Next Issue grows iPad library with addition of eight new magazine titles

Next Issue grows iPad library with addition of eight new magazine titles:

Next Issue -- the service unofficially billed as the Netflix of digital magazines -- has just announced an expansion of its catalog, adding eight additional titles to its tablet-based offering. This recent inclusion of big names brings the company's impressive library to a total of 80 even, letting iPad users now peruse the likes of New York Magazine, Food & Wine and Men's Fitness, just to name a few. Pricing for both Unlimited subscription tiers remains unchanged, with $10/mo still netting users access to 73 monthly and bi-weekly titles, while the more premium $15/mo service opens up the entire archive. As of now, these new additions won't work on Android slates, but the company promises "work is underway" to make them available across the board. Hit up the break to check out the official release.
Continue reading Next Issue grows iPad library with addition of eight new magazine titles
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Raspberry Pi's $25 Model A enters production, could be in tinkerers' projects early next year

Raspberry Pi's $25 Model A enters production, could be in tinkerers' projects early next year:

Raspberry Pi's Model B computer will be no stranger to regular readers. We've seen it turn up in all sorts of projects, and generally stretched in various directions. If you were holding out for the cheaper, lower specced Model A however, your time is near. A recent post on the official Raspberry Pi site confirms that the first Model A samples are rolling off the production line. The main differences? Whereas Model B has two USB ports and 512 MB of RAM plus Ethernet, Model A sports only the one port, has half the RAM, and no Ethernet connection, making it more power economical as well as $10 cheaper. Price likely isn't the issue here, but if you were after the even more stripped back version, it's estimated they'll be ready to purchase online early next year.
Filed under: Desktops
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Source: Raspberry Pi

Distro Issue 68: PC game designers and the quest for compatibility

Distro Issue 68: PC game designers and the quest for compatibility:

Well friends, the week's end brings with it an issue of our tablet mag that's hot off the digital presses. PC gaming nabs the cover story this time out as we take a look at the task of insuring compatibility across a set of devices that adds customized models constantly. If full-length gadget reviews are what you're after, we put the Lenovo ThinkPad Twist, Kindle Fire HD 8.9 4G LTE and Nintendo Wii U through their paces. Will.i.am's latest venture hits Hands-On, Oakley's high-tech eyewear occupies Eyes-On and Weekly Stat tracks holidays on Instagram. Visit your preferred reading repository to grab a copy before settling in for some weekend R&R.
Distro Issue 68 PDF
Distro in the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Google Play Store
Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter
Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile
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Source: iTunes, Google Play

Sharp ships its first phone with an IGZO display on November 29th, ushers in a low-power LCD era

Sharp ships its first phone with an IGZO display on November 29th, ushers in a low-power LCD era:

The gray clouds of Sharp's gloomy earnings are about to get a silver lining: NTT DoCoMo is at last launching Sharp's new flagship phone, the breathlessly worded Aquos Phone Zeta SH-02E, on November 29th. When it arrives, the SH-02E will be its* first smartphone to carry an IGZO-based display and show us just how well the high-brightness, low-energy invention fares in a 4.9-inch, 720p LCD. There's no known fixed pricing, although it's likely the Android 4.0 device will be sitting at the very top of its Japanese carrier's range through its Snapdragon S4 Pro, 16-megapixel camera and LTE data. Not fully convinced of IGZO's worth? Fujitsu's more conventional Arrows V F-04E is arriving a day earlier with a regular LCD and a Tegra 3, although we'd say that it's worth waiting the extra 24 hours to be a technology vanguard.
Update: While the SH-02E was the first phone announced with an IGZO LCD screen, it's been beaten to the market by ASUS' Padfone 2, which is also rocking the new technology.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
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Via: Impress Watch (translated)
Source: NTT DoCoMo (translated)

Lenovo IdeaPhone P770 stuffs 29-hour battery and Jelly Bean into a lower-cost smartphone

Lenovo IdeaPhone P770 stuffs 29-hour battery and Jelly Bean into a lower-cost smartphone:

Motorola may face a new contender to the Droid RAZR MAXX HD's battery capacity crown. Lenovo's quietly introduced IdeaPhone P770 at least theoretically challenges its American counterpart by cramming a 3,500mAh lithium polymer battery into a thicker 11.9mm (0.47-inch) body. That's 200mAh more than Motorola's energy champion, and enough for the company to flaunt a 29-hour talk time. That's not quite as long as Motorola's claimed 32 hours, but Lenovo has done something its American rival seemingly can't -- launch a phone with Jelly Bean. Motorola might rest easier in knowing that the the P770 is an unrepentantly budget-focused behemoth, carrying a 4.5-inch qHD display, a (possibly MediaTek-made) 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 4GB of built-in storage, an 8GB microSD card and both 5-megapixel rear as well as VGA front cameras. For the ¥1,699 ($273) Lenovo is asking for an off-contract model in its native China, the P770 could still be the first pick of many local phone owners on long-haul trips. It's just a shame that the lack of 4G (and Lenovo's domestic-first mobile strategy) likely means we won't see a launch in the US.

[Thanks, FT]
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Lenovo
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Via: Unwired View
Source: Lenovo (translated)

Tokyoflash mixes time and geometry to make its Kisai Polygon watch (video)

Tokyoflash mixes time and geometry to make its Kisai Polygon watch (video):

This week's Tokyoflash watch will certainly tickle the fancy of those who sleep with a set square beneath their pillow. The Kisai Polygon has a ring of triangles representing the hours and the nearest 10 minutes, with the individual minute being shown as a single digit through the middle. If you'd like to indulge in some retail therapy, you can take advantage of the company's pre-sale. Available in black, mirror, blue or pink, it'll set you back $99 (€77, £61) until Thursday, after which it'll cost $129 (€100, £80). Fancy learning how to read it from the team to built it? Head down past the break for the video tutorial.

Gallery: Tokyoflash Kisai Polygon

Continue reading Tokyoflash mixes time and geometry to make its Kisai Polygon watch (video)
Filed under: Wearables
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Netflix Android app updated with tweaks to the player UI, 4.2 compatibility

Netflix Android app updated with tweaks to the player UI, 4.2 compatibility:

Netflix just refreshed the front end of its Android app a few weeks ago, and is now tweaking the look and functions of the player itself again after previously making changes back in April. As seen above, version 2.1 brings a look that's closer to the one we've seen on iOS since the spring, with large red buttons, a bigger volume slider, 10 second skip back and stills that change in the background as the user moves the scrub bar. The changelog also notes added support for Android 4.2 plus other unspecified playback and stability bug fixes, grab the newest edition at the source link to try it out for yourself.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile
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Source: Google Play

Google's 'Defend your Net' campaign asks Germans to resist copyright changes

Google's 'Defend your Net' campaign asks Germans to resist copyright changes:

Remember when the German government was thinking about making search engines either remove news excerpts from results, or pay royalties for including them? Well, these changes could soon be enforced, and Google has launched the "Defend Your Net" initiative to urge the German people to stop that happening. On the campaign's pages, the search giant voices its opinions on what such a decision would do: harm the German media and, by extension, the country's economy. It also points out that its news service is ad-free, publishers can opt out of listings, and that some German outlets receive roughly half their traffic from Google searches. Anyone who wants to receive information on the bill's progress can register for email updates, and a tool is available to find the contact details of your local official if you're feeling proactive. Need firing up? Then check out Google's motivational video below.
Continue reading Google's 'Defend your Net' campaign asks Germans to resist copyright changes
Filed under: Internet, Google
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Via: The Next Web
Source: Google Defend Your Net campaign (German)

Meizu MX2 packs 1.6GHz quad-core chip, 4.4-inch display and Jelly Bean, due mid-December

Meizu MX2 packs 1.6GHz quad-core chip, 4.4-inch display and Jelly Bean, due mid-December:

Amidst the fierce competition in the Chinese mobile market, Meizu has kept up with its annual cycle to unveil its latest flagship device, the MX2. Announced at the launch event in Beijing earlier today, the MX2 comes with a Samsung-made 1.6GHz, Cortex-A9 quad-core SoC dubbed "MX5S," along with 2GB of RAM, a 30-percent faster GPU, a 4.4-inch 347ppi (1,280 x 800) gapless display with 3.15mm bezel and efficient "New Mode 2" technology (the description of which sounds like IGZO to us), an improved eight-megapixel BSI F/2.4 camera and a choice of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of built-in memory. There's also a front-facing camera, dual-mic noise cancellation, MHL video output, S/PDIF audio output, a non-removable 1,800mAh battery, Bluetooth 4.0 and HSPA+ radio at 2,100MHz (2G at 900/1800). As before, the white double injection-molded back cover can be taken off to access the SIM card slot, but there should also be various color options in the near future. Read on for more, and do also check out the official introduction video after the break.

Gallery: Meizu MX2 packs 1.6GHz quad-core chip, 4.4-inch display and Jelly Bean, due mid-December

Continue reading Meizu MX2 packs 1.6GHz quad-core chip, 4.4-inch display and Jelly Bean, due mid-December
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Via: Engadget Chinese
Source: Meizu

Google's Blogger app updated with iPad support, landscape composition mode, Google+ integration

Google's Blogger app updated with iPad support, landscape composition mode, Google+ integration:

Google's Blogger app has hit version 2.0, bringing a visual revamp and a handful of new features to its iOS and Android flavors, in addition to iPad support. Now, users can compose posts in landscape mode, share to Google+ and view scheduled post times. In addition to a grab bag of unspecified bug fixes, the update brings the app's total number of supported languages up to 30. Eager to start tapping out posts? Hit the source links below for the appropriate download.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Google

Google's Blogger app updated with iPad support, landscape composition mode, Google+ integration originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 04:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Desire X review: one last hurrah for a former flagship?

HTC Desire X review: one last hurrah for a former flagship?:

Before we go into more detail on HTC's Desire X, cast your memory back to a time before the outfit announced the "One" line of Android phones. You may remember names such as Wildfire, Sensation, Rhyme and, of course, Desire. Likewise, you may also remember a certain amount of company talk about its plans to simplify its Android offerings, and turn out phones at a slower, more considered pace. So, it was a little confusing when we first heard about the Desire X. HTC already had an affordable phone, the One V, but seemingly deemed it not affordable enough -- and the Desire C already fills the most entry-level position. With a 1GHz dual-core processor, a WVGA (800 x 480) display and a 5-megapixel camera, the specs are from the same era as the OG Desire, but with a slightly more current price: €299 in Europe. So, stripped of any "One" branding, but bearing a name that many will remember fondly, is the Desire X a good phone that's been reinvented, or just a throwback from HTC of old? We spent some time in its company to find out for ourselves.

Gallery: HTC Desire X review

Continue reading HTC Desire X review: one last hurrah for a former flagship?
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC

HTC Desire X review: one last hurrah for a former flagship? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii U's Nintendo TVii, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, and Netflix pushed to December

Wii U's Nintendo TVii, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, and Netflix pushed to December:

When Nintendo's Wii U launches this weekend, it won't arrive with most of its primary multimedia features -- namely, Nintendo TVii, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, or Netflix. All were said to come pre-loaded on the new console, but reviewers found out early that a launch day patch would enable the functionality. As it turns out, that patch will actually arrive at some point in December, bearing Nintendo TVii, with the rest of the apps arriving "in the coming weeks" (no hard date is given for any of the apps). The console is still expected to launch with Miiverse, Nintendo Network, and backwards compatibility with the Nintendo Wii -- none of which is currently enabled on the Wii U (presumably still arriving in some form of day-one patch). We've reached out to Nintendo to see if those things are still planned for launch.
Continue reading Wii U's Nintendo TVii, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, and Netflix pushed to December
Filed under: Gaming, Nintendo

Wii U's Nintendo TVii, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, and Netflix pushed to December originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Livescribe Sky WiFi Smartpen review

Livescribe Sky WiFi Smartpen review:

More Info

• Livescribe unleashes new Echo smartpen
• Livescribe outs the Sky WiFi Smartpen
• Smartpen leads to airport chaos

For a relatively niche company that has only been around for five years, Livescribe has grown quickly. Its smartpens -- which cleverly digitize handwritten notes and audio -- have already attracted a million users. However, just because these customers prefer to write their notes the old-fashioned way, that doesn't mean they aren't also obsessive about technological progress. In fact, many of them have been waiting on one new feature in particular: a totally wireless workflow, which would allow them to write a note with their smartpens and then -- without any docking or syncing -- see their scribbles appear in the cloud and on their mobile devices.
Well, as you've probably guessed by now, that is precisely the gap that the new Sky pen is looking to fill. The first half of its operation is identical to that of its predecessors, the Pulse and Echo: it contains a camera and microphone, which enable the capture of handwritten notes and time-linked audio files. (You can choose between 2GB, 4GB and 8GB of built-in storage.) But what happens next is totally different. You use "buttons" printed inside Livescribe's proprietary stationery, in conjunction with the pen's OLED display, to select a local WiFi network, enter the password and sync your files directly to Evernote. The popular online note-taking platform then handles everything else, automatically filing the text and audio in the cloud using a time stamp, making it available on whatever devices run Evernote's apps or web interface. What's more, it makes the note searchable through optical character recognition (OCR) of your handwriting.
If there's a downside to users getting what they've been asking for, it's that they are the ones expected to pay for it. The Sky's base model matches the Echo's $170 launch price, but that older pen came with twice as much internal storage, and can also now be had at a discount. Moreover, the 4GB and 8GB Sky pens rise to $200 and $250, respectively, which means this is only likely to be sensible if you really, really dislike writing or typing on a screen. Even assuming that you're totally stuck in your pen-and-ink ways, could a $170 pen ever be worth it? Read on to find out.

Gallery: Livescribe Sky Wifi Smartpen review

Continue reading Livescribe Sky WiFi Smartpen review
Filed under: Peripherals

Livescribe Sky WiFi Smartpen review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Revel’s Retail iPad POS system adds variable pricing and inventory module, signs on Goodwill and Belkin

Revel’s Retail iPad POS system adds variable pricing and inventory module, signs on Goodwill and Belkin:
The iPad in the business world has changed the way commerce has taken place. Revel Systems, a company that created a point-of-sale (POS) system on the iPad, is seeking to help bring cash register-like transactions forward. Today, it just updated its solution to include variable pricing and inventory management while adding two new customers to its mix: Goodwill Industries and Belkin.

“Successful first year”

Coming off what it says was a strong first year, Revel Systems is the creator of a POS system centered around the iPad. Calling itself the cash register of the 21st century, it’s a mobile platform that will provide customers with “up-to-the-minute” reporting to track sales within an organization while also moving it away from the traditional register and hardware infrastructure. This system relies on using the iPad because of its “greater style”, has a faster operating system, provides better security, and “it just works”.
Some features of its POS system include being able to process credits, exchanges, and returns; tracking sales by employee for easy commission management; manage inventory, product costing, and ability to set threshold alerts, tracking customer order history, and much more.
Businesses seem to be taking notice of Revel’s system as well — it has well-known companies using its service right now, including Little Caesar’s Pizza, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen, Illy, Twistee Treat, and others in the restaurant, retail, and grocery industries. Over 400 enterprise locations around the United States have rolled out this new POS platform and it has been processing hundreds of millions of dollars.

New features

With today’s announcement, the company is rolling out two enhanced features designed to help its retail customers keep better track of their sales. One of which is the release of variable pricing — with this feature, Revel says that businesses will be able to accommodate multiple-item purchases or even multiple-weighted items at a discount.

Additionally, it has rolled out an inventory module that it says will allow its users to easily update, change, and print labels for inventory in real-time. Through customizable alerts, companies will find out what items are low in stock and help users to place orders for new shipments right through its iOS device. Revel has partnered with Honeywell’s Bluetooth barcode scanner to help make mobile scanning easier — now users can take their mobile device and have it act like a scanner similar to what traditional retailers used with a barcode scanner.

Busy two years

In its two-year history, Revel has been busy rolling out new features for businesses. A few months ago, it produced its own router designed to help businesses use the system from a separate Internet connection. It also unveiled a POS solution for food trucks with a Twitter integration. And last month, it introduced its own app marketplace allowing third-parties to integrate with it, while also featuring plug-ins that users can install, ranging from Twitter and Facebook to tie-ins with local daily deal APIs from Groupon and LivingSocial.

Adding two more companies to its list

Revel Systems is also adding two more retail companies to its list of users. It says that Goodwill Industries has replaced its POS systems in 23 Florida stores with the Revel solution. In addition, technology giant, Belkin, has signed on and has installed the system in its retail store in the Los Angeles Westfield Mall.  Maureen Lewis, Belkin’s director of retail operations, says that it chose to go with Revel because of an unsatisfactory experience with another vendor: “The personalized service has been stellar and custom solutions really have made running the business effortless…and I love the fact that I can check transactions and sales anywhere on my iPad, laptop, and (soon) phone.”
Revel Systems has raised $3.7 million in Series A funding in capital and declared it became profitable at the end of its first year.
Photo credit: ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images

Hitachi intros UltraVision LED TVs with Roku-ready HDMI, freshens Value TVs and sound bars for the fall

Hitachi intros UltraVision LED TVs with Roku-ready HDMI, freshens Value TVs and sound bars for the fall:

Although Hitachi was one of the first in line to promise support for Roku Streaming Sticks through MHL, it didn't have much more to say without the TVs to back up the claim. The second half of the puzzle is complete now that the company's fall TV revision is underway. Snag its new UltraVision UltraThin S606 TV in its one of its 42-, 46- or 55-inch sizes and you can discreetly (if optionally) hide the equivalent of a full Roku box in one of the HDMI inputs. The S606 sits strictly in the mid-range, however. Its 120Hz, edge-LED LCD design is superceded by the W806, which comes only in 48- and 55-inch sizes while carrying 3D, IPTV support and WiFi. Those who can get by on 60Hz refresh rates can opt for the Value line, where the H306 and S406 offer 720p in 29- and 32-inch dimensions; a third H316 line brings 1080p to those same sizes while adding a 39-inch panel. Hitachi hasn't said whether stores are stocking the TVs today, but it sees pricing ranging from $329 in the smaller Value sets to $1,399 for the largest W806 variant.
The TV builder's audio mix isn't being ignored with the refresh. Launching in tandem with the TVs, the HSB32B26 and HSB40B16 sound bars are designed to respectively match up with 32- and 40-inch TVs while delivering 3D sound processing and Apt-X Bluetooth audio. At $149 and $199, the sound bars are close enough in cost that we may only need a measuring tape to settle any purchasing dilemmas once the hardware is in stores.
Continue reading Hitachi intros UltraVision LED TVs with Roku-ready HDMI, freshens Value TVs and sound bars for the fall
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Hitachi intros UltraVision LED TVs with Roku-ready HDMI, freshens Value TVs and sound bars for the fall originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google kicks Xperia S Android Open Source Project out of its nest, Sony takes it under its wing (video)

Google kicks Xperia S Android Open Source Project out of its nest, Sony takes it under its wing (video):

After just under three months of development, Google's wrapped up its experimental work on bringing the Sony Xperia S into the Android Open Source Project fold. According to Sony, AOSP Technical Lead Jean-Baptiste Quéru considers the effort a success, but the device is being taken off the project's roadmap so Mountain View can focus on its own hardware. Currently, an AOSP build boots on the Xperia S hardware with support for SD-Cards, Wi-Fi and its built-in sensors. Audio and the phone's modem are also operational, but they require proprietary binaries Hirai and Co. can't publish just yet. Work on polishing the handset's vanilla Android experience isn't over, however. Sony has moved the code to its GitHub account and is welcoming developers to pitch in and help with the open source effort. For more details and to see what code has already been laid down, tap the second source link or check out the video of the smartphone in action below.
Continue reading Google kicks Xperia S Android Open Source Project out of its nest, Sony takes it under its wing (video)
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sony, Google

Google kicks Xperia S Android Open Source Project out of its nest, Sony takes it under its wing (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft outlines Internet Explorer 10 differences between Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8

Microsoft outlines Internet Explorer 10 differences between Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8:

Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 together mark a rare confluence for Microsoft: they represent the first instance of the company's desktop and phone platforms sharing the same browser base, and that has wide-reaching implications for what developers can do. The Redmond team doesn't want anyone plunging headlong into web apps without knowing what to expect, however, and it just reminded us in a blog post that there are still a few off-limits areas for Internet Explorer 10 on the mobile side. Not surprisingly, elements that demand a truly big screen or a windowed interface won't fly -- there's nowhere to drag-and-drop from or open a new window to. A few other aspects are more likely to catch web developers off-guard, such as the lack of in-line video, a handful of touch inputs, ActiveX and the level of file access. The most important common ground stems from simply having a modern rendering engine whose HTML5 and CSS3 support will prevent any rude shocks. There's much more at the source link, although Microsoft and designers may just be happy that any Windows Phone web development is a question of finding those few things that won't work, rather than reinventing the wheel.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft

Microsoft outlines Internet Explorer 10 differences between Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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