May 18

Panasonic launches Skype for 2010 VIERA Cast TVs

Posted in: Panasonic, skype, Today's Chili, video
We managed to get an early look at Panasonic’s TV-friendly implementation of Skype back at CES in January, but the company has just now finally activated the app on all of its 2010 VIERA Cast-enabled TVs (including the VT25, VT20, G25, and G20 Series). To take advantage of it, however, you’ll also have to shell out $170 for Panasonic’s TY-CC10W webcam, which supports both VGA and 720p video, and packs four unidirectional microphones, an echo canceling system, and some beam-forming technology that promises to deliver clear audio over a typical TV viewing distance of three to four meters. Head on past the break for the complete press release, as well as Panasonic’s requisite old-people-don’t-get-technology ad for the TVs.

Continue reading Panasonic launches Skype for 2010 VIERA Cast TVs

Panasonic launches Skype for 2010 VIERA Cast TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 13:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 18

Android 2.1 Operating System Gains Steam

Posted in: Android, operating system, Phones, Today's Chili

android-versions-may2010

Fragmentation caused by the different versions of the Android operating system — a cause of concern among developers — is on the decline. The Android OS is coalescing around three major flavors: Android 1.5, aka Cupcake; Android 1.6, or Donut; and Android 2.1, nicknamed Eclair.

Among those, Android 2.1 has the maximum share. About 37.2 percent of Android phones today have the Android 2.1 operating system, up from 27.3 percent in April.

Android 1.5 comes next with about 34.1 percent of Android phones sporting it, followed by Android 1.6 at 28 percent.

The data comes from Android Developers, the official Android developers’ community website, and is based on OS data reported by devices accessing the Android Market during a 2-week period ending May 17.

In the 16 months since the first Android phone hit the market, Google has made four major upgrades to the operating system. But smartphone makers unable to keep up with that pace have continued to introduce new cellphones with older versions of the OS, leading to consumer confusion about what capabilities various Android phones have. But in the past four months, many handset makers, including Motorola and HTC, have been steadily updating the OSes on their older phones. In most cases, they’re upgrading to the latest version, Android 2.1.

Still, in the rapidly changing Android world it is not enough. At its developer conference later this week, Google is likely to release the next update to Android called Android 2.2 or FroYo.

FroYo will support an updated Android Market, Flash Player 10.1, and tethering.

It will be interesting to see what this chart looks like in three months.

See Also:

Chart data: Android Developers


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May 18

The 404 583: Where we’re switching back to Hotmail (podcast)

Posted in: Today's Chili




(Credit:
Thinkstock)

We’ve always noticed something a little off about our dear Wilson G. Tang, but today’s episode finally kicks the door open on the severity of his addiction to technology. Our frightening discovery begins with a CNN article that exposes the Apple iPad and other brightly lit …


Originally posted at The 404 Podcast

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May 18

Wii Rowing Machine aims to sculpt abs, achieves belly laughs (video)

Posted in: controller, nintendo, nintendo wii, NintendoWii, Today's Chili, video, wii

CTA strikes again! The company known for its unorthodox (and rather silly) game controllers is back with a plastic drawbar / foot pedal combo that is supposed to be “very similar to a rowing machine you would find at the gym,” although we highly doubt it. Designed for games like Wii Sports Resort and Jillian Michaels’ Angry Sports Resort, this is something that would probably only enter your home as an ill-considered Christmas gift before gathering dust in the back of a closet, alongside your Bowling Ball and Football controllers. But we must admit, even if the company’s products are dubious, its infomercials are an endless source of entertainment. See for yourself after the break. As for the rowing machine, it’s up for pre-order now at Amazon, as if you care.

Continue reading Wii Rowing Machine aims to sculpt abs, achieves belly laughs (video)

Wii Rowing Machine aims to sculpt abs, achieves belly laughs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 13:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 18

ViewSonic outs energy efficient, earth-friendly VOT125 nettop — won’t help that there oil spill

Posted in: desktops, green, nettop, Today's Chili, viewsonic

Way back at CES in January, we spied ViewSonic’s full offering, and we caught wind then of the VOT125 nettop — but we didn’t really have any details to go on. Well, the company’s officially announced the VOT125 PC Mini today, and the slim little guy looks pretty cute. Sold as a space-saving PC with green design, ViewSonic says that the VOT125 uses up to 90 percent less plastic than similar nettops, and consumes up to 90 percent less power, making use of a range of ultra low power Intel ULV CPUs. The VOT125 boasts 2GB of memory, a 250GB hard drive, four USB 2.0 ports, plus DVI / HDMI. You can grab one up starting today, and it’s got a starting price of $499. The full PR follows.

Continue reading ViewSonic outs energy efficient, earth-friendly VOT125 nettop — won’t help that there oil spill

ViewSonic outs energy efficient, earth-friendly VOT125 nettop — won’t help that there oil spill originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 12:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 18

Kindle for Android due this summer

Posted in: Today's Chili

It’s more surprising that it took this long than that Amazon’s reader app is coming to Google’s mobile OS. pOriginally posted at a href=”http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20005268-264.html” class=”origPostedBlog”Deep Tech/a/p

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May 18

Panasonic flips switch on Skype for TVs

Posted in: Today's Chili

Furthering the videophone trend, starting Tuesday some Panasonic HDTV owners can make free video calls with purchase of an extra camera. pOriginally posted at a href=”http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20005263-260.html” class=”origPostedBlog”Circuit Breaker/a/p

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May 18

Tearing down the Microsoft Kin

Posted in: Today's Chili

Tech site Chipworks has cracked open Redmond’s new phone and had a look at what makes the youth-oriented device tick. pOriginally posted at a href=”http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-20005262-56.html” class=”origPostedBlog”Beyond Binary/a/p

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May 18

London to become one giant WiFi hotspot by 2012, because Boris says so

Posted in: london, Today's Chili, uk, wifi, Wireless

Look at this man. Just look at him. Isn’t it obvious that Boris Johnson gets what Boris Johnson wants? In case you’ve been misinformed about the power this man’s wishes hold, you should know that he’s well on his way to establishing the first muni-fi project to actually work — or so he hopes. By and large, every attempt to sprinkle WiFi onto entire US cities has fallen short in one way or another, but London has a motivator that no American borough ever did: the 2012 Olympics. Boris’ plan is to blanket all of London in WiFi prior to the opening ceremony, with “every lamppost and every bus stop” having a router or repeater in it. The scheme is part of a larger plan to make London the “technology capital of the world,” but unfortunately, your hopes of connecting for free may be dashed. According to the London Evening Standard, “no details of pricing have been given,” and we get the impression that those in charge of the rollout would’ve jumped at the chance to gloat about its free-ness if that were indeed the case. But then again, who are we to question the might of London’s Mayor?

London to become one giant WiFi hotspot by 2012, because Boris says so originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 12:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 18

Garmin-Asus Garminfone review

Posted in: Android, ASUS, feature, Features, gps, navigation, review, smartphone, t-mobile, Today's Chili, video

The holy matrimony between smartphone and personal navigation device just keeps getting stronger, scorning dedicated GPS units like forgotten flings and leaving navigation-free handsets wandering lost and alone. Garmin-Asus has been flirting with the perfect bond with its Nuvifone series for some time now, but rather tragically from a branding perspective its strongest attempt yet comes without the nuvi moniker. It’s the T-Mobile Garminfone, and its Android underpinnings go a long way toward making the best mix of PND and smartphone to date.

Gallery: Garmin-Asus Garminfone

Continue reading Garmin-Asus Garminfone review

Garmin-Asus Garminfone review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 11:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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