The iPad has yet to transform the publishing world as many expected it would, but some healthy competition from Android tablets should help to keep that process in motion. Zinio‘s reader app is now available on select Android 2.2, 2.3, and all 3.0 tablets, bringing Esquire, National Geographic, and 20,000 other magazine titles to the Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and a half dozen other devices. And, to kick off the launch, Zinio is picking up the tab on the most recent issues of 24 top magazines, as long as you download by June 15. Digital subscriptions are still often more expensive than their print counterparts, but at least Android tablet owners will have a safer place to hide their issues of Playboy.

Continue reading Zinio comes to Android tablets, gives you 24 magazine issues for free

Zinio comes to Android tablets, gives you 24 magazine issues for free originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 22:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We got a hint of Sling’s desire to let users catch their video streams directly on TV without a box during CES 2010, and now there’s video of the company showing off its SlingPlayer for Connected Devices app on Google TV. We caught a a preview at CES earlier this year, but interested Slingbox owners (SOLO and PRO-HD boxes only, just like the mobile apps) can sign up for the upcoming beta at the link below. We’re wondering if this app could be based on Flash, which could allow for easy porting to other embedded TV platforms with Adobe Flash & Air support like Samsung’s Smart Hub. Also not lost in the moment is the ability for the Google TV to show some potential, since it desperately needs for the list of things it actually can do well to garner more attention than the list of things it’s blocked from doing.

SlingPlayer for Google TV teased on video, beta program opens up soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 18:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you sick of hearing from Lodsys? We know devs are, but the rather outspoken patent troll is at it again, hitting the blog to defend its good name. Hidden among today’s posts is an announcement that the firm is taking the next steps with its accusations, filing a lawsuit against some of the developers it previously targeted and, get this, blaming Apple. It explains: “Lodsys chose to move its litigation timing to an earlier date than originally planned, in response to Apple’s threat, in order to preserve its legal options.” We’re not sure which developers are targeted by this suit, specifically, but the firm has promised a $1,000 payment to each dev, “if it turns out that the scope of Apple’s existing license rights apply to fully license you with respect to our claim relating to your App on Apple iOS.” Devs may be tempted to spend that promised gift on a well-deserved vacation (or a WWDC conference pass), but with layers of LLCs protecting the man behind the curtain at Lodsys, we wouldn’t be surprised it the firm disappeared before anyone sees a cent (or 99) of payment. Unfortunately, it appears that the saga continues, so if you’ve had enough of the patent troll, feel free to enjoy the rest of our content, Lodsys free.

[Thanks, Andrew]

Update: We’ve been told that the list of devs named in the lawsuit include: Combay, Iconfactory, Illusion Labs, Shovelmate, Quickoffice, Richard Shinderman, and Wulven Game Studios.

Lodsys hits devs with lawsuit, $1,000 offer, and 1,000 words of eloquent prose originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 18:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’d had some indication that both the Motorola Droid 2 and Droid Pro would be getting upgraded to Gingerbread in the near future, but we can’t say we expected the Droid Pro to be the first of the pair to make the jump. As evidenced by the screenshot above, however, that’s now happened, with at least some lucky owners of the portrait QWERTY device receiving the OTA update — complete with an updated version of Blur, of course. Unfortunately, it’s not quite clear how widespread the rollout is just yet, but it seems you can rest assured that it’s not just a matter of time before it hits your device. Let us know in comments if you’ve already received it.

[Thanks, K]

Gingerbread update begins rolling out to Motorola Droid Pro originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 19:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TDK is taking those transparent OLED screens we saw back in October and putting them into mass production. The 2.4-inch, QVGA (240 x 320) UEL476 display has a transmittance of 40 percent, but obscures light passing through the front so others won’t be able to read your text messages from behind. Obviously, these aren’t going to find their way into high-end Android handsets, but they may have a home in fashion phones like Lenovo’s S800. And, you know, they seem perfect for SMS addicts who can’t stop their thumbs from flying even while walking. Check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading TDK starts mass production of transparent OLEDs, makes texting and walking safer

TDK starts mass production of transparent OLEDs, makes texting and walking safer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 20:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba announces Oak Trail-based WT310/C Windows tablet for Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 18:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unlocked 3G modems aren’t something you see everyday. Sure, Zoom has been hawking the dongles for some time, but they’re primarily of the tri-band variety — Nova Media’s iCON 461 does those one better by going quad-band and throwing in GPS for good measure. The globe-trotting “3G surfstick” supports 7.2Mbps HSPA on the 850, 900,1900, and 2100 bands (that would include AT&T here in the ol’ US of A) and can handle EDGE at 850, 900, 1800, and 1900MHz (hello, T-Mo). In addition to a slot for your GSM SIM there’s also a place to stick a microSD card, in case you need someplace to store that leaked copy of David Comes to Life. The iCON 461 comes in two versions: Mac-compatible with launch2net Premium for €179 (about $248), and Windows-friendly with uCan Connect for €149 (roughly $215).

Nova Media’s iCON 461 USB modem is unlocked for globe-trotting commitmentphobes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 15:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite our commander-in-chief’s seemingly undying allegiance to BlackBerry, it looks like the federal government could be ready to make a break from RIM. According to a Washington Post article published yesterday, a number of agencies within the federal government are questioning their attachment to the standard-issue BlackBerry devices, and allowing government employees to bring in their own preferred methods of communication — among other things, Congress now allows the use of iPads and iPhones on the House floor and use of BlackBerrys at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has dropped from 1,000 to 700 in the past year. What’s more, the General Services Administration is currently shifting 17,000 employees to Gmail, a move it says could reduce expenses by 50 percent in the next five years. Likewise, the USDA will also move its email services to the cloud with Microsoft’s services, claiming $6 million in annual savings. Now, we doubt Obama’s going to turn a blind eye to RIM entirely, but he has been getting awfully cozy with that iPad.

BlackBerry finally sees competition within US government originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 16:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belkin’s ScreenCast TV WiDi adapter hits the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 16:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, Samsung missed that mid-May target date for the Galaxy S Gingerbread update… after already aborting an earlier push to Google’s latest and greatest in mid-April. But, time for some cautious optimism — it appears that Android 2.3 is finally here for Sammy’s carrier-agnostic former flagship. A reader from the UK wrote in to let us know that he fired up Kies today and voil