Liberty Walk shows us how Japan does Lamborghini customs

Anywhere you find rabid car culture you'll find rabid tuners. Japan's no different, where the make-it-hotter ethos applies to everything. When it comes to Lamborghini, Chrysler, and yes, even the Suzuki Every kei car, Wataru Kato's 18-year-old Liberty Walk shop wants to be the last word in entertainment - not only for owners, but also for visitors. Liberty Walk designs its own parts and applies them to a range of vehicles that go from the understated to the unbelievable. Kato says he wants his shop to be an amusement park for kids who just want to be around supercars.

Autoblog, Liberty Walk shows us how Japan does Lamborghini customs

Verizon Wireless Backtracks – Says They Will Not Charge $2 Fee To Pay Bills

Breaking news from the Wall Street Journal who is reporting that Verizon Wireless has offically reversed its plans to charge customers a $2 convenience to pay bills online. This news comes right after the FCC announced they would be investigating the matter. Yes folks, we've won.

Android Phone, Verizon Wireless Backtracks â€" Says They Will Not Charge $2 Fee To Pay Bills

Waterrower Rowing Machine

While swimming is a great non-impact sport that does help exercise just about every major muscle group in your body, are there any other alternatives if you do not like to get 100% wet. The Waterrower Rowing Machine could very well be the answer to your problem, being one of the most effective workouts around. Heck, you need not have to go to court in a lawsuit against the founder of Facebook to get cracking on some rowing – right in the comfort of your own home to boot.

Ubergizmo, Waterrower Rowing Machine

Modai concept phone is cute and smart

Do you ever wish your phone could "understand" you and react accordingly. Well, thanks to the Modai concept phone from Julius Tarng, we could possibly be looking at a whole new way that we can interact with your smartphones in the future. The Modai concept phone is a pretty cute design and the phone appears to have a mind of its own. For starters it aims to help filter out social content and work content that will allow the user to achieve a balance between work and play. It can even detect when you oversleep or if you are late for meetings and can adjust your alarms accordingly.

Ubergizmo, Modai concept phone is cute and smart

Huawei U8800 Ideos X5 gets Gingerbread

Huawei has definitely been stepping up its game when it comes to Android devices. This year they managed to release an impressive mid-level phone: the Huawei Honor and it even recently pushed out a “demo” version of Ice Cream Sandwich for the phone. However, not everything it's been doing is great so far - i.e. the Gingerbread update for the Ideos X5.

Ubergizmo, Huawei U8800 Ideos X5 gets Gingerbread

US military developing hybrid Humvees

With so many car manufacturers starting to turn towards hybrid vehicles or full electric vehicles, it seems that the US military has decided to go green as well in an effort to reduce their dependence on traditional fuel sources. This has resulted in a pair of solar-powered hybrid Humvees called the FED Alpha and the FED Bravo, with the latter still remaining somewhat classified at the moment. The FED (Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator) is currently under the development, and like we said the FED Bravo remains a mystery for now, although Army spokespeople have compared the vehicle to a plug-in hybrid much like the Chevy Volt.

Ubergizmo, US military developing hybrid Humvees

HP Compaq LE2002xm 20″ monitor launched

If you don't have a lot of room on your desk at home or in the office, but you'd still like a larger display than what your 15" laptop is currently offering, HP may have the solution for you in the form of the HP Compaq LE2002xm monitor which appears to have packed a ton of features all into a relatively compact 20" frame. The monitor will feature a maximum display resolution of 1600×900 with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 170 degrees of viewing angles, 5ms response time, 250 nits brightness, 3M:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and both VGA and DVI-D inputs.

Ubergizmo, HP Compaq LE2002xm 20″ monitor launched

Japanese Vending Machines to Offer Free WiFi

Vending machine-crazy Japan keeps on taking these gadgets to the next level. We have seen a concept vending machine with facial recognition and targeted advertisements, but Asahi Soft Drinks has introduced its new line vending machines beginning 2012. This is not just your ordinary drinks-vending machine, but also a WiFi hotspot as it sends out WiFi signals within a 50-meter radius. The WiFi service will be available for free and can be accessed using multiple devices without the need of registration. The public would not even have to buy any drinks to use the machine's WiFi signals.

Gadget.com, Japanese Vending Machines to Offer Free WiFi

LG's introduces its first 84″ 3D UD (4K) TV ahead of CES

LG Electronics will unveil the world's largest 3D Ultra Definition (UD) TV at CES in Las Vegas. By combining LG's industry-leading 3D technology and Smart TV function with UD display technology, the 84-inch TV breaks new ground in immersive 3D home entertainment. LG's 3D UD TV boasts superb picture quality with 8 million pixels, four times the resolution clarity (3840×2160) of existing Full HD TV panels. Combined with LG's Slim and Narrow Bezel Design, the 3D UD TV provides the most convincing 3D viewing experience currently available outside of a movie theater.




Akihabara News, LG's introduces its first 84″ 3D UD (4K) TV ahead of CES

Airtight brings Apple AirPlay to Google TV

. Apple iOS users have long been able to take advantage of the company's wireless streaming feature, AirPlay, that is built into all iPads, iPhones, and iPod touch devices. Airtight is a new app that just arrived in the Android Market, and it gives Android users the same wireless streaming capacity. The app is available for Google TV boxes running at least Android 3.0, and will allow users to stream content from their iOS devices right to their televisions using AirPlay. While Airtight will allow users to stream photos and videos, full mirroring of a device and DRM-protected media is unsupported in the current version.

Boy Genius Report, Airtight brings Apple AirPlay to Google TV

Verizon 4G LTE data outage pays another visit

Verizon Wireless customers must be getting fed up with the outages on the company's 3G and 4G networks – and it seems that the most recent outage has happened today, affecting the 4G LTE and 3G networks, respectively. Twitterati initially pointed to sporadic outages, where just a handful in New York do not have access to their data line, while others spread across Phoenix, Minneapolis, Detroit, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco and Portland also reported the same.

Ubergizmo, Verizon 4G LTE data outage pays another visit

Verizon 4G LTE suffering nationwide outage for third time this month

. Verizon Wireless users are once again suffering from a widespread 4G LTE and 3G EV-DO data outage. The outage is the third one of the month and only seems to be affecting users with 4G LTE devices. A recording on Verizon's support line reveals that the company is aware of the issue and working to fix it, but no indication was given as far as when service might be restored.

Boy Genius Report, Verizon 4G LTE suffering nationwide outage for third time this month

HP TouchPad Go gets reviewed, but remains already long gone (video)

While we already rode the white unicorns of HP's now disintegrated webOS series, there was one little filly we didn't get to saddle up. A developmental model of the seven-inch TouchPad Go has now made it into the hands of webOSnation and has been given a thorough going over. The major differences from its bigger brother. A rear-facing 5 megapixel camera and a smudge buffering matte finish on the back are the main signifiers. Aside from those (and an experimental build of the next firmware update), it's a tiny TouchPad. The Go matches the resolution of the original, also packing the same processor innards of the defunct white TouchPad.

Engadget, HP TouchPad Go gets reviewed, but remains already long gone (video)

BreathalEyes App Detects Drunken (Potential) Drivers

BreathalEyes will watch your eyes and tell you if you're drunk. When the cops pull you out of your car too see if you're too drunk to drive, they might test for Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) before they tase you to the ground. HGN is a herky-jerky movement of the eyes, and is one of several field sobriety tests employed by police to see if your blood alcohol level is too high.
And now, of course, there's an app for that.

BreathalEyes uses the iPhone 4's camera to detect a lack of “smooth pursuit.” That is, the subject is told to look as far as possible to one side and the camera watches for fast, involuntary eye movement.

Gadget Lab, BreathalEyes App Detects Drunken (Potential) Drivers

DashCommand update integrates with Pioneer AppRadio

DashCommand for Windows, Android and iOS has been around for a while, but the most recent update for the iPhone allows you to view all the OBD-II-sourced data directly on your Pioneer AppRadio. As we've said before, the real draw of the AppRadio isn't just its 6.1-inch, capacitive multi-touch screen, it's the ability for third parties to integrate their apps into the display. In the case of DashCommand, you can port over 229 different data points through your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch using an OBDII connector.

2DayBlog.com, DashCommand update integrates with Pioneer AppRadio

AT&T completes $1.9 billion acquisition of Qualcomm spectrum

. Following the FCC's approval last week, AT&T announced Tuesday that it has finalized its acquisition of Qualcomm's 700MHz spectrum licenses. The spectrum, which was previously used for Qualcomm's FLO TV product, covers more than 300 million United States residents. AT&T said it paid Qualcomm approximately $1.9 billion in the deal. “This spectrum will help AT&T continue to deliver a world-class mobile broadband experience to our customers," said AT&T SVP-Federal Regulatory Bob Quinn explained recently.

Boy Genius Report, AT&T completes $1.9 billion acquisition of Qualcomm spectrum

World's most expensive Monopoly game cost £100k

The game of Monopoly has gained many a fanfare across the world, simply for the intriguing journey to one's riches, artificially though it may be. Hence, like most games, this one made its presence felt in the life of the really rich folks by rearing itself in luxurious options such as we saw in the Zontik games edition and Sidney Mobell set. Now Pemberton & Milner, where Ms. Elisabeth Moore is one of the top brass, has managed to create the most expensive Monopoly gaming set, with a price tag of £100,000 ($156,714).


2DayBlog.com, World's most expensive Monopoly game cost £100k

Samsung, Sharp, Hitachi and others settle LCD panel price fixing consumer class action for $539 million

'Tis the season for settling antitrust lawsuits, folks. Earlier this month, Sharp, Samsung, Hitachi and other LCD panel producers settled out their price fixing lawsuit with direct purchasers (read: TV and computer monitor manufacturers) for $388 million. So the story goes, the companies colluded to assure higher prices on LCDs sold between 1999 and 2006. Now, those same seven companies have settled up with indirect LCD purchasers - aka the folks buying TVs and PCs - to the tune of $539 million.

Engadget, Samsung, Sharp, Hitachi and others settle LCD panel price fixing consumer class action for $539 million

Steve McQueen's Le Mans suit fetches nearly $1M, BTTF DeLorean $541k

Two bits of automotive movie history at a Profiles in History auction held earlier this month have drawn massive bids from collectors. As you may recall, Steve McQueen's racing suit costume from Le Mans was poised to go under the gavel with the auction house estimating the Gulf Oil suit would fetch between $200,000 and $300,000. Hemmings says that by the time the last bid came in, the suit had fetched a staggering $984,000, thereby proving that when it comes to celebrity auctions, few names can draw dollar bills quite like McQueen. The actor's Porsche 911, which he drove in the film, recently sold for $1.25 million.

Autoblog, Steve McQueen's Le Mans suit fetches nearly $1M, BTTF DeLorean $541k

DashCommand update integrates with Pioneer AppRadio

DashCommand for Windows, Android and iOS has been around for a while, but the most recent update for the iPhone allows you to view all the OBD-II-sourced data directly on your Pioneer AppRadio. As we've said before, the real draw of the AppRadio isn't just its 6.1-inch, capacitive multi-touch screen, it's the ability for third parties to integrate their apps into the display. In the case of DashCommand, you can port over 229 different data points through your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch using an OBDII connector.

Autoblog, DashCommand update integrates with Pioneer AppRadio

Nokia N9 gets unofficial UI tweak, makes MeeGo lie down and play landscape

Nokia's MeeGo'd pillowcase smartphone has been given a 90-degree twist. This new landscape mode works across the three main navigation screens and can be accessed through N9Tweak, an unofficial mod that can be downloaded through the phone's web browser.

2DayBlog.com, Nokia N9 gets unofficial UI tweak, makes MeeGo lie down and play landscape

Tizi app turns your iPhone into a pricey iPad remote, enlists Siri for channel surfing

It's time to show your iPad who's boss - that is, your iPhone, naturally. The Tizi Remote app is presently available for free via iTunes, letting you use your iPhone to change channels, record shows and pause live TV on iPads connected to the Tizi or Tizi Go TV receivers — and if you happen to have a 4S, you can harness the power of Siri to change channels for you.

2DayBlog.com, Tizi app turns your iPhone into a pricey iPad remote, enlists Siri for channel surfing

Foxconn set to double iPhone plant size

Foxconn is about to hit a new world record – that is, doubling the size of its iPhone plant so that it ends up being the biggest in the world. Yes, the very same China-based Foxconn that saw several cases of suicides happening in the past, and they have more or less put that dark chapter of the company behind them. Basically, the Zhengzhou plant that will cost a cool $1.1 billion to build, is tipped to end up as the largest smartphone-producing facility in the world.

Ubergizmo, Foxconn set to double iPhone plant size

Republic Wireless ditches limits on its $19 unlimited plan

. Republic Wireless, a Sprint MVNO that launched in November, announced late last week that it is ditching its “fair use threshold” and is now offering a truly unlimited talk, text and data plan for $19 a month. When the carrier first made its debut, it advertised “unlimited data” but said it reserved the right to kick customers off of its network if they abused the unlimited data offering and exceeded the usage outlined in its fair use policy.

Boy Genius Report

See also:
gadgets, Republic Wireless ditches limits on its $19 unlimited plan

LG to start pushing Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich updates during Q2 2012

. LG detailed its Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) upgrade plans on Monday, which include several U.S. handsets. The company confirmed that it will commence its global shift to Android 4.0 during the second quarter of next year starting with the LG Optimus LTE (also known as the Nitro HD on AT&T), the Prada phone by LG 3.0, the Optimus 2X, the Optimus Sol, the myTouch Q and the Eclipse. During the third quarter LG will issue the update for the Optimus 3D (also known as the Thrill 4G on AT&T), the Optimus Black, the Optimus Big, the Optimus Q2 and the Optimus EX.

Boy Genius Report, LG to start pushing Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich updates during Q2 2012

JXD S7100 Android Gaming Tablet/Handset Boasts Galaxy S II Specs For $140

We've seen quite a few Android gaming handsets make their way out of China and while the JXD S7100 doesn't look much different, it's what this handset has on the inside that really caught our eye. Boasting specs more along the lines of a Galaxy S II device, the JXD offers almost the same processor with a dual-core Cortex A-9 processor and Mali 400 graphics core powering the device. This makes the JXD more than capable of most graphics intensive Android titles as long as they don't require anything over Android 2.2, which the device comes shipped with.


Android Phone, JXD S7100 Android Gaming Tablet/Handset Boasts Galaxy S II Specs For $140

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for select LG Optimus phones coming starting Q2 2012

It's not the first time LG is talking about Android ICS for its Optimus handsets, but this time the company has provided some specific details in a post on Facebook. The first LG devices to get Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich will be the Optimus LTE, Optimus 2X, Optimus Sol, Prada Phone 3.0, T-Mobile's LG myTouch Q, and LG Eclipse. Updates for them will start rolling-out in the second quarter of 2012.
In the third quarter, the following smartphones will get ICS: Optimus 3D, Optimus Black, Optimus Big, Optimus Q2, and Optimus EX.

Most likely, upgrades for other recent LG smartphones (like AT&T's Nitro HD) will also be announced soon.

Unwired View, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for select LG Optimus phones coming starting Q2 2012

MOTOACTV Rooted, Becomes Watch-sized Android Tablet

Ever wondered what Honeycomb might look like on a 1.6-inch display. Thanks to one hacked MOTOACTV we now have the answer. The wristwatch-sized device is one of the more interesting items we have seen emerge from the Android ecosystem, though out of the box it is rather limited in functionality. Factor in the 600MHz TI OMAP 3630 and 256MB of RAM and there isn't much to work with. Chris Wade saw the small size and smaller feature set as a challenge and went about hacking the stock Honeycomb launcher onto the MOTOACTV's Gingerbread base and even managed to shoehorn in Android Market access.



Android Phone, MOTOACTV Rooted, Becomes Watch-sized Android Tablet

Amazon UK opens its doors for the Christmas sales, adds hundreds of Kindle books from 99p

Got some Kindle hardware burning a hole in your pile of festive gifts. Well, British bookworms have been given some extra yuletide joy courtesy of Amazon UK which has also started a 12-day sale, focusing on its e-book wares. The site vows to add more digital reads each day and it looks like all the additions will stick with their shrunken price tags for the extent of the sale.

Engadget, Amazon UK opens its doors for the Christmas sales, adds hundreds of Kindle books from 99p

Maserati hits the matte with exclusive GranTurismo S Limited Edition

We like us some matte finish here at Autoblog, but we have to admit that the usual smattering of matte black vinyl wraps leave us a bit in the dark. That's why our eyes pop just a little wider when we see a car that cuts the glare but keeps the palette. That's also why the storied brands of the Fiat group are getting top marks in our books these days. At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the group's top brand Ferrari showed off a concept 599 with regenerative braking and a delicious matte green finish. The following year at the same venue, Alfa Romeo lifted the veil on the tempting 4C Concept in a beautiful shade of matte red.

Autoblog, Maserati hits the matte with exclusive GranTurismo S Limited Edition

Drift HD POV Action Camera Review

So……..what does a 46 year young man do when he's given  a Drift Innovations HD Action Extreme Sports camera to review.  You know the ones, you've seen the videos of the guys in the California X Games  doing motorcycle or skateboard jumps and flips, or the guys skydiving or……. Well the mind might be willing but these days the body ain't….
How am I going to test this one ??????

The Drift HD is a splash-proof, dust-proof, weatherproof, and dunk-proof camera primarily aimed at the “Extreme Sports” market.










The Gadgeteer, Drift HD POV Action Camera Review

Noisehush NX26 HD Stereo Headphones Review

The NX26 HD Stereo Headphones from NoiseHush boasts to deliver deeper bass, lower distortion, and wider dynamic range with advanced engineering and featuring neodymium magnet drivers.  NX26 can be used for home hi-fi systems and mobile sources.  It has an in-line microphone that is built to insure filtering out of external noise and ensure that callers hear clearly.  Let's give them a look.



The Gadgeteer, Noisehush NX26 HD Stereo Headphones Review

Volkswagen shuts down after-hours e-mail, allows employees to have lives again

Add this one to the list of reasons Europeans have it better than we do, right after diesels and manual transmissions: No more "catching up on e-mail" while you should be spending time with your family. Or sleeping.

Autoblog, Volkswagen shuts down after-hours e-mail, allows employees to have lives again

Distro Issue 19: Peter Rojas plays 20 questions and Zach Honig boards Boeing's 787 Dreamliner

If you caught our release of Distro for Android tablets, you know we're in the mood for giving. In keeping with that sentiment, issue 19 ushers in two new weekly (and exclusive) features: "Recommended Reading," a guide to the best writing happening outside of our fine publication(s), and "Q&A," our take on the Proust questionnaire, answered this week by Engadget founder Peter Rojas.

Engadget

See also:
technologypulse, Distro Issue 19: Peter Rojas plays 20 questions and Zach Honig boards Boeing's 787 Dreamliner