| Apple investigating 3G issues on some Verizon iPad 2s, software fix expected soon Posted: 09 Apr 2011 11:21 AM PDT Having trouble hooking up your iPad 2 to Verizon's 3G network? Turns out you're not alone, and thankfully, Apple's well aware of this. In a statement to All Things Digital, Cupertino said it's investigating this CDMA connectivity issue as reported by "a small number of iPad 2 customers," and word has it that a software patch will be available soon. Until then, personal hotspot is your friend, or you could just borrow some mobile WiFi from your actual friends -- protip: a smile goes a long way. |
| Sprint radar imaging system peeps inside walls, floors to detect bombs, tell-tale hearts Posted: 09 Apr 2011 10:17 AM PDT Back in 2005, we reported on a little something called the Prism 200, which allowed its holder to essentially see what folks were doing on the other side of a wall. Since then, we've seen plenty of devices that boast the same claims, but it wasn't until recently that the makers of the Prism 200 created a device that can actually see inside those walls. Looking something akin to an old school punch clock, Cambridge Consultants' Sprint in-wall radar imaging system provides 3D renderings of items embedded in walls, floors, and even ceilings. Where as existing X-ray systems require access to both sides of a wall, Sprint's radar setup allows users to see what's going on inside without dual access. As you might imagine, Cambridge is pushing this thing as a security tool, allowing for detection of bombs, drugs, dead bodies -- you know, the usual bad guy stuff. Sprint is currently undergoing testing. Full PR after the break. Show full PR text Cambridge Consultants sprints ahead with innovative counter-terror search technology
New 'Sprint' in-wall radar imaging system unveiled
Cambridge Consultants, a leading technology design and development firm, today unveiled 'Sprint', a prototype handheld device which provides a 3D image of objects embedded within walls or floors. Based on Cambridge Consultants' proven short range radar expertise, Sprint enables an operator to rapidly form an image of subsurface structures such as pipes and cables, as well as detecting items of interest such as concealed explosives and contraband, revolutionising counter-terrorism and crime prevention search techniques.
Law enforcement and security agencies are constantly facing new challenges as criminals and terrorists look for ever more creative ways to conceal weapons or to smuggle contraband, and the Sprint system has been designed to tackle some of the most challenging threat detection scenarios. The London 2012 Olympics, for example, will be one of the toughest security challenges seen in the UK to date and security services will want to leave no stone unturned in the hunt for potential threats. Sprint can quickly and easily look inside anything from the floor to the roof, and the handheld system can simply be moved across a surface to build a larger picture. With many new buildings and facilities being developed for the 2012 games, this technology could provide a unique and innovative way of ensuring that they are clear of any threat.
Unlike existing transmission x-ray systems, the radar-based Sprint system does not require access to both sides of the object in order to scan inside, and provides an easily interpreted image of the wall structure, something which compact radar systems have previously not provided. This significantly improves its application potential and can enable much quicker deployment in scenarios where speed can be critical.
"Whereas other options, such as backscatter x-rays, are cumbersome, expensive and power hungry systems, and conventional radar systems have been difficult to interpret, Sprint's use of radar and processing technology makes it possible to look inside an opaque object or surface from one side safely, cheaply and quickly in a low power, handheld device," commented Sam Pumphrey, Senior Consultant at Cambridge Consultants.
The prototype Sprint device is the equivalent size of a standard sheet of letter paper and 15cm deep, weighing approximately 3.5kg with batteries. It is a multi-channel system, enabling full synthetic aperture processing, and it uses short pulses of energy with high bandwidth to enable the short range, high resolution imaging required. Other potential applications for the technology include industrial inspection, technical search, counter surveillance and a range of military applications.
Cambridge Consultants is currently conducting extensive performance testing to take Sprint beyond the prototype stage and ready it for future commercialisation.
Sprint has been developed to sit alongside Cambridge Consultants' Prism 200 device. Prism 200 is a handheld through-wall radar, designed to be used by police, special forces or the emergency services. It provides quick and covert intelligence on the movement and location of people in a room or building - without the need for invasive sensors. |
| uSolo FX Media player review Posted: 09 Apr 2011 09:12 AM PDT This is a picture of a digital media player. It doesn't look quite like an iPod, though, does it? No hint of Zune here either, we don't think. In fact, it looks a lot like a CDJ unit, and that's for a reason: it acts just like a physical media-loving digital disc jockey's unit, but without the 5-inch slot at the front. Instead, it's got USB and SD ports up top. If you're a DJ, you might be familiar with the rest: navigate your folders to find a song, cue it up with the jog wheel, and mix it up. DJ Tech, which started operations in the US just last year, has the uSolo FX as its flagship unit -- does it compare to its competition from giants like Pioneer and Numark? Read on to find out! If you aren't already a DJ (shame on you!) or haven't yet experienced the thrill of using a traditional CDJ unit, we'll give you a quick primer on this device, and by extension, this class of devices. They take your audio files (WAV or MP3 in this case, stored on a USB or SD mass-storage device of less than 250GB) and give you an extreme amount of control over how you'd like those files played back. That gigantic jog wheel in the center -- which has a pulsating LED tracking ring that keeps time with the beat -- allows you to scrub through the song, slow it down, or do a satisfying wikka-wikka-scratch sound if you're so inclined. We're pretty psyched on the jog wheel in this particular piece of hardware. It's actually broken down into two discrete parts: a flat, grippier-feeling and touch-sensitive top, and a pockmarked hard plastic exterior. The top acts much like an actual piece of spinning vinyl on a turntable: if you touch it, it'll stop; if you spin it backwards, it'll play the song in reverse. The side control is a different story: if you spin it backwards, it'll bend the pitch down depending on how quickly you're back-spinning. On the right is a pitch bend fader, which can slow down or speed up your song up to 100 percent. Up underneath the LCD screen, you've got a looping section that will keep your song in one place for as long as you'd care to let it. As a nice bonus on the uSolo FX, there's a built-in effects section on the left side of the unit. The jog wheel's two control areas determine the parameters for the solid-sounding flanger, filter, and echo effects. The uSolo FX performed admirably under all our typical use situations. It felt solidly put together and looked like something to be proud of having on-stage. The extra touches, like brushed aluminum brake- and startup-speed knobs, the ability to use the device as a MIDI controller, and data sharing / pairing capabilities with other units, all add to the expeience. We do have a few minor gripes: if you have a huge library, it'll take a few minutes to index your songs. We also could have used a little more expressiveness in the FX section, and the included Databox playlist management software is Windows-only.  The real story with the uSolo FX, though, is the price. We're at a time when more and more people are exploring DJ culture and using digital tools to change they way they interact with music. At $549, we're not quite sure what this device's target audience is -- its closest analog, the Pioneer CDJ-200, will run you about $500. Pioneer's unit doesn't have much in the way of built-in FX, and although it still relies on CDs, they can be MP3 CDs. And if you're just getting started with digital DJing, you'll probably want to interface with your computer and library with an interface along the lines of Behringer's $200 BCD3000 unit. There is some price pressure on the uSolo FX from the more economical end of the scale, too. Gemini's CDJ-210, which can be had for less than $200, will play MP3's that have been burned to a CD-R, and won't let you read from a USB device, control MIDI, or include effects. Cheaper models in this space -- like the Gemini -- almost universally feel like toys, also unlike the uSolo FX, but at less than half the price, it's hard to ignore for someone looking for more control over playback of their files.  For those looking for this very specific solution, though -- a USB-enabled media player without the hassle of having to burn to CD, and with built-in effects and MIDI -- you've got it right here. Seasoned digital jocks also might find a spot in the coffin for this dude, and with its Traktor and Serato controller abilities, it certainly has a lot going for it. We just really wish it were cheaper. At $300 or less, it could make a name for itself in the growing community of people looking to have a little more physical fun in the playback of their music, but as it stands, you'll need deep pockets to justify ownership. |
| Sprint's Common Cents brand falls into the sofa cushions, replaced by Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk Posted: 09 Apr 2011 07:46 AM PDT It was some... curious timing. On May 6th of last year Sprint's new boy toy Virgin Mobile announced the Beyond Talk prepaid plan. Then, just a week later, Sprint launched its own, separate prepaid plan, Common Cents. Beyond Talk started at $25 a month for 300 minutes while Common Cents was $.07 per minute, all contact free. The latter of those two is now dying away, never catching on despite what must be said is a rather catchy name. Its users are being lumped into the Virgin payLo scheme, while Beyond Talk will take over the kiosks and marketing avenues currently occupied by Common Cents. There, with its rag-tag group of featurephones and data plans, it will continue the fight against the evil TracFone empire. |
| Packard Bell debuts Liberty Tab Honeycomb tablet, clearly adores freedom Posted: 09 Apr 2011 06:05 AM PDT You didn't think that Acer wouldn't be sharing some of its new tablets with its still-kicking Packard Bell subsidiary, did you? The latter has now debuted the Liberty Tab, its own spin on Acer's Iconia Tab A500. As you might expect, however, there aren't many differences beyond the name, with this one packing the same styling, 10-inch screen, Tegra 2 processor, dual cameras, and Honeycomb OS as its more widely-available counterpart. Launch details are still a bit iffy, but you can apparently expect this one to hit Europe sometime in June, with pricing to vary by country. Head on past the break for a hands-on video courtesy of Notebook Italia. [Thanks, Marco]
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| Delkin Elite 633 claims to be the fastest SDHC card with 80MBps write speeds Posted: 09 Apr 2011 04:03 AM PDT  We can't say we're pleased that camera makers still haven't called an armistice in their megapixel war, but a race for the speediest memory card is one battle we can get behind. Delkin says its 32GB Elite 633 SDHC is the fastest in the world, with 80MBps and 95MBps write and read speeds, respectively, handily trumping Sony's new Memory Sticks that so recently impressed us. This card's ideal for people who shoot gobs of 1080p video, 3D movies, and high-resolution shots coupled with RAW files, but with a price of $440, it's only worth it for pros. And debutants. |
| World Bank report finds selling virtual goods in games more profitable than 'real' economy Posted: 09 Apr 2011 01:38 AM PDT A report commissioned by the World Bank's infoDev unit has cast fresh light on one of the more fascinating aspects of our brave new interconnected world: the virtual economy. The "third-party gaming services industry" -- where wealthy but impatient players have someone else grind away at online games for them in exchange for monetary reward -- is one of the focal points of the study, chiefly owing to it having generated revenues in the region of $3 billion in 2009 and now serving as the primary source of income for an estimated 100,000 young folks, primarily in countries like China and Vietnam. What's encouraging about these findings is that most of the revenue from such transactions ends up in the country where the virtual value is produced, which contrasts starkly with some of the more traditional international markets, such as that for coffee beans, where the study estimates only $5.5 billion of the $70 billion annual market value ever makes it back to the producing country. The research also takes an intriguing look at the emerging phenomenon of microwork, which consists of having unskilled workers doing the web's version of menial work -- checking images, transcribing bits of text, bumping up Facebook Likes (naughty!), etc. -- and could also lead to more employment opportunities for people in poorer nations. To get better acquainted with the details, check the links below or click past the break.
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| Google preps Android for its corporate interview, adds new encryption and security measures Posted: 08 Apr 2011 11:54 PM PDT With over 300,000 devices activated per day, Android's clearly firing on all cylinders from a consumer standpoint, but much like the famed Cheez-It wheel, some would argue that the OS isn't quite mature enough for unabashed enterprise use. Being a corporation itself, El Goog's obviously been toiling around the clock to change that, and it's taking three major strides today. An updated version of its Google Apps Device Policy enables employees to secure a lost or stolen Android 2.2+ device by locating it on a map, ringing the device, and resetting the device PIN or password remotely via the new My Devices website. Furthermore, Apps admins now have an option in the control panel to "Encrypt Data on Device," which will now include requiring encrypted storage on Android 3.0 tablets. Finally, Google Apps Lookup is acting as a type of internal blackbook, allowing users to easily sift through colleagues and contact them through one form or another. So... hired? |
| Aurasma's AR iPhone app to turn everyday objects into multimedia triggers (video) Posted: 08 Apr 2011 10:18 PM PDT  We've seen augmented reality done what seems like a million different ways, but we've never seen it quite like this. The New York Times reported Wednesday on a forthcoming iPhone app called Aurasma that has the power to turn ink-and-paper publications into interactive mine fields. Aurasma, conceived by enterprise software firm Autonomy, uses a scaled down version of the outfit's IDOL pattern recognizer to identify images stored in a vast database, and then converts those images into related video. Unfortunately, the first release of the app, scheduled for sometime next month, comes in the form of an AR advertisement / game for an unidentified upcoming movie, and the company's founder seems solidly focused on the technology's marketing potential. No word yet on when or if we can expect to see our New York Times come to life, as seen in the video at the source link below, but if this is the future of augmented reality, count us in.
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| Download DARPA's sub-hunting sim, help train its ACTUV automaton Posted: 08 Apr 2011 08:47 PM PDT DARPA dabbles in all matter of defense drones, and it's no stranger to leveraging the wisdom of the masses to help develop tomorrow's military machinery. The agency's latest program to go the crowdsourcing route is its Anti-submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV), and it wants you to help develop the software that'll control the thing. DARPA's borrowed a bit of the Sonalysts Combat Simulations Dangerous Waters game to create the ACTUV Tactics Simulator, where players complete missions tracking a target sub while navigating through and around commercial ocean traffic. Would-be captains can then choose to submit their strategies and game data to DARPA for use in shoring up the autonomous seabot's strategic submarine pursuit software. Hit the source link for a free download and dive into the sub-hunting action. |
| BlackBerry Orlando leaks out: say hello to the touchscreen Curve Posted: 08 Apr 2011 06:41 PM PDT As if we needed any more signs of where Research in Motion was heading in terms of its 2011 device line, we've just caught wind of yet another touchscreen-equipped Berry. The BlackBerry "Orlando" is purported to be a variation of the Curve with touch capabilities, already being described as a mini Bold Touch. This yet again begs the question of why exactly RIM has so many different devices planned, especially when the spec differences are so minor. We wish the company would deviate from this approach it has relied on for years, but it seems to be more focused on its tablet strategy than it is on pushing the envelope with phones. Additionally, it could just mean that BB6 might be sticking around for a while and that RIM wants its users to get acclimated, or perhaps that it might take a little longer than we think for QNX to trickle down from the PlayBook. |
| Test subjects with electrode implants use mind control to move a cursor Posted: 08 Apr 2011 06:25 PM PDT As trippy as mind-control still seems to us, we've already seen it implemented in everything from wheelchairs to pricey gaming ( and car driving!) headsets. But the problem is that they measure brain activity outside the skull -- you know, the thing we've evolved to shield the murky goings-on in our minds from prying EEG sensors. Now, though, a team of Washington University researchers appears to have happened upon a more effective -- albeit, invasive -- approach. The researchers got some brave specimens to move a mouse cursor by implanting plastic pads containing electrodes underneath their skulls, with the sensors sitting on the surface of the brain. That, they say, gives them access to more telling, high-frequency waves that say a lot more about cognitive intentions. In the end, the subjects moved the cursors by thinking one of these sounds: "ee," "ah," "oo," and "eh." Brain-computer interfaces ain't new, of course, but the scientists say the subjects with electrode implants had more success than people wearing electrode-studded EEG caps, which could translate to less frustration for people with severe disabilities. |
| IBM shows off 155GHz graphene transistor in the name of DARPA research Posted: 08 Apr 2011 05:16 PM PDT  IBM might be cautious about touting graphene as a a silicon killer, but that hasn't stopped it from pushing the production of ever faster graphene transistors. With the recent demonstration of a 155GHz graphene transistor, the firm successfully outdid its previous record-setting efforts, which produced a cut-off frequency of 100GHz. What's more, the thing is also IBM's smallest to date, with a gate length of 40 nanometers; that's 200 nanometers less than the 100GHz iteration. This smaller, faster transistor was produced as part of a DARPA research project that aims to develop high-performance RF (radio frequency) transistors. So, no, we probably won't be seeing the things in our PCs anytime soon, but it looks like they could be right at home in war machines of the future. |
| Cowon's minuscule C2 PMP picks up where the D2 left off Posted: 08 Apr 2011 04:07 PM PDT At this point, Cowon's D2 (and to a lesser extent, the D2+) is getting a bit long in the tooth, and it looks as if the Korea-based outfit will be taking an alphabetical leap backwards in order to supplant it. The newly revealed C2 is slated to land at the end of April or early May in order to give barebones PMP users yet another alternative, boasting a 2.6-inch resistive touchpanel (320 x 240), a composite video output, microSD expansion slot, 4/8/16GB of internal flash storage, USB 2.0 connectivity, an internal microphone and a rechargeable battery that's good for up to ten hours of video playback (and a whopping 55 hours when listening strictly to audio). Per usual, Cowon's supporting every file format under the sun (and the moon, for good measure), and we're expecting nothing less than world-class aural performance based on the company's past. We're still waiting to hear back on a price, but you can use your limbo time wisely by deciding on white, black or gray. |
| Smithsonian's Spark!Lab gives big ups to robots Posted: 08 Apr 2011 03:14 PM PDT We've seen them scoop up oozy goop, shake their moneymakers, and even give birth, but it's rare for us to land solid face time with the robotic superstars we admire so much. If you're in DC over the next few weeks, however, the Smithsonian's offering you the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the most influential automatons in robotics history. In honor of National Robotics week, the museum is dedicating its Spark!Lab to our mechanical counterparts, allowing you to play Simon with DARPA's Autonomous Robotic Manipulator (ARM), invent a robotic arm of your own, or feast your eyes on the likes of ELECTRO the robo dog. The museum has also announced that it is now accepting donations "relating to the development of autonomous mobile robots in the United States." So, throw one back for your favorite robots this week, because -- you know -- they can't. Full PR after the break. Show full PR text Smithsonian Adds to Robotics Collection and Invites Public to National Robotics Week Activities in Spark!Lab
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History today accepted donations relating to the development of autonomous mobile robots in the United States and its Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation unveiled National Robotics Week activities taking place in Spark!Lab, the center's hands-on invention space in the museum, April 9 through April 16.
Sandia National Laboratories donated objects such as its first minirobot, the Miniature Autonomous Robotic Vehicle. About 1 cubic inch in size, MARV is one of the first miniature robots developed in the United States. Other acquisitions from Sandia include descendants of MARV-including one named the 2001 robotics invention of the year by Time magazine-hopping robots and "Dixie," one of the earliest battlefield scout robots.
Velodyne donated an improved laser vision system that was invented for use in robot vehicle races held by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, including the 2005 Grand Challenge and the 2007 Urban Challenge. The laser vision system allows terrain mapping in three dimensions. Also included in the acquisition is a competition robot developed in 2000.
"Technological advancement has always been a strong theme running through American history," said Brent D. Glass, director of the museum. "The donations made today not only reflect the historical record of robotic development, but offer a glimpse of-and inspiration for-the future."
These donations join objects already in the museum's permanent robotics collection, such as "Stanley," a modified blue Volkswagen Touareg that won the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge.
The Lemelson Center is participating in National Robotics Week-an initiative of the Congressional Robotics Caucus that aims to educate the public about how robotics technology affects society, past, present and future-for the second year. Featured in Spark!Lab through May is Robbie, an Autonomous Robotic Manipulator (ARM) from DARPA. Robbie is designed as a tool for researchers at leading U.S. universities and research labs to find ways to enhance the types of tasks robots can perform while minimizing the amount of human input necessary. While in Spark!Lab, Robbie will play games, such as a memory game similar to Simon, with visitors and facilitate discussions about how robots process information.
"Spark!Lab has always been a place for our young visitors to ignite their imaginations and creativity," said Arthur Molella, director of the center. "The activities offered for National Robotics Week are an exciting new way to pique their interest in science, technology, engineering and math."
Other robotics activities in Spark!Lab April 9 through April 16 allow visitors to invent a robot arm, take an Invention Challenge to earn a special Spark!Lab patent, build and test-drive remote-controlled (teleoperated) robots and experiment with the electronics that comprise robots. Spark!Lab will also feature Survivor Buddy, an innovative search-and-rescue robot operated by engineering students from Texas A&M and Stanford Universities; an ornithopter robot that flies by flapping its wings designed and built by students from the University of Maryland Robotics Center; and ELECTRO, Spark!Lab's autonomous robot dog. |
| Full specs leak for BlackBerry Bold Touch, 1.2GHz Snapdragon can't overcome ugly Posted: 08 Apr 2011 02:31 PM PDT We understand that it's hard to take two steps rather than one, but a solid list of specifications isn't going to make the BlackBerry Bold Touch ( Dakota) look any less last-decade. For whatever reason, RIM's design department seems to be stuck in an era where last-generation is the new next-generation, while it's internals team has seemingly managed to escape. For those who couldn't disagree more regarding the exterior, you'll likely be elated to know that the impending handset will boast a blisteringly fast 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, 8GB of internal storage, 768MB of RAM, a microSD expansion slot, 5 megapixel camera and a 35-key backlit keyboard. You'll also get a microscopic 2.8-inch LCD with a woeful 640 x 480 resolution, Bluetooth 2.1, a 3.5mm headphone jack, A-GPS, dual-band 802.11b/g/n WiFi and a 720p movie mode. So, one down, one to go -- time for a reread, is it RIM? Update: Seems as if the faucet's still flowing, with a full specs list popping up for the BlackBerry Torch 9860 (Monza) as well! [Thanks, bighap] |
| US DoJ approves Google's acquisition of ITA, but not without stipulations Posted: 08 Apr 2011 02:06 PM PDT The United States government may be dissolved tomorrow, but it's certainly taking care of one final piece of business before going into shutdown: this. If you'll recall, Google announced its intentions to acquire ITA for $700 million in July of last year, and as we cruise into the start of America's summer travel season, all signals are go. Today, the US Department of Justice approved Google's request to move forward with the buy, but rather than having the entire travel search market under its wing, El Goog's going to have to make a smattering of concessions in order to get the right signatures. For starters, the search monolith will allow ITA's existing client contracts to extend into 2016, and it'll let both current and new customers license ITA's QPX software on "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms." No one's saying when the integration will be complete (or start, for that matter), but we're desperately anxious to see just how Kayak and Bing Travel react after this launches in earnest. Power to the searchers, as it were. |
| Verizon Wireless killing one-year contracts on April 17th, assumes you won't even care Posted: 08 Apr 2011 01:41 PM PDT Okay, so maybe you'll care, but you'll still opt for the two-year option once your contract is up. That's according -- more or less, anyway -- to a Verizon Wireless spokesperson, confirming to our inquiry this afternoon that the carrier's one-year contract option will be eliminated on April 17th. The reason, as you might expect, revolves around historical customer preference. That's a fancy way of saying that most customers prefer the stout hardware discounts that are available with a lengthier two-year agreement, and barring that, they can still choose month-to-month, prepaid or a rival. Not that VZW would encourage the latter, but hey -- America's about options, man. |
| House of Representatives votes to block FCC's net neutrality rules Posted: 08 Apr 2011 01:26 PM PDT Well, it looks like Republicans in the House of Representatives weren't about to let this one slip past a possible government shutdown -- they just passed a measure that seeks to block the FCC's net neutrality rules by a largely party line vote of 240 to 179. That follows a House subcommittee vote last month but, as then, the bill still faces an uphill battle in the Senate and with the President, who's expected to veto any such legislation if it somehow got to his desk. Not surprisingly, the rhetoric from both sides is only increasing following this latest development, with Democrat Rep. Henry Waxman saying the Republican bill would "end the internet as we know it," while Republican Rep. Fred Upton argues that "the internet is not broken and this bill will assure that the FCC does not break it." |
| Star Trek series coming to Netflix Watch Instantly in July and October Posted: 08 Apr 2011 01:19 PM PDT Just because Netflix has licensed new content we're not always sure when it will be available for Watch Instantly streaming, but TrekMovie.com reports it has the dates for Star Trek content covered by a recent deal with CBS. TrekMovie has confirmed it will have every episode of all five live action series -- US only, sorry Canada, enjoy that Iron Man 2 -- with the original Star Trek ( in HD), Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, and Star Trek: Enterprise (in HD) available July 1st, followed by Star Trek: Deep Space 9 on October 1st. There's still no word on when Family Ties is arriving, but the two year deal (with an option for two more) should give viewers who haven't already shelled out for the boxed sets (we know you got the HD DVDs) a chance to get all the Trek they can bear. |
| Samsung's Droid Charge spotted in leaked promo material, multimedia dock in tow Posted: 08 Apr 2011 12:59 PM PDT Like it or not, it's a Big Red kind of day. The latest VZW news to splash down in our inbox is the shot you see above -- the first hint of promotional material surrounding Samsung's Droid Charge. If you'll recall, this phone began its (public) life at CES 2011 sans a name, but as a source correctly predicted, the name shown above will be the one that sticks. Proving that the Atrix 4G setup was more than just a fluke, Sammy's also showcasing a must-have peripheral: the multimedia desktop dock. Said accessory ships with a built-in battery charger and spare cell, but with no apparent signs of a video output, we're having a hard time getting too hot and bothered. |
| Motorola Xoom UK pricing official at £580 for 3G and £480 for WiFi-only Posted: 08 Apr 2011 12:50 PM PDT Motorola has now confirmed that the latest round of prices the Carphone Warehouse, PC World and other UK retailers are listing for its Xoom tablet are indeed the officially sanctioned price points for the Honeycomb slate. After being listed at £600 for the 3G model and £500 for the WiFi-only version initially, the 32GB-equipped 10-incher is now mercifully £20 cheaper, at £580 and £480 for each variant. A quick glance at Apple's online store tells us that those levies match up exactly to what a corresponding 32GB version of the iPad 2 will cost you, signaling Motorola's intent to at least be on par in terms of pricing. Stores are still showing the Xoom under a pre-order status for now, but that should be changing swiftly if Motorola wishes to live up to its promise of availability this very week. |
| Leaked Verizon Unleashed pricing sheets detail $50 unlimited talk / text plans Posted: 08 Apr 2011 12:43 PM PDT Just in case you're still dissatisfied after taking a peek at one leaked Verizon screenshot today, well... here's numero dos. The folks at Droid-Life managed to get their paws on a couple of monochrome sheets that look more like VZW promotional material than anything else, and if Sprint's Simply Everything plan thought it had the whole market locked down, it might just have another thing coming. Best we can tell, the impending (?) 'Unleashed' pricing options will allow customers to choose a contract-free $50 / month unlimited calling and texting plan, with "Mobile Web" access thrown in as well for featurephones. 'Course, you'd have to pony up extra for legitimate data on a legitimate smartphone, but it's hardly a bad place to start -- particularly for those who are growing increasingly tired of locking themselves into two-year agreements. Hard to say if the carrier is planning to actually implement any of this, but why waste the intern's time mocking it up, right? [Thanks, Mio] |
| HTC breaks its own sales and profit records, keeps riding the smartphone wave to success Posted: 08 Apr 2011 12:24 PM PDT Another quarter, another spectacular set of financial results for HTC. The once-small Taiwanese phone maker reports its net income for the first quarter of 2011 nearly tripled earnings in the same period of 2010, now totaling an impressive $513 million. Overall quarterly revenue was in the vicinity of $3.6 billion and the causes cited were, rather predictably, demand for Android smartphones and higher-speed internet connectivity (as provided by the likes of the EVO 4G and Thunderbolt). Guess now we know why the stock markets are loving HTC so much -- the company just can't stop growing! [Thanks, Karan] |
| Purported Verizon screenshot points to LTE-upgradable 16GB Motorola Xoom Posted: 08 Apr 2011 12:11 PM PDT The Motorola Xoom might be starting to look a bit pricey compared to some of its new competitors, but it seems that the company may have a solution in the offing. According to a leaked, supposedly authentic Verizon screenshot obtained by Droid Life, Motorola is apparently planning to launch an LTE-upgradable Xoom with just 16GB of storage instead of the current 32GB, which would presumably also open the door for a cheaper 16GB WiFi-only model. Of course, that's still a long way from being official, but cutting the storage in half is certainly one sure way to make a (seemingly necessary) price drop a bit more bearable. [Thanks, Josh S] |
| ChevronWP7 updater pulled, places phones into 'non-serviceable state' of mind Posted: 08 Apr 2011 11:55 AM PDT We've had our phones in a number of states (Vermont is particularly lovely), but stopping by a "non-serviceable state" isn't exactly high on our list. Sadly, every user of ChevronWP7.updater may have unwittingly paid a visit to this place, that tool being pulled offline after Microsoft contacted its developer. It seems that anyone who used it to update their WP7 handsets to NoDo may now be in a bit of a bind. According to Microsoft those phones may not be able to receive any future updates -- ever. MS did warn people against using this updater in the first place, but we're still hopeful that Big Redmond will find a fix. If not, well, hope you like that copy & paste. |
| Kondo's spring-loaded spider robot creeps on the cheap (video) Posted: 08 Apr 2011 11:31 AM PDT The latest in a long line of terrifying (and occasionally adorable) pseudo-arachnid robots, Kondo's upcoming KMR-M6 is doing more with less. Thanks to a unique spring supported linking leg joint, this hexapedal bug gives you the heebie-jeebies with only two servos per leg. The new leg design lowers build costs while improving performance and stability, and was developed for education, research, and hobbyist markets. The base kit hits Japan next month for about ¥76,000 (about $880) and comes with twelve servos, a control board, a 10.8V 800mAh NiMH battery, software, and a frame with extra space for adding optional, cameras, grippers, or other servo controlled fancies. Although it's not as lovable as Kondo's turtle-bot, watching this robo-bug scuttle and march (after the break, if you're wondering) is far more awesome than it is creepy. It's another sign of the robot apocalypse, sure, but are you seriously going to let that ruin your Friday, Friday, Friday, Friday? |
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