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- Marvell PXA988, PXA986 chips support 3G for China, the world without reinventing the wheel (or phone)
- Microsoft debuts revised SkyDrive website and desktop apps, Android app coming soon
- Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 3pm ET with special guest Brian Klug!
- Canon recalls 68,200 EOS Rebel T4i DSLRs, says rubber grips can lead to skin rash
- PlayStation Plus coming to the PS Vita this year, cloud storage increasing from 150MB to 1GB 'from September'
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 hits the UK on August 22nd, starts at £300 for WiFi-only model
- PlayStation Mobile detailed: different screens, same games
- PlayStation Vita Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified bundle announced, pricing MIA
- Sony patents a two-way folding device, wants you to have extra screen real estate where you need it
- PS Vita and PS3 cross-buy feature revealed: buy one copy, get the other free
- RealPlayer leaves beta, becomes fully-fledged Android app
- Apple gets patent for in-cell touch display with impeccable timing
- Pebble team posts UI preview, provides an early look at how you'll interact with the E-Paper Watch
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon review: the definitive Ultrabook for pros
- Microsoft Surface for Windows RT tablet coming October 26th for $199?
- 'Meet the new way' at tomorrow's Samsung event: Note 10.1 on the horizon?
- Google's smartphone patent doesn't mind which end you talk into
- Researchers measure 3D objects using just a camera and projector, can tell if you've ironed your shirt (video)
- Tencent reveals how it gets users to pay for its service
- YouTube's new app for the PlayStation 3 rolling out, allows remote control from smartphones
- iRobot trots out Looj 330 gutter-cleaning robot, three entry-level Roombas (video)
- Cornell students build spider-like robotic chalkboard eraser out of Lego, magnets, fun (video)
- Avatar Blu-ray 3D Collectors Edition finally comes to retail in October (video)
- Acer launches 14-inch TravelMate P243 $700 business laptop in the US
- Telenav's Scout gives iOS users offline navigation in exchange for ten bucks
- Phones4U now accepting pre-orders for LG's Optimus 4X HD, first 50 gets Cheryl Cole tickets
- Berg's Little Printer up for preorder at $259, ready to churn out smiley news and gossip in '60 days'
- Visualized: Mars' Gale Crater in seamless 360 degrees
- Verizon's Viewdini appears on iOS: works on any network, hunts video from 11 sources
- Gartner: worldwide mobile phone sales dipped 2.3 percent while users wait for next iPhone
- Researchers create super-efficient microbial fuel cell, dream of selling excess electricity
- HBO and Blinkbox offer second season of Game of Thrones online before DVD / Blu-ray release in UK
- Acer Iconia Tab A110 allegedly caught brandishing Jelly Bean in press shots
- RIM accidentally leaks BlackBerry Bold 9730, leaves a lot to the imagination (Update: it was a typo)
- GE, Urban Green Energy set up first integrated, wind-powered EV charging station (video)
- Samsung's defense against Apple patents begins with DiamondTouch table, LiveTile UI prior art
- Google+ offers custom URLs for verified accounts, other profiles to come 'over time'
- FTC considering new settlement process so companies can't deny wrongdoing
- Judge cuts international Galaxy S and S II, Galaxy Ace from Apple lawsuit against Samsung
- Samsung SGH-T899 for T-Mobile emerges on the web with potential Windows Phone 8, LTE
| Posted: 14 Aug 2012 11:20 AM PDT Whenever we see a smartphone optimized for China Mobile's TD-SCDMA 3G, it usually represents one of two things: it's either a China-specific variant of a phone we already know, or it's a local-only model that's unlikely to ever travel abroad. Marvell has just unveiled a new mobile processor platform that could allow for a lot more globetrotting with those basic designs. The PXA988 is limited to China Mobile's technology for data, but its PXA986 doppelganger can fit the same slot to offer regular HSPA+ 3G without forcing phone makers back to the drawing board. Both run on a dual-core, 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 at their heart -- nothing exciting in mid-2012, although they're well-enough equipped to capture 1080p video and tout extras like NFC. Only test samples exist today, but there's a chance we'll soon see phone designs that are just as much at home in Berlin as they are in Beijing. Marvell is the First to Announce Breakthrough Single Unified 3G Platform Supporting TD-SCDMA and WCDMA: Increasing Global Footprint and Reducing OEM Investment Marvell's advanced, unified 3G platform enables global OEMs to lower their development cost and serve the growing mobile market with interchangeable R8 TD-SCDMA and global R7 WCDMA solutions SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvell (Nasdaq: MRVL) today announced a single unified 3G platform featuring the new Marvell® PXA988 and PXA986 – the next-generation of its industry-leading single-chip application and communications processor System-on-Chips (SoCs) – combined with Marvell's latest wireless combination technology (Wi-Fi + Bluetooth + FM radio + Near Field Communications (NFC) + GPS), RF transceivers and integrated PMIC solutions for both Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) markets. With pin-to-pin compatibility, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can leverage the same printed circuit board (PCB) and ID designs, and operating system, application and multimedia software to address both the WCDMA and TD-SCDMA markets, which is expected to greatly simplify design cycles and reduce unnecessary cost. Engineering samples for the unified platform are available now. "I believe Marvell's advanced, single unified dual-core 3G platform will deliver high-performance, affordable smartphones and tablets to the global mass market. In the new era of the 'Connected Lifestyle,' I believe it is important for mobile devices, such as tablets, to have a highly integrated single-chip solution, combining a high-performance application processor and an always connected modem with high-end graphics and HD video capabilities," said Weili Dai, Co-founder of Marvell. "I am very proud and thankful for Marvell's global team of talented engineers, partners and Tier-1 customers in the mobile ecosystem, for their hard work, innovation and dedication to move the industry forward faster." Marvell's new PXA988 and PXA986 SoCs integrate high-performance, 1.2GHz dual-core processors with cutting-edge cellular modems to support advanced multimedia capabilities consumers demand for their mobile devices. The successor of Marvell's PXA920 and PXA968 families of mobile processors, which currently power millions of devices by leading OEMs, the Marvell 3G platform combines field-proven modem technologies with new features designed to bring universal connectivity and high-performance, low-cost processing power to mobile devices around the world. Designed specifically for the China 3G TD-SCDMA market, the new PXA988 is the next generation of the highly ubiquitous PXA920 family of mobile processors that powers millions of smartphones in China. Building from the momentum and success of the PXA920 and PXA920H, Marvell's new single-chip, dual-core PXA988 features high performance Cortex A9 1.2GHz processors and full 1080p encode/decode capability, which makes it ideal for high-quality multimedia playback and video capturing. The PXA988 is equipped with an integrated image signal processor (ISP), advanced graphics processing unit (GPU) that can achieve 192 million triangles per second (MT/s) and a breakthrough 533MHz LPDDR2 memory architecture for enhanced CPU and system performance. The PXA988 features a TD-HSPA+ R8 modem which supports dual-carrier aggregation and represents the next-generation of TD-SCDMA technology. The new advanced modem also supports Dual SIM Dual Talk, which enables users to activate two services on a single smartphone, and Downlink Dual Carrier (DLDC). The all new PXA986 single-chip, dual-core mobile processor was designed for WCDMA markets and is pin-to-pin compatible with the PXA988, effectively streamlining and reducing costs for OEM design cycles. Powered by the identical high-performance application processor subsystem as the PXA988, OEMs can seamlessly re-use their operating system and multimedia software across both mobile platforms to minimize design resources and decrease time to market (TTM). The PXA986 features a HSPA+ R7 modem, which supports 21.1 Mbps download data-rate and 5.76 Mbps upload data-rate, making it a viable solution for 4G smartphones. The PXA986 modem also supports critical features such as Dual SIM Dual Talk. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft debuts revised SkyDrive website and desktop apps, Android app coming soon Posted: 14 Aug 2012 11:07 AM PDT Microsoft just recently gave it's web-based email offering a sweeping overhaul, and it's now also done the same for its cloud-based storage service. As detailed in a typically extensive blog post, the company has today launched an all new as SkyDrive.com (rolling out over the next 24 hours), one that now defaults to a tile-based layout and boasts new features like instant search and a contextual toolbar. As the company notes, it's also designed with tablets in mind, in addition to desktop web browser. What's more, Microsoft has also rolled out updated SkyDrive apps for Windows and OS X, which promise faster uploads and other performance improvements, and it says it'll finally have an Android app in "just a few weeks." Hit the source link below for a look at it and all the other changes.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 3pm ET with special guest Brian Klug! Posted: 14 Aug 2012 11:01 AM PDT The mobile industry never stops and neither do we. After all, what would be the fun in that? The podcast boat will be steered by coxswains Myriam and Brad, as always, but this week Anandtech's Brian Klug will be joining them. Speaking of fun, get ready for a geekery session unmatched by any other. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canon recalls 68,200 EOS Rebel T4i DSLRs, says rubber grips can lead to skin rash Posted: 14 Aug 2012 10:52 AM PDT We've covered our fair share of product recalls over the years, but this one almost certainly takes the cake when looking at pure zaniness. Canon has recalled its EOS Rebel T4i -- some 68,200 units -- "due to a risk of allergic reaction." You read that right. As the story goes, a chemical used in the camera's rubber grips "can result in a reaction that changes the grips from black to white and poses a risk of skin irritation to the consumer," and while the company has only received a single report of a consumer developing a "minor rash" after contact, that's obviously enough to issue to recall. It involves T4i units with a 12-digit serial number that contain a second digit that is a "3" or "4" and a sixth digit that is a "1." If that's you, you're advised to stop using the camera and ping Canon USA to have replacement rubber grips installed free of charge. Specifically, you can ring 855-902-3277 and be prepared to be placed on hold for the better part of your adult life. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 14 Aug 2012 10:45 AM PDT Sony's decided that you've been playing so much with their dedicated online service, you deserve more space for your cloud saves. From next month, users will see their cloud storage increase from 150MB to 1GB. We were also teased that the PlayStation Vita would also be getting into PlayStation Plus soon, but it looks like SCEE CEO Jim Ryan is holding onto that tantalizing nugget for now. Hopefully we'll hear more on this a bit later. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 hits the UK on August 22nd, starts at £300 for WiFi-only model Posted: 14 Aug 2012 10:40 AM PDT It's 'bout time, right? Having been up for grabs here in the US since way back in May, it's now looking like Sammy's second-gen Tab 10.1 is finally ready to make its official retail debut across the pond. According to Carphone Warehouse, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1's "expected" to be in stock as early as next week -- or, August 22nd to be exact -- in the United Kingdom, with the base 16GB, WiFi-only flavor set to be priced at a mere £300, while £100 more gets you the model that's also sporting 3G connectivity. Better yet, the retailer's taking pre-orders as we speak, so click on either of the source links below and choose the Tab 2 10.1 variant best suited for your slate needs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PlayStation Mobile detailed: different screens, same games Posted: 14 Aug 2012 10:28 AM PDT Sony's decided to spill the beans on PlayStation Mobile, its upcoming cross-platform gaming service. It will connect to your own PSN ID, linking into its software store, which aims to offer up a "wide range of portable experiences." We're still looking at PlayStation-certified devices here, but Sony's also announced that ASUS and Wikipad hardware will join the (pretty Sony-centric) line-up. We can already recognize a handful of Xperia phones alongside the Tablet S and, of course, Sony's premier handheld, which will be able to play these titles. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PlayStation Vita Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified bundle announced, pricing MIA Posted: 14 Aug 2012 10:23 AM PDT Sony's handheld will get its own companion bundle for its incoming (and exclusive) Call of Duty title. The set will include the game, a PlayStation Vita and a carry pouch -- camouflage pattern TBC. Unfortunately, Sony it neglected to mention a price or a date -- though it's likely to arrive around the same time as the game, later this year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony patents a two-way folding device, wants you to have extra screen real estate where you need it Posted: 14 Aug 2012 10:21 AM PDT Phones with dual displays have been done, and Sony's foldable Tablet P brought similar functionality to tablets with mixed results. It looks like the Japanese electronics giant isn't done with such devices, however, as it's just been granted a patent for a gadget that can fold on multiple axes. The patent in question describes a device constructed of two rectangular casings that can be "rotated relatively in one of a first rotation direction and a second rotation direction orthogonal to each other." Translation: a sort of next-gen Jacob's ladder with hinges that open up on both sides of a right angle, which would allow you to set screens side by side or on top of one another. Want to know more? Check out all the patent claims and drawings at the sources below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PS Vita and PS3 cross-buy feature revealed: buy one copy, get the other free Posted: 14 Aug 2012 10:16 AM PDT Sony's kicked off its Gamescom event in Germany by revealing a new deal for games playable on both the PS3 and its handheld relative, the PS Vita. The incoming PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale and Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault will be two of the first titles to arrive on both -- with a single purchase giving you both versions. According to Jim Ryan, president and CEO for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, you'll get both copies in the single package but there's no word on whether both, or one, will be digital download-only. We'll update this post when we hear more. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RealPlayer leaves beta, becomes fully-fledged Android app Posted: 14 Aug 2012 10:07 AM PDT RealNetworks has decided to roll out that old internet chestnut, RealPlayer, to a fresh-faced generation of smartphones that are screaming out for one more media player. This one reckons it can handle your music, video and photo content al in the same blueish hue and while the player has a basic flavor out for free, there's a $5 app for those that like the finer things in life. Extra features in the paid-for version include a graphic equalizer with save function, Gracenote database compatibility and manual metadata editing for those with more esoteric music tastes. Naturally, advertising is nixed in this version too. Now out from beta testing, hit the source for the download. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple gets patent for in-cell touch display with impeccable timing Posted: 14 Aug 2012 09:55 AM PDT So Apple could be working on an iPhone with a thinner display, you say. Look what we have here, possibly in the nick of time: it's a newly granted Apple patent for a screen with in-cell touch, where the LCD and touch recognition are integrated into one panel instead of stacking up in separate layers. Apple's implementation would slim things down by either having electrodes share duties, both driving the display and taking finger input, or stuffing two electrodes into each pixel to accomplish the same goal. The net effect isn't just one of squeezing a device into a thinner chassis; the company also envisions costs coming down by reducing the number of parts and streamlining the manufacturing process. As envisioned, the screen looks like an ideal fit for a significant revamp of Apple's mobile display technology, although we'd be careful about assuming that this or any in-cell touch implementation is a lock for potentially imminent iOS hardware. Apple first filed the patent in early June 2007, before the original iPhone had even marched into a retailer -- display technology has come a long way since then. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pebble team posts UI preview, provides an early look at how you'll interact with the E-Paper Watch Posted: 14 Aug 2012 09:33 AM PDT Sadly, Pebble won't be making its way to backers by its original September estimate, but the design team wants you to know that it's hard at work, traveling the world to source components, running shipping tests and spending time refining the user interface in order to provide a top-notch experience once you do receive your device in the mail. To that end, Martijn, the UI designer, has dropped by Vimeo to provide us with a "sneak peek" at the device's operation, including some demos on iOS and a connected prototyping board, using a custom tool that sends designs to the Pebble screen from any graphics program in real-time (a feature that will reportedly also be available in the SDK). From what we've seen, there appears to be plenty of space on the screen to show incoming calls, read emails with eight lines of text at a time, view appointment details, select songs and control volume, and, of course, see the current time. Commenters seem to be quite pleased with the design so far, and we have to agree -- it's a pretty slick UI. Jump past the break to see it in action.
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| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon review: the definitive Ultrabook for pros Posted: 14 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT More InfoThe storied ThinkPad line has just turned 20 and, over all those years, the brand has established itself as something that (mostly) successfully straddles the line between boring corporate accessory and classy consumer choice. Stoic is an apt term for the machines and, through those two decades, they've only gotten better and better -- well, most of the time, anyway. Welcome, then, to what is the latest and, therefore, what should be the best: the $1,499 ThinkPad X1 Carbon. It's an evolution of last year's X1, thinner and lighter than that pre-Ultrabook despite having a larger display. The Carbon moniker here not only describes this machine's matte black exterior but also applies to the woven and resin-impregnated composite structure within, delivering a rare mix of light weight, svelte dimensions and durable construction. It's a wonder to behold but can it improve on the previous ThinkPad X1's shortcomings? There's only one way to find out. Look and feel
Lenovo has deployed many a wedge-shaped stealth fighter in the past, but the new X1 Carbon takes the cake as the cleanest design we've yet seen in a ThinkPad. It has few vents and gills and other visually distracting features, all kept to a minimum to deliver a monotone, minimalist appearance -- and, presumably, a minimal radar signature, too. Closed, the laptop is just 0.71 inches (18mm) thick at the rear, slinking down to 0.31 inches (8mm) at the front, a taper that's accentuated when typing thanks to rubber pads that are slightly thicker at the rear than the front, making the keyboard just a few degrees more willing. It's light, too, at three pounds (1.36kg), making this the thinnest and lightest ThinkPad ever. Not content with that, Lenovo goes so far as to call it the "thinnest and lightest business Ultrabook on the market" and, while we don't feel like drawing arbitrary classifications to determine which of the many, many Ultrabooks are intended for professionals, we're happy to report that the X1 Carbon doesn't overwhelm with either its heft or its breadth. Despite the lightness and the thinness this machine feels incredibly stout. Though there is some flex if you twist hard enough, the laptop's carbon fiber chassis never feels flimsy. The keyboard tray is remarkably rigid, not bending even for typists with particularly heavy fingers, and, like last year's X1, it's able to survive eight MIL-SPEC tests. That means humidity, drops, temperature, vibration and even sand won't be an issue. It comes with a three-year warranty, but it's always good to know you won't be expecting to use it.
The matte black design is unmistakable ThinkPad, angular shapes and monotone lines everywhere, but it's interesting to note that those angles have been softened somewhat. Where sharp edges are traditionally the norm they are subtly more rounded here. You don't really notice it until you get the X1 in your hands and carry it around for a bit, but the slightly rounded edges, plus the soft-touch coating, makes this a very comfortable laptop to actually use in your lap -- much more so than many metal Ultrabooks, including the MacBook Air, whose sharp front lip can do a number on sensitive wrists. Other than the optional SIM slot, located around back on 3G-equipped models, all the ports on the X1 are on the left and the right sides of the machine. On the right, starting at the back, you'll find a Kensington Security Slot, a USB 3.0 port, Mini DisplayPort, a 3.5mm headphone jack and an SD card reader. Move to the left and, at the rear, you'll find a new-style rectangular power plug, the vent for the (nearly silent) CPU fan, a USB 2.0 port and the ThinkPad's patented wireless switch, which instantly kills all transmitters and receivers in the machine to extend your battery life. Think of it as a physical airplane mode toggle, your best friend when desperately trying to put the finishing touches on your proposal while the battery life indicator down in the taskbar is showing single digits. Somewhat annoyingly, only that USB port on the right is of the SuperSpeed variety, and there's no visual differentiation between this one and the lowly 2.0 port on the other side, other than a tiny, gray "SS" silkscreened nearby. You'll just have to remember. And, we couldn't help but think the big, rectangular power plug is a bit of a step backward from the traditional round ones. It's slightly harder to line up and insert but, more troubling, it's the same height as a USB port, meaning if you're blindly trying to find a home for your thumb drive you might find yourself trying to jam it in the wrong place. Both issues, we might add, that go away with a bit of familiarity.
The latch-free lid closes securely but opens easily. It has a slight lip on it, so you won't struggle to separate it from the lower half, and the hinge allows the display to open fully flat if you're so inclined, which gives you maximum opportunity to ogle the keyboard and trackpad, which we'll describe in just a moment. Beneath that and situated to the right, in its traditional location, is the fingerprint scanner, which as ever lets you power on the laptop and log straight into Windows with just a single swipe of your digit of choice. Why more laptops don't offer this we'll never know. In the lid is a 14-inch, 1,600 x 900 display with a bezel thin enough to let this laptop's dimensions (13.03 x 8.9 x 0.74-inches) match those of what before would be considered a 13-inch size. But, there's still enough space above to insert the 720p webcam, which does a fair but unremarkable job of capturing your countenance for the world to see. Even in bright lighting there's plenty of grain on display, but it's good enough you won't feel the need to pack along an external camera. You will need to pack the external Ethernet adapter, as there's no room for one within the chassis, but at least Lenovo was thoughtful enough to include one in the box. Keyboard and trackpad The traditional wide, spacious keys found on ThinkPads have been retired, replaced by the island-style arrangement found in the new X1. It's basically the same layout that we found in the ThinkPad X230 so we won't detail all the minutiae here, but suffice to say this is a great layout that is both comfortable and responsive.
The keys are widely spaced, which will take a little adjusting to for those coming from older ThinkPads, but their curvature and texture make them very finger-friendly, and they still have that distinctive tension and "thock" feeling when depressed, resulting in some stellar feedback. You'll never have a doubt about whether or not you properly hit each and every letter in that ridiculously complicated password corporate policy dictates. There are two stages of backlighting, manually cycled by holding the Fn key and rapping on the space bar. The audio control buttons, one each for muting the speakers and the microphone, plus the volume rocker, have been moved back up to the top of the keyboard after a brief dalliance on the right side in the older X1. There, too, lies the configurable ThinkVantage button, which is black rather than its traditional blue.
With that, the bright crimson pointing stick is the main dash of color to be found in the keyboard, and it provides a visual and tactile highlight for the machine. Despite nearly everyone else on the planet embracing trackpads, Lenovo won't give up on you, TrackPoint, and we're glad for it. The shape here is the common Soft Dome variety, a cushy and comfortable surface that doesn't get in the way while typing. Quite to the contrary, speed typists who hate to leave their home keys will definitely appreciate the presence of this pointing device just to the left of their right index finger, three buttons just slightly above their thumb. But, for those times when a trackpad is required, the X1 Carbon has a very good one. It's 37 percent larger than that found in the earlier X1, a glass unit that's happy to let fingers slide without much resistance. The button-free Synaptics unit is very responsive for the simple stuff, like two-finger scrolling and telling the difference between left- and right-clicks, and even more complicated gestures are well-handled, like four-finger application switching and pinch-zooming. It's among the most responsive we've yet used on an Ultrabook. Display and sound
If there's a fault to be found in the X1 Carbon it lies here: the LCD panel that you'll be staring at just about whenever you use this thing. On paper the 14-inch unit has it where it counts, clocking in with a 1,600 x 900 resolution. But, dig a little deeper and you'll find a few reasons to be disappointed. The first time you look at the panel you'll notice what seems to be an excessively high dot pitch -- that is to say, there's a lot of space between pixels. If you have reasonably fresh eyes you'll easily be able to pick out the subtle dark lines that define the edges of pixels. Even if your eyes are perhaps a bit more tired, you'll be able to see that the whites have a bit of a gray hue to them. This is more noticeable even than on machines with lower-resolution displays, like that on the MacBook Air. Maximum brightness here is 300 nits, a figure that's a bit underwhelming. It's a fair bit dimmer than the Samsung Series 9, for example, which clocks in at 400, and outdoor visibility in bright sunlight is virtually impossible here. But, Lenovo kindly opted for a matte display, ditching the glossy Gorilla Glass found in the prior X1. Sure, we've given up some aspect of durability, but we'll take that in exchange for the drastic reduction in eye strain when working in glare-riddled offices. Viewing angles are adequate, but far from stellar. You can sway side-to-side for quite a ways before you start to notice any visual effects, but wander too far up or down and the contrast quickly drops off. You'll need to keep the display perfectly aligned to get the most out of this screen, something that fold-flat hinge makes easy enough, even if you're hanging from the ceiling. The speakers are positioned on the bottom of the unit, shooting out of tiny slits angled to either side, echoing off of whatever surface you've set the laptop on to create a wider sound field than you might think possible out of such a svelte machine. When placed on a hard surface the effect is indeed quite compelling, with surprisingly loud playback and clear channel separation. Set the machine on a pillow or your lap, anything soft that blocks those channels, and the sound gets a bit more muted -- but even then it's plenty loud. Bass and tonal quality are on the poor side, but that's par for the Ultrabook course. Performance
There are three possible CPUs for you to select, all sprung from Intel's verdant Ivy Bridge. Ours has the middle specification, a 1.8GHz Core i5-3427U with 3MB of L3 cache and a 1,333MHz FSB, all matched with 4GB of RAM and the HD Graphics 4000 integrated GPU. As such it's hardly a gaming machine, but it's playable in a pinch -- we saw about 25fps in Call of Duty IV at 1,024 x 768 on default settings. When cranking through the benchmarks we noted a substantial amount of heat pumping out of the left side of the laptop, which became uncomfortably warm. It did, however, stay almost perfectly silent. Gaming and graphics benchmarks are definitely outside of the intended applications of this machine, though, a laptop that's rather more likely to be found running a PPT than an FPS. In that kind of application the laptop performs quite well. Intel's latest chips offer a huge boost over their 2011 predecessors, and indeed this X1 is far faster than that X1, its PCMark Vantage scores about 50 percent higher. Indeed, looking at the gamut of Ultrabooks, the X1 Carbon slots in about where you'd expect it to given its CPU configuration, and you can pretty well guess where the higher-spec, 2.0GHz Core i7 version would place, too. Disk I/O is of course another thing, and we were not left wanting. Though of a rather limited size, just 128GB, our X1 Carbon's SSD averaged 510 MB/s (reads) and 339 MB/s (writes), which on the read side at least is right up there with the latest MacBook Air's chart-topping 551 MB/s. That'll have your latest quarterly presentation loaded in no time -- or all your favorite Quake mods. It also helps deliver a very respectable 21-second bootup from cold. Battery life
On our standard battery rundown test, which entails looping a video with WiFi enabled, the X1 managed just over five hours before depleting its last mAh. That's on the underwhelming side of average, with many Ivy Bridge Ultrabooks pushing one or two hours longer. Lenovo promises up to six and a half hours of battery life for the X1 Carbon, and we think it could manage that with the wireless switch set in silent mode. Unfortunately, Lenovo isn't offering an external battery slice for the X1 Carbon, and we don't see any connectors on the bottom that would enable them to add one in the future. It's not all about longevity, though, and Lenovo is proud of the X1 Carbon's RapidCharge technology. We've seen that before and it, as ever, it works well here. Lenovo promises five hours of battery life can be added in just 30 minutes of charging, though a full charge will take another hour. Still, for a quick airport top-off before they call your boarding zone, that's quite handy. Software and warranty
Lenovo kindly kept the X1 Carbon's SSD free of most bloatware -- a good thing since there's only 128GB to work with. The only real annoying bit we found was Norton Internet Security, which seemed to pop up a frightening message about our computer being unprotected every few minutes. There's a 30-day free trial but we're guessing it won't take you nearly that long to uninstall this bit of nagware. There's a link to a free trial of Microsoft Office, but you'll need to download that yourself. Other than that, there's the usual ThinkVantage suite of apps and Lenovo's SimpleTap application, which gives a finger-friendly grid of launching apps, not wholly unlike Launchpad on OS X. This is of limited use on a touchscreen-free machine like the X1, but could be more of a help in the upcoming IdeaPad Yoga. Again, there's a three-year warranty here, which is a nice bit of reassurance. Configuration options Though the unit we tested will run you $1,499, the X1 Carbon starts at a hundred dollars less, with a more modest Core i5-3317U processor, clocked at 1.7GHz instead of 1.8GHz. If you wanted to upgrade from the model we reviewed, you could pay $1,649 for a unit with the same processor, but 256GB in solid-state storage. Want 256 gigs and a Core i7 CPU? You're looking at $1,849. Regardless, these all come with 4GB of RAM and Intel's HD 4000 graphics. The resolution and warranty, too, remain the same. All pre-configured models other than the base $1,399 unit include an Ericsson H5321gw HSPA+ WWAN and GPS module. It supports 21Mbps HSPA+ connectivity -- once you've brought your own SIM. As of now there's no way to configure the higher-end X1 Carbon models without this module, which is partly why those prices you see above are a bit higher than many others. But, expect to save about a hundred bucks by omitting this if and when Lenovo starts offering build-to-order units. The competition Until HP ships the EliteBook Folio sometime this fall, the X1 Carbon won't have much competition from other high-end Ultrabooks aimed at the business set. For now, then, we may as well compare the X1 to other premium ultaportables. Among them, our reigning favorite might be the Samsung Series 9 ($1,300 and up), which is thinner than even the average Ultrabook, has a bright, matte, 1,600 x 900 screen and lasts an impressive seven hours on a charge. (It's also gorgeous, but then again, there ThinkPad diehards will be more inclined to love the X1's understated lines.) It's a similar story for the 13-inch MacBook Air ($1,200 and up), which offers about six and a half hours of runtime and happens to have one of the most comfortable keyboard-and-trackpad combos around. On a practical note, it's configurable with up to 8GB of RAM and 512GB of solid-state storage -- a rarity for machines in this class. The biggest trade-off, perhaps, is that screen: with a 1,440 x 900 pixel count it's crisper than average, but still doesn't offer the pixel count that Lenovo (or Samsung, or ASUS or HP...) has to offer. Speaking of ASUS, we just got our hands on the new $1,099 Zenbook Prime UX31A and while there's lots to love (fast performance, a pretty design, much-improved keyboard and 1080p IPS display) its trackpad was awfully jumpy, even after multiple driver updates. If you don't mind spending $1,400 on a laptop and can suffer a little extra weight, you might want to check out the HP Envy 14 Spectre -- it's a bit heavy for a 14-inch Ultrabook, but we love its glass-and-metal design, tactile keyboard and rich 1,600 x 900 display. Bonus: it includes a generous two-year warranty and comes pre-loaded with full copies of Adobe Photoshop Elements and Adobe Premiere Elements. Dell's XPS 14 falls into a similar vein, with its 1,600 x 900 display, and it costs less, at $1,100. It's also one of the few bigger-screen Ultrabooks that actually justifies its heft with long battery life (nearly six and a half hours, in this case). Oh, and if you read our review of the smaller XPS 13, you'll be glad to know Dell fine-tuned the trackpad too. Lastly, given how expensive the X1 Carbon is, it's worth mentioning the Sony VAIO Z, even if it isn't technically an Ultrabook (these are standard-voltage processors, don'tcha know -- quad-core ones, even). At $1,600, it has a thin, 0.66-inch-thick chassis (also made from carbon fiber) and it comes standard with 8GB of RAM and a 1080p display. Interestingly, the drives are arranged in a fast (but risk-prone) RAID 0 configuration, and you can get up to 512B of storage, as with the MacBook Air. The real hook, though, is the external Power Media Dock, which houses a discrete GPU and optical drive. That'll set you back an extra $400, so start counting your pennies if that's of interest. But, before we sign off, we'll again point out that the X1 Carbon's pricing includes an HSPA+ WWAN module in all but the base configuration, something you can't often find in an Ultrabook. Wrap-up So, is the Lenovo X1 Carbon the ultimate Ultrabook? Not quite. Its display is merely fair, as is its battery life, and it's far from the cheapest choice out there. Those things are definite marks against, but if you can get past them this is a fundamentally impressive machine. It is properly thin and light and yet has none of the flimsy feeling that some of its competition offers. It also manages to be legitimately comfortable in the hand or on your lap, a description that similarly can't be applied to every other razor-thin machine. This makes it a very consumer-friendly machine with a decidedly professional price-point and, with HSPA+ available across almost the entire range, it offers pro-level connectivity too. If you're looking for a durable, fast Ultrabook that won't weigh down your bag -- and that won't scream "look at me!" while you're checking in from the coffee shop -- this is absolutely it. Dana Wollman contributed to this review. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Surface for Windows RT tablet coming October 26th for $199? Posted: 14 Aug 2012 08:27 AM PDT We'll admit to being a little blown away when Microsoft launched the Surface -- it was an impressively polished tablet that we had heard barely a whisper of leading up to the mysterious launch event. But, there was one thing that we were still left wondering: how much would it cost? Now, with Acer getting all in a huff about competition and Microsoft conceding that some OEMs might be a little upset when this thing ships, we might just have an idea for you. According to an inside source, a session was held at Microsoft's recent TechReady15 conference in which all the launch details were laid out. If things go according to the plan detailed then, the Surface for Windows RT tablet will be launching October 26th -- no surprise there -- at a compelling price of $199. That MRSP, almost certainly lower than Microsoft's own cost, would line it up against the Nexus 7 and even the Kindle Fire. It would put Windows 8 on the map in a big way and give a lot of people a lot of reason to try out an operating system that is going to feel rather different than previous incarnations. The question is: will it drive enough sales of media and apps for Microsoft to recoup its loss? Or, will companies like Acer put up enough of a fight in the months between now and October to keep Microsoft from undercutting its own partners? We'll find out soon, dear readers. [Thanks, Anonymous] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Meet the new way' at tomorrow's Samsung event: Note 10.1 on the horizon? Posted: 14 Aug 2012 08:00 AM PDT We got our not-so-mysterious invite earlier this month, and now Samsung's "Meet the new way" event is just a day away. Will we see the much-anticipated Galaxy Note 10.1? Given that Sammy already pulled the curtain on the global model, all signs point to yes. As always, we'll be on hand to serve up the details as they unfold tomorrow from Jazz at Lincoln Center (might we expect a full-blown orchestra a la the Galaxy S III launch, we wonder?). Our liveblog goes down at 11 AM tomorrow, and you'll want to park your browser here for the full play-by-play. August 15, 2012 11:00 AM EDT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google's smartphone patent doesn't mind which end you talk into Posted: 14 Aug 2012 07:42 AM PDT The rectangular, predominantly symmetrical nature of most smartphones means if you're not looking, you might find you're holding the handset the wrong way around when a call comes in. Google's most recently awarded patent may seek to end your orientation confusion by adding a microphone and speaker at both ends of the device. That way, when you pick it up to answer a call, it'll determine which way you're holding it and select the microphone and speaker accordingly. Then again, this is a patent filing, so it's just as likely to wind up lining the bottom of a Mountain View engineer's drawer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 14 Aug 2012 07:09 AM PDT For years the projector and camera have served us well, performing their respective tasks. Now, researchers at Japan's Advanced Industrial Science and Technology institute are using them together to measure 3D objects. By projecting a special pattern onto the subject and then using the camera to "read" the amount of distortion in the image, a three-dimensional model can be constructed. This thing is accurate, too, with precision down to 1 - 2mm which means it can measure wrinkles in clothes, or even details in hands. The technology can even be scaled to work with microscopes. The creators say that it could be used in video games (much like Kinect), and even for tracking athletes' movements thanks to its ability to capture fast-moving images -- something existing systems can struggle with. Jump past the break to see the tech in action.
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| Tencent reveals how it gets users to pay for its service Posted: 14 Aug 2012 06:48 AM PDT We've all seen those "OMG! Don't make us pay for Facebook" fake petitions, but App.net and The Social Network raise questions about how our social services raise their moolah. Tencent's Sophia Ong has revealed that it's in the unique position of having users happy to pay for services that we take for granted. While signups for QZone (Facebook equivalent) is free, users have to use QBs, the site's virtual currency, to buy and clothe their avatars. While 1 QB = 1 yuan ($0.16), there are 30 million paying customers on the site -- meaning that the company can count on around $50 million in monthly payments. It's not stopping there either, sensing a slowdown in the local economy, the company has an eye on opening up its eCommerce platform to ensure it can continue to rake in the cash. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| YouTube's new app for the PlayStation 3 rolling out, allows remote control from smartphones Posted: 14 Aug 2012 06:30 AM PDT While YouTube has always enjoyed support on Sony's PlayStation 3 thanks to the console's Flash-enabled browser and even offered a YouTube XL layout for connected devices, now it's rolling out a new app to make the video experience even better (and, no doubt, compete with the experience unveiled late last year on the Xbox 360). The app has an improved search with suggestions and instant results while users type, the ability to pull in a user's subscribed channels and it allows for remote control from the YouTube app on your smartphone after a simple pairing process (shown in a screenshot after the break.) According to the official blog it should be arriving in North America now, check under the My Channels section in the PS3 store to download the free app and give it a shot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iRobot trots out Looj 330 gutter-cleaning robot, three entry-level Roombas (video) Posted: 14 Aug 2012 06:00 AM PDT With Roomba being the household name that it is, it can be easy to forget that iRobot also makes robots of the outdoor persuasion. In fact, though, the company's been selling its Looj gutter-cleaning bots for five years now, occasionally treating us to demos involving leaves, dirt and fake roofs. Today the company announced the third-generation model, the Looj 330, which has been completely re-tooled to add a four-stage auger, multiple speed settings, an automated "Clean" mode and a lithium-ion battery. It's also a bit more compact this time around, increasing the likelihood it'll fit your gutter. Meanwhile, for those of you who can't bring yourselves to spend $700 on a robotic vacuum cleaner, iRobot is adding some entry-level models to its Roomba lineup: the 620, 630 and 650. Though these cost about half the price of the flagship offerings, they actually feature many of the same technologies, including iAdapt, the sensor arrangement that allows Roomba to crisscross the floor like it does. Here, though, the cosmetic design is different, and you also won't find bells and whistles like capacitive touchscreens or fine Hepa filters. What's more, these guys only use acoustic sensors to detect debris, whereas the pricier models add optical sensors to pick up on lighter particles, like fuzz. All of these products are available now, with the Looj 330 going for $299 and the Roomba 600 series starting at $330. Not in the market for a cleaning bot? You can at least get a vicarious thrill out of our Luge hands-on video, embedded after the break for your viewing pleasure. And yes, those are Goldfish and m&m's flying out of that gutter. It rains snack food here in New York City.
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| Cornell students build spider-like robotic chalkboard eraser out of Lego, magnets, fun (video) Posted: 14 Aug 2012 05:39 AM PDT While you were trying to pass Poetry 101, Cornell seniors Le Zhang and Michael Lathrop were creating an apple-polishing Lego robot that automatically erases your prof's chalkboard. A final class project, the toady mech uses an Atmel brain, accelerometers for direction control, microswitches to sense the edge of the board, magnets to stay attached and hot glue to keep the Lego from flying apart. As the video below the break shows, it first aligns itself vertically, then moves to the top of the board, commencing the chalk sweeping and turning 180 degrees each time its bumpers sense the edge. The duo are thinking of getting a patent, and a commercialized version would allow your teacher to drone on without the normal slate-clearing pause. So, if designing a clever bot and saving their prof from manual labor doesn't get the students an 'A', we don't know what will.
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| Avatar Blu-ray 3D Collectors Edition finally comes to retail in October (video) Posted: 14 Aug 2012 05:14 AM PDT Despite being one of the most widely viewed 3D movies, and the highest grossing film of all time, viewers still have not been able to buy Avatar on Blu-ray 3D by itself (without paying high prices to resellers) due to an exclusive pack-in deal with Panasonic, but that will change this fall. Fox just announced the Avatar Blu-ray 3D Collector's Edition will debut globally October 15th, and release in North America October 16th. There's no word on any extra special features, as producer Jon Landau indicates in the press release (included after the break) it will contain the theatrical cut of the flick inside special packaging. Originally, the delay in releasing the movie widely on disc in 3D was blamed on a lack of 3DTVs in homes. We'll see if the prospect of watching the $2.7 billion juggernaut "the way it was meant to be seen" according to director James Cameron, nudges more buyers towards a new display this fall. Check below for a video clip of Cameron sharing the news to the movie's fans on Facebook, plus an extra treat that didn't make it into the movie. PANDORA COMES TO LIFE LIKE NEVER BEFORE WITH AVATAR Over 33 Million Facebook Fans Receive Exclusive LOS ANGELES, CA. (August 14, 2012) – The world of Pandora has never looked better as over 33 million AVATAR Facebook fans were the first to learn of the upcoming release of the AVATAR Blu-ray 3D Collector's Edition, debuting globally beginning October 15, releasing in North America October 16, from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. A home entertainment experience like no other, for the first time ever, fans will be able to welcome James Cameron's global box office sensation into their homes in stunning 3D high-definition. "3D television is the future of home entertainment," said James Cameron, the Oscar® winning Director. "I'm a huge proponent of the technology and very pleased that AVATAR can be viewed in the living room the way it is meant to be seen." "As the number of homes with 3D televisions continues to grow, we thought it was important to bring the biggest 3D film ever right into your living room," continued Jon Landau, Academy Award® winning Producer of Avatar. "This is the only way fans should experience the world of Pandora and this release offers the highest picture quality possible. "Previously only available to consumers through an exclusive deal with Panasonic, the two-disc AVATAR 3D Blu-ray Collector's Edition will feature the original theatrical release and be available in all-new collectible packaging. Seen by more than 310 million people worldwide, the Oscar and Golden Globe winning epic is the highest grossing film of all time, taking in more than $2.7 billion in worldwide box office. It is also top-selling Blu-ray disc of all time. About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC ### | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acer launches 14-inch TravelMate P243 $700 business laptop in the US Posted: 14 Aug 2012 05:00 AM PDT Acer's finally offering up the TravelMate P243 here in the US, a business notebook designed for the harsh realities of corporate life. 4GB of DDR3 RAM loiter next to an Ivy Bridge Core i5 CPU and a 500GB HDD, packed beneath a spill-resistant keyboard that'll ensure that flyaway grande latte only ruins the front of your suit. You'll be staring into a 14-inch, 1,366 x 768 LED-backlit display with a built-in webcam, as well as a fingerprint reader and the company's ProShield security suite. You (or more likely, your IT buyer) can grab one of these for $700, while you can still grab last year's Sandy Bridge-powered P243 for $600. Acer America Introduces the TravelMate P243, An Essential Solution for Today's Business Professional Business Class Notebook Boosts Efficiency and Productivity While Supported with a Two-Year Warranty SAN JOSE, Calif., August 14, 2012 – Designed for professionals seeking a solid business notebook that delivers robust productivity, manageability, security and reliability features, Acer America today introduced the new TravelMate P243 notebook PC for U.S. customers. "Today's mobile business executive needs a PC that is robust enough to run intensive business applications while still fitting into strict budget guidelines," said Gregg Prendergast, vice president of commercial sales for Acer America. "The TravelMate P243 notebook is an important addition to our professional notebook portfolio, as it combines everything today's road warrior requires, including exceptional performance, enterprise-level security, durability and manageability for a best-in-class mobile experience." Fast, Efficient and Reliable Notebook Performance for Serious Business The TravelMate P243 delivers superb business presentations with rich color and crisp images via the notebook's 14-inch Acer ComfyView LCD LED backlit display with HD (1366x768) resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. With Wireless Display (WiDi) technology, users can connect the notebook to an HD display with a compatible adaptor, and easily setup and wirelessly share presentations and HD videos with great image clarity and sound. The TravelMate P243 packs 4GB of DDR3 memory and is upgradeable to 8GB. It provides plenty of space to store and manage important files and folders of any size thanks to a spacious SATA hard disk with up to 500GB of capacity. For added insurance, the TravelMate P243 features a spill-resistant keyboard, which allows for accidental spills on the notebook without damaging any of the internal components. The TravelMate P243 notebooks offer a full range of advanced connectivity solutions including Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi and Bluetooth. The Acer Video Conference solution, including high-def webcam and built-in microphone, enables high-quality video conferences so that users can easily keep in touch with business contacts. Premium Security & Manageability Acer ProShield features pre-boot authentication (PBA) and protects the notebook from the BIOS level all the way to the application level. It allows creating a Personal Secure Drive (PSD) to seamlessly store and encrypt all critical files, ensuring if the notebook is lost or stolen the data cannot be accessed. Unwanted files or folders can be permanently removed beyond recovery thanks to the File Shredder utility. Finally, it offers the automated solution to manage IT assets remotely. The TravelMate P243 offers another layer of security with Acer Backup, protecting valuable data, media and other digital assets. Acer eRecovery Manager provides on-demand recovery. The TravelMate P243 comes with Acer Office Manager (AOM), a manageability solution which allows small businesses to deploy security policies, monitor IT assets, and schedule maintenance tasks in one simple application. Pricing, Eco-Compliance and Warranty Acer professional notebooks are submitted to a series of reliability tests and are compliant with the most stringent industry criteria. These TravelMate P243 series models are Energy Star® qualified, ensuring energy savings and longer battery life. The new Acer TravelMate P243 Series comes with a standard two-year parts and labor warranty, which can be extended to three years with the Acer Advantage service. Additionally, some models have longer warranties offered through specific channel partners. All Acer notebooks and netbooks are backed by toll-free service and support. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Telenav's Scout gives iOS users offline navigation in exchange for ten bucks Posted: 14 Aug 2012 05:00 AM PDT We know that iOS 6 will bless iPhone users with some in-house-made mapping, but that hasn't stopped Telenav from bettering its own Scout navigation offering for Apple's favorite handsets. Scout now does offline navigation by letting users download maps of the west, central or eastern United States over WiFi only. Plus, Scout now takes voice commands, so on your next road trip you can tell it to find the nearest Whataburger whether you have cell signal or not. Interested parties can head on over to the App Store to get their download on, but you'll pay for the privilege -- offline navigation costs $9.99 a year or $2.99 a month, though the free, data-dependant version of Scout for iPhone still includes speech recognition. Still not sold? Perhaps the video after the break will persuade you.
Telenav Adds Offline GPS Navigation to Scout for iPhone Sunnyvale, Calif. - Aug 14, 2012 - Telenav®, Inc. (NASDAQ: TNAV), the leader in personalized navigation, published today an update to Scout™ in the Apple® App Store, to include Always There Navigation, downloadable offline navigation that provides GPS navigation service at all times, regardless of whether or not drivers are in wireless coverage. Scout also now comes with free speech recognition, allowing users to conduct hands-free local business and address searches with voice commands. "When you are driving in an unfamiliar area, the last thing you want to worry about is losing Offline Navigation Scout's Always There Navigation is now available for download by U.S. region – Western, Central or Eastern. With a simple download, Scout's voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation service is now accessible with or without wireless coverage. Customers always have the option of downloading different regions at any time to ensure they will have GPS navigation if they are "We originally launched offline navigation last year as part of the AT&T Navigator iPhone app," continued Drake. "It's been a popular feature that we are now very happy to offer to our Scout iPhone customers." Speech Recognition With the addition of speech recognition, Scout makes it safer, faster and simpler to search for nearby destinations. With the touch of one button, a user can activate voice commands and hands-free search and begin speaking to Scout immediately with any command, such as "Find Starbucks" or "Drive Home." Based on each voice query, Scout will either find nearby results or create the best route summaries based on traffic and current location. Download Scout Today The updated Scout for iPhone is available today in the Apple® App Store. The lowest priced A video of new features is available online. Screenshots are available on the Telenav Flickr page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phones4U now accepting pre-orders for LG's Optimus 4X HD, first 50 gets Cheryl Cole tickets Posted: 14 Aug 2012 04:41 AM PDT Do you like the look of LG's Optimus 4X HD and the soulful stylings of Geordie songstress Cheryl Cole? Phones4U can satisfy your twin passions by offering the first 50 pre-order customers a pair of tickets to see the former Ms. Tweedy perform live at the LG Arena. Those further back in the queue (or who preferred Nicola) will have to settle for LG's flagship handset, packing a 4.7-inch display and NVDIA's Tegra 3, clocked to 1.5GHz. Pre-orders kick off today, and the handset (and tickets, if you're quick) can be in your grubby paws from August 27th, setting you back £26 each and every month. LG OPTIMUS 4X HD NOW AVAILABLE TO PREORDER FROM PHONES 4U Phones 4u gives first 50 preorders tickets to see Cheryl Cole perform LIVE at the LG Arena this October MONDAY 13th AUGUST 2012: Phones 4u can confirm that it will be making LG's first Quad-Core processor smartphone, the LG Optimus 4X HD, available to preorder from its website today. The Geordie songstress, who recently topped the iTunes charts with 'Call My Name', is taking her third album 'A Million Lights' on her first solo nationwide arena tour this October. The first 50 people to preorder the new LG Optimus 4X HD from Phones 4u will be given tickets for themselves and a friend to watch Cheryl perform songs from all three of her solo albums, at the LG Arena in Birmingham on October 12th. The 8.9mm slim Optimus 4X HD includes 16 GB internal memory, runs on the latest version of Android OS, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and comes in both black and white. Besides the smooth and fast performance, the Optimus 4X HD boasts an 8 megapixel BSI (Backside Illumination) Sensor camera with LED flash. Advanced multimedia features are delivered with LG's new User Experience (UX), Optimus UI 3.0, which includes QuickMemo™. QuickMemo™ allows users the ability to jot their thoughts and ideas on any screen and share it instantly with friends and family, without having to open a separate application. The Optimus 4X HD comes with Media Plex™, which combines a range of functions to enhance image and video playback such as Fingertip Seek and Live Zooming. Media Plex™ also includes Time Catch Shot this allows the user to select and save the best shot among the images taken just before the shutter button is pressed. Available to preorder from Phones 4u today, the LG Optimus 4X HD will available in black at Phones 4u stores and online from 27th August, FREE from £26 a month on a choice of networks. The white colour variant will follow shortly after. LG Optimus 4X HD Specifications: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 14 Aug 2012 04:19 AM PDT Just when RSS needs a lift amid all the growing competition, here comes a gadget we've been waiting for since last November. The Little Printer from Berg is like a tiny personal printing press: put it somewhere in your home, hook it up wirelessly to your router and then sit back while it prints out a "miniature newspaper" from your personal feeds. More than that, the creators have been building upon their BergCloud software to allow the device to pull updates from places like Foursquare and Google, so it can also produce task lists, location updates, and direct messages from friends. The pre-order page lists a price of $259 plus shipping and promises that the Little Printer will start shipping in 60 days -- big news (and a big price) indeed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Visualized: Mars' Gale Crater in seamless 360 degrees Posted: 14 Aug 2012 03:55 AM PDT Have you been lapping up every pixel Curiosity sends back, but wishing you could somehow see those panoramas as nature intended? Well, thanks to kind 360 Cities user Andrew Bodrov, you can. The controls take a little getting used to, but persevere and you'll be rewarded with a view as if you were atop Curiosity itself. We're already imagining the fun if this was in the next Google Maps update, who knows what might turn up. Land on the source for the mind-blow. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verizon's Viewdini appears on iOS: works on any network, hunts video from 11 sources Posted: 14 Aug 2012 03:06 AM PDT The Viewdini streaming metasearch service launched a few months ago for Verizon's 4G LTE-laden Android hardware, and now it's finally available on iDevices. While the droid app is exclusive to those with a 4G plan on Big Red's network, anything running iOS 4.3 and up can now make use of Viewdini, independently of carrier ties. As the screenshots above show, you're also good to go on 3G, although you better watch that data allowance to avoid any nasty surprises. Interestingly, the iOS version currently only digs through the catalogues of 11 content providers compared with 18 on the Android version, but you're still getting access to various big names like ABC, Crackle, Hulu Plus, Netflix and Verizon's own video service. More providers should be added to the list soon, and if you'd like to give Viewdini a try, it's available at the App Store now. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gartner: worldwide mobile phone sales dipped 2.3 percent while users wait for next iPhone Posted: 14 Aug 2012 02:14 AM PDT Gartner is reporting that worldwide mobile phone sales this quarter dropped 2.3 percent as buyers postponed upgrades and held out for the next big thing. Of the 419 million units sold in the last three months, Samsung, Nokia and Apple unsurprisingly took the lion's share of the sales, while ZTE and LG rounded out the top five. Overall, Android's the most popular phone operating system, running 64.1 percent of all new handsets, while iOS phones came in second with 18.8 percent. If you feel like you need some more spreadsheets in your life, then read on for the full breakdown. Worldwide mobile device sales to end users by vendor in Q212 (Thousands of Units)
Worldwide mobile device sales to end users by Operating System in Q212 (Thousands of Units)
Gartner Says Worldwide Sales of Mobile Phones Declined 2.3 Percent in Second Quarter of 2012 Android Extended Lead While Apple iOS Market Share Growth Paused "Demand slowed further in the second quarter of 2012," said Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst at Gartner. "The challenging economic environment and users postponing upgrades to take advantage of high-profile device launches and promotions available later in the year slowed demand across markets. Demand of feature phones continued to decline, significantly weakening the overall mobile phone market. "High-profile smartphone launches from key manufacturers such as the anticipated Apple iPhone 5, along with Chinese manufacturers pushing 3G and preparing for major device launches in the second half of 2012, will drive the smartphone market upward. However, feature phones will continue to see pressure," Mr. Gupta said. In the second quarter of 2012, Samsung's mobile phone sales remained very strong - up 29.5 percent from the second quarter of 2011 (see Table 1), and managed to extend its lead over both Apple and Nokia quarter on quarter. This quarter's growth was driven by record sales of Galaxy smartphones, meaning smartphones now account for 50.4 percent of all Samsung mobile devices, or 45.6 million units. Demand for the new Galaxy S3 was particularly strong, exceeding Samsung's own expectations, with a reported 10 million units reached in the two months after its release. The Galaxy S3 was the best-selling Android product in the quarter and could have been higher but for product shortages. In the second quarter of 2012, consumer demand for the Apple iPhone weakened as sales fell 12.6 percent from the first quarter of 2012, but grew 47.4 percent year on year. Depending on the exact launch date of the new iPhone, Apple might experience another weaker-than-usual quarter in the third quarter of 2012, while Apple will be ready to take advantage of the strong holiday sales in North America and Western Europe that have historically remained immune to economic pressure. "Samsung and Apple continued to dominate the smartphone market, together taking about half the market share, and widening the gap to other manufacturers. No other smartphone vendors had share close to 10 percent," Mr. Anshul said. "In the race to be top smartphone manufacturer in 2012, Samsung has consistently increased its lead over Apple, and its open OS market share increased to one-and-a-half times that of Apple in the second quarter of 2012." Nokia's mobile phone sales declined 14.8 percent in the second quarter of 2012. Nokia is battling fiercely with white-box and new emerging device manufacturers to defend its feature phones sales. Nokia succeeded, to a certain extent, in winning feature phone market share as its sales grew quarter-on-quarter. While posting sequential growth in the feature phone market, Nokia's Lumia devices continue to struggle to find a place in consumers' minds as a replacement for Android. "Declining smartphone sales is worsening Nokia's overall position, as it had already lost the No. 1 position to Samsung in the previous quarter and is facing reduced profitability due to continuous declining sales of premium smartphones," said Mr. Gupta. In the smartphone OS market, Android extended its lead with an increase of 20.7 percentage points in market share in the second quarter of 2012 (see Table 2). While Apple's iOS market share slightly grew year over year (0.6 percent), it declined 3.7 percentage points quarter on quarter, as users postponed their upgrade decisions in most markets ahead of the upcoming launch of the iPhone 5. Gartner analysts said the arrival of the iPhone 5 should provide the greatest upgrade opportunity yet as the expected new design with a larger screen and likely other stylistic changes to the form factor will certainly make a strong case for iPhone 4 users to upgrade. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Researchers create super-efficient microbial fuel cell, dream of selling excess electricity Posted: 14 Aug 2012 01:14 AM PDT Recycling wastewater to generate energy has turned up noses before, but researchers at Oregon State University have developed a microbial fuel cell that can create 10 to 50, or even 100 times more electricity per volume than similar technologies. After refining the tech for several years using new materials, techniques and selecting better microbes, the team can now extract two kilowatts per cubic meter of refuse. As bacteria oxidizes organic matter, electrons -- rather than the hydrogen or methane that other methods rely upon -- are produced and run from an anode to a cathode within the device to create an electric current. Once implementation costs are cut down, the technology could power waste treatment plants and enable them to sell excess electricity. The contraption isn't just for processing what comes out of the porcelain throne -- it can also utilize materials ranging from grass straw to beer brewing byproducts. For now, however, the cell will tackle a pilot study before it inches closer to your local brewery or water treatment facility. MAJOR ADVANCE MADE IN GENERATING ELECTRICITY FROM WASTEWATER 8-13-12 CORVALLIS, Ore. – Engineers at Oregon State University have made a breakthrough in the performance of microbial fuel cells that can produce electricity directly from wastewater, opening the door to a future in which waste treatment plants not only will power themselves, but will sell excess electricity. The new technology developed at OSU can now produce 10 to 50 more times the electricity, per volume, than most other approaches using microbial fuel cells, and 100 times more electricity than some. Researchers say this could eventually change the way that wastewater is treated all over the world, replacing the widely used "activated sludge" process that has been in use for almost a century. The new approach would produce significant amounts of electricity while effectively cleaning the wastewater. The findings have just been published in Energy and Environmental Science, a professional journal, in work funded by the National Science Foundation. "If this technology works on a commercial scale the way we believe it will, the treatment of wastewater could be a huge energy producer, not a huge energy cost," said Hong Liu, an associate professor in the OSU Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering. "This could have an impact around the world, save a great deal of money, provide better water treatment and promote energy sustainability." Experts estimate that about 3 percent of the electrical energy consumed in the United States and other developed countries is used to treat wastewater, and a majority of that electricity is produced by fossil fuels that contribute to global warming. But the biodegradable characteristics of wastewater, if tapped to their full potential, could theoretically provide many times the energy that is now being used to process them, with no additional greenhouse emissions. OSU researchers reported several years ago on the promise of this technology, but at that time the systems in use produced far less electrical power. With new concepts – reduced anode-cathode spacing, evolved microbes and new separator materials – the technology can now produce more than two kilowatts per cubic meter of liquid reactor volume. This amount of power density far exceeds anything else done with microbial fuel cells. The system also works better than an alternative approach to creating electricity from wastewater, based on anaerobic digestion that produces methane. It treats the wastewater more effectively, and doesn't have any of the environmental drawbacks of that technology, such as production of unwanted hydrogen sulfide or possible release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The OSU system has now been proven at a substantial scale in the laboratory, Liu said, and the next step would be a pilot study. Funding is now being sought for such a test. A good candidate, she said, might initially be a food processing plant, which is a contained system that produces a steady supply of certain types of wastewater that would provide significant amounts of electricity. Continued research should also find even more optimal use of necessary microbes, reduced material costs and improved function of the technology at commercial scales, OSU scientists said. Once advances are made to reduce high initial costs, researchers estimate that the capital construction costs of this new technology should be comparable to that of the activated sludge systems now in widespread use today – and even less expensive when future sales of excess electricity are factored in. This technology cleans sewage by a very different approach than the aerobic bacteria used in the past. Bacteria oxidize the organic matter and, in the process, produce electrons that run from the anode to the cathode within the fuel cell, creating an electrical current. Almost any type of organic waste material can be used to produce electricity – not only wastewater, but also grass straw, animal waste, and byproducts from such operations as the wine, beer or dairy industries. The approach may also have special value in developing nations, where access to electricity is limited and sewage treatment at remote sites is difficult or impossible as a result. The ability of microbes to produce electricity has been known for decades, but only recently have technological advances made their production of electricity high enough to be of commercial use. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HBO and Blinkbox offer second season of Game of Thrones online before DVD / Blu-ray release in UK Posted: 14 Aug 2012 12:06 AM PDT Folks in North America may have to wait for the upcoming DVD or Blu-ray release to purchase the second season of Game of Thrones, but those in the UK have another option thanks to a new partnership between HBO UK and the Tesco-owned Blinkbox video-on-demand service. That deal sees both the second seasons of Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire making their debut on the online service well ahead of their traditional home video releases, where they're also available alongside the first seasons of each show and a number of other newly available HBO titles. In the case of Game of Thrones, you'll pay £17.99 (or about $30) for each season or £1.79 (or $3) for individual episodes, and you can choose to either download or stream the episodes and view them on a variety of devices (including game consoles, the iPad and some smart TVs). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acer Iconia Tab A110 allegedly caught brandishing Jelly Bean in press shots Posted: 13 Aug 2012 10:42 PM PDT When we last left Acer's Iconia Tab A110, it was going to be yet another 7-inch Android 4.0 tablet. No big deal. The proposition just became a little more intriguing now that online shop Ebuyer has posted what might be formal press shots of the A110 sporting a fresh coat of Jelly Bean, making it one of the first third-party Android 4.1 tablets that we've seen. Assuming the gallery isn't just a clever attempt to whip customers into a frenzy, the posting suggests Acer's design will follow the Nexus 7 formula all the way through to the stock interface. About the only differences are that empty home screen and incredibly generic wallpaper. Where it goes awry is the timing: without any hint of a release date, we don't know if a Jelly Bean update would push the A110 beyond its original summer launch target. Any truth to the story, however, can only mean good things for the tablet's larger A210 sibling. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RIM accidentally leaks BlackBerry Bold 9730, leaves a lot to the imagination (Update: it was a typo) Posted: 13 Aug 2012 09:54 PM PDT You might remember that BlackBerry Curve 9320 as one of RIM's worst kept secrets of all time, and now it appears we could be heading in the same shaky direction with the Canadian company's unannounced Bold 9730. According to N4BB, the Waterloo-based outfit briefly listed the device on its App World Vendor Portal, but unfortunately there's not too much to dig into, as the listing doesn't reveal specs or any other juicy information to give us a better idea of what we can expect from this intrepid handset. N4BB does think BlackBerry's 9730 could just be a CDMA variant of the Bold 9790, though we'll have to hold off on any assumptions until we have something more concrete. Update: N4BB has updated its post after getting a response from RIM indicating that this was "simply an error on their part." Satisfied? We're not, yet, so we've contacted RIM for a statement. Update 2: We've heard back from RIM and the company's told us this was nothing but a "typo gone viral," as the listing was supposed to be for a BlackBerry Curve 9370. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GE, Urban Green Energy set up first integrated, wind-powered EV charging station (video) Posted: 13 Aug 2012 09:00 PM PDT GE and Urban Green Energy might not be the first to install a wind-powered EV charging station, but the two may be the best prepared to take the concept to a grander scale. The partnership just installed the first Sanya Skypump just outside of Barcelona to serve corporate and government drivers with truly clean energy at levels that meet their typically heftier demands. It's billed as one of the first properly integrated wind-powered EV chargers, and it's undoubtedly one of the more elegant: one of UGE's 4K wind turbine towers catches energy from the breeze above, while a GE Durastation tucked neatly at the bottom provides high-voltage charging for EV drivers undoubtedly eager to get moving once again. Don't worry if you don't speak enough Catalan to charge up at the initial location, either, as plans are underway to bring Skypumps to malls and universities across Australia and the US before 2012 is over. The only catch is the frown you'll likely get if you try to plug in a personal car for a top-up -- let's hope the attention swings towards completely green power sources for commuters in the near future. Urban Green Energy and GE Announce First Sanya Skypump Installation World's First Integrated Wind-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installed in Barcelona BARCELONA, SPAIN - August 14, 2012 - Urban Green Energy (UGE) and GE (NYSE: GE) have unveiled the world's first integrated wind-powered electric vehicle charging station. The innovative Sanya Skypump pairs UGE's cutting-edge vertical wind turbines with GE's electric vehicle (EV) charging technology to offer completely clean energy to power electric vehicles. Installed by UGE Iberia, the Spanish branch of New York-based Urban Green Energy, the first wind-powered EV charging station is located at Cespa's global headquarters near Barcelona. Cespa is the environmental services subsidiary of Ferrovial Servicios, the world's largest private transportation infrastructure investor. More Sanya Skypumps will be installed later this year in the U.S. and Australia at shopping malls, universities and other locations. The integrated system incorporates both the energy production capacity of UGE's 4K wind turbine and the EV charging capability of the GE Durastation in a single unit, with all required electrical systems located within the tower. Designed for commercial and government customers, the Sanya Skypump combines environmental benefits with a strong statement to customers and the public. "Since launching the Sanya Skypump, we have received inquiries from companies around the world that are looking to embrace sustainability," said Nick Blitterswyk, CEO of UGE. "The Sanya Skypump is one of those rare products that enable institutions to demonstrate their commitment to the environment while providing a really useful service as well." The Sanya Skypump delivers power through a GE DuraStation EV charger, which enables faster charging using higher voltages. Charles Elazar, marketing director of GE Energy Management's Industrial Solutions business in Europe, says, "GE is launching a family of electric vehicle charging systems in Europe offering domestic and commercial users a range of easy-to-use, flexible systems to help make electric vehicles a practical, everyday reality." GE is a keen supporter of electric vehicles and has announced plans to purchase 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015 for use as company cars and to lease to corporate customers through its Fleet Services business. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung's defense against Apple patents begins with DiamondTouch table, LiveTile UI prior art Posted: 13 Aug 2012 08:11 PM PDT Samsung may have convinced Judge Koh to toss a few international handsets out of Apple's lawsuit, but the Korean firm still has Cupertino's patent licensing accusations to contend with. Their tactic? Convince the court that Apple's claim to the inventions are invalid, and that the technology was developed prior to the disputed patent's filing. It's called showing "prior art," and Sammy's done it before -- famously showing a scene from 2001: A Space Odyssey in an attempt to put Apple's iPad design claims to rest. Today's examples were more grounded in reality, focusing on debunking Cupertino's claim to the "bounce back" effect that happens when a user reaches the end of a page and common multitouch zoom / navigation gestures. Samsung pitted the famous "bounce back" feature against an old PocketPC interface called LaunchTile, which allowed users to navigate through 36 applications by zooming in and out and a panning across a grid-like "world view" of said apps. Movement between grids snap to each zone, marking the end of a page. Apple shot back, noting that LiveTile's snapping navigation didn't work on diagonals, and cited other differences as well. Samsung wasn't deterred, however, and brought out DiamondTouch, a projector based multitouch table that utilized both one touch scrolling and pinch-based zoom gestures. The table even takes aim at the aforementioned bounce-back patent with a technology called TableCloth, which bounces back images that are pulled off screen. DiamondTouch's creator, Adam Bogue, told the court that he had demoed the technology to Apple privately back in 2003, noting that it was also available to anyone who visited the Mitsubishi Electronic Research Laboratories' lobby. If the jury takes to Samsung's claims of prior art, it could severely cut Apple's claims against it. Even so, Cupertino's lawyers aren't going down without a fight, and still have a number of navigation and design claims that Samsung hasn't addressed. The two parties are expected to keep up the fight for about a week, we'll keep you posted on the inevitable revelations as they come. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google+ offers custom URLs for verified accounts, other profiles to come 'over time' Posted: 13 Aug 2012 06:25 PM PDT Do you happen to be David Beckham or Toyota? Well, congratulations -- you now have a Google+ vanity URL. The rest of us looking for the football star or car manufacturer need only type "google.com/+davidbeckham" or "google.com/+toyota" to reach those respective pages, enabling easy access to that must-see picture in front of a private jet, or a vehicle recall notice. Sadly, you're probably not eligible for a custom shortcut of your own -- here's the word from Google: At first, we're introducing custom URLs to a limited number of verified profiles and pages. But over time we plan to offer custom URLs to many more brands and individuals, so please stay tuned! So, for now, you better get comfy with "plus.google.com/108326689306432447266," or whatever the good Goog has granted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FTC considering new settlement process so companies can't deny wrongdoing Posted: 13 Aug 2012 05:36 PM PDT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Judge cuts international Galaxy S and S II, Galaxy Ace from Apple lawsuit against Samsung Posted: 13 Aug 2012 04:52 PM PDT Apple rested its side of the case in its main lawsuit against Samsung on Monday, and with the switch of focus came a small sacrifice. While Samsung failed in a Hail Mary bid to have the suit dismissed, it successfully argued that a few devices should escape the clutches of a full-fledged ban. Don't get too excited, though: the exclusion list mostly touches on phones that only reach US shores through unofficial importers, including the Galaxy Ace as well as international editions of the Galaxy S and Galaxy S II. The decision still leaves the American variants of phones under scrutiny, and it doesn't change Apple's hopes of a large licensing fee for all the alleged transgressions. We'd still say the exemption provides some small amount of relief for Samsung, however. Most of Apple's early, less-than-flattering accusations of trade dress violations focused on the more familiar-looking foreign Galaxy models and lose some of their thunder when leveled against the conspicuously altered designs that eventually set foot in the US. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung SGH-T899 for T-Mobile emerges on the web with potential Windows Phone 8, LTE Posted: 13 Aug 2012 03:45 PM PDT User agent profiles on the web aren't always guarantees of what you'll get in a future device, but this is one of those moments where we'd like the details to be true. A Samsung-made Windows Phone 8 device for T-Mobile, the SGH-T899, lines up closely with the higher-end Odyssey we'd previously only seen in a purported roadmap. Along with alluding to the OS itself through the presence of Internet Explorer 10, there's a reference to the hinted-at 1,280 x 720 screen that you won't find on any Windows Phone 7 gear. The profile even contains a suggestion of LTE support, although we're still wondering whether or not this would be very aggressive futureproofing or just an incidental aspect of the possible Snapdragon S4 chip -- Magenta isn't flicking the LTE switch until 2013. At least the rumored fall release date gives us a comparatively short wait before we learn whether the Odyssey and T899 are one and the same, or real at all. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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