Dec 13

Qualcomm loads Ice Cream Sandwich on Snapdragon S4 tablet, fills our hearts with Liquid

Posted in: Android, developer, developers, Google, GoogleAndroid, mobilepostcross, qualcomm, snapdragon, tablet, tablet pc, TabletPc, tablets, Today's Chili

Qualcomm’s souped-up Snapdragon S4 Liquid mobile development platform (MDP) tablet just got a major Android boost, in the form of a 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade. The maxed-out MDP tablet, which boasts such specs as an on-die LTE modem, dual 1080p cameras and more sensors than you can shake an accelerometer-powered wand at, is now running Google’s latest mobile OS. During an Engadget Show visit last month, Qualcomm reps told us that the device will support Android 4.0, but we weren’t expecting a port quite so soon, considering Liquid won’t ship until next spring. The company says it’s working “rigorously” to get ICS optimized not only for the S4, but for other Snapdragon processors as well. Click through the gallery below for an early look.

Gallery: Qualcomm S4 MDP with Android 4.0 ICS

Qualcomm loads Ice Cream Sandwich on Snapdragon S4 tablet, fills our hearts with Liquid originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 13

Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus hitting Costco on December 15?

Posted in: Android, exclusive, Google, mobilepostcross, samsung, Today's Chili, verizon, Verizon Wireless, VerizonWireless, vzw
That elusive Samsung Galaxy Nexus is still heading to Verizon, believe it or not, and we may actually be nearing the end of our frustrating quest to get our hands on one. While we’re still waiting for an official announcement from Big Red itself, the inaugural Ice Cream Sandwich device has shown up in Costco’s internal pricing guides with a starting date of December 15th — a mere two days away. It’s priced at $290 with a two-year commitment, which is exactly the same as what we’d originally heard a month ago. Keep in mind that since Costco is an authorized retailer for Verizon, its release date may vary from the official website and corporate-owned stores; that said, we’re sure hoping we can waltz into a store somewhere — anywhere — and pick one up this Thursday.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus hitting Costco on December 15? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 13

Lenovo LePad S2005 leaps into China

Posted in: chinese, lenovo, minipost, mobilepostcross, Today's Chili
The Lenovo LePad S2005 is now making the rounds over in China. Our crack team over at Engadget.cn saw the above announcement on Lenovo’s official Sina Weibo page. If you haven’t got a dictionary to hand, we can tell you that the 5-inch Gingerbread tabletphone has a disappointing 800 x 480 display and runs Android 2.3.5 on its dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm chip. Pre-sale prices are RMB 2,499 ($390) or RMB 2,699 ($425) if you turn up on the day. Sadly you won’t be able to get your hands on one of these, as it’s a Chinese exclusive. If we see anyone begging eBay for a secondhand Dell Streak 5, we’ll guess you just couldn’t bear the thought of buying a Galaxy Note.

Lenovo LePad S2005 leaps into China originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 13

BBC launches iPhone iPlayer app in the UK, adds 3G streaming to its mobile site

Posted in: airplay, apps, hdpostcross, ios, iPhone, ipod touch, IpodTouch, minipost, mobile, mobilepostcross, Today's Chili, uk

While international viewers have had around a week to play with the new dedicated iPhone app, the Beeb has finally launched its iPlayer in its native UK. Replacing the browser-based player of old, it now allows you to stream both radio and TV shows through a 3G connection. The new app also adds HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) which allows itself to tweak the stream quality depending on your signal strength and hopefully allowing you to catch up on Top Gear uninterrupted. Like its overseas version, the new iOS app also throws in AirPlay streaming to Apple TV. Android and Symbian fans shouldn’t feel too overlooked; The BBC are promising to enable 3G to all compatible devices through its mobile web version very soon, with a dedicated 3G-friendly Android app being primed for the new year.

[Thanks Michael]

BBC launches iPhone iPlayer app in the UK, adds 3G streaming to its mobile site originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 13

Carrier IQ issues lengthy report on data collection practices, sticks to its guns

Posted in: carrier, mobilepostcross, network, politics, privacy, Software, Today's Chili, web
After having already tried to explain itself with metaphor, Carrier IQ is now taking its floundering PR campaign back to basics, with an ostensibly thorough primer on its practices and a slightly less convoluted defense of its privacy standards. This morning, the controversial analytics firm released a lengthy, 19-page document that attempts to explain “what Carrier IQ does and does not do.” In the report, titled “Understanding Carrier IQ Technology,” the company explains the benefit it offers to its clientele of network operators, many of whom rely upon Carrier IQ’s diagnostic data to make sure their infrastructure is up to snuff. It also provides a breakdown of how it collects data, as well as a defense against Trevor Eckhart’s findings, though, as you’ll see, these arguments likely won’t put this saga to bed anytime soon. Read more, after the break.

Continue reading Carrier IQ issues lengthy report on data collection practices, sticks to its guns

Carrier IQ issues lengthy report on data collection practices, sticks to its guns originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 12

Nokia N900 gamepad hack dispenses with beauty, sidles up to sore thumbs (video)

Posted in: controller, hack, mobilepostcross, mod, nokia, Today's Chili, video games, VideoGames

Know what’s kicking and screaming its way into obsolescence? If you guessed the N900, pat yourself on the back with this hack. Nokia’s internetting tablet that simply refuses to quit has already run the multi-purpose gamut, standing in as a brain scanner / replacement, OS dual-booter and Ice Cream Sandwich biter — just to name a few. Now, a homebrew mod from Polish hacker Emeryth, has that soon-to-be retro QWERTY slider sporting a custom gamepad to make those long hours logged into video game emulation that much more thumb-friendly. The exposed overlay is based on an ATmega8A microcontroller and plugs directly into the device’s USB port, giving gamers an eight button solution, plus a PSP-like analog stick. It’s a handy, albeit ugly, add-on that’ll help get your gaming heros of old through well trodden enemy lines. Video demo lies in wait after the break.

Continue reading Nokia N900 gamepad hack dispenses with beauty, sidles up to sore thumbs (video)

Nokia N900 gamepad hack dispenses with beauty, sidles up to sore thumbs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 12

Microsoft replaces Andy Lees as Windows Phone head

Posted in: breaking news, Microsoft, mobilepostcross, steve ballmer, Today's Chili, windows phone, windows phone 7, WindowsPhone, WindowsPhone7, Wp7
Andy Lees

AllThingsD is reporting that Microsoft is replacing Andy Lees as head of its Windows Phone division… sort of. It looks like Terry Myerson, who has headed up engineering efforts for the group, will take over many of Lees’ responsibilities, though, he won’t be inheriting his title. At least not just yet. In a memo seen by AllThingsD, Ballmer announced that Lees would be taking on a new position with the company, though it’s not entirely clear what that might be — describing it only as “time-critical” and “focused on driving maximum impact in 2012 with Windows Phone and Windows 8.” (So, it’s safe to assume he’s not becoming a janitor.) The shakeup isn’t terribly surprising, especially considering the CEO’s own admission that Windows Phone 7 was not performing as well as expected in the market.

The division’s interim leader, Myerson, has been with Microsoft since 1997 and previously headed up the team in charge of Exchange. For now he will continue to report to Lees, who will remain the president of the Windows Phone group, even if that is in name only.

Microsoft replaces Andy Lees as Windows Phone head originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 12

AT&T asks judge to stay T-Mobile merger court proceedings until January 18th (update: granted)

Posted in: att, lawsuit, merger, mobilepostcross, t-mobile, TMobile, Today's Chili

Just last week, the US Department of Justice indicated its desire to dismiss the lawsuit it filed to stop the union of AT&T and T-Mobile because of Ma Bell’s withdrawal of the merger’s FCC application. It looks like that’s given the telco plenty more issues to ponder, so now it’s asking Judge Huvelle to postpone further antitrust court proceedings until January 18. The folks at AT&T need the extra time to “evaluate all options” and “revise our current transaction to achieve the necessary regulatory approvals” for the merger. Because the DoJ has signed off on AT&T’s petition, it seems likely the court will go along with the plan — as opposed to killing the deal via a case dismissal at the hearing currently scheduled later this week. We’ll have to wait and see if the Judge Huvelle grants the request, but if she does, this much is certain: Ma Bell’s lawyers will be doing more work than merrymaking over the holidays.

Update: It looks like Christmas came early for AT&T&T, as the New York Times reports that Judge Huvelle has granted the stay.

Continue reading AT&T asks judge to stay T-Mobile merger court proceedings until January 18th (update: granted)

AT&T asks judge to stay T-Mobile merger court proceedings until January 18th (update: granted) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 12

Dish Network surfaces as possible Plan B for T-Mobile if AT&T merger falls through

Posted in: att, hdpostcross, merger, mobilepostcross, partnership, t-mobile, TMobile, Today's Chili
Dish Network had reportedly been considered a potential candidate to receive divested T-Mobile assets from AT&T if it couldn’t secure initial approval of its acquisition from the government. Dish, however, has publicly opposed the acquisition — and now it’s clear that there were some ulterior motives in wanting to see the merger fall through, because Bloomberg reported this morning that the satellite provider wants to merge its spectrum assets with T-Mobile if things don’t go so rosy in the acquisition. According to CEO Joseph Clayton:
We want to… create a national wireless network, video, voice and data. We’ve got expertise in satellite TV, and we will in satellite broadband. The voice part, we’ll need some help with.

A partnership with T-Mobile would ideally help both companies: it would help Dish get one step closer to its goal of a wireless network that bundles smartphones, tablets and satellite under the same umbrella, and would cast a bright light on T-Mobile’s questionable future. How does “Ollo” with LTE-Advanced on Magenta sound?

Dish Network surfaces as possible Plan B for T-Mobile if AT&T merger falls through originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 12

FCC restarts review clock for AT&T’s spectrum purchase, gives itself 180 days

Posted in: att, business, carrier, deal, government, industry, lte, mobilepostcross, money, network, qualcomm, t-mobile, Today's Chili
Back in August, the FCC decided to freeze the 180-day review clock on AT&T’s proposed acquisition of Qualcomm’s 700 MHz spectrum, citing lingering concerns over the carrier’s ongoing T-Mobile saga. Now that AT&T and Deutsche Telekom have withdrawn their merger application, however, the Commission has decided to re-open the review period for the Qualcomm acquisition, giving itself a fresh 180 days to make a decision. In a letter published Friday, Wireless Bureau chief Rick Kaplan announced that the timetable would be reset, with a retroactive start date of November 29th — the very day that the FCC granted AT&T’s pullout from the T-Mobile deal. No word yet on when we can expect a decision, but we’ll be keeping an eye out for the latest developments. Read the letter in full at the source link below.

FCC restarts review clock for AT&T’s spectrum purchase, gives itself 180 days originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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