We're here at the Tesla Design Studio in Los Angeles, where Elon Musk just unveiled his startup's third vehicle: an SUV it calls the Model X. The 'ute sports some rather unique looking double-hinged "falcon wing" doors which it make loading people and things even easier in tight parking spaces than traditional gullwing doors -- Mercedes 300SL and DeLorean owners can chime in on their usefullness here. Powered by the same drivetrain as the Model S, the heavier, bigger-boned crossover still clocks in at a claimed 4.4 seconds to go from 0 to 60mph -- the same time as the Model S' most performant variant mind you. GigaOm scored an early ridealong, and mentions the $50,000 to $70,000 vehicle will seat 7 people when it sashays first deliveries of the "Signature Series" arrive in 2013, with mass production beginning in 2014.

...developing

Tesla unveils Model X SUV, wants to be your all-electric crossover come 2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The madness of CES 2012 is long over and now that we've seen all of the new HDTVs, it's time to find out when they're actually going on sale, and for how much. HDGuru has just dug up advertised pricing for some of the new models from Sony (BX, EX and HX lines) and Sharp (640, 745, 844, 847 and 945), while US pricing and ship dates for Panasonic's new plasmas have been revealed by Value Electronics. For Samsung, some of the new HDTVs have already showed up for preorders at retailers like Vanns, including the top of the line 75-inch ES8000 priced at $7,999, while a more reasonably sized 46-inch model is $2,699. Sony's prices range from $399 for the KDL-32BX320 to $2299 for the KDL-55HX750, while Sharp's range from LC-46-L540U for $1,099 to the LC-80LE844U for $6,499. Most of the ship dates are still TBA, although Panasonic is planning to unleash the ST50 later this month, followed by the UT50 and GT50, then the top of the line VT50 in May. While we wait for official announcements, you can hit the source links below for more details, and let us know if you've seen any other 2012 model information peeking out early.

2012 HDTV pricing leaks out for Panasonic, Sony, Sharp and Samsung originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sure, your iPad 2 has a camera, but that doesn't mean you should be using it to take pictures. One of the biggest point-and-shoot trends to pick up speed in 2012 is built-in WiFi, letting you capture higher quality stills and videos with your dedicated imaging device and transfer them directly to the web, or to a smartphone or tablet on the same WiFi network. The PowerShot ELPH 530 HS is Canon's latest pocket shooter to employ this feature, and the company had a few samples on hand at CP+ 2012 in Yokohama, Japan to demonstrate how it works.

We took the 530 HS for a cordless spin, connecting the iPad to the camera's Ad-Hoc (point-to-point) network and launching the Canon CameraWindow app. After a few seconds (and quite a few taps on the 10-megapixel cam's 3.2-inch LCD), we had the two devices communicating, with a final click sending the image from the ELPH directly to the iPad's screen. That seconds-long connection delay may be inconsequential when transferring a day's worth of photos, but it's a slight inconvenience if you're only trying to transfer a single image. The camera also includes built-in Twitter and Facebook upload functionality, though, bypassing the Apple middleman entirely. The $349 ELPH 530 HS won't be shipping until April, at which point you may be refreshing your tablet as well. Jump past the break for a quick video demo.

Gallery: Canon PowerShot ELPH 530 HS hands-on

Continue reading Canon PowerShot ELPH 530 HS WiFi iPad transfer hands-on (video)

Canon PowerShot ELPH 530 HS WiFi iPad transfer hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember the Canon PowerShot D10? The company's first ruggedized underwater cam was a solid snapper, but its bulky submarine-like design made it impractical for most surface-based shoots. The PowerShot D20 offers a drastic improvement over its predecessor in the appearance department, more closely resembling a compact point-and-shoot than a subaqueous vessel. We can't speak to the cam's image quality just yet, but assuming its on-par with the D10, we'd say the latest D model is worth some serious consideration as an upgrade, even for a reduction in footprint alone. The D20 includes a 12.1-megapixel HS (high-sensitivity) CMOS sensor, a bright 3-inch LCD and a 5x 28mm optically stabilized zoom lens. It's waterproof to depths of 10 meters (33 feet), can survive drops from a height of 1.5 meters (5 feet) and can operate in temperatures ranging from 14 degrees to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. There's also a top sensitivity of ISO 3200, and a built-in GPS.

We spent a few minutes with the D20 at Canon's booth at CP+ 2012 in Yokohama, Japan, and were quite impressed with the improved design. Naturally, it's a solid-feeling point-and-shoot, with protected components and airtight port covers. Company reps didn't bat an eye when we unintentionally tested the camera's durability with a mild drop. There's a standard-issue PowerShot interface, with a fairly straightforward menu structure, and the camera felt plenty snappy, focusing and firing off an image almost instantaneously. It's noticeably larger than the company's more compact land-limited models, but there's no reason you wouldn't feel just as comfortable using this to shoot your child's first birthday party as you would their first scuba lesson. The $349 PowerShot D20 won't be hitting stores until May, but you can jump past the break for a quick look in the meantime.

Gallery: Canon PowerShot D20 hands-on

Continue reading Canon PowerShot D20 ruggedized point-and-shoot camera hands-on (video)

Canon PowerShot D20 ruggedized point-and-shoot camera hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Magnetic fields are pretty nifty for levitating stuff, carving sponge-like thingamajigs and, of course, data storage. But an international team led by the University of York in the UK has figured out a way to replace magnetic fields for the latter by using ultra-short heat pulses instead. Conventional thinking typically dictates that an external magnetic field is required to store data on a magnetic medium. By using heat, however, researchers were able to record terabytes of information per second in a way that is also more energy-efficient compared to current hard drive technology. As for the time it'll take for the tech to make it to market, well, we have a feeling it won't be as fast.

That's hot: Heat-based recording could boost magnetic drive speed, performance originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scientists at Stanford are hard at work trying to improve the efficiency and durability of solar panels -- two key factors that have kept the Sun from becoming a more popular source of energy. Their latest effort involves nanocrystalline-silicon, a material that has proven resilient and highly conductive, but not very good at absorbing light. Their solution, nanoshells -- hollowed out spheres of silicon that trap and recirculate light much like a whispering gallery does sound. Balls of the crystalline material are dipped in silicon, then hydrofluoric acid is used to eat way the center of the sphere, leaving a path for light to enter. The shells trap the light, allowing more of it to be absorbed, and also reduces the effect of non-optimal angles on energy production. Hit up the source for a few more details.

Nanoshells trap light for more efficient solar panels originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In an industry where customer churn can be likened to the fearsome troll under the bridge, Sprint has launched a program designed to keep its favored subscribers around for another two years. While not everyone is eligible -- those who've upgraded less than eight months ago, corporate outfits and those in collections need not inquire -- the program lets customers buy their way out of their current commitment and become eligible for a new, subsidized handset. The promotion begins February 12th and is set to run through the 14th of April, where the amount you pay correlates to the time since your last upgrade. So if you're currently pining for the Epic 4G Touch or the iPhone 4S, just give your local Sprint store a call this Sunday. They just may be able to hook you up.

Continue reading Sprint launches early upgrade promo, wants you to stay and chat awhile

Sprint launches early upgrade promo, wants you to stay and chat awhile originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you're having trouble wading through the pool of iPad dock prospects, we're about to add another to the mix. Scosche has announced that its bassDOCK for both iPad models is now shipping. The dock will blast "My Name is Jonas" from a pair of 1.6-inch stereo speakers and a 3-inch subwoofer. As you'd expect, the kit charges your Apple slate in a cradle that sports both landscape and portrait orientations alongside tilt positioning for the optimum viewing angle. If you find yourself needing to switch over to a smartphone to bump your tunes, the bassDOCK has a 3.5mm aux jack for just that purpose. The speaker dock is available now via the source link for $149.99 and a closer look awaits you in the gallery below.

Gallery: Scosche bassDOCK for iPad

Continue reading Scosche bassDOCK blasts Weezer from any iPad, available now for $150

Scosche bassDOCK blasts Weezer from any iPad, available now for $150 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Details are still fairly light at the moment, but The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that Google could be about to make big push into the hardware business. Citing people briefed on the company's plans, the WSJ says that Google is now developing a home entertainment system that would stream music wirelessly throughout the home (including to web-connected devices and "Google-made speakers"), and be able to be controlled using a smartphone or tablet -- making it sound a whole lot like a Sonos competitor. What's more, unlike current Android and Google TV devices, this system will reportedly be marketed under Google's own brand. An attempt to really turn it up to eleven, perhaps?

Google reportedly working on wireless home entertainment system to be sold under its own brand originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim has to sit this one out, sadly, but Brian will be joined in studio by Terrence and Dana, fighting the good podcast fight. You can join us live, as well, by checking out the video below and following along in the chat after the break.

Continue reading The Engadget Podcast is live tonight at 5PM!

The Engadget Podcast is live tonight at 5PM! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We saw the original AeroSystem One saunter into our lives a couple of month's back, and now Jarre Technologies has collaborated with crystal house Lalique to give it a makeover. The partnership sees the original iPod dock covered in smooth glass and cut metal, which certainly sets it apart from pretty much any other dock we've ever seen. The dock connector sits at the top, and being inset, isn't suitable for iPads, but if you're getting one of these, we imagine you don't want to ruin the aesthetic by perching a slate on top anyway. There is, however, a USB connection meaning this isn't an iDevice only affair. If you've got the estimated £10,000 (or about $15,840) lying around, it'll have to keep burning that hole in your pocket until some time in March. We managed to get a quick hands -- and ears -- on with the only two units in the UK, but couldn't explore much beyond how it looked in-store, bar an awkward moment when we placed an iPhone on it, only to discover it set to full volume. Check the gallery below for a closer look, or hit the PR after the break for more info.

Gallery: Jarre AeroSystem One arrives in a new Lalique edition

Mat Smith contributed to this post

Continue reading Jarre AeroSystem One gets a Lalique crystal facelift, we go hands-on

Jarre AeroSystem One gets a Lalique crystal facelift, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Standard Ubuntu, with its Gnome roots and Unity interface may get most of the attention, but there are many different varieties of the world's most popular Linux distro. Most, like Xubuntu and Edubuntu, are community efforts entirely maintained by volunteers. Now Kubuntu, the KDE-sporting edition will be joining the ranks of the unofficial. After seven years, Canonical has decided to focus all of its efforts on Ubuntu proper, and will be ending paid support for Kubuntu with version 12.04. That doesn't mean that the variant is dead, only that it might not be a great choice for enterprise customers. Check out the source for the full letter from (former) lead developer Jonathan Riddell announcing the change.

Canonical to end official Kubuntu support with 12.04, crushes your Plasma-powered dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have taken biological computing one step further, with a new molecular machine capable of decoding images stored on a DNA chip. Though it's referred to as a "biological computer," the researchers' machine isn't much like a CPU at all -- unless your CPU was manufactured in a test tube filled with a smoothie of DNA molecules, enzymes and ATP. Once they found the right mix, the team proceeded to encrypt images on a DNA chip and used their Turing machine-like creation to decode them, with fluorescent stains helping to track its progress. The above image, read from left to right, gives a more literal idea of what the system can do -- basically, it takes a hidden image and extracts a given sequence. Storing data on DNA isn't anything new, but decrypting said data in this fashion apparently is. The applications for this kind of organic computing remain a bit fuzzy, but it's pretty clear that whatever follows probably won't look anything like a typical computer. The team's findings were recently published in a paper for the journal Angewandte Chemie, the abstract for which is linked below. For a slightly more readable explanation, check out the full press release after the break.

Continue reading Biological computer can decode images stored in DNA chips, applications remain unclear

Biological computer can decode images stored in DNA chips, applications remain unclear originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It wouldn't be a proper G-Form product release without the accompanying outlandish promotional video. So, when the company offered up its new iPhone 4/4S case, it made its way to an empty ice skating rink, grabbed a hockey stick and went to town, showing how the thing holds up to the punishment of an 82 mph slapshot. The case incorporates the company's favorite shock absorbing substance, Poron XRD and comes in two styles: X Protect and Extreme Grid. They'll run you $40 each, when they ship at the end of the month -- the video below, on the other hand, is free.

Continue reading G-Form pulls a hat-trick with iPhone case hockey video

G-Form pulls a hat-trick with iPhone case hockey video originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've been getting some mixed signals about Windows 8 for ARM-based devices as of late, but Microsoft's Steven Sinofsky has now returned with another of his exhaustive Building Windows 8 blog posts and cleared up some of the confusion. The short of it is that Windows for ARM promises to offer the same out of the box experience as the x86 edition of Windows 8. That includes the full Windows desktop (complete with File Explorer and the like), and the same desktop Office applications including Word, Excel and PowerPoint (but only Office applications, it seems). So-called Metro-style apps from the Windows Store will also be able to support both Windows on ARM and Windows for x86/64, and you can expected hardware-accelerated HTML5 support with Internet Explorer 10.

What's more, Sinofsky also notes that PC manufacturers are now working on devices designed specifically for WOA (or Windows on ARM), and that their "collective goal" is for them to ship at the same time as PCs designed for the x86 edition of Windows 8. While details on those devices remain light, Sinofksy did offer a new peek at one of the devices Microsoft used during the initial development of Windows for ARM when ARM-based tablets were hard to come by: an early Windows Phone. You can see it running the full desktop environment after the break (along with a video overview of WOA itself), but Sinofsky emphasizes that it is "not a product plan or even a hint at a product." Plenty more details can also be found at the source link below, though you may want to prepare a cup of coffee before diving in.

Continue reading Microsoft details Windows for ARM at length: desktop Office applications confirmed, first devices expected with Windows 8 release

Microsoft details Windows for ARM at length: desktop Office applications confirmed, first devices expected with Windows 8 release originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

This week's IRL is a bit of a mixed bag, with tales of gadgets well-used and those deployed for pure pseudo-science. In two paragraphs, Mat Smith sums up his experience with three generations of Nintendo DS handhelds, while Dan Cooper attempts to explain why he's still using a gadget he obviously hates. And Dana, our resident laptop reviewer, tries leaving the 'ole six-pounder in the office and going home to an Ultrabook instead.

Continue reading IRL: Logic3 PowerSleeve, HP Folio 13 and a trio of Nintendo handhelds

IRL: Logic3 PowerSleeve, HP Folio 13 and a trio of Nintendo handhelds originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So this is where the road ends for the Nokia Astound. After getting a hearty helping of Symbian Anna in November, owners of T-Mobile's first (and only) Symbian^3 device became hopeful that -- despite the fate of the OS being sealed -- the US counterpart to the C7 would remain relevant throughout the course of their contract. Sadly, it was not to be: the phone maker tweeted that the Astound won't receive an update to Symbian Nokia Belle. What of the original C7, you ask? Oh, the latest refresh is already rolling out to users worldwide, but the Astound doesn't appear to be invited to the party. Why? It would need to undergo an additional bout of carrier testing, which involves precious time and money that T-Mobile simply appears unwilling to dole out. This is speculation, of course, but we wouldn't find it surprising in the least to see a US carrier shun a ten-month-old device running an OS with a less than promising future.

Nokia Astound owners face a Belle-less future, no update coming originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If Nikon thought its 36-megapixel D800 would be the king of the resolutions this week, they were wrong. Sigma, it seems, didn't get the memo and has crashed the party, updating its DP1 and DP2 compacts with whopping 46-megapixel sensors. Okay, so technically it's three 15.3 megapixel layers (that also being the effective resolution), but we'll play along with the marketing spin. Rebranded as the DP1- and DP2-Merrill in honor of the sensor's co-creator, the refresh sees the compacts sporting the same imaging innards as the firm's flagship SD1 Merrill SLR. The LCD screen also gets a bump from 2.5 to three inches, which, we suppose, is to do better justice to those massive pictures you'll be taking. Sigma's keeping price and availability under wraps for now, but hit the PR after the break for more info.

Continue reading Sigma DP1, DP2 get 46-megapixel makeover

Sigma DP1, DP2 get 46-megapixel makeover originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ice Cream Sandwich is slowly trickling out to the masses, but we're still waiting on the major phone vendors to come out with their own tweaks of the latest Android dessert. We've known that HTC's busy plugging away at its Sense-ified version of Android 4.0, but the company's finally ready to start discussing specifics. According to the outfit's UK Facebook page, the update will begin rolling out to the HTC Sensation and Sensation XE by the end of March, with the Sensation XL following suit. Additionally, owners of the EVO 3D, Incredible S, Desire S and Desire HD still haven't been forgotten, but their long-awaited upgrades to Ice Cream Sandwich will come sometime "later this year." That sure narrows down the timeframe. Hopefully we won't have to wait until the end of March to officially cast our eyes on the new Sense, as we're keeping our fingers crossed that we'll see some ICS love in new devices at Mobile World Congress later this month.

Update: HTC's US Facebook page also announced the update, and added the Rezound, Vivid, Amaze 4G and EVO Design 4G to the list of devices that should receive ICS later this year.

[Thanks, Willy]

HTC's first ICS update rolls out in late March, Sensation and Sensation XE call first dibs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell's teamed up with Fongo to offer Dell Voice, a VoIP app that's available exclusively in Canada. It's currently available for Android, iOS and Windows (Desktop), enabling everyone to shoot the breeze about Dustin Penner without charges. You'll get a local phone number that'll let you call all the big cities (and most of the smaller ones), caller ID, voice-mail, 911 service and long-distance calling for no additional charge. Call credit costs 2c per minute, with each call averaging out to 1MB of data. Canadians clutching to their BlackBerries will be relieved to know that the app will roll out on RIM's handsets next month.

[Thanks, Steven]

Continue reading Dell Voice offers VoIP, but only to Canadians

Dell Voice offers VoIP, but only to Canadians originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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