Spotify and Facebook partner up, send Europe a friend request?

Spotify may still be in tough negotiations with record labels to bring its streaming music service to the US, but the Swedish company has managed to score a powerful stateside ally, reportedly striking a partnership with Facebook. Neither party is dropping any cash on the deal — set to be called either “Facebook Music” or “Spotify on Facebook,” according to Forbes‘s anonymous sources — which will let members of the social network stream songs at the same time as friends and share their listening habits with those in their social circle. The service is reportedly currently in testing and could be launched in a fortnight, but its arrival in the US still hinges on those ever important label deals. In the meantime, we’ll all have to share our listening habits the old fashioned way: by posting on our friends’ walls.

Spotify and Facebook partner up, send Europe a friend request? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 May 2011 16:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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European Commission regains sanity, cancels €22 million SYMBEOSE project

Last November, to the surprise and dismay of many, the European Commission decided it needed to stimulate some homegrown innovation in the mobile space and pulled together €22 million in a public/private investment designed to help Symbian get ahead. It was intended to turn Nokia’s former lover into the Embedded Operating System for Europe (hence the name SYMBEOSE), but alas the breakup between Symbian and the Finnish mobile maker was too much to overcome. The EC has decided, quite rightly, that there’s no sense in continuing its symbtopia project, and now a member of Neelie Kroes’ team has confirmed the entire venture has been cancelled. European taxpayers (two of whom you see on the right) will also be glad to know that no money has exchanged hands, so the bullet has been well and truly dodged. Guess that’s why they’re looking so happy.

[Thanks, Danijel]

European Commission regains sanity, cancels €22 million SYMBEOSE project originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 May 2011 07:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink All About Phones  |  source@ccbuhr (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 priced at €606 by Amazon.de, joined by 10.1 model in a pre-order dance

The US already knows when Samsung will launch its updated Galaxy Tab models and for how much, but that picture hasn’t been quite as lucid over in Europe. Amazon.de is doing its best to dissipate the mists of unknowing by listing the 16GB Galaxy Tab 8.9 at a price of €606.50 ($852), whether you’re buying the version with a black or white back. That sounds a relatively steep price, but it’s not clear whether we’re talking about the WiFi-only or 3G-equipped model. Notably, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 option is also listed alongside its 8.9-inch brethren, but there’s no price attached to it yet. All we can really say for now is that the wheels are in motion and these Honeycomb tablets look to be on their way to the Euro market at about the same time as they’ll hit the American one. Égalité!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 priced at €606 by Amazon.de, joined by 10.1 model in a pre-order dance originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 May 2011 03:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Netbook News  |  sourceAmazon.de  | Email this | Comments

Why Apple is trademarking Thunderbolt and why Sony might be left out

Apple Thunderbolt


Thunderbolt
(formerly known as Light Peak) may have been developed by Intel, but it’s Apple that’s been snatching up all the trademark glory. The company first filed in November of 2010 in Jamaica, then followed up in February of this year by securing the rights to the name in Canada, before registering similar claims in Europe, China, and now the US. This raised some interesting questions about Intel’s claim to be the exclusive trademark holder (see the more coverage link) and whether or not other companies would be able to use the Thunderbolt brand. Intrigued, we did a little digging and you’ll find what we uncovered after the break.

Continue reading Why Apple is trademarking Thunderbolt and why Sony might be left out

Why Apple is trademarking Thunderbolt and why Sony might be left out originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 May 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MacRumors, Patently Apple (1), (2), (3)  |   | Email this | Comments

HTC Flyer available across Europe today, £600 for 3G, £480 for WiFi-only version

The day every fan of 7-inch Android tablets has been waiting for has finally arrived. HTC has just announced widespread availability across Europe of its 1.5GHz Flyer. Pricing is set at £600 / €649 for the 3G-equipped 32GB variant or £480 / €499 for the one with only WiFi and 16GB on board — though local carriers are offering subsidized pricing as low as £129 on contract. The contentious capacitive stylus, now dubbed the Magic Pen, will be shipping in each and every box, so you don’t have to worry about ponying up extra for it. The HTC store linked below still offers only pre-orders, but HTC promises that there will be aluminum unibodies hitting shelves today.

Continue reading HTC Flyer available across Europe today, £600 for 3G, £480 for WiFi-only version

HTC Flyer available across Europe today, £600 for 3G, £480 for WiFi-only version originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 May 2011 05:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Optimus Black debuts in Europe ‘this month,’ rest of the world settles for dual-core crumbs

LG told us to expect the ultra-slim Optimus Black handset globally in the first half of the year, and at least one continent will receive the device as planned — the company just announced that the 9.2mm thin smartphone with the 700 nit NOVA display will hit Europe this month, with launches planned for North America and Asia at unspecified times after that. Yes, there’ll be plenty of jealousy to go around, especially sometime in June — that’s when LG will allegedly unveil white and pink versions of the phone. Assuming, of course, that you’re willing to settle for a single-core 1GHz processor when confronted with the latest spec sheets. PR after the break.

Continue reading LG Optimus Black debuts in Europe ‘this month,’ rest of the world settles for dual-core crumbs

LG Optimus Black debuts in Europe ‘this month,’ rest of the world settles for dual-core crumbs originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 May 2011 02:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spotify launches music download service with iPod sync, puts iTunes on notice

Look out iTunes, Spotify has just launched its new music download service in Europe. What’s more, the company that had been synonymous with music streaming will let you sync your downloaded MP3 playlist bundles to your USB-connected iPod classic, nano, or shuffle via a new “Devices” section of the Spotify app running on your computer. And listen up freeloaders, Spotify Mobile iOS and Android app users can now sync playlists wirelessly without a premium subscription. Here’s a quote from Daniel Ek, Spotify CEO, sure to create some angst in Cupertino:

“From today, Spotify really is the only music player you’ll ever need. Our users don’t want to have to switch between music players, but they do want to take their playlists with them wherever they go, on a wider range of devices, more simply and at a price they can afford. Now we’ve made that possible on one of the world’s most popular consumer devices.”

Spotify download prices for its nine million users of the free service (not premium subscribers) breaks down as follows:

  • 10 tracks for €9.99 or €1.00 per track (£7.99 or just under 80p per track)
  • 15 tracks for €12.99 or €0.87 per track (£9.99 / 67p)
  • 40 tracks for €30.00 or €0.75 per track (£25 / 63p)
  • 100 tracks for €60.00 or €0.60 per track (£50 / 50p)

All the new features will begin rolling out today as part of an automatic update. See the full press release after the break as well as a quick introduction video to get you started.

Continue reading Spotify launches music download service with iPod sync, puts iTunes on notice

Spotify launches music download service with iPod sync, puts iTunes on notice originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 May 2011 02:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iZettle’s chip-reading Square competitor will take your money, no swipes required (video)


Everyone seems to be getting on board with Square’s iPhone credit card reader — Apple started selling the device in its stores last week, and even Visa has taken a financial interest in the company. However, due to the popularity of fraud-fighting chip-enabled smart cards on the other side of the pond, Square’s offering doesn’t quite fit the bill. iZettle has a similar solution for Europe that includes the ever-so-necessary smart card reader, which the company is launching in Sweden this June. Not only does it enable you to accept credit card payments from friends or customers, the app adds a social twist. Merchants can email a photograph and receipt to buyers, who can then share their latest spoils on Facebook. Of course, if this starts to catch on, it could make explaining that “awesome deal” you scored on a new laptop that much more difficult when it pops up on your significant other’s news feed.

[Thanks, David]

Continue reading iZettle’s chip-reading Square competitor will take your money, no swipes required (video)

iZettle’s chip-reading Square competitor will take your money, no swipes required (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 23:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v available tomorrow for €590, starting with Portugal

Some lucky Aussies might have been able to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v ahead of the rest of the world, but it turns out the Portuguese will actually be taking this Honeycomb tablet home first, starting tomorrow. Originally known as the Galaxy Tab 10.1 but quickly superseded by a slimmer, impending model, said transitional device is now listed on Vodafone Portugal’s website with a more delightful €589.90 ($860, which is no doubt off-contract) tag to go with its HSPA+ radio, along with a big red “available from April 26th” stamp. We dug through Vodafone’s other European sites and the only country that also mentions this Tegra 2 slate is the Netherlands, though it only indicates a “week 17” launch — in other words, any time between now and May 1st. If you’re in Europe and don’t mind this slightly out-of-date whopper, be sure to check back as we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for more details.

[Thanks, Carlos O.]

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v available tomorrow for €590, starting with Portugal originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 05:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceVodafone Portugal, Vodafone Netherlands  | Email this | Comments

Amazon launches German Kindle Store with 650,000 titles and lots of long words

After having already penetrated the UK’s e-book market last year, Amazon has now launched the German Kindle Store, bringing more than 650,000 titles to Europe’s most populous country. With today’s launch, the German Kindle Store instantly becomes Germany’s biggest e-bookstore, with some 25,000 German-language titles, thousands of free classics, and a similarly bountiful collection of independent newspapers and magazines. Customers will also be able to purchase the latest Kindle and Kindle 3G models directly from Amazon.de, along with a whole new suite of free, German-language Kindle apps for iPhone, iPad, PC and Android platforms. Germany’s writers and publishers, meanwhile, can use the Kindle Direct Publishing service to make their works instantly available on the new store, where, if they’re lucky, they may get to pocket some handsome royalties, as well. Full press release after the break.

Continue reading Amazon launches German Kindle Store with 650,000 titles and lots of long words

Amazon launches German Kindle Store with 650,000 titles and lots of long words originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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