China :: Technology

Skype 5 for Mac leaves something to be desired -- we know it, you know it , and looks like Skype knows it too. That's why our fav VoIP app is soliciting the help of you, the people, to improve its UI. Skype's running a competition to find the one chat style to rule them all, and it starts taking custom CSS submissions April 8th. The contest has three rounds, with one judges' and one people's choice in each, followed by the selection of a grand prize winner from the six finalists. People's champs get an Apple TV and those picked by the judges snag a WiFi iPad 2, and all the winners get a copy of CSS3 for Web Designers and a year's subscription to Skype Unlimited World Extra. The grand prize is an eleven-inch MacBook Air, an iPad2, and the ego boost that comes with knowing your chat style forged in the flames of competition will be included in a coming release of Skype. Up to the challenge? Hit the source link for the full details. Skype wants the people to fix ...

From a gadgeteer's point of view, one of the best things about the Olympics is its tendency to bring in new technologies to the hosting city. Take the 2012 games, for example: not only are the London Underground stations getting WiFi hotspots, but news has it that Samsung and Visa are holding hands to deliver NFC mobile payment solutions to the city. In fact, more than 60,000 locations in London are already geared up with contactless payment systems, and right now Visa is negotiating with banks to get its contactless cards and mobile phones approved. For the latter, one such device will be Samsung's Olympic and Paralympic Games mobile handset that comes with a Visa-enabled SIM card, and it'll be made available to sponsored athletes as well as various retailers. Furthermore, this alliance will continue after the Olympics, and Visa is rolling out its mobile payments solution in many other countries as we speak, so it shouldn't be long before we hear more Visa handset ann...

Microsoft's own OneVision Video Recognizer may be novel, but if the folks in Redmond are seriously looking to take things next-level, they should probably cast their gaze across the pond. Zdenek Kalal, a researcher at the University of Surrey, has just created what may be the most sophisticated vision system known to the civilian world. In essence, it takes the mundane task of tracking objects to an entirely new platform, enabling users to select an object on the fly and have the algorithm immediately start tracking something new. Within seconds, it's able to maintain a lock even if your object twists, turns, or leaves / returns. Furthermore, these "objects" could be used as air mice if you force it to track your digits, and if you teach it what your staff looks like, you'll have a fully automated security scanner that can recognize faces and grant / deny access based on its database of white-listed individuals. Frankly, we'd rather you see it for yourself th...

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 yours truly, who managed to destroy his Freetalk Everyman during a rough battle within a piece of carry-on luggage. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com . "I previously owned a Freetalk Everyman, also known as a low-end, $30 USB headset that was ultra handy for making Skype calls and even podcasting in a quiet room. It traveled well, but not well enough. Recently, one of the ear cups were demolished during a turbulent flight back from NYC, and now I need a replacement. I'm too rough on these things to spend more than $40 or $50, so outside of replacing it in kind, what are my options for a USB headset that travels easily? You'll be hearing a lot of me in the months to come, so don't lead me astray. My life, as it ...

On Thursday Samsung and Visa announced a new partnership under which the two firms will provide an NFC mobile payment solution before, during, and after the London 2012 Olympics. The two companies will release an Olympics and Paralympics Games mobile handset in London thats equipped with mobile NFC technology, Visas payment application, and a special SIM card. Heres how it will work: When youre ready to make a purchase, youll just have to open the Visa application on your phone and then hold it in front of a special contactless reader. There are over 60,000 contactless readers already in London, and Visa says its continuing to work with banks and retailers to increase its NFC foundation. The NFC-enabled phone, with its Visa SIM card, will first be available to Samsung and Visa sponsored athletes, and it will also be available to consumers through mobile operators. Its unclear what the phone model is, or how much it will cost. This mobile payment device will be available in the U...

A place at retail may be the future for Roku , but for current owners there's a firmware update just issued that brings the box to version 2.9 build 1553. According to the release notes it makes the banner ad on the home screen clickable as well as adding several optimizations that support "numerous new content partners" like the updated MLB app . There's also a tweak to the USB channel to help MKV files play without rebuffering and displaying the WiFi mode in network settings. However, PlayOn users may want to avoid clicking that update button for now, according to another thread in the forums, many are seeing streams on their channel lose audio/video sync by as much as 10 seconds. That's a bit more than we usually need to adjust for , and given the apps unofficial status getting it fixed could be tricky so proceed with caution. Roku players updated, fixes a few issues, may introduce a new one for PlayOn originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 31...

Our interest in the BlackBerry Touch (codename Monaco) was piqued when we first caught wind of the device , and we had a feeling it'd be making its way into the wild ever since one showed up in Verizon red around mid-Feburary. Now, BGR has managed to procure an unreleased prototype, and we've gotta say that we like what we're seeing. According to the pub, it should get official at BlackBerry World in May, and it'll run OS 6.1 underneath that 800 x 480-pixel screen. The new BB6 is said to use a BlackBerry ID in place of a PIN for certain key functions -- a necessary move for non-BB platforms rumored to be getting BBM (a historically PIN-based service). BGR also claims it won't be getting the Storm nomenclature, so we apologize in advance to the SurePress fanboys. Either way, we've got an inkling that we'll be hearing more as we get closer to May, but unfortunately our dreams of a super AMOLED-equipped Torch running stock Android with a BBM app will just...

Time Warner Cable was the first party to blink in the battle with programmers over its new live TV streaming TWCable TV iPad app , removing channels from Viacom, Fox and Discovery. The company's official statement indicates its merely choosing to focus on the "enlightened programmers" who support its cause and that it will provide replacement channels (maybe BBC America, since it's in all the screenshots) ASAP, possibly as soon as tomorrow. Expect the legal fight to continue to heat up between Time Warner, which believes it has obtained all the rights necessary to provide these channels on any screen in a customer's home, and the programmers, that think it hasn't. Throwing more gasoline on the fire is word from Cablevision that its new iPad app with TV and video on-demand access was supposed to be out already and is merely waiting Apple's approval before it launches. According to the Wall Street Journal it will go forward launching the Optimum Link -- fo...

What we're watching tonight: NBC (1080i) has Perfect Couples at 8:30 p.m. ABC (720p) has Wipeout at 8 p.m., Grey's Anatomy at 9 p.m. and Private Practice at 10 p.m. CBS (1080i) has The Big Bang Theory at 8 p.m., Rules of Engagement at 8:30 p.m., CSI at 9 p.m. and The Mentalist at 10 p.m. Showtime (1080i) presents Behind the Burly Q at 8 p.m. Fox (720p) has American Idol at 8 p.m. and presents Mobbed at 9 p.m. History (720p) has the season premiere of Swamp People at 9 p.m. FX (720p) has Archer at 10 p.m. Spike (1080i) has TNA: Impact at 9 p.m. Discovery (1080i) presents Taxidermy USA at 10 p.m. ESPN (720p) has Giants/Dodgers baseball at 8 p.m. TNT (1080i) has an NBA doubleheader with Celtics/Spurs at 8 p.m. and Mavericks/Lakers at 10:30 p.m. HDTV Listings for March 31, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

We've already seen a fair number of Windows Phone 7 stats , but Microsoft's now gone and provided a proper retrospective for the first anniversary of its debut at the MIX10 conference last year. The standout figure, as usual, is the number of apps, which now stands at 11,500 -- a number that Microsoft is quick to point out it's not "artificially inflating" by listing wallpapers as a category, or boosting by adding competitor's apps to increase "tonnage." Microsoft also notes that while the Windows Phone Developer Tools have been downloaded 1.5 million times, it's choosing instead to focus on the number of AppHub community members as a more accurate measure of the number of developers for the platform -- they now total 36,000. It's also revealed that Windows Phone 7 users download twelve apps each month on average, that it's currently adding 1,200 new developers this week, and that 1,100 of the apps in the Marketplace are ad-supported a...

Sharp isn't apt to sell but 15,000 of its Touch Wood SH-08C handsets, but after watching the ad below, you can bet there will be demand for more. It's a bit baffling to think of the trouble Drill, Inc. went through in order to assemble the pieces necessary for a wooden ball to trickle down a homegrown marimba, particularly in the midst of Kyushu, Japan's woodlands. Kenjiro Matsuo was responsible for the creation of the instrument, while Morihiro Harano is being handed credit for the idea itself; in fact, he confirmed to The New York Times that no artificial music was added whatsoever, with only the background levels being adjusted up for effect. You may have never listened to a piece of classic music in your life, but you're sorely missing out if you ignore Bach's Cantata 147, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." Or, at least the version in that video below. Continue reading Mesmerizing Touch Wood SH-08C ad showcases Japan's beauty, mankind's ingenu...

Lubith , the browser based WordPress theme editor is live with the latest enhancement to its drag, drop and click utility that is an astonishingly quick and simple way to tweak your theme. In development since 2007, Lubith has gone through many changes and enhancement and now it is ready for prime time. Lubith came to life because when their founder Victor had desire to optimize the work as a web programmer. The developer at Lubith wanted to find a faster way to create layouts for web sites according to the graphic provided by the web designer. Previously it was required that a developer browse for solutions on the Internet but the solutions lacked the features and simplicity a developer need to make a theme aesthetically pleasing. The initial version of Libith allowed rudimentary alterations to various CSS elements, but it lacked some graphical tools and the polished interface for adding graphical elements. Once an element is selected (identified by the marquee and the colored orbs...

The 2011 iteration of DirecTV's multiview style Masters Mosaic channel has been lightly refreshed with two new channels and extended coverage. The channel itself will for the first time be available 24 hours a day during the Masters Tournament for those who want to keep up on the stats and highlights, while there's also an extra hour of coverage from ESPN on Thursday and Friday. The stats themselves have been expanded to pull down an individual player's performance on demand. As seen above, the Masters Mix channel itself has a new look, plus the new Additional Featured Group and Masters In-Depth channels. The full press release with all the details is after the break, or hit the source links DirecTV's minisite to see more screenshots plus demo video, and ESPN's coverage breakdown including 3D . Continue reading DirecTV Masters Mix channel gets a few new twists for 2011 golf tournament DirecTV Masters Mix channel gets a few new twists for 2011 golf tour...

Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play isn't having the best of starts in the world, having been delayed by UK carrier O2 due to " software issues ," and it's now missing its targeted launch date of April 1st with two more of the local operators, Vodafone and Three. Both have today announced that, due to shipping issues, they won't be able to meet tomorrow's launch date, leaving only Orange on track to release it on time. T-Mobile, Orange's partner in Everything Everywhere , says it'll have the Xperia Play in "mid-April." Still, the wait isn't that much longer as Three hopes to sell you a Play "early next week" and Vodafone, a bit more cautiously, is shooting for availability "as soon as possible." Xperia Play meets shipping delays in UK, Vodafone and Three bump launch to next week originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Would you look at what dropped in our inbox this morning? Good old HTC is cooking up a little somethin' somethin' for an April 12th launch in London town, for an event kicking off at 1.30PM GMT or 8.30AM ET. While consulting our solar calendars, we noticed that's when Microsoft's MIX 2011 developer gathering is also getting started, but we're sure it's just a coincidence and HTC isn't about to spring a battery of new Windows Phone 7 devices on us. In fact, if you stare at the invite's image long enough, you might just convince yourself you're looking at a bulging smartphone screen, which could indicate we're talking about the EVO 3D 's European launch. You never know with these things. Whatever happens, we'd advise circling the date and making sure your popcorn supplies aren't running low. HTC invites us to 'see what's next' on April 12th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:19:00 EST. Please see our...

Welcome to this mornings edition of First To Know, a series in which we keep you in the know on whats happening in the digital world. Were keeping our eyes on four particular stories of interest today. Google Launches +1 Button Google is making a big push into social with a new feature called +1 that is similar to Facebooks Like button. Windows 7 Lags Behind iOS, Android One year after the initial debut of Windows Phone 7, Microsoft has shared some less than promising stats abou t its platform. Blogger Gets a Dynamic New Look Google has released five new ways to view blog posts on Blogger for more visual browsing. Twitter Upgrades Embedded Tweets Twitter has updated its developer tools , making embedded tweets more interactive and functional. Users can now reply, retweet or favorite a tweet directly from embedded versions. Further News Microsoft has joined Apple and Google on the list of OS providers rumored to be taking steps toward enabling mobile payments . Kansas City, Kansa...

Have you ever tried to share a pair of headphones on the subway train, only to have someones bulky body knock the buds painfully from your ears and disturb your listening experience? I have, quite a few times, which is why Im very, very excited about MyStream , the first free app that enables music sharing across iOS devices over WiFi or Bluetooth. Back when wireless headphones came out, and I could also play a song for a friend out of a portable stereo system, I thought, why cant I play this song for both me and a friend in both of our own headphones? -MyStream CEO, Richard Zelson Since June 2010, Zelson has been hard at work raising funding and hiring a development team to build this desire into a reality. The resulting app, MyStream , whichquietly hit the Apple store yesterday, was publicly announced today. The app enables easy music or audio book sharing across 3rd and 4th generation iOS devices (with the iPad coming soon) via a Bluetooth or WiFi connection. And because the app wor...

The elusive HTC Merge has been on our radar since last fall, and while it's been officially announced, played with , and FCC approved, carrier availability has been all but a mystery -- until now that is. Alltel is presently taking pre-orders for the Merge with a price of $125 on contract (after $50 mail-in rebate) and a ship date of April 5th. Meanwhile, Cellular South is launching the Merge "next month" for an undisclosed price, but will offer the handset pre-loaded with the Amazon Appstore for Android -- a world first. Strangely, there's still no indication when (or even if) the device will emerge on Verizon. Just a quick recap: the Merge is a global smartphone (dual-mode CDMA / GSM) with a slide-out keyboard, 3.8-inch touchscreen, and 5 megapixel autofocus camera, running Android 2.2 with Sense UI . Hit the source link below for Alltel's pre-order page, and jump past the break for Cellular South's press release. [Thanks, Chase M.] Continue reading HTC Me...

Question: What do lingerie, insurance and seat belts have in common? Answer: They all provide a service that you only benefit from in extreme circumstances. The belt protects you against accidents you hope youll never have. The insurancecovers you forcalamitiesyou hope never happen and the lingerie is generally worn in places where nobody sees it. Of course the lingerie makes you feel sexier, the seat belts makes you feel safer and the insurance makes you feel covered. Online back-up services, remote storage and redundant power supply for servers, are some of the services that fit this type of category. As an entrepreneur you have to think about which services you are selling and which category they fit in. Are you selling something that is like lingerie or more like bread? Are you focusing on the instant gratification of your product or on the downside of not owning your product?

A storm seems to be brewing over the realm of Android development. Bloomberg's Businessweek spies have received word from "a dozen executives working at key companies in the Android ecosystem" that Google is actively working to gain control and final say over customizations of its popular mobile OS. That might not sound unreasonable, and indeed Google's public position on the matter is that it's seeking to stabilize the platform and ensure quality control, but it does mark a major shift from where Android started -- an open source OS that was also open to manufacturers and carriers to customize as they wish. Not so anymore, we're told, as apparently Mountain View is now demanding that content partnerships and OS tweaks get the blessing of Andy Rubin before proceeding. The alternative, of course, is to not be inside Google's warm and fuzzy early access program, but then, as evidenced by the company recently withholding the Honeycomb source code , you end u...

Acer's board and CEO don't seem to have been getting along too brilliantly lately and now the situation's come to a point with the resignation of one Mr. Gianfranco Lanci from the company's helm. In a press release just distributed, Acer points out that Lanci held different views from the majority of board members about the "importance on scale, growth, customer value creation, brand position enhancement, and on resource allocation and methods of implementation." Following a few months of discussions that failed to deliver a consensus, both parties have decided it's best to part ways. For now, things continue as normal with Acer's goal still being globalization of its product portfolio, whose centerpiece will remain the personal computer, according to Chairman JT Wang . He'll be the man to take over for Lanci while Acer seeks out a replacement for the outspoken Italian. Continue reading Acer CEO and President Gianfranco Lanci resigns amid disagre...

It's no secret that Netflix has grand plans to expand its global footprint that now feeds media to some 20 million North American subscribers. Hell, the company was boasting of the " significant dollars " allocated to its 2011 international expansion plans just four months ago. While nothing's official yet, we've unearthed a few tantalizing openings posted to the Netflix job site over the last few days that could point to an imminent launch. Notably, Netflix's customer service call center in Hillsboro Oregon is gearing up to expand its scope of operations beyond North America. Two new job postings for a Training Supervisor and Quality Assurance Analyst both mention the need to prepare for "rapid" international expansion and "will support a specific country / region outside of North America." The Training Supervisor is being hired specifically to educate customer services reps in preparation for that international growth. Neflix is looking f...

Microsoft has posted a new developer-centric blog post to its Windows Team Blog , providing a very detailed insight into how well the Windows Phone 7 ecosystem has performed in its first year of availability. Whilst the post is pretty self-congratulatory, Microsoft does has some some numbers to be proud of. The company can boast over 1.5 million downloads of its Windows Phone Developer Tools, with roughly 36,000 developers paying to become members of the AppHub 1,200 being added every week where they interact with other members of the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace and submit their apps. At present, Microsoft can advertise the fact it has surpassed 11,500 apps on its Marketplace, a long way of Android or iOS but the company doesnt have any problems telling us that it is more focused on quality over quantity. By this it means it chose not to include wallpaper apps in its stats but also that it doesnt need to follow RIMs decision to allow apps from a competing platform to run on its opera...