Google TV adds LG to the fold, will demo new hardware along with Sony, Vizio (update: video, pics!)

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/google-tv-officially-adds-lg-to-the-fold-will-demo-new-hardware/

The second round of Google TV hardware will be in full swing at CES 2012, and the folks at Mountain View just officially announced LG is joining the list of hardware partners at the show. While we know Logitech was taking a pass on the latest hardware, previously announced partners Samsung, Sony and Vizio are still in and the latter two will have new hardware to show next week. While this morning's announcement by Marvell revealed the platform's switch to ARM processors from the Intel chips it launched on, the company mentioned MediaTek is also on board to build compatible chipsets, while the line of products from LG will run on the company's own L9 setup. LG's press release (included after the break) reveals the HDTVs it's bringing out will feature its Cinema 3D FPR technology as well as support for a "Magic Remote QWERTY" that combines its gesture and voice control Magic Remote with, you guessed it, a QWERTY keyboard. It will have two lines of TVs based on the Android OS, while it continues to feature its own NetCast setup in other displays. While Samsung is mentioned as building new devices, it does not appear they'll have any to show off just yet, which matches the rumors that had gone around earlier.

Update: LG has posted some pics of the Google TV sets (above, after the break) featuring its custom interface, although we're still waiting for a peek at that remote. According to the company, users will have the option of using LG's UI or the default Google TV build, so whichever way you prefer should work. The Google TV team has also uploaded a fresh trailer on YouTube ahead of CES, featuring several apps and promising this is just the beginning -- check it out embedded after the break.

Continue reading Google TV adds LG to the fold, will demo new hardware along with Sony, Vizio (update: video, pics!)

Google TV adds LG to the fold, will demo new hardware along with Sony, Vizio (update: video, pics!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Broadcom befriends Sling and Myriad, outs new set-top and streaming chips

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/broadcom-befriends-sling-and-myriad-outs-new-set-top-and-stream/

Busy days at Broadcom, which has already forgotten about its earlier 5G WiFi announcement and launched a barrage of new chips for set-top boxes and home networking. The line-up supports the latest MoCA 2.0 standard for greater network bandwidth over coax wiring, but even more interesting is what some of the SoCs can do for smart TV and streaming. The BCM7425 dual-tuner HD gateway SoC will support Sling Media's "place-shifting" platform, potentially making it easier for set-top manufacturers to enable TV streaming to mobile devices. A similar deal has been inked with Myriad over its clever Alien Vue software (shown above), allowing Broadcom-equipped boxes to run apps designed for Google TV and HTML 5 without the need for extra dedicated hardware. In short, if your service provider fails to make TV content smarter or easier to access in 2012, they won't be able to blame it on Broadcom. Further details in the PR combo after the break and at the source link.

Continue reading Broadcom befriends Sling and Myriad, outs new set-top and streaming chips

Broadcom befriends Sling and Myriad, outs new set-top and streaming chips originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Pioneer unveils world's smallest and lightest external Blu-ray burner

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/pioneer-unveils-worlds-smallest-and-lightest-external-blu-ray-b/

When describing the current fleet of BD burners on the market, one word that certainly doesn't come to mind -- sleek. Pioneer is aiming to change all that, though, with the BDR-XD04. What it lacks in a catchy name it makes up for with a slim and light clamshell design that doesn't make too many sacrifices in the features department. At just under 8.5oz and 0.55 inches thick, it puts most of its competitors to shame. Now, it settles for just a 6x write speed and skips USB 3.0 in favor of the more common (and slower) 2.0, but it is capable of drawing power entirely from your machines peripheral ports. (Though, you'll have the option of hooking up an AC adapter if you wish.) And don't worry about format support -- the BDR-XD04 will handle everything from quad-layer 128GB BD-Rs to old-school CDs with aplomb. The slim new burner will start shipping in the middle of this month for $150. Full PR is after the break.

Continue reading Pioneer unveils world's smallest and lightest external Blu-ray burner

Pioneer unveils world's smallest and lightest external Blu-ray burner originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SugarSync updates Android and iOS apps, brings auto sync technology to videos

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/sugarsync-brings-autosync-technology-to-videos/

If you're jonesing to get your photos and movies from your smartphone back to the home computer without futzing around with cables, the folks at SugarSync have a new spoonful of sweetness for Android and iOS devices -- and with its free price, it should be easy to swallow. In the latest version, the company has applied its AutoSync technology to videos, which means that all media files can now be synced to the cloud and pushed to linked computers without user intervention. As this could involve a significant amount of data, AutoSync Videos works only over WiFi, and users may select from three compression qualities based on their desire for picture quality or upload speed. The latest SugarSync apps also feature a redesigned photos tab, which lets users view all their pictures -- not just the recent ones -- and offers quicker navigation along with larger, high-res previews. The company gives all users 5GB of storage absolutely gratis, so if you have a lot of media to unload, it may be worthwhile to hop aboard. You'll find the complete PR announcements just after the break.

Continue reading SugarSync updates Android and iOS apps, brings auto sync technology to videos

SugarSync updates Android and iOS apps, brings auto sync technology to videos originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on: hacking WiFi Protected Setup with Reaver

http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2012/01/hands-on-hacking-wifi-protected-setup-with-reaver.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

WiFi hacking has long been a favorite pastime of hackers, penetration testers, and people too cheap to pay for their own Internet connection. And there are plenty of targets out there for would-be hackers and war drivers to go after—just launch a WiFi scanner app in any residential neighborhood or office complex, and you're bound to find an access point that's either wide open or protected by weak encryption. Fortunately (or unfortunately, if you're the one looking for free WiFi), those more blatant security holes are going away through attrition as people upgrade to newer routers or network administrators hunt down vulnerabilities and stomp them out. But as one door closes, another opens.

Last week, security researchers revealed a vulnerability in WiFi Protected Setup, an optional device configuration protocol for wireless access points. WPS lets users enter a personal identification number that is hard-coded into the access point in order to quickly connect a computer or other wireless device to the network. The structure of the WPS PIN number and a flaw in the protocol's response to invalid requests make attacking WPS relatively simple compared to cracking a WiFi Protected Access (WPA or WPA2) password. On December 28, Craig Heffner of Tactical Network Solutions released an open-source version of an attack tool, named Reaver, that exploits the vulnerability.

To find out just how big the hole was, I downloaded and compiled Reaver for a bit of New Years geek fun. As it turns out, it's a pretty big one—even with WPS allegedly turned off on a target router, I was able to get it to cough up the SSID and password. The only way to block the attack was to turn on Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering to block unwanted hardware.

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from Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com/index.php

HP redesigns its Magic Canvas software, plans to install it on all desktops (even non-touch ones)

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/hp-renames-its-touchsmart-software-magic-canvas-plans-to-instal/

Though HP announced two desktops today, the most interesting tidbit might not be the computers, but the software installed on them. As the company releases new hardware, it's also rolling out a revamped version of its Magic Canvas UI (formerly known as TouchSmart). Now, it'll work even on PCs without touchscreens, and it's going to ship on every HP tower and all-in-one, including already-announced models like this. The most significant improvement is that you can now access the Start Menu and all your Windows apps, even when you're immersed in this UI that frankly looks more like a mobile OS than Windows 7. (If all this reeks of bloatware, you can uninstall or choose not to launch it.) As for that mobile-inspired experience, we're talking about those widgets and large, finger-friendly shortcuts, sure, but also the fact that you get an unlimited number of home screens for pinning notes and leaving documents open. Forget where you left your 15-page term paper? You can right click to bring up a search screen (we're not clear if there will be a keyboard shortcut for that). As we said, you can expect this to become ubiquitous on HP's desktops but if you want to see it in action now, you can head past the break for a short promo video.

Continue reading HP redesigns its Magic Canvas software, plans to install it on all desktops (even non-touch ones)

HP redesigns its Magic Canvas software, plans to install it on all desktops (even non-touch ones) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP intros Omni 27 all-in-one, Pavilion HPE Phoenix h9 tower

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/hp-intros-omni-27-all-in-one-pavilion-hpe-phoenix-h9-tower/

If you thought HP would take a break after announcing seven all-in-ones last fall, you'd be sadly mistaken: the company just trotted out the Omni 27, its first model with a 27-inch display. In addition to that 1080p (non-touch) screen, it rocks the same Easel design as all those models HP introduced a few months back, which is to say it tilts a relatively modest 25 degrees. Other specs include dual- and quad-core Intel processors, up to 2TB of storage and Beats Audio (duh), and an optional TV tuner, Blu-ray player and HDMI port (yes, HDMI is an add-on). Moving on to a different category entirely, HP also unveiled the Pavilion HPE Phoenix h9 for the US market -- not its inaugural enthusiast tower, to be sure, but definitely the first to bear the consumer-y Pavilion name. Though the red accents and "armor-plated" design would suggest otherwise, HP's quick to market this not as a gaming rig, but a prosumer machine. Whatever you want to call it, you'll find specs worthy of power uses: a choice of Intel's latest X79 processors or AMD's eight-core chips, NVIDIA GTX 580 / AMD Radeon 7670 graphics and four DIMM slots capable of accommodating 16GB of RAM and up to three hard drives.

Whichever tickles your fancy, both come loaded with HP's Magic Canvas software -- aka, the UI that used to be called TouchSmart but has since been re-tooled to work even on non-touch machines. They'll each be available January 8th, with the Omni 27 starting at $1,200 and the Phoenix h9 fetching $1,150 and up. Until then, we've got a mix of hands-on and press shots below, with a pair of promo videos waiting for just past the break.

Gallery: HP Omni 27

Gallery: HP Pavilion HPE Phoenix h9

Gallery: HP Pavilion HPE Phoenix h9 hands-on

Continue reading HP intros Omni 27 all-in-one, Pavilion HPE Phoenix h9 tower

HP intros Omni 27 all-in-one, Pavilion HPE Phoenix h9 tower originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Luminch One: an Arduino lamp you control with the wave of a hand (video)

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/03/luminch-one-an-arduino-lamp-you-control-with-the-wave-of-a-hand/

A DIY lamp may not sound like the most thrilling project on Earth, but the Luminch One is special. Not only does this hand-made light from Francisco Castro provide illumination -- the most important function of any lamp -- but it does so while looking beautiful and providing a level of interactivity missing from most household lighting solutions. Underneath the pixelated-looking paper shade is an LED bulb controlled by an Arduino hooked up to an IR sensor. Simply wave your hand over the top to turn it on and off. You can also control the brightness by holding your hand above the stylized beacon momentarily to engage the dimmer, then moving your hand up and down to set your preferred lumen level. Check out the video after the break and head on over to the source for complete build instructions.

Continue reading Luminch One: an Arduino lamp you control with the wave of a hand (video)

Luminch One: an Arduino lamp you control with the wave of a hand (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com

The Best Documentary to Inspire Creativity for 2012

http://blog.blurb.com/index.php/2012/01/03/the-best-documentary-to-inspire-creativity-for-2012/

WASTE LAND Official Trailer from Almega Projects on Vimeo.

We know it’s not necessarily the newest kid on the block, but if you haven’t seen the 2010 documentary “Waste Land,” put it high on your list. The documentary, which is now out in DVD, focuses on Brazilian artist Vik Muniz and his photography/art project involving Jardim Gramacho, the world’s largest garbage dump located outside Rio de Janeiro.

The film reveals the humanity, character, and dignity of the “pickers,” those who work daily at the dump, scavenging for recyclable materials and eking out a living. It also inspires in a big way. What Muniz has done in collaboration with the pickers shows the power of art, creativity, and the possibilities that can be revealed and realized through the process. Definite must-see.

And if you have any other film suggestions to help inspire us and your fellow Blurbarians, please chime in and let us know. We’re all ears. Happy New Year!

from Blurberati Blog http://blog.blurb.com

Hackers planning homespun anti-censorship satellite internet

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/03/hackers-planning-homespun-anti-censorship-satellite-internet/

SOPA is making ordinary, decent internet users mad as hell, and they're not gonna take it anymore. Hacker attendees of Berlin's Chaos Communication Congress are cooking up a plan to launch a series of homemade satellites as the backbone of an "uncensorable (sic) internet in space." Like all good ideas, there's a few hurdles to overcome first: objects in lower-Earth orbit circle the earth every 90 minutes, useless for a broadband satellite that needs to remain geostationary. Instead, a terrestrial network of base stations will have to be installed in order to remain in constant contact as it spins past, at the cost of €100 ($130) per unit. The conference also stated a desire to get an amateur astronaut onto the moon within 23 years, which we'd love to see, assuming there's still a rocket fuel store on eBay.

Hackers planning homespun anti-censorship satellite internet originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Apple TV hacked to run iPhone and iPad apps

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2012/01/apple-tv-hacked-to-run-iphone-and-ipad-apps.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

A pair of enterprising iOS developers have created a hack that allows iPhone and iPad apps, including Facebook and YouTube, to run on the Apple TV.

The second-generation media hub is essentially an iOS device, with an iPad-style A4 chip under the hood and a modified version of iOS 5 for its operating system. You can use AirPlay to stream video from a nearby iPhone or iPad but it doesn't have its own apps (yet).

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from Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com/index.php

Xcom Global revolutionizes global data: one MiFi to serve 195 countries

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/03/xcom-global-revolutionizes-global-data-one-mifi-to-serve-195-co/

Chances are you'll see a metric ton of new gizmos surfacing at CES next week, and if we're lucky, two or three of them will be bona fide game changers. Lucky for you, Xcom Global is serving one up ahead of the mayhem, with a single WWAN device that enables you to suck down 3G data in nearly every country on the planet. If you'll recall, the outfit's Euro SIM took a giant step in the right direction by providing universal 3G data coverage to jetsetters who passed through some 40 nations in Europe, but true globetrotters need something even more advanced. And frankly, even those who are only hitting three or four nations in a swing will surely appreciate the ability to carry just a single USB stick or MiFi hotspot versus a handful of 'em. Xcom's deeming it the Global Travel Plan, and thanks to its partnership with iPhone Trip, the outfit is adding support for some 130 nations, bringing the grand total to 195. Better still, users will be able to enjoy unlimited surfing in any of those places, all for just $12.95 per day.

For those unaware, Xcom's service -- which we reviewed back in 2010 -- works a bit like this. If you're in the US, you hit its website and select your travel dates as well as the nations you're planning to travel through. If you select the Global Travel Plan, you'll get a single device shipped to you before you depart. It'll serve up data from local 3G networks in the countries you travel through, and once you're home, you pop the device back into a prepaid envelope and carry on. Yeah, you could argue that scrounging up a local SIM in every place you go is more affordable, but the ease of use here can't be overlooked. We'll be giving the new plan a go in some of the world's most far-out locales in the coming weeks, so be sure to keep an eye out for our results. Till then, hit the source link for a PDF of every supported nation as of January 2012.

Continue reading Xcom Global revolutionizes global data: one MiFi to serve 195 countries

Xcom Global revolutionizes global data: one MiFi to serve 195 countries originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Red's Scarlet-X 4K camera gets video review: you've never needed $11,700 so badly

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/reds-scarlet-x-4k-camera-video-review/

Native 4K recording? Check. A built-for-war body? You bet. Backordered despite a downright shocking $11,700 price tag? Most certainly. As with Red's prior products, the Scarlet-X seems to be wowing just about every shooter lucky enough to come into contact with one. Luck for you, the folks over at Cinema5D have spent an inordinate of amount of time with this beast in order to deliver the full skinny on whether it's worth the price (and wait). We won't bother spoiling any conclusions for you, but if you've been toying with the idea of blowing your (and your SO's) bonus on one of these in a bid to start your own movie house, there's a vid just after the break that deserves your attention.

Continue reading Red's Scarlet-X 4K camera gets video review: you've never needed $11,700 so badly

Red's Scarlet-X 4K camera gets video review: you've never needed $11,700 so badly originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Retrode 2 retro gaming adapter brings SNES / Genesis support to your PC for $85

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/retrode-2-retro-gaming-adapter-snes-genesis-pre-order/

We were already head over heels for the original Retrode, and we've gotta say -- version 2.0 looks mighty good in that attire. As the story goes, the product shown above is the result of some three years of toiling, with the second iteration handling cartridges for Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. In fact, there's a pair of ports on here, enabling one cart from each console to be loaded up and carried around. Users need only to find and install an emulator on their machine, plug a cartridge and / or an associated controller into the device and then connect the Retrode 2 to one's computer via USB. Once you've loaded a ROM into your emulator, configured your controller and canceled every appointment on your calendar for the next 48 hours... well, you're in for quite a weekend of retro gaming nirvana. It's up for pre-order now in the source link for $84.99, with shipments expected to begin on January 23rd.

Retrode 2 retro gaming adapter brings SNES / Genesis support to your PC for $85 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Add-In: ISO Mounter v1.20

http://www.mswhs.com/2012/01/add-in-iso-mounter-v1-20/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MSWHS+%28MS+Windows+Home+Server%29

The ISO Mounter add-in for WHS V1 and WHS 2011 has been updated to version 1.20

The add-in allows you to mount ISO files (DVD and CD images) stored on your home server so they can be viewed directly through your servers folder share on all of your PC’s and laptops.

Here are the release notes for this release:

New Features:

• Burn ISO images to removable USB devices
• New "Unmount all" button to simplify unmounting of multiple images from the server Dashboard
• New "Rescan watch folder" to allow mounting of all pre-existing ISO image files in a watch folder

Enhancements:

• Cleaned up the user interface.  Moved some tasks from the main view into a separate "More Settings" dialog view
• Fixed crash when browsing for ISO files on Servers with a non-standard Share layout (e.g. server Shares are not stored in D:\ServerFolders)

Installation tips for WHS/SBS 2011:

• Uninstall the previous version of the add-in.  From the Server Dashboard select Add-ins | ISO Mounter | Remove the Add-in and then close the Dashboard
• Download the new version of the add-in, via the link above, to your server or a PC with Home Server Connector installed
• Double-click the isomounter.wssx file to begin the installation process
• Wait for the installation process to complete.  You’re done!
• All existing settings and registration information will be saved from the previous version.

Installation tips for WHS V1:

• From the WHS Console select Settings | Add-ins | Installed then Uninstall the previous version of ISO Mounter
• Download the new version of the software, via the link above, to your \\server\software\add-ins folder
• From the WHS Console select Settings | Add-ins | Available then Install the new version
• The WHS Console will restart
• All existing settings and registration information will be saved from the previous version. You’re done!

This update is free for customers who have already purchased a license and can be downloaded directly from the add-in within the WHS Dashboard by simply clicking the "Check for software update" link.

New users can purchase a copy for $14.99 from here.

Add-In: ISO Mounter v1.20 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

from MSWHS.com http://www.mswhs.com

LG details 55-inch OLED TV, will show off its true colors at CES 2012

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/01/lg-details-55-inch-oled-tv-will-show-off-its-true-colors-at-ces/

While building the world's first 55-inch OLED TV panel is nice, it's not worth much unless you put an actual TV around it and LG Electronics will have the total package on display next week at CES. Today's press release reveals more about LG's "4-Color Pixel" and Color Refiner technology it's implementing to bring consistent, accurate colors that it claims will be other OLED TV's abnormal color gamut. LG's press release doesn't mention production plans or pricing, but all of this is squeezed into a frame that's just 4mm thick with a narrow bezel and weight of 7.5kg -- we'll let our eyes decide on the quality of its colors once we meet in person.

Continue reading LG details 55-inch OLED TV, will show off its true colors at CES 2012

LG details 55-inch OLED TV, will show off its true colors at CES 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com