Warner Bros. to ditch 28-day release delay for rental stores?

Warner Bros. may have doubled its 28-day embargo on new releases for kiosk operators (even if they side-step it), but endangered bricks-and-mortar rental stores could be treated to the exact opposite. A rumor coming from Home Media Magazine's unnamed sources suggests the WB is going to ditch the embargo for these locations altogether, starting on October 30th. We have no idea why this break would be offered to the relic stores, although we doubt they care if it gets a few more bodies through the door. Warner Bros.

Engadget , Warner Bros. to ditch 28-day release delay for rental stores?, Warner Bros. to ditch 28-day release delay for rental stores?

Panasonic introduces new Toughbook C2 convertible tablet with Windows 8 Pro for $2,949

The Wire's Lester Freamon was never too far away from his Panasonic Toughbook, and we'd bet he'd be able to handle plenty more wiretaps with one of these. This is the Toughbook C2, the company's latest 12.5-inch convertible notebook for Windows 8 Pro that's designed for healthcare professionals and daring explorer types. On the hardware side, there's an Intel Core i5-3427U vPro CPU, 11 hours of battery life and a pair of USB 3.0 ports. You'll be staring into a 500 nit, LCD IPS display (and a 720p webcam) that offers five-point multitouch and a digitizer so you can scrawl down your notes with a stylus.

Engadget , Panasonic introduces new Toughbook C2 convertible tablet with Windows 8 Pro for $2,949

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gadgetsblog, Panasonic introduces new Toughbook C2 convertible tablet with Windows 8 Pro for $2,949

Samsung Galaxy Premier (GT-I9260) Unveiled

Twitter user @evleaks has posted a leaked picture of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Premier (GT-I9260). The smartphone features a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 1GB RAM, a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display, GPS, an 8-megapixel primary camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. It has a 16GB internal memory, which is upgradeable via a microSD card slot. Other specs include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The Samsung Galaxy Premier (GT-I9260) runs on the Google Android 4.1 operating system.

TechFresh , Samsung Galaxy Premier (GT-I9260) Unveiled, Samsung Galaxy Premier (GT-I9260) Unveiled

Apple's Phil Schiller defends the iPad mini's price

With the base price of the latest iPad set at $499 for the WiFi-only 16GB model, it puts the tablet a little of the reach for some customers. This is probably where the iPad mini would step in with its price of $329, making it a more affordable option, albeit a less powerful and smaller one. However for those who just need a tablet for reading and light surfing, we guess the iPad mini should be able to get the job done just fine. However it seems that the sentiments of some over the pricing of the iPad mini versus other tablets in its size, i.e.

Ubergizmo , Apple's Phil Schiller defends the iPad mini's price, Apple's Phil Schiller defends the iPad mini's price

Telus plans LG Optimus G launch on November 13th, other carriers remain shy

LG committed to launching its mostly superb Optimus G to the three major carriers in Canada sometime in November. Just which day the phone would arrive was left a mystery, though, even when Rogers started taking pre-orders. It's taking another provider to sort things out: Telus has gone on the record with plans to carry the quad-core smartphone starting November 13th, right at the height of what could be a busy month. That's all that the future-is-friendly network can say for now, although Rogers may have provided the remaining piece of the puzzle when it gave out $130 contract and $600 outright prices.

Engadget , Telus plans LG Optimus G launch on November 13th, other carriers remain shy, Telus plans LG Optimus G launch on November 13th, other carriers remain shy

Nexus 4 support page goes online

You can more or less feel the LG Nexus 4 right in the palm of your hands now, considering how the device is due for a reveal next Monday. This could very well be the first of many devices that carry the Nexus brand name, and another confirmation that points towards the existence of the LG E960 would be its support page going live on the LG website. This support page is not yet available on every localization of the company's site, the UK and Australian versions do show the existence of such a page if you want to know.

Ubergizmo , Nexus 4 support page goes online

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wgitn, Nexus 4 support page goes online

Razer Project Fiona hits the FCC

We all know that when it comes to high end gaming peripherals, the name Razer is always somewhere on the list. Well, the company which specializes in gaming peripherals did come up with the idea of a high end gaming tablet, calling it Project Fiona in the process. We are pleased to say that Project Fiona has finally made her way into the latest FCC filings, although she is not called that by federal regulators who have spent their fair share of time with Project Fiona. Boy, do we envy the folks over at the FCC from time to time.

Ubergizmo , Razer Project Fiona hits the FCC, Razer Project Fiona hits the FCC

SingBox SV606F MP3 Player

Here's an ideal MP3 player for your traveling companion, the SingBox SV606F. Featuring an aluminum body, this compact player comes with a microSD card slot, an FM radio, a headphone jack-in, a built-in 2W mono speaker and a 13-hour battery. The SingBox SV606F retails for just $29.90.

TechFresh , SingBox SV606F MP3 Player, SingBox SV606F MP3 Player

Greater choice for Confirmit call centres with new support for the InVADE dialler

New partnership will deliver outstanding productivity for customersLondon, UK and Oslo, Norway and New York, NY: 25 October, 2012: Confirmit, the leading global software provider for Customer Experience, Employee Engagement and Market Research, has announced that InVADE, an industry leading predictive dialler, is now fully integrated with Confirmit Horizons CATI. The development follows the creation of the Open Dialler API in Confirmit Horizons V17 earlier in 2012 which enables dialler vendors to quickly and reliably interface with Confirmit.

Press Release Distribution , Greater choice for Confirmit call centres with new support for the InVADE dialler, Greater choice for Confirmit call centres with new support for the InVADE dialler

Scientists Have Changed The Color of Gold

The pattern embossed on the gold's surface. Anodizing's in the tech news world today because Apple (and other gadget makers) are realizing it's a great way to make portable devices more durable and more attractive. However, the anodizing process involves coating metal with a thin layer of colored aluminum oxide: basically, it's not changing the actual color of the metal. Researchers from the university of Southhampton in the UK announced today that they actually changed the color of gold by scuffing up its surface.

Ubergizmo , Scientists Have Changed The Color of Gold, Scientists Have Changed The Color of Gold

Square launches in Canada, streamlines payments on the world stage

For all of Square's fast growth, it's been exclusively the domain of US shopkeeps; others had to scrounge for an alternative, if there was one at all. The payment pioneer clearly isn't content to isolate itself or anyone else, as it's making its international debut with support for Canada. Locals can immediately request the free Mobile Card Reader and swipe credit cards with an Android or iOS device at the same flat, 2.75 percent rate that more experimental American stores know very well.

Engadget , Square launches in Canada, streamlines payments on the world stage, Square launches in Canada, streamlines payments on the world stage

ESRB now supports Windows 8, introduces cost-free questionnaire for rating digital games

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has a huge responsibility - to rate and regulate the entire medium of video games - but only has so many resources with which to do so. With the rise of digital delivery, it's become increasingly difficult to fulfill the task of rating every single title that comes out, but the ESRB is betting on a new initiative that'll help streamline that process. The new "Digital Rating Service" employs an online questionnaire to determine a wide variety of criteria, beyond just age-appropriateness: content, interactivity, and privacy settings (whether or not it shares your data).

Engadget , ESRB now supports Windows 8, introduces cost-free questionnaire for rating digital games

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itband, ESRB now supports Windows 8, introduces cost-free questionnaire for rating digital games

2013 Ford Escape vs. 2013 Mazda CX-5

Brothers From Another Mother Face Off. Not a single part is shared between these two crossovers. But with the two automakers having officially parted ways, Mazda was forced to create an all-new platform for a small crossover that would play in the same segment as the Escape.










Autoblog , 2013 Ford Escape vs. 2013 Mazda CX-5, 2013 Ford Escape vs. 2013 Mazda CX-5

Blackberry 10 Cinnamon Toast and French Toast UI slides leaked

Notifications on smartphones are an important feature as they keep us informed of new messages, emails and etc. However depending on how the notification was designed, it can either be informative or just downright annoying (think the popup alerts prior to iOS 5). Well the folks at N4BB have managed to get their hands on a couple of slides that detail the notification system that will be arriving on Blackberry 10 devices. These have been given the names Cinnamon Toast and French Toast, with the former displaying notifications via the lock screen, with more information being displayed depending on the angle the phone is held.

Ubergizmo , Blackberry 10 Cinnamon Toast and French Toast UI slides leaked, Blackberry 10 Cinnamon Toast and French Toast UI slides leaked

Arieso: Operators Risking Customer Experience with Outdated Network KPIs

Key Performance Indicators require customer-centricity to guarantee optimal customer experience & network outsourcing effectiveness24 October 2012, Newbury, UK - Arieso has today revealed that mobile network operators are using out of date “Key Performance Indicators” (KPIs) to monitor network performance. Outdated KPIs leave operators unable to meet ever-evolving subscriber demands and effectively manage network outsourcing agreements. Current indicators such as cell level accessibility and retainability support network performance but offer little to enhance the customer experience.

Press Release Distribution , Arieso: Operators Risking Customer Experience with Outdated Network KPIs, Arieso: Operators Risking Customer Experience with Outdated Network KPIs

ASUS VivoTab RT tablet arrives October 26th, starting at $599 for the 32GB model; keyboard dock included

In case you haven't heard, a lot - and we mean a lot - of Windows devices are going on sale this week. Today it's ASUS' turn to give its lineup a formal coming-out party: the company is hosting a press event here in New York City, where it just announced the dockable VivoTab RT will be available on October 26th, starting at $599 for the 32GB model, keyboard included. Alternatively, you can buy the 64GB tablet and docking station for $699. As we previously reported, an LTE version is coming to AT&T. Finally, ASUS says it will also sell the tablet and dock individually, but we haven't yet learned final pricing for those items.








Engadget , ASUS VivoTab RT tablet arrives October 26th, starting at $599 for the 32GB model; keyboard dock included, ASUS VivoTab RT tablet arrives October 26th, starting at $599 for the 32GB model; keyboard dock included

Nissan recalls thousands of 2012 and 2013 Altimas over loose bolts

Do you know what a transverse link bolt is. Well, if you own either a 2012 or 2013 Nissan Altima, the seemingly inconsequential piece of hardware may concern you. A recall has been issued regarding over 13,000 Altima's built between May 10 and July 26 of 2012. The warning is in regards to said transverse link bolts as well as rack bolts in the power steering system. These bolts were apparently not torqued to the proper specification.

Autoblog , Nissan recalls thousands of 2012 and 2013 Altimas over loose bolts, Nissan recalls thousands of 2012 and 2013 Altimas over loose bolts

Honda warns dealers to clear out 2012 Civic stock, 2013 emergency refresh on sale Nov. 29

Thanks to an anonymous tipster, Autoblog has learned that the so-called "emergency refresh" of the Honda Civic is just around the corner. In fact, the automaker is already urging its dealers to clear out remaining 2012 model year stock because "The changes made to the 2013 model will make the outgoing 2012 Civic a difficult model [to] sell when they are side to side." Those are the words of David Hendley, Assistant Vice President of Honda National Sales excerpted from a recent letter to dealers.

Autoblog , Honda warns dealers to clear out 2012 Civic stock, 2013 emergency refresh on sale Nov. 29, Honda warns dealers to clear out 2012 Civic stock, 2013 emergency refresh on sale Nov. 29

Kindle Fire HD software update delivers parental controls for FreeTime

Parents, you know that with great power comes great responsibility, and having a kid means you have an awesome responsibility ahead of you, including helping your little one make intelligent choices down the road. You can guide the little one early on in life with the right tools, and just in case they love fooling around with your Kindle Fire HD, bear in mind that there is a new update you should apply that delivers parental controls for the FreeTime feature, ensuring you have more say in how the 7" tablet is used by your kids.

Ubergizmo , Kindle Fire HD software update delivers parental controls for FreeTime, Kindle Fire HD software update delivers parental controls for FreeTime

The most exciting Xbox SmartGlass application isn't what you'd think

In Microsoft's ongoing battle to alter your association between "Xbox" and "Video Games," SmartGlass is its latest volley. Employing your favorite mobile device - Windows Phone 7.5x8, Android, and iOS devices are all supported - SmartGlass enables you to control your Dashboard experience, explore the web, input text, and much more. But what Microsoft's really banking on is its "second screen" functionality, essentially enabling another layer of interactivity with video, music, games, and the Xbox 360's other, less ballyhooed service: sports. It's this final layer that I found most enticing during a recent hands-on meeting with Microsoft.










Engadget , The most exciting Xbox SmartGlass application isn't what you'd think

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at2359, The most exciting Xbox SmartGlass application isn't what you'd think

Canon EOS 6D Digital Camera (Body Only) Available For Pre-Order

The all new Canon EOS 6D digital camera is now available for pre-order in the US via B&H Photo. This full-frame DSLR retails for $2,099 (Body Only) and will start shipping from December 10th. In case you didn't know, the EOS 6D sports a 20.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor, a 3.0-inch 1,040K-dot Clear View LCD monitor, Canon's DIGIC 5+ image processor, built-in WiFi and GPS connectivity and 1080p Full HD video recording capabilities at 30fps with manual controls.

TechFresh , Canon EOS 6D Digital Camera (Body Only) Available For Pre-Order, Canon EOS 6D Digital Camera (Body Only) Available For Pre-Order

Prexiso iC3 lets your iPhone measure distances… with a laser

Prexiso is a Swiss manufacturer of precision laser sights for surveyors and everyone else who needs to measure things finely and accurately. Now they've brough their technology to the iPhone, and also added app functionality. Their previous laser distance measuring tools were handheld, tiny LCD affairs aimed at professionals, but now they've made the tape measure look obsolete for consumers. The new gadget is called the Prexiso iC4, and it plugs into the (now-antiquated) iOS 30-pin connector, and is so serious it requires AA batteries–it won't drain your iPhone's battery.


Ubergizmo , Prexiso iC3 lets your iPhone measure distances… with a laser, Prexiso iC3 lets your iPhone measure distances… with a laser

Bill Gates already has a Surface and you don't (video)

Being the founder of Microsoft certainly has its advantages, as well as its downsides. Case in point: the video interview Microsoft released this morning, starring none other than Bill Gates himself talking about the world of Windows 8. On the positive side, Gates reveals he's already got his own soon-to-be-released Microsoft Surface RT - he calls it "an unbelievably great product," unsurprisingly - with a black keyboard. On the less than positive side, despite being out of the CEO seat at the company, Gates still has to do interviews like the one found after the break.

Engadget , Bill Gates already has a Surface and you don't (video)

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supertechnologies, Bill Gates already has a Surface and you don't (video)

Instagram will translate Instagram mentions to Twitter mentions automatically, makes life a little easier

Given that Instagram has a community of its own and that people do subscribe to other Instagram accounts, naturally @mentions do pop up ever so often. However those @mentions could get confusing especially when you have friends on Twitter and Instagram who have different handles. This might be because their username was already taken on Twitter/Instagram which means that had to come up with an alternative. Granted it's not a huge inconvenience but it could get confusing once in a while.

Ubergizmo , Instagram will translate Instagram mentions to Twitter mentions automatically, makes life a little easier, Instagram will translate Instagram mentions to Twitter mentions automatically, makes life a little easier

Borderlands Legends for iOS revealed in leaked ad

Good news gamers, if you've enjoyed the Borderlands universe so far and thought it might be cool if you could play it on your mobile device, well it seems like your wish will be coming true this October. It seems that an ad spotted in the Borderlands 2's digital strategy guide (via Gearbox forum) has revealed that an iOS version of Borderlands Legends will be available via the iTunes App Store in October. Given that we're nearly at the end of October, we guess we won't have to wait much longer to get our hands on the game.

Ubergizmo , Borderlands Legends for iOS revealed in leaked ad, Borderlands Legends for iOS revealed in leaked ad

Verizon HTC DLX spotted

HTC must be looking forward to see how their first foray into the phablet market would end up – partnering with Verizon to deliver their maiden 5" Android-powered device to the US, calling it the HTC DLX. There were rumors of this device floating around for the longest time, some of them wayward, while others would seem to be pretty much spot on. First things first – the HTC DLX is meant to be pronounced "HTC Deluxe”, where it does seem to pack in a Full HD display that would place it on par with the HTC J Butterfly, while carrying with it at the very minimum an 8-megapixel camera with a 2-megapixel camera at the front.

Ubergizmo , Verizon HTC DLX spotted, Verizon HTC DLX spotted