Hasta La Gadget!

With the introduction of Netflix on so many devices, it’s now up to everyone to battle it out for supremacy in user interfaces. We were actually duly impressed with the implementation on Nintendo’s Wii, and it seems that the pressure has convinced Roku to retool their own UI. A new teaser has been released today by the company showing off the new Netflix Channel, and while the overall look and feel is certainly slick, it’s a few key additions that have us most excited. According to the company, the update will allow users to search the entire Netflix Watch Instantly library right from their screen, as well as the ability to browse and add titles to one’s queue for later playback. We’re told that the update will be pushed out in “transparent” fashion to users in June, but an exact release date isn’t yet available. Hop on past the break and mash play, won’tcha?

Continue reading Roku teases revamped Netflix Channel user interface on video, coming in June

Roku teases revamped Netflix Channel user interface on video, coming in June originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Xperia X10, one of the big mindshare-grabbing devices of the smartphone world, made us wait a cool six months between its November announcement and wide retail availability in April. One of the secret hopes while all that waiting was going on was that perhaps SE would surprise us and upgrade the dusty old Android 1.6 base installation to a fresh and creamy Eclair (2.1) or even a frosty Froyo (2.2) treat shortly after launch. Time to lay those dreams to rest, dear friends, as Sony Ericsson has come with an official schedule for upgrading the firmware on the Xperia X10 and its X10 mini and X10 mini pro siblings, which places the Android 2.1 delivery in the fourth quarter of 2010 — and knowing the company that probably means closer to Christmas than Halloween. All we can say is you’d better really like that UX platform a great deal, because it’ll be the only thing you’ll be seeing for quite a while on Sony Ericsson’s Googlephones.

Sony Ericsson X10 family to get Android 2.1 in ‘Q4 2010’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 08:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well that was fast. That ABC Player for iPad update we heard about this morning has already made its way through Apple’s approval process and is now available for download. Orientation lock is now, erm, on lock controls are more responsive, but most importantly, (lower bitrate) 3G streaming is now a go. With that settled, now no bus ride will ever get between you and an island chockfull of confusion and smoke monsters.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

ABC Player for iPad updated, 3G streaming is a go originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 May 2010 23:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon has updated the Kindle’s software to v2.5 and added both useful and questionable new features to its second-generation e-book reader.

The new features fall into two categories: social, and not-stupid. The social features will let you share a passage via either Facebook or Twitter, and adds a new function called Popular Highlights, which lets you “See what the Kindle community thinks are the most interesting passages in the books you’re reading.” These seem to spoil the very reason I use the Kindle to read: lack of distraction. When I read on my iPod I’m all, like, ADD? The Kindle has until now been much more isolated and book-like.

The 2.5 update also adds password protection to lock the device, pan and zoom for PDFs (at last) and “Collections” which let you beat the sprawling mess of your Kindle library into organized submission. You’ll also get two new larger font sizes for old and tired eyes, and the existing fonts have been sharpened up.

The update will come over the air automatically for everyone in late May, although a few select folks are receiving it early, presumably as a beta test. I can’t test anything yet, as the Lady has made off with my Kindle today having become a recent convert to the wonderful works of Kurt Vonnegut (I don’t buy Vonnegut on paper anymore as I just keep giving them away). I’ll bring you a full report as soon as I have the update in my hands.

Kindle Software Update Version 2.5 [Amazon]

See Also:

• Amazon Promises Kindle Update for Better Content Organization …
• Nook Software Update Adds Web Browser, Chess

Photo: Charlie Sorrel

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more direct competitor to the BlackBerry businessphone hegemony than Nokia’s E7x series. It’s therefore quite logical that only a day after RIM chief Mike Lazaridis made the white Bold official, Nokia is following up with its own pale-hued E72. Coming with a skinned UI to match the externals, the new handset is being announced alongside a firmware update (for E72s of all colors and creeds) that updates Ovi Maps, improves social networking integration, and allows location sharing through Facebook. You know, for when you wanna let your hair down after a hard day at the office. Internet radio of an unspecified variety has been included as well, along with general performance and stability improvements. Both the white handset and new firmware are available through Nokia today.

Nokia E72 gets white paint option, firmware update originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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