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Engadget News |
- The Engadget Interview: Polaroid CEO Scott Hardy (video)
- Nokia Lumia 920 gets the FCC nod
- DECam: Gazing deep into the final frontier in search of dark energy
- Apple releases OS X 10.8.2 update for Mountain Lion: Facebook integration, iMessage fixes and more
- LG gets patent for mobile UI that reacts to flexible displays, encourages origami
- Sony Xperia T for AT&T achieves FCC victory
- iOS 6 now available to download for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (update: full changelog)
- American Airlines to hand out Galaxy Note 'tablets' to 17,000 flight attendants (video)
- AT&T's LTE network now live in Seattle, Portland, Pittsburgh and Honolulu
- GE launches eye-pleasing WattStation Wall EV charger in Europe
- HTC Windows Phone 8S hands-on: a bright Windows phone that holds promise (video)
- Windows Phone 8X coming to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in November
- Google, Amazon, Facebook and more confirmed as members of the Internet Association
- Former NVIDIA mobile chief Mike Rayfield lands at Micron Technology
- Windows Phone 8X by HTC hands-on: Microsoft's modern mobile OS personified in polycarbonate
- Windows Phone 8X by HTC: 4.3-inch 720p display, LTE, dual-core S4, available this November
- HTC announces Windows Phone 8S: a mid-range Microsoft handset for the fashion conscious
- HTC Windows Phone 8X and 8S family portraits
- Square competitor Groupon Payments launches today, promises lowest cost for retailers
- Live from HTC's NYC press event!
- Vizio Co-Star review: how good a deal is this $99 Google TV box?
- Kobo Arc tablet hands-on (video)
- US Cellular will get Samsung Galaxy Note II in late October, will cost $300
- Dice Holdings buys Slashdot, Freecode and SourceForge for $20 million
- Yahoo starts selling half of its Alibaba stake as promised, sends $3.65 billion to giddy shareholders
- Slickdeals' best in tech for September 19th: an ASUS wireless router, keyboards and more
- Nokia Lumia 920 makes PureView appearance at Photokina with anti-shake video demo (video)
- Turtle Beach releasing entry-level Ear Force NLa, N11 stereo headsets for the Wii U faithful
- Pentax's Q10 mirrorless shows its tiny sensor to the world, we give it the hands-on treatment (video)
- LG Optimus G hands-on redux (video)
- Pentax K-5 II and K-5 IIs hands-on (video)
- PSA: iOS 6 expected to arrive at 1PM Eastern, get your downloads ready
- Acer Iconia Tab A110 comes to Europe this fall with Jelly Bean, £180 UK price
- Samsung's MultiView MV900F begins shipping with 180-degree AMOLED display for $350
- Samsung Galaxy Note II to land 'by mid-November' on all major US carriers
- LG Optimus G and its quad-core 1.5GHz S4 Pro coming to US shores in Q4 (update: video)
- John Legere confirmed as new Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile USA
- Targus Ultralife accessories for Ultrabooks turn their noses up at lesser, non-ultrafied PC peripherals
- Sky bags exclusive rights Warner Bros. movie catalog, makes LoveFilm and others wait
- Apple's EarPods get the iFixit teardown treatment, found to basically be earbuds
| The Engadget Interview: Polaroid CEO Scott Hardy (video) Posted: 19 Sep 2012 10:58 AM PDT There's a big frame in Polaroid's Photokina booth -- a giant, blown up version of the iconic white border that graced the company's instant photos for so many decades, beckoning passersby to stand behind it and pose, like muscle man cutouts at a traveling carnival. Directly to its right, attendees stand around a row of product from the company aimed at recapturing some of the nostalgia inherent in the Polaroid name. It's nothing compared to the gathering at a booth 20-or-so feet across the room, where international guests stand fascinated by the Instant Lab, an accordion-style gizmo that transforms iPhone images into instant photos, utilizing film produced at the last remaining Polaroid factory, since purchased by a company fittingly named "Impossible." The early 21st century is a strange time to be the head of a company like Polaroid, standing at a bit of a crossroads between new and old technologies, attempting to harness the cache (and nostalgia) that comes with 75 years of history, while keeping up with the latest trends in digital imaging and slates. We sat down with the company's CEO Scott Hardy to discuss precisely what it means to be Polaroid in 2012, where the company goes from here and how much looking back is necessary to keep it moving ahead.
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| Nokia Lumia 920 gets the FCC nod Posted: 19 Sep 2012 10:52 AM PDT It was going to happen eventually, but we're big fans of the "better soon than later" mentality. The global edition of Nokia's Windows Phone 8 flagship, the Lumia 920, has been given the thumbs-up from the FCC. The device, which supports five LTE bands used outside of the US and zero within, has already been WiFi-certified (the certification papers actually specify this model, the RM-821, as the Lumia 920.1, which leads us to assume the AT&T-friendly version might be the 920.2). We're quite certain this won't be widely available stateside -- and certainly not through a major national carrier -- so we'll remain on the hunt for another Lumia 920 to pass through the federal halls sometime soon. |
| DECam: Gazing deep into the final frontier in search of dark energy Posted: 19 Sep 2012 10:39 AM PDT The National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) puts it into perspective right away: "Eight billion years ago, rays of light from distant galaxies began their long journey to Earth." It's important to hold that fact in mind, as we marvel at the first images from deep in the belly of our universe to arrive from the Chile-based Dark Energy Camera (DECam). As that name might suggest, peering at remote galaxies for purely visual gratification isn't the camera's primary purpose. The result of eight years of planning and hard work, involving engineers and scientists from three continents, the DECam is mounted on the Victor M. Blanco Telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. Sitting atop a 7,200-foot mountain, the camera is part of the Dark Energy Survey, which intends to gather information on over 300 million galaxies. The goal is to better understand dark energy -- a concept that represents our best explanation for why the universe's rate of expansion is speeding up, rather than slowing due to gravity. Gaze past the break for the background on the project. How does one gather light so dim that it's about one million times less intense than the faintest star that can be seen with the human eye? For starters, you'll need a 570-megapixel camera, with 74 CCDs built specifically to be sensitive to "redshifted" light (a term used to describe the effect the expansion of the universe has on light waves reaching our planet). All those megapixels peep a 2.2-degree field of view. That may not sound like much, but it equates to a single image snapping a section of sky approximately 20 times larger than the area the moon appears to cover. On top of that, you'll need a total of five lenses, the largest of which is one meter in diameter. The result? A camera that creates images one gigabyte in size each.
In total, 400 such pictures will be taken a night and then sent to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (of Blue Waters fame) to be stored and compiled. The camera should be able to gather enough data to allow all four possible avenues for exploring dark energy: galaxy clusters, supernovae, large-scale galaxy clumping and weak gravitational lensing, at the same time. This marks the first time exploring all four is possible in a single experiment. The first batch of these -- literally historic -- images shows us a tantalizing look at the Fornax cluster of galaxies, some 60 million light years from Earth. We even get to see a (relative) close-up of a "barred spiral galaxy" (above) called NGC 1365. This set of images is barely the beginning, though, with the camera not set to begin active operations until December -- once full testing is complete. Then, over five years, it will endeavor to create a lucid astronomic image of a section measuring an eighth of the total sky. DECam won't just help us gain a better understanding of dark energy, either. It'll also be available for the greater astronomical community thanks to NOAO's open-access telescope allocation, which could see it tasked with everything from snapping asteroids closer to home, or helping to better understand the origins of the universe. And we thought our holiday snaps were precious. [Image credit: Fermilab] |
| Apple releases OS X 10.8.2 update for Mountain Lion: Facebook integration, iMessage fixes and more Posted: 19 Sep 2012 10:27 AM PDT Looks like one major software update wasn't enough, as Apple is following its push of iOS 6 with OS X 10.8.2. Weighing in at 697.54MB, it's a pretty substantial update for Mountain Lion users, with that long-awaited Facebook integration chief among the changes. As Twitter presently operates within the OS, Facebook will now too enjoy single sign-on simplicity, and all of OS X's sharing portals will now include Facebook as an option. You'll get Facebook notifications in Notification Center, and you can share Game Center scores with your Facebook pals. It's also being reported that this build restores laptop battery life levels to those seen with Lion. Other new features include the addition of Power Nap for the Late 2010 MacBook Air, a few iMessage tweaks (iMessages sent to your phone number will now appear on your Mac), a new shared Reminders list and the ability to receive FaceTime calls initially sent to your phone number. Passbook users will also enjoy the newfangled ability to add passes right from Safari and Mail, and Dictation now understands Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Korean, Canadian English (!), Canadian French and Italian. We're installing the update now, and you can peek the full changelog after the break. Feel free to toss your post-install impressions in comments as well.
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| LG gets patent for mobile UI that reacts to flexible displays, encourages origami Posted: 19 Sep 2012 10:24 AM PDT As often as companies love to toy with flexible displays, we're seldom told how we'd control that newfound freedom. Are we supposed to make e-paper cranes? Credit LG for some forward thinking -- it's just receiving a US patent for a 2008-era user interface invention that would use a bending screen to its advantage. The implementation includes two displays, one of which flexes while the other accepts touch; bend or fold the first display, and the touchscreen changes to suit the context. Having two closely linked displays would also let the panels run either in unity or independently. Suffice it to say that the technology is unlikely to roll out as-is on a smartphone, if ever: LG's attention has swung towards having one big touchscreen as of late. However, the interface does give the Korean firm a place to start if it develops devices to match its new flexible batteries. |
| Sony Xperia T for AT&T achieves FCC victory Posted: 19 Sep 2012 10:12 AM PDT We witnessed the Sony Xperia T make its way through the FCC approval process a few days ago, but there was still something drastically missing: compatibility with AT&T LTE. But as some images published by UK retailer Phones4U attested to, we figured it was only a matter of time. Now that time has come, as the FCC pushed through the Xperia Mint Amy LT30at (the global Xperia T is the Mint Rita LT30p, if you're keeping track) today. Not only does the Amy sport the requisite AT&T-friendly bands (4 and 17, with support for bands 2 and 5 as well), some of the docs specifically call this device out as the AT&T version. We've always admired Sony's bluntness around FCC docs when other manufacturers attempt to hide as much information as possible. To do some digging of your own, have a look-see at the source link. |
| iOS 6 now available to download for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (update: full changelog) Posted: 19 Sep 2012 09:50 AM PDT Cupertino's newest hardware may have us purring, but Apple hasn't left those of us with existing hardware out in the cold. iOS 6 should be appearing as an available update right now, or at least very shortly -- depending on how taxed those servers get. It'll be compatible with every iPhone since the 3GS, iPod touch 4G / 5G and this-and-last-year's vintage of the iPad. Given the inexorable march of technology, some of the newer features won't work on the older devices, but you can use our compatability checker to determine what new things you'll be able to do in the next few hours. We've had notes from our tipsters that the update is arriving a few minutes early (with photographic proof above), but so far we've had nothing here. [Thanks, Jim] iOS 6 Software Update This update contains over 200 new features, including the following: • Maps Some features may not be available for all countries or all areas. Please visit this website for more details: For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website: |
| American Airlines to hand out Galaxy Note 'tablets' to 17,000 flight attendants (video) Posted: 19 Sep 2012 09:40 AM PDT Things aren't all Champagne and caviar over at American Airlines, not that you'd know it from the company's latest press release. The Dallas-based air carrier just shared a plan to outfit all of its flight attendants with Samsung Galaxy Notes beginning later this year. The rollout will continue through the middle of 2013, at which point each of the airline's 17,000 cabin crew members will have their very own "tablet," which they'll use to manage flight manifests, track premium passenger meal preferences and monitor weather and gate information in real-time, on WiFi-equipped flights. Eventually, the handsets will also include the flight attendant manual, along with additional features, such as processing for in-flight meal and drink purchases (pending FAA approval). Though the Galaxy Note II will likely be available by the time the program begins, the press release references a 5.3-inch display, which would imply the previous-gen handset. Sadly, this Note of excitement comes alongside news that some 11,000 American mechanics and ground workers could get a pink slip come November -- as frequent air travelers ourselves, we're genuinely sorry to hear that, and we don't want any gadget to overshadow the airline's ongoing troubles and the unfortunate fate of hardworking employees. You can catch that angle at the coverage link below, then read all about the Note program just after the break.
American Airlines Flight Attendants To Make Travel More Personalized With Innovative Inflight Tablet Program American's Tablet Program Planned to be the First of its Kind for any Airline FORT WORTH, Texas – A more personalized inflight experience will become a reality later this year as American Airlines flight attendants begin using the sleek, new Samsung Galaxy Note® as part of American's innovative tablet program designed to put invaluable customer data at their fingertips. "This is a huge step towards a new, modern American Airlines, as our tablet program is the first of its kind in the airline industry, where our flight attendants will have the most up-to-date customer information in the palms of their hands, allowing them to better serve our customers from boarding to deplaning," said Lauri Curtis, American's Vice President – Flight Service. "By giving a device to all of our active flight attendants we are better enabling our people to deliver an exceptional customer experience." The new devices will be a strategic tool for flight attendants giving them greater access to more information about the customers onboard their flight. To better serve customers, American's flight attendants can use the device to: · Access customer information such as name, seat number and loyalty program status in a seat map view and customer list view; · Record meal and beverage preferences for premium class customers; · Easily identify high-value customers seated in the premium cabins and in the main cabin, and customers requiring special assistance; and, · Provide customers with connecting gate, flight delays and weather information – pending FAA approval, all information will be automatically updated when Wi-Fi is available on the aircraft. American intends to use the devices for transactions onboard the aircraft such as purchasing food inflight, pending FAA approval. The Samsung Galaxy Note is a SAFE™-designated device that offers a full portfolio of enterprise-ready features and capabilities. Additional functionality such as the addition of the flight attendant manual and more will continue to roll out over time. Adding the manual to the device will eventually eliminate the need for flight attendants to carry paper manuals – a more fuel efficient and environmentally-friendly approach. American began piloting the program this spring. Beginning later this year through mid-2013, American will roll out the selected devices to all of its approximately 17,000 flight attendants. The Samsung Galaxy Note was chosen based on flight attendant feedback after months of testing different devices. Through testing, the Samsung Galaxy Note was ultimately selected because of its thin, portable design, easy to handle profile, SAFE security features, and 5.3-inch HD display that provide wide-screen readability and the functionality necessary to equip flight attendants with the ability to better know their customers and deliver the service they value. "We're pioneering important new technologies as part of our continued effort to build a new American and return to industry leadership," said Maya Leibman, American's Chief Information Officer. "As we continue to evolve into a more modern airline and explore ways to enhance the travel experience, we are giving our people the tools they need to offer our loyal customers ease of travel both in the air and on the ground." Furthering its efforts to advance airspace modernization, American Airlines announced earlier this month that it is expanding its Electronic Flight Bag program for pilots after becoming the first commercial carrier to receive FAA approval to use a tablet device in the cockpit during all phases of flight. "From inflight entertainment to customer management, American Airlines is deploying cutting-edge technology to enhance the customer experience," said Timothy Wagner, Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Sales for Samsung Mobile. "By pairing the power and performance of Samsung devices with the capabilities of their inflight teams, American is truly becoming the airline of the future – today." For more information on American's innovative tablet program for flight attendants, please visit: http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/samsung-galaxy-note.jsp and www.youtube.com/americanairlines. |
| AT&T's LTE network now live in Seattle, Portland, Pittsburgh and Honolulu Posted: 19 Sep 2012 09:25 AM PDT The Rethink Possible carrier may be taking baby steps towards its LTE goals, but today more folks will be happy that they, too, can finally start experiencing some speedier service. AT&T has announced its adding a few more names to its LTE-ready list of cities, including Seattle, Portland, Pittsburgh and Hawaii's beautiful capital, Honolulu. Additionally, users in the "metro" area of Detroit should now also be able to connect to the fresh Long Term Evolution network, while Memphis and Birmingham saw their names added to the listings early on yesterday. More importantly, though, how's it working out for you (if at all)? Please let us know in the comments below. AT&T 4G LTE Available In Honolulu, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Portland Customers to benefit from ultra-fast mobile Internet on the latest LTE devices PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* has turned on its 4G LTE network in Honolulu, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Portland, bringing customers the latest generation of wireless network technology. Watch here to see several of the benefits AT&T 4G LTE provides, including: Faster speeds. LTE technology is capable of delivering mobile Internet speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G. Customers can stream, download, upload and game faster than ever before. "We continue to see demand for mobile Internet skyrocket, and our 4G LTE network in Portland responds to what customers want from their mobile experience - more, faster, on the best devices," said Mike Maxwell, AT&T's Vice President/General Manager. AT&T's 4G Network AT&T is the only U.S. service provider to deploy two compatible 4G technologies to deliver more speed to more customers. Our 4G LTE network delivered faster average download speeds than any of our competitors in PCWorld's most recent 13-market speed tests. AT&T's 4G LTE network delivers speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G**, as well as multiple innovations that optimize the network for performance. Our network's radio components are placed close to the antenna at most cell sites, instead of inside the base station, which helps minimize power loss between the base station and antenna and, in turn, improves the performance of our 4G LTE network. The network also is designed with its core elements distributed across the country, which helps reduce latency, or the delay when using the Internet, because your request isn't traveling as far. Even as AT&T continues to expand its 4G LTE coverage in 2012 and 2013, customers can get 4G speeds outside of 4G LTE areas on our 4G HSPA+ network, unlike competitors, where customers fall back to slower 3G technologies when outside of LTE coverage. AT&T's focus to deliver the best possible mobile Internet experience goes beyond 4G to embrace additional connection technologies. AT&T operates the nation's largest Wi-Fi network*** including more than 30,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at popular restaurants, hotels, bookstores and retailers across the country. Most AT&T smartphone customers get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn't count against customers' monthly wireless data plans. AT&T also is a leading developer of Distributed Antenna Systems, which utilize multiple small antennas to maximize coverage and speed within stadiums, convention centers, office buildings, hotels and other areas where traditional coverage methods are challenging. Over the past five years, AT&T invested more than $115 billion into operations and into acquiring spectrum and other assets that have enhanced our wireless and wired networks. Since 2007, AT&T has invested more capital into the U.S. economy than any other public company. In a July 2012 report, the Progressive Policy Institute ranked AT&T No. 1 on its list of U.S. "Investment Heroes." |
| GE launches eye-pleasing WattStation Wall EV charger in Europe Posted: 19 Sep 2012 09:08 AM PDT Every EV needs juice, but GE likes to dispense it in style, and it's sticking to that mantra with its new, wall-mounted version of the WattStation. The weather-resistant charging point has been launched in Europe , and is available for your home or business in a buffet of custom colors. The WattStation Wall plays nicely with type 1 / 2 plugs and type 2 / 3 sockets under the supervision of GE's smartphone app for monitoring usage and remote charging. A networked version is also due in early 2013 for businesses that want greater control and billing options through the WattStation Connect platform. The PR mentions it supports connections common to Europe, USA and Japan , so we assume it'll also be sticking to walls outside the Continent before too long. If you're not sold on the design, maybe the saving on garage floor space will persuade you -- unless you're set on a Hiriko, of course. 18 September 2012 It is Watt Your Wall Has Been Waiting for GE Launches the Stylish, Smart and Simple Wattstation Wall Mounted Electric Vehicle Chargers in Europe MUNICH, GERMANY -September 18, 2012 -GE (NYSE: GE) has launched the wall-mounted version of its WattStation electric vehicle (EV) charger in Europe. Unveiled at GE's Global Research Centre, located in the Technical University in Munich, Germany, the GE WattStation Wall might look like a work of modern art. But the stylish device makes owning and using electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles an easier and more attractive proposition. There is even an app for it. The GE WattStation Wall is compatible with all the main types of European EV charging connections and is suitable for use in private and public locations. The compact unit can be easily installed indoors or outdoors, and its robust construction will resist rain, sleet and even ice. A flexible cord conveniently wraps around the unit to keep it organized and off the ground. To prevent unauthorised use, the WattStation Wall charger can be switched on and off from a separate switch. The energy management capability of the WattStation Wall allows for several chargers to be connected to an existing power supply, enabling the easy installation of multiple charging points in parking lots and fleet depots. It also can be connected to existing energy management systems and is compatible with smart grid technology allowing users to take advantage of cheaper tariffs and to avoid unnecessary vehicle charging over peak demand periods. The WattStation Wall is an appealing option when charging points are to be located in public areas or alongside distinctive architecture; the sleek design can be customized to match existing decors or to incorporate customers' corporate or favourite colours. Getting Connected WattStation Network, a networked version of the charger, which will be available early in 2013, will work with the WattStation Connect online service. It will meet the needs of car park operators, fleet managers and municipalities that require greater control of energy usage or the smart functionality necessary to collect payments and monitor usage. User identification and online payment options will allow chargers to be made available to all EV drivers or restricted to authorised users only. Fleet managers also will be able to rebill users. A WattStation smart phone app enables users to manage vehicle charging remotely and to obtain energy use information. The smart technology has been designed to accept future upgrades. Charles Elazar, marketing director with GE Energy Management's Industrial Solutions business in Europe, Middle East and Africa says: "Customers are now looking at electric vehicles from an economic rather than an environmental perspective. The new wave of hybrid vehicles is creating interest, and we also are seeing a niche develop with organisations purchasing complete 'EV eco-systems,' packages of vehicles and charging infrastructure to meet specific transport needs." The GE WattStation Wall meets these customers' needs with its combination of smart functionality and "plug-and-play" simplicity. Along with a range of chargers that includes the GE DuraStation, WattStation Wall and WattStation Connect, GE provides the full range of electrical systems and smart grid technology necessary to develop and manage a complete electric vehicle infrastructure. Through its Capital and Fleet Services businesses, GE also is able to provide the financing, vehicles and fleet management knowhow to support the widespread adoption of EV technology. GE is a keen supporter of EVs. In 2010, the company 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. At the time GE's Chief Executive Officer Jeff Immelt said he hoped the purchase would "move electric vehicles from anticipation to action." More information about the GE WattStation Wall is available at:www.gepowercontrols.com/ev. For trade sales enquires contact Joerg Platzer at GE Energyjoerg.platzer@ge.com. Notes
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| HTC Windows Phone 8S hands-on: a bright Windows phone that holds promise (video) Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:48 AM PDT HTC is making a two-pronged attack on Windows Phone 8, and while it may not match up to the specs on its new flagship, the Windows Phone 8S by HTC (yes, that's the official moniker) has some charm all of its own. The screen is a pretty underwhelming Gorilla Glass-coated 4-inch WVGA LCD, with a similarly middleweight 5-megapixel camera peering out from the other side. Given that it's looking to be priced closer to the One V than the One S, we're not all that surprised. The phone itself is a good-looking slab, thanks to the breezy color schemes and while the build is certainly solid enough, we'd be hard-pressed to put it in league with the 8X, which felt at home in our hand from the start. The 8S is cocooned in a matte plastic finish, arriving in four different color options -- depending on carrier and territory. The two-tone color scheme, aside from a few color licks around the lens and ear piece, keeps the second color limited to the bottom edge and the detachable cap. This offers access to the microSD slot (upgrading the built-in 4GB of storage up to 32GB), but like the 8X, no access to the battery. Yep, these new Windows Phones look nothing like HTC's One series, and while the same design studio is responsible, this time, it took its inspiration from Microsoft's tile interface. There's a dual-core 1GHz Snapdragon S4 processor inside, but the phone wasn't quite ready to be put completely through its paces. While the software was still locked down, you can take a video tour -- and read more of our hardware impressions -- after the break.
Unfortunately, until Windows Phone 8 gets its official release next month, HTC is keeping the software out of bounds. There are some things we can glean from the specifications of the device, however, including the lack of a front-facing camera on the 8S. Given that the Microsoft-owned Skype looks likely to be a core feature of the new Windows mobile OS, it seems a shame to not include -- if not the wide-angled front-facer of the 8X -- then something a little tamer. While HTC has apparently entered into a "close relationship" with Microsoft and Windows Phone 8, there will be nothing to match the scale of HTC's Sense additions to Android. You can expect an FM radio inside, while the Windows Phone staple, a two-stage camera button, is also reliably housed along the right edge with the volume rocker. The power button is along that tapered top edge, alongside the headphone socket, while charging and data transfer is handled by the micro-USB port along the bottom. That colored strip along the base also reminds us ever so slightly of the Xperia U from Sony, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. At least, if nothing else, we can be sure that mid-range phone designers think the cool kids want colored chins. That very same section houses the central Windows key (complete with new logo) as well as back button and search key. These are touch sensitive, so fear not, the design remains flush and lip / ridge free. If you flip the phone over, and remain gazing at the derriere, you'll be greeted with the familiar beats logo. The 8S might not have the deep integration, and extra amplification that the 8X sports, but the Doctor's touch is still present here, meaning that extra musical "oomph" is also on offer. What else is there to say about the Windows Phone 8S? Well, much like its bigger X-rated sibling, we won't really know until that shiny new operating system gets to see the light of day. Until then all we know is that this is a bit of a curious cocktail. Simple, solid, geometric design, middle-weight features and a few dashes of colorful spice to make it easier on the eye. We just won't know the kick it holds until we've spent some time with it. James Trew contributed to this report. |
| Windows Phone 8X coming to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in November Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:46 AM PDT We just had a chance to see and handle the colorful Windows Phone 8X by HTC, but where will we find it in the US? On stage, the company told us that the new device will be heading to three major carriers: AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. All three operators should be pushing the device out sometime in November, though we're still waiting to hear specifics on pricing -- and we also haven't been told details on the availability of the lower-end Windows Phone 8S. Note: We're hearing whispers that the 8X will be $199 on AT&T and T-Mobile, but both carriers have responded to our request for more information, stating that no pricing has been released yet. The press releases can be found below. Check out our liveblog coverage of HTC's Windows Phone 8 launch event! AT&T Confirms Windows Phone 8X by HTC and Samsung Galaxy Note II Launching on Nation's Largest 4G Network Dallas, Texas, September 19, 2012 Windows Phone 8X by HTC The stunning Windows Phone 8X boasts an iconic design, immersive studio-quality sound and incredible camera capabilities. The first-ever Windows Phone 8 device with built-in Beats Audio™ technology, Windows Phone 8X offers authentic, studio-quality sound that delivers the spirit of the original recording. The 4.3-inch 720p HD (1280 x 720) display comes to life in the phone's slim, sculpted design and improvements to the rear-facing camera let you capture great photos and record video in 1080p HD. Samsung Galaxy Note II Samsung's Galaxy Note II continues to expand the smartphone category created by the Galaxy Note with improved battery life, a thinner and narrower design and enhancements to the S Pen. Arriving later this year running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), the Galaxy Note II with 4G LTE combines the productivity of a tablet with the convenience of a smartphone so you can do more with a single device. With a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED™ display and 1.6 GHz quad-core Exynos™ processor, the Galaxy Note II provides PC-like processing power in a truly pocketable device. The Samsung Galaxy Note II and Windows Phone 8 X by HTC will be available in all AT&T channels and online in the coming months. Statement: Windows Phone 8X by HTC |
| Google, Amazon, Facebook and more confirmed as members of the Internet Association Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:45 AM PDT Pitching itself as the first trade alliance to represent the concerns of the online economy, the Internet Association lobbying group has just confirmed its member companies and policy platform. As suspected Amazon, Facebook, eBay, and Google are joined by other large tech firms, under the leadership of Capitol Hill advisor Michael Beckerman, to form the umbrella public policy organization. Citing its three main areas of focus as protecting internet freedom, fostering innovation and economic growth, and empowering users, the Internet Association will represent regulatory and political interests of its member companies, and their employees. There is no word on what the first freedom or innovation to benefit from the associations collaborative-clout will be, but while we wait to find out, you can lobby on the source link for the Mission- and Purpose-statement containing press release. The Internet Association Announces Membership and Policy Platform The unified voice of the Internet economy in Washington formally launches. WASHINGTON – The Internet Association, the nation's first trade association representing the interests of the Internet economy, America's leading Internet companies and their vast community of users, today unveiled its full membership roster and policy platform. The Internet Association, led by President and CEO Michael Beckerman, comprises 14 diverse Internet companies that form the backbone of the Internet economy. The member companies – Amazon.com, AOL, eBay, Expedia, Facebook, Google, IAC, LinkedIn, Monster Worldwide, Rackspace, salesforce.com, TripAdvisor, Yahoo!, and Zynga – have joined forces to form The Internet Association, an umbrella public policy organization dedicated to strengthening and protecting a free and innovative Internet. The Internet Association will relentlessly represent this critical economic sector, in partnership with Main Street businesses and individual users, to ensure that the Internet will always have a voice in Washington and a seat at the table. "A free and innovative Internet is vital to our nation's economic growth," said Michael Beckerman, President and CEO of The Internet Association. "These companies are all fierce competitors in the market place, but they recognize the Internet needs a unified voice in Washington. They understand the future of the Internet is at stake and that we must work together to protect it." The Internet Association's policy platform is based on three planks: protecting Internet freedom; fostering innovation and economic growth; and empowering users. The Internet Association and its member companies engage in direct advocacy, educating policymakers on the profound positive impacts of the Internet and Internet companies on jobs, economic growth, freedom, creativity, commerce, productivity, education, prosperity and the global economy. "The Internet is the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy with an unparalleled record of job creation and innovation across all sectors," Beckerman said. "It is the Internet's decentralized and open model that has unleashed unprecedented entrepreneurialism, creativity and innovation. Policymakers must understand that the preservation of that freedom is essential to the vitality of the Internet itself and the resulting economic prosperity." |
| Former NVIDIA mobile chief Mike Rayfield lands at Micron Technology Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:23 AM PDT Micron Technology is adding Mike Rayfield as the brains to its newly-doubled manufacturing brawn. NVIDIA's departing mobile chief was instrumental in producing Tegra 3, the hardware behind flagship devices like HTC's One X and Google's Nexus 7. He's been given the slightly misleading job title as VP of the company's Wireless Solutions Group, which, despite the name, produces DRAM, NAND and NOR Flash memory for the global smartphone market -- and given his track record, it's likely that we'll be seeing much more of Micron's memory in the years to come Micron Technology Appoints Michael Rayfield as Vice President of Wireless Solutions Group BOISE, Idaho, Sept. 18, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:MU), today announced that the company has named Michael Rayfield, vice president, Wireless Solutions Group. Rayfield will be responsible for managing all aspects of Micron's Wireless Solutions Group that provides DRAM, NAND Flash, NOR Flash and PCM memory solutions, including multi-chip packages, to the global mobile device market. With 15 years of executive management experience and nearly 30 years in the industry, Rayfield worked for the past seven years as the vice president and general manager of NVIDIA, Inc.'s Mobile Business Unit where his team created advanced computer on a chip technology and won key mobile industry reference designs. "Micron has the industry's broadest set of innovative memory products. Mike has the direct industry experience, relationships and leadership skill set that will help us leverage this portfolio in serving our mobile customers," said Micron President Mark Adams. Rayfield's professional background also includes serving in executive sales, business development and operations roles at Stretch, Inc., Reshape, Inc., Cisco Systems, Growth Networks and Texas Instruments. He began his career in various technical sales roles with Texas Instruments. Rayfield holds a bachelor of science degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Vermont. Micron Technology, Inc., is one of the world's leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions. Through its worldwide operations, Micron manufactures and markets a full range of DRAM, NAND and NOR flash memory, as well as other innovative memory technologies, packaging solutions and semiconductor systems for use in leading-edge computing, consumer, networking, embedded and mobile products. Micron's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the MU symbol. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc., visit www.micron.com. |
| Windows Phone 8X by HTC hands-on: Microsoft's modern mobile OS personified in polycarbonate Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:15 AM PDT One thing's for sure: HTC's not playing it safe with the Windows Phone 8X. The flagship line, officially announced at its event in New York today, arrives emboldened not only by an array of lively hues, but also with the mark of the mighty Microsoft, itself. Yes, you need only glance at the handset's name to know this tapered, polycarbonate affair bears an intrinsic connection to the UI it aims to bolster; a symbiotic bond made all too apparent by the hard-edged, modern hull housing the equally modern, live-tiled WP8 OS. But a focus on fresh, eye-catching industrial design isn't the only tale being told by the OEM. There are specs to talk about -- compelling ones. Departing drastically from the Mango forbears that attempted to blaze a path, the 8X boasts internals that position it competitively with other contemporary smartphones, ushering WP 8 into the tech industry's here and now. In keeping with its high-end ilk, the device sports a 4.3-inch 720p Super LCD 2 display (341ppi) powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core S4 and complemented by 1GB RAM, NFC, 16GB of storage, as well as an integrated 1,800mAh battery. It should be clear from that rundown alone that this is not your Windows Phone device of yore. So, follow along as we wrap our fingers 'round its California Blue body and report back with some first impressions.
Love it or hate it, there's no denying the 8X immediately grabs your attention. In fact, it practically begs to be looked at, and that's to HTC's credit. Carved out of the same polycarbonate that's given Nokia's Lumia line its signature look, the handset feels reassuringly solid in hand -- a sentiment reinforced by its unibody construction -- and fits comfortably while also making a design statement. It's that latter bit that's conspicuously intentional, as the OEM admits to hyper-targeting the style-conscious set with both the lower-end 8S and this premiere line. It must be said that the 8X, no matter the color, takes a little getting used to, seeming at once futuristic and alien. Once you've come down from the initial shock, HTC's subtle flairs begin to peek out, like the solid colored speaker grill that serves to break the front face's expanse of glass with a shock of vibrancy. Or the steep tapers to the handset's edges that lend an illusion of thinness which undercuts its actual 132.35 x 66.2 x 10.12mm (5.21 x 2.6 x 0.39 inches) dimensions. That slight silhouette is also due in part to its integrated 1,800mAh battery which resides beneath the circuitry and away from the phone's back. Where ports and hardware keys are concerned, HTC's done its best to keep the distraction to a minimum, carving those odds and ends out of the very same plastic as the chassis. The volume rocker and dedicated camera button are positioned along the unit's right side, with the power button and 3.5mm jack up top and a lone port for microUSB at the base. On back, the phone's been mercifully spared from brand overcrowding, with logos only for HTC and Beats Audio interrupting the monochrome. Placed neatly in the upper middle portion of its posterior, is the 8-megapixel rear camera (ringed with a gentle hint of blue) with side-mounted single LED flash. As it was with the Lumia 920 and 820, so it is with the 8X -- that is to say, we weren't allowed to play with the OS. Much as we've said this before, it bears repeating: Microsoft's holding back elements of WP 8 for its own major reveal later this October. For that reason, we can't speak too much about the handset's actual performance, but in our brief perusal of the start screen and associated apps, we can say the dual-core S4 does a fine job making navigation brisk and speeding along those graceful WP transitions. Sure, the 8X may seem an oddity now, but come the marketing onslaught that's surely waiting in the wings, this risky mobile proposition could end up doing for Windows Phone what the Lumias before it couldn't -- make it a bold-faced name. Whether or not you'll want to wed yourself to Microsoft's live-tiled OS largely depends on its yet-to-be revealed feature suite. But regardless, HTC's achieved a remarkable feat with this odd fleet: it's got all our eyes fixed on Windows Phone 8. |
| Windows Phone 8X by HTC: 4.3-inch 720p display, LTE, dual-core S4, available this November Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:15 AM PDT Consider this Microsoft's ultimate blessing, or merely a way to guarantee household name recognition. Whatever the case, the company's next-gen Apollo OS is not only powering HTC's newest mobile movement, it's also the headliner. That's right, as clunky as it may initially seem, Windows Phone 8X is the official moniker of the OEM's brightly hued flagship series, an alphabetical denomination that puts it on premium standing with the One X line. And thanks to the loosened spec restraints made possible by WP8, this modern-minded, unibodied beaut reps a 4.3-inch 1280 x 720 Super LCD 2 display with Gorilla Glass 2 coating, dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor buffered by 1GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage, WiFi a/b/g/n, NFC and an integrated 1,800mAh Li-ion battery. There's also quadband radio support for GSM/GPRS/EDGE, HSPA/WCDMA (850, 900, 1900, 2100MHz) and, of course, LTE for stateside carriers. Though the 8X may share the same boldly colored, polycarbonate construction of its live-tiled Lumia frenemies, it also stands apart with the inclusion of two HTC-specific features: Beats Audio, replete with a built-in amplifier, and ImageChip for continuous shooting. And speaking of optics, this device's dual camera setup packs the combined punch of a 2.1-megapixel front-facer with 88-degree ultra-wide-angle lens and an 8-megapixel rear module with an f/2.0 lens accompanied by a single LED flash -- both capable of 1080p video capture. While the veil of mystery surrounding this latest tech industry collaboration may have just lifted, you'll still have to wait a bit before it heads to retail. After all, Microsoft's planning its own WP8 coming out party for late October -- a reveal that should finally give us a full look at the smartphone UI formerly known as Metro. With a ship date set for sometime this November, the 8X will be available in four distinct colors - California Blue, Graphite Black, Flame Red and Limelight Yellow -- on over 150 carriers worldwide. No word on final pricing as of yet. So, until then, sate yourself with this first taste. Official PR after the break. New Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC to be available through NEW YORK, 19th September, 2012 - HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, and Microsoft today unveiled the first signature Windows Phones, the stunning Windows® Phone 8X and 8S by HTC®. The smartphones feature the new Windows Phone 8 operating system and boast iconic design, studio-quality sound with Beats Audio™ and incredible camera capabilities. "Pairing HTC's beautiful new Windows Phone 8X and 8S with our brand is a big milestone for both companies," said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. "Together we are offering customers a clear choice and a truly unique experience. I'm thrilled to take our longstanding partnership to the next level." "We've been inspired by Windows Phone 8 to create new smartphones that give the platform the iconic design and personality it deserves," said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. "Windows Phone has clearly emerged as one of the top mobile ecosystems and is competitive against any other smartphone platform in the world." Iconic Design Because color is such an integral part of the Windows Phone experience, HTC is bringing bold, sophisticated and adventurous colors in a premium matte finish to these devices. The Windows Phone 8X will come in a variety of colors including California Blue, Graphite Black, Flame Red and Limelight Yellow. The Windows Phone 8S by HTC will be available in Domino, Fiesta Red, Atlantic Blue and High-Rise Gray. Capture and share your world Spectacular Sound with Beats Audio Brilliant Display Entertainment Availability |
| HTC announces Windows Phone 8S: a mid-range Microsoft handset for the fashion conscious Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:15 AM PDT The Windows Phone 8 era is swinging into full effect. Nokia's big launch event was only a few short weeks ago, now HTC is enjoying its time in the spotlight with two handsets of its own. The Windows Phone 8S makes no mystery of its platform choice and, like the One S, indicates its midrange status with a simple alphabetic suffix. This four-inch phone will be shipping with HSPA on board. Unfortunately there's no word on an LTE edition of this rather handsome device. Spec-wise, the WVGA screen leaves us a little wanting, but we appreciate the combination of Super LCD and Gorilla Glass, which should make for a contrasty and scratch resistant panel. Under the hood is a dual-core S4 clocked at 1GHz, which is hardly a speed demon by todays standards, but should be enough to keep Microsoft's streamlined OS humming along nicely. The CPU is augmented by 512MB of RAM, which isn't any beefier than most Mango phones prepping for retirement. A paltry 4GB of storage is baked in, but thankfully HTC saw fit to include a microSD slot for expansion. Those rather modest internals should help the handset make the most of the 1,700 mAh battery at least. Sadly, the Taiwanese manufacturer decided to skip a front-facing cam on its entry level device and the sensor around back is only 5MP and limited to 720p video capture. At 10.28mm thick the 8S isn't the sleekest handset, but the tapered edges make look quite a bit thinner than that measurement would indicate. There's no denying the appeal of the two-tone polycarbonate bodies, regardless of comparative girth, which feature soft touch finishes in veritable rainbow of options. Pricing has yet to be announced, but you can expect the 8S to hit shelves in early November on a number of carriers. Full PR awaits after the break. New Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC to be available through NEW YORK, 19th September, 2012 - HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, and Microsoft today unveiled the first signature Windows Phones, the stunning Windows® Phone 8X and 8S by HTC®. The smartphones feature the new Windows Phone 8 operating system and boast iconic design, studio-quality sound with Beats Audio™ and incredible camera capabilities. "Pairing HTC's beautiful new Windows Phone 8X and 8S with our brand is a big milestone for both companies," said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. "Together we are offering customers a clear choice and a truly unique experience. I'm thrilled to take our longstanding partnership to the next level." "We've been inspired by Windows Phone 8 to create new smartphones that give the platform the iconic design and personality it deserves," said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. "Windows Phone has clearly emerged as one of the top mobile ecosystems and is competitive against any other smartphone platform in the world." Iconic Design Because color is such an integral part of the Windows Phone experience, HTC is bringing bold, sophisticated and adventurous colors in a premium matte finish to these devices. The Windows Phone 8X will come in a variety of colors including California Blue, Graphite Black, Flame Red and Limelight Yellow. The Windows Phone 8S by HTC will be available in Domino, Fiesta Red, Atlantic Blue and High-Rise Gray. Capture and share your world Spectacular Sound with Beats Audio Brilliant Display Entertainment Availability |
| HTC Windows Phone 8X and 8S family portraits Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:15 AM PDT HTC introduced us to not one, but two Windows Phone 8 devices today. Sure, we've poked and prodded them but, before you get your chance to grope the 8S and 8X, we figured a proper introduction is order. So, meet the whole family in all their brightly colored glory!
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| Square competitor Groupon Payments launches today, promises lowest cost for retailers Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:08 AM PDT Popular deal website Groupon is venturing into the world of smart phone-based credit card payments today, launching the Groupon Payments initiative nationwide after a successful pilot program is the San Francisco Bay Area earlier this year. Groupon's boasting a guaranteed lowest cost pricing to merchants using Groupon Payments for credit card transactions -- MasterCard, Visa, and Discover will cost retailers 1.8 percent of credit card sales, plus a $0.15 per transaction fee, while American Express will cost three percent of credit card sales, plus a $0.15 per transaction fee. The biggest competition in the space comes from Square, headed by former Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, which charges a flat 2.75 percent rate on all transactions against all cards, though PayPal, Intuit, and Verifone all offer similar services. Today's news matches up directly with leaks we saw back in May, adding on that merchants will see the day's credit card purchases credited to their bank accounts overnight, rather than waiting two to three business days (per standard practice). Beyond credit card services, Groupon's Merchants app also accepts Groupon daily deals, which helps elucidate why Groupon would be interested in entering the mobile credit card payments market in the first place (beyond it being a lucrative market unto itself, of course). Interested parties can sign up over on Groupon's website, and snag the free payments app right here. Finally -- finally -- you'll be able to sell all those $10 gift certificates to Chili's you've been hoarding. Perhaps charge $5 a pop for their $10 value and ... is this a paradox? This might be a paradox. |
| Live from HTC's NYC press event! Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT |
| Vizio Co-Star review: how good a deal is this $99 Google TV box? Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT More InfoAnd then there were two. We're talking about standalone Google TV boxes, folks, with the Vizio Co-Star recently joining Sony's NSZ-GS7. Both feature the same version of Google's software and come with a remote offering a full QWERTY keyboard and touchpad. But with Vizio's model selling for just $99, it's half the price of Sony's entry, so you might be wondering how extensive the differences are. Now that we've had a chance to test both, we're ready to weigh in. Read on to find out if that 50 percent price difference makes the Co-Star worth it. Hardware There must be some unwritten rule that internet TV streamers are supposed to be little boxes. We suppose if they aren't the proper AV equipment width (approximately 17 inches), we couldn't care much less about what they shape they were. This little two-tone fanless square has Vizio's logo on top, but not on the front. In fact there is nothing on that front face -- not even an LED. The box has a decent look and feel to it, with its black and gray plastic and decent heft, but nothing really sticks out about it from an aesthetic perspective. There is a status LED out back along with a single USB port, two HDMI ports, a wired network port and a place to plug in the wall-wart power supply. What's missing is a built-in IR emitter or even a port for an external one -- something other Google TV boxes do have. Under the hood, there's a Marvell ARM dual-core, 1.2GHz Armada 1500 processor, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth and 4GB of storage. The HDMI port supports pass-through of just about every video format, including 3D. It also has HDMI-CEC for controlling other devices via HDMI. Without any other audio outputs, you're basically limited to sources that accept HDMI audio, but A2DP support is there as well, in case you want to pair it with Bluetooth headphones. Remote The Google TV experience is still very much centered around the ol' mouse and keyboard, which means a QWERTY remote with a built-in touchpad is a requirement. It's really hard to make a good remote that acts as both a keyboard and a mouse, and indeed, Vizio doesn't knock this one out of the park the way the Sony NSZ-GS7 does. It isn't as bad as the original Sony Google TV remote or the Logitech one, but it isn't our favorite either. In a word, the thing is fat. It's just so unusually thick in the middle that it's awkward to hold. What's more, we can't seem to find the right amount of pressure to apply to the keys, which results in either double presses or no press at all. Still, the overall layout of the remote is good, with the super useful V button in the middle that brings up the App Tray (which we'll talk about in the next section), and dedicated buttons for Amazon, Netflix and M-GO. There are basic transport controls, but no skip forward or back, which you'll mostly miss if you like to use the 30-second skip on your DVRs. The good news is the remote makes use of both IR and Bluetooth. The result is that it controls the Co-Star without requiring line of sight and can also be programmed to control your TV and other devices via onscreen menus. Lastly, there's also a sensor inside that can detect where the remote is pointed to help avoid accidental presses. Software Like the Sony NSZ-GS7, the Co-Star runs Google TV 3.2, which features many of the same features we've detailed previously. The setup varies a bit from other Google TV boxes -- for instance, you're expected to use your TV's speakers instead of an audio / video receiver, but an overscan optimizer is still there. Codec support includes H.264, in both MP4 and MKV containers, as well as popular audio formats like MP3, AAC and WMA -- subtitles in SRT files are not on the menu, however. There are a number of built-in apps (some of which can't be deleted) with the most notable being OnLive. Speaking of the sort, you can play games with the included remote, a USB keyboard plugged in the back or by buying an OnLive controller. The Google Play store has plenty more to choose from, including a few that will add DLNA sources to the list of accessible media the Co-Star provides access to. Some of the "apps" are little more than shortcuts to a website, though. One thing that really sets the Co-Star apart from other Google TV experiences (and we mean this in a good way) is the App Tray. Summoned from the left side of your screen via the V button, the App Tray provides easy access to all your apps, with your favorites listed up top. The tray slides over whatever app is currently running, which makes it easy to do things like tweak settings without exiting an app. Wrap-up Vizio is known for delivering bang-for-your-buck products and the Co-Star is no exception. While it isn't as polished and refined as Sony's offering, it's still a better deal at half the price. That said, what you get for the extra Benjamin is the remote, and we think worlds more about the one that comes with the Sony NSZ-GS7. What's more, we suspect many will pay extra for it. Of course, many people don't feel as strongly about their remote, and for those folks we certainly would recommend the Co-Star. Ultimately, we still can't say that we believe Google's approach to internet-enabled set-top boxes is better than the rest, but at least for $99 the Vizio Co-Star delivers Google's vision for the living room for a price comparable to other internet TV streamers. |
| Kobo Arc tablet hands-on (video) Posted: 19 Sep 2012 07:50 AM PDT When Kobo released the Vox, its first tablet, Engadget had just recently abolished review scores. In retrospect, that was a good thing for the company, as we didn't have very many nice things to say about it. The product suffered from short battery life, for one, along with sluggish performance and WiFi connectivity issues. It's no wonder, then, that Kobo is loathe to call its new Arc tablet a "follow-up" to the Vox so much as a "re-thinking." The tablet, which will go on sale in mid-November starting at $199, brings a faster 1.5GHz TI processor, a battery rated for 10 to 12 hours of runtime and a re-tooled software experience built on Ice Cream Sandwich. Is that enough to unseat the new Kindle Fire HD or the Nexus 7? That, friends, is a question best answered in our forthcoming review, but after a few minutes of hands-on time we can at least say that we're pleasantly surprised. Meet us past the break to find out why. If you skimmed that list of cons above, you'll notice that industrial design was the least of the Vox's problems, so it makes sense that Kobo would stick to the same design language that defines its other products -- namely, its growing collection of e-readers. Like so many other items in the company's lineup, the Arc has a soft-touch back, adorned with a diamond pattern of criss-crossed lines. There's no camera on the back, but Kobo did include a 1.3-megapixel shooter up front, in case you're in the mood to video chat. In a move we truly appreciate, the company placed the two speakers on the front of the device, so the sound won't get muffled if you set it down on a table. The 7-inch screen steps up to So far, so iterative, right? Similar look, slightly sharper screen, specs you'd expect to find on a $200 tablet. Well, that's where the software comes in. The software, and that TI OMAP 4470 processor. As we said, the slate is built on ICS this time, not Gingerbread, and unlike Amazon's Kindle Fire tablets, it's Google-certified, meaning you have full access to Google Play for all your application needs. That doesn't mean it looks like your typical Android 4.0 tablet, though. While certain UI elements remain unchanged (the app drawer, for example), the entire home screen has been transformed into a Pinterest-style arrangement of all your stuff. At first glance, you'll see a bunch cards, broken up by topics and activities that are interesting to you. Think: reading, entertainment, cars, wedding planning. Whatever floats your boat; these are totally customizable. Anyway, Kobo calls these cards "tapestries," and when you tap on one you'll see all any of your content that happens to be related to that topic. A link to MLB's website, for instance, along with an e-book about baseball and any baseball games you happened to have downloaded. It's a unified experience, in the way that the hubs in Windows Phone feel unified, only this is perhaps a little less elegant. Intuitive, but slightly crude. The good news is that the processor powering the whole experience does its job well. The screen responded briskly as we tapped and swiped our way through this strange new interface. Wrapping up our tour, let's return to the home screen. You'll see a bar of thumbnails lining the bottom of the screen -- a thing that Kobo calls the "Discover Bar." Of course, you'll see recommended Kobo books here, but the company also provides recommendations on sites like Wikipedia and YouTube, using text and metadata in the books you're reading, and the sites you're viewing. We'll let you decide if this is too distracting or Big Brother-ish, but hopefully we can all agree on this: it's a damn good thing that the Discover Bar contains no ads. We'll hit you back with a full review later this fall, but if nothing else, we're prepared to say this is one area where Kobo might have a leg up on Amazon. |
| US Cellular will get Samsung Galaxy Note II in late October, will cost $300 Posted: 19 Sep 2012 07:41 AM PDT We already knew that US Cellular would be getting its hands on the Galaxy Note II alongside the four national players in the US, but the company just came out with specific pricing and general availability. The device will go for $300 (after $100 mail-in rebate and two-year commitment) and should be available in late October, though the carrier will open up its site for pre-orders starting today. If you're considering just waiting it out until they're in stores, pre-ordering the Note II comes with a perk: you won't have to bother with the mail-in rebate. USCC only appears to be offering the 16GB titanium gray option, but we'll still certainly take that over nothing at all. Check out the press release below. Update: We just heard back from US Cellular that the full retail cost of the Note II will be $800. U.S. CELLULAR CUSTOMERS GETTING THE SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE II IN OCTOBER Online presales begin today CHICAGO (September 19, 2012) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States, have announced the 4G LTE™ Samsung Galaxy Note™ II will be available for customers to preorder today at uscellular.com/note2, and it will be in stores and online in late October. The 16GB Titanium Gray Galaxy Note II will be $299.99 with an instant rebate for those who purchase during the online presale. It will be $299.99 after $100 mail-in rebate when it arrives in stores. Customers who purchase the Samsung Galaxy Note II from U.S. Cellular receive benefits no other carrier offers, including new devices faster without continuously signing contracts, free Battery Swap and the only points-based rewards program in the industry. The Samsung Galaxy Note II joins U.S. Cellular's cutting-edge line-up of devices that also includes the award-winning Samsung Galaxy S® III. Galaxy Note II is designed to enhance the standards of performance, productivity and power in a unique device that combines a powerful smartphone with the best functionality aspects of a tablet. The Galaxy Note II's brilliant 5.5 inch HD Super AMOLED™ touchscreen allows for easy viewing of websites, video, crystal clear pictures and videos with vibrant color rendering. Smooth multitasking, fluid gaming and faster navigation will also be noted with the U.S. debut of Samsung's Exynos 1.6 GHz quad-core processor in combination with Android™ 4.1 (Jelly Bean). The S Pen creative tool, a long-lasting 3,100 mAh removable battery, an 8-megapixel rear-facing and a 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera with HD video recording and an additional 64GB available with microSD™ card are just some of many features users will enjoy on this premium mobile device. "The Samsung Galaxy Note II on the fast 4G LTE network provides our customers with a unique experience that can make work and play easier wherever you are," said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. "We are once again excited to work with Samsung to bring this caliber of device to our customers to help them stay connected to the people and information important to them." The Galaxy Note II is an advanced and versatile device designed to enhance and simplify your life. It is the ultimate multi-tasker, with its unique Pop Up Play picture-in-picture feature allowing users to watch a video while reading an email or sending a text message. Pop Up Note lets users open an S Note instantly as a pop-up window anywhere on the screen to jot down a quick note during a phone call or other live services. Using the S Pen along with Air View, customers can conveniently and quickly browse photos and documents without opening up folders. The device also features S Beam NFC sharing capability and the Smart Stay eye tracking feature made popular on the Samsung Galaxy S III are also available on the Galaxy Note II. U.S. Cellular, in partnership with King Street Wireless, currently offers 4G LTE service covering 31 percent of their customers in select cities in Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. Later this year, 4G LTE coverage will expand to cover select cities in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. By the end of 2012, 58 percent of U.S. Cellular customers will enjoy faster 4G LTE speeds. For more information about the 4G LTE experience, visit uscellular.com/4G. |
| Dice Holdings buys Slashdot, Freecode and SourceForge for $20 million Posted: 19 Sep 2012 07:39 AM PDT Dice Holdings, the unimaginatively named owner of technology jobs site Dice.com has purchased Geeknet's media business for a cool $20 million. The deal hands over control of the world-famous Slashdot, Freecode and SourceForge to the careers company, commencing the careers site's push into tech content. It leaves Geeknet with one remaining property, ThinkGeek, which will now be getting all of that company's attention -- hopefully to produce products that are even more lust inducing than Cave Johnson's portrait. Dice Holdings, Inc. Acquires Online Media Business from Geeknet, Inc. Slashdot and SourceForge Significantly Increase Reach into Global Technology Community NEW YORK and FAIRFAX, Va., Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dice Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DHX), a leading provider of specialized career websites, and Geeknet, Inc. (Nasdaq: GKNT) today announced that Dice Holdings has acquired Geeknet's online media business, including Slashdot and SourceForge. "The acquisition of these premier technology sites fits squarely into our strategy of providing content and services that are important to tech professionals in their everyday work lives," said Scot Melland, Chairman, President & CEO of Dice Holdings, Inc. "The SourceForge and Slashdot communities will enable our customers to reach millions of engaged tech professionals on a regular basis and significantly extends our company's reach into the global tech community." The sites include: Slashdot, a user-generated news, analysis, peer question and professional insight community. Tech professionals moderate the site which averages more than 5,300 comments daily and 3.7 million unique visitors each month. The acquisition builds on Dice.com's rich history in providing the best content to help technology professionals succeed in their careers and reinforces the company's commitment to deliver unique and valuable information to foster engagement in each of its communities. Ken Langone, Chairman of Geeknet, added, "We are very pleased to find a new home for our media business, providing a platform for the sites and our media teams to thrive. With this transaction completed, we will now focus our full attention on growing ThinkGeek." Dice Holdings acquired the business for $20 million in cash. In 2011, the online media properties generated $20 million in Revenues. |
| Posted: 19 Sep 2012 07:26 AM PDT Anyone who's been holding on to Yahoo shares through thick and thin is about to reap the rewards of that patience. As the company promised, it's starting to sell back half its stake in Alibaba, closing the first stage of the deal with the equivalent of $7.6 billion in pure revenue. The struggling search and content firm 'only' pockets a net $4.3 billion after taxes and other overhead costs, but it won't even see that much in its bank account: it's purposefully sending $3.65 billion of that money to shareholders, both to inspire new confidence and (unofficially) to head off activist investors like Dan Loeb that might otherwise want a coup d'état. If share owners plan on using the second stage of the sale to fund a vacation to Maui, though, they'll need to wait. Yahoo's deal prevents it from selling half of its remaining 23 percent stake unless Alibaba files for an initial public offering, and there's no guarantee that investors will see another dime of the proceeds. Yahoo! Completes First Stage of Alibaba Share Repurchase Agreement Valued at $7.6 Billion SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) announced today that it has closed the initial sale of shares in Alibaba Group Holding Limited. At closing, Yahoo! received approximately $7.6 billion, $6.3 billion in cash and $800 million in preferred shares of Alibaba in exchange for half of Yahoo!'s 40 percent stake in Alibaba, as well as a payment of $550 million for a technology and intellectual property license agreement. Net cash proceeds after taxes and fees from the first stage of the repurchase agreement total approximately $4.3 billion. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" Yahoo! will return approximately $3.65 billion in after-tax proceeds to shareholders, or 85 percent of the net cash proceeds from the initial sale of its shares in Alibaba. This amount includes $646 million the company has already returned to shareholders through share repurchases since the announcement of the transaction, as well as an additional $3.0 billion. After accretion from the Alibaba share repurchase, Yahoo! continues to own approximately 23 percent of Alibaba Group common stock, valued at $8.1 billion based on this most recent round of funding. Together with its preferred stock, the implied valuation of Yahoo!'s entire remaining stake is approximately $8.9 billion. Under the terms of the agreement with Alibaba, the second phase allows for Yahoo! to monetize approximately half of its remaining stake at the time of an initial public offering (IPO) of Alibaba. After an IPO, Yahoo! has the right to sell its remaining shares at its discretion following a customary lock-up period. |
| Slickdeals' best in tech for September 19th: an ASUS wireless router, keyboards and more Posted: 19 Sep 2012 07:14 AM PDT Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long. Everyone loves to save some hard-earned cash when it comes to those tech spending sprees. In today's batch of discounted tech links, Slickdeals offers up a bit of a gadget sampler. There's a duo of keyboards, a wireless router, a VoIP phone system and a gigabit networking switch that are ready to get cozy at your place if you're in the market. Don't sweat the rebates this time around, though, as all of these links come with coupon codes. Head on past the break to see the full list. Grab this deal over at OfficeMax. Snag this offer from NewEgg. This deal awaits over at NewEgg. Take advantage of this discount from OfficeMax. This offer is available at NewEgg. |
| Nokia Lumia 920 makes PureView appearance at Photokina with anti-shake video demo (video) Posted: 19 Sep 2012 07:01 AM PDT Sure, Nokia's recently announced Lumia 920 runs Windows Phone 8, but its banner feature is actually the PureView camera, which in some ways seems more capable than that of its 808 sibling. Company reps were on hand at the Carl Zeiss booth at Photokina demonstrating this latest handset's low-light abilities -- which are quite striking. Just as impressive, however, is the device's heralded stabilization feature, which captures an impressively smooth clip even with exaggerated hand shake. Considering the degree to which the Nokia rep was shaking, users with steadier hands shouldn't have any issue capturing excellent quality video. We were unable to view the clip on a computer, so our impressions are only based on what we saw on the LCD, but the feature was impressive nonetheless. We'll of course need to reserve formal judgement until we can conduct our own tests, but this PureView preview was certainly convincing, and quite encouraging -- especially the side-by-side clip comparing the 920 to a "US-based manufacturer's" smartphone. Catch it in full in the hands-on video after the break.
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| Turtle Beach releasing entry-level Ear Force NLa, N11 stereo headsets for the Wii U faithful Posted: 19 Sep 2012 07:00 AM PDT Turtle Beach, the company that builds high-end audio gear for gamers immaterial of their bank balance is pushing out a pair of headsets for Nintendo's latest baby. The Ear Force NLa is an entry-level headset that's been customized to work with the Wii U GamePad, while the EarForce N11 is a little more serious -- with angled 50mm speakers with extended bass. Both units are also compatible with the company's DS and 3DS handhelds and will arrive in Q4 of this year, with the NLa setting you back $35 and the N11 a marginally heftier $50. Update: We've also heard that the NLa will be available in the UK in November, costing £40, while the N11 arrives in early 2013. TOKYO GAME SHOW: TURTLE BEACH ANNOUNCES DETAILS ON OFFICIALLY LICENSED Wii U™ HEADSETS Turtle Beach Brings Premium Stereo Sound Quality and Crystal Clear Built-In Chat to Nintendo's Newest Console VALHALLA, N.Y. & TOKYO – Sept. 19, 2012 – Turtle Beach, pioneer and market-leader of the gaming headset category, today announces its officially licensed headsets, the Ear Force NLa and Ear Force N11, for Nintendo's Wii U™ system. Created in collaboration with Nintendo, worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, and based on Turtle Beach's legacy of audio supremacy, the NLa and N11 offer Wii U™ gamers a pair of solid entry level headsets at competitive price points. "We are very excited to be working with Turtle Beach to launch the N11 and NLa for the new Wii U," said Steve Singer, Vice President of Licensing, Nintendo of America Inc. "We look forward to fans having a high quality audio experience with our newest console." Available in both black and white, the Ear Force NLa is the perfect headset for Nintendo gamers seeking high-fidelity audio and superior comfort at an affordable price. The NLa combines high-fidelity stereo game audio and crystal-clear communication in a sleek, lightweight and durable design. Created explicitly for use with the Wii U™ GamePad controller, the NLa features in-line volume control and noise-isolating ear cushions allowing for personalized audio while blocking out distractions. For gamers on the go, the NLa's 4-pole connector can easily disconnect from the Wii U™ GamePad and connect to portable devices such as the Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ hand-held systems. Arriving in Q4 2012, the NLa MSRP is $34.95. Available in black, the Ear Force N11 headset is the ideal headset for Nintendo gamers seeking a more audio immersive experience. Its acoustically angled 50mm speakers deliver extended bass with extraordinary dynamic range for optimum audio performance. With a fully adjustable, lightweight headband and breathable mesh ear cushions, the N11 is designed for extreme comfort during long sessions with Wii U™. It also has a 4-pole connector that easily plugs-in to portable devices such as the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS. Arriving in Q4, the N11 MSRP is $49.95. "The Wii U launch will prove to be one of biggest gaming console events of the year and we couldn't be more excited to support Wii U with dedicated headsets," said Bob Picunko, Chief Marketing Officer of Turtle Beach. "The advanced capabilities of the Wii U system offer us the chance to deliver gamers the kind of quality they fully expect from both Turtle Beach and Nintendo." |
| Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:48 AM PDT |
| LG Optimus G hands-on redux (video) Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:42 AM PDT By now, you should be well acquainted with LG's glass-clad Optimus G -- the Android device so nice the company introduced it twice. And while today's stateside splash narrows the focus on its US availability and Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro SoC, there are still some software nuggets worth exploring. To help illustrate the powers of this quad-core Krait beast, we dug through the company's take on ICS with its colorful icons and heaping helpings of convenient shortcuts. Users can take advantage of a multi-tasking feature called QSlide which displays two full-sized apps on the same screen, enjoy up to five levels of zoom during streaming video playback or even wirelessly mirror their smartphone's content with Dual Screen Dual Play. Like other members of the LG mobile family (such as the Vu and Intuition) you'll also be able to take advantage of QuickMemo, which places a shortcut in the notification shade for quickly capturing a screenshot and marking it up with various drawing tools. For the self portrait-obsessed there's also Cheese Shutter, which lets you trigger the image capture simply by saying "cheese" instead of fumbling blindly for the virtual shutter button on screen. While the UI can be a little bit busy, even by Android skin standards, everything hums a long pretty smoothly thanks to the almost excessive power of the quad-core 1.5GHz chip and 2GB of RAM. But don't just take our word for it. Skip on past the break for a surface-level peek of the G in action. |
| Pentax K-5 II and K-5 IIs hands-on (video) Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:32 AM PDT Everyone loves a sequel, right? This here is the K-5 II, the new DSLR from Pentax, making an appearance on the show floor, here at Photokina in Germany, alongside the rather similar, if somewhat pricier K-5 IIs. Let's start with differences between the K-5 and the K-5 II, shall we? Megapixel-wise, we're still talking 16.2, though the II models have the new SAFOX X AF sensor, which delivers the promise of better low-light sensitivity and quicker auto-focus. On the rear, that 3-inch, 925k LCD promises a sharper image and better image angles -- both looked pretty good in our time with the camera. As for differences between the K-5 II and IIs? Well, you wouldn't be able to distinguish between the two, if it weren't for the difference model names on there front. So, what are you paying that extra $150 for? Well, the premium ditches the low-pass filter, promising sharp images (though you're losing anti-aliasing in the process). On the top of both, you got a big monochrome display and a somewhat tricky function wheel that makes you press down a button to turn. Both of these guys are coming to a camera store near you next month for $1,200 and $1,350, respectively.
Steve Dent contributed to this article. |
| PSA: iOS 6 expected to arrive at 1PM Eastern, get your downloads ready Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:31 AM PDT Apple tends to release new iOS upgrades like clockwork, which gives us a good indicator of when it should push iOS 6 to early adopters: 1PM Eastern, or 10AM Pacific and 5PM GMT. At that point, you can likely get your turn-by-turn and Passbook fixes through at least iTunes. The real question is whether the upgrade will be available directly from an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch -- we've seen delta updates arrive over the air for iOS 5, after all, but not major OS revisions. There's only a few hours before we find out. September 19, 2012 1:00 PM EDT |
| Acer Iconia Tab A110 comes to Europe this fall with Jelly Bean, £180 UK price Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:15 AM PDT Acer missed its summer launch target for the Iconia Tab A110, but it's making amends for its timing. The 7-inch, quad-core tablet is now reaching Europe in the fall, but it's also carrying that rumored upgrade to Jelly Bean -- including the same mini-tablet interface that we know best from the A110's arch-rival, the Nexus 7. Hardware hasn't moved on since then, however, so you'll still have to cope with a lower 1,024 x 600 resolution and likely the same 8GB of storage, even with a 2-megapixel front camera offering a slight upgrade. That feature loadout may make the sales prospects difficult, at least in the UK: Brits will have to pay £180 ($292) versus the £159 ($258) Nexus 7. Let's hope that any US plans involve a price slash. Acer presents the new ICONIA TAB A110 - Better mobility meets stylish and compact design Bioggio, Switzerland If you are looking for a tablet that you can easily hold in one hand and still lets you enjoy web browsing, multimedia, or even work if you need to, you have found your dream tablet. The new Acer ICONIA TAB A110, with a 7" display and less than 390 g of weight, is compact to carry and comfortable to browse, taking your mobile experience to the next level. Easy to slip in your pocket or handbag, the ICONIA TAB A110 is just perfect to carry with you at all times to read, to browse, to play games or to plan your day. It features Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which enables easy access to your favorite apps and brings resizable widgets that automatically resizes to the space available on the screen. The widget content refreshes as the size changes according to the widget size and could display larger, richer graphics or additional functionality or options. Plus, it's preloaded with full set of Google Mobile Service: Gmail, Google+, Maps, Messenger, Play Store, Talk, YouTube and more. Everything you need to enjoy a rich experience wherever you go is at your fingertips. And, for a reading experience not to be missed, the ICONIA TAB A110 comes with Google Currents, a smart mobile app that lets you browse hundreds of free online magazines and top blogs all in one place. You can enjoy easy-to-read magazine-like editions for high speed and offline reading. To top off the rich entertainment experience, the ICONIA TAB A110 comes with a 2MP front-facing camera to engage in live chats with your friends. The camera can also be used to lock and unlock the tablet thanks to face recognition, enhancing the security of the device and making it truly yours. And it's also more fun to use! What's more, the compact size goes hand in hand with a powerful performance. Powered by NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor, the ICONIA TAB A110 allows faster and smoother web surfing, better multitasking, console-quality gaming and HD video watching. The tablet also lets you bring your videos on a bigger screen for greater fun thanks to the HDMI ports. It can be connected to other devices, such as camera, keyboard, mouse or gamepad via the Micro USB port. While the Micro-SD card slot extends memory up to 32 G, guaranteeing even more room to your digital life. |
| Samsung's MultiView MV900F begins shipping with 180-degree AMOLED display for $350 Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:00 AM PDT Shipping targets aren't set in stone, so we weren't terribly surprised to see Samsung miss its late-August goal for the new MultiView MV900F. Today, the Korean CE giant announced that its MV900F is now available for purchase at US retailers, still priced at $350. Those three and a half bills will net you a 16.3-megapixel shooter with the series' trademark 180-degree touchscreen -- this iteration packs many more pixels than its predecessor, with a WVGA AMOLED panel. The MultiView snapper lets you frame shots from in front of the camera, with a display that flips to face forward, while gesture controls enable you to fire a frame and zoom the lens with a wave. There's also 1080p video shooting, an f/2.5-6.3, 25mm 5x optical zoom lens and built-in WiFi, for direct image uploads. You can grab your MV900F at big box retailers and camera stores, along with US-based e-tailers beginning today. Samsung's Sophisticated MV900F SMART Camera with MultiView and High-Performing Lens Ideal for Low Light Conditions Now Available Nationwide |
| Samsung Galaxy Note II to land 'by mid-November' on all major US carriers Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:00 AM PDT We'd say the wait is nearly over, but that wouldn't be telling the whole truth. Inching ever closer to a hard launch date, Samsung's Galaxy Note II is now poised to hit stateside on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular "by mid-November." If you're seeking anything more specific than that, you'll have to hold out for individual carrier announcements. What we do know for sure, however, is that the US variant of this 5.5-incher will be packing HSPA+42 / LTE radios and sporting a nigh unchanged build -- much like the company's other flagship, the GS III. To recap, this S-Pen equipped phablet, recently unveiled at IFA 2012, features a 1280 x 720 HD Super AMOLED display, quad-core 1.6GHz Exynos processor, 2GB RAM and ships with a skinned version of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Sure, this release is shaping up to be a slow tease, but that anticipation just makes the final bow of this second act even sweeter. Official PR after the break. Samsung Mobile Introducing Galaxy Note® II in Time for the Holidays with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular Redesigned S Pen and apps, sharing capabilities and quad-core Exynos™ processor enhances productivity, creativity and performance DALLAS - September 19, 2012 - Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile) – the No.1 mobile phone provider in the United States1 – will launch the Galaxy Note® II in the U.S. with five major carriers by mid-November. Exact pricing and retail availability will be announced by each of the carriers. Optimized for the fastest 4G LTE* and HSPA+ 42 networks, the Galaxy Note II combines some of the best capabilities of the Galaxy S® III with an enhanced S Pen and new S Pen apps, the processing power to multitask like a PC, with a larger screen yet in a thinner, lighter form factor. The Galaxy Note II enables consumers that want a larger format device to create, collaborate and now share original content faster and easier than before. "The original Galaxy Note® created a new category of smartphones by combining the best of a smartphone with the best of a tablet. In less than a year, Samsung sold more than 10 million globally demonstrating the category is taking hold," said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Telecommunications America. "The new Galaxy Note II is a significant leap forward for the category." Power & Performance Galaxy Note II marks the U.S. debut of Samsung's Exynos™ 1.6 GHz quad-core processor optimized for LTE networks. It has 2GB of internal RAM; and comes with 16 GB of onboard file storage and supports up to 64GB of additional memory with a microSD® card. Collectively, these deliver easy multitasking, lightning fast screen transitions, powerful browser performance and minimal app load time. The Galaxy Note II is the first Samsung smartphone to launch with Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean, which brings stunning graphical capabilities and an upgraded Google Now service, including new features such as contextual search. It is also a SAFE-designated device, which means it has additional security features to safe-guard sensitive data and communications. The Galaxy Note II has a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED™ touchscreen with 16:9 aspect ratio, the standard for true HD video viewing, and comes with a 3,100 mAh battery, which is 24 percent larger than the original Galaxy Note. Despite the much larger battery, the device weighs slightly less than the original Galaxy Note. As a result of a narrower bezel on all four sides of the screen, the screen is larger but the overall device is narrower. The Galaxy Note II is available in Marble White and Titanium Gray color options. Create & Collaborate At the heart of the Galaxy Note II and the ability to create and collaborate is the S Pen™, which has been ergonomically redesigned to provide a more precise and natural writing and drawing experience. The new S Pen can sense 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, four times more than the original S Pen. When the new S Pen is removed from the Galaxy Note II, it automatically launches the S Pen menu, which opens a new home screen that allows one-touch access to most used S-Pen applications. Keeping track of the S Pen is simple now too because a visual and audible alarm appears if the user forgets to put the S Pen back inside the device. The S Pen's advanced features provide the ability to capture ideas, inspiration and information instantly, and to combine handwriting with any digital content directly on the screen, such as adding new calendar appointments by writing the event details directly on the day of the week, signing or adding handwritten notes to an email. Selecting and cropping text, images or other content on the Galaxy Note II with the S Pen is very similar to a traditional "click-mouse" experience. When the S Pen's side button is pressed down, the S Pen recognizes that users want to clip or edit the selected content on the screen. Users can draw precise lines around the content to be cropped out, highlighted or copied into another application. Key applications of the S Pen include: Easy Clip feature allows users to instantly outline and crop any content on the screen in any shape to save, share or paste. Once done cropping the image, users can freely edit the cropped content through coloring, shading, or their own personal handwriting. Multitask & Share The Galaxy Note II takes multitasking to the next level by enabling consumers to launch multiple windows on one screen, including high definition video. Multitasking features include: Popup Note lets users open an S Note instantly as a pop-up window to jot down a quick note during a phone call, checking email or watching a video. The Galaxy Note II contains many of the popular, real-life content sharing features introduced in June on the Samsung Galaxy S™ III including: S Beam – Tap back of Galaxy Note II against another S-Beam-enabled device to share large video files, documents or S Notes in seconds without using data service. Customize & Accessorize · Protective Flip Cover – Samsung's unique flip cover enhances the look of the Galaxy Note II with a premium leather front and glossy backing, while providing privacy and protection. The Protective Flip Cover comes in seven vibrant colors to customize the Galaxy Note II, including Titanium Gray, Marble White, Blue, Pink, Mint, Lime Green, and Orange. · S Pen with Eraser – This ergonomic, full-featured S Pen features a button for gestures and an eraser tip for easy corrections. This updated version of Samsung's original S Pen truly mimics the feel of a pen or pencil. For more information: Visit us at www.facebook.com/samsungmobileusa 1 Samsung Mobile is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics, North America Handset Vendor Marketshare, Q2 2012. Samsung Electronics Company is the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: Q2 2012. *4G LTE when used in relation to the Galaxy Note II refers to the fact that the device can operate on the relevant carrier's LTE network Samsung, Galaxy, Note, Exynos, AllShare, S Pen and HD Super AMOLED are all trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. Samsung GALAXY Note II Combines the Creativity of a Tablet and Productivity of a Smartphone with Truly Unlimited Data and 4G LTE from Sprint Available this fall; Sign up to receive the latest details on OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Sept. 19, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE:S), the only national carrier with Truly Unlimited℠ 4G LTE data, text and calling to any mobile, is gearing up to offer Samsung GALAXY Note® II. This innovative device will be available on the Sprint 4G LTE network (available in select markets) this fall in two color options – Marble White or Titanium Gray. Pricing and the availability date will be provided later. Manufactured by Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile) – the No.1 mobile phone provider in the United States1, GALAXY Note II will boast several firsts for Sprint – first to launch with Android™ 4.1, Jelly Bean; first smartphone display larger than 5 inches; and first device to launch with a quad-core processor. "We are very excited to bring this unique and innovative device into the Sprint lineup with the benefit of Sprint's Truly Unlimited data plans," said Fared Adib, Sprint vice president-Product Development. "Sprint's unlimited data plans are the perfect match for GALAXY Note II because our customers can enjoy the huge screen, fast LTE support and other creative features without worrying about costly overages or sharing data." With the latest HD Super AMOLED™ screen technology powering the device's 5.5-inch 720p display, images are bigger, clearer and brighter than ever. Performance and power are built- in on GALAXY Note II, thanks to Samsung's Exynos™ 1.6GHz quad-core processor, a long-lasting battery and blazing fast 4G/LTE network speeds. Clever and Unique Features Selecting and cropping text, images or other content on GALAXY Note II with the S Pen is very similar to a traditional "click-mouse" experience. When the S Pen's side button is pressed down, users can draw precise lines around the content to be cropped out, highlighted or copied into another application. With Air View, users can hover the S Pen over an email, image gallery, or video to preview the content without having to open it. This feature also enables users to launch a pop-up web browser or access an enlarged preview of website content without opening the full site. The Easy Clip feature allows users to instantly outline and crop any content on the screen in any shape to save, share or paste. Once done cropping the image, users can freely edit the cropped content through coloring, shading or their own personal handwriting. GALAXY Note II features an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera with HD video recording. The camera's powerful features include Buddy Photo Share, Burst Shot and Best Photo that were introduced on GALAXY S III earlier in June. Additional features include: Enjoy Data Without Limits Sprint 4G LTE is now available in 19 cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, San Antonio and Waco, Texas. Sprint's buildout of its 4G LTE network is under way in more than 100 additional cities within its existing nationwide 3G footprint. Major metropolitan areas in which Sprint 4G LTE is expected to be available in the coming months include Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Memphis, Tenn.; Miami; Nashville, Tenn.; New Orleans; New York; Philadelphia; and Washington, D.C. By the end of 2013, Sprint expects to have largely completed the nationwide build out of its all-new 3G and 4G network, a program known as Network Vision. The project also includes significant improvement in customers' 3G network experience, including expanded coverage, improved network reliability, better voice quality, and faster 3G data speeds. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint's 4G LTE rollout, visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE. Sprint will host the 12th annual Open Solutions Conference on Oct. 24-25 at the San Jose, Calif., Convention Center, offering developers, ecosystem partners and executive attendees an up-close view into the latest app developing tools and capabilities, keynote presentations from Sprint CEO Dan Hesse and other industry leaders, breakout sessions, coding sessions, event sponsor exhibits, and business-critical networking opportunities. Registration is open at http://developer.sprint.com/OSC2012. |
| LG Optimus G and its quad-core 1.5GHz S4 Pro coming to US shores in Q4 (update: video) Posted: 19 Sep 2012 05:52 AM PDT |
| John Legere confirmed as new Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile USA Posted: 19 Sep 2012 05:43 AM PDT Back in the heat of summer, T-Mobile USA's then CEO Philipp Humm resigned to take up the mantle at Vodafone. In the interim, former COO Jim Alling stepped up to keep the chair warm while a permanent replacement was found. Today we learn that John Legere, former CEO of Global Crossing, will relieve Alling of those duties, and fill the top spot full-time. With 32 years experience in the industry, Legere also spent time at Dell as president of European, Middle East and African operations. For now, his first task will likely be leading the firm's LTE deployment, and trying to win some of the faithful back. Head past the break for the full PR and the new CEO's first video address to employees.
John Legere Named as Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile USA Deutsche Telekom (OTCQX: DTEGY), one of Europe's leading telecommunications and information technology service companies and the parent company of T-Mobile USA, today announced that John Legere, a 32-year veteran of the U.S. and global telecommunications and technology industries, has been named Chief Executive Officer of its T-Mobile business unit, effective September 22. He succeeds Jim Alling, who has served as interim CEO since June and will return to his position as T-Mobile's Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Legere, 54, is the former CEO of Global Crossing, where he successfully transformed the company to become a leading provider of IP services worldwide. Under his direction, the company completed the world's first integrated global IP-based network, achieved near-perfect network operations and significantly improved customer satisfaction. "John is a talented and proven executive who brings a successful track record of leading and operating consumer- and business-focused telecommunications and technology companies," said René Obermann, CEO of Deutsche Telekom. "As T-Mobile moves forward with its strategic initiatives to improve its market position, including expanding its network coverage and initiating LTE service, John has obviously the right skillset to lead the business into the future. John's experience in the telecommunication and technology industries at Global Crossing and Dell will enhance T-Mobile's ability to deliver superior mobile experiences for our customers as the Company continues to strengthen its business. I am delighted to welcome John to T-Mobile and look forward to working with him to make T-Mobile a stronger competitor." "I am thrilled to join T-Mobile and lead the Company at such a pivotal time," said Mr. Legere. "T-Mobile is taking a number of significant steps to revitalize the business and I look forward to leading our team and partners to accelerate these efforts to become a force in our industry." Prior to joining Global Crossing, Mr. Legere was CEO of Asia Global Crossing, a Microsoft, Softbank and Global Crossing joint venture. Before that, Mr. Legere served as Senior Vice President of Dell Computer Corporation, where he was President of the Company's operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, as well as in the Asia-Pacific region. From 1983 to 1998, Mr. Legere worked at AT&T, where he served in a number of senior positions, including President of AT&T Asia, President of AT&T Solutions Outsourcing and head of global corporate strategy and business development. He began his career at New England Telephone in 1980. A Massachusetts native, Mr. Legere received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Massachusetts. He earned a master's degree in science as an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Additionally, he received his Master of Business Administration degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) and completed Harvard Business School's Management Development Program in 1989. Mr. Legere is a competitive runner and marathoner and uses his running as a means to support various charitable causes. He has raised more than $1.2 million in eight recent Boston Marathon runs for cancer research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute where he is also a Board Trustee. Mr. Legere is on the Board of the New York Road Runners and NYC Marathon, Achilles International and Shoe4Africa. "On behalf of Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile, I want to thank Jim for his effective leadership during his term as interim CEO. Jim is an instrumental member of our team and will continue to play a key role in guiding our strategic direction. We are pleased that T-Mobile will continue to benefit from his leadership and experience as he resumes his position as COO," continued Mr. Obermann. |
| Posted: 19 Sep 2012 05:30 AM PDT If sales figures from earlier in the year are any indication, it would seem that Ultrabooks are gaining traction, so you can't really blame accessory makers for wanting to piggyback on their success. Targus just introduced a bunch of slim, lightweight peripherals, and while you don't have to use them with your skinny little ultraportable, the company's marketing team really hopes you do. All told, the Ultralife line includes almost a dozen items, all of which have the same anodized bronze aluminum design and peekhole accent (looks like you're out of luck if your laptop skews more gray). Included in the group are a 65W adapter ($70) and a $40 hub with three USB sockets and an Ethernet jack, the idea being that most Ultrabooks don't have a wired internet connection built in. Also on tap: a polishing cloth ($10), a stylus with a magnetic holder ($20) and a slew of cases and sleeves, ranging in price from $40 to $80 (the MSRP varies depending on the material, and whether you buy it in a 13.3- or 14-inch size). Finally, the company announced a trio of wireless mice, including a plain-Jane model ($50), one with a microSD reader ($60) and one that doubles as as presenter ($90). All of these are available now, if the heavy, pedestrian mouse and USB hub you currently own just won't do. |
| Sky bags exclusive rights Warner Bros. movie catalog, makes LoveFilm and others wait Posted: 19 Sep 2012 04:58 AM PDT Sky has bested its broadcast and video-on-demand rivals by signing a deal with Warner Bros. for exclusive rights to its films in the UK and Ireland. Once the six-month cinema window has elapsed, each new flick (including Man of Steel and The Dark Knight Rises) will remain Murdoch-only for a full year before arriving on LoveFilm and its kind. Meanwhile, back-catalog titles like The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix will remain locked in the partnership's walled garden for an undisclosed period of time. Good news if you're a Sky customer, we suppose, and not if you're not. Sky and Warner Bros. announce comprehensive new movie agreement Sky and Warner Bros. today announce details of a comprehensive film agreement that will see the two companies collaborate on the distribution of Warner Bros.' movies across a wide range of platforms and aim to work more closely on the release and marketing of films in the UK and Ireland. The new distribution agreements span the first subscription pay TV and pay-per-view windows, enabling Sky to exhibit Warner Bros.' titles on its Sky Movies channels and video-on-demand services, and on a pay-per-view basis via Sky Movies Box Office and Sky Store. This means that subscribers to Sky Movies, and customers of NOW TV, the new internet TV service powered by Sky, will enjoy exclusive access to Warner Bros.' new releases around six months after they have ended their run in cinemas. Once on Sky Movies, these films will be available on the service exclusively for more than a year. Under the terms of the new agreement, Sky Movies will be the first subscription service in the UK & Ireland to show current Warner Bros. movies such as the UK-produced pictures Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, The Dark Knight Rises, Dark Shadows and Wrath of the Titans, as well as future releases such as Man of Steel, The Hangover Part III and The Great Gatsby. Alongside these brand new films, Sky Movies customers will also have exclusive access to a wide range of classic titles from Warner Bros.' world-class back catalogue, including all Batman movies, The Matrix franchise, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, all Superman movies and Lethal Weapon 1, 2 and 3. All of the movies will be available whenever and wherever Sky customers want to watch, via 11 dedicated Sky Movies channels, Sky's comprehensive TV on-demand service and Sky Go, the award-winning multiplatform TV service. For Sky customers, the movies will be provided in HD and 3D, device and title-permitting. The full suite of Warner Bros. titles will also be available to NOW TV customers with the Sky Movies monthly pass. NOW TV offers easy and flexible access to Sky Movies across PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, YouView, Xbox and selected Android smartphones, with films available to stream instantly. Customers who subscribe to Sky Movies via Virgin Media, UPC and TalkTalk will also be able to enjoy the full range of subscription films from the Warner Bros.' collection. In addition, prior to their availability on Sky's subscription services, Sky customers will be able to rent on a non-exclusive basis a wide range of Warner Bros. titles through Sky Movies Box Office, which is available to all Sky TV homes, Sky Store and NOW TV. Through these services, all Sky customers can rent Warner Bros.' titles - from the latest movies at the same time as they become available on DVD, through to an extensive library of classic films. The two companies, meanwhile, have a long history of working together to market films innovatively, most notably on the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, which saw Sky host live 3D footage on air, and in regional cinemas across the country, as well as produce a Premiere Special on Sky 1 and Sky Movies in the days that followed the record-breaking event in Trafalgar Square. This pact also signals an ambition to continue working in this way in the future. Ian Lewis, Director of Sky Movies comments: "We are delighted to be renewing our partnership with Warner Bros. This new deal will give Sky customers exclusive access to the full range of Warner Bros.' films, including recent hits like The Dark Knight Rises and classic titles such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, reflecting our focus on offering the biggest choice of the best films. By making the films available on demand and on our multiplatform service Sky Go, Sky is strengthening the customer experience, offering customers greater value and flexibility. The deal also sees us extend our reach by offering the films on NOW TV and Sky Store, giving more people new ways to enjoy our fantastic content." Josh Berger CBE, President & Managing Director, Warner Bros. UK, Ireland & Spain comments: "As the UK television and digital landscape continues to evolve, we're thrilled to be partnering with Sky to deliver our market-leading motion picture slate to millions of subscribers across multiple platforms. This innovative and ambitious deal presents consumers with myriad ways to enjoy our films, many of which will have been produced here in the UK, and we look forward to working with Sky as it continues to invest in great content." Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. International Television adds: "We are pleased to extend our association with Sky in the UK and Ireland. In an increasingly competitive environment for high quality features, we have once again selected Sky as the best home for our films in the first pay window. Sky Movies subscribers can look forward to seeing Warner Bros.' new films created by some of Hollywood's most talented directors and stars on Sky's platform in more compelling and convenient ways." |
| Apple's EarPods get the iFixit teardown treatment, found to basically be earbuds Posted: 19 Sep 2012 04:45 AM PDT As we briefly mentioned in our EarPods review, iFixit was able to teardown Apple's latest generation of earbuds, which are currently shipping with the iPhone 5. While we weren't quite sure what was going on with their insides, the site has confirmed some of our suspicions and detailed a few other fun facts. As it turns out, the internal layout of each earpiece is essentially that of an average 'bud with a forward-facing driver. The new top section, with its side-facing audio port, is apparently a good chunk of what affects the sound in unison with those strategically placed vents. The improved bass and low-mid response we noted in our review falls in line with iFixit's confirmation that the new driver in each Pod is made with a paper speaker cone -- in contrast to the plastic used on the older model. As the site notes, those driver diaphragms should be less likely to blow-out, and the basket behind 'em have also been updated with a cleaner fit and finish. Aside from that, you'll be pleased to know that the inline remote appears to have an improved seal for protection from the elements, and it'll hold up better to cable snags. As you might imagine, the $29 headphones have been deemed as disposable rather than repairable. Don't take our word for it however -- you can read the teardown for yourself at the source link below. |
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