Sunday, April 1, 2012

Verizon's Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX to get Android 4.0 on April 4th, Rezound to follow on the 6th (updated)

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Color us surprised to find that Best Buy is so deeply entwined with carrier / OEM plans that it would actually receive a notification that Ice Cream Sandwich is coming to select handsets, but we guess it makes sense to notify those hard-working BB Mobile representatives to what's coming down the pike. Both Android Police and TechnoBuffalo have received separate leaks confirming the news, suggesting that April 4th will be the day that the Motorola Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX get a taste of Android 4.0, and that April 6th will bring the update to HTC's Rezound. Hard to say how the rollout will be staged, but if you're considering one of Verizon's fastest and finest, at least you know when ICS is coming.



Specialized Turbo e-bike is too fast and furious for the western world (video)

Specialized Turbo
While not quite the fastest commercially available e-bike in the world as some have suggested (as far as we can tell, that claim belongs to a DIY kit out of Taiwan by a company called Cyclone), the Specialized Turbo is still a speedy little beast. In fact, it's fast enough to find itself on the wrong side of the law both here in the US and across most of Europe. The 250 W rear hub motor is powerful enough to get this guy up to about 28 MPH, or 8 MPH over the legal limit here in America. It's the other features, though, that make this guy particularly interesting. The frame has integrated LED head and tail lights, regenerative breaking and the 342 Wh battery can be juiced in just two hours from an outlet. There's even a backlit display that lets you monitor charge and assistance level, as well as standard bike computer stats like speed, distance and time. Oh, and it even supports ANT+ for wirelessly connecting with your existing accessories. The Specialized Turbo is expected to land in some European nations in May for €5,499. Check out the video after the break to see it in action.

UFO Waterproof Remote found floating in the company of the rich and famous

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Dreams are nice. Yachts are better. So while you cling to far-flung notions that you'll ever truly know what 'money to burn' means, the Barry Dillers of our world are crisscrossing international waters, drenching models with diamonds and dropping their universal controllers in the hot tub with abandon. Rescuing these rapscallion, modern-day robber barons from the pitfalls of excess is Crestron, with its UFO Waterproof Remote made specifically for H2O hanky panky. The disc-shaped unit, which admittedly looks more like a pool toy than high-end control hub, comes encased in a rubberized shell and features a 2.8-inch display, giving Greek shipping heirs and their ilk instant access to lighting, security systems, A/V equipment and thermostats from the comforts of their sun deck jacuzzi. Alright, so the 1% aren't the company's sole market base, as the unit's also ideally positioned for use in hospitals, owing to its ability for easy sterilization. But let's be honest, the real reason this floating controller shares a frisbee-like shape is aerodynamics. All the better to hit your staff with, right Ms. Campbell? Official PR and its hydrophobic emphasis after the break.
By Land or Sea, Crestron UFO Waterproof Remote Control Serves Many Needs

Full Control of Entertainment, AV, Lights, and Thermostats While in the Pool, Spa, or Bathtub; Ideal for Yachts; Submersible for Sterilizing in Hospital Operating Rooms

Rockleigh, NJ, March 30, 2012 – Outdoor entertainment is making a splash with the introduction of the Crestron UFO Waterproof Remote Control. Relaxing in the hot tub or taking a dip in the pool is even more fun when you can turn on the TV or listen to music at the same time. The buoyant saucer-shaped remote gives users the convenience of controlling entertainment systems, lighting, thermostats, security systems, and other connected devices without worrying about water damage. UFO is ideal for indoor and outdoor use in or around pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, spas, and on yachts. It has even found a place in hospital operating rooms.

"Crestron UFO provides all the benefits of an extended wireless coverage remote without the worries of water damage. There are all sorts of uses for a waterproof remote that floats," explains Sean Goldstein, Crestron VP of Marketing. "In addition to obvious applications such as hot tubs, pools and yachts, it's very popular in hospital operating rooms because everything in an operating room must be sterilized. UFO can be submerged in sanitizing liquid without being affected."

The intuitive user interface features customizable menus with full-color icons, making it easy to select room location, music or video source, choose a radio station, TV channel, or media title, and access lighting controls and other functions. Molded in a rugged, rubberized outer skin, UFO is resistant to damage from chlorine, salt water, and sterilization solutions. The ruggedized construction of the remote provides an added level or protection against life's elements.

With the tap of a finger, UFO provides extended wireless coverage and two-way feedback from a bright 2.8" active-matrix color LCD display. UFO works like an IR remote with instant response, with all the benefits of 2-way RF. Using Crestron 2.4 GHz RF wireless technology allows extended coverage performance up to 200 feet indoors, and 1000 feet outdoors using the optional Extended Range RF Wireless Gateway.

Additionally, UFO extends battery life up to one week by slipping into a virtual sleep mode within seconds when idle. Instant-Waking® revives UFO instantly with the press of any button, and button commands can be sent immediately without the connection delays common with Wi-Fi® remotes. The included indoor docking station provides a convenient means for charging the remote's internal battery.

An optional outdoor docking station provides a weatherproof charging solution and an ideal wall mount dock for both outdoor and indoor applications.

For more information about the exciting new Crestron remote control, visit UFO Waterproof Remote Control.
 

Razer confirms plans to release left-handed Naga gaming mouse

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It promised that it would do so if it received enough Likes on Facebook, and now Razer has confirmed that it is indeed proceeding with plans to release a left-handed version of its Naga gaming mouse. That comes after it received the required 10,000 Likes in less than a week -- a full three weeks ahead of its April 21st deadline. Unfortunately, there's no indication of a release date just yet, but you can rest assured that the MMO-focused mouse will be otherwise identical to its right-handed counterpart. The complete specs can be found in the press release after the break.

Gallery of high internet art curates for class, forgets to trololol

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Care to take a walk down memory lane by way of the information superhighway? Good, because 21st century digital natives and Luddites alike could stand to benefit from some virtual navel-gazing. In what's essentially a 'look at how far we've come' exhibit, My Life Scoop, Intel's "connected lifestyle" site, has a collection of the more notable experiments that've sprung from our surprising interactions with the internet. Starting from the dial-up days of the mid-90's and working up to the near present, curious users can peep the wacky ways we've used the web as a tool, ranging from a remote community gardening project (The Telegarden) to a stock index that auto-adjusts dress hemlines (Stock Market Skirt) to an interactive, Arcade Fire-soundtracked film made to showcase Google Chrome (The Wilderness Downtown). But don't let us just tell you about these visual delights. Strap on those culture hats and meander through the finer artistic points of our shared online evolution at the source below.

Flurry's analytics: Apple's App Store revenue still leading, but Amazon Appstore close behind

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Not like we haven't seen this dog-and-pony show before, but Flurry's latest round of analytics -- which measured revenue of 11 million daily active users from mid-January through the end of February 2012 -- shows Amazon's Appstore pulling in a shocking amount of revenue given the short life that it has lived. Apple's strength in sales has been well documented, but the latest report shows that for every $1 generated in the iTunes App Store, $0.89 is being spent in the Amazon Appstore. Looking more broadly, the numbers show that just $0.23 are generated in the Google Play halls for every $1 spent in the App Store, but that's hardly a new phenomenon; the ease of sideloading (amongst other factors) has raised complaints from Android developers for years now. Flurry's conclusion is that Google's core strength simply isn't in running a store -- something it's about to do once more with Android slates -- while both Apple and Amazon excel in doing just that. Curiously, Windows Phone and BlackBerry were left off of this report, but we're hoping to see those cats thrown in the next 'go round. After all, RIM sure seems certain that its developers are making out just fine.

Expedia adds to Google's EU antitrust woes, decision expected after Easter

Google's position as the dominant search engine doesn't come without a price. Smaller search sites have already tapped on the EU Commission's door to register their complaints about how they are ranked, and Microsoft has also let its feelings on the matter be known. Now, we can add the Redmond spin-off, Expedia, to that list of sore losers disgruntled firms. The travel search site claims it has specific details outlining how the search giant has violated European anti-competitive laws. A Google spokesperson issued a statement saying "We haven't seen the complaint yet, but we've been working to explain how our business works, cooperating with the European Commission since this investigation began." The EU Competition Commissioner says a decision will be made after Easter, at which point Mountain View will either be charged, or the investigation will be dropped. If only that were the end of its EU troubles.