Pandora’s CTO talks about Pre, webOS development, gaming, and small children

Pandora's CTO talks about Pre, webOS development, gaming, and small children

While we were happy just to see pictures, Tom Conrad, CTO of Pandora, is one of the lucky few to have seen in action the innards of the software that keeps things moving on the Pre. He sat down with Palm Infocenter (on the wrong end of a zero-bar concall by the sounds) to talk details of webOS software development. Conrad clarified that, despite all apps being mixtures of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, webOS is more than just a big browser — it has direct access to local files and UI elements. However, he echoed the fears of others that this web-friendly programming interface won’t exactly be well suited for gaming, expressing hope that Palm will address this with integrated Flash support or some sort of a lower-level API to appease those who want to tap that OMAP processor directly. Hit the read link to hear the whole conversation yourself.

[Thanks, Jay]

Filed under: ,

Pandora’s CTO talks about Pre, webOS development, gaming, and small children originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cheap Geek, Todays Deals: 1/14/09

dell_sharp.jpg

Let your lunch digest with these afternoon deals. Check out Gearlog’s deals for Wednesday:

1. Dell is gearing up for the Super Bowl with its HDTV Days of Deals sale. Going through January 23, Dell will introduce a deal every day with savings of up to $450 on select HDTVs and accessories. Today’s deal offers the Sharp Aquos 46-inch 1080p 120HZ HDTV and a free Sharp Aquos Blu-ray player for $1,349 with the $450 instant savings. Make sure to check back every day to see which TV is discounted.

2. Buy.com is having a $6 DVD sale. Get great movies like “Shawshank Redemption,” “Devil’s Advocate,” “Poltergeist,” “A Mighty Wind,” and many other great titles. The sale’s ending is unknown, so hurry.

Transformer-looking rig holds dSLR for filmmakers

dSLR mount cameras(Credit: Zacuto)

With more and more shutterbugs using the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and the Nikon D90 to make short films, it was inevitable that camera rigs would be redesigned to accommodate these snappers.

Previously, we’ve reported on Redrock’s rail mounts and focusing rig for the Canon …

Sony’s VAIO P up for pre-order in all sorts of hues

Sony’s VAIO P netbook ultraportable isn’t slated to start shipping until February here in the States, but those absolutely certain that they want one stuck in their coat and / or rear pants pocket can get in line starting today. The pre-orders are open for Sony’s 1.4 pound VAIO, with $899.99 to $1,499.99 securing your spot on the launch list. They’re available in a whole heap of colors (garnet red, emerald green, onyx black, crystal white and classic black), and there’s even an engraving option if you’re already thinking about a rather spectacular Valentine’s Day gift. Hint, hint, gentlemen.

[Via thegadgetsite, thanks K.C. Kim]

Filed under:

Sony’s VAIO P up for pre-order in all sorts of hues originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

M&A Technology offering Intel’s Classmate convertible online for $499

Intel’s latest and greatest Classmate convertible PC swung by the FCC in late November, and now it’s time for the general populace to get their paws on one. M&A Technology has just announced that it is currently hosting the so-called Companion Touch up for sale to anyone who’s interested, and packed within will be a 1.6GHz Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, 60GB hard drive, an 8.9-inch touchscreen, Windows XP Home, 1.3 megapixel camera, Ethernet, WiFi and a 4-cell battery that’ll last for around 3.3 hours. Optionally, you can downgrade to a 30GB hard drive, add in a 6-cell Li-ion (good for 5 hours of life) and opt for Linux over WinXP. It’s yours for the taking at $499.

Filed under:

M&A Technology offering Intel’s Classmate convertible online for $499 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Is This The World’s Strongest Safe?

Safeashouses

Ever wondered why tech hardware companies blog? This is why: In the same way that the Will It Blend? videos did wonders for BlendTec’s sales, German safe manufacturer ExtraSafe is showing off the results of an unsuccessful assualt on one of its strongboxes in the hope of bigging up its reputation.

According to the company’s blog, safe crackers tried to bust open a 500Kg (1100lbs.) safe and failed spectacularly. These guys weren’t amateurs, either — one of their tools was a $25,000 diamond core drill bit. The picture shows the tattered but triumphant safe after the would-be-thieves gave up and walked away.

We wonder just why they were bothering. These criminals weren’t glamorous jewel thieves — they were after "official stamps and documents". Next time, guys, just visit the local post office and ask, OK?

Drilled, bent, maltreated – But This Safe Didn’t Give Way [ExtraSafe via New Launches]





Add to Reddit
Add to Facebook
Add to digg



Giz Explains: The Windows 7 Beta Fine Print

Windows 7 is the largest OS beta test ever. If you followed our guide you’re already snapping, peeking and poking around in it. But did you read the fine print before you clicked install?

The fine print we’re talking about is Microsoft’s Pre-Release Software License Terms for Windows 7 Beta, commonly referred to as a license agreement. It’s a long scrolling list of text, the kind you usually skip during installation as you hammer the install button and get the party started. Trouble is, beta agreements are very different than final-release software agreements, and this text isn’t available on Microsoft’s website (but now it’s available on Giz).

Assuming you didn’t read it, we read it for you, and can now explain the contract between you and Microsoft that dictates how you use the software, what happens when it expires, what information they can scoop for you and sets the price for your firstborn in trade. Kidding about that last part, but pay attention:

You’re Sending Data to Microsoft
Windows 7 is a beta product, which means it’s in a testing phase—you’re the tester. The whole point is for Microsoft to discover and squash any bugs that pop up, and maybe polish some of the user experience along the way if anything sticks out. Guess what? To do that, Microsoft needs to collect your data. Some of this data scooping is turned on by default, beaming information back to the mothership without needing to warn you that it’s doing so. Common information includes your IP address, OS version, hardware ID—device manufacturer, name and version—that kind of thing.

The Windows 7 beta automatically sends error reports back to Microsoft. These “might unintentionally contain personal information. For example, a report that contains a snapshot of computer memory might include your name. Part of a document you were working on could be included as well.” That sounds kinda dicey if you’re Jack Bauer or the keepers of the Coca-Cola formula. But Microsoft says it doesn’t use the info to figure out who you are, so no worries if you’re just paranoid Microsoft is trying to hunt you down for some reason. Also flicked on by default is the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP), which “sends anonymous information about your hardware and how you use this software to Microsoft.”

Microsoft lays out what kind of information is transmitted by every major feature in detail here, including when the feature does it, how Microsoft uses it and if you’ve actually got a choice about sending the info. (Activation, no choice or control there, but Gadgets and network connectivity monitoring, yes.)

Sometimes Microsoft doesn’t tell you when this on-by-default reporting telemetry can be turned off, but bear in mind that if you have to hack too far into the system to shut it off yourself, you may be violating the agreement by not using the software in the intended manner. As it’s put so bluntly: “You may not work around any technical limitations in the software.”

Generally speaking, Microsoft is clear that it won’t share the info it gleans with the entire world, but they do reserve the right to “share it with others, such as hardware and software vendors” in order “to improve how their products run with this software.” So like Dell and Quicken might be going through your crash reports and seeing what kind of computer you use. But you want their stuff to work with Windows, right?

It’s More Like a Rental
This has been well-publicized, but in case you didn’t know, the Windows 7 beta is a time bomb that will self-destruct on August 1, and might take your data down with it: “The software will stop running on August 1, 2009. You may not receive any other notice. You may not be able to access data used with the software when it stops running.” (Another excellent reason to dual boot.) It’s possible they could extend the length of the trial, but since all expectations are that the final Windows 7 is gonna ship by July, expect that Aug. 1 lock down to happen.

Did you think Windows 7 was a free ride and you own your very own copy now? Shnope. Microsoft is very clear here: “The software is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some rights to use the software.”

Part of the terms here—of Microsoft still owning Windows 7 and you owning approximately dick—are that you can’t tell anyone benchmark results unless you get Microsoft to okay it first. You also can’t reverse engineer Windows 7, “work around any technical limitations in the software” or use it to host your own server.

Oh, and if Windows 7 wipes out the indie film you’ve been working on for two years, blows up your mega-super-computer that cost you $20,000 to put together or otherwise completely screws up your life, Microsoft will only cover five bucks. Max.

It’s for Testing Only
You can install and use as many copies as you like, but Microsoft says “You may not use the software in a live operating environment unless Microsoft permits you to do so under another agreement.” So no using Windows 7, for like, reals. And you can only use it with one virtualization environment per device—so no doubling up Parallels and Fusion either, you rule-breaker you.

You Are Not Permitted to Circumvent Validation.
Well. Okay then. And yes, it’s gonna keep checking “from time to time” that it’s valid software. If Microsoft sends out an update to the validation software, odds are, they aren’t going to tell you about it either—it can be downloaded and installed without telling you—meaning you can’t turn it off.

Did We Mention This Is a Beta?
Hey guys? Windows 7 “may not work the way a final version of the software will. We may change it for the final, commercial version. We also may not release a commercial version.” That would do lovely things to Microsoft’s stock, eh?

Conclusion
If you want the really long version, here’s the text of the full agreement. Here’s the short version: Microsoft owns Windows 7, it’s beaming back information to the mothership that you may or may not able be able to turn off, and you’re totally on your own, sucker. Enjoy Windows 7!

Something you still wanna know? Send any questions about Windows, Ballmy, or the McRib to tips@gizmodo.com, with “Giz Explains” in the subject line.

Gogo Wi-Fi Coming to United Airlines Flights in Late 09

Gogo in the sky

The Gogo service from Aircell, which uses ground-to-air signals to bring Internet-laden Wi-Fi to domestic flights, is coming to 13 Boeing 757 plans run by United Airlines in the second half of 2009. The flights will be between JFK in New York and either Los Angeles or San Francisco. As is typical with Gogo service, flights over 3 hours long are charged $12.95 per session, flat. Whether more flights get Gogo service will be based on customer feedback.

This is the fifth North American airline to get Gogo on select flights, after American, Delta, Virgin America, and Air Canada. Gogo supports VPN access for corporate users, and just about anything else you can do over the Internet, though voice over IP (VoIP) services are blocked–so your yakking won’t disturb those other passengers with screaming children or loud snoring (is it obvious I just had a couple of bad flights?)

Acer kicks out TravelMate 6593, 6493 laptops for the corporate set

As you may or, more likely, may not, remember, Acer introduced a pair of TravelMate 6593 and 6493 laptops way back in July of last year, but it looks like the company isn’t one to let a good model number go by the wayside, and it’s now rolled out some new, seemingly updated models aimed specifically at corporate customers. From the looks of it, the new models will also only be available in some stock configurations, with the 15.4-inch TravelMate 6593 packing a Core 2 Duo T9500 processor, 4GB of RAM, the usual integrated Intel graphics, and a 250GB hard drive, while the 14.1-inch 6493 comes equipped with a Core 2 Duo T8300 processor and 3GB of RAM, along with mostly similar specs across the board. You”ll also be able to pair each with an ezDock II or ezDockII+ and, yes, you can get your hands on ’em right now (for between $1,099 and $1,499).

[Via PC Launches, thanks Vinit]

Filed under:

Acer kicks out TravelMate 6593, 6493 laptops for the corporate set originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nokia N79 Active to come with heart rate monitor, guilt

We knew something was up with these Bluetooth heart rate straps from Polar, and sure enough, Nokia has announced a partnership to get serious fitness monitoring integrated with its products. The first to take advantage will be a special version of the N79, creatively dubbed the N79 Active, which will include 4GB of onboard memory the requisite strap right in the box and sell for about €375 ($494) when it ships “soon” in “select territories.” Of course, the new hardware isn’t any good without new software, and it just so happens that the N79 Active will include a new version of Nokia’s Sports Tracker app for keeping tabs on workouts. We’d heard that other Polar accessories like cadence sensors for biking fanatics were in the works, so this could end up developing into a whole franchise.

[Via All About Symbian]

Filed under: ,

Nokia N79 Active to come with heart rate monitor, guilt originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments