Fisker Karma gets EPA-certified 52MPGe, sales ready to begin

It hasn't had the smoothest birth, nor the cheapest, but Fisker can apparently start selling Karmas for real this time. The tantalizing plug-in hybrid that first wowed us nearly four years ago has just cleared US government testing, the final hurdle holding back deliveries. So, how did it fare after being brutalized by the EPA? Not as well as the company had hoped, as the 52MPGe and 32 miles of electric range fell short of the respective 67.2 and 50 figures the company had previously been touting. Not a huge drop, like another plug-in EV we know, yet probably less than you'd been hoping for something that costs over $90,000. And, when you do run out of juice, you'll be looking at just 20MPG while puttering around on gasoline. Actual customer deliveries are scheduled in the following weeks, but until then take a joy ride in one of 39 Karmas being rolled out to dealers.

It's certainly not very Zen, but AnandTech has pried open ASUS' 11.6-inch ultrabook to see exactly what makes it all tick. The Zenbook's innards are all tightly packed together inside the oh-so-thin casing, with the UX21's slim-line cooler covering both of the Intel Core i7-2677M processors. The 128GB model has been given an ADATA SDD, while the bigger 256GB version runs on SanDisk storage, with the WiFi card contorted to squeeze inside the aluminum alloy body. ASUS has extended its design sensibilities outside of the tightly-packed casing, with the Microsoft serial number and certificate transplanted to the power unit, which leaves the Zenbook's slick design lines and finish peacefully untainted.

All News Reviews Reviews FCC Fridays: October 21, 2011 By Brad Molen posted Oct 21st 2011 at 10:17AM Feature We here at Engadget Mobile tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there, we've gathered up all the raw info you may want (but probably don't need). Enjoy! Phones Read - Fujitsu F03D Read - Motorola RAZR Read - NEC Casio XGU3296 Read - Samsung GT-I8350 Read - Samsung GT-S5368 Read - Samsung SGH-T679M Read - Samsung SHV-E120S Read - Sharp 101SH Read - Sony Ericsson SOY05 (KDDI) Read - ZTE GS516 Read - ZTE Movistar One Tablets and peripherals Read - Coby Kyros MID1125 Read - Huawei MediaPad 301W Read - Motorola wireless keyboard 3 Leave A Comment 9 Engadget Distro Issue 9: the Android Invasion is upon us!

They're here! We gave Apple's latest some face time in Distro's first special edition and now it's time for Google's little green robot(s) to get the cover treatment. If Cupertino's strength is in its concentration on a single device, then Android's is in its diversity, and this week we're bringing you our thoughts on not one, not two, not three, but four new smartphones sporting Mountain View's OS. We'll bring you all the dirty details on two hotly anticipated and recently released phones, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Motorola's Droid RAZR, dive deep into Beats in our review of HTC's Sensation XE, and find out if the Amaze 4G can live up to its name. We've also got a review of the first Ultrabook to make it to market, Acer's Aspire S3, and a glimpse at how Tech News Today host, Tom Merritt became the Geek he is today. The Android Invasion is upon us, but don't run for your life.

All News Reviews Reviews BBC's global iPlayer app adds AirPlay streaming, should just be on Apple TV By Richard Lawler posted Oct 22nd 2011 at 2:44AM British expats and international fans of BBC television alike can now stream some Gavin & Stacey to their televisions (past season 1 anyway, which is on Netflix and Amazon Prime ... Read the full post on hd.engadget.com 60 Leave A Comment 14 U.S. Army urges vets to get outta their dreams and into the virtual world By Joseph Volpe posted Oct 22nd 2011 at 12:37AM You've heard of power walking, but "power dreaming?" That practice's usually the stuff of Buddhism, and now, could go a long way towards mending the psychic wounds of our nation's bravest. With about 52% of PTSD-affected veterans reported as having disturbing nightmares, the U.S. Army's working towards a virtual solution that'd marry the design of Second Life with laptop-displayed or 3D head-mounted, physio-emotional healing. The project, a form of biofeedback therapy which would create custom, stress-alleviating imagery for traumatized vets, is currently in the planning stage with Washington State's Naval Hospital serving as its experimental base. Over half a million in funding's already been put towards the effort which is expected to launch in full next year. And when it does, we're hoping the tech resembles a certain Strange Days SQUID recorder -- with happy thoughts, o'course. sourceWired 86 Leave A Comment 22 Scientists capture birth of new planet on camera, mother and child doing just fine By Amar Toor posted Oct 21st 2011 at 10:34PM After all the pushing, squeezing and screaming, the universe has finally given birth to a new planet, in an eruption that two scientists managed to capture on film. The newborn pile of ... Read the full post on alt.engadget.com 265 Leave A Comment 63 BlackBerry Playbook 2.0 developer beta previewed, Android apps look right at home (video) By Joseph Volpe posted Oct 21st 2011 at 8:17PM Are you in DevCon withdrawal? Need a little BBX preview to ferry you safely into the weekend's arms? Well, you're in luck, as German site Macberry.de took the time to film a walkthrough of the recently released BlackBerry Playbook 2.0 developer beta. The homescreen of this new build now offers users folder options similar to that on iOS, neatly collecting your gaggles of data into appropriate bundles -- like documents and games. But you probably care less about that, and more about seeing BlackBerry Runtime for Android apps in action. We're happy to report those Google-specific applications are shown here running quite smoothly, filling the 7-inch tab's screen without any hint of lag. You can download the dev build now for your own first-hand account, or simply click on past the break to gawk at the silent tour. READ MORE Droid-Life sourceMacberry.de (Translated) 428 Leave A Comment 45 Google Voice app returns to iTunes, iOS 5 crash bug fixed By Richard Lawler posted Oct 21st 2011 at 7:10PM Less than a week after it disappeared from iTunes, the Apple-friendly Google Voice app is back and declared iOS 5 friendly, per its official Twitter account. Also improved is operation ... 140 Leave A Comment 40 Verizon (finally) confirms it will have the Galaxy Nexus By Richard Lawler posted Oct 21st 2011 at 6:11PM After a few leaks and false starts, Verizon has finally made its plans to offer the Galaxy Nexus "later this year" official. That's really the only detail revealed, as its price, release date and availability on other carriers are still unknown. Check out the press release after the break if you need any more confirmation. READ MORE 788 Leave A Comment 33 Kinect voice control reaches Australia, Harold Bishop and Donald Fisher will be pleased By Daniel Cooper posted Oct 21st 2011 at 5:58PM Holy dooley! (oh my!) Microsoft's being a big-note oneself (bragging) about getting Xbox 360 voice control working for the Aussies (Australians.) It's invited all the journos ... 90 Leave A Comment 12 The Engadget Show is live, here at 6:00PM ET! By Brian Heater posted Oct 21st 2011 at 5:25PM Are you ready for this? We're back for a very special Halloween episode of The Engadget Show, live tonight at 6PM ET, and you can join us at this very URL -- so keep your browser locked to this spot. This time out, we've got a very special Halloween episode, including a walk through of a high-tech haunted house, a trip to New York Comic Con, an in-studio costume contest and the unveiling of the winners of our Frankengadget competition. We'll also be visiting with Intel's resident futurist, paying tribute to Steve Jobs and taking a look at the month's hottest gadgets. Update: Thanks everyone for joining us. We'll have the full show up soon! 21 Leave A Comment 18 Biscotti TV dunked in the FCC's latte, still a bit hard By Daniel Cooper posted Oct 21st 2011 at 5:02PM Webcams have certainly narrowed the distance between loved ones, but it's hard to argue that two people hovering over their laptop screens can rival an in-person conversation. Moving things over to the big screen could make the exchange much more comfortable for everyone involved -- you just need an HDTV, and a Biscotti. The small black box should be ready to turn the biggest screen in your home into a high definition video phone fairly soon, having just landed in the FCC's living room. Packed inside is a camera, microphone and 802.11b/g/n WiFi -- plug the contraption into your TV and you can instantly make calls to family and friends, with no monthly charges. A pair of HDMI ports let the device serve as a bridge between your television and cable box, so folks with limited connections don't have to choose between Dad and Mr. Mom. Biscotti will also interact with computers, tablets and smartphones via an as-yet unnamed "video player" to bring life-sized video chat to the masses. There's no word yet on pricing or availability, but if the FCC has finished nibbling at it, then it shouldn't be long before we get a taste ourselves. READ MORE Wireless Goodness, Biscotti sourceFCC 27 Leave A Comment 9 ASUS Zenbook UX31 review By Dana Wollman posted Oct 21st 2011 at 4:25PM Review It was just last week that we got to take home the Acer Aspire S3, the first Ultrabook to go on sale here in the States. Unfortunately, it doesn't live up to the pillars laid out by Intel: its performance trails similar machines, its battery craps out early and the design, while portable, is too chintzy to make it a bellwether for skinny Windows laptops. Our verdict, in a sentence, was that you'd be better off getting a MacBook Air, or at least considering other Ultrabooks -- namely, ASUS' line of Zenbooks. As it turns out, one showed up on our doorstep just a few days later. In many ways, the UX31 is everything the S3 is not: it has a gorgeous all-metal design and comes standard with an SSD and 1600 x 900 display (not to mention, a case and two bundled adapters). And with a starting price of $1,099, it undercuts the entry-level (and similarly configured) MacBook Air by two hundred bucks. So is this the Ultrabook we've all been waiting for? We suggest pouring yourself a large beverage, settling into a comfy chair and meeting us past the break. We've got a lot to say on the subject. ASUS Zenbook UX31 review READ MORE 1169 Leave A Comment 94 The Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET! By Brad Molen posted Oct 21st 2011 at 4:00PM CTIA wrapped up last week, and that's precisely when all of the crazy action heated up. Get ready for a whirlwind of Ice Cream Sandwiches, RAZR-sharp phones, and some hardcore BBX. If ... Read the full post on mobile.engadget.com 12 Leave A Comment 3 Beeri: Siri's new best friend cracks open a cold one (video) By Terrence O'Brien posted Oct 21st 2011 at 3:39PM We already know that Siri can send texts, check the weather or find you a restaurant, but did you know she can also fetch you a beer. Well, sort of... with a little hacking. The folks at ... Read the full post on alt.engadget.com 163 Leave A Comment 40 Android Ice Cream Sandwich includes native stylus support By Donald Melanson posted Oct 21st 2011 at 3:17PM Styli and Android haven't exactly been strangers as of late -- with devices like the HTC Flyer and Samsung Galaxy Note offering pen-based input -- but it looks like that option will soon be even easier to implement with Ice Cream Sandwich. As noted on Reddit, Google's recent overview of some Android 4.0 platform highlights includes a small tidbit towards the end that details the "full support for stylus input events" in the OS -- including features like pressure sensitivity and the ability to distinguish motion events from different sources (i.e. a pen and your finger). Of course, it still requires some hardware-level assistance from tablet and smartphone makers, but native support in the OS could well open up some interesting possibilities, especially when it comes to third-party apps. Reddit, SlashGear sourceAndroid Developers 385 Leave A Comment 49 DARPA's Dr. Frankenllite could plunder space graves, create orbital abominations (video) By Terrence O'Brien posted Oct 21st 2011 at 2:53PM Grave-robbing satellite There are countless satellites, long deactivated, orbiting the Earth in what amounts to a giant cemetery in the sky. DARPA's Phoenix program sees these piles of junk not as refuse, but as a resource just waiting to be harvested. The plan is to re-engineer existing technology, like robots used in remote surgery and advanced imaging systems found in off-shore drilling platforms, for the harsh environment of space. The resulting orbiter would operate on the deceased (with the owners approval, of course), salvaging what it could and stitching them together to create new functional satellites. (Try storming those gates angry mob!) DARPA is also looking into building tiny "satlets" which could simply be clipped to the antennas of deactivated satellites, breathing new life into them and saving a significant chunk of cash. Head on after the break for a video of what the orbiting, robotic Dr. Frankenstein might look like as well as some PR. READ MORE NewScientist 35 Leave A Comment 20 Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus WiFi hitting the US November 13th for $400, available in 16GB for now

Nearly a month after its initial announcement, Samsung's ready to deliver the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus to the good ol' US of A just in time for the winter gift-giving season. The WiFi-only device, which packs a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU with 1GB of RAM, Android 3.2, 3MP camera with 720p HD video capture and a 7-inch LCD with 1024 x 600 resolution, will be begging for your credit card as of November 13th at Best Buy, Amazon and other retailers. Are you an early adopter? No prob -- you'll have the opportunity to pre-order yours at "select retailers" this coming Sunday, though no specific outlets were called out by name. The 16GB is the only version arriving so far, but Sammy told us to expect the 32GB flavor later this year or early 2012 (likely for $499, if yesterday's brief appearance on Amazon is any indicator).

Verizon (finally) confirms it will have the Galaxy Nexus

After a few leaks and false starts, Verizon has finally made its plans to offer the Galaxy Nexus "later this year" official. That's really the only detail revealed, as its price, release date and availability on other carriers are still unknown.

Nikon D300s travels to the edge of space, survives to share the results

If you're going to go to the trouble of sending a camera to the edge of space, you might as well send one capable of doing the trip justice, right? That hasn't always been the case with similar DIY attempts (for obvious reasons), but the team behind the so-called Cygnus "spacecraft" decided to go all out when they sent their weather balloon / beer cooler contraption aloft this month to photograph the curvature of the Earth. In this case, going all out meant sending a Nikon D300s DSLR equipped with Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens, which managed to capture some stunning pictures like the one you see above -- although some got a bit obscured by ice build-up.

Switched On: Android's tablet traversal

At AsiaD this week, Google's Andy Rubin noted that there were at least six million Android tablets in use. That number included only those running Google services. One could question whether the briskly selling Nook Color -- which is not open to Android apps at large -- is relevant to that tally, at least from a developer perspective. It will certainly be the case, though, that the Kindle Fire -- also expected to be a hot seller -- will be an important addition to the number moving forward.

Still, Rubin conceded, it was a tally far behind that of the 30 million cumulative units of the iPad, which broke open the modern-day tablet category, extended its lead with the iPad 2, and will likely see another revision this coming spring. When Apple introduced its tablet device, it set a precedent for third-party developers by rewriting core applications to take advantage of the iPad's larger display with "HD" versions. And while there are still far fewer native iPad apps than iPhone apps, Apple is far ahead in the race for native tablet software.

But not everyone wants to join that race.

Apple MacBook Pro (late 2011) line-up gets processor and graphics boost

If you meander on down to the Apple store this morning, you'll spot some nice little spec bumps to the MacBook Pro range -- without any increase to the prices. For a start, you can now splash out on a faster AMD Radeon HD 6770M discrete GPU with your 15-inch or 17-inch lappie. Even better, there are some CPU improvements to be had: the 13-incher gets the option of a 2.8GHz Core i7 or a 2.4GHz Core i5 dual-core processor, instead of the previous entry-level 2.3GHz i5 (and it also gets its HDD notched up to a minimum 500GB, or max 750GB). The 15-incher now goes up to a quad-core 2.4GHz i7 -- the same speedy processor that comes in the updated 17-inch variant. Oh, the cost/benefit dilemmas.

Freelancer.com: Facebook App, 3D, HTML5, And Cocoa Jobs On The Rise

Freelancer.com is poised to release a report later today with a list of the 50 fastest-growing outsourcing jobs for the third quarter of 2011, based on 114,455 jobs that were posted on the site during that time.
We got an early peek at the report, which suggests content and AdSense-related jobs are on the rise again after a drop last quarter, following Google’s Panda update. Categories like ‘ghostwriting’ (up 22 percent), ‘blogs’ (up 17 percent) and ‘reviews’ (up 16 percent) showcase that trend.
Product Description and Adsense projects increased by 43 percent and 76 percent, respectively.
Other interesting findings from the report:
- Facebook and Social networking projects were up 32 percent and 36 percent, respectively
- HTML5 projects are up (again) an impressive 38 percent, with Flash jobs declining 10 percent
- After posting 20 percent growth last quarter, Android grew just 8 percent this quarter
- iPhone projects grew only 3 percent; Blackberry and Symbian jobs were both down by 6 percent
- Jobs related to Apple products are in vogue, with Cocoa jobs up 55 percent and Objective C up 23 percent. Meanwhile, Java jobs fell 13 percent, while PHP-related jobs were up 3.3 percent.
- 3D jobs increased 64 percent, the second largest gain in the top 50

NVIDIA intros 3D Vision 2 glasses with brighter field of view, comfier design

NVIDIA's 3D Vision is impressive and all, but one trade-off you'll have to accept when you put on those active shutter glasses is a markedly dimmer field of view than what you'd get if you settled for plain-Jane 2D gaming. Well, the outfit just unveiled the second generation of the technology -- appropriately named 3D Vision 2 -- and this go 'round it promises not to strain your vision quite so much. These shutter glasses have a lens that's 20 percent larger, promising a brighter experience. As an added perk, the frames have been rejiggered to be lighter and more flexible so that you can comfortably wear headphones without pinching your lobes. As for the newest 3D Vision monitors and laptops, those panels promise reduced ghosting, as well as 120Hz 2D gaming. In tandem with today's announcement, NVIDIA announced that a trio of products -- the Toshiba Qosmio X770 / 775, Toshiba Satellite P770 / P775 and ASUS's 27-inch VG278H 1080p monitor -- will support now 3D Vision 2. If a new rig's not in the cards, the company also assures us that these glasses will be backward compatible with older 3D Vision panels. Look for them this month in the form of either standalone frames ($99) or as part of a $149 kit

Samsung's Korea-bound Galaxy S II HD LTE pops up in FCC filings

We'll have to brush up on our foreign languages to decipher the full battery label, but the Samsung SHV-E120L (aka the Galaxy S II HD LTE, thanks David_DK!)-- home to a 4.65-inch HD screen and dual-core 1.5GHz processor according to specs leaked last month -- has passed through its FCC testing.

All News Reviews Reviews Colorware spills its inks on your iPhone 4S, charges dearly for it By Joe Pollicino posted Oct 16th 2011 at 5:17AM You didn't think the latest iPhone would be saved from Colorware's paint-dipped hands, did you? Lo and behold, the company's swatches are currently ready for application on the 4S. Similar to its iPhone 4 treatments, you'll be able to spice up your device -- and its earbuds -- with a mixture of glossy, metallic and soft-touch coatings (excluding mainly the front face, which remains stock black or white). Colorware'll gladly sell you a fresh 16 or 64GB model for a whopping $1,500 or $1,700, respectively, or you can mail yours in to get a Benetton-esque makeover for just $250. sourceColorware 386 Leave A Comment 51 US leads global LTE adoption, rides Verizon's coattails By Billy Steele posted Oct 16th 2011 at 2:02AM There's no doubt the demand for mobile broadband has skyrocketed worldwide, but the US is leading the LTE charge(s) -- plural, 'cause you know, battery life sucks on a... nevermind. According to Pyramid Research, by the end of the year, the United States will claim 47 percent of LTE subscriptions globally. This is thanks in large part to three mobile operators: Verizon, MetroPCS and AT&T have created seven million connections across the country. Combine that with the fact that 71 percent of all LTE handsets will be in the pockets of Yanks by year's end, and you've got a formula for domestic LTE domination. It comes as no surprise that VZW is the largest LTE operator in the US as it's been making money hand over fist lately -- which has allowed it to expand its high speed network at a dizzying pace. We salute you, Big Red, for carrying the banner for the ol' US of A, blazing the trail littered with dead batteries and over-worked phone chargers. Phone Arena sourcePyramid Research 274 Leave A Comment 19 Ask Engadget: what's the best dual-SIM phone on the market? By Darren Murph posted Oct 15th 2011 at 11:11PM Feature 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 inquiry is coming to us from Damian, who just ain't satisfied with only one SIM in his handset. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I've looked and given up, so I'm chiming to the oracle. What is the best dual-SIM phone?" We're going to need some serious input from our international readers on this one. Dual-SIM handsets just aren't "a thing" in America, and even finding one is a bit of a chore. But for those elsewhere, what's your preferred device for toting around SIMs from two nations? 201 Leave A Comment 76 Siri gets lost internationally, promises to do better next year By Sean Buckley posted Oct 15th 2011 at 8:46PM Siri gets lost internationally, promises to do better next year The iPhone 4S' Siri integration may be a potential game changer, but she's not quite the world traveler some of us would like her to be. In fact, it seems she's as lost outside of US borders as any unprepared tourist. Looking for a pub in London? Better find a traditional map. Need to know the time of day in Canada? Siri admits she has no idea, go buy a watch. Business search (via Yelp), directions, and traffic data search all appear to be US-only features for now, and Wolfram Alpha only works in English-speaking countries. The automated assistant's international failings aren't too big of a surprise, however -- Apple's own Siri page outs the service as a beta, noting that some features may vary by area. Stuck with sub-par international support? Sit tight, it's coming: Apple's Siri FAQ states that additional language support (including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Italian and Spanish), maps and local search content are set to go international in 2012. Update: Wolfram Alpha works outside the US in English speaking countries, thanks to everyone in the comments for the clarification. TUAW sourceApple, MacStories, reneritchie (Twitter) 1234 Leave A Comment 148 Google Voice pulled from App Store following iOS 5 crash By Zach Honig posted Oct 15th 2011 at 6:33PM What once was there now is gone. Earlier today, Google Voice was just two clicks away in the iOS App Store. Now, all that remains is a page cache (at the source link below) and versions of the app that were already installed on iPhones and iPod touches. Vincent Paquet, Senior Product Manager for Google Voice confirmed that the app had been pulled, explaining "our last update of this week had a bug that caused the app to crash at sign in. We removed it so it did not affect additional users until the fix gets published." We've been using the most recent version -- 1.3.0.1771 -- on an iPhone 4 running iOS 5 without issue, but recent reviews cite the reported crashing, so it's definitely affecting at least some users. We don't have an ETA for when you can expect the app to return, so if you don't already have it installed, you'll need to hang tight for the time being. The service should function normally otherwise, assuming your phone number has already been registered, though you won't be able to begin new text threads or make outgoing calls using your Google Voice number. sourceGoogle Voice (cache) 497 Leave A Comment 66 CTIA Enterprise & Applications 2011 wrap-up: Springboard, Atrix and CUE By Brad Molen posted Oct 15th 2011 at 5:29PM And that's all she wrote, folks -- warm and sunny San Diego was a wonderful host for this year's CTIA Enterprise & Applications, but now it's time to head on home. The show was tremendously affected by the news of Samsung canceling its much-anticipated Nexus event, but there were still a few gems we were able to grab. AT&T got the show started off right by announcing a grand total of five new smartphones, not the least of which was the Motorola Atrix 2 (no "4G" in the title, interestingly enough). T-Mobile also unveiled the Springboard, a 7-inch tablet that's sure to make a splash. So if you're finally catching up with the week's gadget news, we've compiled a list that'll make your reading much more convenient. Here's our full CTIA coverage in all its glory. We're live from CTIA! Wilson Electronics debuts the AWS 70 Live from CTIA's day one keynote with Dan Hesse, Dan Mead and Ralph de la Vega T-Mobile Springboard hands-on (video) Motorola announces the LapDock 100 for Atrix 2, Droid Bionic and Photon 4G Cadillac unveils CUE infotainment system Motorola Atrix 2 for AT&T hands-on (video) TeleNav 7.1 for Sprint Android phones: this time it's personal Samsung Stratosphere for Verizon hands-on (video) Pantech Pocket for AT&T hands-on (video) Samsung Transfix for Cricket hands-on (video) Navigon demos MobileNavigator for iOS, WP7 and Android The Engadget Mobile Podcast, CTIA edition! LG Optimus Slider for Virgin Mobile hands-on (video) Kyocera DuraMax for Sprint hands-on (video) EcoATM offers instant money for your old phone A look inside Verizon's test car 13 Leave A Comment 12 iPhone 4S lacks "Enable 3G" switch By Christopher Trout posted Oct 15th 2011 at 2:54PM If you're among the teeming masses holding a brand new iPhone 4S in your hands, you may be surprised (as we were) to find there's something conspicuously absent from the Network Settings menu on your new device: specifically the ability to manually shut off 3G data. After receiving word, and a screenshot, from a helpful tipster, rocking a 4S on Vodafone's network, we found the same option missing from our own AT&T iteration. Of course this isn't the sort of thing that's likely to have an impact on most users, but if you're the type that likes to squeeze every last bit of juice out of that Apple, the omission could cause some frustration. We gave Apple support a call to see what they had to say, and were told AppleCare has no official response on the matter. If you're lamenting the loss of the 3G flip-switch sound off in the comments below. Update: A few of our readers are reporting that the original Verizon iPhone 4 also lacked the 3G switch, which means the absence is most likely on a carrier-by-carrier basis. [Thanks, Chris and Charlie] 0 Leave A Comment 7621 web coverage Apple Support Communities Windows 7 overtakes XP globally, Vista found weeping in a corner By Dante Cesa posted Oct 15th 2011 at 1:23PM According to StatCounter, it's taken roughly two years for Redmond's latest to surpass XP and become the world's most popular operating system. October 2011 marks the first time that Windows 7 has overtaken XP globally, with a 40 percent share of the market versus the latter's 38. As for Vista, it's been holding steady at around 11. Not that it's much of a surprise, as in North America, Windows 7 took the crown back in April of this year. Rounding out the top five, are OS X (though it's not clear whether that captures all of Cupertino's beasts) and Linux, which come in at 7 and 0.82 percent respectively. But don't take our word for it, hop on over to the source links and get your interactive chart on. [Thanks, Pipera] WinRumors sourceStatCounter (1), (2) 1089 Leave A Comment 128 HTC Amaze 4G review By Joseph Volpe posted Oct 15th 2011 at 12:00PM Review What do you do when you've already created a Sensation? If you're HTC, you repackage that lightning in a slightly different chassis, turn the volume (read: speed) up to 11 and borrow a bit of optical wizardry to add that new smartphone smell. All key elements that can be found in the DNA of the company's latest imperatively named product offering -- the Amaze 4G. Clearly, HTC's throwing caution to the fickle consumer winds here, raising the bar for Android users' expectations and mixing in just enough razzle dazzle to win over those hard earned geek dollars. So, what's the hook this time 'round? No, not Beats -- that's for its Euro stepcousin, the Sensation XE. Here, the main attraction is this handset's ability to surf along T-Mobile's HSPA+ 42Mbps network. That's right, Magenta's tiptoeing into LTE speed territory and you've got Sense 3.0 to help pilot that wireless ride. Join us after the break as we peel back the layers of this unibodied mobile onion. HTC Amaze 4G review READ MORE 620 Leave A Comment 29 Mobile Miscellany: week of October 10, 2011 By Brad Molen posted Oct 15th 2011 at 11:18AM This week was packed with news on the mobile front, so it was easy to miss a few stories here and there. Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the ... Read the full post on mobile.engadget.com 9 Leave A Comment 8 Motorola Lapdock 100 hits Sprint October 21st, earns employees extra scratch By Sean Buckley posted Oct 15th 2011 at 9:24AM Ready to play PC with your smartphone? If you aren't picking up a Lapdock 100 from AT&T on the 17th, you won't have to wait very long -- Motorola's faux-laptop phone dock has been outed for a October 21st launch date for Sprint via an employee rewards email. Passing the Lapdock 100 Sprint Rewards Me training quiz nets employees $10 in Sprint scratch and the opportunity to sell you a rig that lets a handful of devices play netbook. The laptop shell gives users a full Firefox browser, Quick Office, Google Docs, Adobe Flash, a PC-like File Manager and a luxurious 10.1-inch screen. Still no word yet on just how much this ultra-portable peripheral will set us back, but we'll keep hoping that it's cheaper than the Atrix 4G's axed lapdock. [Thanks, David] 87 Leave A Comment 6 Girl Scout merit badges get a 21st century facelift, focus on science and technology By Terrence O'Brien posted Oct 15th 2011 at 7:29AM Think only Boy Scouts can earn badges in bad-ass activities like robotics and video games (whatever happened to wood carving and fire building)? Well you are wrong sir (or ma'am). The ... Read the full post on alt.engadget.com 71 Leave A Comment 17 Nintendo sells over 50 million DS units, 3DS sales fall flat in comparison By Mat Smith posted Oct 15th 2011 at 5:23AM Nintendo's twin-screen wonder has seen almost as many reinventions as Lady Gaga, so it may not come as a huge shock to hear that the DS (in all its guises) has now sold over 50 million units in the US. The home entertainment maestros are still chasing similar success for its three-dimensional sibling, the 3DS, however. Nintendo has managed to sell almost half a million three dee units units after its weighty price cut, but there's now some very potent competitors seeking their own slice of the (portable) gaming pie. Good luck, Nintendo, you're probably going to need it. READ MORE Joystiq 303 Leave A Comment 13 Seeser laser pico projector is always in focus, powered by Android

We've seen our fair share of pico projectors, so takes a bit to actually get us excited about one, but the Seeser from ESPlus is showing a lot of potential. Inside the tiny black box is a laser-based projection system which, unlike traditional lamps, doesn't need to be focused and can output a 25-lumen, 800 x 600 image up to 100-inches in size. There's an SD card slot around the side, which appears to be of the micro variety and it has an integrated 1seg tuner for pulling in broadcasts. All of this is powered by a 1GHz processor running Froyo -- so there's no actual need to hook up an external content source. Sadly it doesn't appear that it boasts access to the Android Market though, without a touchscreen, you wouldn't be able to make good use of the apps anyway. The Seeser should be available in Korea soon, but there's no word yet on how much it'll cost.