We’ve already seen MAME burn brightly (and briefly) on iPads across the world and now it’s been delicately ported across to Chrome’s Native Client. Admittedly, the graphics may not stand up against recent gaming wares seen on Google’s new platform, but it’s still able to cope with the likes of Pac-Man. Managing to turnaround the whole project in a mere four days, Google engineer Robert Muth branded the brief exercise as “relatively challenging” and has noted down all the deep and meaningfuls in a full case study, available at the source below. For anyone unwilling to dip their toes into Native Client waters, however, there’s still plenty of power pellets to be downed online.

MAME gets Chrome Native Client port, is awesome case study originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/mame-gets-chrome-native-client-port-is-awesome-case-study/

The bar-laden spectacles that Kanye West popularized have just been reborn, and dare we say, they’re harder, better, faster and stronger. YouTube user ch00ftech decided to borrow a few good great ideas while adding in a few twists of his own, resulting in the creation of EL Wire Kanye glasses that actually light up when the beat pulses. There’s a deep, deep dive into the technicalities down in the source link, but for the 99 percenters in attendance, the video just below says it all.

Continue reading New Year reveler crafts Kanye-approved EL Wire glasses: light up as the bass pounds (video)

New Year reveler crafts Kanye-approved EL Wire glasses: light up as the bass pounds (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/kanye-west-el-wire-glasses-light-up-hack-mod-video/

Leave it to Apple to completely avoid CES, yet be one of the largest stories surrounding its dates. Much like last year’s invite to what would eventually be the introduction of Verizon’s iPhone 4, All Things D has it on good authority that the folks in Cupertino are spending their first hours back on the job planning a “media-related announcement” for later this month. Contrary to earlier beliefs, we’re told that this particular event won’t be related to the next-gen iPad, and it’s also “unlikely” to be connected to a “large-scale rethinking of its interactive television initiative.”

So, knowing what it won’t entail… what will be talked about? According to unnamed sources, Apple SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue is reportedly involved. For those unaware, Cue is responsible for a sizable chunk of Apple’s media units, not the least of which include the App Store, iBookstore, iTunes Store and iCloud. Sadly, details outside of that are few and far betwixt, but you can bet we’ll be keeping an ear to the ground for more — even if it’s smack-dab in the middle of a Sony CES keynote. Cough.

Apple gearing up for ‘media-related announcement’ later this month? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/apple-media-related-announcement-this-month-rumor/

Talk about polar opposites. In an update posted to the Library of Congress, we’re told that the Republic of Belarus will begin fining citizens that host domestic sites on “foreign” domains. Crazy? Definitely, but no less true. Starting later this week, any Belarusian not registered as an entrepreneur may use “only domestic internet domains for providing online services, conducting sales, or exchanging email messages.” According to the interpretation, it “appears that business requests from Belarus cannot be served over the internet if the service provider is using online services located outside of the country,” and police (as well as the secret police) are authorized to “initiate, investigate, and prosecute such violations.” Wilder still, owners of internet cafes could have their entire business shut down if users are found to be accessing external sites on those networks, and for those curious, the law “may” extend to browsing within one’s private home.

In a land a bit closer to the equator, it seems as if officials have their heads in a far more sensible place. Kuala Lumpur — already home to one of the world’s most lust-worthy airports and some of the most accessible / affordable mobile data plans — will soon mandate that all new restaurants provide WiFi to their customers. And by “WiFi,” we mean “access to the entire internet.” According to the New Strait Times, the rule will be enforced as early as April, applying to eatery owners operating on premises larger than 120 square meters. We’re told that existing owners will be forced to comply when renewing their license, and while the waves won’t have to be given away for free, they’ll be encouraged to charge no more than a “reasonable fee.” Furthermore, the government is considering dipping into its own pockets in order to extend gratis WiFi to public facilities in the city, likely as a follow-up plan to the expiring WirelessKL contract. As if going to wander through Batu Caves and the colorful streets shown above weren’t enough reason to visit Malaysia…

Belarus limits use of ‘foreign’ websites, while Kuala Lumpur mandates WiFi in eateries originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/belarus-bars-foreign-websites-kuala-lumpur-wifi-eateries/

Here at Engadget, we like to live in this wild, ever-changing world called “The Internet.” Last month, Google launched yet another branch for internet dwellers to explore, and explore we have. We’re happy to say that you can now find each and every Engadget post within Google Currents, a Flipboard-esque reader that nicely formats your favorite websites for magazine-style enjoyment. We’ll be working on tweaking the experience based on feedback received, and we certainly hope you’ll have a gander if you’re already building out your subscriptions.

Engadget Distro

Engadget in Editions

Engadget on your TV

Currents is available for both iOS and Android platforms, and while Google’s limiting the official downloads to accounts based in America, there’s a decent chance you can use Google’s own search engine to find an APK to sideload. Give it a look if you’re clamoring for a more subtle design (just hit ‘Add’ and look in the Science Tech category), and while you’re at it, have a gander at Engadget Distro, too. Enjoy!

Gallery: Engadget on Google Currents: iPad edition

Engadget: now available in Google Currents! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/engadget-now-available-in-google-currents/

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade? Pish posh. As any red-blooded American will likely confess, it’s the parade preceding the annual Rose Bowl that really gets one’s attention, and this year’s edition featured a float from none other than Microsoft itself. As Russell Wilson and co. were gearing up to take the field in Pasadena, a smattering of folks were strapping on their winter gear and heading atop an admittedly eye-catching Kinect float. No, there’s no way to actually dictate the rest of bowl season through your motion-sensing peripheral, but there is a making-of video just after the break for the handicraft sect.

Continue reading Microsoft brings Kinect float to Rose Bowl Parade: a making-of video

Microsoft brings Kinect float to Rose Bowl Parade: a making-of video originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/microsoft-kinect-float-rose-bowl-parade-making-of-video/

New year, new you ROMs. Yep, the Galaxy S II is getting even more attention, with a duo of Ice Cream Sandwich versions landing on that capacious 4.3-inch screen. They consist of an early Android 4.0.1 build made on December 20th and version 4.0.3 crafted just ten days later. The interesting part is that, according to YouMobile, both of these will arrive through Kies, Samsung’s Android connectivity software. The mobile news site also suspects that these are close (but still buggy) approximations of what we’ll see on our as-yet un-tinkered Galaxy S IIs in the very near future. These Kies-capable builds also have a few cosmetic differences to the build leaked earlier, like a distinct lack of Tron hues adorning the notification bar at the top. While we await a release through the official channels, you can check out a swift run-through right after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S II gets new ICS ROM, offers Kies to the kingdom (video)

Samsung Galaxy S II gets new ICS ROM, offers Kies to the kingdom (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-new-ics-rom-kies-update/

For as much grief as ASUS is getting for its Transformer Prime, we’re actually kind of surprised it’s throwing the masses any bones at all. ‘Course, one might say that having a riled-up customer base is better than having no customer base at all. Regardless of all that, a relatively small v8.8.3.33 update is purportedly hitting select Prime tablets today, with the over-the-air update bringing improved focus on the camera, bolstered touchscreen performance and enhanced GPS speed. Unfortunately, that last one seems to be nothing more than the automatic enabling of WiFi to “download satellite location information,” but hey — that’s one less step for you, right?. As with all updates, we’d caution against installing this one if you’re already working with some homegrown firmware, but everyone else should be welcoming the new bits and bytes with open arms.

ASUS Transformer Prime sees v8.8.3.33 OTA update, GPS and performance improved originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/asus-transformer-prime-v8-8-3-33-update-gps-performance/

As you may recall from last year, Sprint and LightSquared signed a 15-year agreement that would see the two companies share spectrum and equipment as they build out their respective LTE networks — an agreement that hinged on LightSquared’s ability to gain FCC approval for its planned use of a particularly problematic slice of spectrum. LightSquared faced a December 31st deadline from Sprint on that last bit, which has obviously passed. So, is the deal dead? Not yet — Sprint’s now given LightSquared a 30-day reprieve on the deadline, during which LightSquared can continue its attempt to gain clearance from the FCC. For its part, LightSquared has yet to comment on this latest development, and it remains to be seen if it’s prospects for the next thirty days are any brighter than the last.

Sprint gives LightSquared an extra 30 days to gain FCC approval originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/sprint-gives-lightsquared-an-extra-30-days-to-gain-fcc-approval/

Way back in September, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory sent a duo of Lockheed Martin-produced spacecraft toward one of its favorite test subjects, the Moon, as a part of its GRAIL mission — Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory. Now, nearly four months later, the administration has announced that the GRAIL-A and -B twin crafts have planted themselves within our Moon’s orbit. According to NASA, they’re currently in “a near-polar, elliptical orbit with an orbital period of approximately 11.5 hours,” and it plans to execute more “burn maneuvers” in the coming weeks to shorten that time frame to less than two. By March, the research crafts will be positioned in a “near-polar, near-circular orbit” 34 miles above its surface, at which point they’ll begin surveying its gravitational pull, by using radio signals to determine the distance between both units.

With this information, NASA hopes to better understand how gravity works, both above and below the Moon’s surface, by detailing the findings in a high-resolution map. NASA also says that scientists can utilize it to get further insight into how our planets formed. Notably, both spacecraft feature a MoonKAM (Moon Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students), that will allow students request pictures of specific areas the lunar surface for later study. Best of all, using NASA’s “Eyes on the Solar System” web app, you’ll be able to follow the paths of both spaceships in detail. You’ll find full details about the GRAIL mission at the source links below.

NASA’s GRAIL spacecrafts enter Moon’s orbit, set to map its gravitational field in March originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/nasa-grail-spacecrafts-enter-moons-orbit-set-to-map-its-gravit/