Dyson unleashes DC41 Animal vacuum cleaner for pigpen apartments

We normally wouldn’t leave our housework in the hands of an animal, but Dyson‘s new DC41 Animal vacuum cleaner may force us to reconsider. The company’s latest Ball-based sweeper uses Dyson’s proprietary (and complicated-sounding) Radial Root Cyclone technology to maximize its 235 air watts of suction power — most of which is concentrated at the cleaner’s head. It also ships with a mini turbine head, which you can use to clean up the hair that real animals leave on your car seat. In true Dysonian fashion, however, this Ball-bearing beast won’t come for cheap. You can scoop one up at the source link below, for a cool $600.

Dyson unleashes DC41 Animal vacuum cleaner for pigpen apartments originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Display cuts spending targets for 2012, amid sagging LCD demand

LG Display has decided to drastically cut its expenditure target for 2012, in yet another sign that the LCD market is going through some tough times. Today, the manufacturer announced that it will spend only three trillion won (about $2.8 billion) on its production facilities next year — a 33 percent decrease from its previously revised budget and LG Display’s lowest expenditure target since 2009. The company also said that it has no plans to build a new LCD plants in 2012, suggesting that it may already be facing excess panel supply. Analysts are predicting that demand will remain subdued throughout the end of 2011, though LG Display CFO James Jeong had previously said he expects things to pick up by the beginning of next year.

LG Display cuts spending targets for 2012, amid sagging LCD demand originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceThe Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments

Square app update lets iOS users buy cookies on credit, sans signature

Heads up, card swipers, because Square has just issued an update to its iOS credit card app. Version 2.1 brings enhanced transaction speeds and a streamlined tipping interface to iPhone and iPad users, along with added support for $0.00 price points. Plus, any purchases below $25 will no longer require a signature, meaning you can safely buy that latte while keeping human interaction to a bare minimum. If you’re interested in making the jump, hit up the source link below.

[Thanks, Chris]

Square app update lets iOS users buy cookies on credit, sans signature originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ERPLY’s mobile credit card reader handles NFC payments on an iPad, obliterates the check-out line

It may look like nothing more than a glorified chip clip, but that dongle at the bottom of this guy’s iPad is actually ERPLY’s new credit card reader — the latest addition to a growing field of NFC and mobile payment devices designed for small and large businesses. Once attached to an iPad’s charging port, the peripheral will send a user’s encrypted credit card information to ERPLY’s point-of-sale and inventory management software, allowing customers to purchase products on the store room floor and giving retailers the ability to monitor transactions and stock flows in real time. Available for $50 (with a transaction fee of 1.9 percent), the reader is also equipped to handle both NFC and traditional card payments and, after processing a purchase, will automatically send a receipt to consumers via text or e-mail. At the moment, it’s only available for the iPad, though iPhone users should be able to get their own version within the next three months. Swipe past the break for more information, in the full press release.

Continue reading ERPLY’s mobile credit card reader handles NFC payments on an iPad, obliterates the check-out line

ERPLY’s mobile credit card reader handles NFC payments on an iPad, obliterates the check-out line originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 03:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here’s All That Stands Between You and Stock Market Oblivion

The market’s down 400 points today, continuing this terrorific scream-ride we’ve been on. EVERYBODY PANIC. Right? Actually, here’s how—and when—the NYSE prevents one-stop-drop financial Armaggedon. More »

Lenovo nearly doubles net profits in Q1 earnings report, not so certain about ‘mainstream’ Ultrabooks by end of year

Lenovo‘s enjoying a bright and sunny Thursday in Hong Kong today, where the company has just unveiled a Q1 2011 / 2012 earnings report that’s full of rosy news. According to the report, Lenovo’s revenues jumped to $5.92 billion during the fiscal quarter, representing a 15 percent increase over last year’s figures, while net profits nearly doubled to $108 million (compared to $54.9 million last year). Global PC sales, meanwhile, nudged upward 23 percent — even at a time when most other manufacturers are seeing relatively sluggish growth. During an earnings conference call this morning, COO Rory Read provided a little insight into his company’s approach to the growing Ultrabook sector, while hinting at future price reductions. Speaking to reporters, Reed assured that Lenovo would “invest in innovation to be a leader” in the Ultrabook market, adding that prices for its MacBook Air competitors may reach “mainstream” (sub-$1,000) levels by 2012: “I wouldn’t say by the end of the year necessarily but…that’s definitely going to happen.” Head past the break for Lenovo’s financial summary, along with the full PR.

[Original photo by Cory Grenier]

Continue reading Lenovo nearly doubles net profits in Q1 earnings report, not so certain about ‘mainstream’ Ultrabooks by end of year

Lenovo nearly doubles net profits in Q1 earnings report, not so certain about ‘mainstream’ Ultrabooks by end of year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 05:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AP, Google offer $20,000 scholarships to aspiring tech journalists, we go back to school

Love technology? Love journalism? Well, the AP-Google Journalism and Technology Scholarship program might be right up your alley. The initiative, announced earlier this week, will offer $20,000 scholarships to six graduate or undergraduate students working toward a degree in any field that combines journalism, new media and computer science. Geared toward aspiring journalists pursuing projects that “further the ideals of digital journalism,” the program also aims to encompass a broad swath of students from diverse ethnic, gender, and geographic backgrounds. Applications for the 2012-2013 school year are now open for students who are currently enrolled as college sophomores or higher, with at least one year of full-time coursework remaining. Hit up the source link below to apply, or head past the break for more information, in the full presser.

Continue reading AP, Google offer $20,000 scholarships to aspiring tech journalists, we go back to school

AP, Google offer $20,000 scholarships to aspiring tech journalists, we go back to school originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceThe AP-Google Online News Association (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

NYC to trial mobile payment parking system, Lovely Rita looks for a new gig

Tired of burning your hard earned cash on parking fines? You might wanna move to New York City, where the Department of Transportation will soon begin testing a “pay by phone” parking system. The mobile payment technology, which has already been introduced in cities like Washington, DC and Atlanta, essentially allows drivers to pay for their parking spots without ever having to interact with those menacing, metallic meters. After registering online, users would be able to pay for curbside real estate by entering the number of the nearest meter and the amount of time they’d like to purchase into a customized app, or by texting it to the city’s Department of Transportation. The system would also alert users whenever their allotted time is about to expire, allowing them to add more money directly from their handsets, rather than trudge back their cars. At this point, the plan is to roll out the pilot program to some 300 parking spots over the next few months, most likely in outer borough neighborhoods with plenty of commercial outlets and, presumably, automobiles.

NYC to trial mobile payment parking system, Lovely Rita looks for a new gig originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaked FCC document details AT&T’s 4G LTE rollout plans, talks up T-Mobile merger

On Friday, a law firm accidentally posted a letter to the FCC website, detailing AT&T’s confidential 4G LTE rollout plans and explaining how they would be bolstered by a merger with T-Mobile. Arnold & Porter LLP, which is helping design the deal on AT&T’s behalf, quickly removed its partially redacted document, but the folks over at Gizmodo have gotten their hands on it once again and recently posted it for our viewing pleasure. According to the document, AT&T plans to extend its US coverage to 70 million consumers by the end of this year, before ramping that figure up to 170 million by the end of 2012 and a full 250 million by the end of the following year. The carrier plans to achieve this by upgrading a full 44,000 of its nodes to LTE over the course of the next three years and, once its merger goes through, hopes to cover 97 percent of all Americans within the six years following approval. The letter goes on to explain how the economics behind the TIA-approved deal would help facilitate these aspirations, while confirming that the merger is indeed as expensive as earlier reported — a whopping $3.8 billion, to be exact. To read the document in full, hit up the links, below.

Leaked FCC document details AT&T’s 4G LTE rollout plans, talks up T-Mobile merger originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 06:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGizmodo, Broadband DSL Reports  | Email this | Comments

Verizon wants you to upgrade to a smartphone, offering $100 gift card in exchange?

How much is Verizon willing to pay you to switch from a basic phone to a smartphone? A cool $100, according to rumors. The provider is reportedly gearing up to launch a new offer aimed at encouraging more customers to get with the times, as part of its trade-in program. Under the incentive, basic phone users eligible for a two-year upgrade (or those who qualify for an early upgrade) would be able to re-sign a two-year contract, tack on a data plan and purchase a new smartphone at a reduced price. Once that’s done, they’ll receive a PIN code for Verizon’s trade-in site, where they’ll find instructions on how to send in their old phones to receive a $100 gift card. A tipster told Phone Arena that the offer will run from August 18th to September 30th, though it remains unclear whether it will be regional or nationwide. For more details, check out the source link, below.

Verizon wants you to upgrade to a smartphone, offering $100 gift card in exchange? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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