Sponsored
Engadget News |
- Sonim introduces trio of rugged phones, including one with NFC support
- TomTom Go Live Top Gear edition brings Clarkson onboard as navigator, Stig speechless
- UK 4G network auction delayed, spectrum sell-off pushed back to the end of 2012
- Details on the Samsung Galaxy S III leak out: 1.8GHz dual-core CPU and 12MP camera? (Update: wrong terminology)
- Sony PS3 Wireless Stereo Headset review
- Shocker! Microsoft to produce dual-core, LTE Windows Phones, other modern things
- Growing up Geek: Ben Heck
- iPhone 4S pre-orders are in the mail
- T-Mobile Galaxy S II pre-orders begin today, should land in stores October 12th
- MSI GT683DXR review
- Samsung Stratosphere lands on Verizon October 13th: LTE and QWERTY for $150
- Motorola unveils rugged ET1 Android tablet for enterprise types (video)
- Motorola Spyder to be introduced on October 18, keeps its clothes on in video tease
- UK server failure sends BlackBerry devices offline in Europe, the Middle East and Africa
- Samsung breakthrough could turn your window pane into a big ol' LED
- Prototype MacBook Pro repair parts returned to owner, 3G antenna stays in Cook's kitchen
- Apple iPhone 4S pre-orders exceed one million in first 24 hours
- TiVo Premiere Elite now available, but is updated software the big surprise?
- Netflix backtracks on Qwikster, will keep DVDs and streaming under the same URL
- Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook hits the US and Canada this week, rings in at $899
- Hands-on with Myriad's Alien Dalvik 2.0 on an iPad (video)
- Microsoft reportedly preparing Silverlight-like app framework ahead of Xbox Live update
- Iced out 24-carat gold MacBook Pro proves diamonds are an Apple's best friend
- Boost Mobile adds Samsung Transform Ultra to its repertoire, hopes you'll transition for $230
- T-Mobile unveils Galaxy Tab 10.1 and SpringBoard, combines 4G talk with HSPA+ walk
- DirecTV's five tuner, RVU-ready HR34 DVR revealed
- How would you change HTC's EVO 3D?
- Switched On: The four Ses of the iPhone 4S
- Ditching DRM could reduce piracy, prices, inconvenience
- Sprint says no to iPhone insurance, AppleCare+ breathes sigh of relief
- Fujifilm's X10 offers up vintage-style snapping for $599.99 in early November
| Sonim introduces trio of rugged phones, including one with NFC support Posted: 10 Oct 2011 12:30 PM PDT  Sonim Unveils Four New Ultra Rugged Phones and a Portfolio of Workforce Management Applications for the Americas THE SONIM XP1330 CORE PTT, XP1301 CORE NFC, XP3300 FORCE & XP3340 SENTINEL MOBILE PHONES NOW AVAILABLE SAN DIEGO, Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CTIA -- Sonim Technologies, holders of the Guinness World Record for the World's Toughest Phone, announces four new ultra-rugged phones and a portfolio of four Workforce Management applications for the Americas: Proof of Attendance & Activity using Near Field Communications (NFC) Push-To-Talk (PTT) for instant communication and team coordination Mobile Resource Management (MRM) for tracking and dispatching workers Man Down Worker Safety Monitoring with Emergency Response Workers in extreme environments need to be kept safe, communicate in teams, carry lightweight phones anywhere they work, and be able to provide information back to their home office. Until now, their choices have been limited to costly handheld computers or delicate consumer devices that don't have the battery life or enterprise support they need. Sonim's new ultra-rugged workforce management phones fill this gap and are priced for deployment to all frontline workers. "For the past two years, Sonim has applied its record-breaking rugged technology to solve workforce management and safety challenges for some of Europe's largest government and private sector security guarding, transportation and utilities corporations, to name a few," said Bob Plaschke, CEO of Sonim Technologies. "Now that the software and applications have been field-proven to have the same extreme reliability as our hardware, it's time to bring our enterprise focus to the Americas." PROOF OF ACTIVITY WITH THE SONIM XP1301 CORE NFC Designed especially for markets in cleaning, security guarding, facilities management, equipment maintenance and home visit healthcare, the XP1301 CORE NFC contains a NFC reader that scans contactless tags placed in various worksite locations. Key applications supported by the XP1301 CORE NFC include Guard Tour Verification, Proof of Activity and Real Time Attendance. PUSH TO TALK WITH THE SONIM XP1330 CORE PTT Available over the next two months in Latin America, the XP1330 CORE PTT replaces private mobile radio (PMR) and enables work teams to communicate instantly. MOBILE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT WITH THE SONIM XP3300 FORCE The XP3300 FORCE now supports MRM applications from Xora and ECONZ Wireless including location tracking, job dispatch and timecard reporting. MAN-DOWN WORKER SAFETY WITH THE SONIM XP3340 SENTINEL With the longest GPS tracking time of any mobile phone (up to 29 hours), the Sonim XP3340 SENTINEL features a dedicated red panic button and an innovative man-down sensor to detect emergencies and accidents and automatically call for emergency response. All of the phones listed above operate on GSM/EDGE mobile networks with quad-band support, have been tested against Sonim's Rugged Performance Standards (RPS) and are backed by the Company's industry-leading 3-Year Comprehensive Warranty covering not only manufacturer's defects, but also accidental damage. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TomTom Go Live Top Gear edition brings Clarkson onboard as navigator, Stig speechless Posted: 10 Oct 2011 12:09 PM PDT
TomTom Launches Limited Edition 'Top Gear' GPS Device Concord, MA 06 October 2011 - TomTom today launches the TomTom GO LIVE Top Gear edition, bringing fans a combination of a Stig mode, Jeremy Clarkson's directions and unique Top Gear selected points of interest including race track and raceway locations related to the series. Featuring TomTom's congestion-busting TomTom HD Traffic technology, the new GPS device will steer drivers away from traffic jams and is packed with Top Gear features including special Top Gear start-up and shut-down screens and car icons. When embarking on their journeys, users can select The Stig mode, which renders the device instantly silent, or select Jeremy Clarkson's voice to guide them along the way. "For Top Gear fans, this limited edition GPS device is the ultimate driving companion. Featuring The Stig, Clarkson and TomTom HD Traffic, the GO LIVE Top Gear edition is perfect for drivers who love the open road." said Corinne Vigreux, Managing Director at TomTom. At $269.95, the TomTom GO LIVE Top Gear edition includes a one year subscription of TomTom's LIVE Services for free. This includes access to TomTom's flagship service TomTom HD Traffic, which delivers dynamic routing and accurate traffic information every two minutes. TomTom HD Traffic gives drivers detailed incident reports, which includes the length of the delay as well as the cause, along with accurate travel & arrival times. The LIVE Services bundle also includes access to Google local search to pinpoint shops and businesses in the area, as well as local weather forecasts. Available from today in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US, this special edition also features richer, more detailed maps, hands-free calling (via Bluetooth®) and voice recognition for hands free control. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK 4G network auction delayed, spectrum sell-off pushed back to the end of 2012 Posted: 10 Oct 2011 11:48 AM PDT The dizzying world of 4G speeds remains a distant prospect for Britons, with telecoms regulator Ofcom deciding to delay the auction for the next generation of mobile spectrum. It was looking to sell off two potent bands of wireless network by the end of this year, but those plans have been put on hold by some legal jostling and desk-banging from UK carriers, with the British equivalent of the FCC saying it received several "substantial and strongly argued responses." The sell-off delay might not affect any launch dates for 4G (already being tested in rural parts of the UK), as the bands up for grabs still won't be available until 2013. But eventually all of this to-ing and fro-ing will test even the Brits' stoic patience. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 10 Oct 2011 11:19 AM PDT  Update: One other piece of evidence that leads us to believe this is fake is the fact that the term "Super AMOLED Plus HD" is used; if this were real, Samsung would likely use its proper terminology, which is HD Super AMOLED. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony PS3 Wireless Stereo Headset review Posted: 10 Oct 2011 11:00 AM PDT  There's no doubt that this playing field's been blanketed with a saturation of wallet-tempting selections (we're looking at you MadCatz, Turtle Beach and Astro), but Sony's official kit has a few tricks up its sleeve for a potential home run. Despite the moniker, it's capable of virtual 7.1 surround sound and displays onscreen status reports exclusively when used with a PS3. We spent a few fragging-hours over PSN to hear how well we could pin-point our enemies with sound to keep the kill streaks coming. You'll find out the answer by hitting that "read more" link below. Hardware  Of course, this is Sony and of course that means this headset sports an excessively forward-thinking aesthetic. It's tough to convey its fun design as the headset is far from photogenic, but it's quite dashing in person -- almost like a fully realized concept design sneaking into retail. Still, its thick stature and exaggerated curvatures are going to be either love or hate for most on the looks front. Regardless, it'll ideally be on heads engulfing ears with in-game sound.  Moving right along to that USB dongle, it's similar in size to a pack of Wrigley's gum and shares the same texture as the headset. Sandwiched between the stick's plastic shells is a thin blue LED light, which simply blinks as it searches for the headset and glows solid while it's connected. During use we found the wireless signal to be fairly consistent -- we were able to walk around our two-story condo with minimal signal degradation, and only noticed occasional staticky hiccups while walking a few rooms over. As long as we were in the same room as our PS3 the signal was peachy. Many gaming headsets we've used (wireless and wired) have required multiple cable connections and frustrating setups, but this little USB stick is a delightful departure from those hassles. We simply plugged it into our PS3, turned on the headset and that was it. Ready to play in mere seconds. Better yet, the WSH will automatically turn off if it doesn't receive a signal from the USB stick for a few minutes, saving us from undue battery drain. Controls and layout Many headsets go for cluttered in-line controllers and annoyingly laid-out on-earcup buttons. While the WSH is a member of the latter camp, it still keeps functionality an utmost priority. On the left ear cup's panel there are four discreet controls. The front has a vertical slider for balancing game and chat levels, while the rear handles the main volume -- also, tucked in on the back end is a micro USB port for charging it's internal Lithium-ion battery. The topmost part of the panel functions as a power / microphone mute button, and positioned horizontally above it's a button for enabling virtual 7.1 surround sound. Using a thumb and a single finger allowed us to quickly make audio related adjusts, while a light inward push with our palm handled our muting, battery info, and power related needs. We did perceive a split-second delay before our settings took hold, though. Some of this information is also visually and audibly relayed whenever a setting is changed (we'll detail this a bit). The embedded control layout in place here lends itself well for speedy adjustments.  While the button layout on the WSH is pleasing, the same can't be said of its retractable microphone under the left earcup. Although it's adjustable to three lengths, it isn't flexible and it's set to a fixed angle, which annoyingly left it in our peripheral vision -- unless pushed back to its stowed position. This wouldn't have been such a problem if a multi-color LED placed on its inner tip hadn't been glaring in our left eye. Notifications That annoying LED we mentioned earlier? It's part of the headset's audio / visual notification system we mentioned above. It glows purple when the mic's muted and blue when it's engaged, while a double tap on the power button indicates the battery level using up to three red blinks. It's a fairly sound idea, but in practice the light was a nuisance and almost unnecessary considering the headset also uses onscreen prompts when connected to a powered-up PS3. As soon as the headset is turned on, it quickly beeps twice and begins to search for the USB stick. Within a few seconds it confirms it's set to go with a combination of another beep and an onscreen notification bubble. The bubble briefly pops up on the top right of the screen, exactly as a PSN notification would anytime most settings are changed (for those familiar with Sony's Wireless Bluetooth Headsets, it's nearly the same). Using icons akin to a mini dashboard, it displays the volume level, mic and surround sound modes, along with the battery level.  Oddly enough, checking the battery level (as described earlier) doesn't pull up the notification bubble, and there's no visual relay of the game and chat balance. Notably, the headset also beeps to confirm whether the mic mute is engaged, when it's turning off and to notify of low batts along with a screen prompt. We found the various prompts useful, but the system as a whole felt rather disjointed. Fit and comfort So, how does this big honking gaming apparatus feel? Sure, the headset's bulky, but we didn't actually notice its heft while wearing it. Actually, its ultra-wide build helped the fit by keeping any pressure at a minimum. For adjustment, the headset's side panels slide along the headband leaving enough room for smaller and larger noggins -- and that's about it. The ear cups only tilt vertically and leave no option to fold flat, but thankfully, the headband has a good amount of flexibility. Most importantly, the padding on the ear cups and headband was excellent for keeping things cushy for hours on end -- Sony isn't kidding when they say these can be used for long gaming sessions. The headset's fit wasn't always like floating on a cloud, though. Its faux-leather on the earpads allowed for absolutely zero breathability, and our ears usually got toasty after a half hour -- a cloth set of pads would be a welcome alternative. More frustrating for some, though, may be the driver placement which has the potential to cause cartilage cramping. They're set moderately deep within the earcups at an angle, but without any padding. For our usage, we needed to occasionally slide the cups slightly forward to avoid sore ear tips. If you're not fond of your ears grazing the inside of headphones, it'll be worth it to double check the fit on these. Sound Let's be real here, the main reason for procuring this type of kit is most certainly for increasing your killing streaks with better sound cues. For this price point, we'd say the Wireless Stereo Headset's well positioned against headsets like Turtle Beach's PX21, and Nox Audio's Specialist while in stereo. The audio fidelity wasn't amazing and there's a slight, ever-present hiss, but it performed respectably as an improvement over our HDTV's built-in speakers. With music, the highs tended to be exaggerated (tinny even), while mids were thin from a low level of bass. Although the headset isn't up to snuff for music listening, it's not to say the WSH can't perform its duties as a gaming headset. Its soundstage wasn't very wide -- not that we'd expect it at this price -- but it proved spacious enough for gauging sounds across multiplayer maps in Call of Duty: Black Ops, and especially so in Battlefield 3 Beta matches. We'd be remiss not to point out -- with shooters especially -- that we never had qualms with the clarity of the mids and highs while gaming. The apparent lack of bass was less noticeable, too, as explosions managed to rock our ears without totally overwhelming its 40mm drivers.  If you're eying that virtual 7.1 simulation, expected to be mildly disappointed. While the soundstage became all encompassing when it was enabled, it didn't relay clear positioning to us. We found ourselves confused as to where important sounds were coming from, and we particularly had trouble picking up on gunshots and footsteps around us. Oddly enough, Sony states that with PS3 games a surround signal is in fact being down-mixed for a virtual surround sound simulation in stereo. If we weren't aware of this, our ears would have us believe the headset was simply up-converting a stereo signal to fake virtual 7.1 surround. Notably, the virtualization can be engaged for other media aside from games, but surround sound isn't officially supported with Blu-ray movies, et cetera. With what our ears heard, though, it's not like it mattered much as the effect was similar. We never did get the sensation of bullets whizzing by us in games.  Thankfully, the WSH does have a few more positive aspects to it in regard to sound. With the volume jacked up, it remained free of any crackling, and the chat / game balancing was ideal for drowning out vivacious teenagers on PSN. The onboard microphone never let us down as well. Our PSN buddies reported that our voice was always "very clear," and they heard minimal difference between having the boom extended or stowed. Sadly, there's nothing in the way of talkback monitoring, so expect to shout when the volume is cranked. Wrap-up Powering it all down, and reflecting back on our time using the PS3 Wireless Stereo Headset, it's clear that Sony put a great deal of thought into this. The design and control layout is geared for long gaming sessions and the notification system is a welcome -- if slightly fragmented -- addition. Best of all, this stands as one of the least frustrating headset setups we've used in recent memory. That said, there are some odd quirks like its sweat-inducing ear pads and the microphone's eye-nnoying LED. The audio quality works well enough for gaming, but overall it's strikingly average, and the surround sound simulation is decent at best -- for the price, we've experienced better surround sound from headsets like Tritton's Dolby Headphone-enabled AX720. As an overall package for PS3 owners looking for a solid, hassle-free headset, though, Sony's $100 WSH is hard not to at least consider. We're just surprised it's taken six years of PS3 until something like this landed on our heads. Better late than never, right? Right? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shocker! Microsoft to produce dual-core, LTE Windows Phones, other modern things Posted: 10 Oct 2011 10:29 AM PDT  Lees was similarly opaque about Microsoft's plans to incorporate dual-core CPUs into its mobile lineup, saying only that they're on the way. According to him, however, even single-core Windows Phones can hold their own against the dual-core competition: "They're all single core, but I suspect that they will be faster in usage than any dual-core phone that you put against it, and that's the point." Lees went on to wax Panglossian about Microsoft's strategy, claiming that the absence of LTE and dual-core processing doesn't necessarily mean that his company is behind the times. "I think that what our strategy is is to put things in place that allow us to leapfrog, and I think that's how we've gone from worse [sic] browser to the best browser," he explained, "and I think the same is true with hardware." Check out the full interview for yourself, at the source link below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 10 Oct 2011 10:00 AM PDT Welcome to Growing Up Geek, an ongoing feature where we take a look back at our youth and tell stories of growing up to be the nerds that we are. Today we have Hacker Extraordinaire (and host of his own show), Benjamin J. Heckendorn!  I got my first taste of programming in elementary school on a collection of even-then old Apple II's, but I really got into it wholesale when, at age 11, I got my first computer - an Atari 800. While still ancient for the time, I did a lot of programming on it and learned a lot of fundamentals that are useful to this day. During my teenage years, I started to veer off the technology path a bit and dipped my feet in the pool of independent film making. I bought a camcorder and just started filming movies, using two VCRs taped together to edit whatever footage was captured (little did I know how useful this skill would be later in life!). Aside from film making throughout my young adulthood, I dabbled in many tech-related hobbies, but never forgot my love for gaming, electronics and programming. At age 22, I had my first "real job" as a graphic artist and I was able to use my layout and design skills to build my first mod -- I hacked an Atari 2600 gaming system to make it smaller, portable and complete with a graphic arts-inspired enclosure. I created a "Geocities" site about the project to share with friends, and I quickly realized how many other "geeks" there were with interests in obscure hobbies. At this point in time, the "geek culture" hadn't really caught on so I was very surprised by the level of interest I received in the mod -- anywhere from 50-75 emails a day! After a segment on TechTV in 2004, where I talked about the process of making portable units, I was offered a book deal from Wiley Publishing, Inc., and my book Hacking Video Game Consoles was born.  Looking back, modding the Atari 2600 was probably the best idea I have ever had; it certainly opened many doors for me career-wise, and it taught me to keep pushing forward on what I was really passionate about, a lesson I've come to appreciate greatly throughout my life. After the book, I was lucky enough to eventually turn my addiction to video games into a career, entering the corporate working world in 2004 building video game prototypes for a range of companies. It was then that I realized being a geek was an incredibly positive attribute that allowed me to use my unique skills to help those with limited accessibility. My newfound career allowed me to attempt another build I'd always wanted to try: a pinball machine. I combined my fascination with the mechanical aspects of pinball and my appreciation for the work of thespian Bill Paxton and thus, the Bill Paxton Pinball Machine was born! I spent many grueling hours building that machine, but I loved the challenge and learning how pinball machines work -- and it's always fun to inspire others. I have a few ideas for future pinball machine builds, but my fellow pinball junkies will just have to wait and see if those pan out. That brings us to the present. Last year, I embarked on a new journey as internet television host of element14's "The Ben Heck Show," an online show dedicated to educating viewers on the underlying technology powering each of the featured mods. With my interest in modding and element14's collaborative engineering community, it was a perfect match. I'm doing what I love and it complements element14's ongoing commitment to help like-minded individuals collaborate and exchange ideas to inspire new and innovative designs. Season One was a glaring success, and I attribute that to the enthusiasm and interaction of the show's viewers.  As I embark on an all new second season of "The Ben Heck Show," set to go live on October 10th, I plan to dig even deeper into my inner "geek" and hopefully try my hand at some new and interesting hacks and builds, like using embedded systems and products I'm not familiar with to not only teach the audience what they can be used for, but teach myself as well. I was fortunate to realize early on that if you want to do something, do it. Never let fear be a factor and dissuade you from accomplishing big things. The path to becoming the person I am today has been a winding one, filled with twists and turns galore, but deep down I always knew that "geek" is not only who I have become, but what I was born to be. And so my story goes: toy-destroyer turned video gamer turned programmer turned movie maker turned author turned electronics hacker / modder show host. It's been the ride of a lifetime, and I wouldn't trade my journey to "geeky" adulthood for the world. Ben Heck has been a contributor to Engadget, a staple of our DIY coverage and a huge friend and asset to the entire hacker community. He even let us inside of his kingdom for an Engadget Show shoot. These days, he can be found on Twitter (@benheck) and schooling us all as host of "The Ben Heck Show." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iPhone 4S pre-orders are in the mail Posted: 10 Oct 2011 09:41 AM PDT  [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T-Mobile Galaxy S II pre-orders begin today, should land in stores October 12th Posted: 10 Oct 2011 09:18 AM PDT  [Thanks, xkaosu9x] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 10 Oct 2011 09:00 AM PDT  While the jury might still be out on whether you can have a thin-and-light coupled with gaming prowess, over at MSI, it's pretty much business as usual. It's that kind of mantra that's produced the GT683DXR that lays before you, a rehash of the existing GT680 but with gussied-up internals, spearheaded by NVIDIA's GTX 570M. In our brief overview several weeks ago, we were impressed with its performance, but dismayed with its flimsy keyboard, possessed trackpad and general girthiness. So, were we completely off the mark? Or did our impressions change after spending a little more time coddled by its side? Join us in finding out, after the break. Look and feel There really isn't any way around it: the GT683DXR is a beefy piece of kit. Tipping the scales at 7.7 pounds and 1.77 inches thick, we'll leave it up to you to decide how "portable" this gaming rig truly is. The upside to all that heft is some sturdy construction -- save for its keyboard, which we'll dive into in a moment.  The entire top shell is brandished in a smooth PS3-esque glossy plastic, which, as you'd expect, is quite the fingerprint magnet. It extends to the inside as well, where both the display bezel and keyboard deck are enveloped in the same element. In contrast, the palm rest is fashioned out of a less shiny (but still reflective) gray plastic that's etched with an attractive honeycomb pattern. Close the lid and turn the machine over, and you'll find the back brandished in a rougher grain of toy-like matte plastic, which, given that you won't be moving it around much, doesn't eke us out as much as it should.  Given its footprint, we'd be surprised if MSI didn't include a bevy of connectivity, and thankfully it hasn't skimped. Starting around back, there's power, Ethernet, VGA, ESata and HDMI. The left side houses three USB ports (two of the 3.0 persuasion) and a card reader. On the right, there's a DVD burner (upgradable to Blu-ray), alongside another USB port and audio jacks (headphone, microphone, audio in and out).  And, just like its forebear, its exterior is tricked out with orange LEDs. Two strips face you, from below the palm rest, while two more flank either side of the display with the fifth shining outward at the base of the top case. Keyboard, touchpad, and screen The more time we spent with the GT683DXR, the more we came to despise its keyboard and trackpad. While we have no qualms about the Chiclet layout or the plasticky finish, we found the underlying panel sorely lacking. Keypresses were met with a hollow noise, which, to be honest, reminds us of a first generation netbook, not a premium niche notebook. In particular, the racket emanates most audibly from the center of the panel and towards its left edge (especially near W, A, S and D keys). That's perhaps of little consequence to those of you planning on pairing the GT683DXR with a dedicated external keyboard, but we'd be remiss if we glossed over the fact that a $1,700 laptop got this wrong. And what an unfavorable thing to get wrong, as it's an oversight you're reminded of every single time you interact with the machine. Unfortunately, we don't have many nice things to say about the trackpad, either. It's passable, sure, but tracking was subpar, and prepare for repeated bouts of seemingly random jumpiness. Equally frustrating were the mouse buttons themselves, specifically where they actuate. They're most tactile in the left and right corners, and get increasingly rigid as you move toward the center, where presses become impossible. But at least unlike the dismal keyboard, you'll feel the trackpad's sting far less often, as -- let's face it -- how likely are you to frag sans external mouse? Display and soundOnwards and upwards. Unlike the GT683DXR's keyboard and trackpad, its display and speakers bring at least some reason to cheer. Beginning with the former, we found the 15-inch 1080p panel to be ripe with color and vividly sharp. We also had no qualms about it being glossy, as this panel isn't nearly as reflective as others we've tested. It is unfortunate that a glare-free option isn't available, even as an optional premium, as those dead set on avoiding glossy all together will have to spring for its matte-only 17-inch brother (GT783DXR). That said, viewing angles from the LED panel are excellent -- you'll notice minimal color distortion, even at severe side angles. The quality didn't seem as impressive when we experimented with different vertical angles, but it still falls squarely in the realm of acceptable.  It's much the same story in the audio department as well. The Dynaudio supplied system was loud, and barely showed any signs of distortion -- even when we cranked it up to full volume. More bass would have been nice, but we're nitpicking -- we'd be hard pressed to find any laptop with deep enough low notes. Performance and battery lifePerformance from the Core i7-2630QM, 12GB of RAM and NVIDIA's GTX 570M beast was exemplary -- and don't forget, we're testing the base configuration. As you'd expect with a machine that scores 9,110 in PCMarkVantage11 and 16,862 in 3DMarkVantage06, games of Starcraft II, Portal and Half Life 2 ran at full resolution and maximum settings without a hitch.
But with great performance often comes dismal battery life. So, how does the GT683DXR stack up? Pretty admirably, actually. In Engadget's standard battery test it lasted two hours and 40 minutes before succumbing to slumber. But more impressive to us were the two hours and 41 minutes we clocked while using it at full-brightness as our work computer. That means 20-30 browser tabs open including brief stints of Flash video coupled with some light Photoshop work and an IRC client. As for mobile gaming, we eked out one hour and 25 minutes of nonstop 2v2 Starcraft II matches before the machine called it quits. However, be forewarned that graphics performance is significantly hindered while untethered. So much so, that we had to turn down Starcraft II's graphics settings from "Ultra" to "Low" if we wanted to play while battery powered. Odds are that you won't be fragging on the go, but if want to intimidate your coworkers with an orange glow, its certainly up to the task. Configuration optionsThe GT683DXR is offered in two SKUs, priced at $1,699 and $1,849, respectively. While we tested the cheaper of the two, the only goodies the latter will bring are an additional 4GB of RAM (for a total of 16GB) and the addition of a Blu-ray burner. Otherwise either makes do with the same Core i7-2630QM CPU, a NVIDIA GTX 570M with 1.5GB of GDDR5 RAM and two 500GB hard drives paired in RAID 0. If you're looking for more acreage in a similar chassis, the company also sells the 17-inch GT780DXR. It, too, shares many of the specs of its smaller brethren, yet adds a matte display and a backlit keyboard. It's available in two SKUs -- one with a DVD burner and the other with a Blu-ray drive and 1.5TB HDD -- for $1,799 and $1,999, respectively. The competitionSo how does the GT683DXR's stack up against others of its ilk? Turns out, pretty good actually. Take Alienware's m17x for example. The $1,700 model gets you an extra two inches of screen real estate, but you'll have to cope with 8GB less of RAM, a single 750GB spinner and a lesser card in the form of NVIDIA's GTX 560M. Around the same price is the Toshiba's 15-inch Qosmio F755, but while it's 3D-enabled, it, too, comes up short with a paltry 6GB of RAM and a GeForce GT 540M. A fairer comparison would be its big brother, the 17-inch Qosmio X775 which has a GeForce GTX 560M and 1.25TB of storage, but again you'll find less RAM (8GB) and a higher price ($1,899). That leaves us with ASUS' G74. The 17-inch $1,799 laptop has the same 2630QM Core i7 and 12GB of RAM as our MSI, a little more storage at 1.5TB, but like the m17x makes do with a GTX 560M. It's more professional looking, sure, but given that the GT683DXR can be had for around $1,500, you'll have to decide whether or not its cleaner looks are worth the $200 premium. Wrap-up You know the idiom: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Well, MSI, unfortunately some of it is broken, but by and large, the GT683DXR manages to pack quite a punch -- a surprisingly long lasting one at that -- and does it all for an admirable price. As with all things, there are niggles, sure, but when it comes down to it, you'll be hard-pressed to find more bang for your mobile gaming buck. Still, with just a little bit of tweaking, the overall experience could have been dramatically better -- but, we suppose there's always the next revision to look forward to. So, is it worth your hard earned cash? If you can get past its beastly grille, and don't mind lugging an eight-pounder, we say: yes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Stratosphere lands on Verizon October 13th: LTE and QWERTY for $150 Posted: 10 Oct 2011 08:24 AM PDT  We had a pretty clear indication that the Samsung Stratosphere was headed to Verizon soon, and the carrier has now made it official. As expected, the Android 2.3-based phone will be available on October 13th, when it'll set you back $149.99 after the usual rebate / two-year contract business. In addition to LTE capabilities and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, that will buy you a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, and a 5 megapixel camera with an LED flash 'round back that's paired with a 1.3 megapixel counterpart up front. Press release is after the break. First 4G LTE smartphone with qwerty keyboard for Verizon wireless; the SAMSUNG STRATOSPHERE Features a 4-inch Super AMOLED™ Display, 1GHz Processor and B2B Enterprise Solutions BASKING RIDGE, N.J. –Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced the Samsung Stratosphere™, a Samsung Galaxy S® smartphone, will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com beginning Oct. 13. The slim Samsung Stratosphere is the first 4G LTE smartphone from Verizon Wireless equipped with a 5-row QWERTY keyboard and designed with Samsung's 4-inch Super AMOLED™ display. Additionally, the Stratosphere supports enhanced B2B-enabled connectivity services from Cisco™, the most comprehensive mobile implementation of Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® and support for secure remote device management from Sybase. Ideal for the business professional, the Samsung Stratosphere offers robust data management support. The Stratosphere will support Samsung's Enterprise Platform enhancements such as VPN, encryption and Mobile Device Management (MDM). The Stratosphere will also come equipped with Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® (EAS), features such as direct push, email, calendar, contact sync, Global Address List (GAL) as well as EAS policies including storage card encryption, device encryption and simple & complex password support, all essential for streamlining business on the smartphone. Key features: 4G LTE– customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage area · 5-row QWERTY keyboard · Samsung Super AMOLED™ Screen Technology – Brilliant screen makes watching movies, viewing videos and playing games come to life, even in bright light and outdoor environments Android 2.3, Gingerbread– support for Google Mobile™ Services including Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Talk™, Google Search™, Google Maps™ and access to more than 250,000 apps available to download from Android Market™ · Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor Front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat and 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with auto focus and flash (720p HD playback/480p DVD-quality recording; playback on Stratosphere screen in HD-like quality) Mobile Hotspot Capability – share 4G connection with up to 8 Wi-Fi®-enabled devices or a 3G connection with up to 5 devices AllShareÔ – Enables wireless connectivity through Digital Living Network Alliance® (DLNA®), so customers can send multimedia content to other DLNA Certified®-enabled devices such as TVs and laptops · Samsung Media Hub – Samsung's own content service, offering a vast lineup of critically acclaimed films and TV programs for rent or purchase · Bluetooth® 3.0 Technology – Support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access, and object push for vCard and vCalendar · Multiple video file formats supported, including DivX and XviD support · Wi-Fi® Connectivity (802.11 a/b/g/n) Business features: Samsung's enterprise mobility solutions will provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently on–the-move. · Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® (EAS) - Communicate directly with your Microsoft Exchange Server enabling push email, calendar, and contacts · Support for Cisco AnyConnect 2.1 SSL VPN – Supports access to private corporate networks using industry-standard VPN protocols with enhanced security of 4G LTE networks helps users tap into VPN networks with no waiting · Encryption Services - Users and IT administrators can initiate a remote wipe command to erase private information · Support for Sybase Afaria® - Mobile device management (MDM) capabilities that allows an integrated experience for the end user in the event it is required by their IT department or corporate policy Pricing and data packages: The Samsung Stratosphere will be available on Oct. 13 in Verizon Wireless Communication Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $149.99 after a $50 mail in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. Customers that purchase a Samsung Stratosphere smartphone will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia. About Samsung Telecommunications America Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. 4G LTE as used herein refers to the fact that the Samsung Galaxy S® Stratosphere™ can operate on Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network. Stratosphere is a trademark of Verizon Wireless. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motorola unveils rugged ET1 Android tablet for enterprise types (video) Posted: 10 Oct 2011 08:05 AM PDT  Well, here it is. After months of beta tests, Motorola's ET1 tablet was finally unveiled today, bringing a taste of Android 2.3 to the enterprise market. Powered by a 1GHz dual-core CPU, this rugged slate packs 8GB of internal storage, along with a 32GB microSD card slot, and features a seven-inch, Gorilla Glass capacitive touchscreen with 1024 x 600 resolution. Weighing in at 1.4 pounds, the ET1 also boasts an eight megapixel rear camera, a front-facing shooter designed for videoconferencing and 720p video capabilities. Plus, retailers can choose to outfit the tablet with a host of accessories, including a barcode reader, magnetic stripe reader, handstrap and holster. At this point, the ET1 boasts only WiFi connectivity, though Motorola Solutions' Sheldon Safir says a Wide Area Network version is in the works. The manufacturer didn't offer a specific price, but Safir tells Computer World that bulk purchases should cost less than $1,000 by the time the slab hits the market, later this year. Head past the break for a full platter of PR, along with a demo video. Motorola Solutions Introduces Its First Tablet Computer Built for Enterprise Users First solutions for Android™-based ET1 tablet focused on retail with functionality to enhance the shopping experience SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – Oct. 10, 2011 – Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MSI), a leading provider of mission-critical communication products and services for enterprise and government customers, today unveiled the ET1 tablet, the first in an emerging category of enterprise-class tablet computers designed for a variety of vertical markets. The ET1 brings the familiarity and popularity of a consumer-class user experience to a true enterprise-class device that includes enhanced durability, an optional barcode scanner and magnetic stripe reader, hot-swappable battery packs, and secure system software. Key industrial-strength accessories such as secure multi-slot recharging stations are also available. Intended for demanding day-long use, the Wi-Fi-enabled ET1 is password-protected so it can be easily shared and instantly provisioned for each employee according to his or her level of responsibility and access rights. Based on log-in information, managers can automatically control and monitor use of approved applications to help ensure on-the-job productivity is not compromised. ET1 KEY FACTS Retailers can seamlessly and securely run a variety of applications developed by Motorola's extensive partner and independent software vendor (ISV) community, including: Assisted selling Mobile point of sale (mPOS) Manager electronic dashboards Planogram management and compliance Item locator Running an enterprise-ready hardened version of the Android operating system, the ET1 tablet is designed to be used 24 x 7 by multiple staff members. Supported by Motorola's portfolio of enterprise-grade software modules including RhoElements, a new HTML5 application enablement framework, businesses can now quickly and cost-effectively develop enterprise applications once and deploy them on both traditional Windows Embedded Handheld™ and Android-based Motorola devices, allowing for consistent user experiences. The ET1 incorporates a durable Gorilla Glass™ 7-inch color display, designed for customer-facing applications containing video and images. In addition, the screen bezel can be customized to match the retailer's brand. Motorola's ET1 tablet offers a comprehensive suite of enterprise-class features and accessories including: Durable design to withstand multiple bumps and drops during a workday Optional integrated bar code scanner and magnetic stripe reader Hot-swappable rechargeable battery pack, with memory back-up battery to retain RAM data for up to 15 minutes when the main battery is removed Single- and multi-slot tablet and battery chargers Front- and rear-facing cameras Availability of Bluetooth-connected handheld bar-code scanners, mobile-payment readers and mobile printers Optional hand strap for comfortable full-shift handling The ET1 tablet will be available with Motorola's Service from the Start with Comprehensive Coverage program, providing coverage for normal wear and tear as well as accidental damage to internal and external components, significantly reducing unforeseen repair expenses. Motorola Solutions' ET1 tablet will be available in the fourth quarter of 2011. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motorola Spyder to be introduced on October 18, keeps its clothes on in video tease Posted: 10 Oct 2011 07:41 AM PDT  Well, well. It looks like Motorola and Verizon Wireless are about ready to unveil something big. Something faster, thinner, smarter and stronger, to be precise. While that invite up there hints rather coyly at a new handset, a little digging confirmed this is, indeed, the LTE-packing Motorola Spyder, whose first-of-its-kind 4.3-inch, 960 x 540 qHD Super AMOLED display surfaced in leak shots last month. How do we know? Well, when we opened the invite in our browser and saved the image to our desktop, we noticed Moto's own PR team had labeled the photo "spyderlaunchinvite." So that's what we're betting on seeing that day, though it's less clear if it'll bear the name Spyder or Droid RAZR, as rumored (that familiar red light in the photo suggests it might well be part of the Droid family). And who knows what else the two companies have in store? The Atrix 2, perhaps? The Xoom 2? The Xoom 2 Media Edition? The Xoom Family Edition?! We'll find out at the event next week, where we'll be liveblogging, giving you the blow-by-blow. Until then, peep the video after the break if you're down for parsing a 35-second teaser. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK server failure sends BlackBerry devices offline in Europe, the Middle East and Africa Posted: 10 Oct 2011 07:25 AM PDT  [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung breakthrough could turn your window pane into a big ol' LED Posted: 10 Oct 2011 06:56 AM PDT  [Image courtesy of Columbia Pictures / The New York Times] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prototype MacBook Pro repair parts returned to owner, 3G antenna stays in Cook's kitchen Posted: 10 Oct 2011 06:22 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple iPhone 4S pre-orders exceed one million in first 24 hours Posted: 10 Oct 2011 05:46 AM PDT  iPhone 4S Pre-Orders Top One Million in First 24 Hours CUPERTINO, California-October 10, 2011-Apple® today announced pre-orders of its iPhone® 4S have topped one million in a single day, surpassing the previous single day pre-order record of 600,000 held by iPhone 4. iPhone 4S is the most amazing iPhone yet, packed with incredible new features including Apple's dual-core A5 chip for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics; an all new camera with advanced optics; full 1080p HD resolution video recording; and Siri™, an intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking. "We are blown away with the incredible customer response to iPhone 4S," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "The first day pre-orders for iPhone 4S have been the most for any new product that Apple has ever launched and we are thrilled that customers love iPhone 4S as much as we do." iPhone 4S will be available at all 245 Apple retail stores in the US beginning at 8 a.m. local time on Friday, October 14. Every customer who buys an iPhone 4S at an Apple retail store will be offered free Personal Setup service, helping them customize their iPhone 4S by setting up email, showing them new apps from the App Store™ and more, so they'll be up and running with their new iPhone before they leave the store. iPhone 4S includes iOS 5, the world's most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features, and iCloud®, a breakthrough set of free cloud services that work seamlessly with your iPhone, iPad®, iPod touch®, Mac® or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content in iCloud and push it to all your devices. Pricing & Availability iPhone 4S comes in either black or white and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the new 64GB model.* iPhone 4S will be available from the Apple Online Store, Apple's retail stores and through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and select Best Buy, Target and Walmart stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPhone 4 is available for just $99 (US) and iPhone 3GS is available for free with a two year contract. iPhone 4S will roll out worldwide to 22 more countries by the end of October including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. *Qualified customers only. Requires a new two year rate plan, sold separately. Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TiVo Premiere Elite now available, but is updated software the big surprise? Posted: 10 Oct 2011 05:30 AM PDT  Four-Tuner, Two Terabyte, THX® Certified TiVo® Premiere Elite Now Available New Set-Top Box Joins the TiVo Premiere Line and Delivers Unprecedented Offering to High-end Integrators and Home Theater Enthusiasts ALVISO, CALIF., Oct. 10, 2011 – TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of and leader in advanced television services including digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced the availability of its latest premium offering - the TiVo® Premiere Elite set-top box. Designed for the most discerning home theater enthusiasts, the TiVo Premiere Elite offers four digital tuners and an unprecedented two-terabyte hard drive for unmatched recording capabilities, as well as THX® certification for optimal sound and video fidelity. The new product, available today, is TiVo's first and only retail DVR with four tuners allowing for simultaneous recording of four different shows while viewing a fifth recorded program. Plus, its industry-leading two-terabyte hard drive allows for up to 300 hours of recorded HD programming, that's two times more recording space than current offerings. "The sheer power and expansive range of capabilities on the TiVo Premiere Elite answer a demand from our high-end and custom-entertainment consumers; it rounds out our range of products to meet the entertainment needs of all consumers, from general entertainment lovers with TiVo Premiere to the home theater enthusiast with the TiVo Premiere Elite," said Doug Bieter, Vice President of Retail Sales for TiVo, Inc. "By making the TiVo Premiere Elite available at Best Buy Magnolia locations and through select home theater installers, we ensure our customers receive the best advice and professional expertise for their home theater or whole-home solution, and will enjoy TiVo's gold standard user experience." The TiVo Premiere Elite is intended for use with digital cable systems only and does not work with analog cable or over-the-air antennas. With the added distinction as a THX Certified DVR, the TiVo Premiere Elite offers a high-end solution to get the most out of a customer's high definition television and cable subscription. It maintains TiVo's gold-standard, easy to navigate user interface, integrating Web entertainment from Netflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video and YouTube, bringing Brilliant TV to life. TiVo Premiere Elite Key Specifications: TiVo Series4TM architecture Supports digital cable, high-definition digital cable and Verizon FiOS® THX Certified DVR, offering optimal video and audio fidelity Outputs: HDMI, Component video, Composite video, Optical audio, Analog audio Video output modes include: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p Inputs: CableCARDTM, Cable coax, Ethernet Additional support for USB 2.0 (2 ports), eSATA for external recording space, TiVo Wireless N or G Network Adapter 2 Terabytes of recording space for up to 300 hours of recorded programming The TiVo Premiere Elite will be available through tivo.com, authorized home theater installers and Magnolia stores nationwide for $499.99 MSRP. To learn more about the product visit www.tivo.com/elite. # # # | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netflix backtracks on Qwikster, will keep DVDs and streaming under the same URL Posted: 10 Oct 2011 05:00 AM PDT  Another sticky issue that's not so easily dealt with is the recent pricing change that took effect last month. While many speculated at the time about what percentage of customers would see higher prices as a result, spokesperson Steve Swasey reveals it affected about half of the company's subscribers. For the rest who had signed up for the $7.99-streaming only package (an option selected by the overwhelming majority in the quarter before the change) prices didn't go up at all. We have our own ideas about what the pricing should be, but it seems Netflix has finally realized not all customers got the message that it's a streaming company now, and tacking DVDs onto its new primary offering for only $2 extra just didn't work. Since all that uproar Netflix has announced a few new / expanded content deals for its streaming service, with Discovery and exclusive rights to previous seasons of The Walking Dead from AMC. But with renewed competition from the likes of Blockbuster and Amazon only time will tell if it can do enough to stop the subscriber bleeding. The Netflix Q3 earnings report is due October 24th -- think that will be an interesting call to listen in on? DVDs Will Be Staying At Netflix.com LOS GATOS, Calif., October 10, 2011 – Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) today said it will not rename its DVD-by-mail service and that its US members will continue to go to the Netflix website for both unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs. Netflix said in a Sept. 18 blog post that its DVD by mail service would operate at Qwikster.com. Instead, U.S. members will continue to use one website, one account and one password for their movie and TV watching enjoyment under the Netflix brand. "Consumers value the simplicity Netflix has always offered and we respect that," said Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings. "There is a difference between moving quickly -- which Netflix has done very well for years -- and moving too fast, which is what we did in this case." Netflix today informed its U.S. members in personal emails and a post on the Netflix Blog on www.netflix.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook hits the US and Canada this week, rings in at $899 Posted: 10 Oct 2011 05:00 AM PDT  First we reduced its size, then we reduced its price... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hands-on with Myriad's Alien Dalvik 2.0 on an iPad (video) Posted: 10 Oct 2011 04:30 AM PDT  We got to speak with Olivier Bartholot, Myriad's VP of Business Development about the new platform, and he explained that this second iteration of Alien Dalvik differs from the first in a significant way. Version 2.0 runs in the cloud with Netzyn's servers doing all the heavy lifting, as opposed to the original where the native host environment resides on the gadget itself. So, devices with this new Dalvik on board get an H.264 video feed of Android with some secret sauce letting users interact with the apps -- not unlike Onlive's cloud gaming service. The company says it can port Alien Dalvik to any operating system, which grants TVs, in-flight entertainment systems and cars access to apps without changing the existing infrastructure to run the full Android OS. Myriad's working with an unnamed partner to create an Alien Dalvik store that'll be the sole provider of apps for the platform, because downloading apps from Android Market and other sources won't be an option. There's currently no support for Honeycomb apps, but Olivier informed us that such functionality is in the works. As you can see in the video above, the new Alien Dalvik isn't nearly as smooth as native Android. But, you should keep in mind that it's still in beta, and Myriad got Android apps functioning on an iPad without jailbreaking or help from Apple, which is pretty darn impressive. Olivier told us that there are some user interface issues with non-touchscreen devices (think TV remotes) that must be figured out as well. Native performance is the goal, however, and he's confident that the company will be able to pull it off. Myriad's currently in talks with car manufacturers, avionics firms, Samsung and others to get Alien Dalvik on their products, so we'll be seeing Google's little green bots in some unexpected places in the not-so-distant future. The plan is to have Alien Dalvik ready for prime time in the first half of 2012, so we've got to wait a bit longer for cross platform app nirvana. The clock is ticking, fellas. Myriad's Next Generation Alien Technology Brings Android to Apple 06 October 2011 Myriad Alien Dalvik 2.0 to extend Android apps to tablets, TVs, automobiles and more, creating new revenue opportunities and opening up Android ecosystem to new sectors Alien Dalvik 2.0 to remove technological barriers to create consistent user experiences and mobilize content across multiple platforms and screens, taking the headache out of fragmentation and content management Myriad to demo Android apps on Apple iPad, for the first time, at CTIA Enterprise & Applications 2011 ZURICH, Switzerland – October 06, 2011 – Myriad Group AG (SIX: MYRN), a global leader in mobile technology having shipped over 3.8 billion software apps on more than 2.2 billion phones, today unveils Myriad Alien Dalvik 2.0. Building on the successful launch of Myriad Alien Dalvik, Myriad's latest Alien release will not only enable Android apps to run across non-Android smartphone platforms, but will now enable the Android ecosystem to be extended across multiple devices and screens such as tablets, e-books, TVs, automotives and even avionics. Myriad will be showcasing Alien Dalvik 2.0 and its multi-screen strategy, demonstrating Android apps on Apple iPad for the first time at CTIA Enterprise & Applications 2011 next week. "We have seen incredible momentum in Android adoption, but we are just scratching the surface," said Simon Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer, Myriad Group. "Digital screens such as Internet- enabled TVs and in-vehicle displays, along with other consumer devices like tablets and e-books are proliferating at an astounding rate. Consumers are driving multimedia evolution and are demanding more converged multi-screen services. With Alien Dalvik 2.0, we are creating a more flexible, consistent user experience by mobilizing content such as live sports, recorded TV shows and on-demand movies, so users can enjoy content seamlessly from one device to the next." Alien Dalvik 2.0 is the first step towards creating a single app standard and marks yet another key milestone for Myriad Android innovations. Alien Dalvik 2.0 enables the majority of Android apps to run unmodified using Android Package (APK) files. This in turn allows app store owners and publishers to quickly transcend multiple platforms and screens, leveraging existing software and middleware, all without compromising performance. Furthermore, Alien Dalvik 2.0 enables developers to create once and use many times, while allowing operators, OEMs, and even enterprise to streamline app rollout - taking the headache out of platform fragmentation and content management. From a user perspective, Alien Dalvik 2.0 is completely transparent and installed without user disruption. Users simply enjoy the same rich Android ecosystem they have become accustomed to via mobile on other key screens, such as playing Angry Birds on HDTV. This all while gaining faster access to a wider range of apps, thus encouraging a higher frequency of downloads and increased ARPU. "As demand for multi-screen services grows, and as the telecommunications industry becomes a content business, service providers will have new opportunities to leverage their service delivery platforms and collaborate with content providers to develop converged multi-offerings. Alien Dalvik 2.0 provides a great alternative to OEMs and service providers who want to harness the Android ecosystem, while leveraging existing investments and retaining control of their customer experience," added Wilkinson. From application components to complete device integration, Myriad provides best-in-class Android solutions. As a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), Myriad has exceptional expertise in runtimes and has been playing a key role in Android solutions since its early days. When partnering with Myriad for Android app development or porting, operators, OEMs and app store owners will benefit from Myriad's broad portfolio of services, strong knowledge of embedded software systems, rich heritage in Java technology and expertise in second screen solutions for Blu-ray and set-top box markets. Myriad will be showcasing Alien Dalvik 2.0 in action, demonstrating Android on the Apple iPad at this year's CTIA Enterprise & Applications in San Diego from October 11th-13th at Myriad's Hospitality Suite at the Hilton San Diego Bay Front, 1 Park Boulevard, directly adjacent to the San Diego Convention Center. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft reportedly preparing Silverlight-like app framework ahead of Xbox Live update Posted: 10 Oct 2011 03:41 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iced out 24-carat gold MacBook Pro proves diamonds are an Apple's best friend Posted: 10 Oct 2011 02:31 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boost Mobile adds Samsung Transform Ultra to its repertoire, hopes you'll transition for $230 Posted: 10 Oct 2011 01:04 AM PDT  You might think it's more than meets the eye, but the Samsung Transform Ultra doesn't have much to hide -- except a full QWERTY keyboard, that is. Arriving precisely on time, the newest flagship device for Boost Mobile packs a prepaid punch: the Ultra rocks a 1GHz single-core CPU, Gingerbread, a three megapixel camera and a VGA front-facing cam. You can pick one of these up now for $230, which isn't too shabby for a decently-spec'd Android device with no contract involved. Head on over to the source link if this particular beauty is meant to be a part of your future. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T-Mobile unveils Galaxy Tab 10.1 and SpringBoard, combines 4G talk with HSPA+ walk Posted: 09 Oct 2011 11:20 PM PDT  T-Mobile Advances Portfolio of 4G Tablets With T-Mobile SpringBoard With Google and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 The ultra-mobile T-Mobile SpringBoard and ultra-thin Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will deliver premium on-the-go entertainment and multimedia experiences BELLEVUE, Wash. - Oct. 10, 2011 - T-Mobile USA, Inc. today unveiled two new 4G* Android™ 3.2 (Honeycomb) tablets, enhancing its growing tablet business and portfolio of high-speed mobile broadband devices. The T-Mobile® SpringBoard™ with Google™ and Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 will enable customers to enjoy their home Web and entertainment experiences virtually anywhere. "Our customers expect the ability to access and share content on the go at 4G speeds, so we've created a 4G tablet portfolio of 7-, 9- and 10-inch tablets with their busy, highly mobile lives in mind," said Jeremy Korst, vice president of mobile broadband and emerging devices, T-Mobile USA. "The T-Mobile SpringBoard with Google and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 are the perfect evolution of T-Mobile's tablet portfolio, providing consumers with the right choice of tablet to easily look up a recipe at the grocery store, update social media sites on the bus or stream movies and music in the back seat of the car." T-Mobile SpringBoard With Google The 4G-enabled T-Mobile SpringBoard is one of T-Mobile's most affordable tablets, offering a premium mobile entertainment and rich Web experience that won't break the bank. Featuring a stunning 7-inch HD multi-touch display, the ultra-portable T-Mobile SpringBoard can fit comfortably into a coat pocket, briefcase or purse, making it easy to carry with you while running errands, hopping on an airplane or waiting at the doctor's office. Manufactured by Huawei, the T-Mobile SpringBoard is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core mobile processor and offers a variety of preloaded entertainment applications, including access to thousands of movies and TV shows via BLOCKBUSTER on Demand®, Netflix® and T-Mobile TV. The SpringBoard also offers high-speed Web browsing with support for Adobe® Flash® Player, as well as access to services and applications including Blio® eReader, MobileLife® Family Organizer powered by Cozi, Slacker Radio and TeleNav GPS Navigator™, a personal GPS navigation and local search application that provides turn-by-turn voice and on-screen driving directions. The T-Mobile SpringBoard is also the perfect device for capturing and sharing moments with friends and family while on the go. Equipped with a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera and video recorder with 720p for HD video capture, as well as a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, customers can easily capture images and video and share with loved ones. In addition, with an SD card slot that accommodates up to 32GB of expandable memory, it's easy to save movies, music, photos, documents and more so customers can have easy access to everything they need. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 T-Mobile also unveiled the ultra-thin, 4G-capable Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Weighing just 1.24 pounds and featuring a spectacular 10.1-inch HD touchscreen display for a widescreen viewing experience, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is one of the thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablets on the market. T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 comes equipped with preinstalled content and applications, including T-Mobile TV, Qello®, Samsung Media Hub, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD demo, SIM City Deluxe demo, Blio® eReader and Zinio®. With a 1 GHz dual-core NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 processor and full Adobe Flash Player support, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 offers a high-end mobile entertainment experience, making it quick and seamless to browse rich Web content, multitask and play games. Availability The T-Mobile SpringBoard with Google and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available in time for the holidays at T-Mobile retail stores and at http://www.t-mobile.com. *T-Mobile's HSPA+ 4G network not available everywhere. See coverage details at http://www.t-mobile.com. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DirecTV's five tuner, RVU-ready HR34 DVR revealed Posted: 09 Oct 2011 09:43 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How would you change HTC's EVO 3D? Posted: 09 Oct 2011 07:49 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Switched On: The four Ses of the iPhone 4S Posted: 09 Oct 2011 05:51 PM PDT Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.  Similarly, when Apple first lowered the price of the iPod touch below $200 in 2009 amidst widespread speculation that it would add a front-facing camera for FaceTime (which it did in the next generation), the company noted that it didn't think the product needed any more "stuff." So, what, then, defines the iPhone 4S? The differentiators can be thought of as four "Ses." Speed. The most significant specification change to the iPhone 4S from its predecessor is the bump to Apple's A5 processor, which currently inhabits the slim encasing of the iPad 2. As such, we can get a sense of the speed and battery life benefits by comparing the original iPad to its sequel. While it has certainly resulted in a snappier experience and enabled developers to do new things by utilizing a superior graphics engine in their apps, it hasn't really made a fundamental difference yet. Perhaps the best reason to opt for the iPhone 4S's faster processor is that it should help run future versions of iOS better, as was the case for the 3GS. Shooting. The iPhone 4S bumps the resolution of its digital stills from 5 megapixels to 8 megapixels (available in competitive cameras even at the launch of the iPhone 4) and its HD video capture resolution from 720p to 1080p. Apple primarily talked up the photos during the introduction. The improvement -- particularly in conjunction with the speedy shot time and home screen camera launching feature of iOS 5 -- continues the new emphasis on imaging that Switched On discussed when the iPhone 4 launched. Indeed, there are now a host of add-on lenses created for the iPhone 4 that should work well with the iPhone 4S's identical body. Siri. The showstopper of the iPhone 4S launch, it wasn't any news that Apple had acquired Siri, but the software has obviously come a long way since Apple purchased it and is integrated into core functions of the handset as well as Wolfram Alpha for getting answers directly from the internet. While there was no announcement of the long-rumored new mapping application from Apple this week, Siri nonetheless represents Apple further asserting its online independence from Google in circumventing its lists of links. Sprint. In several ways, the introduction of the iPhone 4S was about expanding the iOS base. While there was no prepaid iPhone announcement, Apple did introduce the iPhone on Sprint, one of the two biggest players in prepaid. At a Sprint event on Friday, the #3 carrier noted that the lack of an iPhone was the #1 reason customers gave for leaving the carrier, so having the iPhone and iPhone 4S available to these customers for the first time should bolster Apple's market share. In addition, the free 3GS available at AT&T and the untouched iPod touch dropping back below $200 should also help drive the iOS developer base. Five years after the debut of the original iPhone, the iPhone 4S raises questions as to whether the product has reached "middle age." After all, the basic industrial design of the MacBook Pro has not changed dramatically since the titanium PowerBook G4 of 2001, the Mac Pro's look goes back to the PowerMac G5 enclosure of 2003, and the aluminum iMac's since 2007. Apple has never been a company to seek out the most impressive specification available to address competitors. Rather, with iOS 5 and iCloud, it will bring the integration of two other "Ses" -- software and services -- to a set of devices that extends far beyond a phone that held few surprises. Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is executive director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ditching DRM could reduce piracy, prices, inconvenience Posted: 09 Oct 2011 05:22 PM PDT  This may run counter to what your common sense tells you but, a new paper out of Duke and Rice University says that ditching DRM could actually reduce piracy. The study, which relied on analytical modeling, showed that while copy protection made illegally sharing content more difficult it had a significantly negative impact on legal users. In fact, the researchers say, "only the legal users pay the price and suffer from the restrictions [of DRM]." Many consumers simply choose to pirate music and movies because doing simple things, like backing up a media collection, is difficult with DRMed content. Even the most effective DRM is eventually broken, and fails to deter those already determined to steal. Meanwhile, abandoning these restrictions could increase competition and drive down prices (as well as remove a serious inconvenience), encouraging more people to legitimately purchase content. You can check out the November-December issue of Marketing Science for more details. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sprint says no to iPhone insurance, AppleCare+ breathes sigh of relief Posted: 09 Oct 2011 03:11 PM PDT  The Now Network is apparently voting thumbs-down to the idea of having its Total Equipment Protection plans available to its new crown jewel. According to a leaked slide courtesy of SprintFeed, your shiny Sprint-branded iPhone 4S (or 4) won't be offered with a healthy portion of peace of mind; rather, you'll need to purchase the AppleCare+ Protection Plan or go through a third party to have any protection from accidental damage. This may change down the road, as the slide says it won't be offered "at launch," but only time will tell. Unfortunate, yes, but we suppose there's always a bright side -- at least there's now a Sprint iPhone to not have insurance for, right? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fujifilm's X10 offers up vintage-style snapping for $599.99 in early November Posted: 09 Oct 2011 12:53 PM PDT  FUJIFILM ANNOUNCES PRICING AND AVAILABILITY FOR THE NEW PREMIUM COMPACT FUJIFILM X10 DIGITAL CAMERA Valhalla, N.Y., October 7, 2011 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation said today that the all new premium compact FUJIFILM X10 digital camera first announced on September 1, 2011, will have a retail price of $599.95 and will be available in early November. Building on the tremendous success of the sophisticated FUJIFILM X100 digital camera, the new premium compact FUJIFILM X10 is the latest addition to the growing FUJIFILM X-series of advanced digital cameras. The FUJIFILM X10 features a new larger 2/3" 12 megapixel EXR CMOS sensor and a bright high-definition FUJINON1 F2.0 wide-angle to F2.8 telephoto 4x manual zoom lens (28-112mm)2 that produces superb image quality from edge to edge. The FUJIFILM X10 has a beautiful blackout and retro design that includes a traditional optical viewfinder with a wide 20° field of view for exceptional image composition. For more information, go to http://fujifilm-x.com/x10/en/. The FUJIFILM X10 will be on display and available for all to see at the upcoming PhotoPlus Expo at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City on October 27 through Saturday October 29. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Engadget News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment