2012) sample shots

Performance and battery life
The new iPad skips directly past its predecessor's Ludicrous speed and goes directly to Plaid.

Oh, hello. Did you decide to cut to the chase and skip directly here? We don't blame you, and neither will we beat around the bush. At the time, the third-gen iPad was the fastest we'd tested. The new iPad skips directly past its predecessor's Ludicrous speed and goes directly to Plaid. Where the last iPad scored 720 on the Geekbench benchmark, the new iPad blows that out of the water with a 1,763 average score. GLBenchmark's 2.5 Egypt HD test ran through at 42 fps. The SunSpider JavaScript benchmark completes in an average of 865ms, more than twice as fast as the last iPad and both these benchmark scores best even the iPhone 5, which, for a short time, was Apple's fastest mobile device.

Geekbench Results (higher is better) Apple iPad (late 2012) 1,763 Apple iPad (2012) 720 Apple iPad 2 721 Apple iPad 442 Apple iPhone 4S 623 Apple iPhone 4 375

This is all thanks to the new A6X, a retooled and more efficient version of the A6 processor running in the iPhone 5. Here, it's clocked up to 1.39GHz from the 1.05GHz in the phone version, both having 1GB of RAM. In case you were wondering, yes, it still got quite warm when running through the gamut of tests. We don't consider this to be a concern by any means, but if you found the toasty nature of the third-gen iPad distasteful, you're likely to encounter the same heat here.

Tablet Battery Life Apple iPad (l ate 2012) 11:08 (WiFi) Apple iPad mini 12:43 (WiFi) Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 12:01 Apple iPad 2 10:26 ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime 10:17 Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 9:55 Apple iPad (2012) 9:52 (HSPA) /
9:37 (LTE) Microsoft Surface with Windows RT 9:36 Apple iPad 9:33 Pantech Element 9:00 Motorola Xoom 2 8:57 HP TouchPad 8:33 Lenovo IdeaPad K1 8:20 Motorola Xoom 8:20 T-Mobile G-Slate 8:18 Acer Iconia Tab A200 8:16 Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus 8:09 Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 8:00 Archos 101 7:20 Archos 80 G9 7:06 RIM BlackBerry PlayBook 7:01 Acer Iconia Tab A500 6:55 T-Mobile Springboard (Huawei MediaPad) 6:34 Toshiba Thrive 6:25 Samsung Galaxy Tab 6:09 Motorola Xyboard 8.2 5:25 Velocity Micro Cruz T408 5:10

Of course, as Pirelli likes to remind us, "power is nothing without control." On the mobile device front, power is nothing without battery life, and we're happy to report that fourth-gen iPad owners can have it all. On our standard rundown test, in which we fix the display brightness and leave WiFi enabled, the new iPad clocked in 11 hours and eight minutes. That's well better than the 9:52 the last model eked out, but keep in mind we were testing a cellular model that time. This one is WiFi-only.

Wrap-up

The new iPad is the best 10-inch tablet on the market.

Twice as fast, better battery life, same cost. What more do we need to say? The new iPad is a hit on all fronts -- but it of course won't be received that way by all. Those who just made the investment in an old, new iPad are likely going to feel a bit burned, and we feel for you. Meanwhile, those still voicing their dissatisfaction with the Lightning connector will surely lament its presence here, but to you folks we say the world is moving on and now is as good a time as any to jump on board.

Apple announces 4th generation iPad packing an A6X CPU, Lightning connector and FaceTime HD camera iPad Mini vs. the new (and newer) iPad: what's different? Some Apple stores offering exchanges on iPads purchased in the last 30 days

The new iPad is the best 10-inch tablet on the market. That said, we'd be lying if we didn't say the new iPad mini is an incredibly compelling alternative, a device so good that perhaps this update was released so soon after its predecessor to maintain the appeal of the bigger, more expensive unit. The conspiracy theorists are welcome to argue this point, but we'll say this with conviction: this is a wonderful time to buy a tablet. If you're still on the fence about buying into Apple's tablet ecosystem, go ahead and pull the trigger already. The only question is: which size?

Engadget

Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 8:30PM ET

Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 8:30PM ET

It's not Monday, but it is still time for you to listen into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to mp3 at 8:30PM. Please be a part of it by reviewing the list of topics after the break, and then participating in the live chat too.

Disney acquires Lucasfilm for $ 4.05 billion, plans more Star Wars movies
Xbox SmartGlass now available in Google Play, brings console integration to Android
Microsoft offering free Media Center upgrade to Windows 8 Pro users until January 31st 2013
Google bumps Android to 4.2, keeps Jelly Bean moniker
TiVo Premiere fall update starts rolling out with more HD menu screens and a few other tweaks
Tim Cook: 1.3 million Apple TVs sold in Q4, 5 million for 2012 fiscal y ear
BBC iPlayer comes to Sky+, Hell reports incoming frost
ITV Player revamp brings ad-free TV rentals, keeps the free catch-ups
Roku update adds cross-provider search over Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO, Vudu and Crackle
Boxee hands out free Boxee TVs to its most eager cloud DVR fans
Netflix Q3 2012 earnings: 2 million more streaming subscribers worldwide, $ 8 million net income
Open webOS-powered HDTVs said to be on the way from... LG?
Samsung 2012 Smart TVs get Amazon Instant Video streaming app, synchronicity with your Kindle Fire
Barnes & Noble bolstering Nook Video catalogue, bringing UltraViolet to the HD and HD+
LG's 84-inch 4K TV goes on sale in the US for $ 19,999, home mortgage optional
Warner, Redbox agree to 28 day delay on disc rentals, UltraViolet support for Redbox Instant
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey to receive the Dolby Atmos treatment
Must See HDTV (October 29th - No vember 4th)

Online video chat by Ustream

Engadget

Microsoft posts Windows Phone 8 SDK, kicks off a new era for apps

Microsoft posts Windows Phone 8 SDK, kicks off a new era for apps

The word "finally" is often abused (including by us), but here it's deserved: after months of knowing about Windows Phone 8 with little to do but wait or support rival platforms, developers can finally download version 8.0 of the Windows Phone SDK. The kit lets teams get cracking on apps that take advantage of the Windows 8-related code base in Windows Phone 8 and all the hooks that go with the new OS, such as the broader hardware support, ties to the lock screen and Wallet. You'd better be an early adopter on the desktop if you're eager to start programming for the equally new mobile platf orm, though -- the SDK won't run on anything less than a 64-bit copy of Windows 8. We're still anticipating a much improved ecosystem now that Windows Phone app writers can do more than twiddle their thumbs.

Engadget

ZTE launches Nubia range of high-end devices, announces Z5 quad-core smartphone

ZTE launches Nubia range of high-end devices, announces Z5 quad-core smartphone

ZTE's plan to reinvent itself as a high-end smartphone was missing one, crucial ingredient -- a European-sounding name that ended in "...ia" to brand its new range of top-level devices. That's why the company has just announced Nubia, which apparently means "cloudy" in Latin. It's also teased details of the first handset to arrive under this new cloud (geddit?), the Z5. This new 5-inch smartphone will have quad-core internals, a 13-megapixel camera and "Italian" design -- which makes us hope above hope that they hired Pininfarina and it'll come in Ferrari Red.

Engadget

Microsoft drops Windows Phone Store developer registration to $8 for eight days

Microsoft drops Windows Phone Store developer registration to $8 for eight days

How amped is Microsoft to get developers into the Windows Phone 8 Store? The company announced today at Build that it's lowering developer registration to $ 8 -- that's down from $ 99. Got to get in there quick, however -- that price is only good for the next eight days. Seems to be some kind of theme here, no?

Update: Looks like the discount situation is a little more involved than just that. According to Microsoft, "You'll be charged $ 99 USD or equivalent in your local currency, and we'll refund the difference in the next 30 to 45 days." Ninety-two percent discounts don't just happen o vernight, after all.

Engadget

Apple iMessage sees second outage in a week, iTunes UK follows suit (update: back up, in theory)

Apple iMessage sees second outage in a week, iTunes UK follows suit (update: back up, in theory)

Apple may have a lot of iMessage users, but it has also had its share of teething troubles as the chat service (and iCloud) grows. That's certainly been true this month: Apple has confirmed that, for the second time in a week, iMessage is down for at least some users. There's a real chance those conversations won't go through unless it's between iPhone users that can try SMS. More pressing for anyone in the UK is a wider iTunes outage, as we've heard multiple reports of the app and media repository being inaccessible in the country no matter what device they use. We 've reached out to Apple and will update if there's an explanation or a repair schedule for either outage. For now, we'd suggest that iMessage lovers communicate through social networks and passive-aggressive word choices in Letterpress.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: And no sooner than we post than Apple has iMessage back up and running. Let us know through tips if you're still having iMessage or iTunes UK trouble, however.

Engadget

Holy Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Tetris ported to a jack-o'-lantern (video)

Holy Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Tetris ported to a jack-o'-lantern (video)

What happens when you gut a pumpkin and replace its insides with heat-shrink tubing, solder, 128 LEDs, eight AA batteries, an Arduino board and clever programming? You get what self-proclaimed tinkerer Nathan Pryor calls "Pumpktris." Over the years we've seen the classic puzzle game Tetris ported to some amazing things, but a piece of fruit? Just in time for Halloween, this high-tech spin on the jack-o'-lantern features a fully playable Tetris game controlled from the pumpkin's joystick stem. Whether you're a hardcore do-it-yourselfer, or a diehard Tetris fan hoping to top the syst em's high score (9,800 points), you can build your very own Pumpktris. Of course, its creator estimates it'll take around 12 hours or longer to build the custom LED matrix and joystem and carve up the gourd of your choice. If you're up to the challenge, you can find a complete walkthrough of the project at the source link below. However, if you'd just like to see this quasi-organic gaming rig in action, check out the groovy video after the break.

Engadget

Barnes & Noble bolstering Nook Video catalogue, bringing UltraViolet to the HD and HD+

Barnes & Noble bolstering Nook Video catalogue, bringing UltraViolet to the HD and HD+

Barnes & Noble is seriously beefing up its Nook ecosystem by striking deals with studios and other providers to bring a ton of new video content to its HD and HD+ tablets. Debuting alongside the slates, expected to start shipping in the US this week, thousands of SD and HD movies and TV shows from the likes of NBCUniversal, 20th Century Fox and others will be available for your consumption. Brits will get the same opportunity a little later, coinciding with the local release of the tablets closer to the holiday season. B&N won't force you to buy its hardwar e to enjoy the expanded catalogue, as it'll be releasing free Nook Video apps in the future to access the content from all platforms. What's more, you'll also be able to view UltraViolet video on the HD and HD+, meaning you can watch all that previously purchased content right from the get-go. This is certainly a huge bonus for consumers that have a big UV library, and coupled with all the new content, we wouldn't be surprised if Nook sales start stealing a little heat from the Fire.

Show full PR text

Barnes & Noble Announces Expanded NOOK Video™ Content to Come From NBCUniversal and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Coming Soon: NOOK Video to Offer Digital Movies and TV Shows for Enjoyment on New NOOK® HD and NOOK® HD+ and Other Devices through Free NOOK Video Apps

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NOOK Media LLC, a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, announced it will bring even more popular standard and HD movies and TV shows to its expansive, highly anticipated NOOK Video through newly announced content licensing partnerships with major studios and content providers including NBCUniversal and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Premiering concurrently with the availability of the highly acclaimed NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ slated to begin shipping this week, NOOK Video will deliver a growing and diverse catalog of favorite standard and HD movies and TV shows rendered in spectacular color and stunning definition on the world's highest-resolution 7-inch HD tablet and lightest full HD tablet for an unparalleled portable entertainment experience that can be enjoyed virtually anywhere.

Offering instant acc ess to a wealth of digital entertainment, NOOK Video will enable customers to shop a vast collection of new releases, blockbuster titles, popular television series, favorite classics and more, available for streaming or download. NOOK's newly announced content agreements will bring thousands of movies and TV shows for all ages and interests to the NOOK Video catalog, including the blockbuster films Snow White and the Huntsmen, Battleship, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, Ice Age: Continental Drift, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days and many more.

The company will also bring unmatched convenience and portability to customers' digital video collections beginning this fall in the US, followed by the UK this holiday season. The first UltraViolet-enabled tablets, NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ will seamlessly integrate a customer's UltraViolet digital video collection across their devices right out of the box. Customers will be able to easily link their UltraViolet accounts to the NOOK Cloud allowing them to view their previously and newly purchased UltraViolet-enabled movies and TV shows across NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ devices and free NOOK Video apps coming soon. In addition to purchasing movies and TV shows via NOOK Video, customers can shop for DVDs and Blu-ray Discs with the UltraViolet logo in Barnes & Noble and other retail stores, add them to their digital collection, and instantly watch compatible titles from the NOOK Cloud to enjoy wherever they go and however they choose.

"We specifically designed and optimized the new NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ to deliver the most exceptional video and entertainment experiences available on stunning, high resolution 7 and 9-inch displays, and we're pleased to offer customers an even wider selection of their favorite movies and TV shows through our new leading studio partners," said Jonathan Shar, Vice President & General Manager, Emerging Digital Content, NOOK Media. "NOOK Video is one of the most exciting n ew offerings for customers to enjoy on new NOOK devices when they arrive this month, and with NOOK's seamless UltraViolet integration, customers can even shop online, from NOOK devices, or physical DVDs and Blu-ray discs in our retail stores and access their digital copies from our safe and secure NOOK Cloud for instant entertainment wherever they go."

"We are thrilled to partner with Barnes & Noble on their Nook Video service," said Michael Bonner, Executive Vice President, Product Development & Strategy, NBCUniversal Digital Distribution. "The cloud based service integrated with UltraViolet really increases the value proposition of digital media, giving consumers total freedom to watch their favorite films and TV shows wherever and whenever they want."

"Quality, access and convenience are quickly becoming synonymous with digital ownership and the market is exploding," said Mike Dunn, President, Worldwide, 20th Century Fox Home Ent ertainment. "The ability to access digital HD movies from Fox through NOOK Video complements our existing strategy of delivering the best entertainment experience to consumers and to enrich digital ownership."

Engadget

Five iPhone 5s in five days: win an iPhone gift card, courtesy of Tanga!

Five iPhone 5s in five days: win an iPhone gift card, courtesy of Tanga!

Day one has come and gone, but we are just twenty percent of the way through our weeklong mission to give out five iPhones. Today's contest is made possible by Tanga, an e-tailer known for offering tech magazine subscriptions on the cheap as well as closeout prices on just about anything you can think of. Tanga is hooking the lucky winner up with an Apple gift card with enough credit to cover the no-contract cost of an iPhone 5, which means you have more flexibility in choosing a carrier. So head below, read the rules and leave a comment to enter again! You have until Saturday to get yo ur entry in, but the longer you wait, the easier it is to forget -- believe us, that happens to us all the time. (At least, we think it does.)

Our sponsors:

• Monday: Seidio (enter here by November 2nd)
• Tuesday: Tanga.com
• Wednesday: Cafepress
• Thursday: Otterbox
• Friday: Heatma.ps

The rules:

• Leave a comment below. Any comment will do. Duplicate entries will be filtered out and discarded, so adding additional comments won't increase your likelihood of winning.
• Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers contest laws if you have to be mad.
• Winners will be chosen randomly. One winner will win one (1)Apple gift card that will cover the cost of a 16GB Apple iPhone 5 sold at t he non-contract price.
• If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
• This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Tanga, Apple and Engadget / AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
• The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
• Entries can be submitted until November 3, 2012 at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!

Engadget

BBC iPlayer comes to Sky+, Hell reports incoming frost

BBC iPlayer comes to Sky+, Hell reports incoming frost

The BBC and Sky may represent polar, warring opposites of the broadcasting business, but that doesn't mean their technology platforms can't get along. Following a promise made all the way back in January, internet-connected Sky+HD boxes will be able to access BBC iPlayer from today. The service has been integrated into Sky's world-class program guide, with users even able to plump to catch available shows in high definition. The announcement also let slip that 4OD, the last remaining holdout to the service, will be added in early 2013. If you've yet to hook your Sky box up to the internet, you just need an Eth ernet cable or wireless adapter -- but let's hope for your sake they aren't at opposite ends of your house.

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BBC iPlayer comes to Sky+

Millions of Sky homes can access their favourite BBC shows, on-demand, directly on their TV

BBC iPlayer, the BBC's video on demand service, has today launched on Sky+, bringing the best of the BBC's TV programmes directly to the living room. Up to 6.7 million homes with a Sky+HD box and broadband connection will be able to enjoy the best of the BBC on demand in a familiar, easy to use BBC iPlayer experience that helps audiences catch up on programmes they have missed.

Audiences can access BBC iPlayer directly from Sky's on demand programme guide, and choose from many of the BBC's most popular shows, including Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing and EastEnders. BBC iPlayer is available alongside catch-up TV from Sky, ITV, Channel 5, with Channel 4's 4oD due to be adde d early next year, completing the line-up of free-to-air terrestrial catch-up TV services on Sky+. Sky On Demand also offers on demand access to shows from a number of other leading channels including UKTV, MTV and Discovery, in addition to movies on demand and drama 'box-sets' such as Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men and Stella.

BBC iPlayer has been integrated into Sky's existing electronic programme guide and on demand menus. It contains a number of features that make it even easier for Sky customers to find the BBC programmes they want, with content separated into a series of simple categories. Viewers are able to browse through content by channel, day and genre, and can gain easy access to BBC shows in high-definition. Regional and signed programmes are also available through dedicated categories. Once a customer has made their choice, the programme is downloaded directly to their Sky+ planner for them to watch at a time that suits them.

This landmark deal between the BBC and Sky builds on a substantial history of industry partnerships for BBC iPlayer, which is now available on over 650 platforms and devices.

In September 2012 alone, BBC iPlayer saw nearly 200 million requests for programmes, including 2.2 million for Doctor Who, 1 million for Citizen Khan and hundreds of thousands for favourites such as Strictly Come Dancing, EastEnders and Bad Education. By launching on Sky+, BBC iPlayer is now available on every major UK television platform, at no extra charge, and brings the service to up to 6.7 million Sky homes.

Luke Bradley-Jones, Director of TV Products, Sky said "We're delighted to have partnered with the BBC to bring the best of the BBC on demand to Sky customers. Providing customers with the flexibility to enjoy their favourite TV on demand, our comprehensive catch-up TV service perfectly complements the genius of Sky+, which already helps millions of our customers take charge of their viewing . We continue to put Sky customers in control, with the addition of BBC iPlayer to Sky+ sitting alongside a range of innovations including remote record, series link and now even being able to use your iPad as a remote control."

Daniel Danker, General Manager, BBC Programmes and On-Demand, said "BBC iPlayer has had a record-breaking year, with 2 billion requests for programmes in 2011, and nearly 200 million requests in September 2012 alone. Available on over 650 platforms and devices across PC, mobile, tablet and internet-connected TVs, we are delighted that iPlayer is now also available to millions of Sky+ homes. 20% of all iPlayer use is already on the living room TV. By partnering with Sky, BBC iPlayer is available on all major UK TV platforms at no extra charge, making sure our audiences can access the best of the BBC's content at home and on the go, whenever and wherever they choose."

To enjoy Catch Up, Sky customers simply need to activate their On Demand service and connect their Sky+HD box to their broadband router. Click here for more information.

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ZTE's U950 shows how Tegra 3 phone is done under $160

ZTE's U950 shows how Tegra 3 phone is done under $160

This might not be the $ 199 Tegra 3 tablet that NVIDIA's keen to see, but hey, a 999 yuan ($ 160) quad-core phone is just as impressive. Unveiled in China earlier today, this ZTE U950 smartphone packs a 1.3GHz Tegra 3 chip, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and a 2,000mAh battery beneath the 4.3-inch display. There's also a five-megapixel camera plus a VGA front-facing camera inside the 9mm-thick body. Pretty standard stuff for an Android 4.0 phone, except for the price-per-performance ratio, of course. The first 100,000 customers who register now will be eligible to order on November 11th, though chances are the quota's all gone by now.

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EE switches on 4G in 11 UK cities, offers fiber broadband to 11 million sites and opens 700 stores

EE switches on 4G in 11 UK cities, offers fiber broadband to 11 million sites and opens 700 stores

Today marks the launch of the UK's first 4G network, with EE switching on its service in 11 cities: London, Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Southampton. If you don't have access immediately, you might not be waiting long, as the company promises 2,000 square miles of 4G network will be added every month from now on. This £1.5 billion investment means five cities will join the exclusive list before Christmas, and in the longer-term, 98 percent population coverage is expect ed by the end of 2014. Wired services aren't being forgotten -- EE Fibre Broadband is also available from today with the potential to serve 11 million locations with speeds of up to 76 Mbps. Want to learn more about the new services? Then head to one of the 700 EE stores (rebranded Orange and T-Mobile locations) opening this morning. If your bank account can handle it, that is.

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EE LAUNCHES SUPERFAST 4G AND FIBRE FOR UK CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES TODAY

Over 700 EE stores open on high streets across the country

· 4G mobile services available for British consumers and businesses for the first time ever today

· Superfast service launches in 11 major cities across the UK

· 4G network rollout to increase to 2,000 sq miles every month

· Fibre Broadband from EE available to 11 million premises, with superfast speed typically ten times faster than standard broadband

· New research reveals around three quarters of businesses (74%) are planning to adopt 4G within 12 months

30th October 2012. London. Superfast services are available for consumers and businesses for the first time ever today as EE, the UK's most advanced digital communications company, launches its new 4G service in 11 cities.

The launch is set to offer a timely boost to the UK economy offering firms the opportunity to increase innovation, boost productivity and cut costs, as has been the experience of companies in countries such as the US, Sweden, Japan and Germany since the technology was firs t introduced.

Today also marks the arrival of over 700 EE stores on high streets across the country in one of the biggest and fastest transformations in UK retail history.

Olaf Swantee, CEO at EE, said: "Today is a landmark day for our company, the UK mobile industry and, most importantly, the country's businesses and consumers.

"But this is just the start as our 4G network will continue to grow stronger and wider by the day. We're investing £1.5 billion in our network to be the first company to offer mobile 4G in the UK, alongside the biggest 3G network. Combined with our Fibre Broadband and revolutionary service model we have a pioneering and unique offer to customers across the UK – superfast speeds in the home, superfast speeds on the move and expert service on nearly every high street in Britain."

The delivery of 4G and the company's retail transformation has been underpinned by an intensive employee training progr amme as well as a comprehensive national IT infrastructure upgrade to ensure that EE customers receive expert service.

In its first phase, the 4G service is going live in Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Sheffield and Southampton. This will allow users to:

• Access the web on the go in an instant

• Download large email attachments quicker than ever

• Watch live TV on the move without buffering

• Download high-definition movies in minutes

• Play live multiplayer games on the go

• Make high quality video calls on the m ove

And today's launch is just the start as 4G coverage from EE will expand by 2,000 square miles every month, both into new cities as well as providing denser coverage in existing areas. This means the service will be available in a further five cities before Christmas, with more cities and rural locations planned for 2013, and 98% of the population due to be covered by the end of 2014.

On average, 4G mobile coverage will be made available to around two million people in Britain every single month between now and the end of 2014, making this the fastest rollout of any UK network in history.

EE's Fibre Broadband, typically ten times faster in homes and offices, is available to 11 million premises from today as well. Ideal for households or small businesses with multiple devices, EE Fibre Broadband offers maximum download speeds of up to 76Mbps – allowing customers to stream HDTV, play online games, watch films on demand or quickl y upload or download large files.

EE, T-Mobile and Orange customers will benefit from a new level of customer service, with 10,000 EE experts trained to serve and sell to customers in a new way, designed around specific handset types. These experts can be contacted over the phone, online, or in one of the 700 newly branded EE stores on the high street and in shopping centres.

4GEE plans come with unlimited minutes and texts as well as revolutionary and exciting new services, including EE Film, Clone Phone and inclusive nationwide BT Wi-Fi.

4G and the benefits to business

The world's first global study into 4G business benefits has been released today to mark EE's UK launch.

The study reveals that:

· 74% of UK businesses intend to adopt 4G within 12 months

· Newcastle's business community is showing the strongest demand for 4G, with eight out of 10 Newcastle-based firms (85%) intending to roll out the superfast mobile service within 12 months

· 78% in London plan to do the same

· CEOs and sales staff will be first in the business to use the new technology. The study noted a similar trend occurring in America.

British businesses expect 4G to help increase productivity (58%) and boost employee well-being and motivation (38%). The technology will also help firms compete through innovation - 50% want 4G so they can set up an internet connection quickly without having to wait for a fixed line to be installed. This is a boon for retailers wanting to set up a pop-up shop, or builders looking to set up a temporary office onsite.

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Asustek Q3 net profits said to be up 43 percent to $230 million thanks to Nexus 7, convertibles

Asustek Q3 net profits said to be up 43 percent to $230 million thanks to Nexus 7, convertibles

Asustek has just painted a pretty Q3 financial picture, showing a 43 percent jump in net profits -- $ 230 million compared to $ 160 million last year, according to the WSJ. Gross revenue also climbed 9 percent to around $ 3.8 billion, which the company attributes to the popularity of its Google-partnered Nexus 7 tablet, along with convertibles like the Transformer Prime TF201 and a healthy notebook lineup. Asus boosted PC shipments nearly 12 percent according to the last round of Gartner surveys, helping it stay the fifth largest player in that market. The company sees good things ahead for Q4 too, expecting do uble digit gains in PC and tablet shipments due to its burgeoning Windows 8 lineup finally hitting the market. That'll depend, of course, on how well users gravitate toward the fledgling OS.

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Thinkpad Helix appears on Lenovo's Israeli website, lends hope to a stateside or Euro arrival

Thinkpad Helix appears on Lenovo's Israeli website, lends hope to a stateside or Euro arrival

It wasn't long ago that our Chinese language website reported on the Lenovo Thinkpad Helix, a convertible ultrabook that launched alongside other models, but seemed destined for China only. Now, it looks like Israeli folks might also get the device, as it popped up recently on the company's website there. We noted that it would carry Windows 8, an 11.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 detachable IPS touchscreen, NFC 3G module, stylus, 10-hour battery life and optional Core i7 processor for the top model. That would make it a pretty potent ultrabook, let alone a tablet -- making us hope that it'll power its way over to our shores.

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Windows Phone 8 handset UK availability and pricing detailed: free starting from £21 per month

Windows Phone 8 handset UK availability and pricing detailed: free starting from £21 per month

We've heard how Windows Phone 8 is all about you, and seen all the devices bearing the new OS at launch. What's left, however, is where you can get one on the other side of the pond and, more importantly, how much it's going to cost you. Nokia has separately announced that both the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 will be launching in the UK (and France) later this week. More specifically, though, it looks like every UK carrier will be getting at least three handsets, with the almost-ready-to-launch EE getting both of HTC and Nokia's handset pairs. We've got all the (current) pricing details and availability dates after the break.Windows Phone 8 pricing and availability fo r UK

EE: The UK's first 4G network will be getting the whole family of Nokia and HTC phones on November 9th. The Lumia 920 will start at £49 while the 820 will start from free, and it's similar with the 8X and 8S, starting from £29 and free, respectively. Contracts will all begin at £36 per month for all except the 8S, which is slightly cheaper at £20.50.

O2: The bubble-friendly carrier is getting a very similar line-up, but replaces the Lumia 920 with Samsung's Ativ S. All phones will be free on contract apart for the 8X, which will cost £29 on top of monthly payments. Contracts start at £36 per month for everything but the 8S, which is £21.50 on the basic plan. There's no specific date for when these will become available, but it'll be sometime in November.

Three: If you like your data, you'll only get the choice of the HTC pair. There's no word on the 8S plans or prices just yet, but the 8X will set you back £30 right off the bat, with a minimum contract of £29 per month. No specific date here either, but you've probably guessed the range by now -- sometime in November.

Vodafone: This carrier either wasn't prepared for the event today, or hasn't figured out all the minor details just yet, because there's no solid pricing or dates available. All we know is that the HTC pair and Nokia's Lumia 820 will be landing at some point in the future.

Phones4u: It may cover all the major networks, but the pricing is slightly different. It will be getting all the phones we've mentioned previously, with nothing to lay down up-front apart from £19.99 for the Lumia 920. Unfortunately, they make up for it by charging a minimum of £46 per month for Nokia's new flagship. The other contracts start at £36 for the Samsung Ativ S, £31 for the Lumia 820 and 8X, and £20.50 for the 8S.

Carphone Warehouse: Just like Vodafone, the heads at the Carphone Warehouse hasn't put pen to paper on how much these new devices will set you back. No pricing or dates are available, but the same line-up (Lumia 820, 8X and 8S) will be coming soon.

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Sprint sits out Windows Phone 8 launch in the United States after tepid WP7 reaction

Sprint sits out Windows Phone 8 launch in the United States after tepid WP7 reaction

Microsoft may be readying an all-out marketing blitz to get Windows Phone 8 all up in your cranium, but those loyal to Sprint won't be getting anything but perturbed. During today's Windows Phone 8 event in San Francisco, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced that AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile were "all in" for Windows Phone 8. Strangely, however, America's number three carrier is evidently "all out." While Sprint was a carrier for Windows Phone 7 handsets like the HTC Arrive, the carrier was showing cold feet as far back as January of this year. Given that the Arr ive was its "most returned phone," though, it's hard to cast blame.

It could very well be due to the way Sprint's 4G drama has gone done -- at the time, Microsoft likely didn't want to create WP8 devices that supported by WiMAX and LTE, and now that Sprint has foregone the former in order to grab the latter, it's all a bit too late. Of course, it comments made to PhoneScoop earlier this year by spokesperson David Owen are to be believed, Sprint may join the WP8 party early next year. Sort of seems like a familiar refrain, actually.

For more, check out our Windows Phone 8 event liveblog!

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Microsoft unveils new lock screen for Windows Phone 8 powered by Live Apps

Microsoft unveils new lock screen for Windows Phone 8 powered by Live Apps

Microsoft is busy officially revealing all the bits and pieces that make up Windows Phone 8, and one of them is its new lock screen. Powered by Live Apps designed for Windows Phone 8 like Facebook, it lets apps directly update your lock screen with new photos and information. Exec Joe Belfiore is, as usual, excited about it, pointing to the "surprise" now waiting every time he picks up his phone. If pics from your last vacation popping up every time you turn your phone on doesn't get you going ,just imagine sports scores or other relevant info you've picked pushed straight to t he front, just a button press away. Windows 8 Lockscreens and Apps

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