May 05

Rumor: Apple Readies Wireless Software Updates for iPhone

Posted in: Apple, ipad, iPhone, Phones, Today's Chili, verizon

Apple's iPhone debuted on the Verizon network in February. Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

Apple may be preparing to debut a feature allowing iPhones to wirelessly download operating-system updates, no computer required.

Apple plans to introduce the over-the-air update feature in the new iOS 5 software, which the company will preview at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, multiple sources told 9 to 5 Mac.

Currently, installing iPhone OS updates requires plugging the device into a computer and using iTunes to download and install the software. A wireless update feature would eliminate these steps.

Evidently, iOS is already capable of over-the-air updates. The new Apple TV can download and install software updates on the set-top box itself.

But with the iPhone, the logistics will be more complicated, because carriers must agree to allow wireless software updates. 9 to 5 Mac adds that Apple has been negotiating with Verizon to bring this feature to the Verizon iPhone, but it’s unknown whether it will be available for AT&T iPhones as well (though I don’t see why not).

9 to 5 Mac speculates that Apple will have to make software updates smaller in order for carriers to hop on board with over-the-air update — current iOS updates are over 600MB large.

However, an easier work-around would be to require a Wi-Fi connection to download the updates, keeping these hefty downloads off cellular networks.

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May 05

DIYer builds his own CNC mill, fabricates a Weighted Companion Cube to show off

Posted in: diy, homebrew, Today's Chili
So you’ve built your own homebrew CNC mill and want to test out some recent modifications? That’s a question few ever have to ask themselves, but DIYer Jamie Nasiatka recently did, and came up with the bright idea of making his very own Weighted Companion Cube. As you can see above, things turned up pretty well, and you can check out the complete build process at the source link below — yes, it lights up, and changes colors. Let’s just hope no one tries to throw this cube through a Portal t-shirt.

DIYer builds his own CNC mill, fabricates a Weighted Companion Cube to show off originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 05

The 404 814: Where we’re saying Cinco de ‘Bye’-o (podcast)

Posted in: Today's Chili



(Credit:
Reddit)

It’s Caroline McCarthy’s final appearance on The 404 before she makes a move to the Googleplex where she’ll be a member of the company’s new Trends & Insights team. That also means she’ll be splitting her time between Google projects and redirecting all of Google’s 404 error pages to the show blog. But before she leaves, we’re thanking her for all her help with The 404, introducing us to guests like Dennis Crowley of FourSquare, Dave Karp of Tumblr, Rex Sorgatz of 4Food, and many more. She’s also credited for being the first to suggest recording our chats for a CNET Podcast, so we owe it all to her! Join us on today’s show to see what kind of gifts she brings, as we share our best intoxication stories in the spirit of a hilarious Reddit picture.

The 404 Digest for Episode 814

Ep. 814: Where we’re saying Cinco de “Bye”-o



Episode 814

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Originally posted at The 404 Podcast

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May 05

Fifty Years Ago, We (Tensely) Put the Second Man in Space [Techversary]

Posted in: NASA, space, Today's Chili, top

This week’s situation room photo will likely be marked as one of history’s most famous—fraught with anxiety. But there’ve been other American rooms filled with tension. When the US put Alan Shepard into space, it was serious business. More »

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May 05

Pandora apps put comedy in your pocket

Posted in: Today's Chili

Pandora’s new comedy channels are available “to go,” but you might need a little help finding them on your mobile device. Here’s how.

Originally posted at iPhone Atlas

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May 05

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini and Mini Pro hands-on (update: video!)

Posted in: Android, breaking news, gingerbread, Mini, qwerty, QwertySlider, slider, smartphone, Sony Ericsson, SonyEricsson, Today's Chili, video, xperia

We’ve just gotten to grips with Sony Ericsson’s new compact smartphones, the Xperia Mini and its keyboard-equipped sibling the Xperia Mini Pro, and have a gallery of shots for you below. Hit them up now and we’ll have hands-on impressions and video coming shortly.

Gallery: Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini and Mini Pro hands-on (part deux)

The Xperia Mini has wonderful size when it comes to width and height, but we have to ask: why so thick? The Mini Pro is only slightly thicker despite having a fully-fledged slideout keyboard, so it would have been nice if the keyboard-less Mini was more svelte. Sony Ericsson is clearly going after the pocket- and handbag-conscious demographic here, who might not be all that receptive to the Mini’s girth. SE also made some bold claims about the finger-friendliness of the Mini Pro’s keyboard, which we were told were backed by usability tests against rival phones. Those trials were isolated to devices “in its size class” (of which there aren’t many), but our first response was still very positive, at least once we turned on auto-correct. This will be a matter of personal preference, but we found ourselves enjoying not having to take care of every little slip of the finger. Anyway, settings adjusted appropriately, we bashed away on the Mini Pro rather speedily and would rate it right up there with the BlackBerry Bold 9700 in terms of our typing rapidity. Browser rendering has its flaws, there’s a stuttery quality to zooming in and out of a page, but at least it’s done quickly and Flash playback seems to work without a hitch.

Update: Hands-on video now embedded after the break!

Additional reporting by Sharif Sakr

Gallery: Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini and Mini Pro hands-on

Continue reading Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini and Mini Pro hands-on (update: video!)

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini and Mini Pro hands-on (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 12:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 05

Cheapest Panasonic 3D plasma a great value

Posted in: Today's Chili

If you can live with its homely design, the excellent picture quality and feature set of the Panasonic TC-PST30 series combine to make it one of the best plasma TV values available.

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May 05

Continental readies stereo camera system for ‘seeing’ cars

Posted in: car, Cars, germany, safety, Today's Chili
The idea of cars preventing accidents before they happen isn’t novel, but at the end of the day, collision detection systems are only as smart as the information being fed to them. That’s the ethos behind Continental’s new stereo camera system, which spots people, pets, and other objects in a vehicle’s path, and measures their height, distance from the vehicle, and how they might be moving. This rig, which will be just another part of Continental’s ContiGuard safety system, uses the difference in the lenses’ optical paths to make these calculations — so long as those obstacles are 20 to 30 meters (66 to 98 feet) away. The company also says the cameras are sharp enough to detect partially obscured objects, and claims accuracy within 20 to 30 centimeters (8 to 12 inches). No word on when it will be ready to ship seeing cars, though if the press release is any indication, German drivers are likely to get their test drive first.

Continue reading Continental readies stereo camera system for ‘seeing’ cars

Continental readies stereo camera system for ‘seeing’ cars originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 12:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 05

Motorola reveals XPRT and Titanium for Sprint

Posted in: Today's Chili

Sprint announces Motorola XPRT and Motorola Titanium.

Originally posted at Android Atlas

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May 05

Sony Ericsson announces new generation of Xperia Mini and Mini Pro smartphones

Posted in: Android, breaking news, gingerbread, Mini, official, qwerty, QwertySlider, slider, smartphone, Smartphones, Sony Ericsson, SonyEricsson, Today's Chili, xperia

Sony Ericsson has just outed a brand new pair of compact Xperia smartphones. The new Xperia Mini will run Android Gingerbread (2.3) on a 3-inch, multitouch, scratch-resistant display, which comes with Sony’s proprietary Bravia Engine with Reality Display. There’s a 1GHz processor inside, access to Android Market, and home screen customization with custom shortcuts available in the four corners of the screen. A 30 percent improvement in battery life is also touted, courtesy of a larger cell. SE is also pretty jolly about having the world’s smallest smartphone capable of recording video in 720p HD. You’ll be able to grab yours in one of four different colors this August.

The new Xperia Mini Pro features the same 1GHz processor, 3-inch display, and 1200mAh battery, but it also adds a front-facing camera and that sliding QWERTY keyboard that made the original X10 Mini Pro such a favorite. The new model is coming at some point in the third quarter of this year. Sony Ericsson’s launch presentation is still ongoing, but we’ll have more details and hands-on pics as soon as we can.

Update: Hands-on pics and impressions can be found right here!

Gallery: Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini and Mini Pro

Continue reading Sony Ericsson announces new generation of Xperia Mini and Mini Pro smartphones

Sony Ericsson announces new generation of Xperia Mini and Mini Pro smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 12:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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