Accidentally deliberate Motorola Droid Turbo image Tweeted
There are a number of amazing phones heading to various carriers by the end of the year. Verizon is picking up a couple that will give loyal brand lovers something to jump up and down about. Verizon and Motorola are in cahoots to resurrect the icon DROID line any day now with the Motorola DROID Turbo. The user manual was leaked just the other day and we got a pretty good look at the device and some of the specs. Like a 5.2 QHD display, 21MP camera, Qi wireless charging and dual noise canceling mics. Another leak confirmed a whopping 3,900 mAh battery, 3GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 805 processor too. Thanks to an accidentally deliberate* tweet from the @DroidLanding twitter account, we get another look at the device in their signature red color variant.
It is, very red. all over. I am not much for all red devices myself, but I know a number of you already cleaning up the drool on your device’s screen right now. With so many details make their way to the web I would image that an official announcement is close at hand. Verizon did just announce the Xperia Z3v yesterday with a scheduled launch date of October 23rd, I am wondering if between that and the Galaxy Note 4 they are holding this back for a bit. Droid-Life sources are saying October 30th as the lunch date. Regardless, this holiday season is going to be packed with choices for Verizon customers.
*I like the ‘accidentally deliberate’ reference simply because it’s hard to image that any company would accidentally push out images via a social channel unless it was all part of the marketing plan. It is brilliant though. Think off all that follow @DroidLanding and caught a look before it was pulled down. I bet some of you are here right now looking at it again. Well played Verizon.
Via Droid-Life Source: @DroidLanding
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Buyer’s Guide: Deals on the iPad Air, MacBooks, Apple Accessories, and More [Mac Blog]
There are several deals on various Apple products this week, including the iPad Air and several MacBooks. Target, for example, is offering a $100 gift card with the purchase of any iPad Air model, which is perfect for users who are looking for a good deal on an iPad Air and don’t need to wait for an upgraded model with Touch ID.
Best Buy is also offering $50 to $125 off several Apple MacBooks, including multiple 2014 MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro models. This can be combined with Best Buy’s EDU deals, which offer $50 off all MacBooks and $50 off iMacs.
Retina MacBook Pro
There are several other deals on the Retina MacBook Pro, letting prospective customers get $100 to $150 off from select sites. The 2.6Ghz/8GB/128GB 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is available for $1,119.99 from Amazon B&H Photo, and Adorama. The 2.6Ghz/8GB/256GB 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is available for $1,399 from Adorama, B&H Photo, and MacMall. The 2.8Ghz/8GB/512GB 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is available for $1,699.99 from Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo, and MacMall.
The 15-inch 2.2Ghz/16GB/256GB Retina MacBook Pro is available for $1,899 from Adorama and the standard non-retina MacBook Pro is available for $999 from Adorama and B&H Photo.
There are also some deals on remaining stock of the 2013 Retina MacBook Pros. The 2.4Ghz/4GB/128GB 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is available for $1,099 from Adorama and B&H Photo. The 2.6Ghz/8GB/512GB 13-inch model is available for $1,549 from Adorama and B&H Photo. The 2.0Ghz/8GB/256GB 15-inch model is available for $1,599 from Adorama, and B&H Photo. The 2.0Ghz/16GB/512GB 15-inch model is available for $2,199 from Amazon, and Adorama.
MacBook Air
B&H Photo is still offering low prices on some of its remaining 2013 MacBook Air inventory. The 1.3Ghz/4GB/128GB 11-inch MacBook Air is available for $819, while the 1.3Ghz/4GB/256GB 11-inch MacBook Air is available for $889.
B&H and Adorama, as always, are a good choice for buyers who live outside of New York and New Jersey, as the sites only charge sales tax in those states.
Mac Pro
Stock configurations of Apple’s Mac Pro desktop computer are available at slightly discounted prices from several retailers this week. The 6-core 3.5Ghz/16GB/256GB machine can be purchased for $3,739.99 from Best Buy, Adorama, and B&H Photo, while the 4-core 3.7Ghz/12GB/256GB machine for $2,839.99 from Best Buy, Adorama, and B&H Photo.
Apple Accessories
Sabrent’s stylish aluminum 4-port USB Hub for the Mac is available for $17.99, a discount of $7 off the regular price from Groupon. Sony’s Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Lightning Dock is available for $169.99 from Groupon, a 32% discount.
Any customers purchasing products via Groupon this week can get an additional 10% off one purchase with the coupon code GOODS10, which will work through 10/13.
The popular Automatic Smart Driving Assistant can be purchased for $79.99 from Amazon, a discount of $19. Stacksocial is offering the Rain Design iRest iPad Stand for $35.99, down from its regular price of $50.
The myCharge Portable Power Bank 6000 with built-in Lightning and Micro USB is available for $49.99 from Best Buy, down from $99.99.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.
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Many Retailers Hesitant About Offering Support for Apple Pay
Though Apple is launching Apple Pay with a number of high-profile retail partners including Macy’s, Disney, Whole Foods, Sephora, Walgreens, and Staples, among others, there’s a long list of retailers who have decided not to offer Apple Pay in their stores.
Walmart and Best Buy, for example, have been two high-profile companies that have vocally opted out, and The Daily Dot has compiled a list of several other retail outlets that have current no plans to support Apple Pay. Clothing store H&M said that it has no plans to accept Apple Pay at this time, as did high-end retailer Coach.
A Bed, Bath & Beyond spokesperson said the company was “unable to participate,” while a spokesperson for retailer Belk also said “we don’t have the capability to accept Apple Pay right now,” suggesting the store has not adopted payment systems with NFC capabilities.
Sears, Kmart, and Publix have also said they won’t be accepting Apple Pay, as has gas company BP, though BP stations may be able to accept Apple Pay in 2016.
BP spokesperson Scott Dean said the company “won’t be in a position to do this in 2014, but we’re working with our marketers (BP gas stations are independently owned and operated) to upgrade our retail site technology progressively over the next two years and as part of those upgrades we will be setting ourselves up to be ready for mobile payments.”
Some fast food restaurants aren’t on board yet either, including Pizza Hut and Chipotle, while others, like KFC, are “looking into the prospect of accepting Apple Pay” but have no timetable for support.
It’s important to note that even if a retailer does not explicitly state that it offers support for Apple Pay, the Apple Pay payments system will work in any retail store that allows contactless payments via NFC. Many modern point-of-sale (PoS) systems come with NFC capabilities, and Apple is counting on regulatory changes that will require merchants to update their payment hardware over the course of the next year.
As of October 2015, merchants that do not offer support for EMV credit cards (cards that contain integrated circuits to prevent fraud) will assume responsibility for any fraudulent transactions that take place. Normally, banks assume liability, so it is in the best interest of retailers to deploy these new payment processing systems. EMV cards, or chip cards, are already used in many other countries around the world.
Though many merchants will be upgrading to new payment systems, many of which offer NFC, these upgrades take time and it may be several months before retailers decide whether or not to adopt NFC to allow them to process payments through Apple Pay.
The list of merchants not on board with Apple Pay is considerable, but contactless payments are growing in popularity and with the help of Apple Pay, the adoption of NFC systems may accelerate even faster. According to Apple, more than 220,000 retail stores across the United States will be able to accept Apple Pay.
Apple Pay is expected to roll out in October as an update to iOS 8. iOS 8.1, with hidden Apple Pay settings, has already been seeded to developers for testing.
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Verizon Galaxy S4 update on the way with Knox 2.0 and other improvements
An update for the Samsung Galaxy S4 on Verizon has been listed on the Verizon support page for the device. The update will move the device to build number VRUFNG6. The list of improvements may or may not matter much to you, but for some it could be a saving grace. Among the list of things that have been improved is connectivity within messaging app, Bluetooth connectivity and Voicemail reliability. All three are pretty important functions.
Along with the improvements you will want to be on the look out for an app name change as well. ISIS Wallet is getting changed over to Softcard. The ISIS team felt it was important to change the name in light of the ‘other’ ISIS out there that has nothing to do with mobile payments. There is also MVD which is My Verizon Diagnostic, Knox 2.0 for enterprise and a kids mode stud in the widget tray for parental controls.
Any one out there see the update hit thei device yet? Head into Settings > About Phone > Software Updates > Ceck for Updates to see if it is available for your device. Be sure to have a stable Wi-Fi connection, more than 50% battery and a little time to kill before you start the install.
Via Verizon
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Nexus 9 due October 15, report says
As we get closer to the time Google announces Android L, more and more rumors and reports come out about the upcoming Nexus devices, or the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9. Earlier this morning we reported about an article from WSJ confirming rumors of the Nexus 6. A couple of days ago, an HTC rep confirmed that the Nexus 9 exists and is coming. Now, we seem to have some details about a possible announcement and launch date for the Nexus 9 (and presumably the Nexus 6 and Android L as well).
Bright side of news on Thursday reported that their sources confirm that the Nexus 9 will be announced this month, available for pre-order on October 15th, and then available (and most likely shipped) on November 3. They also confirm (as previously thought) that it will be using a NVIDIA Tegra K1 SoC. However, it isn’t clear if they will use the regular chip seen in other devices, or if it will be a new 64-bit version.
They also confirm that it will cost $399, which they say makes it a more premium device since the Nexus 7 is cheaper at $229. However, if you recall the Nexus 10 released starting at $399, and was considered cheap for its size and features. Considering a Nexus 9 would be closer to that, it makes sense to me. I suppose we’ll have to wait and see.
The other interesting part of the report is it claims that the Nexus 9 will not be exclusive to the Play Store, but will be sold to many other retailers. This indeed would be an interesting move on Google’s part, and would mean they are more serious about selling devices this time around.
Stay tuned for more updates about the Nexus devices.
What do you think about a $399 price tag on a 9″ tablet? Too much for a Nexus device, or just about right?
via brightsideofnews
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Here’s what you need to know about Engadget Expand, so far
We’ve talked a lot about Engadget Expand so far (you know, that free event we’re holding at the Javits Center in NYC on November 7th and 8th). It’s time we got you caught up on who’s speaking (and when), who’s exhibiting on the show floor, what’s up with Insert Coin and finally, the winner of our ‘In The City’ sweepstakes. Let’s get started.
What’s happening when?
Our complete schedule of everything happening during our two-day Expand event is live and ready for your stalking. Find out who’s speaking when, what’s happening with workshops and what to expect from our Insert Coin competition. View the full schedule here.
Who’s showing off the latest in technology?
So far we’ve announced OnePlus, GizmoSphere and Suitable Technologies as some of the exhibitors doing demos on the show floor. Today, we’re adding a few more to the lineup:
- Matterport will show off its 3D capture system, which lets anyone create 3D models of real-world spaces to share online. For example, a realtor can show off a home online in a much more immersive way.
- Huawei was well represented at each of our Engadget Live events this year, so it’s no surprise we’ll see its line of Ascend smartphones at Expand!
- GIROPTIC made the world’s first full HD 360-degree camera (after a successful Kickstarter campaign) and will let Expand attendees try it out.
Who’s coming to the Expand stage?
Musician and producer RJD2, Adafruit’s Becky Stern, Paul Eremenko of Google’s Project Ara, Mars One’s Bas Lansdorp and DARPA’s Arati Prabhakar are some of the amazing experts we’ve announced thus far. Our complete lineup of speakers can be found in the gallery above or on our Expand microsite.
What’s up with Insert Coin?
We need your help narrowing down our semi-finalists who will get a trip to NYC and a shot at the big prize — either our Judge’s Choice or Reader’s Choice awards at Expand. Meet our current contenders right here and be sure to cast your vote by 11:59PM ET on October 15th.
Who won our ‘In The City‘ sweepstakes?
Congratulations to Brady Lamb, who we’re flying from Ames, Iowa to NYC for the big event in November. We’re also sending Chromecasts to our 10 runner-ups. Congratulations, folks!
What’s next?
We’ll announce even more speakers, exhibitors and maybe even a contest real soon. Until then, if you’re going to be in the New York area November 7-8, get your tickets here. If not, keep it locked here on engadget.com?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&ncid=rss_full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget throughout that weekend so you don’t miss a thing.
[Photo: Getty]
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Blackphone to test new waters with privacy-minded tablet
After turning an ambitious plan into reality, the people behind the privacy-focused Blackphone are ready for a new adventure. During an interview with BBC Newsbeat, Jon Callas, co-founder of Silent Circle, which made the privacy-focused device in conjunction with Geeksphone, let it be known that the company will have a tablet in the near future. “Blackphone as it is, is our first device not our last device,” Callas said. While he didn’t reveal any more specific details, Callas did mention such tablet is already in the works and set to be coming “soon.” The bigger hardware would likely bring similar features to the $629 Android phone, most of which is done with user privacy in mind first and foremost. One thing is for sure, it’s going to be interesting to see what Blackphone does next.
Source: BBC Newsbeat
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Beats and Bose agree to settle noise-cancellation lawsuit out of court
It’s almost a relieving thing to hear: two tech companies have decided not to pursue a long, drawn out patent lawsuit. Earlier this year, Bose accused Beats of taking noise-cancellation technology from a series of five Bose patents — but now the two audio groups have reached a settlement and asked the International Trade Commission to halt investigation of the issue. The terms of the agreement aren’t clear, but both sides will get to skip the hassle of going to court.
Beats may be off the hook for the alleged theft of Bose’s intellectual property, but that doesn’t mean Bose and Apple’s acquisition have buried the hatchet: the two companies are still fierce competitors. Bose’s exclusivity contract with the NFL, for instance, is already bearing fruit — slapping players with the wrong headgear with steep, $10,000 fines. Apple’s playing a little dirty, too: sources close to MacRumors say that the Cupertino company is planning to remove Bose products from Apple stores sometime next week. The two firms may have avoided a legal battle, but it seems that the war for public opinion has only just started.
[Photo credit: Glenn Asakawa/The Denver Post via Getty Images]
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Apple
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Sony’s ‘PlayStation Experience’ is a two-day public gaming show in Las Vegas
Sony’s holding a two-day PlayStation event in the middle of the desert, and it wants you to attend. Okay, technically Las Vegas isn’t the middle of the desert, but it’s certainly out there. What will said event entail? PlayStation social media man Sid Shuman says you’ll, “Sit in on in-depth panels, meet the industry’s best developers, score hands-on gameplay with tons of upcoming PlayStation games, collect free swag, and get a chance to purchase rare collectibles directly from their favorite game studios.” It’s kind of like PAX, basically, but all PlayStation. One more similarity to PAX? It’ll cost ya. $50 for a one-day pass, $90 for both days. If those previous activities left you still sitting on the fence about attendance, Shuman also promises, “an exclusive first look at what’s coming next in 2015, which I am told you will not want to miss.” Project Morpheus details? Maybe a PlayStation helicopter? Who knows!
Hey, if nothing else, it’s an excuse to fly to Las Vegas in December, right?
[Image credit: Sony PlayStation]
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Sony
Source: Sony PlayStation
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MegaBots wants to make your giant battle mech dreams come true
Walk around New York Comic Con and you’ll see plenty of celebrities of the nerd world and more cosplay than is comfortable. You might not see too many robots, however. Thankfully MegaBots makes up for what previous years have lacked. Just outside the main exhibition hall on the third floor of the Jacob Javits Center looms the MegaBot Mark I — a 15-foot, 15,000-pound beast that looks every bit ready for war. The president won’t be airdropping the Mark I into Iraq anytime soon, but creators Andrew Stroup and Gui Cavalcanti intend to pit it against other over-sized mechanized creations in battle.
Unlike the duo’s previous giant robot project, the car-crushing hexabot Stompy, the Mark I will be almost humanoid. Eventually it’ll have arms, legs and a central body that’s home to a two seat cockpit. Right now, though, it’s just a torso with a right arm, but no legs. The final version will walk, and, instead of hands, have two weaponized arms capable of firing paint-filled foam shells. The chassis itself will also be covered in foam, but not for the protection of the pilots or spectators. Instead, it will shed the those pieces of its body as it absorbs damage from the non-lethal ammo flying its way. If Stroup and Cavalcanti have their way, entire body parts, like the arm may fly off if enough hits are taken. (Lets just ignore the danger involved in hundred of pounds of metal dropping 15 feet to the floor.) Even if they don’t get crushed by their mechs, the human pilots won’t go unscathed. The cockpit is covered with a metal grate, instead of a solid surface like Plexiglas, specifically to allow paint through when a shell hits, splattering the pilot.
Sadly, the prototype shown at New York Comic Con isn’t battle-ready just yet (we asked if we could take it out and fire at rush hour traffic, but were roundly rebuffed). Right now, the Mark I’s only opponent is a special turret armed with a 20-pack pneumatic missile launcher, but the intention is to have at least two robots that can duke it out in a traveling giant robot combat league. To make this happen, MegaBots is launching a Kickstarter at the end of October.
Filed under: Robots
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AIVAnet 