Monthly Archives: May 2012

Oracle v. Google: Judge finds structure of Java APIs not copyrightable, renders jury infringement verdict moot

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Thought the Oracle v. Google litigation fireworks were over? Well, if you weren't aware, during the copyright phase of the trial, the jury found that Google had infringed the structure, sequence and organization of Oracle's Java APIs. However, at the time, Judge Alsup had yet to evaluate the validity of Oracle's API copyright claims upon which that verdict was based. Today, Alsup found that Oracle's argument didn't hold water because it would expand the breadth of copyright holder's rights too far -- in essence, it would allow owners of software code to prevent others from writing different versions to perform the same functions. This ruling renders the jury's earlier infringement verdict moot, and gives Mountain View yet another courtroom victory. Despite this latest defeat, Oracle's sure to run the case up one more rung on the legal ladder, so let the countdown to the appeal begin.

Oracle v. Google: Judge finds structure of Java APIs not copyrightable, renders jury infringement verdict moot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 18:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI GT70 gaming laptop kindly updated with GeForce GTX 675M graphics

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MSI GT70 gaming laptop kindly updated with GeForce GTX 675M graphics

We sure hope you like surprises, because we've got a good one for you. It seems as if MSI wasn't quite pleased with the killer graphics on its feature-loaded GT70 laptop and decided to give it a quick boost. Earlier today, the outfit announced its fresh gaming machine will now ship with NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 675M GPU instead of that already powerful GTX 670M found in our review unit. MSI says the change was driven by the company's beliefs that "exceptional performance starts with outstanding components," and, needless to say, we're certain you'd agree. In case you've yet to grab one of these for yourself, you can do so at the source below.

Continue reading MSI GT70 gaming laptop kindly updated with GeForce GTX 675M graphics

MSI GT70 gaming laptop kindly updated with GeForce GTX 675M graphics originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 18:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CRKT iNox Stainless Steel Case Turns iPhones into Trek Communicators

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When I was a kid, I always wanted one of those communicators from Star Trek just so I could flip it open like they did on TV. I eventually got one of the toy ones, and when I grew up, I finally got a real communicator – when the cellphone came along. Now you can combine both ideas with CRKT’s iNox case for the iPhone 4/4S.

inox iphone case 1

This lightweight (1.9oz) stainless steel case features a hinged front cover which flips up like the front of a Trek communcator (though not by just flicking it.) But this one is decidedly more modern, and you get the benefit of all of the tech hiding inside Apple’s wonderphone too. I also like how there’s a convenient cutout on the front so you can see the time and date even when it’s closed.

inox iphone case 2

The iNox case can also double as a stand when placed on its side, so you can watch movies or videos on your iPhone hands-free. I definitely like the fact that this case is made out of durable metal, so it’s not likely to break – though I’m always concerned that metal cases might interfere with signal quality. That said, I think there are enough openings on the side of the iNox that it shouldn’t be an issue.

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If your iPhone’s contact list is filled with people named “Scotty,” “Bones,” and “Spock,” head on over to ThinkGeek, where you can grab the iNox case for $59.99(USD). If you want it in other colors beside black, pop on over to CRKT, where they offer it in gold, silver, rainbow and camouflage.


Rumors give 2012 iPhone shiny new chip, 1GB of RAM, mystery iOS app

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We've potentially seen a lot of the next iPhone's exterior; it may be the interior's time for a shakedown, as an unusually detailed rumor out of 9to5 Mac has claimed scads more about the processor and iOS 6. Going by the tips, the 2012 design would use an S5L8950X, a processor with unknown specs but likely a step ahead of what we've seen in the iPhone 4S (8940X) and new iPad (8945X). There would likewise be a new spin on the PowerVR SGX543 graphics from the iPad as well as 1GB of RAM -- which doesn't sound like much next to a 2GB Galaxy S III, but stands to produce a similar speed boost for a lightweight platform like iOS. As for iOS 6 itself, the software is supposedly using underlying code newer than recent OS X Mountain Lion builds and is dumping Google Maps, as some have claimed ever since iPhoto for iOS made that step in the spring. The new Maps app (possibly pictured here) is said to be rough, but the OS as a whole could be coming along so swimmingly that Apple might have no trouble shipping on time.

As always, we're skeptical when so much detail is in flux. The rumor still jives with much more tangible behavior from Apple, such as its experimentation with 32-nanometer processors and a tendency for Apple to refine the chip from the current year's iPad for the iPhone months later. We may know the accuracy soon enough: more leaks are promised in the next two weeks, including an "entirely new iOS app."

Rumors give 2012 iPhone shiny new chip, 1GB of RAM, mystery iOS app originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 17:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phoenix project wants to rise from the ashes of webOS with open source wings

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Phoenix project wants to rise from the ashes of webOS, with a touch of open source

It looks like webOS isn't going quietly into the mobile OS retirement home. While its journey to open-source continues, an eager cabal of developers, fans and designers have decided to reignite the ill-fated operating system under the banner of Phoenix International Communications. Focusing its efforts on transporting open webOS to existing devices, both HP-made and otherwise, Phoenix also wants throw in some new features and fixes -- presumably throwing in some extra software gems and UI tweaks. If it all goes to plan, the organization even wants to bring new webOS devices to market -- a heady dream, but you've got to admire their pluck. Any webOS devotees out there can pledge their allegiance (and assistance) to the cause at the source below.

Phoenix project wants to rise from the ashes of webOS with open source wings originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 17:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC audio engine gets big rewrite, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio hit your media hub

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XBMC Eden 11

Fans of XBMC who've wanted their HTPCs to replace the higher-end components of a home theater setup, like Blu-ray players and higher-end receivers, are having their wishes fulfilled through a completely reworked sound system. AudioEngine, as it's called, can processevery stage of audio encoding and decoding, even with 7.1-channel formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. As the code uses more precise floating point math, the improvements can bolster heavily compressed audio and allow for upmixing from stereo to a native surround format. Sound should sync more closely to video and avoid any jarring interruptions from system sounds, too. The AudioEngine update is still limited to experimental nightly builds of XBMC, so don't be surprised if something goes awry, but it's slated as part of the main development track and should be a boon for just about any XBMC media junkie before long.

XBMC audio engine gets big rewrite, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio hit your media hub originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 17:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Papercraft War Machine Lights Up, Still Prefers Terrence Howard over Don Cheadle

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Papercraft statues are getting more complex every day. Just look at the incredible detail on this War Machine statue. This 1:6 scale War Machine paper sculpture even has an LED chest light and fiber optic lights in the eyes and palms. This takes papercraft and turns it into serious paperart.
war machine
Until you look closer it looks like a quality action figure, not something made out of paper. If you want to build one yourself then check out the step-by-step photos of how Julius Perdana’s original template was created here. This light-up version was built by a guy named Charles. Not sure if he is a Stark or not, but the build quality would suggest that he is in the Stark family.

This statue is simply amazing to behold. You are a true geek Charles. I’m going to upend a Mountain Dew in your honor, my friend.

[via Obvious Winner via Neatorama]


Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol F1 review

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What is a DJ? Everyone who considers him or herself one can probably give you a unique answer. Is everyone with a music collection and a sense for good timing a DJ, or does their music collection have to exceed a certain number of gigabytes or slabs of vinyl to be in the club (no pun intended)? Audio playback devices are certainly getting more plentiful and powerful on a large scale; anyone who's played with an iOS DJ app can tell you that. In the deeper end of the DJ pool, things aren't expanding at such a frantic pace. But every once in a while a new toy crops up that adds depth and breadth to the way music nerds play back music. Native Instruments' just-released Traktor Kontrol F1 is a blinking slab of rainbow-tinged hardware with an intense devotion to manipulating samples. While boxes from Roland and Akai have been defining genres for decades, this 16-pad add-on takes the sampling game to a new arena. Will DJ's want it? We feel it's safe to say they will. At $279, should they buy it? That question's a little more complicated.

Continue reading Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol F1 review

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol F1 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SparkFun launches ProtoSnap MiniBot for the budding roboticist (update: now available for order)

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SparkFun launches ProtoSnap MiniBot for the budding roboticist

SparkFun struck a chord with many when it released the ProtoSnap series last year. The perforated perfboard housed not only a tiny Arduino compatible chip, but a small host of sensors and components that made assembling simple projects a snap (pun not only intended, but relished). Tomorrow, the company will begin selling the next member of its ProtSnap family -- the MiniBot. Just like its predecessors, the ProtoSnap MiniBot is based around an Arduino compatible microcontroller (specifically ATmega328) and features a number of components that can easily be detached when you're ready to move from prototype to a more permanent arrangement. The onboard selection components is fairly limited. The base is a relatively bare perfboard with a 9v battery holder on one side and two wheels connected to a motor on the other. Up front is two IR sensors that can be used for basic controls.

Of course, it's simple enough to expand on the basic platform with any host of sensors and components, like servos or RF receivers. Ultimately it's up to your imagination and skill level, which is why SparkFun is primarily targeting the kits at the educational market. The company's new educational outreach program is making a big push to put the ProtoSnap MiniBot in classrooms across the country, starting with high schools and trade schools, as a bridge from more simplistic robotics kits to the more advanced projects tackled at the university level. The completely open source robotics platform will be available tomorrow for $74.95. As soon as we can get our mitts on one our own we'll return with a thorough hands on... one that reveals just how much smarter the average high school kid is than us.

Update: Good news, everyone: the ProtoSnap MiniBot kit is now available for order. You can claim yours at the source link below.

SparkFun launches ProtoSnap MiniBot for the budding roboticist (update: now available for order) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 16:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Podcast, live at 5:00PM ET!

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Spring weather has returned to New York City, and we've returned to our makeshift studio once again. Tim and Brian will joined by Terrence, for an in-depth beard comparison and maybe some tech talk.

Continue reading The Engadget Podcast, live at 5:00PM ET!

The Engadget Podcast, live at 5:00PM ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 16:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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