We’ve already seen Firefox move to a more rapid release schedule, and it looks like we’ll soon also see far less emphasis placed on those rapidly increasing version numbers (much like Google has already done with Chrome). That’s one detail revealed by Mozilla in a blog post today, which recaps its activity in 2011 and outlines some of its goals for 2012. That includes silent updates in the background to counter what Mozilla calls “update fatigue,” as well as a number of efforts to make web apps more integrated into Firefox (and complement the Mozilla Marketplace). More on that and some additional technical details can be found at the source link below.
Mozilla outlines plans for Firefox in 2012: less emphasis on version numbers, more focus on user experience originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The Next Web | 
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You’ve come a long way, Big Red. For a network that launched a little over a year ago, VZW’s LTE service is about to hit a high water mark, blanketing 203 markets come tomorrow’s planned expansion to an additional seven territories. But the nation’s top wireless dog isn’t taking this milestone as a moment of respite; the carrier’s aiming to double its current footprint by end-of-year 2012, boosting its tally to a potential 400-plus areas. As for the grand honor of being the 200th to come under the operator’s 4G breadth, well, that distinction goes to a little town by the name of Dothan, Alabama. Sadly for those local folks, no festivities, fireworks or even service discounts are planned. Check out the PR after the break for the full list of cities joining the 700MHz brigade.
Continue reading Verizon lights up its 200th LTE candle, plans to double 4G coverage by year-end
Verizon lights up its 200th LTE candle, plans to double 4G coverage by year-end originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Happen to recall the gorgeous metal HTC’s using on its upcoming One S to surround its Ice Cream Sandwich-loaded core? To refresh your memory, the ceramic look and feel of its metal unibody shell is created using a process known as micro arc oxidation — and HTC’s highlighting how the magic happens in its latest YouTube video. According to the company, the shell (made from aircraft-grade aluminium) gets slammed with a whopping “10,000 volts of energy,” causing a reaction that quickly leads to the black color and smooth texture. Notably, HTC points out that this is actually a treatment to the metal, rather than a finish on top of it. That’s not all — the metal also ends up being nearly five-times stronger as a result. Want to see the zapping for yourself? You’ll find the clip and more details in the flick just after the break.
Continue reading HTC details micro arc oxidation, says your One S will be strong enough to forgo the case (video)
HTC details micro arc oxidation, says your One S will be strong enough to forgo the case (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 22:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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London’s
favorite only remaining evening free-sheet has snagged an interview with Apple design maven Sir Jonathan Ive. In the piece he talks about being thrilled and humbled by his recent
Knighthood, the importance of his London upbringing and why Apple’s
competitors can’t win. Pointing to a desire not to make “genuinely better” products, Cupertino’s unnamed rivals instead are “interested in doing something different, or want to appear new,” which he says is the wrong goal. The difference is that he and his team aren’t tied to a price, a schedule or a marketing scheme — which he believes “have scant regard for people who use the product.” There’s also a barbed reference to consumers being able to sense “great care in the design and when there is cynicism and greed” in products on the market. Head on down to the source link to read more, including his frustration with designers who “wag their tails in his face” — who knew designers had tails, eh?
Apple’s Sir Jonathan Ive: our competitors have ‘completely the wrong goals’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Evening Standard | Email this | Comments
For those confused by Sony’s mixed naming conventions, this is the Japan-friendly version of AT&T’s incoming Xperia Ion. There’s been some additions to the US-bound device we handled back in January, including a built-in TV tuner and mobile wallet functionality. Last time we heard, the LTE-capable Ion was set for a summer world tour, but given this early spring unveiling on the other side of the world, it could pass AT&T’s tests this side of 2012 — hopefully with all four of these color options in tow. Take a tour through the aqua blue and sakura pink palette choices at the source below.
Sony Xperia Acro HD launches March 15 in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 04:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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NTT DoCoMo (translated) | Email this | Comments
China recently greeted its first Windows Phone (on pre-order, anyway), but if Stephen Elop has his way, Nokia will be hot on HTC’s heels. The company’s CEO has revealed that Nokia will unleash its Lumia handsets upon the People’s Republic on March 28th. While Elop offered no clues to suggest which models will be available, recent regulatory approvals hint that the Lumia 800 and 710 are both top candidates — though personally, we’d be shocked if the Lumia 610 didn’t rear its head sooner rather than later. Both China Telecom and China Unicom are said to be partners with Nokia, which is undoubtedly eager to offer something other than Symbian to its Chinese fan base.
Stephen Elop: Nokia Lumia coming to China on March 28th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Engadget Chinese (translated), Tech in Asia | 
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