FocuSoft Tech Blog

Welcome to the new Engadget, humans! As you can tell by taking a quick look around, we’ve been doing some major work on the site behind the scenes, and we couldn’t possibly be more excited to finally share this work with the rest of the world. For months now — nearly the whole year — we’ve been tinkering, adjusting, tweaking, and honing the experience at Engadget with one goal in mind: do what we do as best as we can, and bring news to our readers better than anyone else. We think we’ve achieved that goal through a lot of hard work and long days (and nights), and it is truly awesome to finally be able to show everyone!

Obviously there is a ton of new stuff here, and if you’re a long-time reader of the site, you’ll probably be a little shell-shocked at first. Don’t worry, we’re still cranking out news the way we always have; in fact, we think the new design will allow us to crank even harder and provide more up-to-the-minute info to you guys. If you’re a new reader, you picked the right time to check us out, because the site has never been more organized, had more content, or been more useful to someone who’s reading us for the first time!

We just want to say that this has been a long labor of love, and we’re thrilled that we get to share it with the world. We think that the new Engadget evolves our work in a major way, moving us from a straightforward blog into something else, an expandable amalgamation that fuses the good bits of blogs, social media, news sites, magazines, and video into something bigger than those parts.

We’re going to walk you guys through some of the major new features (there are a ton, believe us), but first we want to talk a little about how the site got to where it is right now, and who the people are responsible for this thing. Read on after the break for all the info!

Update: Hey, we’re having a few issues with the introduction of the new site. Hang tight, it’ll be perfect soon!

Continue reading Welcome to the next Engadget

Welcome to the next Engadget originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We know that between the traffic jams, mall moms on a mission, kids who’d rather be elsewhere, and the sheer crush of holiday cheer, it can be hard to find a little time to get your head straight and find the gifts that really count. The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Every time the holidays roll around, we put together this list to make shopping for the tech lovers in your life a little simpler — it’s our way of helping out in these hectic months.

This year, we’re taking a new approach to the guide; in the past we’ve always done the selections by person (him, her, etc.), but we think there’s a better way. Starting this year, we’re breaking down the guide by product category (smartphones, laptops, TVs and the like), and grouping those picks into price ranges — so you can find something easily, no matter how much you have to spend. The HGG is a series of smaller guides, but the picks will be collected in a landing page which can be helpfully sorted by price and category (which will be up soon). We’ll publish a new guide every few days through Christmas (things are kicking off today with e-book readers), so you’ll have plenty of time to shop around online and in stores, and we do suggest you check out all the guides — especially since you never know when you’ll find something you want for yourself.

Enjoy, and happy holidays!

Filed under: Announcements

Engadget’s Holiday Gift Guide, 2009! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today’s bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they’re added throughout the holiday season.

With the push toward convergence these days, does your prospective gift recipient really need a dedicated device for reading books on? Well, if they’re a heavy reader their eyes might just thank you. The E Ink displays used on a majority of these devices is very similar to reading off of regular paper, and therefore much more easy on the eyes than those now-ubiquitous LCD screens we’ve all surrounded ourselves with. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite devices, though be warned: with a market this much in its infancy, there’s always going to be something just a bit more exciting right around the corner.

Continue reading Engadget’s Holiday Gift Guide: e-book readers

Filed under: Handhelds

Engadget’s Holiday Gift Guide: e-book readers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ready for yet another way to watch TV? Sezmi has just gone on the air in Los Angeles, offering its unique blend of premium OTA and internet delivered video to a few limited trial users. $5 a month brings whatever local networks you can pull in, basic IPTV (YouTube, OnNetworks, podcasts) and internet VOD (CinemaNow) access, while throwing an Andrew Jackson on top of that adds “more than 100 cable TV networks,” delivered via antenna. According to the L.A. Times that doesn’t include any channels from the Disney or Fox family like ESPN, regional sports networks or premium movie channels, but if those are already stations you’re avoiding, it’s a cheaper option than most cable TV plans. Other than the allure of sticking it to the current distribution model, the 1TB DVR package includes a rather unique UI to aggregate and even seek out new shows for you from those varied sources, while maintaining individual profiles for different users. The three month trial has just the right price — free — so even with little info on how much high definition Sezmi’s network can handle or what areas or channels will be added next, it’s at least worth a look.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Sezmi’s low cost cable / satellite premium TV alternative launches in L.A. originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tired of all the DROID talk? Well, tough cookies, mister. Nilay, Paul and Josh have a lot to say on the subject, and you’re just going to have to sit there and take it. Or you could skip the first 40 minutes of this week’s podcast, but that’s just a recipe for regret. If you do stick it out you’ll be treated to some unusually candid discussion of Josh’s facial hair and other more pertinent questions picked from the USTREAM discussion that will almost certainly frighten you straight.

WARNING: This podcast has been known to kill people. Engadget assumes no responsibility for injury or death.

[Thanks, JS and Rom for the image]

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: ChangWang2003 – 99 Problems (Battletoads Remix)

Hear the podcast

00:01:28 – Motorola DROID review
00:19:08 – HTC confirmed to be cooking up Android 2.0 update for Hero, other devices unclear
00:19:19 – Android 2.0 ported to original T-Mobile G1 (video)
00:19:29 – HTC Droid Eris peeks its head out once more, shows off 5MP camera
00:30:48 – Google Navigation video hands-on: you want this
00:32:25 – The game has changed
00:37:18 – How-to: hack your own DROID dock with magnets and cardboard
00:41:20 – Storm2 now available from Verizon for those who waited
00:49:25 – Nintendo DSi LL goes large in Japan on November 21 (update: DSi XL in Europe Q1)
00:53:41 – Netflix for PlayStation 3 requires a disc, software solution coming late 2010
00:57:28 – Apple TV 3.0 software update is out, with iTunes Extras, LP & Genius in tow
01:06:23 – Nokia vs. Apple: the in-depth analysis
01:06:40 – How-to: recycle your old gadgets

Subscribe to the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace

Download the podcast

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Contact the podcast

1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.

Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget

Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget Podcast 169 – 10.31.2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Somewhat unusually, Verizon and Motorola actually gave us four DROID review units to play with — and while Paul, Nilay, and Chris all contributed to Josh’s official Engadget review, there were definitely some different perspectives (and dissenting opinions) amongst the team. Rather than try to squeeze everything together into one jumbled whole, we thought we’d let everyone add their own take on what’s clearly a watershed device for Motorola, Google, and Verizon. Read on for more!

Continue reading More on the DROID: thoughts from the rest of Engadget

Filed under: Cellphones

More on the DROID: thoughts from the rest of Engadget originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Print your own circuit boards with an Inkjet (and a modicum of skill) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Chris, who just needs a few more streams to make his life complete.

“I am looking for a device that will stream sound from one source to several recipients. For example, I want to stream sound from my TV or stereo to my phone or MP3 player that has radio and Bluetooth capabilities. I have been told that a Bluetooth device can only stream music to one device. I have looked into radio transmitters and they seem like a decent choice, but I can’t find one that uses external power (USB or from the plug) and I would want one with a transmit range of around 50 meters. Thanks!”

We can’t say for certain, but we’re guessing Chris isn’t along here. Any hardcore streamers out there figured out an optimal solution to get one source to multiple devices? Do tell in comments below.

Filed under: Ask Engadget, Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Ask Engadget: a device to stream audio from one device to multiple sources? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’ve heard that the next Engadget Show will be featuring a live, one-on-one interview with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (on the Windows 7 launch day, no less) — you’ve heard correctly. Additionally, our good friend Bit Shifter will be there providing chiptune jams, and Paris and Outpt will be on hand for some brain searing visual art. And of course, the editors of the site will sit down for a roundtable discussion of the week in news. If you’d like to join us for the live taping, you can — just check out the info below. If you can’t make it in the flesh, don’t worry. We’ll be livestreaming on the day-of, and we’ll also have a full, edited version of the Show available just a few days later for download via the site, iTunes, or the Zune Marketplace.

The Show will take place at the Times Center, part of The New York Times Building in the heart of New York City at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues. Tickets are — as always — free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served… so get there early! Here’s all the info you need:

• There is no admission fee — tickets are completely free
• The event is all ages
• Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 12:30PM on Thursday, October 22nd, and the show begins at 2:30PM
• You cannot collect tickets for friends or family — anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket
• Seating capacity in the Times Center is about 340, and once we’re full, we’re full
• The venue is located at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City (map after the break)
• The show length is around an hour

If you’re a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we’ll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com.

If you can’t make it to the live event, we’ll have a stream here on Engadget (provided by USTREAM) which coincides with the taping. Just tune your browser to Engadget at 2PM on the 22nd to catch it. You can also hit our USTREAM page.

Subscribe to the Show:

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V).
[Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V).
[RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.

Continue reading Reminder: The Engadget Show with Steve Ballmer tapes tomorrow — here’s how to attend (or livestream it)!

Filed under: Announcements

Reminder: The Engadget Show with Steve Ballmer tapes tomorrow — here’s how to attend (or livestream it)! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey cats and kittens — just a quick note to let you know that the Show is now available for download via the Zune Marketplace. You can nab the feed here.

And while we have your attention, don’t forget that the next Show will be taking place October 22nd, and we’ll be sitting down with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer!

If you missed the first two installments, you can see the long show with Jon Rubinstein here, and a short segment on Times Square right here.

Oh, and of course, you can subscribe in iTunes and via standard RSS as well:

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (720p M4V).
[RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (in 720p M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.

Filed under: Announcements

The Engadget Show is available in the Zune Marketplace! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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