HP teases plans to conquer the 3D-printing market
Move over, LaserJet. This week, HP CEO Meg Whitman said that her company will announce the details of its 3D printing strategy in June, expanding the lineup beyond the home-office systems we know so well. HP’s upcoming devices will apparently improve upon two weaknesses of currently available models. For one, Whitman said 3D printers are intolerably slow — “like watching ice melt” — so we can expect faster performance. HP is also looking to enhance printing quality, and Whitman implied both of these upgrades will be evident in the company’s big announcement in June.
Unsurprisingly, HP will target its 3D-printing products toward businesses rather than consumers, at least at first. The company has hinted that it will work with service providers who process 3D printing orders, while HP provides the actual hardware. We’ll have to wait a few months to find out more, but it’s worth noting that HP briefly had a partnership with 3D-printing firm Stratasys several years back. It didn’t pan out in the long term, and, judging by this photo, HP’s upcoming product will look a tad different.
Filed under: Peripherals
Source: PC World
The Galaxy S5, along with Samsung’s wearable lineup, heads to AT&T
A whole lot of Samsung is about to come to AT&T. Today, the carrier announced that pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S5 will begin tomorrow both online and in stores, with shipping to start in early April. Pricing is set at $200 with a two-year contract, though it’s also available for a monthly fee with AT&T’s Next plans. (US Cellular customers, incidentally, will also be able to pre-order the GS 5 tomorrow for $200 on-contract.)
And that’s not all: tomorrow, AT&T will also put Samsung’s trio of wearables up for pre-order. This includes the $299 Samsung Gear 2, the $199 Gear 2 Neo and the $199 Gear Fit. Shipping for those devices will also begin in early April.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables, Mobile, Samsung, AT&T
The winners of the 2013 Engadget Awards — Readers’ Choice
Well, the results are in — first you nominated your favorite gadgets from 2013, then you voted on the most popular picks. Not to overanalyze the results or anything, but readers definitely have a fondness for legacy gadgets (like the second-gen Nexus 7 and the updated Amazon Kindle Fire), while a certain household name provokes a very negative reaction.
Just to be extremely clear, note that the following winners have nothing to do with our editors’ opinions — our picks are coming tomorrow! Now that we have that out of the way, jump into the results past the break.
Smartphone of the Year: HTC One
PC of the Year: Razer Blade
Tablet of the Year: Google Nexus 7
E-reader of the Year: Amazon Kindle Fire HD
Digital Camera of the Year: Sony RX-100 II
Wearable of the Year: Samsung Galaxy Gear
Gaming Product of the Year: PlayStation 4
Home Theater Product of the Year: Philips Fidelio E5
Home Product of the Year: Philips Hue LightStrips
Transportation Product of the Year: McLaren P1
Offbeat Product of the Year: Mighty Cast NEX Band
Worst Product of the Year: Apple iPhone 5c
Do own any of the products mentioned above? Add it to your Engadget profile as a device you have!
Malicious Tor Browser Persists in iOS App Store for Months Despite Protests [iOS Blog]
Developers working on the Tor anonymity service asked Apple months ago to remove a malicious Tor browser that poses a threat to its users from the App Store (Via Ars Technica). After receiving no action through official channels, Tor project members now are using more public means to get this app removed.
A report ticket published three months ago by volunteer Phobos details the issue with rogue app.
“Tor Browser in the Apple App Store is fake. It’s full of adware and spyware. Two users have called to complain. We should have it removed.”
Tor officials confirmed they filed a complaint with Apple in December 2013 and received a response that the app developer was allowed to defend his app from these accusations.
Several followup emails were sent to Apple, but there was no response from the Cupertino company. Twelve weeks later and the app remains in the App Store, prompting the team to step up their campaign to get the app removed.
“I think naming and shaming is now in order. Apple has been putting users at risk for months now,” writes lunar
“I mailed Window Snyder and Jon Callas to see if they can get us past the bureaucracy.
Otherwise I guess plan C is to get high-profile people on Twitter to ask Apple why it likes harming people who care about privacy. (I hope plan B works.),” writes arma.
Apple’s App Store is known for being a walled garden where apps are vetted before they are allowed entry into the App Store. The process is not flawless, though, with researchers from Georgia Tech last year showing how an innocuous app with hidden malware-type code could slip through Apple’s app approval system.
Once a malicious app is identified in the App Store, Apple has in the past taken steps to remove the app, but the exact process by which an app is removed is not known. In an earlier example, Apple quickly pulled a Russian SMS app that quietly scraped address book contacts and sent them to the developer’s server.
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Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 and Gear Fit Pricing Revealed
Pricing for the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 and Galaxy Fit have finally been released by Samsung. You can expect to see the Galaxy Gear 2 landing for $295 and the Gear Fit to pull $197 from your bank account. Samsung has yet to release pricing info for the other watch, the Galaxy Gear Neo, but is expected to be smack in the middle at $250. Both the Gear 2 and Gear Fit are scheduled for a global launch on April 11th.
I am not too terribly surprised at either devices price points. The original Galaxy Gear launched at $300, so it would make sense that its predecessor would launch near the same price. The real question though will be how well the follow up devices will sell. While I find them ‘cool’ the more recent announcement of the Android Wear OS is certainly going to make wearables a bit more interesting. Google did announce that Samsung was one of their partners with the new OS and we fully expect a smartwatch of some sorts to be announced by them. However, I doubt they will make any such announcement until after the three more recent devices have had a chance to make some profits.
Does the pricing of the Gear 2 and Gear Fit temp you to hold on to some cash for April, or are you going to sit this one out and wait for the Moto 360 this summer?
Source: Korea Herald
Via: Android Authority
U.S. Cellular presale for $199 Galaxy S5 begins March 21
U.S. Cellular will begin offering presale orders for the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone starting March 21. Priced at $199 (after instant rebate), the handset will be sold in Charcoal Black and Shimmery White options. To help spur sales and interest along, the carrier is offering customers a free $50 Google Play promotional code for anyone who preorders the device. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to hit retail stores on April 11 along with the Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo, and Gear Fit wearable devices.
U.S. CELLULAR PRESALE FOR SAMSUNG GALAXY S 5 BEGINS TOMORROW WITH FREE $50 GOOGLE PLAY OFFER
Device will be available for purchase in stores on April 11
CHICAGO (March 20, 2014) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile) have announced that the 4G LTE™ Samsung Galaxy S® 5 will be available for customers to preorder atuscellular.com/GS5 beginning tomorrow. The Galaxy S 5 will be offered in Charcoal Black and Shimmery White and will be $199.99 after an instant rebate is applied. In addition, U.S. Cellular is offering a $50 Google Play promotional code for free to anyone who pre-orders the device online. It will be available in stores for purchase on April 11 along with the Samsung Gear™ 2, Samsung Gear 2 Neo and Samsung Gear Fit.
Customers who purchase the Galaxy S 5 from U.S. Cellular receive a valuable rewards program that recognizes customer loyalty and a network that covers them wherever they want to go. Currently 90 percent of U.S. Cellular customers are covered by a 4G LTE network, and the Galaxy S 5 is the latest 4G LTE smartphone to join the company’s cutting-edge device line-up.
“The features on the Samsung Galaxy S 5 are designed to enrich customers’ everyday lives, making it easier to get things done and stay connected with friends and family,” said Joe Settimi, vice president of products, pricing and innovation for U.S. Cellular. “We will continue to focus on providing our customers the best-in-class network, devices and technology that gives them access to experiences that enrich their lives.”
Residents of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Milwaukee and Madison, Wis., can get an early look at the Galaxy S 5 and the Gear devices by visiting select U.S. Cellular stores in their area. These devices can be checked out in Iowa and Wisconsin exclusively at the following U.S. Cellular locations beginning on March 24th:
- 2315 Edgewood Rd., Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- 4444 1st Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- 101 Junction Rd., Madison, Wis.
- 740 N. Water St., Milwaukee, Wis.
- 5670 N. Port Washington, Glendale, Wis.
The Galaxy S 5 has a 5.1-inch screen with a Full HD Super AMOLEDTM display and is powered by technology that enables intuitive new camera experiences, lightning fast data connections, and fitness and nutrition tracking. You can capture photos and memories in an instant, watch crisp HD videos on an adaptive display with wide viewing angles, and keep a close eye on your exercise progress and monitor your heartbeat with S HealthTM and the world’s first built-in heart rate monitor †.
The second generation of Gear offers a refined look and customizable experience with a trio of options: Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit. The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo feature interchangeable straps, compatible with standard watch bands for a personalized look. Both feature a 1.63-inch Super AMOLED display with new shortcuts and additional app support for easier navigation. The Gear Fit has an athletic design with a 1.84-inch curved Super AMOLED display and interchangeable band, The Gear Fit tracks your steps, monitors your heart rate on the go, and provides notifications of incoming calls, texts and emails.
U.S. Cellular has the highest call quality and network satisfaction of any national carrier, and in partnership with King Street Wireless, offers 4G LTE service to nearly 90 percent of its customers.
4G LTE not available in all areas. See uscellular.com/4G for detailed coverage info. 4G LTE service is provided in partnership with King Street Wireless. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.
Purchase of a smartphone data plan, a new two-year agreement and a $35 activation fee is required. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply. See uscellular.com for details.
Samsung, Galaxy, Galaxy S, Super AMOLED are all trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks.
† This device, S Health, and related software is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
About King Street Wireless, L.P.
King Street Wireless, L.P. currently holds 700 MHz wireless spectrum in 27 states and is partnering with Chicago-based U.S. Cellular to deliver high-speed 4G LTE service to U.S. Cellular’s customers in several of the carrier’s markets. King Street Wireless is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia where it is recognized for its involvement in its community both through its economic development and philanthropic efforts. To learn more about King Street Wireless, visitwww.kingstreetwireless.com.
About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, (Samsung Mobile) a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.
About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular rewards its customers with unmatched benefits and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high-speed network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier. Currently, nearly 90 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Champion in 2014 for the third time in four years. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.
The post U.S. Cellular presale for $199 Galaxy S5 begins March 21 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung Bashes the iPad, Microsoft Surface and Kindle in New Ad
Samsung has released a new anti-Apple advertisement that highlights the perceived shortcomings of the iPad in comparison to Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab Pro and Galaxy Note Pro tablets. Targeting not only Apple, the ad also criticizes Microsoft’s Surface tablet and the Amazon Kindle.
The ad uses three scenarios to highlight the advantages of the Galaxy Pro series over its competitors. The first is a business conference call, during which the Galaxy owner is able to talk and simultaneously send a report because of the Galaxy’s multitasking feature that allows him to display multiple Android applications at once on the screen. There’s also a slight jab at the Microsoft Surface, which is ridiculed for being “computer-like” because of its keyboard, battery pack and mouse.
The ad then switches to more personal uses of the tablet with a quick dig at Amazon’s Kindle device, which can only read books, while the Galaxy can pull up YouTube videos during a book club meeting. The harshest comment comes at the end when two ladies at a spa are comparing their iPad and Galaxy tablets. The discourse on the lower screen resolution of the iPad (2048-by-1536 resolution) when compared to the Galaxy Pro (2560-by-1600 resolution) ends with a condescending smile from the Galaxy owner when the iPad owner retorts that her iPad has “the retina thingy.”
Samsung has a history of chiding its competitors in commercials, so it’s not surprising to see the Korean company take on the iPad shortly after unveiling its Galaxy Pro series earlier this year.
The Galaxy Note Pro features Samsung’s S-Pen technology, while the Tab Pro is the company’s standard tablet. The Galaxy Note Pro is available in a 12.2-inch size, while the Galaxy Tab Pro ships with 12.2, 10.1 or 8.4-inch displays. 
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Layar brings its augmented reality to Google Glass
Augmented reality is fun and all, but holding your phone to your face always seemed, to us, like too much effort. Layar agrees, which is why the outfit has now brought its AR secret sauce to Google Glass. Once the APK is installed, saying “OK Glass, scan this” will see the head-mounted wearable find additional content for your right eye. Considering the company’s print expertise, most of these will involve extra value material from magazines, but could also be used to examine maps and real estate listings. The video after the jump says you could also watch movie trailers just by staring at a poster — assuming that you don’t mind your fellow cinema goers thinking you’re a bit odd.
Filed under: Google
Source: Layar for Glass, Layar
Twitter’s first tweet tool is a painful reminder that none of us initially ‘got’ this Twitter thing
It’s Twitter’s eighth birthday, folks, which means a little nostalgia is in order. The now-gigantic company just put out a “first tweet” (er, #FirstTweet) tool that makes it easy to find your first-ever 140-character missive. Odds are, your first tweet was something ironic about how you were trying out this whole Twitter thing. Odds are, you were really bad at Twitter at first. Well, probably, anyway. Yours truly clearly had the hang of it from the get-go.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Twitter
The original Apple reseller is closing its doors
If you paid $1,698 for an Apple II with 16K of RAM back in 1977, there’s a good chance you bought it from Team Electronics in Minneapolis. Now called FirstTech, the retailer has announced that it’ll shut down at the end of the month after 73 years in business, laying off 75 employees in the process. It first encountered Apple at the historic 1977 West Coast Computer Faire and expressed strong interest in the pre-production Apple II. Since it was a chain at the time, future Apple CEO Mike Markkula personally flew to Minnesota with the fifth production model and signed it up as the first ever US dealer. FirstTech stuck with Apple through better or worse over the next 37 years, but found it couldn’t compete with aggressive vendors and Apple’s own stores. Luckily, it seems to have kept a lot of crazy and valuable early items — to see some of them, check the video after the break.
[Image credit: FirstTech]
AIVAnet 