Intel wants to charge $50 to unlock stuff your CPU can already do

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Hold onto your hyperthreaded horses, because this is liable to whip up an angry mob — Intel’s asking customers to pay extra if they want the full power of their store-bought silicon. An eagle-eyed Engadget reader was surfing the Best Buy shelves when he noticed this $50 card — and sure enough, Intel websites confirm — that lets you download software to unlock extra threads and cache on the new Pentium G6951 processor. Hardware.info got their hands on an early sample of the chip and discovered it’s actually a full 1MB of L3 cache that’s enabled plus HyperThreading support, which translates to a modest but noticeable upgrade. This isn’t exactly an unprecedented move, as chip companies routinely sell hardware-locked chips all the time in a process known as binning, but there they have a simpler excuse — binned chips are typically sold with cores or cache locked because that part of their silicon turned out defective after printing. This new idea is more akin to video games that let you “download” extra weapons and features, when those features were on the disc all along. Still, it’s an intriguing business model, and before you unleash your rage in comments, you should know that Intel’s just testing it out on this low-end processor in a few select markets for now.

[Thanks, Brian]

Intel wants to charge $50 to unlock stuff your CPU can already do originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 18:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung’s DI07 update for Epic 4G adds Media Hub, but does it fix other issues?

The Samsung Epic 4G has a new software update available that takes the device from version DG27 (spotted in the build number and baseband version) to DI07. Since it launched on Sprint at the end of last month, users have complained about various issues from inaccurate GPS results (despite functional results in our testing with apps like Google Maps and Foursquare, obtaining a precise location from satellites only is still iffy at best and too often requires a reboot), 3G upload speeds that appear to be capped at 150kbps, poor signal reception and more and are likely waiting to see if those have been addressed. So far, the update details (included after the break) indicate that isn’t the case. Getting the update is a matter of luck for now with the servers initially in push mode but when it hits users should have access to the just-launched Media Hub app as well as optimizations for battery power in hotspot mode, performance tweaks and several fixes including one for recognizing 32 GB micro SD cards. Our Epic 4G isn’t rocking any new patches no matter how many times we hit Update Android; if you get the update, let us know if you notice any other changes.

Update: A few commenters have linked up the zip file for your manual upgrading pleasure. We were able to update using the process and haven’t experienced any glitches or instantaneous combustion as a result, though we are feeling even more attractive and intelligent than usual. A demonstration video from AndroidCentral is embedded after the break if you’re still curious.

Continue reading Samsung’s DI07 update for Epic 4G adds Media Hub, but does it fix other issues?

Samsung’s DI07 update for Epic 4G adds Media Hub, but does it fix other issues? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 update 3.50 adds 3D Blu-ray movie support starting September 21

We’re live from Tokyo Game Show where Sony just announced a version 3.50 software update coming to the PS3 on September 21st. On that date, we’ll finally get 3D Blu-ray movie playback, in Japan at least, but likely worldwide.

Read more at our liveblog.

PS3 update 3.50 adds 3D Blu-ray movie support starting September 21 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Droid Does website points to imminent Froyo update for Droid X… but what does it mean?

Just as Paul Vasquez would have us do, we’re questioning the true meaning behind a curious page that has popped up over at the Droid Does website — a very authentic portal that Verizon Wireless itself has been pushing for nearly a year. Put simply, the splash page details “great news!” surrounding a heretofore unannounced Android 2.2 update for the arguably gigantic Droid X. In fact, we’re even told about all the amazing features that Froyo brings, but alas, our own X has yet to get any sort of notification from Big Red. The image you’re peering at above was purportedly texted to a tipster from VZW, but unfortunately, the links led to the previously referenced splash page rather than a download. Still, we’re guessing that this means a bona fide release is just around the corner — Verizon’s already a few weeks late at this point, so hopefully the finishing touches are nearly done.

[Thanks, Kellen]

Continue reading Droid Does website points to imminent Froyo update for Droid X… but what does it mean?

Droid Does website points to imminent Froyo update for Droid X… but what does it mean? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Droid-Life  |  sourceDroid Does  | Email this | Comments

PS3 3.42 software update reportedly patches jailbreak, hates fun

Sony just released its 3.42 software update for PlayStation 3 owners. As a mandatory update, PS3 jockeys must accept it if they want to continue accessing the PlayStation Network or PlayStation Store. While Sony’s American mouthpiece isn’t saying much about the release, Sony Japan says that it fixes a “hardware security issue,” and that’s it. Sounds like a patch for PSJailbreak and its open-source variants to us.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

PS3 3.42 software update reportedly patches jailbreak, hates fun originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |  sourcePlayStation Japan [translated], PlayStation Blog  | Email this | Comments

Droid Incredible getting a spoonful of Froyo on August 18th?

The Droid’s slated for a second helping of Froyo, the Droid 2 came with one, the Droid X will see Android 2.2 by early September — when’s Droid number four getting its due? According to Mashable‘s anonymous sources, August 18th will be the day Verizon begins the Droid Incredible’s OTA rollout — which lines up pretty well with what we heard a couple weeks back, not to mention the fact that HTC just released the handset’s Android 2.2 source code. As always, dates slip and Verizon often dishes out small batches at a time, but now you’ve got a ballpark estimate to assuage your troubled mind. And hey, you can always go shoot something in 720p if you get tired of waiting.

Droid Incredible getting a spoonful of Froyo on August 18th? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceMashable  | Email this | Comments

Older Apple iOS devices must jailbreak to be secure — oh the irony

Remember that nasty PDF bug that allowed potentially malicious code to be executed on your iOS device? Right, the one that Apple recently patched with the iOS 4.0.2 software update, slamming the door on jailbreakme.com. Well, if you own the original iPhone or iPod touch you’re still at risk since Apple’s update isn’t compatible with those devices. Hell, many iPhone 3G owners are also at risk after rolling back their handsets to iOS 3.1.3 due to sluggish (to put it mildly) performance running iOS 4. So what can you do to protect yourselves? Jailbreak. As counterintuitive as that sounds, Jay Freeman (aka @saurik) just released a patch onto Cydia (search for “PDF Patch”) for all iOS devices, no need to update to 4.0.2. Of course, jailbreaking presents its own set of risks, so be careful — and for crissake be sure to change the root password if you install SSH.

Older Apple iOS devices must jailbreak to be secure — oh the irony originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 02:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceDev-Team Blog  | Email this | Comments

Motorola Droid Android 2.2 Froyo OTA updates are go

Judging by the deluge of tips that just hit our inbox, it looks like Verizon just pulled the trigger and released the Android 2.2 Froyo over-the-air update for its venerable Droid handset. At least it has for some lucky owners. So tell us, did you get yours?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Motorola Droid Android 2.2 Froyo OTA updates are go originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 01:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC EVO 4G Froyo .6 update starts OTA rollout for early adopters

Sure, XDADevelopers has had an unofficial fix for a few days, but we understand your hesitation — installing custom firmware is how you got burned in the first place. Thankfully for you, HTC is now beaming the official EVO 4G patch over the airwaves, which updates your tainted 3.26.561.3 dairy dessert to a more toothsome 3.26.561.6. Just scoot on over to Settings > System Updates and invoke the download — assuming Sprint is being nice in your area — or wait it out and your handset might even update itself.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

HTC EVO 4G Froyo .6 update starts OTA rollout for early adopters originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC EVO 4G Froyo .6 update seems to fix early adopter issues

We know our readers: obsessive early adopters who’ll stop at nothing to have the latest and greatest software on their handsets. Just like us. Unfortunately, sometimes we get burned in the process. But the community is nothing if not tenacious. Now we’ve got an apparent “fix” for anyone who updated their EVO 4G to the Android 2.2 Froyo build discovered on HTC’s servers, only to find out that they were running a non-final build. User Pojoman over at XDADevelopers just upped the .3 to final .6 RUU from Sprint that should correct any woes. Based on the enthusiastic feedback we’re reading we’d say that this is good news. Nevertheless, the usual disclaimers apply before hitting the source link below, especially with HTC already acknowledging that a fix is on the way via official channels. Yeah, we know, blah blah blah.

HTC EVO 4G Froyo .6 update seems to fix early adopter issues originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceXDADevelopers, HTC (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments