Hasta La Gadget!

Putting Google’s latest candy-coated OS update on the very first Android phone? We’ve got a guy for that. Jcarrz1, the same wizard from XDA-Developers who ported Ice Cream Sandwich to the HTC G1, has managed to port a buggy build of CyanogenMod 10 to the handset — which puts Jelly Bean on the oldest hardware possible. Sadly, the old handset isn’t up to Project Butter’s 60FPS interface, but brave tweakers can still use the device’s touchscreen for apps, CM10 features and a partially functional Google Now. WiFi is also up and running, but cellular data is MIA. Check out the video above to see the pre-alpha build in action, or try it out for yourself at the source link below.

Filed under: Cellphones

HTC G1 auditions CyanogenMod 10, runs Jelly Bean at a snail’s pace (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 03:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take one look at the upcoming 3D stop motion film ParaNorman and it’s easy to see that moviegoers are in for some stunning visuals come August 17th. Once you realize the contribution of 3D printing to the film’s creation, however, you’re likely to appreciate the movie on an entirely new level. In order to portray a wide array of emotions on the faces of the film’s 62 characters, animation studio LAIKA tapped 3D Systems and their ZPrinter 650 to generate over 31,000 individual facial parts for inclusion in the production — talk about working overtime. According to Brian McLean of LAIKA, “By using a color 3D printer we were not only able to push facial performance to new levels, but we were also able to achieve a level of detail and subtlety in characters’ faces that a few short years ago would have seemed impossible.” If you’ve yet to catch a preview of ParaNorman, just hop the break to see some of the printed handiwork.

Continue reading Stop motion animated film ParaNorman taps 3D printers to create 31,000 unique facial features

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Home Entertainment, Meta

Stop motion animated film ParaNorman taps 3D printers to create 31,000 unique facial features originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 23:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Although it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Nintendo would be redesigning its software packaging to accommodate the new “U,” it’s still nice to get an early peek at what we can expect from the Japanese gaming giant come “this holiday” season. As you can tell by the Avengers: Battle for Earth title above, the design only sees slight changes near the top, where it’s clearly left the white and gray accents for a more colorful blue and yellow coating — not to mention the expected addition of the Wii U branding around the center. There are other games out in the Amazon wild besides the Marvel one here, including Just Dance 4 and Assassin’s Creed 3. You can check those out at any of the source links below.

Filed under: Gaming

Wii U titles listed on Amazon let us see Nintendo’s all-new packaging design originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The topic of mobile phone radiation is once again on the burner in Washington D.C. Along with Representative Dennis Kucinich’s proposed legislation that would institute labeling requirements and extensive research into the health effects of RF exposure, the US Government Accountability Office has issued a recommendation that the FCC update its current exposure limits and reevaluate current testing methodologies. As is, the FCC’s radiation guidelines are based on research that was concluded in 1996, and while the US GAO concedes that this may lead to the adoption of higher SAR limits (in certain usage scenarios), the organization contends that it’s time to bring current research and international recommendations into consideration.

As potential cause for concern, the US GAO has also identified a failure of current testing methodologies. Put simply, manufacturers are currently required to submit specific absorption rates that reflect usage against both the head and body, however in the case of the body test, this is always done with the assumption of a holster. While a distance of 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters may not seem like much, SAR values increase with proximity, and many who use their mobile phones in their pockets — say, with a Bluetooth headset — are at risk of exposing themselves to RF limits that exceed current guidelines. The actual absorption rates are currently unknown.

For its part, the FCC has responded to the US GAO and asserts that it has independently arrived at many of the same conclusions, and adds that it has initiated the procedural requirements necessary for the reevaluation of RF safety rules. Those who’d like to learn more can scour the complete recommendation, along with Rep. Kucinich’s proposal, at the source links below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

US Government Accountability Office recommends FCC reassess radiation limits for mobile phones originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Optimum App for the Kindle Fire has served Cablevision customers in search of a second screen for some time now, but now it’s more like its siblings on iOS, PC or Mac. What we mean is that now it can stream live and on demand content subscribed to via your Cablevision service. That’s the good news, the catch is that you have to be connected to your home network for the live streams to work, but at least all the channels are available, rather than a subset like some providers. Of course if you aren’t interested in watching video on the small screen, you can still use the aforementioned Kindle Fire app as a remote as well as to manage your DVR or discover new content while the action plays on the big screen for the rest of those in your home to enjoy.

Continue reading Live streams come to Cablevision’s Optimum App for the Kindle Fire

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Tablet PCs

Live streams come to Cablevision’s Optimum App for the Kindle Fire originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 06:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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