Hasta La Gadget!

It is no secret that Apple and Samsung are fierce rivals – in fact with both of them suing each other, it wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination to think that they both don’t really like each other that much. However Apple has relied on Samsung in the past to manufacture components for their products, like the processor used in the iPads and iPhones, but it seems that Apple is indeed looking to remove Samsung from the equation as much as possible. In a report from KoreaTimes, it was reported that according to a senior Samsung official, Apple has not involved Samsung in the process to develop the A6 chip used in the iPhone 5, instead relegating Samsung to merely manufacturing them.

According to the Samsung source, “There are three types of chip clients […] Some want us to handle everything from chip design, architecture and manufacturing. Some want us to just design and manufacture. Some wants us to just make the chips. Apple is now the third type.” Apple has relied on Samsung in the past when designing their earlier processors, but the A6 chip marks the first time that Apple has designed their own ARMv7 core. In fact this report seems to corroborate a report from last week that suggested that Apple will be turning to TSMC for the manufacturing of its quad-core A7 chip that could be used to power 2013’s iOS devices.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Samsung to continue supplying A6 chips for Apple?, TSMC to start building Apple’s A6 chips?,

As Halloween approaches, there are some MMOs out there that take advantage of the holidays to come up with new events, costumes, rewards and etc. based on that event for their players. Well the good news is that if you’re playing Guild Wars 2, it looks like ArenaNet might have something special planned for Halloween this year. The Halloween themed goodies will be part of the upcoming Guild Wars 2 update – Shadow of the Mad King, which will include four new acts with a Halloween theme, and Halloween-themed items up for sale via the Black Lion Trading Company. Apart from that, the update is also expected to introduce new features to the game, such as paid PvP tournaments, new mini-dungeons, jumping puzzles and more. The update is scheduled for release on the 22^nd of October, with the new acts expected to remain available through 31^st of October. More details can be found on ArenaNet’s website.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Guild Wars 2 to introduce paid PvP tournaments, Guild Wars 2 manages to sell over 2 million copies,

While a vacuum cleaner is meant to make our lives easier, as it sucks up all of those nasty settlements of dust bunnies around the home, sometimes, all the bending down and squatting while getting up in a repetitive manner to target those hard to reach places can do a number to your back. Which is why instead of bending down or leaning forward, picking up the vacuum cleaner itself from one room to another, the $199.95 Backpack Vacuum, as it is called, will remain nicely on your back to make you into a dust bustin’ Ninja Turtle lookalike.

You basically wear the Backpack Vacuum like a regular backpack, where it is lightweight in nature (tipping the scales at around 7.5 pounds) so that your back will not be strained, where it will remain flushed against your body so that it delivers optimal mobility as you slip into tight corners and access all the different areas and spaces which require cleaning. The inclusion of soft padding ensures that extra cushioning is delivered to the back, while adjustable shoulder straps pave the way for a comfortable fit. Colonies of dust bunnies will be no match for its powerful 800-watt motor, where a HEPA filter removes allergens to boot. Each purchase comes with a handy half dozen cleaning tools, two extension wands, mesh storage bag for accessories, and disposable paper and reusable fabric bags.

[ Backpack Vacuum makes at least one house chore easier on the back copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Since getting outed just head of Microsoft’s big reveal, Xbox 360’s SmartGlass has been under wraps. When Xbox Live VP Marc Whitten officially introduced SmartGlass soon after at E3 2012, we learned a teensy bit more — tablets and smartphones (Android, Windows Phone 8, and iOS, even) would get second-screen functionality via an upcoming free application — and got some hands-on time with it. That application has yet to launch, but Dance Central 3‘s SmartGlass functionality is already here. Well, almost here — the game becomes publicly available tomorrow, and the app won’t launch for a few weeks still — but we got our hands on Dance Central 3‘s SmartGlass companion app a bit early at a New York City review event last week.

Being the first SmartGlass application to launch has its advantages, such as setting the bar. By no means is Dance Central 3‘s SmartGlass application a thorough, necessary accompaniment (for a game that already requires Kinect, that’s probably a good choice), but it does add some neat side fun for friends waiting in the wings to get their respective grooves on. “Party Time DJ” allows friends — employing their iOS, Droid, or WP8 tablet/smartphone, via the Xbox SmartGlass app — to queue up the next song in the game’s neverending “Party Time” mode, or create a playlist. They can also queue downloadable tracks to the Xbox 360 (which thankfully requires approval on the 360 prior to purchase), or swap difficulty settings. Sadly, though the opportunity for real-time griefing presents itself rather clearly here, developer Harmonix chose not to allow song-swapping or difficulty changes mid-song. “Because it would kill them,” Harmonix rep Nick Chester told us.

Continue reading Hands-on with the first SmartGlass app, Dance Central 3’s Party Time DJ

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Alt, Microsoft

Hands-on with the first SmartGlass app, Dance Central 3’s Party Time DJ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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