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Saturday, January 14, 2012

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LightSquared's LTE hopes dashed by federal agency report

Posted: 14 Jan 2012 10:56 AM PST

When it was first mooted that LightSquared's LTE technology might interfere with GPS equipment, the firm was quick to deny it. Since then, the company has tried to mitigate the issue, but the nine agencies making up the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Executive Committee (PNT ExComm) all agreed that the problems are real and any attempts at mitigation are futile. This comes only days after Sprint reneged on a resource sharing deal, issuing a further blow to the company's plans for a terrestrial network. LightSquared's reaction is naturally not a happy one, claiming that the testing process is not only flawed, but that the agencies have a bias in favor of the GPS industry. By our reasoning, this only leaves the stage of depression before final acceptance of the grief-ridden situation.

Samsung to merge Bada with Tizen: the OS party just got a little freaky

Posted: 14 Jan 2012 10:13 AM PST

While everyone was watching Windows Phone parting the iOS / Android curtains, no one noticed Bada and Tizen making cheeky eyes at each other. It was rumored Samsung might open-source its featurephone OS, but according to Forbes, it'll now fuse it with the Intel-backed Tizen project. Once the nuptials are complete, it's reported Bada apps will play nice with Tizen -- including full backwards compatibility -- with developers getting a new integrated SDK and API. We're guessing then, that it's the Bada brand getting the chop when the two linux-based systems tie the knot. The spirit of MeeGo, of course, also lives on in Tizen making this one big concept cocktail. One we should see being poured into "at least one or two" Samsung handsets, and eventually other products, sometime this year -- failing any last-minute cold feet.

IBM stores bits on arrays of atoms, shrinks magnetic storage to the scientific limit

Posted: 14 Jan 2012 09:44 AM PST

IBM's Almaden Research Center is filled with some of the best and brightest minds in the world, and its researchers just released new findings that detail how just how far IBM has come in the realm of magnetic storage. Andreas Heinrich is leading the team at Big Blue that figured out how to create atomic storage based on the fact that atoms of ferromagnetic material align their spins in one direction -- so the ability to control the spin direction is what's needed to make such minature memory possible. Heinrich and his crew were able to accomplish the trick by supercooling 12 atoms to four degrees kelvin (-452 fahrenheit), and arranging them using an electron microscope in such a away that nonvolatile storage became possible. As this is only a proof of concept, we won't be seeing atomic memory at, say, CES any time soon, but you can dig into the deep science behind the breakthrough at the source link below.

White House responds to SOPA petition as hearing is delayed, DNS blocking on the outs

Posted: 14 Jan 2012 09:01 AM PST

It's turned out to be a big weekend for those concerned about the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act. Yesterday came word that a key House hearing originally scheduled for Wednesday will be delayed until there is a "consensus" on the bill, and today the White House has issued an official statement on SOPA (and the Protect IP Act, its counterpart in the Senate) in response to a petition that drew thousands of signatures. While it doesn't go quite as far as to issue a firm veto threat from the President, it does lay out the administration's position in the clearest terms yet, including the condition that any proposed law "must not tamper with the technical architecture of the Internet through manipulation of the Domain Name System." That follows word late last week that Representative Lamar Smith and Senator Patrick Leahy would indeed pull the DNS provisions from SOPA and PIPA. The White House statement is less specific in other respects, but it broadly states that the administration will "not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovative global Internet."

In related news, the planned blackouts to protest SOPA and PIPA only seem to be increasing, with the popular xda-developers forum recently announcing that it will go dark at 8AM on January 18th, and return either at 8PM or as soon as it's able to get 50,000 people to sign a pledge to contact their local Senator or Representative.

CES 2012: Smartphones round-up

Posted: 14 Jan 2012 08:13 AM PST

The Superbowl of smartphones? Why, that would be Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month. But that didn't stop the mobile industry's heavy hitters from giving us a taste of the year in wireless to come at CES. With Windows Phones finally getting LTE, Intel's Medfield CPU making its handset debut, Sony synergizing under its mega brand umbrella and fringe manufacturers wowing attendees with stock Ice Cream Sandwich and super-thin profiles, it appears phone aficionados have plenty to anticipate. So, while you sit slack-jawed in front of that computer screen, let's revisit some of the highlights of this past week.

HTC Titan II

AT&T threw a curve ball at its keynote when it announced this Titan refresh would be hitting the states with support for 4G LTE -- a much welcomed first for devices running Microsoft's Mango OS. And as if access to those sweet wireless speeds wasn't enough, HTC's leapfrogged its US competition by beefing up the camera module on this 4.7-incher, bumping it to 16 megapixels with an f/2.6 lens and setting a new standard for imaging on stateside handsets. Unfortunately, that signature, elegant build has gone by the wayside, replaced here by a more traditional encasing.

Nokia Lumia 900

Its LTE-packing thunder may have been stolen by AT&T's Titan II announcement, but Nokia's high-end Lumia still managed to hit a few high marks -- namely, for its 4.3-inch screen. The 900 is the first of Espoo's Mango pack to tread into large screen territory and it's headed for American mitts on AT&T sometime this spring (if the release rumors are indeed true). Inside, not much has changed, as we're still dealing with a single CPU. So, if you were holding out for a dual-core WP7.5 phone, you'll need to sit tight just a little bit longer.

Huawei Ascend P1 S and P1

Things are looking up for Huawei stateside. While brand recognition may still be somewhat low for the Chinese company, its fortunes could indeed about-face with the launch of its more premium Ascend line. The 4.3-inch P1 S and P1 are near identical twins, separated simply by thickness -- the former cuts a 6.68mm profile. And, perhaps heeding the call of Android fans everywhere, both phones are loaded up with stock Ice Cream Sandwich. If you like your devices unlocked and ultra-svelte, you might want to give these a go this April.

Lenovo K800

Lenovo certainly took us by surprise when it snuck this gem onto the showroom floor. Heralding the smartphone debut of Intel's Medfield chip, the K800 is a heavily customized Android smartphone bearing 2011 specs, like a 4.5-inch 720p display, Gingerbread, 8 megapixel rear camera). In fact, users not well-versed in the finer aspects of CPUs, would be hard pressed to note the 1.6GHz revolution taking place under the hood. We've only just skimmed the surface of this Asia-only device, so stay tuned -- a US bow can't be far off.

ASUS Padfone

It's phone. It's a tablet. It's a... Padfone? No shockers here. We've had fair warning ASUS' slatephone combo was headed to market, and have had plenty of time to warm to the idea. The concept? A 4.3-inch handset that neatly docks into a 10.1-inch tab, transitioning its display seamlessly to the larger screen and giving you more real estate for that ICS OS. It's an effective solution for users that don't want to port around two separate devices, and it also doesn't hurt that the dock packs an extended battery.

Sony Xperia Ion

After swallowing Ericsson hole and dispensing with the brand, Sony's reorganized its mobile house. And with that new face comes a new era of premium handset design. The Ion is one of two smartphones issued by the Japanese giant that features solo Sony branding, a solid build (bye, bye creaky plastic) and some very respectable specs: 4.6-inch 720p HD Reality display, AT&T LTE and a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU.

Sony Xperia S

Not to be outdone by the Ion, the Xperia S appears poised to truly wear Sony's new mobile crown. Featuring a transparent illuminating bar, which actually functions as the antenna, this dual-core handset is what we consider to be, bar none, the apogee of CES mobile phone reveals. The 4.3-incher's not carrier-locked (yet), so fanboys and girls hoping to add this sleek beauty to their arsenal can get those credit cards at the ready come this March.

Altec Lansing Live 5000 WiFi music system makes its debut, plays nice with Android and iOS (ears-on)

Posted: 14 Jan 2012 07:30 AM PST

During CES, Altec Lansing showed us its latest premium wireless speaker system, the $500 WiFi-equipped Live 5000. If you're thinking "wait, isn't that attractive-looking, teardrop-shaped gizmo just its inAir 500 AirPlay speaker?" you'd be sort-of correct. While the system is nearly identical to the inAir, the unit itself isn't tied to iThings for wireless audio streaming -- instead, Altec's created its own "ecosystem" that'll support a variety of devices. After hooking the speaker up to your network, you can use any Android, iOS device or computer running the company's Live controller app to setup up a central playlist of your tunes. The music isn't sent to the cloud, but rather, streamed directly from each device's local catalog of music -- salvation from the pains of aggregating your files to one central storage hub. Best of all, there's also support for services like Rhapsody, ensuring you'll be able to load up your music from wherever you normally would.

We checked out an early build of the iPhone app (on an iPad), and the interface was simply and intuitive, but we're told to expect more polish in the final edition -- along with that missing tablet-sized version. Notably, the app allows playback to multiple speakers, giving you the option to set up various linkable "stages" to stream independent playlists to. We gave the unit a quick listen on the noisy show floor, and while it got plenty loud, the bass was on the anemic side, despite its 4-inch woofer. Highs and mids were alright, although, at times things felt a bit tinny to our ears. Of course, the hustle and bustle of CES isn't exactly the best spot for hearing how speakers like this sound, so we'll have to reserve final judgement until the unit ships this summer (not to mention that the testing material was streaming from Rhapsody). For now, hit up the gallery below for a closer look, and you'll find a press release past the break with more details.
Altec Lansing Live 5000 WiFi speaker system (ears-on)




Show full PR text
THE NEW ALTEC LANSING LIVE 5000 WI-FI SPEAKER INTEGRATES LIFE AND MUSIC LIKE NEVER BEFORE

Introducing Altec Lansing LIVE Wi-Fi Music System, a New Music Entertainment Ecosystem
SAN DIEGO, CA – January 9, 2012 Today, audio innovator Altec Lansing released the LIVE 5000™ (MN5000), a Wi-Fi all-in-one speaker that is poised to set the standard for audio versatility, allowing users to listen to and control cloud content and their own personal music libraries from a wide range of devices. This flexible unit is ideal for the user who wants to invite amazing audio into any room of the house, whether enjoying personal time in the kitchen or hosting a whole-house party.

The first product in an exciting new music entertainment ecosystem, the LIVE 5000 connects to a consumer's existing home Wi-Fi network, is controllable from iOS, Android and Desktop applications and delivers music from the Internet's most popular content providers. Through multiple rooms and multiple controllers, users are treated to the amazing sound quality that is a hallmark of Altec Lansing.

"Now more than ever, there are so many different ways to experience the music we love, and it doesn't matter if it's from the cloud, from our individual libraries or even from our friends' phones. Whether it's for personal listening or for a party, the LIVE 5000 is the device that brings your music mosaic and lifestyle together in complete harmony," said Brendon Stead, Co-President, Altec Lansing.

Boundless Sound

The significance of the new LIVE 5000 Wi-Fi speaker lies within its versatility and its multi-room, multi-platform operation. Now, users of a myriad of handheld devices are able to stream and control content from their existing 802.11 b/g/n wireless network to any room in the house. Truly an audio solution for the whole home, users are able to stream different music to different rooms or the same music to multiple rooms by linking LIVE 5000 units. What's more, the free Android, iOS and Desktop LIVE Controller apps allow everyone in the family to hold a potential controller in their hands. LIVE 5000 users have access to a universe of music, transforming the home environment into a perfectly synchronized opera house or a multi-stage music festival.

The free Altec Lansing LIVE Controller app gives users the ability to browse local and online media sources, and to manage account data for online music sources. Adding a new collective component to any occasion, the LIVE 5000 lets multiple users manage a queue of music and decide what's playing now, what's playing next and add media to playlists from their control devices, while everyone can see the information about the play queue. And when friends and family join the system by downloading the app and connecting to your wireless network, the possibilities for sharing and discovering new music are boundless.

Designed for Impressive Sound Quality

Altec Lansing has a deep heritage in audio excellence, with 75 years of enriching lives with sound. The new LIVE 5000 has been engineered from quality components to provide the most punch in an attractive form factor. Behind the deep aluminum accents, the unique curvature of the unit goes beyond aesthetics with non-parallel walls that prevent the cross-cancellation of sound waves and produces more natural sound. The result of this distinctive design is amazing clarity with minimal loss throughout the entire tonal range. The structure of the unit is fortified thoroughly to prevent distortion and vibration, so music is reproduced with natural highs and thunderous lows. Intelligent digital signal processing promises lower bass response, widens the sound field and tames high frequencies.

The internal components of the LIVE 5000 are a testament to Altec Lansing's high-end audio prowess. Driven by a tri-amp system, the two 3-inch mid-range drivers constructed of super strong Kevlar, deliver true vocals and mid-tones with minimal distortion. The neodymium soft-dome tweeters promise higher sensitivity without ear fatigue and a smaller footprint. The long-throw 4-inch subwoofer and passive radiator are specifically designed for punchy bass reproduction. The LIVE 5000 is voiced to produce the best frequency response, group delay and tone quality to faithfully reproduce any program material.

Availability and Pricing

The LIVE 5000 Wi-Fi speaker will be available in early summer 2012 at www.alteclansing.com and select retailers worldwide. MSRP is $499.95.

The Altec Lansing LIVE Controller apps for iOS, Android, and Desktop are available for free download from the Apple App Store, the Android Marketplace and Altec Lansing's website respectively.

For a demonstration of the Altec Lansing LIVE 5000 Wi-Fi speaker, please visit us at the 2012 International CES at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Booth #20621, South Hall 1.

CES 2012: Ultrabook round-up

Posted: 14 Jan 2012 07:07 AM PST

CES is drawing to a close, and the gadgets released here will define the market for the year. Intel is betting the farm on its Ultrabook concept as its hardware partners continued to push out the first real wave of laptops designed to take on the MacBook Air (who thought we'd be saying that four years ago?). Whatever your feelings on these devices, given Santa Clara's billion-dollar advertising push, you won't be able to ignore them this year. So, let's take a look at five of the best products that rolled off the keynotes into the hands of our editors.

Acer's S5-shaped go on the Ultrabook gravy-train is a three-pound, 13.3-inch lappy that'll turn on instantly, toting a sleek onyx black magnesium-alloy cover, Thunderbolt port and an SSD for easy flinging. Improving on the design of the S3, it's the world's thinnest Ultrabook, measuring just 15mm and feels significantly more premium. Sadly it's not all gravy: it's got a scratchy, shallow keyboard which we're not sold on. What we do love is that the ports drop down from a motorized back cover -- Thunderbirds fans out there will adore it just for that.

Dell's been waiting to show off how thin it could make a device and the XPS 13 didn't disappoint. The company's first Ultrabook tapers from 18 to 6mm and is made from aluminum and carbon fiber -- and with the attendant weight loss. The entry-level unit's got a Core i5 CPU, 128GB SSD, 4GB RAM and a backlit keyboard. It reeks of understated quality, even though it's only $1,000, but the port selection is pretty basic: it doesn't include an SD card slot, which we think is an unforgivable crime in the year 2012. Corporate IT buyers who need to be conscious of roaming-employees' luggage allowances: this is going to be a go-to product.

Samsung's revamped Series 9 shouldn't be on this list, because it's not an official Intel-sanctioned Ultrabook. That doesn't stop us giving it honorary status because of its extreme thinness. The company spent last year listening to user feedback from the original Series 9 and threw out everything customers hated. Gone are the soft touch finishes and launch buttons, so the dimensions are more like those belonging to a 12-inch device. The 15-inch Series 9 is also special, mostly because it's the only laptop that thin with that large a display.

Of all the thin and light laptops named after Bond movie villains we've seen at this year's CES, it was a tough choice between the Quantum Octopussy and HP's Envy 14 Spectre. The latter $1,400 computer is a "premium Ultrabook," built from glass, weighing 3.79 pounds and rather sadly stretching the definition of "thin and light," considering it measures 20mm. It's a hefty chunk of laptop considering the razor-sharp thickness of some of the other machines on offer. Fortunately, HP did something with all that extra heft, including a radiance display, NFC in the palm rest, Intel Wireless Display spanning and Beats Audio. Sadly, this device sails so close to the Intel-stipulated wind that it's essentially just a laptop.

Lenovo's IdeaPad Yoga is another device that isn't branded as an Ultrabook, but that's what it is: no tablet would weigh three times that of an iPad 2. The 17mm thick flip-over device can be used as a laptop, tablet or kickstand-tablet for movie watching. You'll want to watch movies on this thing, too: it's got a 1600 x 900 IPS multitouch display, unheard of in a device of this caliber. It'll retail for around $1,000 when Windows 8 arrives, but even the prototype models scream of quality. None of these other devices ship with a touchscreen and is cheaper than the less capable HP Envy -- if we were buying one of these devices today, our money would be on this device.

Dana Wollman and Jon Turi contributed to this report.

TI's wireless charger for tablets does amazing things with electrons, sticky tape

Posted: 14 Jan 2012 05:51 AM PST

Either TI has the hots for Arduino in a big way, or its latest wireless charging kit isn't quite ready for mass production. When it does arrive, however, it promises to do away with those cumbersome specialized sleeves and back covers that are currently needed for inductive charging. Instead, it'll deliver efficient in a package that's small enough to be installed as part of a device's internal circuitry. In addition to the Qi-standard 5W version we glimpsed a while back, the company is also working on a 10W variant for the iPad 2 and other tablets, which could wipe the smile off LaunchPort's face and perhaps make MicroUSB 3.0 superfluous before it even gets here.

CES 2012: Automotive round-up

Posted: 14 Jan 2012 04:17 AM PST

It's always a nice break from ultrabooks, smartphones and massive OLED TVs to catch a glimpse of the new auto tech that will be rolling out in the months to come. This year's focus at CES was infotainment and software add-ons for a handful of manufacturers and models. Sure, the plug-in Fusion was a highlight, but for the most part, the emphasis on on-board screens and content delivery while you're blazin' down Route 66. Read on for some highlights from the week that was.

NVIDIA-powered Audi Connect


Audi's partnership with NVIDIA has passed the one-year mark. In that time, the Tegra chip has made it's way into the automaker's new MMX in-car system. We were able to view some of the new tech here at CES -- demoed in an A7. Slated to arrive in 2013 A3s, the Audi Connect was on display in Vegas complete with A7 / A8 MMI knob integration and a dash-mounted 7-inch LCD screen. You'll find NVIDIA's handiwork in the aforementioned display that handles Google's 3D graphic renderings without breaking a sweat.

Mercedes Benz mbrace2

We were there when Mecercedes-Benz CEO Dieter Zetsche unveiled the mbrace2. The second gen release looks to add social media to the kit via apps like Twitter, Facebook and Yelp through a smartphone connection similar to that of the Ford system. Outfitted with a central COMAND knob for menu navigation, the five-way controller makes poking around the software a lot like using a D-pad to surf the web. You'll be able to try the tech out for yourself in the 2013 SL and in all US models in future. Also of note: mbrace2 will update itself. Dealer visits before heading into the office won't be needed, allowing you to hit the snooze a few more times.

Aha Radio in the Subaru BRZ

Looking to get some more audio content in your whip? Aha Radio was at CES to show off some tech that will be coming to Subaru and Honda vehicles in 2013. You'll be able to tune-in to thousands of we radio stations and applications such as Slacker and MOG in addition to your regular in-car audio rotation. Of course, you'll have to download the iOS or Android app to connect to the auto's system and stream content via your phone's data connection. Don't worry about messing with a bunch of controls while driving either, as you can hop between stations and other content via steering wheel controls.

Ford Fusion Energi plug-in and SYNC Applink


There were slim pickings as far as new car models go. However, Ford did show off its 2013 Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid. While not a full-on EV, it is outfitted with a number of gadget-esque features like lane departure warnings and adaptive cruise control. If you aren't looking to splurge for the plug-in model, gasoline and hyrbid models will also make it to dealerships. Just know that you'll lose your chance at 100MPGe, topping both Volt and Prius of similar nature even though it's a larger vehicle. As far as infotainment is concerned, Ford announced several upgrades for SYNC AppLink including TuneIn Radio, a Destinations update and Telenav's Scout.

iConnectivity outs iConnectMUSE digital audio mixer for iOSers (video)

Posted: 14 Jan 2012 03:26 AM PST

Some hot music tech for iDevices already dropped at CES, but the product announcement concerto plays on. The next act? The iConnectMUSE digital audio mixer from iConnectivity, featuring six stereo in / outs, headphone out, two USB ports, a "hub-able" USB host, Ethernet / network sharing and MIDI pass-thru. Maker iConnectivity claims studio-grade analog-to-digital conversion will make it a snap to record professional sounding mixes on tour, back at the hotel or even at home. Your garage band can get mixing from Q2 and iConnectivity is asking $230 for the privilege. Hit the PR and curiously silent video over the jump for more details.



Show full PR text
Ultra-portable, compact digital audio mixer features six stereo inputs, six stereo outputs and stereo headphone output for ultimate audio control through iOS or computer software

LVCC North Hall – Booth #3922

Las Vegas, NV – January 12, 2012 – iConnectivity™, forward thinking developer of hardware accessories and applications for iPhone®, iPod touch® and iPad®, announce its latest creation, iConnectMUSE™ at CES 2012 in Las Vegas.

For musicians looking to control their unique mixes through iOS or computer software while maintaining exceptional sound quality, look no further than iConnectMUSE™– a palm-sized personal mini-mixer that combines several music accessories into one iOS controlled product, perfect for gigs at home or on the road.

The end result? Studio-quality analog audio converted to digital. With iConnectMUSE™, the user will experience higher quality audio processing, improved audio latency and the ability to share and mix audio through an iOS device, and even charge the iOS device at the same time.

Featuring six stereo inputs and six stereo outputs, each with its own unique mix, this ultra compact device may be small on size, but huge on functionality and features. If you're a student musician exploring your own personal composition technique, a professional musician composing in a hotel room or on tour, or the performing musician who needs consistency moving from gig to gig, iConnectMUSE™ is the all-in-one, portable solution.

Additional features include two USB device ports, hub-able USB Host Port, two input and two output ¼" audio port jacks, a headphone monitor jack, Ethernet connection for network sharing, a MIDI pass-thru interface and limited DSP processing.

"iConnecMUSE™ is the future of audio mixing," said Michael Loh, CEO of iConnectivity™. "Its portability, expandability and enhanced functionality through software integration provides the conduit for music creativity for all musicians."

iConnectMUSE™, available Q2 of 2012, will retail for $229.99* (MSRP).

The device will be on display at this year's International Consumer Electronics Show. To schedule a booth meeting (North Hall - #3922) or for more information on iConnectivity, please contact Jenny Coleman at jennycoleman@maxborgesagency.com or 305-374-4404 x124.


For More Information, please visit www.iConnectivity.com.

AcceleGlove teaches you sign language: we go hands-in (video)

Posted: 14 Jan 2012 02:20 AM PST

While we wouldn't say worthy devices at CES are rare, it's always welcome when we're dodging those middling tablets and iPhones cases scattered across Las Vega's premier tech event. Made by the Institute for Disabilities Research and Training (IDRT) and funded by the National Science Foundation, the AcceleGlove ties into a camera and PC software to act as an input device for American Sign Language. Currently, software extends to learning functionality, with a tutorial input program and more advanced translation software both on show this week. Accelerometers within the glove measuring finger movement, with the camera able to gauge distance and dynamic movement.

We strapped on the AcceleGlove and gave the fundamental program a go, training our hands to spell out the alphabet (with a fair bit of help from inventor Jose Hernandez-Rebollar. It's pretty pacey and certainly detects subtle changes that distinguish letters. The two-way gesture translator can apparently translate over 25,000 english words and phrases into ASL, with the ability to translate gestures into both text and speech.

Future aims for the device include translating commands to PC operating systems, tablets and TVs. More functional applications include integrating hand signal communication into military and medical first response units, when conditions make both visual and audio communication difficult. The current iteration of both the glove and software are available now from IDRT for $300. Hit up the source for more info, or check out our nascent signing skills in our hands-in after the break.

Zach Honig contributed to this report.

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Nook Tablet bootloader bypassed, Android 4.0 takes its first steps onto the platform

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 11:11 PM PST

No points for calling this one, but it looks like Android 4.0 is well on its way to the Nook Tablet -- in a decidedly unofficial manner, of course. Just a few days after the tablet's bootloader was bypassed, developer Brandon Bennet (aka Nemith) has now apparently managed to get an early version of the Android 4.0-based CyanogenMod 9 up and running on the device, although you'll still have to wait a bit longer for something that's actually useable. What's more, some other developers have also managed to get the tablet to boot from a microSD card, and there's been some progress with Ubuntu on the tablet as well. Hit the links below for all the details and the latest from the xda-developers forum.

Matias Tactile One, SlimOne hands-on (video)

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 07:58 PM PST

We already covered the announcement of the new Matias tactile-keyboards but couldn't resist descending into the show floor in order to get a quick hands-on with the Canadian-made kit. The USB-powered boards contain a Bluetooth module and a physical button (with a blue LED) that you can switch between typing on your desktop and wirelessly to your device. The "Island-Style" SlimOne replicates the look and feel of the current Apple island-keyboard, but with scissor keys, which pleasantly resist your fingers. The '90s style Tactile One forces your hands to readjust back two-decades, but the mechanical board was a joy to use, with no lag between typing and it appearing on a compatible phone. After the break we've got a short video where we learn that retro keyboards can send people into such a frenzy that they forget to type the word "movie" correctly.
Matias Tactile One hands-on
Matias Tactile One Hands-On

Sean Buckley contributed to this report.


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Engadget HD Podcast 282: CES 2012 - 01.13.2012

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 06:08 PM PST

As CES comes to a close, we've got the second and final Engadget HD Podcast of the show ready for your listening (and viewing) pleasure. The guys of Ceton Corp were good enough to stop by, and they brought their slick six tuner Windows Media Center Embedded DVR and extender boxes with them. After that, we moved on to the rest of the things we've seen here in Las Vegas, including the latest from TiVo, the new LG and Vizio Google TV hardware, Ultraviolet, gesture control and even the fight that broke out on the CES show floor (in the ring, it was a promo for ESPN 3D).

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[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@rjcc)
Guests: Jeremy Hammer (CTO, Ceton @JeremyHammer), James Montemagno (@JamesMontemagno), Michael Walter (@Mikinho)
Producer: Trent Wolbe

00:00:50 - Ceton previews multi-room DVR and Echo extender (hands-on)
00:27:10 - Boxee Box Live TV dongle hands-on (video)
00:28:50 - Updated TiVo Netflix, YouTube interfaces and iPad streaming hands-on
00:33:00 - Samsung's Smart TV and Blu-ray players will be first to get FiOS TV App
00:33:30 - Samsung shows off integrated TV streaming apps and DirecTV RVU... again
00:34:00 - Verizon FiOS TV app to deliver VOD and live HD to LG TVs
00:36:20 - Panasonic HDTVs show off Time Warner Cable IPTV app with live streaming channels, DVR access
00:39:10 - The Engadget Interview: Google TV Product Manager Rishi Chandra at CES 2012 (video)
00:39:36 - LG Google TV and Magic Remote Qwerty hands-on
00:40:50 - Vizio ultrawidescreen, Google TV and Cinema 3D HDTV hands-on
00:44:00 - Samsung Smart Interaction gesture controlled HDTV demo (video)
00:46:25 - Amazon, Rovi, Flixster and Samsung highlight UltraViolet's CES press event
00:46:50 - Samsung outs compact BD-ES6000 Blu-ray player, less compact ES6500, get down with UltraViolet
00:47:30 - Panasonic unveils Infinite Black Ultra Panel plasmas for 2012 (eyes-on)
00:50:50 - LCD vs Plasma
00:51:30 - Sharp 8K Super Hi-Vision LCD, 4K TV and Freestyle wireless LCD HDTV hands-on
00:53:50 - Behind the scenes with live ESPN 3D boxing at CES 2012

Hear the podcast

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Sony shows off 13-inch VAIO Ultrabook behind glass, we go eyes-on

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 05:40 PM PST

There seems little doubt that CES 2012 will go down as the year of the Ultrabook, and like clockwork, Sony's getting in on the action, as evidenced by that 13-inch laptop on display behind a plate of glass. Granted, it's not quite as sexy as the further-off hybrid devices we saw the other day -- or even, say the Acer Aspire S5 and HP Envy Spectre, but Sony certainly knows how to design a handsome laptop. And, heck, there's no telling how much the final version will look when it's released later this year -- Sony's not really letting up a lot of information at the moment.

As you can see for yourselves, that notebook has a silver color, but even then, Sony tells us that might change before it actually hits the market. The cover has a brushed aluminum texture, with a shiny stylized VAIO logo stamped in the center. When closed, it's not the thinnest Ultrabook, from what we can tell. It also has a glossy 13-inch display and Sony's signature chicklet keyboard. Above the keyboard, you've got a row of small physical buttons, denoting power on / off, VAIO, Web and Assist -- familiar functions, all. In front of the keyboard is a seamless clickpad, with another VAIO logo sitting to the left.

Along the left side of the unnamed Ultrabook, you'll find an Ethernet jack, VGA and HDMI output, a memory card slot and a headphone jack. On the other side, sits the power port, a fan and two USB ports. Sadly, we were unable to actually touch the thing, this being an early build, but you can be sure we'll keep you posted on finer points like pricing, availability and specs as we learn them.
Sony Ultrabook prototype hands-on at CES 2012

A Red Scarlet-X 4K tour around CES 2012 (video)

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 05:26 PM PST

For the third CES in a row, our old friend Ted Schilowitz has stopped by to let us drool over Red's latest high-end cameras. And boy, this is one helluva camera we have this time. You may recall that last year we were shown a working Scarlet prototype with 3K video resolution and a fixed lens; but fast forward to 2012 and we have the Scarlet-X, a sturdy 4K beast that not only supports interchangeable lens, but it's also actually out on the market. Obviously, the $9,700 base price (excluding the Canon EF lens mount; Nikon and Leica mounts coming soon) is aimed at film studios instead of us regular Joes, but Ted was kind enough to spend a whole afternoon showing us all the goodness on the Scarlet-X -- we even got to play with it on the CES show floor, and unsurprisingly, this Red kit became quite the celebrity. Read on to find out how we got on with it.
RED Scarlet-X 4K camera hands-on

Our interview with Red's Ted Schilowitz at CES 2012.

This isn't our first encounter with the Scarlet-X. Back in early November, our very own Michael Gorman got to touch this rig for the very first time, and while praising the aluminum alloy body's sturdiness he also pointed out that at 5 pounds heavy, the camera's main body alone isn't quite as arm-friendly as, say, a standard DSLR. That said, those in the film industry will give you a contrasting feedback, as the Scarlet-X's portability is far superior to many other cinematography cameras, not to mention that this is also a 4K RAW camera we're talking about.

Externally, the Scarlet-X looks and weighs very much like one of the 48 Epics that's being used in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit, and even the sensor is the same 14-megapixel Mysterium-X designed by Red; but obviously with its much higher price tag (starting from $38,000 with a titanium PL mount), the Epic packs a few more advanced features such as high-speed 5K and 4K video. Still, we've been told that several film makers have already picked up the cheaper Scarlet-X, which will no doubt be a boost for the 4K line of blockbusters -- Ted said one such movie is already being produced in Vietnam. For those interested, Red's website also has a list of movies that were shot with its cameras.


If you've never used a cinematography camera and feel that you'd be intimidated by Red's aggressive looking camera, don't be, because even we managed to master the basics of the Scarlet-X within a matter of minutes. The particular setup we had for our crash course consisted of the Scarlet-X's brain, a Red Pro dual-hinge 5-inch LCD touchscreen, a DSMC SSD side module, a DSMC side handle (which houses a 30-minute battery) and a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens -- not the most advanced lens but it did the job just fine. Booting up took about 12 seconds after hitting the red power button, at which point the monitor displayed a live picture along with a range of image options at the top menu bar: frame rate, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, temperature, resolution (5K, 4K, 4K HD, 3K and 2K) and recording quality.

Most of these settings simply require a tap to toggle, and then a swipe or tap for the desired option on the menu, very straightforward. There's also a handy histogram at the bottom left for checking exposure. To focus the lens, you can either hold the shutter button half-way down or tap on the LCD; or you can switch to manual focus entirely in the secondary menu, though this is only a good idea if you've got the biceps you're on a tripod or a monopod. Speaking of which, in addition to continuous track focus and touch track focus, Ted made sure we're aware of the Scarlet-X's support for rack focus (where you can have two preset focal points on the touchscreen). Again, these are all accessible through the secondary menu under "Focus" (which is right next to "HDR").


Once you're good to go, hit any of the big red buttons to start recording -- a typical rig like ours would have three recording buttons for the sake of grip orientation: one on the SSD module, one on the side handle and one on the brain. To switch to playback mode, hit the play button at the top left of the screen and you'll be able to access the recorded clips; and because they're RAW files, you can conveniently adjust the ISO and temperature during playback for a quick preview. If you need to skip to a certain point on the timeline, you can simply swipe across the screen for video scrubbing.

With our training done, Ted thought it'd be a good laugh to shoot some 4K footage of the 4K TVs on the show floor, but also for him to show us how well the Scarlet-X can handle the low-light conditions. To our surprise, our Scarlet-Xs received more attention than we anticipated as we squeezed our way through the crowd. One tired cameraman sat on the floor actually made a "come hither" finger gesture at us as soon as he spotted our toys; but it's entirely possible that he wanted something else. Maybe our monopod.

Having seen the huge amount of 4K footage that Ted recognised as the work of Red cameras (that's a pair of eagle eyes right there), it's obvious that studios are keen to acquire movie, TV shows and even music videos at the highest resolution possbile; but when will 4K become the new 1080p in our every day life? Ted gave us a pretty candid answer:

"I think trying to predict in years is a little tricky, but if you mark CES in the last few years of people demonstrating and talking about it, and no one really knowing where it was going, I think this is the year where 4K is really establishing itself. This is not the next thing that will come some day; this is the next thing, and it's going to happen. Next year you're probably going to see product orientations, product pricing and delivery dates, and it will move out of the 'I wonder if' to the 'absolutely going to happen'."

When asked about whether Red will ever return to the prosumer space as it had originally intended to with the Scarlet, Ted reminded us that the company's still working on its 4K 3D laser projector (with working prototypes behind the scene already) and Red Ray media format that'll bring 4K to the consumers. The former technology is also scalable all the way up to the exhibition cinema environment, so this way Red has both the front end and the back end covered. Of course, it doesn't stop there: while stood next to Sharp's 85-inch 8K TV, Ted mentioned that Red's already publicly talked about a 9K sensor and a 28K sensor being potential replacements for Red's current 4K Mysterium-X chip, though he wouldn't go into detail about an upcoming Red Dragon sensor. Whatever this piece of silicon may become, let's just hope that it won't have to endure a roller coaster ride like the Scarlet did.

It'll probably be another year before we get to spend more quality time with a Red camera, so naturally, we held onto the Scarlet-X for as long as possible until Ted ripped it off our hands. If you want a peek of some clean CES show floor clips from the 4K camera, stay tuned for our full tour segment with Red at the Engadget Show next week.

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Wrap-up: Engadget editors sound off on CES 2012

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 05:00 PM PST

If you've spent any time on this site since Monday, then you know that we've just reached the end of another very successful Consumer Electronics Show, and are packing up to head home (and rest up) until we get ready to return in 2013. As always, there were plenty on gadgets on hand -- far more than even our enormous Engadget team could capture during four long days on the show floor -- so we've opened up the floor to the entire CES crew. Tim Stevens and Darren Murph chime in just below, but jump past the break to hear from the rest of us.

Tim Stevens, Editor-in-chief
If this paragraph makes any sense it will be a remarkable thing. It
was another insane week in Vegas yet this one felt a little smoother
than years previous. I hope you enjoyed our coverage as much as I'll enjoy my next nap. Oh, and I'll never forget those 55-inch OLEDs. Never.
Darren Murph, Managing Editor
My fifth CES. That's kind of nutty. I'll just say that this CES has proven that the industry is surging, and the hidden gamechangers will surface again in the coming months. Compared to CeBIT 2009 -- which felt hopelessly throttled by the economy -- CES 2012 just felt alive.
Joshua Fruhlinger, Editorial Director
This was my 913th CES (really it was my 6th). As Engadget's Editorial Director, I didn't get to write a single story -- I left that to the experts. That said, I spent enough time on the show floor to know that Audi's tanning booth of car tech was the greatest thing in North Hall, Central Hall, and South Hall. Engadget's live studio gets the honors in the Grand Lobby, of course. Anyway, give me an A5 with Audi Connect now. NOW. WANT.
Dana Wollman, Reviews Editor
Who knew 2012 would be the year of the odd form factor? Between the ThinkPad Yoga, a vertical iPad dock and Toshiba's 13- and 5.5-inch tablet prototypes, we saw a handful of experiments that ran the gamut from brilliant to feckless. Equally shocking: other than some striking laptops from Samsung, HP, Acer, Lenovo and Dell, most of the 75-plus Ultrabooks said to be arriving this year didn't make an appearance. Until they do, funky gadgets it is.
Brian Heater, Senior Associate Editor
This was CES-S -- a few minor tweaks. It's hard to pick out one hugely groundbreaking release that we've seen over the past week seems that most of the major players were content to fill in some perceived holes -- phones got bigger, tablets got smaller.
Zach Honig, Senior Associate Editor
CES #3, and the vast majority of products I saw seemed far more evolutionary than revolutionary. Services are what really stood out, with ViaSat Exede bringing broadband to the rural masses (JetBlue will soon follow), and PowerMat announcing plans to install cordless charging in public areas across the country, beginning with Madison Square Garden later this year. I'm also fairly ecstatic about the Galaxy Note coming to AT&T LTE.
Chris Trout, Senior Associate Editor
I've spent plenty of sleepless nights in a doublewide in the Nevada desert, but until now, I'd never been paid for it. Truth be told, I hardly ever left the Engadget trailer. Our team of designers and I churned out two issues of Distro and saw just about everything second hand. If I had to choose a standout, I'd say it was the lasagna on day four -- oh, and those 55-inch OLEDs were pretty slick too.
Richard Lai, Senior Associate Editor
It's my fourth CES and this year manufacturers are still keen to show off tablets -- even OLPC has finally released its very own slate based on its Sugar environment, so it'll be interesting to see what benefits the new form factor will bring to children. As for TVs, our tour with Red's Ted Schilowitz shows how 4K is already the turning point in the industry for both professionals and consumers.
Michael Gorman, Senior Associate Editor
CES 2012 was an epic and mind-altering experience -- mostly due to lack of sleep, but also because of some fantastic gear. The show floor highlights for me were Samsung's Smart Interaction HDTVs and delectable 55-inch OLED, oh and that 8K jaw-dropper was pretty damn good too. But my favorite gadget from the show? Three words: Board of Awesomeness.
Amar Toor, Senior Associate Editor
This was the first time I've ever been to CES, and I feel like a better person because of it -- not really because of anything I saw, but because I survived. Sure, there were plenty of cool things to gawk at and fondle, but the real winner here was the Human Body. Seriously. We're a tough lot.
Myriam Joire, Senior Mobile Editor
AT&T and its partners truly stole the show this year with a mesmerizing array of LTE-enabled phones including the Samsung Galaxy Note LTE, the HTC Titan II (16 glorious megapixels), the Nokia Lumia 900 and my favorite handset of CES, the Sony Xperia Ion. Beyond Mobile I was impressed with Sharp's stunning 8K display, Samsung and LG's 55-inch OLED TVs, plus Samsung's Series 9 and Acer's S5 ultrabooks.
Richard Lawler, Senior HD Editor
It's not often we see new HDTV display types that are production ready at CES, and this year we got two. Samsung and LG's OLED warfare will be a major story, while 4K resolution is finally a thing (just in time for 8K). For more modest budgets, DLNA-based media sharing technology is everywhere and finally moving content easily from where it resides to your TV.
Joe Pollicino, Associate Editor
I've survived my first CES! As an audio/gadget junkie, I'm stoked for Parrot's Zik Bluetooth headphones and its plethora of sensors, from NFC to touch controls -- here's to hoping they sound good. On the mobile front, Nokia's Lumia 900 has put a sparkle in eye -- I can't wait for its cyan colored LTE-goodness to hit shelves, and my pocket. In closing, I'd like to officially confirm that I wear the tightest skinny jeans in tech, and that apple juice in Las Vegas tastes like bananas.
Sean Buckley, Associate Editor
Between Asus kicking Transformer Prime buyers (like me) in the shins with the TF700T and Razer's bold bid to break new ground in gaming slabs with Project Fiona, CES 2012 left me with tablets on the mind. Slates aside? I'm tickled to see Gaikai lending its video game streaming chops to a consumer facing service. OnLive could use the competition.
Joseph Volpe, Associate Editor
Did CES 2012's handsets impress? Not so much. With the big guns behind glass (see: Fujitsu's Tegra 3 Arrows), we were left to savor a scattering of firsts, like LTE on Windows Phones and the all Sony, all sexy Xperia S. We've also got our eyes trained on Huwaei, with its use of stock ICS on the Ascend line -- a trend we hope catches on.
Terrence O'Brien, Associate Editor
There wasn't a ton of stuff on the floor that revolutionary -- in fact, most of it was just a rehash of the same tech we've been seeing at CES for the last two years. Thankfully, ioSafe managed to make its slightly modified rugged hard drive a bit more exciting with a (literally) shocking demo. Sure, rolling out a giant Tesla coil and a dude in a wearable Faraday cage is a bit of cheap shot, but they certainly provided the best show of the year.
Sean Cooper, Associate Mobile Editor
CES has always wore us all out, but in a joyous way. We played with Aurasma's Virtual Browser and were wowed about what we could see eventually replacing QR codes. Also notable was the Lumus see-through wearable display which, while far from market, also gave us a glimpse of what could trickle into all kinds of tech. CES is all about current consumer technology, but the little flashes of what's next are what make it such an amazing experience.
Zachary Lutz, Associate Mobile Editor
This was my first time attending CES and it's been an absolute mind trip. We've experienced packed conference halls, late nights and plenty of laughs along the way. It was previously a life goal of mine to attend this oasis for geeks in the desert, and while 'hell week' isn't quite yet over, I'm already looking forward to next year. What am I most excited about? In one word: MirrorLink.
Brad Molen, Associate Mobile Editor
There weren't a lot of surprises in the mobile world at this year's CES, but I did see a lot of great stuff: AT&T building out its LTE lineup, Sony bringing some beautiful top-notch Xperia devices, Windows Phones with LTE, plenty of 720p displays and tons of new innovations in NFC that go beyond mobile payments. Aside from mobile, three words -- Sharp 8K TV.
Ben Drawbaugh, Associate HD Editor
As always my 7th CES was a blast, but the year typically follows with the disappointed as all the amazing things never find a way to market. The amazing thing that won't make it this year is the new Sony CrystalLED TV. My favorite things that should make it to market were, a dream DVR that provides a seemingly limitless DVR experience while at the same time great streaming by Ceton. And finally about every cable TV/sat provider in the US finally has plans for a multi-room DVR.
Kevin Wong, Contributing Editor
This is my fourth CES, and even though I arrived to this one a bit late, the whole production never ceases to amaze me. What still mesmerizes me is all of the movement going on: the movement of people, the media, the companies, and most of all, the products. Products always come and go, but the lights of Vegas make things seem newer and brighter every year.
Dante Cesa, Contributing Editor
Despite being the place where radio connectivity goes to die, this year's show had a heavy mobile focus, despite MWC looming. Of the three blockbusters, I'm most excited for the Lumia 900, despite it fundamentally bringing nothing new to the table. Other highlights were a LAN-making WiFi SD card from Toshiba and a gesture banking card NFC concept from NXP.
Billy Steele, Contributing Editor
Despite all the info my colleagues passed along to prep me for the madness, I still had no idea what I as getting myself into at CES. The standout for me was the Intel Nikiski Prototype. Being able to interact with a closed laptop... er, ultrabook via a palm rest touchscreen is impressive. Speaking of ultrabooks, I'm not ready to jump on the bandwagon, but the Acer Aspire S5 is one sexy kit. Razor thin and all black everything? Yeah, that's a winner.
Mat Smith, Contributing Editor
It's pretty hard for me to pluck anything stand-out from this year's CES. Bigger, jazzier TVs appear annually, and while last year's show heralded the arrival of the tablet -- and there were plenty of new permutations here -- there's nothing that's similarly pervaded the whole show floor this year. Perhaps the Vita is new tech for a lot of other people, but to me, that's a 2011 release. CES 2013, bring it.
Daniel Cooper, Contributing Editor
Every company's launching a cloud: even if there's no merit in that idea whatsoever. Oh, and regarding "booth babes:" scantily clad women trying to tease the über-geeks at CES: if your product needs a semi-nude woman to sell it to nerds, you don't have faith in your product.
Edgar Alvarez, Contributing Editor
This is my first year experiencing the CES madness. I'm walking away with the burned memory of a plethora of Ice Cream Sandwich-coated tablets and the trend of a new generation of skinny TVs. There was also a grand amount of crapgadgets, some of which we shared with you, and the others just sort of banished amidst all the chaos. Aside from the shortness of sleep and long workdays -- it was a blast. Would I do it again? Without hesitation.
Andy Bowen, Contributing Editor
This was my first CES experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My first prize goes to the Xperia Ion; the phone of phones. Between Microsoft's last keynote and the Bieber action, CES 2012 proved to be an exhilarating even.!
Andy Yang, Senior Chinese Editor
We saw Ultrabooks expanding toward 14- and 15-inch screen sizes, but new models aren't really in abundance. Even the ones announced mostly have a Q2 availability, awaiting an unspecified "Next Generation" Intel CPU -- apparently Ivy Bridge ULV parts. We will likely have to wait until Computex to see the full extent of Ultrabook product lines and their capabilities, but there's no doubt that 2012 is well on its way to be remembered as the year of the Ultrabooks.
Jose Andrade, Lead Editor, Spanish
This is my fifth CES leading the Spanish team, and as always, I'm still amazed by the rivers of people, the impressive amounts of gadgets and the wonderful city of Las Vegas. I had the opportunity to write my customary one CES post for Engadget Classic at the Show (I'm a networking geek).
Alberto Ballestin, Lead Editor, Spanish
Are we closing the blinds already? If not because of the pain I feel on my fingers, I wouldn't even believe it. 2012's CES has been bland and sad, a Show from which we were hoping for everything and at the end we were left with a handful of products to remember. It's not a lost CES, but not one were companies took advantage of the situation.
Carlos Martinez, Senior Editor, Spanish
This is my third CES and sadly I must admit I'm heading back home with certain bad taste in my mouth. The manufacturers simply didn't risk enough, and in broad terms, they all share the stage with similar products. However, I'm lucky to work with such an incredible group of people who help transform this week on the best way to start the New Year. See you next year Las Vegas!
Alexandra Guerrero ("Drita"), Special Content Editor, Spanish
This is my third year at CES and I must say this has been the most "decaffeinated" one of all. I usually pick a favorite gadget by mid-week, but today is the last day of this ultrabookCES CES 2012, and I can't yet choose a favorite device. So ... I will select the plasticky SpareOne as the most interesting product I've played with at the Show and hope for a more exciting CES 2013.

Engadget Mobile Podcast 121: CES 2012 - 01.12.2012

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 04:40 PM PST


This was the QVC edition of the Engadget Mobile Podcast, featuring full-on hand modeling by Brad and some really nice close-ups of the new halo devices of CES 2012. A forklift also abducted Myriam. You won't see that in the audio-only podcast, so use your best fan fiction imagination this time or shoot the video to your media streaming device of choice. All that, plus the triumphant return of the newly Fu Manchu'd Sean Cooper. Zing! Video after the break.

Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen
Guest: Sean Cooper
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Telephone

00:06:00 - AT&T Pantech Element hands-on at CES 2012 (video)
00:06:10 - AT&T Pantech Burst hands-on at CES 2012 (video)
00:07:17 - Huawei Ascend P1 S and P1 hands-on (updated: video)
00:11:55 - Motorola RAZR MAXX
00:12:05 - Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with Motorola's Melissa Gardner
00:12:15 - The Engadget Interview: Nokia CEO Stephen Elop at CES 2012 (video)
00:13:30 - Verizon launches BlackBerry Curve 9370
00:13:45 - BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 hands-on (video)
00:14:05 - Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with RIM (update: video embedded)
00:14:55 - Lenovo K800 Intel Medfield smartphone hands-on (video)
00:16:15 - AT&T Galaxy Note with LTE hands-on at CES 2012 (video)
00:27:35 - Sprint Samsung Galaxy Nexus with LTE hands-on (video)
00:31:20 - Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD coming to AT&T: 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, LTE, 'razor-thin'
00:33:25 - T-Mobile announces the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G, available 'later this year'
00:35:05 - Huawei MediaPad to get Ice Cream Sandwich this quarter, new colors announced
00:35:45 - Hands-on with LG Viper, an LTE smartphone coming to Sprint
00:35:55 - HTC Titan II coming to AT&T, finally delivers LTE to Mango lovers
00:42:55 - Verizon says (almost) 'all' future phones and tablets will be LTE
00:43:55 - Sony Xperia ion coming to AT&T in Q2: offers 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 720p Reality display and dual HD cameras
01:01:35 - The Engadget Interview: Nokia CEO Stephen Elop at CES 2012 (video)
01:02:40 - Polaroid SC1630 Android HD smart camera hands-on, is it a cameraphone or a phonecamera?
01:05:45 - Aurasma Virtual Browser and virtual world hands-on
01:07:45 - Update to Google Maps improves battery life, public transit options and more
01:10:20 - Nokia's CES 2012 keynote now online: watch Elop emote and Ballmer bombast
01:10:35 - Live from AT&T's 2012 Developer Summit keynote!
01:12:45 - Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with NXP's Jeff Miles (update: video embedded)
01:12:55 - NXP gesture smart card adds another layer of security to NFC data, we go hands-on (video)
01:16:00 - Tobii's Gaze interface lets you use your eyes to move a cursor, perform gestures in Windows 8 (video)
01:18:55 - T Mobile CTO: next iPhone chipset 'will support AWS'
01:21:05 - Motorola and Intel hold hands for multi-year, multi-device partnership, shipments start 2H 2012
01:25:19 - Hands-on with Verizon Novatel MiFi 4620L Jetpack (video)
01:29:15 - Nokia confirms Canadian plans: Lumia 800 exclusive to Telus, Lumia 710 exclusive to Rogers
01:45:00 - Nokia confirms Lumia 900 doesn't have Pentile display


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Toshiba Portege M930 prototype hands-on (video)

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 04:20 PM PST

And the hybrid devices keep on coming. Sitting high on a shelf in Microsoft's booth, hidden among the earthly clamshell laptops, is the Toshiba Portege M930, a prototype whose 13-inch screen slides down to completely cover the keyboard. All told, it's awfully reminiscent of the ASUS Eee Pad Slider -- complete with a propped-up display and squat keyboard. The keyboard is so narrow, in fact, that Toshiba had to forgo a traditional trackpad and instead put a touch sensor and buttons over on the right edge. Though it's a bit heavy for an Ultrabook, at 4.2 pounds, it has some Ultrabook-grade innards, including a Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, Intel HD 3000 graphics and a 256GB solid-state drive. Take a tour around the device and you'll also find the usual array of ports: dual USB 2.0 sockets, HDMI, an Ethernet jack, an SD reader and separate headphone and mic ports.

Even when we previewed the Slider we weren't keen on sacrificing that much deck space in the name of bold industrial design and here, too, the keys feel unnecessarily crowded. The good news is that the hinge mechanism feels smooth and controlled -- not too tight, but rigid enough to inspire confidence in its build quality. That 13.3-inch screen also looks bright enough, though we imagine that 1280 x 800 resolution will be a turn-off for more than a few of you. Unfortunately, the M930 is so early its development that the touchscreen wasn't even working, though it responds just fine to the pen, which stows in the back of the laptop. No word on pricing or availability (Toshiba isn't even showing it at its booth), but even if this thing never materializes we've got some hands-on photos and video below.

Mat Smith contributed to this report
Toshiba Portege M930 prototype hands-on

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Tesla loses two Model S executives, Elon Musk says it's no big deal

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 03:55 PM PST

A pair of bigwigs over at electric vehicle maker Tesla have drawn their final checks, with Peter Rawlinson and Nick Sampson calling it quits. The former was the automaker's vice president and chief engineer, while the latter "supervising vehicle and chassis engineering." Ricardo Reyes, a company spokesman, emailed the following: "Having completed conceptual and design engineering work on Model S, Peter has decided to step away to tend to personal matters in the U.K." The Model S, if you'll recall, is the un-launched four-door sedan that has heaps riding on its success, so it's no big shock to hear that the outfit's stock plunged around 20 percent following Bloomberg's report. Elon Musk, Tesla's chief executive officer and biggest shareholder, stated that "the uncertainty around [the] Model S is now much diminished, as anyone who has seen the beta vehicles and toured the factory will appreciate; there is no question in my mind that we will start delivering vehicles in July, if not sooner." Musk took to Twitter to assure people that the shock reverberating from the news was "way overstated," insinuating that the company's still well in control of its destiny. Whatever the case, we'd still take a couple of those S sedans in our garage, regardless of who's heading up their deployment.

Behind the scenes at CES 2012: getting to a hands-on (video)

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 03:37 PM PST

Getting to and from an announcement, meeting, or keynote is one of the things we find ourselves doing countless times a day. To truly appreciate just how far we sometimes have to trek to get to the things we're covering at CES is hard to understand unless you've done it. Crowds that delay because they're ambling along, booths that are hard to find, and the time you burn getting to and fro is always at the back of our minds. We thought it a good idea to put together a little tour of how we find and then travel to a booth at CES. Enjoy the video after the break.

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The Engadget Video Partycast is live from CES at 08:00PM ET!

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 03:30 PM PST

Boom! Was that a party or what? Another CES is drawing to a close, and it's time for a good, old fashioned Engadget Partycast. Tim and Brian will be joined by, well, just about everyone, to discuss the highlights, lowlights and sidelights from this year's techaganza.


*** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here.

Distro's CES Special Edition Part II is ready for download

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 03:17 PM PST

The tips of our fingers are numb from typing, we're seeing 55-inch OLEDs in our sleep (when we can get it) and we haven't eaten a green vegetable in over a week, all in the interest of bringing you the biggest news from the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. If you haven't been glued here since Sunday afternoon, we've put a Distro-flavored bow on our coverage for you. Following up on our first CES special edition, issue 23 collects the biggest breakouts from days four and five, and pulls together a collection of our favorite photos of the robots, autos and crapgadgets we peeped on the floor. Also in this issue, Box Brown brings you a cautionary comic, Ross Rubin talks app stores and Don Melanson recaps the week's best writing from around the web. We're going to submerge ourselves in an isolation tank now, but we'd recommend you download this very special edition, published live from a parking lot at the LVCC.

Distro Issue 23 PDF
Distro on the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Android Market
Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter

Update: And... we're back up and running after some technical difficulties. Enjoy!

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Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with MakerBot

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 03:00 PM PST

MakerBot has sparked a mini industrial revolution, giving us the DIY tools to fabricate our dreams. MakerBot founder Bre Pettis joins us live at 7:30PM ET.

*** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here.

Haier Brain Wave TV mind-on

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 02:41 PM PST

We'd all love to be able to control stuff with our minds and seeing as Haier's 58-inch Brain Wave TV was at CES we had to try. To use the mind control, you have to snap a controller on your head which attaches to your earlobe and with a small metal pad on your forehead. Unfortunately, we couldn't interface with the set to change channels and adjust volume and such but there was a game where you try to fly a bird through a maze. How'd we do? Well, we made the bird float up and down but that's about all. So, for those of you with dreams of never again having to relinquish the remote control because you're wearing it, keep dreaming. Video and pics below the break.
Haier Brain Wave TV mind-on



Sean Buckley and Mat Smith contributed to this post

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Hands-on with new NPR and SYNC Destinations via AppLink

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 02:38 PM PST

Sadly Ford wouldn't let us rest our rumps in the sexy Evos concept, but we did get a chance to shout some commands at its updated SYNC system and play with a few of the new apps. A rep was kind enough to give us a quick demo of the updated SYNC Destinations app, as well as the newly compatible NPR and IHeartRadio apps for the iPhone. Then we were allowed to climb in the driver's seat of the mid-life crisis red 2013 Mustang GT. Last time we played with AppLink it was on a simple, monochrome screen, had just three apps available and things didn't go smoothly. In the year since, the lineup has grown significantly and now it's on a big, color touchscreen. But, more importantly, it worked pretty much flawlessly (only stumbling briefly over the word "Nevada"). In particular we really enjoyed the ability to pull up any NPR station we wanted -- we were getting a little home sick for WNYC. Head after the break to see it in action.
Ford Sync AppLink hands-on CES 2012

Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with CEA's Gary Shapiro (update: video embedded)

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 02:15 PM PST

CEA's Gary Shapiro takes time out of his busy schedule to talk about all this CES business that we've geeking out on all week. Join us live at 6:45PM ET.

Update: Interview video now embedded.

ITC preliminary ruling says Motorola's Droid series doesn't violate Apple patents

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 02:03 PM PST

As myriad legal tussles roll on between smartphone manufacturers, Apple's suffered a knock-back by the International Trade Commission. Apple first lodged its complaint against Moto in October 2010, accusing its Droid family of violating the patents found in its own phones. This was countered by a volley of patent violation complaints from Motorola. Granted, this is still a preliminary ruling, but looks like Motorola may have won this round of legal drudgery.

Update: We've added Motorola's comments on the preliminary ruling below.
Show full PR text
Motorola Mobility Comments on Initial Determination from ITC

ALJ determines that Motorola Mobility does not violate Apple's patents
Jan. 13, 2012

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Jan. 13, 2012 – Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) ("Motorola Mobility") today announced that it has received notice that the Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") in the U.S. International Trade Commission ("ITC") action brought by Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) against Motorola Mobility has issued an initial determination. The ALJ ruled in favor of Motorola Mobility, finding no violation for any of the three Apple patents listed in Apple's suit.

"We are pleased with today's favorable outcome for Motorola Mobility," said Scott Offer, senior vice president and general counsel of Motorola Mobility. "Motorola Mobility has worked hard over the years to develop technology and build an industry-leading intellectual property portfolio. We are proud to leverage this broad and deep portfolio to create differentiated innovations that enhance the user experience."

Business Risks

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the impact of this litigation and future actions with respect to this litigation. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the successful defense of the claims by Microsoft and protection of the company's intellectual property; the timing of the matters before the ITC; the company's continued ability to sell its mobile device products; and the other risks and uncertainties contained and identified in Motorola Mobility's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof Motorola Mobility does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances or update the reasons that actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Ultrabook or tablet? Compal shows off hybrid reference design (video)

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 02:02 PM PST

We knew CES would bring a slew of Ultrabooks, but who could have predicted 2012 would be the year of the franken-gadget? So far this week, we've seen Lenovo's IdeaPad Yoga, two hybrids from Gigabyte and a pair of 13- and 5.5-inch tablet prototypes from Toshiba. And that's saying nothing of Intel's Nikiski prototype and its promise of accelerometer-based gaming on Ultrabooks. With that as our backdrop, we have the Compal QAV20, a reference design sitting in Intel's booth, alongside all the plain, months-old laptops we've already reviewed. From afar, it looks like the Samsung Series 7 Slate, but up close you'll see it has a larger, 13.3-inch, 1366 x 768 display, along with a keyboard dock. On the inside, meanwhile, it packs a Core i5 ULV CPU -- the same guts you'll find inside other Ultrabooks.

In our brief hands-on, we were stunned by how light the fiber glass device feels -- certainly, it's much less dense than the similarly sized Yoga. The dock itself is home to various ports, including Ethernet, dual USB 2.0 sockets, HDMI and a headphone jack. And though it's no Transformer Prime dock, it's still light enough that you shouldn't have problem stuffing it in your bag. No word on what, if any, OEMs will re-badge this, but no matter -- we've gotten video and photos for you to peruse even if this thing never makes it to market. And no, we didn't film this in the Batcave; Intel just loves it some blue mood lighting.
Compal QAV20 hybrid reference design hands-on

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Video game sales drop 21 percent in US as kids remember there's an outdoors

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 02:02 PM PST

Video game salesNormally the holidays are good to video game sales. This year, though, not so much. According to NPD game sales in December were down 21 percent over the same time last year, to just $3.99 billion. Hardware sales took an even larger nosedive, plummeting 28 percent, and accessories dropped 27 points. For the full year, video game sales were down 8 percent compared with 2010, and even digital sales suffered. Downloadable content, in app purchases, subscriptions and other non-physical media gaming sales totaled between $16.3 and $16.6 billion -- down 2 percent from last year. And, in case you're interested, the best selling game of the year was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 -- shocker!

[Knife smeared with blood and young man yelling via Shutterstock]

CES 2012 sets all-time records for attendance, exhibitors and claimed floor space

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 01:36 PM PST

CES 2013 has already been scheduled (it's January 8 - 11, for those curious), and it'll have new records to break once things get going again. A source close to the CEA informed us today that CES 2012 has broken a trifecta of records already, and the final tallies aren't even in yet. For starters, more people attended CES this year than ever before. That's people who actually showed up and claimed a badge -- not just those who registered and flaked -- with the final figure already confirmed to be upward of 153,000. That trumps the 152,203 that arrived in Las Vegas back in 2006, as well as the 149,529 that hit the ground here last year.

Furthermore, a record amount of exhibition space was claimed, with 1.86 million net square feet used this year; the prior record was set in 2008 when 1.857 million net square feet were claimed. Finally, a new record was set when looking at the total number of exhibitors, with over 3,100 outfits checking in this go 'round. The prior record? 3,072, which was set in 2008. There's no question that CES felt busier than ever for us this year, and now we've got the numbers to prove our suspicions -- naturally, we're already mentally gearing up for CES 2013. We'll be here, and hopefully so will you.

Update: The official PR is out! It's embedded after the break.

P.S. - You can relive our CES 2012 coverage right here in our hub!
Show full PR text
2012 International CES Sets Show Record at 1.86 Million Net Square Feet of Exhibit Space
Keynotes from Ericsson, Ford, Verizon, Xerox, eBay, YouTube, Facebook Are Mid-Week
Highlights of 2012 International CES

LAS VEGAS, Jan 12, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- --CEA's Shapiro Discusses Policy with FCC Chairman Genachowski and the Global Retail Climate with Best Buy's Brian Dunn

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) (R) announced today that the 2012 International CES(R) is the largest in the show's 44 year history, with 1.861 million net square feet of exhibit space. The previous record was 1.857 million net square feet of space at the 2008 International CES. Owned and produced by CEA, the 2012 International CES, the world's largest tradeshow for consumer technology, runs through Friday, January 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In other show news, a keynote address by Ericsson's Hans Vestberg, the Innovation Power Panel with leaders from Ford, Verizon and Xerox, a Brand keynote from executives from AT&T, Walmart, Facebook and GE, an LIT keynote from eBay's John Donohue and a keynote from YouTube's Robert Kyncl were mid-week highlights of the 2012 International CES(R).

The Innovation Power Panel on Wednesday morning featured Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally, Xerox Chairman and CEO Ursula Burns and Verizon Enterprise Solutions President John Stratton. The panelists discussed how innovation must be a strategy for their respective companies and for the United States. The conversation centered on how to stimulate innovation through investment and employment.

In his 2012 CES keynote, Hans Vestberg, President and CEO of Ericsson, discussed "The Networked Society" connecting everyone and everything through mobility. "We have a responsibility to build networks that can carry innovation," said Vestberg. Ericsson predicts there will be 50 billion connected devices worldwide by 2020.

The CES Brand keynote panel featured the marketing minds of the world's top brands. The retail and branding effects of social media, healthcare-related technologies, connectivity and the explosion of wireless were all discussed during the session. The panelists agreed that people are becoming more connected to their devices, and because of this, to each other. "Our core belief is that the entire web is being rebuilt around people," said Facebook's Vice President of Global Marketing Solutions Carolyn Everson.

In an afternoon SuperSession with CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski stressed the importance of broadband, particularly wireless, in the future of consumer electronics. "The demand for spectrum has grown because people love these products," said Genachowski, stressing the need for Congress to pass incentive spectrum auction legislation. "We need to get it done now."

After touring the show floor, Genachowski noted the "endless rows of innovative new products," addressing fitness, education and healthcare, among other purposes. The session also covered net neutrality, antitrust issues and Genachowski's broadband-driven agenda at the FCC.

Wednesday's SuperSession with Brian Dunn, CEO of Best Buy, and CEA's Shapiro talked about hot selling products this holiday season and the retailer's strategy. "We'll have more doors and less square footage," Dunn told Shapiro in a question and answer session. "Stores have an important place in the ecosystem." When it comes to product trends, Dunn expects tablets and smartphones to stay hot while he opined that it was the "best time in the history of man to buy a TV."

Bringing the digital lifestyle safely into the car was the main topic at Wednesday SuperSession, "Connect2Car: Connecting Automotive and Consumer Electronics Lifestyles." Several main trends were discussed including, driving green, driving connected, driving safe and driving cool. The panel agreed that collaboration is the key, when integrating apps and other technology into the car.

TheVerge's Joshua Topolsky moderated an "Argue the Future" SuperSession on Wednesday that featured Drew Bamford of HTC, Ryan Bidan of Samsung, Nilay Patel of The Verge and Aaron Woodman of Microsoft. The participants debated the challenges of differentiation versus commodization, the goal of launching less phones but more consumer choice, perhaps by offering hardware customization options, and the best ways to curate and deliver personal content to the cloud.

On Wednesday evening, John Donahoe, president and CEO of eBay, delivered the keynote address at the Leaders in Technology (LIT) dinner. Donahoe discussed how the intersection of technology and retail is having a profound impact on consumers' shopping experience and predicted that the next three years of "shopping and paying" will see more profound change then what we've seen over the past 10-15 years.

Thursday morning featured a keynote from Robert Kyncl, Vice President of Global Content Partnerships, YouTube. Kyncl described how content, distribution and marketing of video have come together to make it a transformative and accessible viewing option around the world. According to Kyncl, by 2020, 75 percent of all channels will be transmitted or born on the Internet, due to closed systems that have no opened up.

In other 2012 International CES news, Lytro won the Last Gadget Standing SuperSession competition, beating nine other finalists, including the Playstation Vita, Autom Robot, Cotton Candy, WIMM, Origami, Svivl, Basis Body Band, Lenovo Yoga and Samsung Note.

More, the LG 55EM9800 55-inch OLED TV was named CNET's Best of CES winner, with Razer's Project Fiona winning the People's Choice online voting award.

Note to Journalists: Please note the correct event reference is 2012 International CES. Media information is available in the "For the Press" section of CESweb.org. For the latest information on the 2012 CES, including product launches, visit CESweb.org.

Crapgadgets at CES 2012: the best of the worst

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 01:24 PM PST

For one week at the beginning of each year, we see the gadgets that will help define the industry for the following 12 months. The Las Vegas Convention Center is brimming with innovation and excitement at the moment, but for every hot new Ultrabook there are hundreds -- if not thousands -- of devices that make us scratch our collective heads. But we've got a special place in our hearts for the strange, sometimes frightening, and often downright useless products we spot. Check out some of the highlights after the break, and be sure to check back in, because there are plenty more Crapgadgets to come, we're sure.

Watch Your Bag. Some products are hard to sum up in a sentence. And then there's Watch Your Bag, "the alarm clock that comes with a bag, filled with a rainbow of morphing colors." What it can't tell you, however, is why anyone might find such a proposition appealing -- though we can get behind Watch Your Bag's advertised lack of wires. Who wants wires in their alarm clock that comes with a bag, filled with a rainbow of morphing colors, right?

Mugtuk. One morning the iPhone awoke to find itself transformed into a giant insect. Honestly, no one should ever be able to refer to a smartphone holster as "Kafkaesque," particularly a furry one meant to amuse small child. Sorry Mugtuk, we were already having enough trouble getting our customary three hours of sleep before the nightmares of bug-like smartphones began plaguing us.

EZ Gas. Smell that? That's the smell of innovation -- innovation mingled with a likely gas leak. But thanks to EZ Gas, you already knew that, right?

iPad 2 / 3 case. This iPad case is from the future -- we're pretty sure that's how K-OK managed to get its hands on an iPad 3. Also, we're told that everything in the future is a weird shade of orange.

4D Vibestar vibrating lumbar speaker system. It's a vibrating massage chair with built-in speakers. Bump some Misfits on the thing, and it's pretty much like getting a personal back rub from Glenn Danzig, right?

Crapgadget CES, round seven: Because everything looks better in fur

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 01:19 PM PST


This furry case was unfortunately un-priced. But nothing exudes premium more than the combination of faux pomeranian tail and leopard print.

Motorola website points to January 26th launch for Droid RAZR Maxx

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 01:02 PM PST

Motorola didn't provide a launch date for the Droid RAZR Maxx when it officially announced the consonant-heavy phone at CES earlier this week, but it's now filled in that little detail on its website. Assuming it's not a mistake of some sort, you can look for the latest addition to the RAZR family to be available on January 26th from both Verizon and Motorola itself. If you missed the announcement, the Maxx is mostly identical to the existing Droid RAZR, with the notable exception of a longer-lasting battery that promises 21 hours of use on a charge, and 32GB of storage instead of the standard 16GB. It'll also set you back $100 more than the standard RAZR.

Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 7.0 Plus get bleached, on sojourn in Vietnam

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 12:53 PM PST

Release a device in black to much furor, and then follow it up a white variant later. That's a game Samsung's been playing all too well lately, and its latest are all-white versions of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 7.0 Plus. Otherwise identical to their existing counterparts, the duo spotted by Tran Quoc Huy in Vietnam extend the alabaster luster all the way to the bezel. Catch them in a cornucopia of photographic evidence at the source.

[Thanks, Sahil]

ViewSonic ViewPhone 3 hands-on (video)

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 12:46 PM PST

No trip to CES 2012 would be complete without spending some up close and personal time with ViewSonic's new phone for the Americas, the ViewPhone 3. Known internationally as the V350 -- which we scored a hands-on with at last year's MWC -- this model retains its dual-SIM heritage and brings a few upgrades such as an 800MHz CPU and Android 2.3. Along with a 3.5-inch HVGA, TFT-LCD display and a 5 megapixel camera (sans LED flash), the phone features 802.11b/g/n, quadband GSM and 7.2Mbps HSDPA with unknown bands (save for 850MHz, anyway). The handset has a plasticky feel, but is also well-proportioned and fits comfortably in the hand. We were less impressed with the quality of the LCD screen, which is rather low-res and distorts easily when viewed from angles.

While the hardware is rather passable as a budget phone, the software is cluttered with superfluous features and effects that detract from the user experience -- both in terms of performance and navigation. Given the dual-SIM nature of this phone and its availability as an unlocked device for $279, it's actually somewhat of a rare breed. Loaded with a proper ROM, it could certainly appeal to the right crowd. For some further insight into the ViewPhone 3, be sure to check the video after the break.
ViewSonic ViewPhone 3 hands-on

iPad 3 rumored to bring faster CPU, higher-resolution display and LTE this March

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 12:24 PM PST

On one hand, it's just another iPad rumor. On the other, there's an interesting wrinkle here that hasn't been confirmed -- let alone talked about seriously -- in past reports. Bloomberg is reporting that the iPad 3 will go on sale as early as March, boasting a higher-resolution screen, a speedier processor and support for "next-generation wireless networks." According to the all-common "unnamed sources," the outfit's manufacturing partners are purportedly "ramping up production" of the device this month, with full volume to be hit by February. Within, you'll supposedly find a quad-core chip and support for LTE, but it's unclear whether or not both AT&T and Verizon's 4G networks will be supported.

As it stands, the iPad 2 can be purchased with a Verizon 3G or AT&T 3G module within, and we highly doubt Apple would prefer to launch the next iPad with LTE support on just one or the other. Moreover, the solidification of LTE within the iPad is the best confirmation yet that the wireless spec will also be a part of the iPhone 5; granted, that's far from written in stone, but if Apple has managed to get battery life to a comfortable place, there's no reason to not give prospective buyers an avenue to hop on the faster mobile superhighway.

KDDI and Kyocera create speaker-free smartphone, we go hands-on (video)

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 12:23 PM PST

Leave it to the Japanese to blast us away with another sweet smartphone feature we've never seen before. This Kyocera handset, running what appears to be a heavily skinned Android OS, has had its earpiece summarily disposed with, preferring to transfer your phone-call audio through vibrational technology. Due to the way this works through physical contact, it means you can actually touch any part of the phone with your ear to transmit audio. It'll even work through hats, in-ear headphones and -- as demonstrated above by the brilliant Mr. Suzuki (above) -- over noise-cancelling headphones. So how many years until we get to see this in real phones? You'll be happy to hear that the team-up between Kyocera and Japanese carrier KDDI is a real-world technology that will arrive in Japanese customer's hands later this year. However, further availability outside of the Land of the Rising Sun remains out of ear-shot.
Kyocera and KDDI show off speaker-less smartphone at CES 2012


Amar Toor contributed to this post

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Spotted: Samsung's 17-inch Series 7 Chronos laptop

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 12:17 PM PST

And then there were three. The first time we saw Samsung's Series 7 Chronos, we knew it was going to be offered in two mainstream sizes -- 14 and 15.6 inches -- but now we know the line's going to include a desktop replacement as well. The company's soon to ship a 17-inch model with a matte, 300-nit, 1080p display, next-gen Core i7 processor, JBL speakers and some unspecified ATI graphics card with 2GB of video memory. As you'd imagine, the industrial design is what you'll find on the 15-inch version we reviewed, and the laptop incorporates the same SuperBright display used on the Series 5 Chromebook and Ultrabooks. Which is to say it's bright with decent viewing angles, though not quite as sunny as the screens used on Samsung's Series 9 laptops. No word yet on when and where it'll go on sale, but we're hearing it'll run for $1,499 when it does arrive in the US. In the meantime, we've got some requisite hands-on photos below for your viewing pleasure.
Samsung 17-inch Series 7 Chronos hands-on
at 12:23 PM

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