Stem’s iZON Remote Room Monitor lets you spy on the babysitter from your iOS device

Stem iZON
Stem has just come out with a new, wireless camera that could help put parents’ minds at rest, while striking fear into the heart of virtually every teenager. Known as the iZON, this room monitor allows concerned and / or paranoid users to remotely watch and listen in on sensitive spaces, from the comfort of their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. All you have to do is download the free Stem:Connect App from iTunes and configure the device to alert you whenever it detects any motion or sound in within its vicinity. All content can be streamed across Edge, 3G, or wireless connections and will be safely encrypted, though if you feel like sharing your flatmate’s daytime antics with the rest of the world, you could easily record video of him directly to YouTube. Check out the gallery below and the video after the break.

Gallery: Stem iZON

Continue reading Stem’s iZON Remote Room Monitor lets you spy on the babysitter from your iOS device

Stem’s iZON Remote Room Monitor lets you spy on the babysitter from your iOS device originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon give Isis mobile payment network a $100 million boost


How do you compete with Google’s new Wallet mobile payment system? Well, a $100 million cash infusion certainly couldn’t hurt. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have plans to invest just that amount in Isis, sources told Businessweek. That sum is likely to grow, since taking on Google is no small feat, especially considering Wallet is already off the ground, with nationwide retail partners and support for MasterCard PayPass. Though Isis first made its debut last year, Google Wallet, which was announced in May, has clearly taken the lead. Isis is little more than a top-level website at this point, though with three of the nation’s largest carriers providing support, it could have a chance to catch up — especially if the carriers elect not to partner with Google, leaving Sprint as the sole wireless provider. We’re glad to see some potential healthy competition for Wallet, especially considering that it was looking like Google was poised to create a monopoly. We expect much more to come on the Isis front, but in the meantime, hold on to those wallets — cell phone payments may be in your future, but for now, paper and plastic are where it’s at.

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon give Isis mobile payment network a $100 million boost originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBusinessweek  | Email this | Comments

Panasonic Lumix FX90 point-and-shoot packs built-in WiFi, Android / iPhone app compatibility


For many photographers, in-camera WiFi may be an attractive feature before you leave the store, but confusing setup and limited functionality reduce its appeal once you actually go and try to use it. Panasonic sets out to better take advantage of wireless connectivity with its Lumix FX90, adding Android and iPhone app support for transferring pictures and video directly to a mobile device, then uploading them to Lumix Club — a cloud-based photo-sharing service — and on to Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc. You can also share photos directly from the camera — a dedicated WiFi button launches a menu prompting you to select a sharing service — but app support brings the added benefit of your phone’s data connection. Beyond those new wireless features, the FX90 includes a 12 megapixel CCD sensor, 5x, 24-120mm optical zoom lens, 3-inch touchscreen, and 1080i AVCHD video capture. The FX90 will ship this fall with pricing yet to be announced, but jump past the break for the full rundown from Panasonic in the meantime.

Continue reading Panasonic Lumix FX90 point-and-shoot packs built-in WiFi, Android / iPhone app compatibility

Panasonic Lumix FX90 point-and-shoot packs built-in WiFi, Android / iPhone app compatibility originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Mango teaches Windows Phone to share, probably still needs carrier permission

Mango teaches your phone to share, probably still needs carrier permission
Microsoft’s budding mobile OS is finally learning to share, just like the big kids. Windows Phone’s graduation to Mango comes not only with Twitter integration, SkyDrive music streaming, and multitasking, but with internet connection sharing as well. The new feature showed its toggle switch at WPCentral this week, riding in on a Microsoft flashed Focus running Mango build 7720.68. According to the tell-all image, Windows Phones running Mango will be able to share their cellular internet connection with up to 5 devices — reportedly draining its battery with unprecedented efficiency. ChevronWP7 collaborator Rafael Rivera confirmed over Twitter that the feature is baked into Mango, guessing that it would require a “carrier ‘update’ to enable.” Yeah, we wouldn’t be surprised.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Mango teaches Windows Phone to share, probably still needs carrier permission originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceRafael Rivera (Twitter), WPcentral  | Email this | Comments

Android still king of the US smartphone hill, Motorola facing a market nosedive

In other obvious news, Android and iOS continue to sit pretty atop the US smartphone market, according to a recent NPD study. The current titans of the mobile industry both saw their pieces of the OS pie increase in Q2 of 2011, putting Andy Rubin’s green robot in the lead with 52 percent and Apple at 29 percent. Newly adopted webOS, and Microsoft’s WP7 and Windows Mobile all managed to cling to their respective 5 percent shares with no yearly change, leaving only BlackBerry OS to experience an 11 percent decline. But the real meat and potatoes of the report focuses on Google’s soon-to-be in-house partner: Motorola. Despite the rosy picture painted by recent acquisition talks, the company appears to be facing tough competition from Android OEM rivals, and the wireless market as a whole. In regard to overall mobile phone share (read: dumbphones, et al.) and smartphone-only, Moto saw a 3 percent year-to-year decline, with its biggest loss coming from Android unit sales — a 50 percent drop to 22 percent of the market. Will the rosy glow of Mountain View “help inspire new paths to differentiation” for Moto, or are we just looking at a repeat of the “RAZR era?” While you ponder these pressing questions, head past the break to read the full report.

Continue reading Android still king of the US smartphone hill, Motorola facing a market nosedive

Android still king of the US smartphone hill, Motorola facing a market nosedive originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

iPhone 5 coming to Sprint, other carriers in mid-October?

Watch out AT&T and Verizon, it looks like there’s an iPhone 5 hat-trick coming this fall. WSJ is reporting that the Apple smartphone will hit Sprint at the same time as those other two networks, bringing a well-needed boost to the carrier’s shares in afternoon trading. We’ve heard mixed reports about an expected release date, but Wall Street Journal sources “familiar with the matter” are claiming that the phone will ship in mid-October. One source also stated that Sprint will begin carrying the iPhone 4 at the same time — presumably with a price drop in tow. Adding Sprint’s 52 million subscribers to the mix could bring the iPhone within reach of customers currently locked into contracts, family plans or corporate agreements with Sprint, making the move a huge win for both companies.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iPhone 5 coming to Sprint, other carriers in mid-October? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceWall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments

East Coast earthquake brings down cell phone, landline service (update: restored)

You’ve probably already read about the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that affected the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, and now we’re hearing reports that the quake brought down some landline and cell phone service in New York, along with other cities on the East Coast. We’ve been unable to place calls in New York City using AT&T and Sprint smartphones, as well as office landlines. Are you experiencing issues as well? Let us know in the comments.

Update: Service seems to have been restored in New York City.

Update 2: Verizon Wireless has released the following statement on Twitter: “Seeing no reports of damage to our wireless network. There was some network congestion in the East after tremors. Continuing to monitor.”

Update 3: T-Mobile was feeling left out and sent us an email: “T-Mobile’s network is experiencing higher call volumes in all areas and counties affected by the earthquake. If customers are experiencing temporary difficultly placing calls due to network congestion, we advise them to use SMS or E-Mail until call volumes return to normal.”

East Coast earthquake brings down cell phone, landline service (update: restored) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceVerizon Wireless (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

Wireless Solar Keyboard Sucks Juice From Your Desk Lamp

The K750 soaks up ambient light and can run for months without new AAs or a plug-in charge. Photo courtesy of Logitech

Wireless keyboards are great for keeping your desk clutter-free. But no one wants to make a trip to the store for a fresh pack of Energizers when their keyboard dies.

Enter: Logitech’s Wireless Solar Keyboard K750, now available in a Mac-compatible model.

Essentially, it’s your high school calculator revisited. Solar cells lining the top of the unit use ambient light — desk lamps, fluorescent ceiling bulbs, and even sunlight for the old-school types — to charge the keyboard. Once set up, it runs without interruption so long as there’s at least some illumination. On a full charge, the K750 can run for three months in complete darkness.

The keyboard has the standard OS X layout with shortcut keys, and each key cap is slightly concave for pleasant typing patter. Choose either all black, or Apple white, with the option of three candy colors to accent the solar panels.

Along with eliminating all of that earth-killing battery waste, the K750 is made without PVC and arrives in a fully recyclable box. Mother Gaia would be proud of you.


Logitech’s Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 for Mac brings Appletastic keys, pastel hues

Yearning for the ideal keyboard to pair with your suddenly revitalized Bondi Blue iMac? Good thing you’ve the patience of Job. Windows users were treated to a K750 solar keyboard of their own last fall, and it’s taken nearly a full year for Logi to crank out a Mac-specific edition. The Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 for Mac features the same amenities as found on the Wintel-favoring variant, but you’ll find this one boasting a standard Mac key layout and a concave key cap design. Naturally, no extra drivers are required to work with your existing Apple rig, and once charged, it’s capable of living it up for at least three solid months in complete darkness. You’ll find onboard solar cells that power the keyboard using ambient light, and prospective buyers will be gifted with four exclusive hues (five in total). It’ll ship in the US and Europe later this month for $59.99, and yes, that 2.4GHz module ensures that no wires will be needed for connectivity.

Continue reading Logitech’s Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 for Mac brings Appletastic keys, pastel hues

Logitech’s Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 for Mac brings Appletastic keys, pastel hues originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBlog.Logitech  | Email this | Comments

Verizon embraces Google’s Moto Mobility deal, hopes for an end to patent disputes

Android’s always had a best friend forever (or, for the time being) in Verizon. Together, the two companies were able to establish Andy Rubin’s mobile OS as a serious platform competitor, fighting back against the then threat of AT&T’s exclusive iPhone juggernaut with Moto’s Droid. Flash forward to present day and it’s no wonder Big Red’s SVP John Thorne is giving a public-facing, albeit tentative, thumbs up to Google’s Motorola Mobility acquisition. Thorne’s official line on the deal concerns the “stability [it might bring] to the ongoing smartphone patent disputes,” but the executive declined to comment further, citing a lack of known details for the proposed buyout. Certainly, the wireless operator has good reason to keep a close eye on the takeover, as a recent Chitika survey pegs it with a commanding 41 percent share of active Android handsets. So far, only Nokia has come out from behind Microsoft’s shadow, hailing the move as a boon for WP7 and casting shade on Google’s intentions. As for the rest of the industry, it appears they’re all making heavy use of that nifty statement generator. Hit the more coverage link to see what we mean.

Verizon embraces Google’s Moto Mobility deal, hopes for an end to patent disputes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceWall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments