Nov 18

Panasonic and Pentax pack a pair of pickled firmware updates, DMC-G2 gets 3D, K-5 better bursting

Posted in: firmware, micro four thirds, MicroFourThirds, Panasonic, Today's Chili
Panasonic and Pentax pack a pair of pickled firmware updates, DMC-G2 gets 3D, K-5 better bursting

Well, lookie here, a couple of little firmware files have wandered into our midst. Panasonic gets credit for the most interesting with its 1.11 update for the DMC-G2, offering a “performance enhancement,” an improved AE lock that holds even when using the touch shutter, and support for the new H-FT012 lens we recently played with — the one that adds a third dimension to your otherwise 2D shooter. Pentax, meanwhile, has a 1.01 update for its K-5 that will let you capture 20 RAW images in a burst, which a lot more than the eight it can grab currently. Then there’s “improved stability for general performance such as exposure range on HyP mode,” which sounds awful nice too. Both are available now, so mosey those SD cards on over and click on through.

Panasonic and Pentax pack a pair of pickled firmware updates, DMC-G2 gets 3D, K-5 better bursting originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 09:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink dpreview.com  |  sourcePanasonic, Pentax  | Email this | Comments

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Nov 15

PS Jailbreak gets support for PS3 versions 3.42 and 3.5, is no firmware safe?

Posted in: firmware, firmware update, FirmwareUpdate, hack, hacked, jailbreak, Playstation3, ps3, sony, Today's Chili
PS Jailbreak gets support for PS3 versions 3.42 and 3.5, no firmware is safe

The update wars continue, and call us crazy but it sure looks like Sony is on its heels. The PlayStation 3 firmware version 3.50 was supposed to be the one to really protect the console, forcibly installed with Medal of Honor and reportedly the cause of the latest (and last) Gran Turismo 5 delay. But, it was all for naught, with PS Jailbreak announcing downgrade support for firmware 3.42 and 3.50 “and beyond.” The only question now is: what’s the next firmware version going to be called? Maybe if Sony started naming these updates after delicious pastries we’d be a little less tired of applying them.

Update: To clarify, this will not let you play 3.42 or 3.50 games, but will let you downgrade your firmware from those versions to an earlier, more hackable release.

[Thanks, Mattias]

PS Jailbreak gets support for PS3 versions 3.42 and 3.5, is no firmware safe? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 07:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nov 04

Swedish website tries out Sandy Bridge motherboard with BIOS-replacing UEFI

Posted in: ASUS, firmware, intel, msi, sandy bridge, SandyBridge, Today's Chili, video
We haven’t heard a ton about the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (or UEFI for short) since a rumor cropped up back in June suggesting that MSI would be introducing it on its Sandy Bridge motherboards, but Swedish website SweClockers has now actually gotten it hands on a motherboard with working version of the BIOS-replacing firmware, and delivered our first real look at it. The biggest difference, as you can see, is a significantly more user-friendly interface, but there’s also a few other considerable advantages over a standard BIOS, including faster boot times and the ability to boot from drives bigger than 2TB. Head on past the break to check it out in action, in Swedish.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Swedish website tries out Sandy Bridge motherboard with BIOS-replacing UEFI

Swedish website tries out Sandy Bridge motherboard with BIOS-replacing UEFI originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nov 04

Droid Incredible getting V CAST Apps next week, whether you like it or not

Posted in: Android, firmware, Google, HTC, Today's Chili, update, upgrade, verizon, Verizon Wireless, VerizonWireless, vzw

Verizon has just announced that its lovely HTC Droid Incredible will be getting a fresh software update pushed over-the-air starting next week, and among the “software enhancements” will be the automatic installation of the carrier’s V CAST Apps app store. Since this doesn’t mean the Android Market is going away, we suppose it’s not the end of the world — and Verizon is quick to note that V CAST Apps supports carrier billing — but the benefit of having two app stores on a phone is still anyone’s guess. Here’s Verizon’s full statement:

“Verizon Wireless will begin pushing a software update to the DROID Incredible next week. The update includes software enhancements that will pre-install V CAST Apps on the phone. We said earlier this year that we’d be expanding V CAST Apps to the Android platform, and the DROID Incredible is the first Android phone with the store. Developers continue to submit apps, and as a reminder, V CAST Apps allows carrier billing, so customers who purchase applications through our store will see those charges on their monthly bill. For more information about the update customers can go to www.verizonwireless.com/droidincrediblesupport.”

Droid Incredible getting V CAST Apps next week, whether you like it or not originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceVerizon  | Email this | Comments

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Nov 04

LaCie brings USB 3.0 to Mac: all you need is a driver and an expansion card

Posted in: Apple, firmware, Mac, mac os x, MacOsX, os x, OsX, Software, storage, Today's Chili, usb, usb 3.0, Usb3.0

Everyone at once: “freakin’ finally!” While PCs — even lowly netbooks — have been enjoying the spoils of SuperSpeed USB for months on end, those in the Mac realm… well, haven’t. We’ve even seen purported email replies from Steve Jobs noting that USB 3.0 simply isn’t mainstream enough to be included as standard gear on new Macs, but that’s not stopping LaCie from hurdling the hurdles that lie ahead. The company has just announced bona fide USB 3.0 support for OS X, but the unfortunate part is that new hardware is still required; not only will you need a gratis USB 3.0 driver, you’ll also need a LaCie USB 3.0 expansion card ($49.99 for PCIe; $59.99 for ExpressCard). In other words, LaCie’s USB 3.0 driver won’t magically make any ole USB 3.0 PCIe card play nice in your Mac Pro. But hey, there’s always hope, and frankly, hope’s all ya need.

Continue reading LaCie brings USB 3.0 to Mac: all you need is a driver and an expansion card

LaCie brings USB 3.0 to Mac: all you need is a driver and an expansion card originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceLaCie (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

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Nov 03

T-Mobile G2 WiFi calling and tethering update begins rolling out today?

Posted in: firmware, ota, rumor, software update, SoftwareUpdate, t-mobile, Today's Chili

Get ready G2 owners because it looks like an OTA update will begin distribution on November 3rd (yes, that’s today) to flip the switch on WiFi tethering and T-Mobile’s WiFi Calling for Android feature. The anticipated update lets G2 owners make voices calls and send SMS messages from WiFi networks without a femtocell thus conserving their monthly contractual network allotments — something that could prove very beneficial at home. It also includes WiFi hotspot tethering (a native part of the Android 2.2 Froyo OS) although T-Mobile won’t have data plans ready at the same time. In other words, enjoy your free WiFi tethering while it lasts.

T-Mobile G2 WiFi calling and tethering update begins rolling out today? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Community  |  sourceTmoNews  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 29

Android 2.1 starts rolling out to Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 line this weekend

Posted in: Android, ericsson, firmware, Google, sony, Sony Ericsson, SonyEricsson, Today's Chili, update, upgrade, xperia

Doesn’t get much more “late October” than this, does it? Sony Ericsson has announced that it’ll begin delivering Android 2.1 upgrades to its X10 line of phones at long last this coming Sunday, October 31st — but odds are pretty good you won’t be in the first batch. In fact, only unbranded X10s, X10 Minis, and X10 Mini Pros in Nordic countries will be getting boosted at first, followed by “more kits” on Monday and throughout November. As a refresher, these updates will bring 720p video capture on the X10 proper (complete with continuous autofocus), a new backup / restore app, and a bunch of other tweaks that should make your little pal feel a bit less 2009 and bit more 2010. Froyo would be nice, of course… but we’ll take what we can get.

Android 2.1 starts rolling out to Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 line this weekend originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Phone Scoop  |  sourceSony Ericsson  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 28

Droid 2 update begins with promise of better battery life and more

Posted in: firmware, ota, software update, SoftwareUpdate, Today's Chili, verizon

We’ve receive a number of reports that a 2.3.20 software update for Verizon’s Droid 2 is slowly making the rounds this morning. The OTA push promises a number of improvements and enhancements with the promise of better battery life, faster transitions between WiFi and 3G data connection, and quicker location tracking when using GPS being perhaps the most notable. Other enhancements include:

  • New ability to add pictures from your Gallery to a contact.
  • Export all your contacts to the SD card.
  • View details of Social Networking contacts.
  • VZ Navigator is now preloaded on device.

Click through the break for the full list of improvements.

[Thanks, Mark L.]

Continue reading Droid 2 update begins with promise of better battery life and more

Droid 2 update begins with promise of better battery life and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 06:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Droid Life  |  sourceVerizon  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 20

Amazon Updates Mac Desktop Client, Kindle Firmware

Posted in: amazon, barnes noble, desktop, firmware, kindle, Mac, Tablets and E-Readers, Today's Chili

Amazon’s newly overhauled Kindle application for Mac offers notes, search, two-column reading and a much-improved UI. It might even make me read e-books on my computer again.

It’s funny: I used to read a lot of e-books in client apps on my MacBook and iPhone. Since I got my Kindle 3, I hadn’t read any.

Amazon was frankly slow to bring its e-book software to Macs. The PC desktop client came first, and a pared-down Mac application only eventually followed in March. Meanwhile, Barnes & Noble had already released a Nook desktop app for Mac simultaneously with PC.

B&N’s Mac client offered every feature you could ask for: copy-and-paste, two-column reading, notes and highlighting, text search, built-in dictionary, multiple viewing themes, use of every font on your computer. I still think it might be the most powerful e-reading application available on the desktop.

Even generic readers beat Kindle’s UI. Amazon just didn’t seem serious about Mac support, or desktop readers at all.

A few days ago, I noticed that even though I’d been buying Kindle books again, I didn’t even have the Kindle app on my Mac. I hadn’t bothered to transfer it over from my old machine.

So I go to Amazon’s site and download the application, open it up — and I’m astonished. The Kindle desktop app is so much better than I remember — not quite the equal of Barnes & Noble’s app, but infinitely closer.

I thought I was hallucinating, or my memory was faulty. Actually, I’d just downloaded the brand new app a day before it had been officially announced.

Improved WhisperSync support means that I can read a book on my Kindle, open it on my Mac, and it will open to the last page read on the Kindle. When I open the same book on the Kindle again, I have the option to pick up where I left off either on the Kindle or the Mac. I actually like that it’s a prompt on the Kindle, rather than an automatic sync; on the desktop too, I can toggle between last page read on Kindle or last page read on Mac, but it’s a menu option rather than a prompt.

Just because Amazon’s finally getting serious about the Mac doesn’t mean it’s neglecting software updates for the Kindle; only a week after the 3.02 firmware update graduated from beta, Amazon’s offering the 3.03 version for download as a preview release.

As you might guess from its version number, it’s a minor release, offering some performance improvements (moderately faster page syncing and page turns, mostly) and reportedly plugging some security gaps. 3.02 seemed to improve the Kindle’s performance in direct sunlight. 3.03 is download-only for now, but will be available as an over-the-air update soon, probably in a few weeks.

Kindle for Mac — Read Kindle eBooks on your Mac [Amazon.com]

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Oct 20

Barnes & Noble May Present Nook 2 Next Week

Posted in: barnes noble, e-books, e-readers, firmware, nook, Tablets and E-Readers, Today's Chili

A year ago today, Barnes & Noble presented its Nook e-reader. Yesterday, the book retailer sent media invitations for an October 26 event at their Union Square store in New York. Next week, we might see the next generation of the Nook.

Here’s what we know: A Nook 1.5 firmware update is coming out late next month for current-generation Nooks. It promises faster page turns, better search, custom library organization, password protection and the ability to sync last page read between the Nook and all Nook mobile and desktop apps.

This gets the Nook close to feature parity with Amazon’s Kindle. It also means Barnes & Noble has done some investment, both in developing new software and on its backend services. And that suggests that it might be ready to announce a new device.

This summer, Amazon rolled out a 2.5 firmware update for Kindle 2 users. Then a month later, it unveiled the new Kindle 3.

Last October, Barnes & Noble announced the dual-screen, Android-powered Nook, promising preorder delivery and in-store sales before Christmas. The company wasn’t able to ramp up production to meet demand and had to fix immediate firmware bugs, delaying some preorders and pushing back in-store availability to February.

I doubt Barnes & Noble wants that scenario to play out again. There’s a chance that a next-generation Nook will be available right away, but I would expect that new devices would ship around the same time as the 1.5 firmware, either in late November or early December — or Barnes & Noble will give a more conservative delivery date of early next year.

Although the Kindle has captivated mindshare, the Nook and its bookstore has been tremendous hits for Barnes & Noble, boosting revenues through strong e-book sales, particularly among Barnes & Noble members, both for the Nook and for its mobile and desktop apps. It has a 20% share of e-book sales — higher than its share in sales of printed books.

The bookseller spent the last year reoutfitting its retail stores to show off the Nook. It dropped prices and offered a Wi-Fi only model before Amazon matched them with Kindle 3. Now it’s B&N’s move again. No company is more ready to deliver a next-generation e-reader than Barnes & Noble.

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