Saturday, September 14, 2013

Future Ford cars to balance MyFord Touch with old-fashioned buttons

Future Ford cars to balance MyFord Touch with old-fashioned buttons data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20624069' !== '') ? 'bsd:20624069' : ''; var postID = '20624069'; var modalMNo = '93372903', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"transportation",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"jon-fingas", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-152",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93372903", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93372906", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Future Ford cars to balance MyFord Touch with old-fashioned buttonsBypostedJun 17th, 2013 at 11:33 AM 0

Ford to balance MyFord Touch with oldfashioned knobs in future cars

While Ford's MyFord Touch is a popular option for tech-savvy drivers, it's not always the most intuitive -- some complain that basic tasks, like radio tuning, are relatively awkward. The company is very aware of the feedback, as it's now supplementing the touch controls with "traditional" buttons and knobs. Both the latest F-150 and future vehicles will reflect the hybrid approach. Ford is still giving touchscreens some love with a MyFord Touch update due this summer, but it's clear that the company will keep one foot in the analog world for a while longer.

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SYNC and MyFord Touch Sold on 79 Percent of New Ford Vehicles, New Technology Drives Quality Satisfaction

* SYNC® and MyFord Touch® sold on nearly 80 percent of 2013 Ford vehicles, double the sales mix of infotainment systems sold with Toyota and Honda vehicles, and up from 68 percent in 2012; MyFord Touch mix of 55 percent increased from 12 percent in 2012
* Customers with vehicles equipped with MyFord Touch have a higher rate of satisfaction with overall vehicle quality for most models compared to those that do not have the advanced infotainment system
* Ford customers cite voice command and touch screen features as top purchase drivers much more often than competitors; Ford Escape owners prioritize them twice as much as the segment average
* Ford improves MyFord Touch quality by more than 50 percent since launch, plans another upgrade in summer 2013

DEARBORN, Mich., June 17, 2013 – Ford SYNC® voice-controlled connectivity and MyFord Touch® touch screen technologies are attracting more customers and selling at a much higher rate than competitors, as MyFord Touch helps drive higher customer satisfaction with vehicle quality.

Combined, SYNC and MyFord Touch are sold on 79 percent of new 2013 Ford vehicles, double the rate of Toyota and Honda vehicle infotainment systems and up from 68 percent in 2012. This includes a MyFord Touch mix of 55 percent from 12 percent in 2012.

SYNC and MyFord Touch connectivity technologies – launched in 2007 and 2010, respectively – remain a competitive advantage as customers cite voice control and touch screens as top purchase drivers much more often than competitors. For example, 53 percent of 2013 Ford Escape owners say the touch screen is a top purchase reason compared to a 22 percent segment average.

"Ford has launched 60 new technologies the past few years and they are helping attract many new customers in important markets such as the coasts," says Raj Nair, group vice president, global product development. "SYNC and MyFord Touch are key parts of our innovation strategy, and not only bring more new customers to our brand, but help deliver higher satisfaction with overall vehicle quality."

Ford vehicles with MyFord Touch are helping improve perceptions as customers who own vehicles with the system are more satisfied with overall vehicle quality compared to those who don't have the technology. The Ford F-150 with MyFord Touch has the highest rate of quality satisfaction across the Ford lineup, at 86 percent.

F-150 blends touch screen capability with traditional buttons and knobs, a similar balance planned for future Ford vehicles.

Young buyer connections

The innovations also are attracting younger buyers. For example, the new 2014 Ford Fiesta will now offer MyFord Touch, adding to other features such as a navigation system, rear camera, leather seats and a sunroof not available in the segment.

Fiesta already is drawing a younger audience of 46 percent Gen Y and Gen X buyers, compared to Toyota and Scion's 36 percent subcompact average. Fiesta innovations are differentiating the car as SYNC is cited as an important purchase reason by 54 percent of buyers compared to a 37 percent average for Toyota's connectivity technology.

Quality progress

Ford continues to refine SYNC and MyFord Touch, including another downloadable upgrade planned for this summer. Previous upgrades already have helped improve quality responses by more than 50 percent.

"We are committed to listening to our customers and improving MyFord Touch to keep drawing in new customers and increasing satisfaction with even higher quality," says Nair.

Ford's dealership personnel and dedicated connectivity customer service line also have become competitive advantages in an era of new automotive technologies. Customers who seek dealership assistance with SYNC or MyFord Touch report a 91 percent satisfaction rate.

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iOS 7 gamepad leaked, features blurry Logitech G logo

iOS 7 gamepad leaked, features blurry Logitech G logo data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20623514' !== '') ? 'bsd:20623514' : ''; var postID = '20623514'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"gaming",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"sean-buckley", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-14d",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});iOS 7 gamepad leaked, features blurry Logitech G logo MobileBypostedJun 16th, 2013 at 3:25 PM 0

iOS 7 gamepad leaked, features blurry Logitech G logo

Apple may consider the iPhone to be a gaming device, but even it's willing to admit that traditional gaming demands a proper gamepad. The folks at Logitech apparently agree, and seem to be preparing to release an iPhone 5-compatible device with its G-prefix branding. An image acquired by Kotaku shows a four-button Logitech gamepad built around an iPhone-shaped hole. There's a Lightning connector on the right side, indicating a hard-wired (or at least device-powered) peripheral. According to Kotaku, this will be just one of several third-party gamepads designed for iOS 7's Game Center overhaul. Of course, this blurry image should be regarded with a healthy dose of skepticism, but we certainly wouldn't scoff at an officially supported gamepad solution.

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Best Bet: Quirky’s Water-Repellent Canvas Bags

Summer means getting sand in all sorts of places—including the bottom of your beach tote. Quirky’s water-repellent canvas bags (from $80 at Story, 144 Tenth Ave., at 19th St.; 212-242-4853) are designed to keep those lingering particles at bay. Just unsnap the reversible bottom flap to reveal a panel of strainer-like nylon mesh, give it a rustle, and any remnants of Rockaway or Robert Moses tumble out seamlessly, leaving the bag—and your wallet, gadgets, and other day-tripping necessities—mercifully sand-free.


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Refresh Roundup: week of June 10th, 2013

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Refresh Roundup week of June 10th, 2013

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Official Android updatesSamsung Galaxy S II: An update to Android 4.1.2 is now available for AT&T's variant of the GS2 via Samsung Kies, which comes months after the LTE-enabled Skyrocket received its update to Jelly Bean. [Android Police]Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0: An update for the 3G version of this tablet was spotted in Germany, which is available for OTA installation and through Samsung Kies. The update lacks an official changelog, but user reports suggest the new software brings improved reliability and a transparent notification drawer. [SammyHub]Samsung Galaxy S III: Verizon Wireless has halted the rollout of its Android 4.1.2 update for the GS3, which follows a handful of users reports that cited connectivity issues and worsened battery life. According to Verizon, it'll resume the rollout once a fix is in place. [Android Central]Pantech Marauder: A comprehensive update is available for this QWERTY smartphone from Verizon that brings the ability to preview messages in the notification panel, along with a Google+ integration in the calendar. Other features include auto suggestions from within the dialer widget and the ability to select new widgets from the home screen. [Android Police]Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackerySony Xperia Z: A pre-release version of Android 4.2.2 has leaked for this smartphone, which is available for installation to handsets with an unlocked bootloader. [Xperia Blog]CyanogenMod: Nightly builds of CyanogenMod 10.1 are now available for the Xperia Tablet Z (WiFi), along with the international LTE version of the Galaxy S 4 (GT-i9505) and Cricket's version of the GS4. [Android Police]Other platformsMicrosoft Surface RT: A new driver is available that improves reliability when waking the tablet with the home button. Separately, a firmware update is available for the Type Cover and Touch Cover that brings new shortcuts and the ability to toggle function keys. [Neowin]Microsoft Surface Pro: An updated LifeCam driver is available that brings improved low-light performance and enhanced reliability when switching between the internal and external cameras. [Neowin]BlackBerry Z10: BlackBerry OS 10.1 is now officially rolling out to the Z10 on T-Mobile, while user reports suggest that Verizon is also now distributing the 10.1 upgrade. [TmoNews, N4BB]Refreshes we covered this weekSmartisan OS goes pre-alpha, available for international Galaxy S III only (video)AT&T issues Wireless Emergency Alerts update to iPhone 4S, 5Paranoid Android's HALO does Chat Heads-inspired multitasking, goes open source when.eng("eng.perm.init")

Samsung makes first PCIe-based SSD for Ultrabooks, we see one likely customer

Samsung makes first PCIe-based SSD for Ultrabooks, we see one likely customer data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20623602' !== '') ? 'bsd:20623602' : ''; var postID = '20623602'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"laptops",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"jon-fingas", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-14d",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Samsung makes first PCIe-based SSD for Ultrabooks, we see one likely customerBypostedJun 17th, 2013 at 2:22 AM 0

Samsung starts making first PCIe SSD for Ultrabooks

Solid-state drives are so speedy these days that that even a SATA interface might not have the bandwidth to cope. It's a good thing that Samsung has started mass-producing the first PCI Express-based SSDs for Ultrabooks, then. The new XP941 series uses PCIe's wider data path to read at nearly 1.4GB/s -- that's 2.5 times faster than the quickest SATA SSDs, and nimble enough to move 500GB in six minutes. It also ships in a tinier M.2 format that makes past card-based SSDs look gargantuan, even when there's up to 512GB of storage. Samsung hasn't named laptop makers receiving the XP941, although it doesn't take strong deductive skills to spot one of the (probable) first customers. When Apple is shipping a new 13-inch MacBook Air that just happens to use a very similar PCIe SSD from Samsung, there's likely more than coincidence at work.

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Samsung Now Mass Producing Industry's First PCI-Express SSD for Ultra-slim Notebook PCs

SEOUL, Korea – June 17, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, announced today that it has begun mass producing the industry's first PCI-Express (PCIe) solid state drive (SSD) for next-generation ultra-slim notebook PCs.

"With the Samsung XP941, we have become the first to provide the highest performance PCIe SSD to global PC makers so that they can launch leading-edge ultra-slim notebook PCs this year," said Young-Hyun Jun, executive vice president, memory sales & marketing, Samsung Electronics. "Samsung plans to continue timely delivery of the most advanced PCIe SSD solutions with higher density and performance, and support global IT companies providing an extremely robust computing environment to consumers."

Samsung started providing the new SSD to major notebook PC makers earlier this quarter. The XP941 lineup consists of 512, 256 and 128GB SSDs.

The new Samsung XP941 delivers a level of performance that easily surpasses the speed limit of a SATA 6Gb/s interface. Samsung XP941 enables a sequential read performance of 1,400MB/s (megabytes per second), which is the highest performance available with a PCIe 2.0 interface. This allows the drive to read 500GB of data or 100 HD movies as large as 5GB (gigabytes) in only six minutes, or 10 HD movies at 5GB in 36 seconds. That is approximately seven times faster than a hard disk drive (which would need over 40 minutes for the same task), and more than 2.5 times faster than the fastest SATA SSD.

By mass producing the new PCIe SSD, Samsung has established the groundwork for a significant transition into the new paradigm in the global SSD market which enables increasing the performance and the memory storage capacity of SSDs at the same time.

The XP941 comes in the new M.2 form factor (80mm x 22mm), weighing approximately six grams – about a ninth of the 54 grams of a SATA-based 2.5 inch SSD. Also, the XP941's volume is about a seventh of that of a 2.5 inch SSD, freeing up more space for the notebook's battery and therein providing the opportunity for increased mobility that will enhance user convenience.

Samsung intends to continuously expand its production volumes of high-performance 10-nanometer class* NAND flash memory, in helping the company to maintain its lead in PCIe SSDs for ultra-slim PCs and notebook PCs. Furthermore, Samsung plans to introduce next-generation enterprise NVMe SSDs in a timely manner to also take the lead in that high-density SSD market, adding to its competitive edge.

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Marc Jacobs Called Cara Delevingne a Dwarf

Cara Delevingne, model of many faces, catapulted into stardom during September's fashion weeks — even reaching a seemingly impenetrable point where she was comfortable enough to tell glossies that she was getting a bit tired of modeling. She was crowned London's top model for her catwalk appearances at their fall fashion week; and in New York and Paris, walked for Marc Jacobs at his own label and Louis Vuitton. But before she cemented her position as the fashion world's darling, Jacobs —  the fashion designer with a penchant for wearing pajamas in public —  was allegedly not a fan of Delevingne. Or, at the very least, of her five-foot-nine height. According to an interview with the Sunday Times Style, Love editor Katie Grand, who worked closely with the designer for his show castings, shared, "I was trying to get her in the show, but it was the show in which everyone was very tall and very long ... I remember Marc looking at me and saying, 'Why is that dwarf in here?' and me being devastated." Jacobs then proceeded to drop Delevingne from his autumn/winter 2012–2013 show. But now they're BFFs (or at least friendly enough for cheek kisses)! And he even got Cara to pose nude for his T-shirt line.


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