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5-inch Android-powered Archos Internet Media Tablet landing in September

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Just under a month ago at Archos' Paris reveal, we were somewhat dismayed that an Android-based device didn't show up... officially, at least. We were told to expect more information about a Google-powered unit this September, but it looks as if said wait has been hacked considerably. According to The Inquirer, Archos has informed it that a 5-inch internet media tablet loaded with Android will be unveiled on September 15th, a date that certainly jibes with prior information. The handheld will boast Google's sauce underneath with a layer of Archos applications on top, and while the Windows 7-equipped Archos 9 PCTablet (pictured) is expected in October, this here device should hit shelves a few weeks prior. In related news, the briefing also included word that Archos was working on a few "telephony products," which is just barely enough to get you simultaneously excited / hot and bothered.

[Via TrustedReviews]

Filed under: Handhelds

5-inch Android-powered Archos Internet Media Tablet landing in September originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:22:11 GMT

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Captain Piccard unveils Solar Impulse HB-SIA solar-powered plane

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:06:00 GMT

You might have seen solar-powered planes before, but few of them come with as much world-changing ambition as the Solar Impulse. Launched in 2003, the project aims to demonstrate the viability of renewable energy sources by being the first to perform a manned flight around the globe using only solar power. The technology is nothing to scoff at, as the 200-foot wingspan features 12,000 photovoltaic solar cells bringing power to four electric motors. Captain Bertrand Piccard, one of the key men behind this project, is best known as one half of the first team to circumnavigate the world in a balloon in 1999. He hopes, together with partner André Borschberg, to repeat that achievement in Solar Impulse's next iteration, the HB-SIB, in 2012. Make it so, guys.

[Via Gizmag]

Filed under: Transportation

Captain Piccard unveils Solar Impulse HB-SIA solar-powered plane originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sneak peek at Meizu M8's new user interface

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:08:00 GMT

Heads up, Meizu fanboys! We just got a sneak peak at the M8's new UI (said to be dropping in August when the handset gets its firmware update) and you know what? It looks like a UI. Pretty k-rad, right? Check out the other two face-melting pics after the break, if you dare.

[Via Meizu Me]

Continue reading Sneak peek at Meizu M8's new user interface

Filed under: Cellphones

Sneak peek at Meizu M8's new user interface originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows 7 release to manufacturing reportedly on track for July 13th

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:04:00 GMT

Get out your Bill Gates commemorative calendars folks, 'cause it looks like we now have a few more dates to mark off on the road to Windows 7 availability. While Microsoft still isn't saying anything official itself just yet, a number of different sources are reporting that the company has set July 10th as the date for the final gold build of Windows 7, while the big release to manufacturing date is apparently on track for July 13th. Of course, things could still change if there's a major bug or other problem encountered, but barring any disasters, that'll likely be the same build that finds its way onto your PC this fall.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Windows 7 release to manufacturing reportedly on track for July 13th originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony readying CyberShot DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 cameras?

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:18:00 GMT

It was only a few months ago that we were fielding rumors about Sony's CyberShot DSC-HX1, and now we're struggling to keep our credit card at bay each time we waltz by one in the local camera shop. Today, Sony Insider has pointed out that the outfit may be readying a new duo to complement the megazoom: the DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1. If the latest whispers prove legitimate, the TX1 will boast a 10 megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD, 720p movie mode and a price tag somewhere south of $400. The WX1 should check in as a lower-end model with 10 megapixels, a 5x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD and the same 720p movie mode; why exactly it'll be cheaper we're not sure, but that's the good word at the moment. E-tailer Provantage already has listings for both cameras up, so it seems as if it's just a matter of time before Sony confirms all the good news.

[Via Sony Insider]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Sony readying CyberShot DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 cameras? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 3GS prototype scooped up at airport, now on eBay

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:03:00 GMT

Seriously folks, what's up with these prototype iPhones falling out of nondescript white vans and ending up on eBay in the shadiest of manners? Just months after we saw an original iPhone prototype (ancient OS included) pop up on The 'Bay, now we've got one of the world's first iPhone 3GSs on there as well. According to the highly ranked eBay seller, the "guy" he "got it from" actually stumbled upon it at an airport, and rather than doing the nonsensical thing of hitting up lost and found, he decided to make the most of the sudden opportunity. According to the new owner, an Apple Genius has confirmed that it is an iPhone 3GS, but due to its prototype nature, they can't help him get past the "Connect to iTunes" screen. In other words, it's an incredibly rare brick. If that sounds like just the thing to complete your collection, you can visit the road to overpaying through the read link below.

[Via ElectricPig]

Filed under: Cellphones

iPhone 3GS prototype scooped up at airport, now on eBay originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes executive killed by 'kung fu' boyfriend - Telegraph.co.uk

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:37:39 GMT

Daily Mail

Mercedes executive killed by 'kung fu' boyfriend
Telegraph.co.uk
A car salesman used his kung fu expertise to kill his partner, an executive with Mercedes, after she announced she was leaving him for her married boss. Alan Jeremy strangled Kirsty Wilson using a martial arts technique that would leave barely a trace. ...
Man murdered partner and set fire to bodyThe Surrey Herald
Jermey found guilty of 'fire cover-up' murderGet Surrey
Jilted partner strangled high-flyerEllesmere Port Pioneer
Independent
all 141 news articles »

Russia Opens Route for US to Fly Arms to Afghanistan - New York Times

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:34:03 GMT

ABC News

Russia Opens Route for US to Fly Arms to Afghanistan
New York Times
MOSCOW ? The Russian government has agreed to allow American troops and weapons bound for Afghanistan to fly over Russian territory, providing an important new corridor for the United States military as it escalates efforts to win the ...
Obama to seek climate deal in Moscowguardian.co.uk
Putin urges Obama to scrap shieldBBC News
Putin rejects Obama criticism before meetingReuters
The Associated Press -Voice of America
all 2,852 news articles »

Double jeopardy killer Mario Celaire jailed for life - Telegraph.co.uk

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:10:50 GMT

Times Online

Double jeopardy killer Mario Celaire jailed for life
Telegraph.co.uk
Mario Celaire, a footballer with a history of violence against women, has been given two life sentences after admitting killing his ex-girlfriend seven years after being cleared of the crime. By Stephen Adams Celaire is the first person previously ...
Killer jailed under new double-jeopardy lawsReuters UK
Killer jailed after jeopardy caseBBC News
Double jeopardy killer Mario Celaire gets minimum of 23 years jailTimes Online
The Press Association -Daily Mail -Kent News
all 238 news articles »

Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe - Telegraph.co.uk

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:10:48 GMT

Times Online

Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe
Telegraph.co.uk
Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, who was killed in Afghanistan on July 1 aged 39, was commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards and the most senior Army officer to be killed in action since the Falklands war in 1982. ...
Former officers defend vehicles as Afghanistan bomb deaths ...guardian.co.uk
Welsh Guards' morale 'still high' after death of commanding officerWalesOnline
Soldiers deaths 'horrified' CharlesThe Press Association
BBC News -gethampshire.co.uk -Your Local Guardian
all 597 news articles »

Cardinal Newman moves step closer to sainthood - Independent

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:05:49 GMT

Telegraph.co.uk

Cardinal Newman moves step closer to sainthood
Independent
Campaigners for the canonisation of John Paul Newman are praying for another miracle after the Pope confirmed that the Cardinal was responsible for curing a case of spinal debility more than 100 years after his death. ...
Cardinal Newman 'to become Britain's next saint'Telegraph.co.uk
Pope agrees cardinal miracleTeleText
Pope Benedict clears way for Cardinal John Newman to become first ...Daily Mail
U.TV -Oxford Mail -Bloomberg
all 139 news articles »

Engadget's recession antidote: win a Transformers Nintendo DS Lite Armor case and stylus!

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:00:00 GMT

This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff or companies stop sending things. Today we've got a Transformers Bumblebee Nintendo DS Starter Kit, which includes a protective Nintendo DS Lite Armor sleeve and universal stylus. We'll also be throwing in a Megatron strylus just for fun! Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Hooray for free stuff!

The rules:

Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) Transformers Nintendo DS Lite Starter Kit and one (1) Megatron stylus.
If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
Entries can be submitted until Friday, July, 3rd, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Full rules can be found here.

Filed under: Announcements

Engadget's recession antidote: win a Transformers Nintendo DS Lite Armor case and stylus! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Britain rallies opposition to Iranian threat to put embassy staff ... - Telegraph.co.uk

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:59:23 GMT

Telegraph.co.uk

Britain rallies opposition to Iranian threat to put embassy staff ...
Telegraph.co.uk
Britain is attempting to build a united international front in opposition to Iran's declaration that it would put British embassy employees on trial for inciting demonstrations in Tehran. By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent Foreign Office ...
'Brit Embassy staff trial in Iran'The Sun
Iran to put British embassy staff on trialAFP
EU summons all Iran envoys over embassy arrestsPRESS TV
Politics.co.uk -ITN -Sky News
all 6,867 news articles »

RAF jet crash victims named - The Press Association

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:35:49 GMT

Telegraph.co.uk

RAF jet crash victims named
The Press Association
Tributes have been paid to an RAF pilot and navigator who died when their Tornado jet crashed into a Scottish hillside. Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Thompson and Flight Lieutenant Nigel Morton, of 43 Squadron at RAF Leuchars, Fife, were killed in the ...
Investigators probe RAF Tornado crashstv.tv
Tributes paid to Tornado victimsITV.com
RAF mourns dead pilotsAFP
Mirror.co.uk -Fife Today -TeleText
all 356 news articles »

Engadget Podcast 153 - 07.03.2009: Independence Day edition

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:01:00 GMT

It's your holiday weekend America -- how are you going to spend it? We'll tell you how: by listening to Engadget Podcast 153 over, and over, and over. What better way to utilize your extra day off and barbecue-packed good times than by putting Josh, Paul, and Nilay on repeat for you (and your friends') enjoyment? Check out the 'cast this week as the boys explore the ups and downs of the Olympus E-P1, Dell's MID plans, and field a handful of questions from our handsome, intelligent, and just basically awesome listeners. You won't be disappointed.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: Virt - Katamari on the Rock

Hear the podcast

00:02:10 - Olympus E-P1 hands-on, test shots, and mini-review
00:10:26 - Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 gets officially detailed, priced for US market
00:14:22 - Wii MotionPlus impressions: it works, but so far the games aren't worth the fuss
00:24:45 - Dell working on iPod touch-esque Android MID, says WSJ
00:32:08 - Android 1.5 gets official SDK for native development
00:38:10 - Video: Mobinnova élan sporting a custom Tegra UI
00:47:30 - Video: NVIDIA Tegra's GPU gets busy with HD video and full-screen Flash -- Intel 945GSE shrugs, kicks dirt
00:47:30 - Verizon BlackBerry Tour unboxing
00:50:17 - BlackBerry Tour hands-on, wild sibling confrontation with Curve and Bold
00:53:00 - RIM CEO: "SurePress is here to stay"
00:57:00 - 13-year-old trades iPod for Walkman, reports on mysterious ancient artifact
01:04:55 - iPhone 3GS review
01:07:15 - Palm Pre review

Subscribe to the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace

Download the podcast

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Contact the podcast

1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.

Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget

Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget Podcast 153 - 07.03.2009: Independence Day edition originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Deadly military crash in Pakistan - BBC News

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:20:24 GMT

BBC News

Deadly military crash in Pakistan
BBC News
Up to 26 Pakistani security personnel are feared dead after an army transport helicopter crashed in the tribal region of Orakzai, military officials say. Maj Gen Athar Abbas told the BBC the helicopter crashed on the border of the Khyber and Orakzai ...
Pakistani Military Helicopter Crash Kills 26Voice of America
Helicopter crash kills 26 in NW PakistanAFP
Military Chopper Crash Kills 26Sky News
InTheNews.co.uk -PRESS TV -Reuters
all 127 news articles »

Update on New Channels

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:00:00 GMT

It's been a week since we announced that a new version of channels is coming, and we wanted to give you an update on our progress. Well over a million of you have now opted in to the beta, and many of your channels are looking really good -- we were just admiring shotscience's and muzik4machines's designs.

Your feedback over the past two months has shaped -- and will continue to shape -- the evolution of this whole site and particularly your channels. We've been hard at work fixing some of the bugs you've pointed out, as well as taking care of some of your top requests. For instance, we're happy to announce that we'll be supporting transparency so that your backgrounds can indeed shine through -- this will be done prior to switching over to the new channel design. And some of the bugs we've taken care of now include reducing the occasional sluggishness that some users have reported, as well as fixing the scrollbar that broke for some when ads appear. (For a longer list of fixes and additions, go to our beta blog.) We'll share more of our progress later, too.

As always, you can learn more about how to switch to the new version of channels by visiting our Help Center, where we also have some tips on setting things up. We also encourage you to continue pointing out bugs in the beta and letting us know how we can improve. Best places to comment are below in this blog, in our beta blog or in the comment portion of our announcement video.

Best,
Brian Glick
Product Manager
The YouTube Team

Apple's 'active packaging' patent application tries to reinvent the box

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:53:00 GMT

Electronics packaging has been growing steadily smaller and less annoying over recent times, but here comes Apple adding complexity where we didn't know it was needed. The bright sparks at Cupertino envision powered, data-transmitting boxes that will ensure the device within is fully juiced, packing the latest firmware, and capable of pumping out video demos so that the packaging needn't get in the way of wooing customers. Sure, up-to-date firmware and a full battery sound nice, but we can't help but wonder about the price premium we'd have to swallow to be able to see our new toy dancing before we've even set it free from its box.

[Via Phone Arena]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Apple's 'active packaging' patent application tries to reinvent the box originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Activists like the Drax protesters are the conscience of the nation - guardian.co.uk

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:24:15 GMT

guardian.co.uk

Activists like the Drax protesters are the conscience of the nation
guardian.co.uk
The 22 people who have just been convicted of obstructing a train are heroes. They have given up their time and risked imprisonment to show us where responsibility for the climate crisis lies. They will probably have to perform community service, ...
Train protesters found guiltyTeleText
Power station protesters guiltyBBC News
Drax protesters guilty over train ambushYorkshire Post
guardian.co.uk -guardian.co.uk -guardian.co.uk
all 40 news articles »

Walt Disney World unveils incredibly scary, robotic version of President Obama

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:04:00 GMT

Now, we've never been to this "Hall of Presidents" at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida (our parents instead taking us to real, disused dungeons and battlefields for family entertainment), but we're thinking about heading down there today -- not because the newest animatronic addition -- President Barack Obama -- has just been unveiled, but because his likeness is so... unlike him, so incredibly, terrifyingly creepy (and yet still impressive all the same). Yes, we'll pop all of our closest friends' children into the van and take a fantastic voyage down to the southern tip of our great nation just to see their reactions to this horrifying robotic educational presentation. What better way to celebrate our nation's independence? Come to think of it... maybe our parents weren't so bad after all. Videos of Obamatron and of the President himself recording audio for it after the break.

Continue reading Walt Disney World unveils incredibly scary, robotic version of President Obama

Filed under: Robots

Walt Disney World unveils incredibly scary, robotic version of President Obama originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UN chief gambles on Burma breakthrough - BBC News

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:34:16 GMT

CBC.ca

UN chief gambles on Burma breakthrough
BBC News
Ban Ki-moon is not a man known for taking risks. Yet his decision to visit Burma and meet its secretive military rulers - at a time when the rest of the world is outraged by their decision to put opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on ...
UN Chief Asks Burmese Junta for Meeting with Aung San Suu KyiVoice of America
UN chief presses Suu Kyi releaseAljazeera.net
Suu Kyi trial postponedCNN International
Times Online -Bloomberg -AFP
all 894 news articles »

Ogo CC-10 throws time-tested formula to the wind, goes portrait QWERTY

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:29:00 GMT

We haven't heard a solitary peep out of IXI Mobile in a hot minute, even though its Ogo line -- once a member of Cingular's lineup -- had found some niche popularity among teens and the deaf community. We'd even thought they'd gone into R&D hibernation, actually, but apparently not -- they're innovating. They're innovating so much, in fact, that they've innovated themselves right out of the landscape clamshell form factor that made the Ogo famous. This Inventec-sourced CC-10 we just spotted in the FCC looks more Centro than Ogo, though all of the original's features -- notably strong IM and social networking support -- carry on through to the new model. At any rate, we can say that IXI doesn't intend to break back into the North American market -- at least not with this exact unit, anyway -- since GSM 1900 and Bluetooth are the only features it bothered testing.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Ogo CC-10 throws time-tested formula to the wind, goes portrait QWERTY originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: How's your Palm Pre holding up?

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:04:00 GMT

It's been nearly a month since the launch of Palm's newest handset, the Pre. Since then, we here at Engadget have heard some vague and hard to substantiate claims of hardware failures -- cracked screens, a little broken plastic here and there -- but nothing on a large scale, so far as we can tell. We thought it was about time to turn it over to you the readers (the ones lucky enough to have a Pre, anyway), to tell us how the phone is holding up physically. Is it tough as nails or is it falling apart? Poll is after the break.

View Poll

Filed under: Cellphones

Poll: How's your Palm Pre holding up? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bomb in Pakistan's Rawalpindi kills at least one - Reuters

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:45:32 GMT

Sky News

Bomb in Pakistan's Rawalpindi kills at least one
Reuters
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (Reuters) - A suicide bomber on a motorcycle hit a bus carrying workers from a nuclear facility and blew himself up in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi on Thursday, killing at least one person, police said. ...
At least six dead in Pakistan bus attackFinancial Times
5 Killed in Rawalpindi, Pakistan Suicide BlastVoice of America
Deadly explosion hits Pakistan cityAljazeera.net
Hindu -PRESS TV -The Associated Press
all 355 news articles »

Report: North Korea test fires four missiles - CNN International

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:41:26 GMT

ABC News

Report: North Korea test fires four missiles
CNN International
SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- North Korea test-fired a fourth short-range missile off its east coast Thursday, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's administration has become more aggressive in recent months. ...
NKorea fires three short-range missilesAFP
North Korea Fires Short-Range Missiles, South SaysBloomberg
N Korea test-fires third missileAljazeera.net
Voice of America -Reuters -Sky News
all 1,056 news articles »

Comoros Airbus survivor told of her mother's death - Times Online

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:37:53 GMT

Telegraph.co.uk

Comoros Airbus survivor told of her mother's death
Times Online
A Paris schoolgirl, who survived a plane crash into the Indian Ocean this week, was told today that her mother had been lost in the wreckage off the Comoros Islands. Bahia Bakari, 13, clung to a piece of debris in the ocean for more than 13 hours ...
Comoros crash survivor returns to family in ParisThe Associated Press
Comoros crash survivor reunites with fatherReuters South Africa
Yemenia crash survivor returns homeAljazeera.net
BBC News -Telegraph.co.uk -Financial Times
all 5,596 news articles »

Upload Size Doubles + HD Tips

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Many of you have been asking for an increase in the size limit of your uploads. We're happy to announce that the size of standard uploads has doubled from 1GB to 2GB. The increase means you can upload longer videos at a higher resolution as well as large HD files directly from your camera.

In addition, the team's implemented some new features to make it easier for you to show these videos off to the world. The changes allow you to share links directly to the HD version of your video, as well as embed the HD version on your blog or website. Here's how:

* To share a link to the HD version of your video, simply append &hd=1 to the end of the URL. This means the video will start playing in HD as soon as someone follows the link. Cool, huh?

* To embed the HD version of a video on a website or blog, click the 'customize' button to the right of the embed box on the video page. Some options will appear; simply check 'play in HD'. The embed code that's generated will cause the video to start playing in HD as soon as a viewer clicks play. We recommend embedding HD videos at the largest size (853x505) for maximum enjoyment.

If you haven't yet started uploading your content in HD, see our Help Center article for more information on how to do so. You can also browse some popular HD videos here.

Enjoy!
Ryan Junee
Product Manager
The YouTube Team

Adopt a Feature v2

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:00:00 GMT

You may remember the inaugural edition of Adopt a Feature, for which you made videos about AudioSwap, Country Pulldown, Insight, Playlists, Quick Capture, and Subscriptions. These videos generated 818,698 views (they're all collected here) and a bunch of them even got featured on our homepage. At the end of the two month run, thecomputernerd01 was crowned the Adopt a Feature king, thanks to his zany explanation of how the country/language pulldown menus work -- a video that accounted for a third of all of the program's views. He also got this awesome T-shirt.

Josh took a break from ribbing his grandpa to tell you why you should get involved with Adopt a Feature v2.

In case you're still buzzing from Josh's high-energy onslaught, here's what you need to know: Make a video about any or all of the features on the list below (click on the name of the feature to get more information about it). Include the name of the feature and "adoptafeature" in the tags -- this is important; it's how we'll locate your video for inclusion on our channel and possibly on the YouTube homepage.

* Annotations
* Customize Your Homepage
* Tags
* Quicklist
* Mobile Upload

(By the way, for folks waiting to hear more about the roll-out of new channels, we should have an update in a few days.)

Best,
Hunter Walk
Director, Product Management
The YouTube Team

Use Action on YouTube to Drive Action Off YouTube

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:15:00 GMT

For a few months, we've been testing a feature for partners that lets them add "Call-to-Action" overlays to their YouTube videos to help them drive traffic to other websites. Many have used the feature in creative ways, such as collecting signatures or driving song downloads.

Today we are making Call-to-Action overlays more broadly available by launching the feature as an option for anyone who uses Promoted Videos. Just go to ads.youtube.com and you'll quickly and easily be able to both increase views of your content and drive traffic to an off-YouTube website at the same time.

For more information, check out our recently launched YouTube Biz Blog.

Thanks,
Thai Tran
Product Manager
The YouTube Team

Helping You Report the News

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:45:00 GMT

Ever captured a natural disaster or a crime on your cell-phone camera? Filmed a political rally or protest, and then interviewed the participants afterward? Produced a story about a local issue in your community? If you've done any of these things or aspire to, then you're part of the enormous community of citizen reporters on YouTube -- and today, we're launching a new resource to help you learn more about how to report the news.

It's called The YouTube Reporters' Center, and it features some of the nation's top journalists sharing instructional videos with tips and advice for better reporting. Learn how to prepare for an interview from CBS News' Katie Couric; how to be an investigative reporter from the legendary Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, or why it's important for citizens to participate in the news-gathering process from Arianna Huffington. And definitely don't miss out on New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof's video on how to report from a crisis area without getting shot.

In addition, you can also learn practical and ethical tips, like how to fact check your stories, avoid breaking the law while reporting, and adhere to journalistic principles. Check out the Reporters' Center to see all the videos or sample a few in this playlist:

This isn't meant to be a one-way conversation. For the first time on YouTube, these reporters are making themselves available to engage with you directly. If you have experiences on reporting the news yourself and would like to share your tips, you can submit them for inclusion in the center. Upload your "how-to" videos to youtube.com/reporterscenter and share your knowledge with citizen journalists around the world.

If you're a news organization that would to become a YouTube news partner, please read more information on how to apply here.

Yours,
Olivia Ma
YouTube News & Politics

Submit Your Question for President Obama

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:00:00 GMT

President Obama is taking your questions this Wednesday in a special online health care townhall event. With healthcare at the top of the President's agenda, he is opening up the White House to questions via YouTube. Create a 20- or 30-second video question and submit it as a reply video to the video below (go here to get started). He'll answer some of the most popular questions during the event, which we'll stream live from the White House YouTube channel.

This is your chance to speak directly to the President, so don't miss this opportunity to upload your video now. Make sure the sound and video quality are as clear as they can be, and if you'd like, leave your name and your hometown in the video description.

Yours,
Steve Grove
YouTube News & Politics

Mobile Uploads to YouTube Increase Exponentially

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:00:00 GMT

In the last six months, we've seen uploads from mobile phones to YouTube jump 1700%; just since last Friday, when the iPhone 3GS came out, uploads increased by 400% a day.

This growth represents three things coming together: new video-enabled phones on the market, improvements to the upload flow when you post a video to YouTube from your phone, and a new feature on YouTube that allows your videos to be quickly and effortlessly shared through your social networks. It takes just a minute to connect your YouTube account to your Facebook, Twitter and Google Reader accounts. Complete a simple, one-time connection on our upload page to allow all your friends and followers to get a real-time stream of your uploads to YouTube, which can be essential in this age of citizen reporting and ubiquitous sharing.

Already, you're teaching each other how to use this technology, you're doing product reviews and comparisons, and you're making test videos -- lots and lots of them. In fact, look at them closely -- where they're shot, who's in them -- and they stitch together a great patchwork of, well, life, from the little moments to the big ones:

* At grandpa's house
* In a Cambodian liquor store
* Observing carnivorous plants
* Drumming
* Swinging kids
* On a roadtrip
* At a wedding
* Capturing a wistful, rainy day
* "Live" from the Apple Store
* Squashing a can
* Pulling a giant stump out of the backyard
* Poolside, complete with a drop in the water (it keeps working)

Can you make your test video go viral through your social networks? If you can, we're willing to feature that video on our homepage. Upload a video from your phone, tag it with "mobiletest," share it with your social network, and Tweet us the link (so be sure to put "@youtube" and "mobiletest" in your message). We'll give you one week to spread your test video far and wide, after which we'll take a look at the most popular clips and feature a few on our homepage in a special "mobile upload" edition of our Spotlight Video.

So get goin', and if you want more info about playing and creating YouTube videos on your phone, go to http://www.youtube.com/mobile. There's a video on that page (or click here) that offers a step-by-step guide to uploading videos from your phone.

Best,
Dwipal Desai, Product Manager, and Mia Quagliarello, Community Manager
The YouTube Team

Lights! Camera! Action! Trailers Page Launches

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Summer is in full swing and that means summer movie season is right around the corner. Get a sneak peek at upcoming blockbusters by checking out our new Trailers page in the Movies section of our site. We have previews for some of the season's most anticipated films, like "Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince" and the new Twilight movie, "New Moon." We're adding new trailers frequently, so check back often.

Cheers,
Curtis Lee
Product Marketing Manager
The YouTube Team

New Channels Coming Soon

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:00:00 GMT

A few months ago, we launched our YouTube channels redesign in beta (first via a secret opt-in URL that many of you discovered, then as a visible opt-in link). Hundreds of thousands of you are now using the new version, have contributed a lot of useful feedback, and have helped make the new channels beta stronger and faster. Here are a few cool examples of great new channel designs: IceflowStudios, Vlogbrothers, nalts, LisaNova, sxephil, ThadewGrum, The White House, and University of Phoenix.

We're now ready to start rolling out the new channels design to more users. Starting today, all new accounts will automatically have the new version of channels. Here's a video introducing the new channels, the benefits, and how you can get started:

Finally, we'd like to give you advance warning that all existing channels will change over to the new design on July 15. (Partners, watch for separate communications about your changeover date.)

Want to try it out or start getting ready before July 15? Just click on the "Upgrade my channel!" link on your Channel Design page (and note that you can switch back anytime until July 15). Keep in mind that new channels are still in beta for now, so there may be a few elements missing here and there. If you have questions, please visit our Help Center. Also, we've been sharing our progress and gathering feedback from users on a dedicated channels beta blog. Join in if you're interested in learning more and want more frequent updates on our beta progress -- and let us know if there's anything that you'd like to see added to the new version of channels, too.

Thanks!
Brian Glick
Product Manager
The YouTube Team

More From Iran: On-the-Ground Footage, Tribute Videos

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:30:00 GMT

Last week, we highlighted several videos uploaded straight off the streets of Iran, as protests raged and the Iranian police force, the Basij, cracked down. And if the graphic footage that was uploaded to YouTube by Iranian citizens over the weekend is any indication, it appears the tension between the protesters and the government is not abating.

On Saturday, mass fighting broke out in Tehran -- hundreds were reported injured, and at least several dozen were killed. This video depicts the atmosphere in the nation's capital as similar to that of a war zone. One of the victims of the violence was a young woman named Neda, who was shot and died moments later on camera despite the efforts of protesters at the scene (viewer discretion is advised as this video contains extremely graphic and disturbing images):

Neda's story caught the attention of the international community, and she has quickly become recognized in the media as the "face of the movement," with numerous tribute videos springing up on YouTube.

We're seeing more eyewitness accounts of violence in Tehran uploaded today, including this footage of a police car engulfed in flames and this video, which shows an Iranian student who has been shot during a protest (allegedly by members of the Basij). In light of the particularly graphic nature of the content that is being uploaded, it's important to note that although these pieces won't be taken down, they may be age-restricted to users who are over 18.

We'll be standing by, as Iranian citizens continue to post videos to YouTube in an effort to share their stories with the world. You can stay on top of the latest news videos from Iran on youtube.com/citizentube.

Yours,
Ramya Raghavan
YouTube News & Politics

Announcing Service 2.0: Video Volunteers

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Have you ever wanted to volunteer but weren't able to find an opportunity that felt right? Have you ever considered using your video-creating skills for a cause you care about but didn't know exactly how to get started? Well, search no more. Starting today, you can become a YouTube Video Volunteer -- and we'll help find you a great nonprofit organization to work with right here on YouTube.

Video Volunteers is YouTube's version of a new platform that Google has launched called All for Good, which helps match citizens with volunteer opportunities in their local communities. Built in partnership with the White House, All for Good is sort of like a Craigslist for community service. But you don't just have to show up at your local soup kitchen or animal shelter to give back -- volunteering in the 21st century can be done entirely online.

Powered by All for Good, the YouTube Video Volunteers platform will help you find a nonprofit organization that needs help creating videos to promote its cause. Starting today, you can sift through video opportunities on www.youtube.com/videovolunteers and connect directly with nonprofits for whom you'd like to make a video. Learn more about the platform from the Vlogbrothers, who've used their audience and talents to champion causes they care about:

The Vlogbrothers aren't the only familiar faces who are on board to become Video Volunteers. LisaNova made this video, highlighting the fact that there are many nonprofits that need your help:

Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker, an at-home vlogger, an advertising aficionado, or just someone with a video camera and some spare time on the weekend, we want you to be a Video Volunteer. And if you're a nonprofit who would like to find a video volunteer, you can visit the Video Volunteers channel for information on how to post a video assignment.

We'll highlight some of the best videos every month on the Video Volunteers channel and beyond, so that your work can help change the world, one video at a time.

Yours,
Ramya Raghavan
YouTube Nonprofits & Activism

Happy Father's Day, YouTube Style

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:15:00 GMT

Set aside the lame ties, bad aftershave and other dubious gift ideas and deliver what dear old Dad really wants -- a laugh or two. On the homepage today we're sporting a spotlight module dedicated to Father's Day funnies. We've brought together comedians ranging from homegrown YouTube personalities like ShaneDawsonTV and Spricket24 to sketch comedy groups like TotallySketch and TheLandline. There's also historical humor from the VlogBrothers and the cheeky ventriloquism of JeffDunham.

Whatever your taste in comedy, we hope this collection of videos contains something you can forward on to Dad, to let him know how much you mean to him. It won't cost you a cent. After all, it is the thought that counts -- especially if it's a funny one.

Best,
Mark Day
YouTube Comedy

An Update On What's Happening in Iran

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:15:00 GMT

It has been one week since Iran's contested presidential election, and YouTube has been flooded with footage from the streets of Tehran and other cities, documenting the civil unrest that is unfolding there. In the past few days, many Iranians have participated in violent demonstrations, held silent rallies to protest the elections, and grieved for those killed as a result of deadly clashes with the Basij, Iran's auxiliary police force. In the past 36 hours, the foreign media has all but been expelled from the country, making the role of Iranian citizens even more critical in shedding light on what is happening there.

Yesterday, opposing candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi called for a day of mourning to honor eight of his supporters who have died since the protests began. As you can see in this clip, a massive number of protesters gathered (some reports are in the hundreds of thousands), dressed in black, to peacefully pay their respects to the fallen and demonstrate their perseverance in seeking justice. A candlelight vigil was held on Thursday night, and Mousavi himself addressed the crowd and urged his supporters to stand up against corruption. Yet due to the Iranian government's crackdowns on foreign media, this speech received no airtime, inside or outside of Iran. The only clip we've seen of it on YouTube lasts just 20 seconds, but it illustrates the incredible power and energy of the crowd amassed.

In stark contrast to Mousavi's speech, Supreme Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the Iranian people today, insisting that they accept Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's victory. Khamenei told Iranians, "If there is any bloodshed, leaders of the protests will be held directly responsible." The speech was broadcast on national television, and footage is available here:

Continue to stay tuned for more... and don't forget to check out the Citizentube blog for regular updates.

Olivia Ma
YouTube News & Politics