Hasta La Gadget!

Got a brain full of Windows 8? Can’t stop obsessing about it? Fret not — as of 8PM PT this evening (just under eight hours from now), you’ll be able to download a copy of the Windows Developer Preview to your 32- or 64-bit x86 machine (no activation required) from dev.windows.com. Sorry, ARM hopefuls! Per usual, we’d recommend doing so on a separate partition (or a spare machine altogether) in order to prevent unforeseen conflicts, and we’d also suggest having a stiff glass of patience waiting nearby. Something tells us Redmond’s servers are going to be hammered.

Update: The download is live! Click here to try it out yourself, while the slightly less daring can hang on for our first impressions of Microsoft’s latest and greatest once we’ve installed and given it a try.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Windows 8 developer preview: when and where to download (update: right now, here!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What’s the point of dropping a few Benjamins on a tablet if you can’t watch video on-the-go? Although much fuss has been made of Cupertino’s reluctance to add Flash to its line of iOS devices, the kings of content (read: networks) are still scheming up ways to port the prime time eye candy to your portable slates. Shoring up that streaming divide are a trio of new apps from NBC, TNT and TBS that deliver full episodes of the networks’ fodder to your iPad, albeit with some authentication required. Unlike other premium mobile video services, these three apps come free of charge. So, go ahead and hit up the source below to get your SVU to go.

Continue reading NBC, TNT and TBS iPad apps add full-length episodes, won’t bring back Steve Carell

NBC, TNT and TBS iPad apps add full-length episodes, won’t bring back Steve Carell originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Qualcomm may be facing some new competition in the mobile chip space, now that NTT DoCoMo and three other Japanese firms are looking to join forces with Samsung. According to Japan’s Nikkei business daily, the quartet of firms (which includes Fujitsu, NEC and Panasonic’s mobile unit) is currently finalizing negotiations with Samsung over a proposed joint venture that would design, develop and market smartphone chips. The partners are reportedly planning to incorporate the new chips into their own devices, while selling them to other handset manufacturers, as well. DoCoMo would hold a majority stake in the ¥30 billion (about $390 million) partnership, which could help lower procurement costs, while reducing the partners’ dependency upon industry-leading Qualcomm. A DoCoMo spokesman acknowledged that the provider is exploring a variety of collaborations, but was quick to point out that nothing’s been finalized. Samsung and Fujitsu, meanwhile, have yet to comment.

Samsung, NTT DoCoMo to develop smartphone chips in proposed joint venture originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 07:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looking to get some green back for that aging iOS device? GameStop’s looking to oblige. The famed retailer has announced that you’ll be able to trade-in your infrequently used iPhone, iPod or iPad for store credit, starting today. Since these devices usually carry significantly higher value than most of the store’s gently used items — adjusted to merely higher given the outfit’s historically laughable trade-in values — Call of Duty addicts can now rejoice in having yet another source of funding for their fix. Also, this announcement comes just in time for you to get your assets in order for the fall slate of games — specifically, the ones you were planning to a) order online or b) download. Well played, GameStop. If you’re yearning for more info, check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading GameStop offers iPhone, iPod and iPad trade-ins at US stores, just in time for fall titles

GameStop offers iPhone, iPod and iPad trade-ins at US stores, just in time for fall titles originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ruh roh. That’s the sound emanating from Pandora’s stock price, which has taken a serious beating in the wake of two separate announcements in the past week. First off, Clear Channel and Echo Nest have teamed up to produce a self-proclaimed “Pandora killer,” with a new technology enabling IHeartRadio users to build out customized radio stations right on the app. As you’d expect, folks will be able to construct a custom playlist “based off the selection of a single seed song or artist, both online and on mobile phones,” and it’ll be featured when the app relaunches in beta form this week. In related news, Echo Nest has also concocted a Pandora-esque streaming radio feature for use in the Spotify app; it’s a gem called Echofi, and if you surf down to the source link, you’ll be able to give it a whirl. Type in a single artist, mash go, and watch as Spotify is launched and related music is spun until you decide you’ve heard enough. Here’s to competition… right?

Continue reading Pandora’s song-finding flair comes to Spotify, IHeartRadio via separate initiatives

Pandora’s song-finding flair comes to Spotify, IHeartRadio via separate initiatives originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Wired  |  Echofi, Billboard, IHeartRadio  | Email this | Comments