Hasta La Gadget!

Custom ROM fans will know AOKP (Android Open Kang Project), but the first build derived from Jelly Bean was knowingly rough around the edges. What a difference a month makes: along with the usual round of bug fixes, the team’s second build has added options to force screen rotation and the tablet interface on any device. Not-quite-so-early adopters also get fine-grained control over the interface DPI, LEDs, theming and vibration, and the device list has grown to include the Verizon Galaxy S III, the Galaxy Note and multiple variants of both the original Galaxy S and the Galaxy Tab family. If you were waiting to stay just short of the bleeding edge before trying AOKP, your version is ready.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile

AOKP team posts giant update to its Jelly Bean build, allows rotation and tablet UI anywhere originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 01:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If keeping up with those CyanogenMod 10 nightly builds was hard work, or just a little too bleeding-edge, then you might be interested to hear about the introduction of “M-Series” releases for CM10. Once a month, the team will release a more stable version for your downloading pleasure, though they are also keen to point out they will be available under the experimental tag. The list of handsets that will get the new builds includes variants of the Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy S, Galaxy SIII, Nexus S, Nexus 7, Galaxy Note and Sony Xperia S. Support for more phones is promised, but for now, head over to the official site for the comprehensive list and a link to the downloads.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

CyanogenMod 10 now available in ‘M-Series’ monthly builds originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 04:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Of all the new features in firmware version 1.80 we’re pretty sure that the ability to play PSOne classics was fairly high on people’s want-list. Well, the update is live, and with it a list of the titles available. There are nine on offer today for US Vita owners, which are: Arc the Lad, Cool Boarders 2, Final Fantasy VII, Hot Shots Golf 2, Jet Moto, Syphon Filter, Tomb Raider, Twisted Metal 2 and Wild Arms, with hopefully more to follow. This is in stark contrast to what’s available over the pond, as Kotaku points out, with over 100 titles hitting European shores from tomorrow — somewhat of an imbalance. But, with Sony said to be targeting a younger crowd, maybe it’s banking on some of them not remembering the PlayStation’s golden age. Feature tour video after the break.

Continue reading PS Vita v1.80 update now available, PSOne titles for download revealed (video)

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

PS Vita v1.80 update now available, PSOne titles for download revealed (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We generally enjoyed the virtual surround sound prowess of Astro Gaming’s A50 wireless headset when we reviewed it back in July, but you’ll recall it had one especially glaring issue: the audio would frequently cut out. At the time, the company informed us that a fix was on the way via a firmware update, and now it’s recently arrived with a few other goodies. To refresh your memory, the A50 headset relies on a MixAmp TXD wireless transmitter, so you’ll actually be dealing with a duo of updates to get your system on the straight and narrow: A50 Headset Firmware v1.1 (Build 2856) and A50 MixAmp Tx Firmware v1.1 (Build 2855).

On the headset side, notable changes include “various audio and volume leveling tweaks,” a decrease in background noise and enhancements to the noise-gate for voice chat across platforms. Better yet, volume and game / voice chat balance levels will now stay as you left them upon powering it down. The Tx itself haa been deemed the culprit behind the audio problem, as Astro notes that it’s “fixed [the] occasional optical audio drop” — where “occasional” is putting it nicely. Beyond that, both units should now have better success pairing up, and further compatibility with KleerNet-enabled wireless devices.

We tried out the firmware refreshes with a few sessions of MW3 and can happily report that the audio issues do seem to be resolved. Now, installing the update is simple, if a bit tedious. First we had to hook up the headset via USB into the TXD, which itself connects your computer via USB as well. From there, we downloaded and ran Astro’s Device Manager for OS X and 32 bit Windows (available at the source below), prompting us to install the updates. Lastly, we re-paired the two and were back to our virtual fragging sans the audio hiccups — hopefully you’ll have the same results. Need all the details? Hit up the source link below.

Filed under: Gaming, Wearables

Astro Gaming’s firmware update v1.1 for A50 wireless headset fixes ‘audio bug,’ enhances functionality originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you thought your OTA update took too long, how about four days? That’s how long the Curiosity “brain transplant” took, and is now finally complete. This now means that the main computers have switched over from landing mode, to surface mode — and thus we hope — meaning the rover’s good to go. That said, it’s still a painfully slow process, with Curiosity’s wheels likely remaining steadfastly motionless for at least another week — and even then we’re looking at a trip of just a few meters. When it comes to interplanetary travel, though, slow and steady definitely wins the race — in the meantime, you can soak up the view.

Filed under: Science

Curiosity survives brain transplant, prepares for first drive originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 08:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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