Early objections over generic TLDs throw the .book at Amazon, Google

Early objections over generic TLDs throw the .book at Amazon, Google


Engadget

The Daily Roundup for 11.24.2012

The Daily Roundup for 11.24.2012


Engadget

Russian technology firms agree to avoid poaching each other, keep salaries in check

Russian technology firms agree to avoid poaching each other, keep salaries in check


Engadget

Tesla Model S price hike incoming, current reservations can dodge the increase

Tesla Model S price hike incoming, current reservations can dodge the increase


Engadget

Nissan Leaf to go farther and cost less in 2013

Nissan Leaf to go farther and cost less in 2013


Engadget

Comcast Xfinity TV Player update adds downloads for offline viewing on iOS, Android

Comcast Xfinity TV Player update adds downloads for offline viewing on iOS, Android


Engadget

BeatBots co-founder Marek Michalowski encourages the world to hack Keepon (video)

BeatBots co-founder Marek Michalowski encourages the world to hack Keepon (video)

When we visited BeatBots' San Francisco headquarters a few days back, the company's co-founder Marek Michalowski was a bit hush-hush when it came to discussing the future of Keepon, not saying much beyond alluding to upcoming updates for the move-busting little 'bot. He was, however, more than happy to talk about hacking the beat-monitoring toy, something the company had in mind when it first designed the consumer-friendly toy. "We felt it was important to allow people to hack it and be able to do more things with the toy than it can do out of the box," Michalowsk i told us.

The company left the toy's 12C bus open, so interested parties can easily manipulate My Keepon by way of microcontrollers like Arduino and its ilk. We've already seen some crafty individuals get the robot to do their bidding, something that's only likely to increase when Michalowski releases a guide for hacking My Keepon in the very near future. In the meantime, click through after the break to see the robotics PhD discuss Keepon hacks. A YouTube full of choreographed "Thriller" Keepon videos surely can't be that far off.

Engadget

Ask Engadget: best universal remote?

Ask Engadget: best universal remote?

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Marc and Jack, who are going ocean-mad with all of their remote controls. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

Marc wrote

"My home theater currently has seven remote controls, which I'd like to narrow down. I know there are solutions available which are massively arcane, but is there something simple that the crowd can recommend?"

Jack wrote

"Can you recommend a universal remote control that works with a PS3 and Apple TV that doesn't suck?"

Well friends,

• Gear 4's Unity remote has earned rave reviews thanks to its ease of use and near universal application (except for the PS3)
• While Griffin's Beacon offers the same capability, but also works with Android devices
• If you're serious about including the PS3 in your setup, you could splash out on Logitech's Harmony IR-to-Bluetooth adapter.

But perhaps, out there, is something even better. That's where you, the Engadget Faithful come in. Why not share your experience (or your product) in the comments below?

Engadget

IRL: Logitech UE 900 headphones, Nokia Lumia 900 and the Galaxy Note II

IRL: Logitech UE 900 headphones, Nokia Lumia 900 and the Galaxy Note II


Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.
This week Darren is back, test-driving a $ 400 pair of Ultimate Ears headphones, while Steve tells us about his new Galaxy Note II. Rounding things out, Jon takes a trip to the bargain basement and picks up a discounted Lumia 900. Read on to find out how much the gang likes their new loot. Logitech UE 900 earphones

When it comes to big-stage sound, a few names shine bright above the others. Westone and Ultimate Ears are most certainly up there, with each outfit boasting a shocking amount of artist support. UE, in particular, has pitched itself as a high-end consumer brand thanks to a tie-up with Logitech, and the UE 900 earphones are amongst the nicest it offers short of any custom options. At $ 400, it's clear from the get-go that these aren't aimed as casual listeners, and the hardshell container bundled in the box speaks volumes about how the company hopes you'll protect such an investment.

The drivers themselves boast four-armature speakers and a three-way crossover -- impressive from a technical standpoint. The stock blue cable is remarkably seductive, and frankly, it's pretty tough to keep your hands from fiddling with it. Aside from looking good and being almost ludicrously tough, it's also equipped with a right-angle h eadphone jack (huzzah!) and swiveling ear tips on the other end. Unfortunately, the company chose to cram the bantam mic / button stick way up on the cable connected to the right earbud instead of at the "v" a bit lower. As it stands, you're reaching up to your cheek to pause or fast-forward things. Moreover, the awkward "memory cabling" that wraps around one's ear is completely awkward. It took at least 10 seconds to get each earbud situated, and I never was entirely thrilled with the fit. Stage artists may be okay with it, but consumers won't be.

Oddly, Logitech also throws in a black braided cable that lacks the mic / button remote, but it doesn't provide any tonal differences. Many higher-end companies offer two different cables that cross things over a pinch differently, but there seems to be no actual benefit to this bonus cable. Perhaps most disappointingly, the vast collection of included ear tips are all circular. As in, they aren't ovals. Granted, Klipsch ha s that oval shape all sorts of locked down, but once you've used an ear tip that's actually engineered to fit in one's ear (hint: ear holes aren't perfect circles), you'll have a hard time using anything else. Indeed, even the foam tips here didn't perfectly seal around this editor's ears, letting more outside noise seep in compared to Klipsch's far cheaper Image S4i. It's a shame: regardless of how technically superior these are, the delivery is flawed due to circular ear tips; if you can't hear the benefits, what are you really buying?

Bottom line? Save your money and opt for Klipsch's Image X10i at $ 270. They fit better, sound better and don't require a planning session just to get 'em inserted.

-- Darren Murph

Nokia Lumia 900 with Windows Phone 7.5

We're at the crossroads with the Nokia Lumia 900. It's getter ever closer to a Windows Phone 7.8 upgrade, though it's lost its flagship status to the Windows Phone 8-toting Lumia 920. But what are Windows fans to do if they want something at a discount? I had the opportunity to use a Lumia 900 running Windows Phone 7.5 for a few weeks to see what it's like now that the phone is entirely in budget territory -- is it worth the outlay at less than $ 1 on a contract when its future is limited?

Tentatively, I'd say yes. The Windows Phone ecosystem's problems are still very much here: you'll still have to go without major apps like Instagram and forego some of Google's services. And the camera, while relatively well done, doesn't hold up as well in an era where Apple's iPhone 4S and HTC's Droid Incredible 4G LTE are now closer to the entry level. Even so, it's still true that Windows Phone i s one of the easier smartphone platforms to pick up if you're new to the concept. Those big, live icons make the experience simple and fun, and Nokia Drive offers solid turn-by-turn navigation. It's also tough to dispute the value of getting both LTE data and that iconic, unibody design at this price.

The real challenge? Budget Windows Phone 8 devices. As the Lumia 820 and its variants start dropping even lower than $ 100 on-contract (the AT&T version is already $ 50), it might not make much sense to buy the Lumia 900 -- saving the cost of a nice dinner won't matter much when the extra money will provide a much faster processor and a smartphone OS that will last for longer. Should there still be a wide-enough gap in your part of the world, though, the Lumia 900 may be viable or even ideal for those who need the basics, and not much more.

-- Jon Fingas

Samsung Galaxy Note II

Not to gloat, but while buyers in the US were cooling their heels for the Samsung Galaxy Note II, customers abroad like yours truly were already phablet-ing away about a month early. I'd been ogling the 5.5-inch quad-core brute since it was first announced, and having squeezed all the usability out of my geriatric Galaxy S, I decided to make the €649 leap to a simless N7100 once it popped up on Amazon France (yes, we Engadget editors have to pay for our own devices, and no, we don't get a discount).

So, what's it like to use this outsized smartphone? For me, anyway, this is not a pocketable phone. I carry it around in my shoulder bag, and consider it to be a tablet as far portability goes. Once I have the device in hand, though, th e size becomes a plus. With the optional factory flip case, the phone is only slightly heavier than my encased S, and its slim, curved profile fits my medium-sized hands very well. The huge screen makes it easy to browse most content, even full websites or digital magazines like Distro. On top of that, I never feel like a freak (not much, anyway) when I'm taking calls or photos, as you might with a Nexus 7, for instance.

Having worked as a compositor and 3D artist, the S Pen was a key attraction for me, particularly since the digitizer is made by none other than Wacom. It works smoothly and quickly, no doubt aided by its quad-core Exynos CPU, and the screen is just big enough to do real work on. The only drawback so far is a dearth of apps that support its 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, which can give finer control over line and paint stroke widths. Programs that do support that feature, like Drawing Pad, provide an amazingly addictive sketching experience. Fina lly, I could do without TouchWiz, the Samsung skin that seems to transform lovely-looking stock Jelly Bean into dumpy Froyo (ahem, CyanogenMod?). Overall, though, the Galaxy Note II performs all my smartphone duties with aplomb, while still letting me peruse and create content, footloose and tablet-free.

-- Steve Dent

Engadget

Refresh Roundup: week of November 12th, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of November 12th, 2012

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

Official Android updates

• Ne xus 7: Earlier this week, we posted a download to update the Nexus 7 to Android 4.2. If you're not one to bother with the hassles of flashing firmware, however, you'll be happy to know that an OTA download is now ready and waiting to bring your tablet the latest that Jelly Bean has to offer. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
• Samsung Galaxy Stellar: Verizon has posted its changelog for a new software update that'll hit the Galaxy Stellar smartphone. After installation, users should benefit from better voice quality, fewer device resets and improved backlight brightness after waking the phone. [Android Police]

Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery

• Samsung Galaxy S II: A pre-release build of Android 4.1.2 for the international Galaxy S II has leaked into the wild, which must be installed via Odin. [Android Police]

Refreshes we covered this week

• Samsung Galaxy S III for T-Mobile USA receives its Jelly Bea n update
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean binaries added to AOSP
• Stable CyanogenMod 10 builds arrive, give devices an unofficial taste of Jelly Bean
• HTC requires more than 512MB of RAM for Jelly Bean updates, One V and Desire C to stay on ICS
• Android 4.2 reaches some Galaxy Nexus phones early, grab the GSM version here (update: Nexus 7, too)
• Android 4.2 update for Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 adds lock screen widgets and multi-user support (benchmarks)

Engadget

Mobile Miscellany: week of November 12th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of November 12th, 2012

If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This past week, we found new smartphones at Virgin Mobile, Fido and Wind, along with a hefty new round of LTE expansion from AT&T. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of November 12th, 2012.

Samsung Galaxy S II 4G arrives at Virgin Mobile for $ 370

Sprint's premiere phone of yesteryear is now available for no contract seekers at Virgin Mobile. Potential customers will need to buy the Galaxy S II 4G outright for $ 370, which combines a 1.2GHz dual-core Samsung Exynos, a 4.5-inch WVGA Super AMOLED Plus display, an 8-megapixel primary camera and Android 4.0. The phone is also capable of accessing Sprint's 4G WiMAX network, which is by no means speedy, but it's still a substantial improvement over its 3G EV-DO offering. The Galaxy S II 4G is also available at Sprint-owned Boost Mobile with the same $ 370 price tag. [Sprint PR]

Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL now available at Wind Mobile for $ 99 on-contract

Announced during February of this year at Mobile World Congress, there's no doubt that t he Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL took it's sweet time to arrive in the marketplace. Its extended absence caused it to drop off the radar of many, but Canadian consumers can now grab the phone from Wind Mobile for $ 99 on-contract. The handset offers only Android 4.0.4, but to its credit, it's a mostly stock implementation. In all, shoppers will find a device that's powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core SoC designed by Huawei, along with a 4.5-inch 720p HD display, an 8-megapixel rear camera and a substantial 2,600mAh battery. At $ 500 outright, the phone could also be a unique option for T-Mobile customers to import, as it supports the carrier's HSPA+ bands. [MobileSyrup]

Sony Xperia Go comes to Fido for $ 300 outright

Sony's minuscule, rug ged, water-resistant smartphone known as the Xperia Go is now available at Fido for $ 300 without contract. Out of the gate, it ships with Ice Cream Sandwich, although Sony has already committed to an upgrade to Android 4.1. As for specs, the Xperia Go features a dual-core 1GHz processor, a 3.5-inch HVGA display and a 5MP rear camera that records video at 720p. [MobileSyrup]

AT&T lights up new LTE markets across the US

Residents in a number of cities across the US found themselves swimming in AT&T's LTE airwaves this week. So many, in fact, that it makes the most sense to just throw up the list. Here goes:

• Charleston, Columbia and Greenville, S.C.
• Columbus and Toledo, Ohio
• Corvallis and Eugene, Ore.
• El Paso, Texas
• Jonesboro, A rk.
• Mobile, Ala.
• Daytona Beach and Pensacola, Fla.
• Portland, Maine
• Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
• South Bend-Mishawaka, Ind.
• Bridgeport, Conn. expansion (in Fairfield County/Danbury)
• Detroit, Mich. expansion (in Monroe / Downriver)
• Denver, Colo.
• Louisville, Ky.
• Milwaukee, Wis.
• Provo and Orem, Utah
• Tacoma, Wash.
• York, Pa.
• Washington, D.C. expansion

[Mobile Miscellany photo credit: Thristian / Flickr]

Engadget

Algoriddim's vjay gets remixed for iPhone, mobile movies meet the mash-up (video)

Algoriddim's vjay gets remixed for iPhone, mobile movies meet the mash-up (video)

When it comes to holding the party down on an iPad or iPhone, djay by Algoriddim's been a front-runner ever since it came out. Then came vjay for video spinning iPad owners. Now, that video follow-up is ready for the main arena, as it's just been release for iPhone / iPod touch. Now you can mash-up your favorite videos right on your phone, add soundtracks to your existing clips, and throw down some effects for good measure. If you kinda dig what you create, you can -- of course -- share it with the world, or throw it up on the big screen. Not sure your cat clips will cut the mu stard? Worry not, as there's purpose-made bundled content thrown in with the deal. And at just $ 0.99, it won't hurt the pocket it was built for, either.

Show full PR text

Mix, scratch and bring your videos and music to life with Algoriddim's new vjay™ app for iPhone 5

LONDON, UK - November 15, 2012 – In a slick back-to-back move, Algoriddim is following up its blockbuster djay app with an iPhone version of its highly-acclaimed video mixing app vjay, which promises to bring personal video mashups to the masses. Anyone with an iPhone 5, iPhone 4S or even the new iPod touch can now mix videos, add a soundtrack to footage from the iPhone video library, or simply add some snazzy looking special effects to videos shot with the iPhone's built in camera.

vjay for iPhone also integrates directly into the iTunes Store so users can browse, search, preview, and purchase their favorite music videos and easily remix them using stunning transitions as a new and engaging way to experience their favorite artist's music videos.

Those who feel brave enough to showcase their personal mashups to a wider audience will benefit from the integrated social share buttons to instantly and directly post the results of their work on Facebook or YouTube. Even for those users without a huge collection, the new vjay directly integrates with iPhone's video-recording element in the camera app, includes pre-bundled video content from electro-pop superstars Far East Movement, video artist Eclectic Method, DJ & MC master J-Live, and many other clips and loops so fans can sample and add their favorite beats and begin mixing music and video content right away.

Ultra-portable yet powerful and packed with features the new vjay for edition takes full advantage of the phone's widescreen aspect ratio (16:9) and replicates the wow factor of the existing iPad version on a palm-sized scale thanks to a dynamic user interface that automatically adapts to portrait and landscape orientation.

Hooking up the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch wirelessly via Apple TV or to a high-definition TV by using an HDMI adapter means vjay for iPhone mixes can easily be beamed onto the big screen for friends and family to marvel at. Meanwhile, full iOS 6 compatibility enables budding VJs to preview sound and cue up tracks seamlessly while mixing up a storm.

Hidden behind the polished design of the app is a collection of features to mix videos, a raft of audiovisual effects and performance tools features , and VJing staples such as beat and tempo detection, wave form display and 3-band equalizer to blend songs and videos seamlessly together and create unique mix es.

Users of the iPad app are in for a treat too as a reloaded version, free for existing users) not only mirrors the impressive feature set of the iPhone edition but also now comes with several new features including multiple cue-points, the sharing capabilities, and a new full portrait mode to support the Numark iDJ Pro MIDI controller to give it a professional edge.

Pricing and availability:
vjay for iPhone is available for download from the App Store for $ 0.99 / £0.69
vjay for iPad is available for download from the App Store for $ 9.99 / £6.99
The app is free for existing users.

Engadget

PSA: HTC One X+, five other devices from ASUS, HTC, Novatel and Samsung on sale at AT&T

PSA: HTC One X+, five other devices from ASUS, HTC, Novatel and Samsung on sale at AT&T

American carriers love to launch their device lines in bundles, and AT&T just proved the rule in style. Forget the LTE iPad mini -- six other devices have shipped in one day, covering just about every category Big Blue offers. Want a Windows tablet? There's a $ 500 ASUS VivoTab RT waiting for you. Smartphones? HTC's $ 200 One X+ covers the high-end, while its $ 50 One VX and Samsung's $ 100 Galaxy Express target the more frugal among us. Even shutterbugs and cutting-edge networkers can pick up a $ 500 Samsung Galaxy Camera or Novatel's $ 50 MiFi Liberate hotspot. There's no doubt that AT&T is cramming the channel full of new gadgets in the hopes of sc ooping up all the Black Friday sales it can, but we'll forgive the slightly cynical strategy for the sake of a wider device selection.

Engadget

Canada calls dibs on Microsoft's first permanent international store

Canada calls dibs on Microsoft's first permanent international store

Canadian Windows fans rejoice! The rumors have panned out, as Microsoft opened its first permanent non-US retail location on Friday at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto. To celebrate this milestone, the company had a grand opening event with special guest Wayne Gretzky and a performance by the band Train. For the sake of die-hard Windows fans everywhere, here's hoping Microsoft is just scratching the Surface of its international expansion plans.

Engadget

iRobot's RP-VITA mobile telepresence robot iPad app eyes-on (video)

iRobot's RP-VITA mobile telepresence robot iPad app eyes-on (video)

It's a mouthful, we know, but the gist of the below video is this: a few months back, iRobot unveiled RP-VITA, a teleconferencing robot with a rolling base. The company's got all sorts of plans for the 'bot, but is starting things off with medical applications. It's co-branded the device with InTouch Health, positioning it as a method for allowing doctors to tend to patients remotely. An iRobot employee took RP-VITA for a spin around InTouch's Southern California mock hospital location, courtesy of an iPad at the robotics company's Bedford, MA location.

The interface appears to be quite user-friendly -- just touch a location and RP-VITA starts driving, using its sensors to avoid obstacles along the way as a video feed show you where you're going. Once you reach a patient, you can tap on their image to interact with them (in the case of the dummies in the demo, however, that was easier said than done, of course). Along the bottom, the app offers the doctor large, easy-to-read vitals.

Check out a full video of the demo after the break.

Engadget

Google Play Store update on Android brings post-install suggestions, translations

Google Play Store update on Android brings post-install suggestions, translations

Google likes to stealthily roll out Google Play Store updates for Android users on a frequent basis, whether it's to add new sections or to encourage a little more impulse shopping. We'd put a brand new revision in that last camp. The 3.10.9 tweak no longer just leaves us lingering at an app's page during an installation: start the process and the store offers suggestions based on fellow adopters' habits as well as a shortcut back to the main portal. Language mismatches in the store could also be a thing of the past with an option to translate descri ptions into the device owner's native tongue. Along with a quicker way to add Google+ friends and get better app recommendations, Google's refresh is clearly built to remove those last points of hesitation before trying something new; if the app drawer is looking a little bare, hit the source link (or wait for an automatic update) to fill up.

Engadget

Lorenz Potthast's Decelerator helmet gives you slow-motion vision, sci-fi style

Lorenz Potthast's Decelerator helmet gives you slow-motion vision, sci-fi style

Ever wish you could just push a slow-mo button and cause the hustle and bustle of city life to ease up a little? Maybe you'd just like to seal yourself off from your surroundings within the confines of a shiny aluminum sphere. German artist Lorenz Potthast didn't stop at thinking about it, he did something. Dubbed the "Decelerator," the avant garde piece of headgear does just that: it has a camera that feeds video to the head-mounted display inside, with the wearer (or someone else) able to control the speed of the video playback with a remote. A netbook stuffed in the top ha ndles all the video processing, and an LCD on the outside offers passers-by a look at what the wearer sees. You can find a video after the break and more details at the source link below if you're interested in building your own -- Potthast apparently has no plans to go into the Decelerator business.

Engadget

Lenovo's upcoming five-inch 1080p phone to feature dual-SIM connectivity

Lenovo's upcoming five-inch 1080p phone to feature dual-SIM connectivity

By now you should already know that HTC, Sharp and Oppo share a common theme: 1080p display on their five-inch phones. As it turns out, Lenovo also wants in on the VIP list. Spotted on Sina Weibo earlier this week (but have since been deleted) are the above three screenshots showing off Lenovo's customized Android UI in 1080p glory. As with many phones in China these days, the device in question supports dual-SIM connectivity -- the screenshots indicate that it's connected to China Telecom's CDMA2000 network and China Mobile's 2G network simultaneously.

Our own source wouldn't direct ly confirm that it's a five-inch display on this mysterious phone, but we were told that it'll be somewhere between 4.5 inches and 5.5 inches -- we'll take that as a yes, especially since the only 1080p mobile panels available right now are the five-inch, 440ppi ones from Sharp and JDI. Our source also said the phone's entered DVT (Design Verification Test) phase for some time, so it might not be long before we hear an official announcement in China. As always, stay tuned. Lenovo's upcoming five-inch 1080p phone to feature dual-SIM connectivity

Engadget

Sony lowers PS3, PS Vita bundles to $199 for Black Friday madness

Sony lowers PS3, PS Vita bundles to $199 for Black Friday madness

Black Friday's coming and you know what that means: time to move some units. For two days only starting November 23rd, Sony's knocking an additional $ 50 off existing PlayStation console bundles. Consumers with the wherewithal to withstand the shopping frenzy can snare the Ultimate PS3 Value Bundle (i.e. 250GB console, Uncharted Dual Pack, inFamous Collection and PS Plus trial) or one of three WiFi-only PS Vita deals (Assassin's Creed III: Liberation, Lego Batman 2 or Call of Duty Black Ops Declassified) at select retailers for $ 199. Of course, if M for Mature's not your bag, there's always the family-fri endlier Wii U to consider.

Engadget

Eskuché intros Control v2 and 45v2 headphones, melds '70s chic with 2012 tech for iOS listeners

Eskuché intros Control v2 and 45v2 headphones, melds '70s chic with 2012 tech for iOS listeners

Sound quality matters most for headphones, but we won't lie: we've got a soft spot for a slick design. Eskuché is undoubtedly trying to play that opening like a fiddle with its just-launched Control v2 (left) and 45v2 (right) sets. Both evoke the feel of vintage studio monitors through their 1970s-era finishes while including a decidedly non-vintage microphone and remote combo for iOS devices. The two styles share a 20Hz to 20kHz frequency range, 32-ohm impedance and 40mm drivers, although there's an incentive to splurge: the $ 60 Control v2 is the baseline for casual listening with its nostalgic colors and 3.5mm cabling, while the $ 129 45v2 is tailored to DJs through its titanium drivers, rotatable aluminum cups and a detachable cable system that works with 6.3mm (quarter-inch) plugs through an adapter. iPhone owners eager to recreate a first Led Zeppelin listening will have to trek to Apple's online or retail stores for a Control v2 during the holidays; they'll have more shopping choices for the studio-friendly 45v2 arriving at the same time.

Show full PR text

Eskuché Headphones Launches V2 Collection

eskuché's premiere v2 Collection is the next evolution in our classic inspired audio headphone line consisting of two new on-ear headphone designs, the 45v2 ($ 129) and Control v2 ($ 59.99). Designed with Apple's three button mic control system combined with our industrial design platform, the v2 Collection delivers eskuche's staple design, clean acoustics and modern technolog y for today's savvy consumers. Seamlessly control your Apple device with the play/pause + answer/end + volume control functionality, all from the custom in-line mic controller. The newly released collection is available at Apple retail stores in North America and online at Apple.com.

The Control v2 comes in three distinct colors (Café Brown, Burnt Orange, and Baby Blue) and are exclusive to Apple Retail stores and Apple.com through the holiday. In addition, the newly and improved 45v2, is available in a custom machined metallic Silver as well as Matte Black. The 45v2 will be available on Apple.com and other specialty retail outlets this holiday.

Engadget

Nintendo Wii U review

Nintendo Wii U review

More Info

• Nintendo's Wii U tablet controller and the death of your TV's remote control
• Editorial: Why America's most popular gaming genre likely won't work on Nintendo's new console
• Take a very, very close look at the round-edged Wii U proprietary discs

Nintendo's new console is an anomaly in the game console ecosystem, but not for Nintendo. The company that -- in just the last decade -- popularized stylus-powered gaming, microphone-powered gaming and motion-based gaming, is once again pushing game control inputs forward. And just like its previous consoles, lessons learned from past hardware build the foundation of its latest effort: the Wii U and its bizarre-looking, but conventionally named, "GamePad."

The Wii U console itself, for instance, looks almost exactly like the original Wii. It's longer (6.75 inches vs. 6 inches for the Wii), a bit rounder on the edges, and there's an HDMI port out back, but overall it's quite similar to its squatter predecessor. It's enough that you'd get the two confused if they were sitting in the same entertainment center. Naturally, the beefed-up internals and Wii backwards compatibility mean you'll likely be replacing the ol' virtual tennis machine should you choose to pick one up.

Of course, the GamePad is the real star of the show here, bolstered by Nintendo's ambitious "TVii" experiment. Everyone's favorite Italian plumber looks super in HD, no doubt, but how software employs the multifaceted touchscreen tablet / traditional game controller hybrid is what really matters. So, how does the Wii U fare? Find out below.

Note: Nintendo delayed TVii into December, and the majority of promised functionality was not made available to reviewers ahead of the console's November 18th release date (including crucial components like online infrastructure, the Miiverse social network, Nintendo Network, Nintendo TVii, and Wii backwards compatibility). As such, we're updating our review as we use those features, post-launch.

Hardware: The Console

The Wii U is a relatively quiet little box that slips easily into home media centers. Sure, there's a stand (at least in the deluxe set), but we opted to lay it on its side -- it takes up less space, and all the writing is geared toward it laying horizontally. How could we disobey the font? It'll take up yet another HDMI spot on your HDTV (a c able is thankfully included in the Wii U box), though component is also an option (sold separately). Think of the ports on the back of the Wii U box as identical to what you had on your original Wii, save for some very small tweaks. For one, the AC power port is slightly altered to account for the Wii U's new, larger adapter. Otherwise, the only difference is the addition of HDMI-in on account of the console's beefed up internals: an IBM Power-based multi-core processor and an AMD Radeon custom high-def CPU. You can directly plug in that old Wii sensor bar, should you choose to eschew the brand new one you'll get in the box.

There are two flavors of storage as well, with the $ 300 model getting just 8GB of internal flash memory while the $ 350 model gets 32GB. Not that any of that matters terribly, as both flash and full-on external HDDs are supported. The four USB ports situated around the long black rectangle should provide more than enough support. Should they no t be enough, an SD slot sits up front below the optical disc tray, tucked behind a slidable wall of shiny plastic with two of the aforementioned USB ports. Like the GamePad it supports, the Wii U console is glossy, fingerprint-loving plastic. The dust and cat hair in our test apartment love the exterior of the Wii U. We do not. Unless you live in a dust-less vacuum, there's no way your Wii U console won't exist in a state of perpetual shabbiness. We've had our black deluxe set for a week and it looks as though it's been sitting in an ancient tomb. Finish aside, it's a quiet, sleek black rectangle that takes up little of our precious entertainment center space -- you'll find no complaints here.Nintendo Wii U vs. Nintendo Wii ... fight!

Hardware: The GamePad

The Wii U's touch-based GamePad controller has its roots in the Nintendo DS, as evidenced by the GamePad's stylus concept, the aging resistive touchscreen (albeit larger at 6.2 inches, with an 854×480 resolution in a 16:9 ratio), and the microphone residing along the bottom. A player-facing camera -- no doubt borrowed from the DSi -- sits parallel to the mic, just above that enormous touchscreen. Two Nintendo Wii Nunchuk-esque convex, clickable analog sticks punctuate the left and right sides of the GamePad, and the plus and minus buttons (replacing start / select) from the Wiimote sit along the lower right. The SNES' hallmark four-button layout and d-pad line up on either side of the touchscreen just below the analog sticks. This sure is a Nintendo device, eh? Or is it every Nintendo device, all at once?

Of course, the GamePad is more than an homage to Nintendo's previous hardware, and there's plenty new to gawk at -- a volume slider controls how loud the GamePad's speakers are, a haloed Home button sits along the bottom (allowing for quick access to the GamePad's settings and the console's main menu) and a red battery light indicates when you'll need a recharge (solid to warn, blinking when death is imminent).Nintendo Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller vs. Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 controllers

Digital triggers await your pointer fingers on each side around back, with a clickable shoulder button above each (similar to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 controllers). A deep ridge allows you to comfortably hold the hefty, 1.1-pound controller for long periods -- not that you'll be using it for much longer than three hours if you don't plug it in. We pulled just under five hours out of it with brightness turned all the way down, the sound off and no rumble, but averaged around 3.5 hours in general use. There's also a power-saving mode which auto-adjusts the screen's brightness based on whatever it's disp laying, which seemed to do little in conserving battery life; turning down the sound and keeping brightness at the lowest setting is the best way to extend run time beyond the average, we found. Should you choose to give yourself a break and fully recharge the controller, it'll need around 2.5 hours to re-up.

We pulled just under five hours out of it with brightness turned all the way down, the sound off and no rumble, but averaged around 3.5 hours in general use.

As for new functionality, there's a spot for NFC connectivity, but but we can't test it as no software supports it yet (not even Activision megahit series Skylanders). Of course, it's not hard to imagine, say, a Pokémon tie-in down the line, or something else similarly terrifying to parents' wallets. Perhaps the most novel non-gaming function of the tablet-esque controller is its IR-based universal remote control ability -- the GamePad can be used to control your HDTV (well, "most" HDTVs) in some basi c, but very important, ways. Rather than futzing with several remote controls to turn on your television and game console, the Wii U's built-in universal remote functionality -- which functions whether or not the Wii U itself is powered on -- streamlines everything down to just the game controller. Of course, this is no replacement for your Harmony One; in our experience, it was primarily used for powering on the Wii U, the television, and switching to the appropriate input / changing volume / etc., and thankfully had little to no impact on battery.

This functionality alone made a huge impact on how we approached the console as part of the entertainment center. It's also changed our game playing habits quite a bit, as many games on the GamePad screen a re mirror images of the TV -- we found ourselves indulging ADD and flipping to the evening news while trouncing goombas. It also helps the family dynamic of battling for control of one television. Little Sally can keep playing New Super Mario Bros. U while Dad watches Sunday football (or other such situations).

That won't work with all software, of course, such as featured launch title Nintendo Land -- a carnival-themed collection of 12 games spotlighting major Nintendo franchises, from Animal Crossing to Zelda. It employs all of the GamePad's gimmicks across its single and multiplayer games. That includes asymmetrical gameplay, wherein what you see on the GamePad isn't what you see on your television. As such, much-vaunted features like off-screen play work only on a case-by-case basis. (We were unable to test this feature with Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant or any other non-game software ahead of launch, as none were available.)

Sadly, overall, the GamePad controller gives off a relatively low-grade impression; it looks and feels like a toy. The four main buttons resemble aspirin pills and aren't of the polish we expect from modern game consoles; glossy plus / minus buttons accentuate this tragedy even further. Shallow, squishy shoulder buttons akin to those on Sony's DualShock 3 compare poorly to those found on the current Xbox 360 controller as well as competent third-party equivalents (the Razer Onza, for instance). And the convex analog sticks had our thumbs easily slipping during long Mario sessions. The glossy, handprint-friendly, dust-magnet finish on the GamePad isn't helping its looks, either (we prefer the matte finish on the GamePad's rear). It's not all bad -- the d-pad is as solid as e ver, and the clicky digital triggers work beautifully (as long as you're not playing an FPS or a racing game, that is). The GamePad's comfy, too, despite its weight and size. If only it'd go further from its home base console than the 26 feet Nintendo's promising.

Yes, we tried bringing the Wii U GamePad everywhere, but Nintendo's (admittedly conservative) estimation is pretty spot-on -- the streamed video that the Wii U pushes to its GamePad wouldn't go very far at all without running into hiccups or cutting out altogether. That isn't to say we encountered issues within that estimated distance -- in fact, streaming worked flawlessly -- but don't expect to sneak in late night gaming from your bedroom while the Wii U sits quietly across the house. Though folks in more rural areas may fare better, our NY-based test apartment with three wireless devices (aside from the Wii U) wouldn't allow anything beyond 20 feet or so. Within that range, though, the Wii U magically str eams hiccup-free gaming to both the GamePad's screen and an HDTV -- no small feat, and one that opens up a Pandora's box of ideas for both game developers and media providers.

Hardware: The Pro Controller

The Pro Controller is a Nintendo-crafted hybrid of the PlayStation 3's DualShock and the Xbox 360's controller. It's got a good heft, but isn't too heavy, and sadly features the same glossy plastic and cheap buttons we've already complained about. Apparently Nintendo wants our consoles and their accessories constantly looking dirty? It rumbles as you'd expect and functions admirably in time-sensitive situations (such as Ninja Gaiden 3). Also expected: its battery lasts much, much longer than the GamePad, with ours holding charge anywhere from six to 10 hours before needing a plug in. Unlike t he GamePad, which requires an wall charge directly, you can simply plug in the controller into the console via USB and continue playing while charging.

Hardware: The Charging Cradle

Surprisingly, there's a lot to be said for the convenience of the Wii U's GamePad charging cradle. Rather than fussing with wires that connect to an otherwise wireless console, you simply place the GamePad in a comfy dock, no connection required (a la the 3DS charging cradle). It comes with its own AC adapter and doesn't actually require a physical plug into the GamePad -- the controller charges via touch points rather than a plug (again, in around 2.5 hours). If Nintendo Land's discounted price and the larger internal storage haven't already sold poten tial buyers on the deluxe Wii U version, the cradle (otherwise sold separately for $ 20) absolutely should. It's a small convenience, but quite a nice one.

Software

We can't share the same positivity about the mostly unchanged UI -- it's a simplified version of the user interface we got to know in the original Wii. Movable, rounded square tiles (five across, three down) represent the entire experience, aside from the ability to swap between your user Mii walking around a (currently empty) plaza and the tiles. Nintendo plans to populate this plaza with your online friends (and news from its SpotPass feature), but we've been unable to use this feature ahead of launch -- as of now, it's a pretty, empty room with a very lonely Mii. Logging in with your Mii is a snap, and you can set a particular one to default login on boot. Logging out and switching users is as simple as tapping the user icon in the upper left corner of the UI and selecting another user -- simple, intuitive and quick.

Currently, pre-launch update, what little that is available in terms of non-game software loads surprisingly slowly for a brand-new console. Opening the Mii Maker, the System Settings, Daily Log or the Parental Controls requires a roughly 15-second wait while the application loads (yes, we timed it), and backing out takes about as long. When you do enter any of the applications, there's only so much to do -- the Mii Maker functions much like that of its 3DS equivalent, matching up a camera scan of your face with an approximation or allowing you to import one from other Nintendo consoles (3DS included). You can also create your own from scratch, should you be so inclined.

The Daily Log shows a breakdown of your daily actions on the Wii U, as well as per game, so you can find out exactly how much of your life you've spent trying to find various incarnations of the Triforce. Parental Controls mostly allow for enabling or disabling the Wii U's various features -- accessing non-game entertainment, or Miiverse, or the eShop -- as well as an ESRB-based blocking system for games. System Settings is where you'll go for data management (such as transferring your old Wii data over), but also where you'll go to tweak the settings you arranged in initial setup (wireless networks, date/time, etc. -- basic system level stuff). Most importantly, it's where you can recalibrate your GamePad and sensor bar should there ever be an issue.

Games

With 23 games to choose from this weekend and even more in the "launch window" (ending March 31, 2013), the Wii U's arriving at retail with a huge presence. Of course, only a small handful of those 23 are worth plunking down your $ 60 for -- they're sti ll launch titles, after all -- and we've got a few suggestions.

New Super Mario Bros. U

Obvious? Yes. Delightful? Also yes. New Super Mario Bros. U is Mario's first big HD outing, and he's looking incredible, as are Bowser's airships and Yoshi's big, goofy face. Beyond being a great showpiece for your new console, NSMBU is an excellent Mario game. It's nowhere near as innovative as series standouts like Super Mario World (an SNES launch title) or even Super Mario 64 (an N64 launch title), but it's a heck of a lot better than recent NSMB entries (we're looking at you, New Super Mario Bros. 2 on 3DS).

Nintendo Land

If you're wondering what the Wii Sports of Wii U is, Nintendo Land is it: the game serves as a glorious demonstration of the unique controller's many, many functions, and offers a preview of what other creative ideas will assuredly spring up over the next several years. More importantly, Nintendo Land helps prove that the GamePad's more than just a mix ed bag of legacy functionality and emerging tablet fads -- the tilt sensor shines in Captain Falcon's Twister Race, and the whole "second screen" idea works beautifully in Luigi's Ghost Mansion. It's easy to forget how cheap the overall build of the GamePad feels when you're enjoying totally new gaming experiences with it. Nintendo Land's demonstrative abilities are a necessity when buying the new console -- the game alone sells the deluxe set, as you'd pay more for the game and regular bundle separately.

ZombiU

Ubisoft Montpellier's long-in-development Wii U zombie shooter matured considerably since its initial unveiling as "Killer Freaks From Outer Space." The freaks are now the undead hordes of London, post-zombie apocalypse, and you're an unwittin g survivor struggling to hang on. Rather than gleefully taking to heavy weaponry, you'll be employing survival skills more than anything else -- weapons (and ammunition) are at a minimum, and the GamePad's second screen is employed smartly as a map / backpack (as well as lots of other neat tricks that you should really just see for yourself). ZombiU also serves as a showcase of the system's non-cartoon HD ability (some up-close textures reminded us this is still a launch game, sadly). Be warned that it is also relatively terrifying, though we scare easy.

Ports

Wii U's launching with a variety of ports from current Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games, such as Mass Effect 3 and Assassin's Creed 3. The vast majority of this holiday's big games are being ported (as well as some of last holiday's, like Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition). None of these are developed with the Wii U in mind, though some have additional content or new ways of interacting with existing content. If you're dead set on only playing Wii U games this holiday, then these might be your only way to check out some great games. That said, there's little benefit to playing them here over other consoles -- and if you're into multiplayer, there's an argument for existing consoles having more online players (based solely on install base).

Wrap-up

Nintendo promised consumers a modern HD gaming console, and the Wii U -- what's there of it thus far -- delivers on that promise. Games look gorgeous (HD Mario!), the risky controller is another successful control innovation and there's a ton of promise on the horizon. What's missing, sadly, is a huge part of the puzzle -- so huge, in fact, that it's impossible for us to pass judgment on the whole p ackage just yet.

Without Nintendo Network, Miiverse, Nintendo TVii, or any streaming / on-demand video content -- not to mention promised backwards compatibility -- the Wii U doesn't compete at all with even last-gen consoles (Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 just became last-gen, in case that isn't clear). But Nintendo launched a patch just four hours ahead of launch containing at least some of that functionality, so we're reserving judgment until we've spent time with its post-update features.

Joseph Volpe contributed to this review.

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Alt-week 11.17.12: freestyle brain scans, hovering moon base and robot dolphin replacements

Alt-week 11.17.12: freestyle brain scans, hovering moon base and robot dolphin replacements

Alt-week takes a look at the best science and alternative tech stories from the last seven days.

This week we're all over the place. Sorry about that, but it's all for the greater good. We start things off right down at the quantum level, then head to the oceans, before a quick jaunt into space before landing back deep inside your mind. All in the name of science, of course. Science and hip-hop that is. This is alt-week.

It wasn't all that long ago that CERN made headlines with its Higgs-related findings (work that still goes on), but it's not all about the Boson. Tiny pulses of light created in atomic nuclei in colliders such as the LHC could lead to new levels of timing accuracy. Currently, ultra-short laser pulses can be used to measure with an accuracy of attoseconds (one billionth of a billionth, 10-18th, or if you prefer, a quintillionth of a second) but, these atomic-level pulses created in collisions, are potentially a million times shorter once again. So brief, in fact, that they are currently undetectable with the typical tools. There is, however, another way of spotting the fleeting flashes of light, and it's the same method used to measure the diameter of stars. The method relies on the Hanbury Brown-Twiss effect, and uses the correlation between two detectors to observe changes in light data with the minutest of detail. Why is this good for science? Well, timing accuracy aside, quantum physics experiments often use light pulses for state change, and observation. Being able to do this at such a detailed s cale could allow experiments in areas previously unobtainable.

According to a BBC Worldwide report, it could be time for a few long-serving members of the US military to enjoy a comfortable retirement. Speaking with beeb's Future section, the US Navy advises that after more than 50 years of using sea mammals, such as dolphins, for mine detection, it will be phasing them out. Instead, the role will now be performed by sonar-enabled torpedo-like drones, such as the Knifefish pictured below. These new underwater unmanned vehicles, or robots, can be deployed for mine sweeps of up to 16 hours, and while not 100 percent as effective as the creatures they replace, represent substantial monetary savings. The new recruits won't be able to take over from the dolphins j ust yet, but are expected to be ready by 2017. In the meantime, our smart, ocean-faring friends will have to hold out just a little longer for that army pension. We're not kidding about that last part, either.

A few weeks back we covered an idea for a supercomputer on the moon. The fanciful notion caught our imagination, but seemed a little out of reach. News this week that NASA might be planning a floating moon base, however, is just real enough to get us pretty excited. The rumors started a few weeks ago when the Orlando Sentinel claimed to have seen papers describing such a thing. Well, they've resurfaced again, and a few people with knowledge on the matter are suggesting it has every chance of being possible. The details are short at the moment, but essential ly it would be an outpost located in the Earth-moon Lagrange point 2 (EML-2). This is a spot where the moon and the Earth's combined gravity would be balanced, just enough, to keep the satellite in a fixed position -- no fuel required. As EML-2 is beyond the point of existing human-based missions, and doesn't enjoy the earth's protection from radiation, it could be the ideal "testing ground" for longer term exploration into deeper space. The suggestion is, that if this is a reality, NASA might let more details slip once the federal budget gets announced early next year.

You might think that spittin' lyrics was all about practise making perfect. And likely that's a large part of it. Researchers at the -- decidedly non-rhyming -- voice, speech and language branch of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) wanted to better understand the creative process, and decided to look at the brains of rappers while in "flow" to do so. The same team did previous research involving improvising Jazz musicians, which was then spotted by hip-hop lover Daniel Rizik-Baer. He thought that the freestyle dialog of rappers would be an even better fit for such studies, and got in touch with the NIDCD. The team agreed it was a great idea, and so it came to pass. Several artists were subjected to fMRI scans while both free-forming, and using rehearsed lyrics. The findings? Increased activity in the medial prefrontal cortex but a decreased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal region. The area of the brain that lit up is responsible for self motivation, and compiling information, while the area that saw a decline in use is what provides attention and self monitoring (criti cism etc). The outcome suggests that this is the cerebral recipe for the "flow" state, where information is dealt with as it comes, without passing critical judgement on it, or being distracted by over analysing. There were also increases in the areas associated with language, action and emotion, which were seen working tightly together. The work doesn't end here, however, with the same team wanting to continue the research, to see how the brain operates in what they believe is phase two of creativity -- where people refine, or improve what they have just created.

Seen any other far-out articles that you'd like considered for Alt-week? Working on a project or research that's too cool t o keep to yourself? Drop us a line at alt [at] engadget [dot] com.

[Image credits: BBC, NIDCD]

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Kohler's Moxie shower head makes it rain music, sticks with you all morning

Kohler's Moxie shower head makes it rain music, sticks with you all morning

Like to sing in the shower? Take a seat on your grandma's old bathing stool -- your own shower head is about to show you up. Kohler's latest water dispersal nozzle, Moxie, features a detachable Bluetooth speaker secured in the shower head's center with a magnet. It sounds like a bad Yakov Smirnoff gag: in Soviet Russia, shower sings to you! The speaker pops off the sprayer when it's time to towel off, and promises to provide up to seven hours of sudsy tunes before needing a recharge. The only thing it seems to be missing is a water powered micro-turbine. Read on for Kohler's official p ress release.

Show full PR text

Kohler Debuts Moxie Showerhead with Integrated Speaker Capsule

Bluetooth-enabled KOHLER Moxie brings music into the shower with an integrated speaker capsule that's both rechargeable and removable

KOHLER, Wis. – November 17, 2012 – Smartphones are everywhere. More than 38 percent of adults -

120 million-in the U.S. own one, and the number continues to climb. Users even admit to taking them everywhere; a recent survey found 75 percent use their phones in the bathroom. To embrace the demand for constant connectivity, Kohler Co. introduces a new sensory experience to showerheads with the KOHLER Moxie showerhead.
"We're seeing a growing demand for music in the bathroom," says Kohler performance showering product manager Leslie Bronson. "The Moxie showerhead is the first of its kind to combine the delivery of water and music. And with the proximity of the Bluetooth*-enabled speaker pod, bathers are simultaneously showered with music and a best-in-class spray experience."
The Moxie showerhead syncs with any Bluetooth-enabled device-smartphones and mp3 players-and streams music directly into the shower. But the fun doesn't stop there; the speaker pod can be removed for enjoyment on the go, throughout the rest of the bathroom and beyond. "Smartphones are transforming the way users access music," Bronson says. "Half of all smartphone users stream music directly from their devices. The Moxie Showerhead takes accessibility to a whole new level. It offers a convenient, stylish sound boost. It's like having your own mobile DJ."

About the KOHLER Moxie Showerhead:

Installation is fast and simple, the same required for a standard showerhead.

Audio Control is managed through the paired Bluetooth-enabled device, such as a smartphone or mp3 player.

The on/off button discretely incorporated into the speaker capsule 's design also includes a light that changes color to indicate when the speaker is paired and when the battery needs to be charged.

A lithium battery** provides on average seven hours of playtime; recharging the speaker is easy with the USB cord provided.

Redocking the speaker capsule is simple. A strong magnet located in the dock's base maintains a secure hold.

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