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Sunday, October 9, 2011

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Engadget News

Cybook prepping Odyssey reader with High Speed Ink System screen

Posted: 09 Oct 2011 11:07 AM PDT

Bookeen Odyssey
It looks like Bookeen may finally be through teasing us -- the company is preparing to unleash the Odyssey, a reader sporting its High Speed Ink System. The modified Pearl E Ink screen has been shown off multiple times, playing back video and browsing the web. Now it will finally make the transition from interesting tech demo to actual product. Better yet, the 6-inch, full motion-capable screen has been paired with a touch layer, which means it could deliver a tablet-like experience with battery life closer to a traditional e-reader. Underneath the hood is a an 800MHz Cortex A8 processor from Texas Instruments and a WiFi radio, presumably for downloading content and browsing the web. The Odyssey is expect to start shipping in Europe in the next few weeks, but Bookeen has yet to reveal a price. You can check out the machine translated PR at the source link.

Insert Coin: Romo, the smartphone robot (video)

Posted: 09 Oct 2011 09:00 AM PDT

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

Romotive co-founder Peter Seid's tweet read "I build robots powered by smartphone" -- that was just the incentive we needed to go check out his and business partner Phu Nguyen's creation while on a recent trip to Seattle. Romo is a simple and affordable tank-like robot platform that uses basic analog electronics to trigger two motors via any device's headphone jack. The circuit is tuned to specific frequencies for each motor -- playback the right tones, and you control the hardware.

With a smartphone as its brain, all of Romo's logic and behavior live in the software. Three apps will be available at launch for both iOS and Android. RomoRemote lets you control the robot from another phone over WiFi, complete with remote live view and public address. Romo Kart is a mixed-reality version of Mario Kart, including digital attacks designed to slow down your adversaries. The Drag and Drop Programming Module makes it easy to program Romo directly from your handset with instant results.
Romotive hands-on

During our visit with the folks at Romotive, we got a chance to try the RomoRemote app in person using a couple iPhones -- not only is Romo adorable, but it works like a charm. The best part? Peter and Phu plan to make a complete SDK and libraries available to iOS and Android developers. While there are several amounts you can pledge, $78 lets you have Romo and the three aforementioned apps sometime in February 2012. The project is already halfway to its $32,000 goal with 42 days to go.

Take a look at our gallery above, then hit the break for our hands-on video and the all important Kickstarter link.


Previous project update: Our last Insert Coin project, the Teagueduino solderless electronic board, is now successfully funded on Kickstarter. In fact, it's exceeded its $22,000 goal by over $54,000.

Refresh Roundup: week of October 3, 2011

Posted: 09 Oct 2011 08:00 AM PDT

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery from the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Official Android updates
  • Android 2.3.4 for the Motorola Droid X2 is ready for download. It includes minor fixes to the keyboard, video quality, the mobile hotspot and more. [Droid-Life]
  • Reports are starting to trickle in that the HTC Desire S on Orange UK is getting the bump up to Android 2.3.5 and Sense 3.0, though it seems to be unannounced at this point. [XDA]
Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery
  • The CyanogenMod team is getting close to having CM7 ready for the Motorola Droid 3. [Droid-Life]
  • The recently released LG Esteem for MetroPCS has been rooted. [AndroidNerds]
Other platforms
  • The BlackBerry PlayBook now has an upgrade available. Nope, not the one with native email. Instead, this one is more of a security and stability enhancement with the latest version of Flash Player thrown in for kicks and giggles. [PhoneArena]
  • The 6th-gen iPod Nano received an update to version 1.2 to help bring it to speed with the 7th-gen models unveiled this week. It offers larger app icons, new clock faces, easier adjustments of the accelerometer for the fitness feature as well as several bug fixes. Thanks, Eric! [MacObserver]
  • T-Mobile's BlackBerry Bold 9900 will get a maintenance release in November that adds WiFi calling, a feature that many have sorely missed. [Electronista]
Refreshes we covered this week

Pantech Vega LTE gets official for South Korea, dual-core 1.5GHz CPU and 4.5-inch HD display

Posted: 09 Oct 2011 06:04 AM PDT

Pantech holds no punches in its home nation, where the company's latest handset, the Vega LTE, has just become very official. In addition to 4G support, the phone features a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM and a 4.5-inch display with a whopping 1280 x 800 resolution. Take a moment to savor that last part. Gingerbread is at the core of this large-and-in-charge beauty, which also includes an 8 megapixel auto-focus camera that captures video at 1080p, an LED flash, a 1.3MP front-facing shooter and 16GB of built-in storage. An 1830mAh battery powers the slab, which measures just 9.35mm thin and weighs 135.5g (4.8oz). Rounding out the internals, users will benefit from A-GPS, 802.11n, NFC and terrestrial DMB -- that last one is specifically for the home crowd. With specs like these, we can only a domestic version makes its journey across the Pacific. If you're looking for some mental exercise, a translated PR follows the break.
Show full PR text
Sky, an innovative smartphone Vega LTE public

CHANDLER, Ariz. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - October 6, 2011 - IMD (Intelligent Mobile Device) Pantech professional enterprise of any existing LTE smartphone world's highest resolution, the world's first LTE smartphones equipped with the features 'Vega LTE' and the public to declare a full-fledged 4G LTE era. Sky ( www.isky.co.kr , Vice Chairman and CEO bakbyeongyeop), which boasts the world's highest resolution LTE smartphone Vega LTE (IM-A800S) 'a six-day Seoul Sangam Digital Media City (DMC) in building Pantech has unveiled a Media Day event. 'Vega LTE' smartphones in mid of this month through SK Telecom will be sold. 'Vega LTE' 4G LTE and communication technologies built into the theoretical download 75Mbps, upload speed of 37.5Mbps data communication is possible.

The third-generation telecommunications services, compared to more than five times faster high-quality multimedia services, high definition video telephony, multiplayer network games, a full-fledged LTE services can be enjoyed. □ top speed 4G LTE + innovative world's first and best feature + global UI flux (FLUX ) mounted a day, Sky launched 4G LTE smartphone Vega LTE 'the best rate and many new innovative features and equipped with global UI expected from 4G LTE is a premium product of the highest specification. 'Vega LTE' The Sky Vega brand 'is products expected from the highest rate in the formula was born.

Communication technologies to support 4G LTE, and Qualcomm 1.5GHz dual-core processor, Google's latest Android operating system, to gingerbread equipped with 1GB DDR2 RAM memory can experience the true speed of 4G LTE. especially the first, innovative Vega series down first and best feature in the lives of consumers for the inconvenience haesohan products. The front of the world's first camera phone to recognize the people that work behavior is implemented with motion recognition. Hand on the screen without having to touch your hands shake it from side to side can be a phone call. In addition, the motion does not touch directly with smartphone eBooks handed a photo of the bookshelf and photo album, it is possible to listen to music. Second, the world's highest resolution, which boasts the world's first 1 million pixel LCD provides a sharper picture by mounting is. 4.5-inch WXGA LCD (1280 x 800, 102 만 4000 pixels resolution), the HD720 (1280 x 720, 92 만 1600 pixel resolution) as compared to 80 pixels wider than the horizontal can enjoy high-definition content. 335PPI (pixels per inch) to support the release LTE phone which boasts the highest resolution. third, LTE 9.35mm the thinnest smartphone design with a slim cell Saints have strengthened.

Sky's accumulated technology, especially as both the front and rear for a clean white color product will be released first. Wait for LTE smartphone launch of the white color is expected to be good news for consumers. Fourth, the Sky's global UI flux (FLUX) equipped with Sky to provide unique and innovative environment. 'Vega LTE' a new global UI from the applied flux (FLUX) UI for the Android operating system was optimized and the sky. The domestic market in the future apply to all smartphones are enhanced with a user friendly UI looks like fury.

Efficient use of power for the power-saving modes. Quick Setup is supported and easy to switch power saving mode, etc., users pre-set depending on the features that will conserve battery power. In particular, support for battery life according to the book on time and do not use very often saves power can be used on another PC, like the Google Chrome browser, by providing a true multi-tabbed web browsing is possible. Hwamyeongan quick look at the top of the tab can be moved through. The new tab when adding frequently visited sites, recently closed tabs categories provided by the user to your favorite sites, the move is easy in addition to 16GB of internal memory, mobile payment enabled NFC, 1830mAh capacity battery, Wi-Fi a / b / g / n support , Bluetooth 3.0 and terrestrial DMB support, etc. are the best.

The colors white, black and white color with two kinds of market first is managing director of Sky Marketing Director imseongjae "LTE smartphones in the domestic market once again confirms its reputation sikyeodeu We'll be in the Sky," said, "By the end of the mobile-party In addition, introducing a common LTE 4G LTE smartphones in the market will keep its position, "he said.

U-verse on Xbox 360 is getting upgraded in November, but will require XBL Gold

Posted: 09 Oct 2011 04:11 AM PDT

The good news for everyone anyone using their Xbox 360 as a AT&T U-verse set-top box, is that it will be upgraded as a part of the new dashboard update coming this fall. that means support for the integrated search, new UI and control via voice or gestures with Kinect. The bad news? After the update, it will only work if you're also a subscriber to Xbox Live Gold. No problem if you were already shelling out in order to get your Gears 3 co-op on, but not so awesome if you weren't planning on buying the gaming package just to watch some TV. Giant Bomb has talked to Microsoft and of the new services, some, like the BBC, may be accessible without a paid-up Gold pass, but for HBO Go, Dailymotion and others you'll need to toss some cash Redmond's way. To ease the pain, AT&T is tossing a one-time $60 credit towards its users with the package -- still no word on whether or not you'll need to pay that installation fee for a new setup after the upgrade goes through.

This concept wants you to smell it, smell it, Smellit

Posted: 09 Oct 2011 01:02 AM PDT

We admit it: this could just be another highfalutin gadget render that'll never breathe the polluted whiff of day. But it's a nice render, which demonstrates a concept called the Smellit: a miniature olfactory factory that's meant to connect to your PC and bring a "fourth dimension" to video and gaming. Its creator, Nuno Teixeira, even claims he's found a French company to build the device and show it off at the Lisbon Design Show next week. Now, the principle of a practically-sized scent generator has already been demonstrated by others, but we won't be convinced until we have to open a window.

Samsung Stratosphere cleared for Verizon landing October 13th

Posted: 08 Oct 2011 09:53 PM PDT

It seems like only yesterday that we got the full specy treatment from Samsung's QWERTYriffic Stratosphere -- 4-inch Super AMOLED display, Android 2.3 and 5MP rear-facing camera included. There was an important bit of information missing from the proceedings, however -- namely a release date. Droid Life has shed some light on that little mystery -- according to the site, the LTE handset should start offering up its Gingerbread goodness on Verizon starting October 13th.

Ask Engadget: best WiFi repeater setup for killing wireless dead zones?

Posted: 08 Oct 2011 07:34 PM PDT

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Doug, who seems pretty fed up with those troubling WiFi dead zones in his abode. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I have a Wireless-N router, but it had to go in the basement. As a result, there are a few areas that get little or no signal in my home. What can I do to fill those deadspots?"

So, networking gurus of the world -- what's your repeater setup like? We're aiming for something simplistic, something that a consumer could toss together without having to hire the equivalent of a Geek Squad. Any swell repeater / router recommendations for a brother in need?

Motorola Admiral spied in the wild, waiting patiently for its turn to sail out of harbor

Posted: 08 Oct 2011 05:16 PM PDT

We can't imagine this Admiral wants to stick around in the docks for much longer, yet its date of departure from port is still unclear. Fortunately, the Motorola Admiral -- the device that we presume will become the fearless leader of the Direct Connect fleet -- is one nautical mile closer to the sea of finished products, now that we've been handed some pics of the skipper itself in the wild. It's exactly as we've expected, as it looks rather close to the version we saw in the now-pulled "official" video. According to the image snapper, the Admiral is "awkward to hold due to the bottom being so thin and the phone being very top heavy." It's also known as the XT603, and unsurprisingly runs on Moto's proprietary UI (formerly called MotoBlur). We didn't hear of any change in the specs, so for now we're still expecting to see the military-certified handset come with a 1.2GHz single-core Qualcomm MSM8655 CPU, Android 2.3, 3.1-inch VGA display, a 5MP rear camera with 720p HD video capture and a 1,860mAh battery. One more pic of the sides below. Sound off, loose cannons -- is this Admiral going to command your next two-year contract?

[Thanks, anonymous]

Barnes & Noble pulls DC Comics from shelves over Kindle kerfuffle, risks Martian Manhunter's wrath

Posted: 08 Oct 2011 04:23 PM PDT

Frankly, we'd advise against crossing anyone given to costumed superheroics, but a policy is a policy. Book selling giant Barnes & Noble has begun pulling select DC Comics from store shelves this week, in response to a deal struck between the publisher and Amazon, which will make digital copies of a number of comics exclusively available through the online retailer for use with the forthcoming Kindle Fire. The move is part of Barnes & Noble's policy to remove physical books from its shelves if the available digital version of the text is not offered up to the company. According to an exec, "To sell and promote the physical book in our store showrooms and not have the e-book available for sale would undermine our promise to Barnes & Noble customers to make available any book, anywhere, anytime." J'onn J'onzz has yet to weigh in on the matter.

Qualcomm outs Snapdragon S4 SoC details, promises improved battery life and true world capability

Posted: 08 Oct 2011 02:12 PM PDT

Qualcomm has laid out its details of the upcoming S4 SoC, and yes, there's definitely reason for excitement with this next generation Snapdragon. First, it'll usher in a new 28nm manufacturing process alongside the company's Krait CPU and Adreno 225 GPU. The move from 45nm to 28nm promises smaller components, lower power consumption and improved thermal performance, while Krait will introduce a new pipeline architecture that promises a full 60% boost over the current Scorpion lineup with clock speeds ranging between 1.5 and 2.5GHz -- along with support for asynchronous multiprocessing and dual-channel memory. As for the GPU, the latest chip flaunts 50% greater performance over the current Adreno 220, where it also provides support for DirectX 9.3 for Windows 8, in addition to OpenGL ES 1.1 and 2.0. Should be quite the gaming experience, eh?

It doesn't end there, as the S4 MSM8960 promises multi-mode world capabilities with support for all the commonly used frequencies from 700 to 2600MHz -- quite a feat, indeed. It handles Cat. 3 LTE (up to 100Mbps) and Cat. 24 HSPA+ (up to 42Mbps), along with EV-DO Rev. B, 1x Advanced and TD-SCDMA, as well as GSM, GPRS and EDGE. Oh, and there's also simultaneous support for GPS and GLONASS, along with Bluetooth, WiFi, FM radio and NFC. With samples already being sent to manufacturers, we're quite excited for what 2012 may bring.
at 12:00 PM

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