Posted by: in Networking
 We’ve already seen Visa team up with DeviceFidelity to deliver NFC payments via microSD card, and it looks like they now have some company from First Data and Tyfone, who have just announced a partnership of their own to help bring the technology to the cellphone-toting masses. At the heart of their system is Tyfone’s SideTap card made by NXP Semiconductors (pictured after the break), which is not only able to function as an actual memory card in addition to a NFC payment device, but should cost about the same as a regular memory card of the same capacity as well. Using a microSD card instead of a phone with built-in NFC technology also cuts out the need for carriers or phone manufacturers to be involved, which is apparently where First Data comes in, as it will responsible for bringing the cards to consumers (in addition to dealing with retailers, carriers and financial institutions). Complete details on a rollout still seem to be a bit up in the air, but the two companies are promising that it will hit the market in the second half of 2010, with trials slated to start mid-year. Continue reading First Data and Tyfone announce partnership for NFC payments by microSD card
First Data and Tyfone announce partnership for NFC payments by microSD card originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted by: in Networking
So we noticed this odd “Contoso” label on Microsoft’s Windows Phone Marketplace press image earlier this day, and we finally got to the bottom of it: Microsoft’s Todd Biggs says it’s a placeholder entry for a carrier-branded section of the store — instead of having a separate portal and / or store, Verizon or AT&T or whoever can simply sell their content to customers directly through Marketplace. So why Contoso? Todd says it’s a random trademark owned by Microsoft used in place of carrier names that doesn’t actually mean anything, although we think it recommends adventure, white roadsters, and finely-groomed mustachios. And now you know.
Olé, Contoso: Windows Phone Marketplace will integrate carrier-branded stores originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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By Evan Ackerman
Less than $100 probably means $99.99, but that doesn’t change the fact that the 2.5″ Onyx SSD from OCZ is actually in the realm of casually inexpensive, a first for SSDs. We’re used to seeing SSD drives that offer astounding performance, but at a price point that makes most of us just sigh sadly. The OCZ Onyx, while offering only modest speeds (125 MB/s read and 70 MB/s write) relative to other SSDs, is still fast enough that you’d notice a significant difference in load times if you stick your operating system on it. Unsurprisingly, the drive only has a capacity of 32 gigs, so your operating system might be the only thing you can stick on it, but that’s okay.
Even if the speed and size aren’t that impressive, don’t forget about the other benefits of SSDs: they’re light, shockproof, durable, and use up a heck of a lot less power than conventional drives since they don’t have anything inside them that needs to be kept spinning at several thousand RPM all the time.
$100 is not going to get you some kind of incredibly awesome SSD drive. But it will get you this SSD drive, which, for the cost, is way better than no SSD drive at all.
[ Press Release ] VIA [ HotHardware ]
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 By Evan Ackerman
The FCC, in a remarkable display of optimism, has decreed that as part of the national broadband plan that they’re about to present to congress, 100 million Americans will have 100 Mbps world wide web by, um, 2010. Good luck with that, fellas. Anyway, it’s not like the FCC is going to start offering you high speed world wide web packages for cheap; rather, they’ll be trying to get congress to pass legislation to prod telecoms into pulling the US out of a glorified dial-up age.
As part of that process, the FCC would like to know how fast your internet is. By finding out where broadband service is the worst (or doesn’t exist), they’ll know where to focus their resources, with the welcome side effect of exposing the differences between the kind of services that telecoms promise, and what they actually deliver.
So obviously, the most productive thing you can possibly do is to download a bunch of movies as you’re running the test, since the worse your world wide web is, the more likely that the FCC will pay attention and get somebody to do something about it.
Eventually.
[ FCC Broaband Test ] VIA [ Wired ]
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Posted by: in Networking
Is your Palm Pre feeling a bit down? In the dumps? Not as snappy as it used to? Maybe what you need is a megahertz boost! This custom kernel, demonstrated in a video below, comes courtesy of two hackers called unixpsycho and caj2008. One quick install will make your dull and lifeless 1.3.5.1 Pre come alive. Warning: use of this software might “frakk” your Pre if deployed on a 1.4 device. Side effects include reduced battery life and increased pocket warmth. If your Pre develops excessive heat see a physician immediately — or just turn it off for a while.
Update: caj2008 dropped us a note to point out that battery life is “not significantly affected” by this patch, but we’re still waiting on the FDA ruling on that one.
[Thanks, Darren]
Continue reading Overclocked Palm Pre is just what the physician ordered
Overclocked Palm Pre is just what the doctor ordered originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted by: in Networking
We’ve already witnessed ASUS’ netvertible undergo some hands-on testing, but the units inspected up until now have all been pre-production devices. Well, finally a retail T101MT has made its way out to online scribes and we’ve got the first video review for your delectation. We’re told that the machine is still pretty thick and a tiny bit too heavy to comfortably hold in one hand for long periods of time, but also that the previous touchscreen issues have been rectified — it is now “responsive and precise.” The general theme is that you shouldn’t expect too much out of it, particularly since a 480p YouTube clip gobbled up 95% of the T101MT’s CPU cycles and still provided only a choppy picture, but if your ambitions are sufficiently moderate, ASUS’ latest could prove a versatile little machine. Video awaits after the break and a summary review can be found at the source.
Update: The YouTube video played was a stop-motion animation running at 5fps and therefore shouldn’t be considered representative of the T101MT’s video performance. What should be taken as representative is the fact that it maxed out the CPU.
Continue reading ASUS T101MT gets the swift and dirty video review treatment
ASUS T101MT gets the quick and dirty video review treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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 By Andrew Liszewski
Automotive repair is as much a mystery to me as brain surgery, rocket science and basic dinner etiquette (nap-kin?) but thanks to a childhood spent watching cartoons I know that improperly tightening a bolt here and there on a car can lead to hilarious consequences. So if you do endeavor to mend your ride on your own, a torque wrench is a handy tool to have in your kit, but we like this digital adapter instead.
Besides a handful of buttons (for changing units, remembering a measurement etc.) and a tiny LCD which is enough to get us to purchase any old device, the Powerbuilt Digital Torque Adapter can be used with any standard ratchet, giving you accurate feedback on how tight a bolt really is. It’s available from Amazon for just $49.99, and if you think you don’t need one because you already have an analog torque wrench, you’d be wrong. The adapter can also be used to calibrate a regular torque wrench, which in the long run could probably save you money if you were used to paying a professional to do it.
[ Mavromatic - Powerbuilt Digital Torque Adaptor – My Favorite Tools – March 2010 ]
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Posted by: in HDTV Industry
Sony intro’d some 3D Bravia HDTVs a while back, and while that didn’t really whet our appetite an LCD with built-in storage is always palatable. To be released by Sony Japan, the BX30H is available in in up to 32-inches and packs 500GB of storage — not particularly earth-shattering, but it should prove useful for DVR-ing episodes of The Marriage Ref. [Did we state that? We meant WWE: Raw.] Available in both colors (black and white), this model is, sadly, only available in Japan. For those of us stuck in the states, the BX300 is available in 22- and 32-inch sizes (and only in black). All of the above feature a 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, CCFL backlighting, 720p HD resolution, 5.1 channel audio output and more. Yankees can expect to pay $279 for the 22-inch or $419 for the 32-inch, while prices in Japan TBA. Sony Japan unveils Bravia HDTVs with 500GB storage, Sony USA unveils no such thing originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted by: in Networking
You picked up an Okoro media Computer last month, didn’t you? If you’re nodding up and down in a worried fashion, you’re probably superior off ignoring everything else we’ll say in this post. For the rest of you HTPC hounds, the boutique outfit has something that’s very apt to pique your interest (and kick that upgrade itch into high gear). Announced today, the company is adding Core i3 and Core i5 processors to its 2010 media center Computer lineup, and as if the extra horsepower weren’t enough, users will also find native bitstreaming of TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio on every system save for the Q100. You’ll also get a 64-bit copy of Windows 7, up to 8TB of internal storage space, optional Blu-ray playback, quad CableCARD support and the new holy grail of transfers, USB 3.0. You can hit up the outfit’s webstore now to configure your dream machine, and if you so desire, you can check out its dedicated trade-up program that’ll last through Might 31st.
Okoro Media Systems upgrades HTPC range with Core i3 / i5 CPUs, bitstreaming and USB 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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By Andrew Liszewski
Billed as the “World’s only Apple-certified solar charger carrying case” the new Solar Surge from Novothink for the iPhone 3G/3GS and the iPod Touch lets you harvest the sun’s energy to replenish your device’s less than epic battery. According to the Novothink website, “2 hours of direct solar exposure provides about 30 minutes of talk time on a 3G network or 60 minutes of speak time on a 2G network”, but if the sun hasn’t made an appearance you can always fall back to the included USB cable for charging its built-in lithium-ion polymer battery.
A series of 4 multi-colored LEDs on the back of the case lets you see the battery’s remaining charge, and they’ll also let you know if there’s enough light available to actually take advantage of the built-in solar cell. In fact Novothink has even gone above and beyond the call of duty by providing their free Solar Planner app for either device, which provides an estimate of how long you’ll have to leave the Surge in the sun to maintain your iPhone or Touch’s battery level, depending on the current weather conditions and your location.
Eventually available in 6 different colors, the Surge for the iPhone runs $79.95, while the single colored iPod Touch model is currently on sale for $52.95.
[ Novothink Solar Surge iPhone & iPod Touch Charging Case ]
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