Bananaphone touch synthesizer replaces ring ring rings with chiptunes (video)
If you're tired of bananaphones that just make calls, the crew at Gadget Gangster now has a homebrew project to use them for musical escapades. A custom-coded (and appropriately named) Adafruit Propeller board turns a bunch of bananas into the Bananaphone TouchSynth, a synthesizer using the same capacitive touch principles that let a MaKey MaKey turn anything into a controller. The... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 8:59pm
Bicom turns to Kickstarter to fund its new playGo AP1 AirPlay device
Bicom, makers of the Corian-hewn playGo USB will unveil a new AP1 AirPlay device, but only you if help fund it. After finding out that it wasn't able to produce last year's gear in enough quantity to bring the price down, the company has gone down the Kickstarter route to raise... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 8:34pm
Koubachi WiFi Plant Sensor takes your cactii's temperature, sends it to your iPhone
Plants, like pets, need to be constantly cared for, but not everyone's blessed with the requisite green thumb. So, for those of you imbued with what we'll call the bad, brown touch, Swiss outfit Koubachi's got a cloud-based solution to sidestep those negligent ways and keep your window garden thriving. Dubbed the WiFi Plant Sensor, this wireless peripheral nestles into the soil of any potted flora or fauna, sending relevant vitality data off to the company's servers where it's then analyzed and beamed back to your handset (via iPhone app) or online account... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 8:08pm
Pentax makes K-30 official with weatherproofing and 1080p video
Pentax didn't wait long after a rather conspicuous leak to make the details official: welcome the K-30, the company's spiritual successor to the long-serving K-r. The camera makes its biggest numerical jump in sensor size, from 12.4 megapixels to 16, but you're primarily shelling out for a much tougher body that's both resistant to rain as well as to dust and temperature extremes; one of the cheapest cameras to do so, if you go by Pentax's word. We're slightly... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 7:44pm
Aereo gets unfair competition claim dismissed, still faces two claims of copyright infringement
Aereo's mini-antenna arrays started streaming OTA television broadcasts in Gotham a couple months ago in spite of the lawsuit filed by a few of New York's local stations to stop them from doing so. Today, it was able to dismiss its opponents' state law unfair competition claim under the theory of federal preemption. Essentially, Aereo argued (and the judge agreed) that the anti-competition claim was actually an... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 7:21pm
Nintendo plans virtual wall of E3 coverage, wants no eyeball left behind
With E3 2012 right around the corner, Reggie and co. want to make sure your oft-distracted eyes catch every drip drop of the impending Wii U news flood. Much like it did last year, Nintendo's yet again taking to media outlets old and new for coverage of its All-Access Presentation, scheduled for June 5th at 9AM PST, that should prove an unavoidable must-see for any gamer bred on the house that Mario built. Whether you take your news via flat-screen or monitor, the gaming giant's got a solution to sate your preferred means... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 6:56pm
Amazon puts Samsung Galaxy S III up for US pre-orders, offers a slice of quad-core, unlocked utopia
Sufficiently enamored with Samsung's Galaxy S III that you've got to have one in the US before anyone else, and you don't want it sullied by carrier customizations in the trip across the Pacific? Amazon has your back with pre-orders for 16GB versions in both Marble White and Pebble Blue. Either will keep the speedy Exynos 4 Quad and will stay unlocked, so you can hop networks to your heart's content. Do expect to... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 6:33pm
Sprint to begin shipping the HTC EVO 4G LTE for arrival 'on or around' May 24th, pre-orders get first dib
We can't be certain as to how many units of the HTC EVO 4G LTE have made it out of customs thus far, but it appears the number is high enough for Sprint to officially set a date for shipping the device out to those who pre-ordered it online. A Sprint representative reached out to us to share the company's statement from this afternoon that customers should expect to receive their valuable treasure "on or around" May 24th. We're not in love with the "around" terminology, but this could simply be due to a high amount of demand.... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 6:08pm
ASUS and MSI launch Thunderbolt motherboards, tie for first place
You wait for one Thunderbolt-compatible motherboard and then two decide to arrive on the same day. Going alphabetically, ASUS' P8Z77-V Premium is its first Intel-certified board to pack Thunderbolt and it's followed immediately by the P8Z77-V Pro / Thunderbolt. The connection will hook up to multiple storage drives or any Thunderbolt-friendly display -- it can be daisy-chained to up to six different devices. MSI's Z77A-GD80 packs a similarly complicated naming convention, and like ASUS' offerings, will arrive with Intel's Z77... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 5:38pm
Minecraft mod adds programmable 8-bit computer, lacks cassette deck (video)
Never one to focus exclusively on the very latest hardware, a new mod has brought an 6502 microprocessor to a Minecraft world near you. The system is made from three separate cubes, representing the CPU, monitor and disk drive, respectively, all connected by ribbon cables. Part of pre-release 5 of the RedPower 2 mod, programmer Eloraam has also thrown in pumps and solar panels to keep crafters busy -- you're no longer limited to Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 5:16pm
Spotify hits Australia and New Zealand, can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
Music fans in Australia and New Zealand are waking up some happy news this Tuesday morning. Spotify announced that it's bringing its streaming services to those markets, starting today, offering up access to some 16 million tracks via PC, smartphone and iPad, bringing Spotify's availability to a grand total of 15 countries. Each new country will also be getting Spotify apps to call their own: Triple J in Australia and NZ Top 40 in New Zealand, both of which offer up curated music access. More information on the launches -- including prices for premium accounts -- can be found in press releases after the break, and a playlist... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 5:00pm
Panasonic launches 12-35mm Micro Four Thirds lens with constant f/2.8 aperture
As powerful as they've become, Mirrorless camera systems can't match the versatility of a full-size DSLR. One key component we haven't seen is a constant-aperture lens, offering a consistent large aperture size throughout the zoom range. That changed today. Panasonic's new Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm optic packs one incredible advantage over its compact competitors -- a constant f/2.8 aperture. Because of the Micro Four Thirds system's 2x multiplication factor, this 12-35mm lens covers the same zoom range of 24-70mm glass on a full-frame camera, in a Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 4:43pm
Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 5:30PM ET
It's Monday, and we're back to our regular time and day where you get to listen into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to mp3 at 5:30PM. Please be a part of it by reviewing the list of topics after the break, then participating in the live chat as you listen in.... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 4:30pm
Of myths and 41-megapixel sensors: Nokia looks back on the 808 PureView (video)
It's a tale as old as the introduction of the 808 PureView, itself. Something about a bar and Tokyo and scribbling ingenious ideas on a napkin -- you know, the same 'ol humble origin story that seems to surround every impactful creation. Spoon-fed mythology aside, Nokia's decided to shift things into meta mode by composing a making of mini-doc for its hump-backed Symbian Belle cameraphone shot entirely with that much-ballyhooed 41-megapixel sensor (insert feigned amazement here). If... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 4:17pm
ITC says again that Apple and RIM don't violate Kodak patent
Kodak hasn't caught a break lately, and that trend isn't easing up any time soon with a second rejection arriving in its main International Trade Commission (ITC) patent dispute with Apple and RIM. Despite having had its case remanded after a loss last year, Kodak is once more being told that BlackBerrys and iPhones don't violate a patent on previewing photos. The one violation was rendered moot through "obviousness," according... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 3:59pm
Google rolls out improved Gmail search, scans your emails for better results
Oh those Googlers, always tirelessly tweaking code behind-the-scenes to make our lives that much more easily indexed. So it should come as no surprise that Mountain View's begun rolling out a streamlined Gmail search feature to English-language users today, replete with "tailored" autocomplete suggestions. Now, instead of simply returning results for labels and contacts, queries will also include relevant email info based on the conversations stored in a user's account, like flight or hotel reservations. At the... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 3:41pm
gTar iPhone guitar hands-on
When we first caught word of the gTar, it was a bit of a mystery, with an online presence amounting to little more than a low-res press shot, an enigmatic YouTube teaser and assorted specs coming out of South By Southwest and various investor sites. This week, however, brings TechCrunch Disrupt to town -- and Incident Technologies has braved some unseasonable New York City storms to come along for the ride. We managed to snag some time with the iPhone-docking instrument ahead of its debut on stage this afternoon. Details... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 3:21pm
Apple details neighbors on Campus 2 plans, extends rare request for feedback
Cupertino residents may have received an unsolicited package from their most prominent neighbor this week. No, it's not a new iPad, or an early look at the iPhone 5 -- instead, people close to Apple (from a physical perspective) opened the glossy mailing to reveal a detailed look at Apple Campus 2, which will consist of 176 acres currently occupied by "aging buildings" and trees. As we already know, the campus will feature one main Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 3:20pm
Ion iCade Mobile and iCade Core review
The iCade Arcade Cabinet famously began life as an April Fool's joke, pulling the video game equivalent of Pinocchio by transforming in a real salable product. The $100 arcade machine-shaped iPad enclosure / controller hit the sweet spot between functionality and retro gaming nostalgia, proving successful enough that Ion found itself with a solid reason to expand the line. Notable amongst the new arrivals are the iCade Core, which offers up the same feature set as the original iCade in a more... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 3:00pm
O2 UK offers Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy Y in Olympics versions, S Javelin sadly missing
Are you so enthused with the 2012 Olympics that special tablets and non-stop TV coverage won't fully scratch the itch? O2 UK is letting you flaunt your British competitive pride every time you check Twitter by selling Olympic editions of Samsung's Galaxy... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 2:39pm
Comcast's 'Project Dayview' does PDA duty across TV, phone, PC and tablet (update: video)
While we expected to see Comcast roll out its X1 DVR platform today at the Cable Show, more surprising is the new Project Dayview initiative. As seen above, it attempts to provide a single cross-platform home screen that combines info from its services and third party sources to give customers a quick look at what's important to them, on any screen. Potential sources include Comcast services (DVR schedule from your cable box, voicemails from the home phone, email, or Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 2:19pm
Sony Music Unlimited comes to iPhone with streaming music app
Android and PlayStation Vita owners have felt the Music Unlimited love on their respective devices for quite some time now, but the Spotify / MOG / Rdio competitor has finally made its way to the App Store, bringing with it yet another option for streaming music on iOS. The free app... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 2:01pm
Motorola reinvents the TV interface with DreamGallery concept (video)
Motorola is demonstrating how it expects TVs of the future will work with its DreamGallery concept. Powered by the company's Medios cloud-service, the display is designed to let you browse content as if it was the internet -- with bookmarks, personalized recommendations and interactive search tools. Its designed to work Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 1:42pm
Elgato announces Game Capture HD, shows off your deathmatch prowess in H.264
Elgato is releasing the Game Capture HD, a device that lets game-casters and YouTube walkthrough mavens shed low-resolution, over-the-shoulder smartphone footage once and for all. The sleek black box sits between console and display, enabling gamers to record their speed runs and kill records for the world to see. Xbox 360 users can daisy-chain the gear into their HDMI set-up, while Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 1:24pm
Microsoft reveals more multi-monitor improvements in Windows 8 Release Preview (video)
If you're a multitasking extraordinaire who depends on Windows as your primary computing platform of choice, there's a good chance you utilize more than one monitor to get your work done -- unfortunately, the seventh iteration of Microsoft's OS didn't offer as much support in this arena as most display warriors would prefer. The Consumer Preview of Windows 8 offered a few functionality improvements, and with its upcoming Release Preview, Microsoft is focusing on further enhancing the experience. Mark... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 1:06pm
Qualcomm hires former AMD CTO, makes 'em pay for dropping mobile
Qualcomm is hiring AMD's former CTO Eric Demers to help the company produce a blockbuster mobile graphics chip. It needs the silicon for its big push for smartphone dominance (and tablets running Windows RT) in the face of strong competition from Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 12:43pm
Verizon purportedly giving DROID 4, RAZR and Rezound 'global' designation via software update (update: confirmed)
There's one major drawback that jet-setters and globetrotters utilizing one of Verizon's current LTE handsets must deal with: the lack of a GSM radio frequency. It's true, while CDMA and LTE have carved out a place for themselves here in the States, when the rubber literally meets the road (or tarmac), it's a GSM world we're living in. With that in mind, it appears as though Verizon is planning to make several of its current smartphones a bit more cosmopolitan by Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 12:18pm
Kinect for Windows SDK reaches v1.5, now works when you're sitting down
Microsoft is busting out version 1.5 of its Kinect for Windows runtime and SDK that includes a raft of new features for the Xbox-lacking hoi polli. The update includes 10-joint skeletal tracking that'll work even when seated, face following capabilities and joint orientation -- the latter enabling it to predict how your... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 11:53am
YouTube blows out seven candles, cuts birthday party short to log 72 hours of video per minute
Ah, YouTube. It wasn't long ago that it was pumping out around 60 hours of content every 60 seconds, but nothing can stop the video juggernaut. Celebrating its seven years of existence with a video charting its rise, rise and rise, YouTube's official blog has also announced that it's now dealing with an eye-bleeding 72 hours of video every minute. We're still finding all this content as pervasive as ever though, with over 3 billion hours now watched every... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 11:28am
Engadget Giveaway: win an 11-inch MacBook Air pre-loaded with Parallels!
This may just be the biggest single giveaway we've held on Engadget yet. We dare you to resist the tempting lure of an 11-inch MacBook Air with 4GB RAM and 128GB hard drive, capable of running Mac OS X and Windows 7! With graduation season upon us, our friends at Parallels are hooking you up with the best senior gift that you could possibly receive. So what's this software all about? Essentially, it allows you to run Windows and OS X apps side-by-side on your Mac without rebooting -- that way, you'll get the best of both worlds. The MacBook Air will come pre-loaded with Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 11:01am
Comcast officially launches next-gen X1 DVR platform and iPhone remote app (update: video)
As expected, Comcast is kicking off the rollout of its new X1 (previously beta tested under the name Xcalibur) DVR platform. The announcement was made at the Cable Show in Boston, and that's where it will be available first, some time in "the coming weeks" with a few other major markets following soon after. We've had a few peeks at the new UI over the last year or so but now we have a full... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 10:37am
Nokia Lumia 900 Camera Extension app previewed in Hong Kong (video)
You're looking at Camera Extension: a new app for the Lumia 900 that, er, extends the phone's camera function by adding burst, timer and panorama modes plus, most notably, a smart group shot feature. The latter takes five pictures in five seconds, then cuts out the heads and lets you swap 'em out in the same way that BB 10's Timeline Lens (amongst others) works. Will the app bring you out in goofy smiles? Find out in the video after the break, where WeLoveWindowsPhone.hk gives it a go. Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 10:11am
Report: Foxconn spending $210 million on Apple production line
China Daily is claiming that Foxconn will pump $210 million into building a production line in China's Jiangsu province. Local authorities have stated that the plant in Huai'an city will produce components for Apple, no doubt heralding a raft of rampant speculation as to Cupertino's intentions. The building will occupy 40,000 square meters, produce $1.1 billion worth of gear per year and require 35,800 employees... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 9:47am
TiVo's Stream transcoding box and IP connected extender make their debut at Cable Show 2012
Now that TiVo has delivered updated software for its Premiere boxes its focus is turning to some new hardware accessories, including the TiVoToGo-style transcoder we saw at CES, now dubbed Stream (top), and the IP extender set-top box mentioned earlier this year (bottom). According to TiVo's press release, both boxes will be available at... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 9:24am
EU competition head gives Google a 'matter of weeks' to offer an antitrust fix
The European Union has been taking a leisurely pace investigating Google over possible antitrust abuses, but it's now accelerating to a full-on sprint. European Commission competition head Joaquin Almunia has given Google just a "matter of weeks" to propose how it would patch things up and soften fears that it was unfairly pushing its own web services over others. If Google makes the Commission happy, Almunia says,... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 9:07am
AMD launches R-Series chip for next-gen casinos, surveillance systems, distractions
While others push for ever-smaller processors to power the so-called Internet of Things, AMD's new R-Series chips are designed to go the other way: upgrading devices that are already hooked up but that could benefit from more graphical whizz. These embedded processors have the same Piledriver and Radeon HD 7000 internals as their Trinity cousins, but they're intended for digital billboards, casino gaming, payment systems and other applications that need to present a pretty picture to the... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 9:01am
'Bond 50' 22 movie Blu-ray collection details revealed, ships in September (video)
MGM and 20th Century Fox revealed during CES that all 22 of the James Bond movies would be released together for the first time in the Bond 50 Blu-ray disc collection this fall, and now ahead of the Cannes International Film Festival there's additional details to share. The Bond 50 set will include 23 discs -- one for each movie and its bonus content, plus an extra containing two Bond featurettes digging into the world of James Bond and the six actors who have... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 8:41am
More PlayStation Vita bundles coming to Europe, plan a visit to the Eiffel Tower
Sony's delivering a pair of PlayStation Vita bundles to European customers to tempt cost-conscious consumers to splash out on the new handheld. You'll be able to snag a WiFi only console with a 4GB memory stick and Uncharted: Golden Abyss for €249 ($320) or a 3G-enabled unit with the 4GB storage and a download code for Motorstorm: RC for €299 ($380). There's no word on when the pair will arrive, but it's hoped that in the not-too-distant future,... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 8:31am
Leap Motion reveals super-accurate motion control tech, $70 device to change the UI game
In many respects, Microsoft has led the charge towards a future of gesture-based controls with its Kinect, and other tech giants like Samsung and Apple are getting in on the action, too. The move to motion controls isn't limited to the big boys, however. Leap Motion... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 8:00am
Linux kernel 3.4 is out: supports Trinity, Southern Islands, Kepler, Medfield and more
Heavens, it's already time for another Linux kernel refresh. We're now looking at 3.4, which is available for download now. Whereas the last version was all about green robots, this update focuses on support for the latest processors and graphics cards, including AMD's Trinity and Radeon HD 7000-series, NVIDIA's Kepler stack, plus the... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 7:41am
CableWiFi ties up 50,000 WiFi hotspots for cable subscribers to share
When it comes to supergroups, The Traveling Wilbury's haven't got anything on these guys. Bright House, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox and Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 7:26am
Hands-on with the MakerBot robot petting zoo at Maker Faire (video)
A robot petting zoo at Maker Faire Bay Area 2012? What could possibly go wrong? Nothing, actually. The kids loved it -- only the robots cowered in fear (of being sat on). MakerBot spent eight weeks building four different species of robots using its Replicator 3D printer -- wheelies (robot chickens),... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 7:22am
Unofficial S-Voice app gets gagged, Samsung waits for its flagship hero
Did you get a chance to download Samsung's voice assistant APK over the weekend? Don't bother trying now, as Samsung (or Vlingo, who are behind the app) has locked down access for unauthorized devices -- namely anything that isn't a Galaxy S III. According to xda-developers, S-Voice's command requests are being... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 6:59am
Raspberry Pi hands-on and Eben Upton interview at Maker Faire (video)
Unless you've been hiding under a rock lately, we're pretty sure you've heard about the Raspberry Pi by now -- a $25 credit-card sized PC that brings ARM/Linux to the Arduino form factor. As a refresher, the system features a 700MHz Broadcom BCM2835 SoC with an ARM11 CPU, a Videocore 4 GPU (which handles HD H.264 video and OpenGL ES 2.0) and 256MB RAM. The board includes an SD card slot,... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 6:21am
iDrum lets you rock out like Animal on your iDevice for $70
If using almost any surface as an instrument to drop some beats is out of the question, Dream Cheeky's iDrum might be a decent second choice. The rechargeable, seven-piece drum kit connects to any iDevice running iOS 5 or higher via Bluetooth and rings up at $70. Despite a roughly 9.5- by 12-inch form factor that doesn't exactly look bomb-proof, Dream Cheeky assures us that it "can withstand a right good smashing." That hardware pairs with the free Sound System app so you can... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 5:55am
Arris reveals Moxi DVR release 2.0 with web browser, apps and iPad remote
If your cable company is offering Arris' Moxi Whole Home DVR setup (we've seen it pop up on Shaw, BendBroadband and Wide Open West so far) you should have a few new features headed your way. This week at the NCTA Cable Show 2012 it's debuting Moxi software... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 5:07am
UK bookseller Waterstones to start selling Kindles
The UK's biggest bookstore chain has announced that it will start selling Kindles alongside other digital services from Amazon. Waterstones stores will let Kindle owners digitally browse books in-store and link up with special offers, tying into the chain's plans for substantial renovations that would also include dedicated digital book areas and free WiFi. The move follows on flies in the opposite direction of Target, who has started phasing... Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 4:06am
Better Place takes its electric vehicle network in Israel for a silent spin
Better World has been striving for, erm, a nicer planet with its battery-swapping approach to electric vehicles since as far back as 2008. There's been a modicum of success, with outlets and swapping stations peppered as far and wide as Denmark, California, Read more...
Engadget, May 21, 3:22am