Google patent delivers close-up photos when your phone can’t, Blade Runners would approve
It’s been 30 years since we saw Deckard track down replicants by having a machine “enhance” pictures, and yet we’re still stuck with distant-looking photos when we want more detail than our smartphone cameras can manage. While we’d argue that a few phones already live in that Blade Runner future, Google has just obtained a patent that could give the rest of us a helping hand. If the zoom isn’t up to snuff, the proposed software could gauge a mobile device’s position and orientation to offer a closer, already-taken photo from a server as a substitute, whether it’s a Street View shot or a more traditional image. The geocoded system could even cue photos based on the time of day and year to provide that extra dash of authenticity. We already get a trace of the concept through photo overlays within Street View itself, although there’s no indication as to whether or not Google will link our camera apps directly to a cloud of substitute photos — suffice it to say that the industry has changed a lot since Google was using the iPhone 3G to illustrate its photography concepts.
Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Internet, Software, Mobile
Google patent delivers close-up photos when your phone can’t, Blade Runners would approve originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Motorola XT890 approved by FCC, may be next week’s 2GHz Intel phone
As one major event wraps, we look forward to what’s coming up next: Motorola’s Intel announcement. We have a hard time believing we’d see anything besides a smartphone with an Intel chip inside, but the biggest mystery is in what type of phone. Are we going to see something ho-hum, or mind-blowingly awesome? Whatever it is, we think we may have stumbled upon a clue. Motorola’s XT890, which has been rumored to be a global RAZR M with a 2GHz CPU and 897 x 540 screen resolution, just wandered through the FCC with AT&T-friendly 2G and 3G radios. There’s no hint of LTE here, though the FCC doesn’t require OEMs to mention non-US frequencies. The docs, however, indicate that we can expect dual-band WiFi — no word on NFC, but we’d be very surprised if it didn’t make the final cut. The supercharged processor seems almost too good to be true, but we wouldn’t offer up any complaints if there is any truth to the idea.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Motorola XT890 approved by FCC, may be next week’s 2GHz Intel phone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 02:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Is this Nokia’s new Windows Phone handset? Mr. Blurrycam thinks so
Just when you think that the era of decent smartphone cameras has killed the Blurrycam, you get a beauty like this. Here’s an image purporting to be of a new Nokia Windows Phone 8 handset that, if real, we’ll see on September 5th. Of course, it could just as easily be a block of golden marzipan with some detailing, but at least it gives us hope that the company’s sticking with its trademark polycarbonate in various shades of primary colors.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Is this Nokia’s new Windows Phone handset? Mr. Blurrycam thinks so originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 06:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Microsoft resumes publishing Windows Phone apps, all is right with the world
Everybody, you can stop panicking. Microsoft has solved the digital signing problem that prevented app installations on older Windows Phones, as promised, and the flow of new apps is back to a steady stream. It may take a day or two before new titles show up in earnest; developers whose work was in caught in submission stage limbo won’t have to restart the process from scratch, however. The quick turnaround is no doubt good news for developers. We’d argue that it’s equally good news for Microsoft, too — there’s no doubt that the crew in Redmond would rather not have to explain any lengthy publishing outages while it’s onstage with Nokia next month.
Filed under: Cellphones
Microsoft resumes publishing Windows Phone apps, all is right with the world originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Aug 2012 00:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Leave a commentAmazon, Apple stop taking key account changes over the phone after identity breach
By now, you may have heard the story of the identity ‘hack’ perpetrated against Wired journalist Mat Honan. Using easily obtained data, an anonymous duo bluffed its way into changing his Amazon account, then his Apple iCloud account, then his Google account and ultimately the real target, Twitter. Both Amazon and Apple were docked for how easy it was to modify an account over the phone — and, in close succession, have both put at least a momentary lockdown on the changes that led to Honan losing much of his digital presence and some irreplaceable photos. His own publication has reportedly confirmed a policy change at Amazon that prevents over-the-phone account changes. Apple hasn’t been as direct about what’s going on, but Wired believes there’s been a 24-hour hold on phone-based Apple ID password resets while the company marshals its resources and decides how much extra strictness is required.
Neither company has said much about the issue. Amazon has been silent, while Apple claims that some of its existing procedures weren’t followed properly, regardless of any rules it might need to mend. However the companies address the problem, this is one of those moments where the lesson learned is more important than the outcome. Folks: if your accounts and your personal data matter to you, use truly secure passwords and back up your content. While Honan hints that he may have put at least some of the pieces back together, not everyone gets that second chance.
Filed under: Internet
Amazon, Apple stop taking key account changes over the phone after identity breach originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 23:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung Omnia M with Windows Phone makes UK debut on August 1st, exclusively at Phones4U
We’re well aware that a relatively large portion of the UK (and the world) is highly focused on this Olympic event at this very moment, though something tells us a few of you might take some time from the 2012 Games to properly welcome Samsung’s Omnia M. The Mango-flavored device will be making its official debut across the pond in a couple of days, coming as an exclusive to the renowned Phones4U — at least for the time being. As far as pricing goes, Sammy’s 4-inch Windows Phone handset is set to be up for grabs for as much as £290 SIM-free or, if you’re looking to go the monthly route, it’ll be a freebie with a modest £20.50 plan. Best of all, Phones4U’s taking orders right now, so anyone interested can pop one in at the source link below.
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Samsung Omnia M with Windows Phone makes UK debut on August 1st, exclusively at Phones4U originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sprint’s Motorola Photon Q LTE World Phone is coming ‘very soon’
During Sprint’s earnings call, CEO Dan Hesse revealed that Motorola’s Photon Q, the company’s latest LTE World Phone is coming “very soon.” The Photon Q is believed to be the Android 4.0-running QWERTY-slider you can see in the image above, but now that the company’s head has let the cat out of the bag, we expect more details to roll around very shortly.
Filed under: Cellphones
Sprint’s Motorola Photon Q LTE World Phone is coming ‘very soon’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 08:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sprint confirms HTC EVO 4G LTE in white, battle of exclusive phone colors rages on
Not to be outdone by that red Galaxy S III over at AT&T, Sprint has confirmed that its inadvertent ad posting wasn’t just a fluke: it’s bringing out a white version of the EVO 4G LTE. Strictly speaking, it’s more of a aluminum-with-white-accents trim, but we’ll let that slide given that the back and kickstand are now decidedly less smudge-prone. The white EVO will cost as much as that Galaxy S III variant (and the black EVO) at $200 on a contract. Sprint will start selling the white hue on July 15th — and unlike AT&T, it should have phones on shelves rather than leave customers to online window shopping.
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Sprint confirms HTC EVO 4G LTE in white, battle of exclusive phone colors rages on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 12:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung expects record earnings for Q2 thanks to all those Galaxy phone sales
Samsung’s complete earnings results for the April – June 2012 period won’t come out until July 27th, but Reuters reports its early guidance to investors estimates the company’s profit at a record 6.7 trillion won ($5.9 billion). That’s mostly due to strong sales of the ever-expanding (and increasingly targeted by lawsuits) line of Galaxy smartphones. Sales forecasts are slightly below earlier estimates, and while there’s no specific numbers for each division, a Bloomberg breakdown of analyst predictions suggests there should be more good news to go around later this month.
Samsung expects record earnings for Q2 thanks to all those Galaxy phone sales originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 20:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Relive the Windows Phone 8 ‘sneak peek’: Developer Summit video now streaming
Still haven’t been able to satiate your desires to see Joe Belfiore and Windows Phone 8 in action with our coverage of the Developer Summit? Lucky for you, the folks at Microsoft have just put up the whole thing up in video form for you to watch from the comfort of your monitor. So what are you waiting for? Windows Phone 7.8 and 8 won’t get here until the fall, but the ‘sneak peek’ is available now at the links below.
Relive the Windows Phone 8 ‘sneak peek’: Developer Summit video now streaming originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 20:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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