Hasta La Gadget!

Last week we brought you news that KNF-B was prepping for a September 28 launch of its Blio e-reader software, and according to our date books, the time has come! The free PC software (Windows XP, Vista and 7 are all supported) can be downloaded now at the source link below; the iPhone app should be hitting the App Store very soon, however. We’ve been using the program for the last few days to, you know, “read,” so before heading over to download it yourself you’ll naturally want to hit the break for our impressions of the unique reading application.

Continue reading Blio for Windows review, now available for download

Blio for Windows review, now available for download originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When we reviewed the $150 Kobo e-reader this summer we liked the value it offered, but didn’t particularly appreciate the poor performance nor the missing wireless connectivity. Now it’s back, a new version offering fixes to those two issues (the system works!) and selling for $10 cheaper to boot. The new Kobo Wireless eReader adds WiFi into the mix, enabling on-device book downloads whenever you’re in range of a suitably accommodating hotspot. There’s also a new processor to speed things up, but at this point we don’t know by how much. That question will be answered on November 1 when the thing starts shipping in your choice of three colors (black, silver, and lovely lavender), but as it’s currently up for pre-order now at Borders you’d better hurry and make with the clicking if you want yours by the holidays.

Continue reading New Kobo eReader gets wireless connection, faster processor, pretty colors

New Kobo eReader gets wireless connection, faster processor, pretty colors originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 07:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smartphones don’t have the best cameras in the world, but you can still take some really good shots with the right lighting and timing. Wired.com readers proved that in our recent iPhoneography contest, where we asked you to submit your best smartphone snaps.

You created, you submitted, you voted, and the crowd favorite was David Chen’s photo (above) shot in the banks of the Charles River in Boston, using his iPhone 3GS.  We agreed that’s pretty cool: Those people sure look like monkeys, don’t they? (Er, they are people, right?) Congrats, David! We’re featuring your photo for a week here at Wired.com.

Dozens of you submitted really neat photos, too, and clicking through this gallery, you can see 14 others who received the most votes, as well as some favorites handpicked by Wired.com. Enjoy.

See Also:

• Gallery: iPhone Photographers Celebrate Artsy Snaps
• Enter Wired’s Smartphone Photography Contest

This week has been a good one for lazy, couch-bound iPad owners. Two remote control apps have already been released and now a third, from Sonos, is available as a free download from the App Store.

Sonos makes one of the best remote control apps for the iPhone, and the iPad version takes advantage of the bigger screen. The app works only with Sonos’ multi-room music streaming boxes, just as Sony’s remote works only with Sony gear (and the lights in your room) and Apple’s Remote works only with iTunes, iOS devices and the Airport Express.

The big difference with the Sonos app is that it replaces the company’s own hardware solution, a remote that costs $350. The iPad app lets you search and queue your music, and add songs to playlists via drag-and-drop (try that in the Apple app). It lets you choose which speakers you stream to, and to control the volume. In short, it has everything the iPhone app has, only it puts a lot more on screen at once.

If you have a Sonos setup, and an iPad, you likely already skipped to the link below to grab the app. If not, go ahead now. I shan’t hold you up any longer.

Sonos Controller for iPad [Sonos]

Sonos controller app page [iTunes]

See Also:

• Sonos Gives Away iPhone Remote Control, Adds Pandora and Last.FM …
• Sonos S5: All In One Wi-Fi Boombox
• Three Futures of Remote Control: Apple, Sony, and Samsung
• Apple Redefines Remote Control — Now, It's Your Cellphone
• New Aluminum Apple Remote, No Longer Free

Follow us for real-time tech news: Charlie Sorrel and Gadget Lab on Twitter.

Wondering how wireless “tag mode” will work on Nintendo’s new 3DS? You’re not alone. Fortunately, a trailer for Super Street Fighter IV has been loosed upon the internets giving us a pretty decent overview of what serendipitous game play will be like. To start with, a minigame feature lets you automatically fight your nearby rival’s collectable action figures even while the 3DS is tucked away in your bag. The more you fight the more figures you collect. Then there’s the more obvious wireless battle mode for active multiplayer gameplay with nearby 3DS owners. Should make for some interesting chance encounters on public transportation. You do live in a densely populated area don’t you squirt?

Continue reading Nintendo 3DS ‘tag mode’ demonstrated in Super Street Fighter IV trailer (video)

Nintendo 3DS ‘tag mode’ demonstrated in Super Street Fighter IV trailer (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 06:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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