Hasta La Gadget!

Despite being launched at Mobile World Congress, VoxOx has yet to make a mobile version of its Universal Translator. That said, the desktop version is still quite useful for those with Windows or OS X-based rigs who attempt to communicate with friends — particularly with friends who speak a different native language. The new software build enables real-time language translation for SMS chat, social media and email, and so long as the VoxOx client is pulled up, you can send and receive any of those messages in your own tongue while receiving translated messages in return. Granted, we get the idea that some phrases will be quite literally lost in translation, but this sure beats accessing Google’s Language Tools for each questionable phrase. Hit the download link below to grab a copy, and head on past the break for a video demonstration of what’s on offer.

Continue reading VoxOx Universal Translator makes multilingual communication a breeze

VoxOx Universal Translator makes multilingual communication a breeze originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At our last update after Q1 ’09, Netflix had just triumphantly smashed through the 10 million customer barrier, although that’s well in the rear view mirror now that the company is celebrating the addition of 1 million customers in the last quarter alone. With a subscriber base of 12.3 million (48% of whom have checked out a movie on Watch Instantly last year) its next step is to expand beyond U.S. borders, with plans to offer a streaming-only package to an unnamed new country in the latter half of this year; Hacking Netflix guesses Canada or even the UK could be potential expansion targets. Even the possibility of a Disney/Starz fallout affecting streaming didn’t dampen the mood, during the earnings call CEO Reed Hastings seemed confident it could keep doing deals for compelling movies going forward, with WB, Sony, MGM, Paramount and others either signed up or renewed during Q4 alone. Still, don’t expect those dealings to extend to new releases — Hastings is comfortable sticking with a cable-like viewing window for internet delivered movies in combination with the existing disc rentals, for now.

Even Roku, closely tied to Netflix’s internet-to-TV efforts since they began, is thinking big. As CEO Anthony Wood tells Bloomberg, we can expect the box itself to reach the low, low price of free sooner rather than later as the company works out revenue sharing deals with various subscription and video on-demand services, bringing it up to “the same kinds of channels that any cable operator can offer.” It’s set goals of 1 million set-top boxes sold by the end of the year (already over 500,000) and 100 channels, we figure another half-off sale or two should get things done in no time.

Netflix celebrates Q4 success of 1 million new subscribers and eyes bigger growth ahead; Roku too originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re not sure how it happened (ok, we have an idea) but Microsoft went from confident incumbent to the scrappy tech underdog in the last few years. We’re not talking marketshare here, but mindshare. Through it all the Xbox 360 has remained a constant fave and Windows 7 has certainly helped the company rekindle consumer enthusiasm as did the release of the Zune HD. Now, if we’re reading our tea leaves correctly, then Microsoft’s got a whole lot more in store for 2010. Redmond’s already hinted pretty strongly that it’s hell-bent on bringing the acclaimed Zune media experience to more devices including its Windows Mobile handsets — something we hope to see unveiled in Barcelona. The problem, is that dedicated Zune hardware is pretty much restricted to the US and Canada at the moment. A quick look at Microsoft’s job boards, however, reveals the need for a London-based “Business Development Manager” responsible for driving European content licensing deals for digital music and support engineering and development divisions including Zune, Xbox, and Windows Mobile. Another Zune-related posting reveals a position for a hardware test engineer with “working knowledge of cell-phone 2G and 3G technologies.” We’re also seeing that the latest Zune software update is country aware judging by Arne Hess’ language and localization testing over at the:unwired. Man, if Microsoft can get its act together and horizontally integrate the best of its killer apps and services then the rest of the industry had better watch out.

International Zune with phone functionality hinted in Microsoft job listings, magic boxes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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See that text up there? The part of the site that reads “Kindle DX Now with Global Wireless.” Well, the Kindle DX doesn’t have have global wireless… yet. The link is dead but it certainly looks like Amazon is about to make good on its earlier promise to bring global roaming capabilities to the DX as it did with its 6-inch Kindle. In fact, we’re expecting a press release any time now.

[Thanks, Brad]

Kindle DX now with global wireless? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Talk about making good on a promise… and then some. Back in March, Ericsson proudly proclaimed that it would be able to make 21Mbps look like child’s play by reaching 28Mbps before the dawn of 2010, and now the company is tooting its horn once more after demonstrating 42Mbps equipment to common folk over in Stockholm, Sweden. Reportedly, it’s the planet’s first 42Mbps HSPA achievement on commercial products, and better still, it’s now available for mass deployment. Unfortunately, details beyond that were few and far between — we’re guessing Ericsson just needed an avenue to gloat — but we suspect carriers like Telstra will be pushing out their own releases once the upgrades start rolling out. Granted, we’ve seen mobile data rates tickle the 42Mbps mark before, but those showcases were hardly ready for public consumption. Meanwhile, Verizon and AT&T are spending bundles arguing about their comparatively glacial “3G networks.” Way to go, America.

Ericsson demos 42Mbps HSPA Evolution for the laypeople originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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