Microsoft reveals how much of Surface RT's disc space is actually yours

If you've wondered how much space Windows RT, Office and Microsoft's bundled apps occupy on your shiny new Surface RT, worry no longer. Microsoft has revealed that once you've accounted for binary conversion, recovery provision and the software itself, the 32GB device will have 16GB of free space, while 64GB units will get 46GB of room to store your media. Naturally, you can use microSD cards (or USB Drives) to add to that space, and if you'd like to know how to get the device to treat it as if it's all coming from a single library, check out our tutorial.

[Source: Engadget]

Sony's 'Reader' App finally re-launches on iOS, purchases handled through Apple

Sony's Reader App for iOS launched way back in the heady days of 2010, long before Kindle's had set Fire or gone Paperwhite. It was subsequently rejected by Apple, per the company's longstanding policy of not approving software for iOS that bypassed Apple's own in-app purchase system for a proprietary one. It's been more than a few months at this point, but Reader has finally re-launched on the iOS App Store -- free of charge, of course -- and it's got a brand new look based around the required Apple payment system. As The Digital Reader points out, Sony's Reader looks an awful lot like the Bluefire iOS e-reader app, though we'd wager Sony's store offers more in the way of literary choice.

[Source: Engadget]

Belkin fills the void with first third-party Lightning accessories for Apple devices

When Apple dropped the 30-pin connector in favor of Lightning for the iPhone 5, new iPods and new iPads, it also dropped much of the current accessory market: short of an expensive adapter, years of collecting docks and more exotic peripherals were for nought. Belkin is stepping into that vacuum with what it says are the first officially sanctioned third-party Lightning accessories. Neither its Charge + Sync Dock (seen at left) for the iPhone 5 nor its Car Charger for Lightning (right) are what we'd call revolutionary, but they both cover missing pieces of the puzzle -- including Apple's, as the tech firm skipped making an iPhone dock of its own for this generation. Should either the audio-supporting dock or the iPad-capable charger sound appealing, both are up for pre-orders today and will ship in mid-November for $30.

[Source: Engadget]

Verizon App Store begins closure in January 2013, pulled from all compatible devices by the end of March

The Verizon App Store will begin the process of shutting down for good starting in January 2013, US cellular carrier Verizon Wireless says, with plans to be fully off "all compatible Android and Research in Motion devices" by March 27, 2013. No specific reason is given for the closure, but Verizon does detail, "a whole new tech landscape" shaping its decision, and that the company is "evolving" strategy in accordance with said "new tech landscape." No doubt that the new landscape Verizon speaks of involves the dominance of Google's own Play store for Android, as well as RiM's BlackBerry App World.

[Source: Engadget - Click here to read the full story]

Instagram rolling out web profiles, sepia toning the world's browsers one account at a time

Instagram is getting ready to open up its collection of filtered images to the web. The photosharing service announced via blog post that it's going to be rolling out web profiles over the next few days, bringing profile photos, bios and shared images to easily navigable URLs at instagram.com/[username]. If you have photos set to private, you'll still get a profile, but those images won't be shared with the web at large. The site also notes that web uploading isn't currently enabled, seeing as how it's always been focused on mobile devices. If you don't have a page yet, you should be good to go within the week. In the meantime, you can check out other profiles in Instagram at the source link below.

[Source: Engadget]

Apple may ditch Intel chips in Macs, says Bloomberg

According to Bloomberg Apple is considering a move away from Intel chips for its cherished Mac line. The move would be the third major CPU shift for the brand which has previously relied on Motorola 68000 and Power PC chips. The move away from Intel could also mean a move away from x86 as Apple has been heavily invested in its own ARM-based chip designs in recent years. Bloomberg's sources suggest that Cupertino is actively working on a version of its tweaked ARM architecture that would run inside Mac PC, in particular its laptop products could stand to benefit from its battery sipping design.

The change will not happen immediately. In fact, the sources said such a move was years away, potentially not happening till 2017. But, as the gulf between "mobile" and "desktop" products begins to shrink and the boundaries blend, it would only seem to make sense that Apple would look to leverage its high-profile purchase of P.A. Semi to good use and inch ever closer to being a completely self-reliant corporate entity. We don't think it's any secret that Apple would, if it could, design and manufacture every component itself.

[Source: Engadget]

Facebook updates iOS app with features from standalone Messenger and Camera apps

It's not folding all of its apps back into one, but Facebook has now rolled out an updated version of its main iOS app that incorporates some features first seen in its standalone apps. That includes the ability to swipe left anywhere in the app to see who's available to send a message to, as well as the ability to add the friends you message the most to the top of your favorites -- both features drawn from Messenger. You'll also get the new "upload flow" from Facebook's Camera app that promises to let you share multiple photos faster, and the ability to send Facebook Gifts directly from the app (although that remains a US-only feature).

[Source: Engadget]

Foursquare Explore for iOS rates places by check-in popularity, doesn't see stars

Gauging the quality of a restaurant or store through star ratings is often just slightly more reliable than picking blindfolded; one undercooked stir fry may tank the ratings for what's otherwise a stellar eatery. In that sense, Foursquare's revamped Explore for iOS users is a long-overdue replacement for an old concept. Rather than let the overly emotional guide our decisions, the update assigns ratings from a 10-point system based on how many people check in, how many are regulars and the number of tips or likes -- in short, the degree to which people actually like to visit. Imagine that. Foursquare hasn't said when Android and other platforms will see the Explore switchover, but it shouldn't be too long before everyone knows where the local hotspot is without a few exceptions spoiling the rule.

[Source: Engadget]

Nikon reveals D5200 SLR with D7000-taunting specs: 24MP sensor, 39-point AF, wireless port

The trusty D5100 and D7000 have held sway over Nikon's low-to-mid DSLR range for around 18 months now, but come December and there'll be a new option driving a wedge right between them. The D5200 will still fulfill the role of a lightweight "advanced beginner" model and physically it's the spitting image of the D5100, but at the same time it brings some fundamental and distinctly D7000-like photographic improvements to try to excuse its £720 (body-only) recommended retail price. (Update: that equates to around $1,150, but Nikon tells us that there's no official US pricing or arrival date at this time.)

[Source: Engadget - Click here to read the full story]

Android 4.1 update for original Galaxy Note may bring Air View, Multi-Window and more

If fortune smiles upon original Galaxy Note owners, there's a good chance of finding an Android 4.1update before year's end. Rather than just the usual suspects like Google Now, however, a recently leaked software build suggests that Samsung's original smartphone / tablet may receive some of the same features as the current Galaxy Note II. We've embedded a video after the break that reveals what could be in store, which includes the Nature UX, the ability to watch video previews with the S Pen (Air View) and the ability to view two apps at once (Multi-Window). Whether the features make it to the final build is anyone's guess, though we're certainly crossing our fingers. In the meantime, feel free to hop the break to see what's in store -- sorry that it's in French.

[Source: Engadget]

Order your office supplies from Amazon, pick them up at Staples with upcoming lockers

Amazon lockers have been popping up at 7-eleven stores and UK retailers, but now they're arriving at what seems like a conflicted destination: bricks and mortar (and online) arch-competitor, Staples. The service allows shoppers who missed a delivery to head over to a locker and nab their packages using a 72-hour code, with the host retailer keeping a small fee in return. But there aren't too many items at Staples that you can't also find at Amazon, so we hope the office supply giant got a sweetheart deal.

[Image credit: Wikimedia Commons]
[Source: Engadget]

Curiosity lands at the App Store, in the massively multiplayer cube-chipping category

Peter Molyneux's first creation since Lionhead, is now live on the App Store, presenting gamers with a humungous cube composed of billions of tiny cubelets. Curiosity's virtual block needs to be stripped down layer by layer through collective effort, to reach the center and reveal "something life-challengingly amazing". There's no sign of the expected tear-inducing paid DLC; instead, you pay for power-ups using coins earned by tapping away at the game. 100 of those coins will let you see the stats screen, while 3 billion will reward you with the Diamond Chisel -- the ultimate tool for block-whacking. Based on our brief time at the grindstone, it's safe to say the game's impact won't be as profound as that of the other Curiosity, but its social aspects have some interesting potential -- not least using Facebook to locate friends who are playing and compare each other's progress. The game is available free at the App Store if you'd like to leave your mark.

[Source: Engadet]