Google postponing Nexus Q launch to 'make it better,' sending a free device to those who pre-ordered

Apparently Google's strange little media streamer isn't quite ready for prime time -- not according to the company that made it, at least. The software giant has begun sending out a note to pre-orderers letting them know that the launch of the sphere has been delayed in order to "work on making it even better." The company adds that it's responding to user feedback from previewers who want it to "do even more than it does today." To show that there are no hard feelings, the company will be "extend[ing] [the] Nexus Q preview to our pre-order customers and send[ing] [them] a free device," according to Google. We asked the company to clarify that last bit, to make sure if meant exactly what we thought it meant, and sure enough they told us, "We are sending a free Nexus Q to any users who pre-ordered the device at no cost to them." Sometimes it pays to be an early adopter. No word on when the device will begin shipping, but the company promised it will be arriving "soon."

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Google postponing Nexus Q launch to 'make it better,' sending a free device to those who pre-ordered originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 17:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]>

View the original article here

GeForce GTX 560, 550 Series Discontinuation to Quickly Follow GTX 660 Ti, 650 Launch

After fulfilling the last orders, the product's status is changed to End of Life (EOL). To consumers, this news comes as a heads up, if they plan to buy any of the three SKUs on the chopping block, at their currently-attractive prices. The GeForce GTX 560 Ti is available on US retail website Newegg.com for as low as $179.99 (after rebate), the GTX 560 goes for as low as US $149.99 (after rebate), and the GTX 550 Ti for as low as $114.99. One can also deduce that NVIDIA will have healthy inventories of the new GPUs on launch.



Source: DonanimHaber]]>

View the original article here

GeForce GTX 660 Ti Specifications and Launch Date Released

The memory amount stays 2 GB, as well. It's just that the memory bus width is reduced from 256-bit to 192-bit, resulting in 25% lower memory bandwidth. The 2 GB of memory is spread across the 192-bit memory bus, probably with four chips using 32-bit wide paths each, with four other chips sharing two 32-bit wide paths. NVIDIA is known for pulling off such memory configurations, like it did with the GeForce GTX 550 Ti. ]]>

View the original article here

Richard Branson confirms Virgin Galactic's first space tourism flight will launch next year with him on board

Richard Branson has long said that he'd be on board Virgin Galactic's first commercial space tourism flight, and he's now confirmed that will take place sometime next year with his two adult children along for the ride (a bit of a delay from the company's original 2011 target). That trip will of course be made with the company's SpaceShipTwo craft, which has already completed a number of test flights, and which is capable of flying 100 kilometers (or just over 60 miles) above the Earth for a planned two and a half hour flight with five minutes of weightlessness. As the AP notes, some 529 people have already signed up for the $200,000 per person rides into space, each of whom will have to take part in a week of training prior to their trip. Booking's can still be made on Virgin Galactic's website.

Filed under: Transportation

Richard Branson confirms Virgin Galactic's first space tourism flight will launch next year with him on board originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Jul 2012 16:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  AP (Yahoo News), Virgin Galactic  | Email this | Comments]]>

View the original article here

Nike+ Basketball and Training stat tracking shoes launch, kick off 'Game On, World' challenge (video)

While the Nike+ fitness tracking platform has been around for years, the footwear giant has only just unleashed shoes with the technology built right in. The Nike Hyperdunk+ (last seen skying through the FCC) is its first basketball shoe in the line, while the first training shoes are the Lunar Hyper workout+ for women and Lunar TR 1+ for men. All feature not only the new Nike+ Pressure Sensor that tracks its wearer's movement, but also lightweight Flywire construction and Lunarlon cushioning. Both can wirelessly transfer their data to apps on user's phones (currently iOS only, pre-iPhone 4S hardware will also need the $20 Nike+ Sport adapter) or PCs, tracking activity during games, height on a dunk or movement as part of a training workout or drill.

So what is Nike going to do with all that data? Its first plan for the summer is "Game On, World", which is a series of challenges inspired by pro athletes encouraging all Nike+ users to set their personal bests in various categories. If you're still not sure how all this comes together, there are several demo videos embedded after the break. Now all we need to do is find someone (else) to get all sweaty, let us know if it works and keep us on top of the leaderboard -- has anyone seen Dan Cooper lately?

Gallery: Nike+ Basketball and Training

Continue reading Nike+ Basketball and Training stat tracking shoes launch, kick off 'Game On, World' challenge (video)

Nike+ Basketball and Training stat tracking shoes launch, kick off 'Game On, World' challenge (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Jul 2012 08:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Game On World  | Email this | Comments]]>

View the original article here

FEMA and National Weather Service launch Wireless Emergency Alert System

While it's a little later than expected, the free SMS emergency notification system has now gone live. Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) messages will be delivered to cell towers in affected areas, which will then broadcast them to all compatible devices in their range. While the system is looking to cover over 97 percent of the country, it's being gradually rolled out across carriers. Sprint and Verizon are both apparently ready for action and while we haven't heard about the status of T-Mobile or AT&T, the National Weather Service has stated that hundreds of smaller carriers haven't yet enabled the broadcasts. However, not all phones -- especially the more elderly bricks still in circulation -- will work with the system. To check whether your weighty cellular still passes muster, hit up the compatible device list at the CTIA link below.

FEMA and National Weather Service launch Wireless Emergency Alert System originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 22:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Information Week  | Email this | Comments]]>

View the original article here

Visualized: The iPhone five years after launch

In case you somehow missed it, today is an important milestone in technology nostalgia: it's the fifth anniversary of the original iPhone's launch. We'll let you explore the memories of that insane day on your own terms, but ComScore has produced a visual breakdown of just how ownership has grown and shifted over the years. It's not hard to see that adoption has been on an accelerating curve, especially after the 2010 launch of the Retina display-toting iPhone 4: as of this past May, about three quarters of owners have either the iPhone 4 or the iPhone 4S. And the 2007 edition? Only two percent of all iPhone owners are still actively holding on to the aluminum-clad debut model, which suggests most would rather have Siri than reminisce. Whether you're a fan or have since moved on to a competitor, the chart is a reminder of just how far one of Steve Jobs' biggest projects has come.

Visualized: The iPhone five years after launch originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  ComScore  | Email this | Comments]]>

View the original article here

(PR) MSI Launch MS-9893 IPC Board with the Latest Intel Atom Platform

MSI MS-9893 supports multi-display outputs, including single Channel 18/24 bit LVDS, VGA, one HDMI. It has great graphics performance and support for up to 1080P high definition video.MSI MS-9893 is equipped with single-channel DDR3 1066 MHz memory up to a maximum of 4 GB in 1 x 204 SO-DIMM slots. MS-9893 supports D2550(10W) / N2800(6.5W) two SKU, with VGA, HDMI, Video Output: LVDS/ Single CH 24bit by D2550 (LVDS/ Single CH 18bit by N2800). Power Input support, one ATX for D2550, and another is DC-in 12V for D2550 / N2800. I/O, and expansion connectivity, including 6* COM-ports(2 x Real, 4 x Internal), 6* USB2.0(4 x Real, 2 x Internal), and 8*GPIO(4 x GPI, 4 x GPO), one PCI slot and one Mini-PCIe slot could support the m-SATA/wireless function.

]]>

View the original article here

Canadian carriers put Galaxy S III launch on June 20th, back dual-core 1.5GHz chip for LTE models (update: Snapdragon, 2GB RAM official)

Canadian carriers flocked to the Galaxy S III before we'd barely even left our seats in London to try it, and it looks like they're also more than a little eager to provide launch details ahead of their American counterparts. Telus and Videotron have both confirmed the leaked June 20th release date, and Telus has gone so far as to reinforce suspicions that LTE models will use the Snapdragon S4 instead of the Exynos 4 Quad -- it expects the phone to use a "1.5GHz dual-core processor," which sure sounds like Qualcomm's latest to us. The same carrier has nailed down pricing at $160 on a three-year contract for a 16GB version and $210 for a 32GB model. Other carriers like Bell and Rogers are still a bit commitment-phobic, although that earlier Best Buy tip makes us think they'll fall into line before long.

Update: Samsung's own release has swung our way, and it's providing a slew of details that should closely relate to the US launch. As expected, that's a Snapdragon S4 inside, although we now know that the 2GB of RAM of the NTT DoCoMo version will at least be making its way to Canada as well. The LTE version for Bell, Rogers, Telus and a handful of regional carriers is known as the SGH-i747, while the fabled SGH-T999 stops at 42Mbps HSPA+ and is the edition that Mobilicity, Wind and Videotron will get, since it supports 1,700MHz 3G. There's no mention of a 64GB Canadian Galaxy S III, so you'll still have to import if you frown heavily upon microSD cards.

Continue reading Canadian carriers put Galaxy S III launch on June 20th, back dual-core 1.5GHz chip for LTE models (update: Snapdragon, 2GB RAM official)

Canadian carriers put Galaxy S III launch on June 20th, back dual-core 1.5GHz chip for LTE models (update: Snapdragon, 2GB RAM official) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 14:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MobileSyrup  |  Telus, Videotron  | Email this | Comments]]>

View the original article here

Video: Watch Toyota celebrate UAE launch of GT 86

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Toyota, Middle East

Toyota has officially launched the company's GT 86 sportscar in the United Arab Emirates. The Japanese automaker rolled out the rear-drive hero with a fancy new video shot in the hills around Fujairah. With plenty of drifting, tire smoke and slow motion, the clip serves as a proper introduction to the lightweight coupe. Judging by the quick video, there are a few market-specific changes to the UAE Toyota GT 86, including the availability of one very massive rear wing. The piece has more than a passing resemblance to the exaggerated aero work found on the lusty Subaru WRX STI sedan.

Will the Toyota GT 86 find favor in the UAE? We certainly think it's got a shot. If there's a more car-obsessed culture on this planet than the one found in the U.S., it lies in the well-funded Middle East. You can check out the launch video for yourself by scrolling below, or head over to the Toyota UAE Facebook page for a little more information.

Continue reading Watch Toyota celebrate UAE launch of GT 86

Watch Toyota celebrate UAE launch of GT 86 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 May 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

View the original article here

Vizio PCs officially launch in June, home theaters look on with envy

The FCC gave us a clue that Vizio's first-ever PCs would be shipping soon, and the company is now spilling a few beans more directly. Although the official statement is still short on many of the details we've been hoping to know, Vizio is promising that the line will launch before June is up. As a refresher, the normally home theater-focused company is planning to go all-out despite being the new kid on the block, going with a trio of mid-size laptops as well as two sizes of all-in-one desktops that rely on Magic Trackpad-like input to draw attention. Mum's the word on whether or not the 10-inch tablet will be part of the June arrivals, although there's unconfirmed talk that Walmart will carry at least some of the lineup and trigger some jealousy in the 2012 Vizio TVs across the aisle.

Gallery: Vizio PCs and tablets @ CES

Vizio PCs officially launch in June, home theaters look on with envy originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Gizmodo  | Email this | Comments]]>

View the original article here

NASA preps black hole-hunting space telescope for launch next month

Scientists will soon have a new tool at their disposal in their search for black holes and a greater understanding of what NASA describes as "the most energetic and exotic objects in space." The space agency announced today that it has begun preparing its Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array -- otherwise known as NuSTAR -- for launch from Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean, with a liftoff planned for no earlier than June 13th. The telescope is by far the most advanced of its type to date, boasting ten times the resolution and more than 100 times the sensitivity of its predecessors, as well as a new design that relies on a complex set of 133 ultra-thin nested mirrors -- a setup NASA compares to a Russian Doll. Those interested can get a brief overview of the mission in the video after the break

Continue reading NASA preps black hole-hunting space telescope for launch next month

NASA preps black hole-hunting space telescope for launch next month originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 02:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  NASA  | Email this | Comments]]>

View the original article here

TiVo shows a Q1 net loss of $20.8 million, will launch TV Everywhere web portal soon

TiVo has released its financial results for Q1 2013, and right off the bat they show a wider than expected net loss of $20.8 million. This is despite a rise in revenue and subscribers (driven mostly by Virgin Media, which added 242,000), and the company expects another loss in the second quarter due to rising litigation costs in its ongoing cases against Motorola and Time Warner Cable. We've already heard about TiVo's new Stream placeshifting box, IP multiroom extender and six-tuner XG1 gateway, but the new product news is a plan to launch TV Everywhere streaming. The first cable operator joining in the new venture will be RCN, and TiVo says its portal will allow providers using its DVRs to deliver streaming video in or out of the home, with video on-demand and remote DVR scheduling on PCs, tablets and mobile devices. That's expected to launch later this year, but for all the details, numbers and quotes you can check the press releases after the break.

Continue reading TiVo shows a Q1 net loss of $20.8 million, will launch TV Everywhere web portal soon

TiVo shows a Q1 net loss of $20.8 million, will launch TV Everywhere web portal soon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 20:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  TiVo  | Email this | Comments]]>

View the original article here

Virgin Pure water purifiers launch offensive against tap and bottled water in the UK

English entrepreneur and chairman of The Virgin Group Sir Richard Branson thinks that your tap water is dirty. So much so, in fact, that he's partnered up with Strauss Water to get one of his new purifiers into your home and onto your countertop. The colorful Virgin Pure T6 (£299, $466) can dispense 1.3 liters of chilled H2O per minute, or 1.4 liters of hot water that's stored internally. The T7 (£379, or $591) delivers a bit more swagger to your crib with its minimalist, tapered design that offers 50 percent faster cold water flow. It even gets a small power bump to heat your hot water more quickly than its less-expensive sibling. It all sounds well and good, but we'll really be impressed when Virgin crams one of these into its seatbacks in first class.

Virgin Pure water purifiers launch offensive against tap and bottled water in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 23:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Virgin  | Email this | Comments]]>

View the original article here