Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Sony Tablet S preview

Sony Tablet S preview:





Even back when it was just a sketch we were suitably intrigued by Sony's Tablet S. Then it was the "S1," a name that, indistinct as it was, still had more character and mystery than the unfortunately generic moniker it will ship with. Still, a dull name can't obscure the most distinctive design we've yet seen in an Android Honeycomb slate, an aerofoil-like shape inspired not by a flying machine, but a rather more pedestrian folded magazine.



But, the result is a tablet that's considerably thicker than the current king of the Android hill, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 (not to mention the iPad 2), a chunky design that isn't always as hand-friendly as it looks. Is this the glossy, perfectly-paginated future of tablet design, or is it just a misshapen slate with a broken crease and shattered dreams? Read on to find out.



Note: at this time Sony was able to provide a device with final hardware, not software. So keep in mind this preview covers only the hardware, and that discussions of software and performance are liable to change.

Continue reading Sony Tablet S preview

Sony Tablet S preview originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's head-mounted 3D visor is real, HMZ-T1 arrives in Japan November 11th

Sony's head-mounted 3D visor is real, HMZ-T1 arrives in Japan November 11th:


Remember that crazy wearable 3D display concept Sony was showing off at CES 2011? Turns out the company is actually going to make it, and the HMZ-T1 is scheduled to be released in Japan on November 11th. While the design has changed slightly since we first laid our eyes, and heads, on it, the specs appear to be the same, with two 1280x720 0.7-inch OLED panels mounted in front of each eye giving the wearer an experience similar to viewing a 750-inch screen from 20m away, as well as 5.1 surround sound from headphones integrated into the Head Mounted Display (HMD). You can see the helmet above, as well as the processor unit (complete with HDMI input and output, so you can take off the helmet and watch on TV) that it must remain tethered to. Pricing is expected to be 60,000 yen ($783 US). Check out the press release and our hands-on video from CES after the break and decide if living out a Geordi La Forge-style fantasy is worth it.

Continue reading Sony's head-mounted 3D visor is real, HMZ-T1 arrives in Japan November 11th

Sony's head-mounted 3D visor is real, HMZ-T1 arrives in Japan November 11th originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 01:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink AV Watch | sourceSony Japan | Email this | Comments

iPad dock shopping cart keeps footie fans and their other halves happy

iPad dock shopping cart keeps footie fans and their other halves happy:



British football fans agree on very few things: how much everyone likes Jimmy Bullard, Arséne Wenger's need to buy a proper centre-half and how painful it is to be dragged out shopping just before kickoff on Saturday. It's those sympathetic and forward-thinking people at Sky who have the answer, at least to that last one. The company has teamed up with supermarket Sainsbury's (which has a track record of innovation) to trial a new trolley with a solar-powered iPad dock and speakers. Now you can watch the game, or anything else, via the Sky Go app on your device and get the grocery shopping done at the same time. Worried about getting so engrossed in Juan Mata's footwork that you'll be a danger to others? Rest easy, the cart has proximity sensors attached to let you know when you're about to sideswipe a pensioner. It's being trialled in the Cromwell Road Sainsbury's in West London -- all you need to try it yourself is an iPad, Sky Go access and a desire to be on the cutting edge of sports and technology. If the thought of shouting 'Taxi for Bent!' down the fruit aisle appeals, you can catch another pic and the press release after the break.

Continue reading iPad dock shopping cart keeps footie fans and their other halves happy

iPad dock shopping cart keeps footie fans and their other halves happy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Daily Telegraph | | Email this | Comments

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

World's only turbine-powered Batmobile up for sale on eBay, recession hits Bruce Wayne, too

World's only turbine-powered Batmobile up for sale on eBay, recession hits Bruce Wayne, too:


Remember that Boeing-powered Batmobile we ran across last month? Well friends, it could be yours via eBay auction in about a week. Currently, the highest bid is $620,000 -- which would be enough to cover the cost of several cars not fit for the Caped Crusader. However, none of those come equipped with a helicopter turbine, now do they? Putsch Racing reminds interested parties that the mean machine is street registered in the US, so you can roll like the Dark Knight without fear of the police pursuing you. An iPad loaded with digital avionics helps you monitor the jet engine, and you can use your choice of three fuel sources to power the thing: Jet A, kerosene, or diesel. Hey now, we never said it was environmentally friendly. If you, like Jay-Z, are "planking on a million," check out the detailed auction shots below and bid on Batman's ride yourself.

World's only turbine-powered Batmobile up for sale on eBay, recession hits Bruce Wayne, too originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Motofinity | sourceeBay | Email this | Comments

Samsung announces three Wave handsets, dripping in Bada 2.0 and ChatON

Samsung announces three Wave handsets, dripping in Bada 2.0 and ChatON:


It's shaping up to a be a busy IFA for Samsung. Barely 24 hours after announcing its new ChatON messaging client, the manufacturer is now gearing up to release a troika of new Bada 2.0-powered Wave handsets -- the Wave 3, Wave M and Wave Y -- set to make their debut this week in Berlin. Leading the pack is the Wave 3, which leaked earlier this week. Powered by a 1.4GHz processor, this little guy boasts a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display, 3GB of memory (along with a 32GB microSD slot) and a five megapixel, auto-focus-enabled shooter. The Wave M, meanwhile, packs slightly less juice, with a 832MHz processor, a 3.65-inch WVGA screen and 150MB of onboard storage (with a 2GB inbox and 32GB microSD slot). Rounding out the collection is the Wave Y, with its 3.2-inch HVGA display, 832MHz engine and two megapixel camera. All three feature your usual smattering of WiFi / Bluetooth 3.0 capabilities and will ship with ChatON and Samsung's Social Hub baked into their DNA. No word yet on pricing or availability, but you can find out more in the full press release, after the break.

Continue reading Samsung announces three Wave handsets, dripping in Bada 2.0 and ChatON

Samsung announces three Wave handsets, dripping in Bada 2.0 and ChatON originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Samsung Tomorrow | | Email this | Comments

Monday, August 29, 2011

Samsung delays Galaxy Tab 10.1 launch in Australia amid patent battle with Apple

Samsung delays Galaxy Tab 10.1 launch in Australia amid patent battle with Apple:


Just a few days after suffering a legal setback in Dutch court, Samsung has now decided to delay the launch of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia, amid its heightening patent infringement battle with Apple. In a hearing today, the Korean manufacturer announced that it would refrain from selling or marketing its new tablet within Australia, before September 30th. Samsung made a similar concession earlier this month, agreeing to halt sales of its slates until today's hearing and to provide Apple with product samples at least seven days prior to its Australian launch. The company says it presented the samples on Thursday, but Cupertino's lawyers insisted that the Australian version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 still infringes upon its patents. Samsung, meanwhile, said in a statement that it's preparing to launch a counter-attack down under, telling reporters that it "intends to file a cross claim against Apple Australia and Apple Inc regarding the invalidity of the patents previously asserted by Apple and also a cross claim against Apple regarding violation of patents held by Samsung by selling its iPhones and iPads." The next formal court hearings are scheduled for September 26th and 29th. Stay tuned.



[Thanks, Geoff]

Samsung delays Galaxy Tab 10.1 launch in Australia amid patent battle with Apple originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 04:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceThe Sydney Morning Herald | Email this | Comments

LG Display cuts spending targets for 2012, amid sagging LCD demand

LG Display cuts spending targets for 2012, amid sagging LCD demand:


LG Display has decided to drastically cut its expenditure target for 2012, in yet another sign that the LCD market is going through some tough times. Today, the manufacturer announced that it will spend only three trillion won (about $2.8 billion) on its production facilities next year -- a 33 percent decrease from its previously revised budget and LG Display's lowest expenditure target since 2009. The company also said that it has no plans to build a new LCD plants in 2012, suggesting that it may already be facing excess panel supply. Analysts are predicting that demand will remain subdued throughout the end of 2011, though LG Display CFO James Jeong had previously said he expects things to pick up by the beginning of next year.

LG Display cuts spending targets for 2012, amid sagging LCD demand originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceThe Wall Street Journal | Email this | Comments

Samsung's ChatON messaging service brings free texting to Android, iOS and BlackBerry (video)

Samsung's ChatON messaging service brings free texting to Android, iOS and BlackBerry (video):



It looks like Samsung is about to dip its toes in the mobile messaging market, with a new service called ChatON. Slated to debut at this week's IFA, the app brings texting, group chat and image / video sharing to not only Samsung's Bada OS, but to iOS, Android and BlackBerry platforms, as well. According to the Korean manufacturer, the new client will be available in two versions: a basic one for feature phones and another, more complex variation that allows smartphone users to comment on other profiles, send animated messages and visualize their most frequently contacted friends, as displayed above. The company is also planning to release a web-based version that would bring similar functionality to PCs. ChatON is slated to go live next month (in more than 120 countries and 62 languages), but you can find more information in the demo video and translated PR, after the break.

Continue reading Samsung's ChatON messaging service brings free texting to Android, iOS and BlackBerry (video)

Samsung's ChatON messaging service brings free texting to Android, iOS and BlackBerry (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 06:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Sammy Hub | | Email this | Comments

Sunday, August 28, 2011

MOTOFONE F3, the zombie apocalypse survival phone (video)

MOTOFONE F3, the zombie apocalypse survival phone (video):


You can never be too prepared. Whether you're being chased by brain sucking zombies, hunted down by ruthless killer robots, or -- more likely -- the victim of an earthquake or other natural disaster. There's only one phone you really need, and that's the MOTOFONE F3. Forget your smartphone and its fancy pants features, forget the internet -- when the apocalypse strikes your survival might depend on a durable handset with great battery life and just the basics, which is exactly what the MOTOFONE F3 delivers. Introduced in 2006 for developing markets, it makes and takes calls, sends and receives text messages, beeps and vibrates, stores and recalls your most important contacts, and includes an alarm clock -- that's it.



Of course, these specs describe almost every simple phone launched since SMS was added to the GSM standard. What makes the MOTOFONE F3 unique is that it uses a segmented e-paper display which sips power and remains legible in both direct sunlight and dark back alleys, along with dual antennae for superior radio performance. Battery life is absolutely incredible, with over 2 weeks in standby and several months powered off. Motorola also designed the handset to be light (68g), thin (9mm) and strong -- it's resistant to shock, dust and moisture, with a sealed keypad and speaker (which is extremely loud). The best part? You can pick one up online, unlocked, for as little as $25.



Check out our gallery below, and whatever you do, don't be like our protagonist in the zombie apocalypse video after the break -- don't leave your SIM at home.



Psst... yeah, we know this phone's ancient, but every now and then we like to reach back and have a little fun. And, you know, escape a looming zombie horde.

Gallery: MOTOFONE F3

Continue reading MOTOFONE F3, the zombie apocalypse survival phone (video)

MOTOFONE F3, the zombie apocalypse survival phone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD lineup updated with smaller 60GB option for $130

OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD lineup updated with smaller 60GB option for $130:

Looking for a peppy SSD to turbo charge your workflow and don't need a whole lot of storage capacity? Back in June, Other World Computing introduced its speedy SandForce-endowed Mercury Electra 6G SSDs with a base model priced at $230 for 120GB. Now the company's added a cheaper option to keep things fast and your wallet happy. Those wanting a taste of its 556MB/s read and 523MB/s write speeds can now opt for a 60GB variation, priced at just $130. Sure, it may not be ideal for saving your entire Queen back catalog, but it could be a nifty route for faster boot-up and load times, right? It's available now from OWC. Zip past the break for the full PR.

Continue reading OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD lineup updated with smaller 60GB option for $130

OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD lineup updated with smaller 60GB option for $130 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 03:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceOWC | Email this | Comments

Friday, August 26, 2011

Dell Vostro 360 unveiled in China, a decently priced all-in-Yuan

Dell Vostro 360 unveiled in China, a decently priced all-in-Yuan:


Dell's Chinese site just took the wraps off the Vostro 360 all-in-one, which we already glimpsed in some prematurely released support documents. The product page actually calls it the 'Vostro Success 360' to hammer home its productivity focus, as if the inclusion of Windows 7 Professional Edition wasn't enough. Other specs are pretty much as expected: a choice of touchscreen or non-touchscreen variants of the 23-inch Full HD WLED display, Intel i3 or i5 processors with the H61 chipset and up to a terabyte of 7200RPM storage. There's also a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M for those out-of-hours LAN parties. The 4,999 Yuan price tag for the base model translates to a respectable $780, but we've no clue as to when this office beauty will arrive outside the Chung Kuo.



[Thanks, Czar]

Dell Vostro 360 unveiled in China, a decently priced all-in-Yuan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceDell [Chinese] | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy W to launch on Three network in the UK next month

Samsung Galaxy W to launch on Three network in the UK next month:


Samsung-thusiasts in the UK will be happy to know that the brand spanking new Galaxy W is coming to the British Three network in September. Just yesterday, we caught a glimpse of this beaut running Gingerbread with a 3.7-inch WVGA touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera, 4GB of internal memory, a 1.4GHz processor and HDSPA connectivity. Those on Three can also expect the new line of BlackBerrys -- the Curve 9360, the Torch 9810 and the Bold 9900 -- soon, as well as the white Samsung Galaxy S II and the Sony Ericsson Xperia ray sometime in September. We hope to get some hands-on time with the W at IFA in Berlin next week -- roadtrip anyone?

Samsung Galaxy W to launch on Three network in the UK next month originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Unwired View | sourceThree | Email this | Comments

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Talk O' Clock makes alarm clocks more social, strangers more friendly

Talk O' Clock makes alarm clocks more social, strangers more friendly:


Alarm clocks have been developing more and more unique ways to wake people up over the years, but being woken up by a stranger has always been something of a difficult proposition. Sure, you can use an old fashioned wake-up call service, but then you still sort of "know" who's calling you. Not so with the Talk O' Clock service -- soon to be available for Android and iOS devices, in addition to the current web-based app -- which relies on the power of social networking to ensure that a complete stranger calls to wake you from your slumber. Yes, it is real -- and, yes, you should proceed with caution (although you can at least rest assured that the person calling you doesn't actually see your phone number). It's still at the invite-only beta stage right now, but those seem to be readily available to anyone with a Facebook account. See how it works in the videos after the break.

Continue reading Talk O' Clock makes alarm clocks more social, strangers more friendly

Talk O' Clock makes alarm clocks more social, strangers more friendly originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 04:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink DVICE | sourceTalk 'O Clock | Email this | Comments

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Apple to release cheaper, 8GB iPhone 4 within weeks?

Apple to release cheaper, 8GB iPhone 4 within weeks?:


As the world waits for Apple to release the iPhone 5, Reuters is reporting that Cupertino may be refreshing the iPhone 4, as well. According to two anonymous sources "with knowledge of the matter," an unnamed Korean manufacturer has already begun producing parts for a cheaper, 8GB version of the smartphone, slated to launch within the next few weeks. As for that next-gen handset, the insiders went on to say that the iPhone 4S / iPhone 5 will will feature a more spacious touchscreen, better antenna and eight megapixel shooter, and that Apple is indeed aiming for a late September launch, after having already asked manufacturers Hon Hai and Pegatron to prep their facilities for the production of 45 million units, altogether. Details, as usual, are still scarce at this point, but we'll let you know as soon as we get more information.

Apple to release cheaper, 8GB iPhone 4 within weeks? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceReuters | Email this | Comments