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Engadget News |
- Motorola announces Droid RAZR Maxx HD
- Motorola RAZR M 4G LTE official: 4.3-inch qHD display, 1.5GHz dual-core, hitting Verizon for $99
- Motorola aiming to upgrade all possible devices to Jelly Bean, promises to give you $100 credit if it can't
- Motorola Droid RAZR HD unveiled: 4.7-inch 720p display, ICS, dual-core S4 for Verizon
- Google's Eric Schmidt: 1.3 million Android activations a day, 480 million devices worldwide
- Apple denies giving FBI any iOS device UDIDs, raises questions over AntiSec claims
- Twitter offers embeddable timeline tool, gives web designers new toy to play with
- Source: Barnes & Noble prepping Nook Tablet followup with 'incredible display' for fall release
- Live from Motorola's 'main event' in NYC!
- Samsung asks for South Korean injunction against LG for allegedly stealing OLED tech
- Nokia's Damian Dinning goes in-depth on phase two of PureView for the Lumia 920 (video)
- Nokia Lumia 920 vs. Lumia 900... fight!
- Nokia adds Qi wireless charging tech to new Lumia phones, we go hands-on
- Focusrite launches Forte, 24-bit / 192kHz portable audio interface (video)
- SanDisk announces 32GB ReadyCache for Windows: $55 at Amazon, keep your existing HDD
- Nokia Lumia screens tout Synaptics tech for gloves-on use, 920 adds outdoor-friendly brightness
- HTC shows off Cushnie et Ochs edition One X ahead of New York Fashion Week (update: not for sale!)
- Focusrite launches iTrack Solo, a two channel interface for iOS and desktops (video)
- Nokia Lumia 820 vs. Lumia 800: what's changed?
- Nokia Lumia 920 vs. Lumia 900: what's changed?
- Nokia Lumia 820 hands-on (update: now with video)
- JBL intros Power Up speaker to charge your Nokia Lumia 920, pair over NFC
- Nokia announces Lumia 820, a 4.3-inch, LTE-running, budget-friendly Windows Phone 8 handset
- Nokia Lumia 920 hands-on: the dual-core, HD Windows Phone 8 flagship to take on the beasts
- The Engadget Interview: Nokia CEO Stephen Elop
- Windows Phone 8 introduces new Lens apps: Bing Vision, Photosynth and CNN iReport launching from the camera button
- Nokia and AOL announce Entrance, an entertainment app for Nokia's Windows Phone devices
- Nokia: 7 million Lumia phones sold to date in 54 countries, 4 million in the last quarter
- Nokia brings wireless charging to Virgin Atlantic lounges, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
- Nokia announces wireless charging pads, Fatboy Recharging Pillow for Lumia phones
- Nokia Lumia 920 official: Dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 CPU, 8MP PureView camera, Windows Phone 8 (video)
- Live from Nokia and Microsoft's Windows Phone event!
- Contour+2 review: the best consumer helmet camera on the market
- Contour+2 action camera puts waterproof 1080p recording in your pocket for $400
- Tonino Lamborghini L2800 tablet and TL700 phone rumble in Hong Kong, we go hands-on (video)
- Editorial: Android cameras -- could Samsung's Galaxy gamble save the point-and-shoot industry?
- 50 quadrocopters take to Austria's skies for synchronized swarm (video)
- Livestream announces Studio HD500 all-in-one video switcher, ships October 15th for $8,500
- Engadget HD Podcast 314 - 09.05.2012
- European Commission clears Vodafone, Telefonica UK and Everything Everywhere's mobile wallet and advertising plans
| Motorola announces Droid RAZR Maxx HD Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:32 AM PDT Well, we weren't expecting it at today's Motorola event, but Motorola just outed a Maxx version of the Droid RAZR HD. Like its brother, the HD Maxx has the same dual-core CPU, LTE, and an 8-megapixel shooter, but it upgrades the onboard storage to 32GB. And the main event with any RAZR Maxx is, of course, its upgraded 3,300mAh battery that promises up to 21 hours of talk time, 13 hours of video playback or eight hours of web browsing on LTE. Naturally, a price has to be paid for such longevous life, but at 67.9mm wide, 131.9 mm long and a mere 9.3mm thin -- less than 1mm thicker than the standard HD -- it's a relatively small one.Folks looking for more info will find it in the PR after the break. Developing... Verizon Wireless and Motorola Add Three New and Exclusive 4G LTE DROID RAZR™ Smartphones All the power, battery life and cool design of DROID RAZR™ with the speed of 4G LTE three times over Sept. 05, 2012 BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility today announced that they are adding three new and exclusive smartphones, DROID RAZR™ M, DROID RAZR™ HD and DROID RAZR™ MAXX™ HD, to the DROID RAZR™ by Motorola family on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. All three devices offer the power and reliability that customers have come to expect from Motorola and Verizon Wireless. DROID devices give customers speed, power and revolutionary technology, while the RAZR design delivers a thin, compact device built with strong, top-of-the-line materials and long-lasting battery life. The new smartphones are powered by the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network, giving customers the capability to simultaneously talk and browse the Web and also access the blazingly fast speeds that cover more than 75 percent of the U.S. population. With three brand new options, this lineup has something for everyone. DROID RAZR M: The Full-Screen Phone DROID RAZR M also features powerful Web browsing capabilities by combining Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network with the speeds of Chrome™ for Android™ mobile browser for an unrivaled mobile Web experience. The DROID RAZR M's SMARTACTIONS™ feature maximizes battery efficiency with every charge, allowing customers to browse the Web and watch videos without worrying about draining their device's battery. DROID RAZR HD: Performance and Power The viewdini app is at its best with the HD display and 4G LTE speeds to watch movies, television shows and other video content. Viewdini brings the power of Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network to the screen by streamlining access to videos from a wide range of content providers, including cable operators, websites and other popular video sources. The viewdini app can be downloaded from Google Play. DROID RAZR MAXX HD: Long Live the Battery A Trilogy of Premium Design, Speed and Features: The new DROID RAZRs run Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (upgradeable to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean by end of 2012) and come with the best of Google Mobile Services, including: Pricing and Availability: ● DROID RAZR M will be available for pre-order starting today, September 5th, at 5 p.m. ET at http://www.verizonwireless.com/droidrazrm and will be available on September 13th in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at http://www.verizonwireless.com for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. The DROID RAZR M will be available either Black or White. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motorola RAZR M 4G LTE official: 4.3-inch qHD display, 1.5GHz dual-core, hitting Verizon for $99 Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:30 AM PDT Gosh, it feels like we're written this post already, huh? That's because we have. That handset you see up there is the Motorola RAZR M 4G LTE, which we've already seen in leaked photos. Well, Motorola just officially announced the phone and -- surprise, surprise -- there are no surprises. As we reported last week, the device has a 4.3-inch qHD (960 x 540) Super AMOLED Advanced display coated in Gorilla Glass. (The rear side is fashioned out of the same Kevlar you'll find on the Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx.) As you can see, the phone has nearly edge-to-edge glass with narrow bezels, which brings us to one of the phone's key selling points: it offers a good deal of screen real estate for a phone with such petite dimensions. Under the hood it packs a dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 Snaddragon S4 processor coupled with 1GB of RAM. The handset also boasts an 8-megapixel rear camera capable of recording 1080p video, a 3MP front-facing shooter, GSM / UMTS / HSPA+ global roaming and 8GB of internal storage, along with a microSD slot. Additionally, the phone has an NFC radio and will ship with Android 4.0. And while the other two Moto phones announced today are coming this holiday season, this guy is landing on Verizon Wireless next week for $99, though it's up for pre-order today.
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| Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:26 AM PDT At today's keynote, Motorola head Dennis Woodside has pledged that the company will attempt to upgrade all of its new and existing Android handsets to Jelly Bean "very soon." However, for some units, the latest version of Google's mobile OS is going to be too "compromised" to use properly. In that event, it's pledging to give you $100 credit off one of its brand new handsets, which are being unveiled today. It's not given details about how you go about claiming that credit, or when the program begins, but as soon as we're told, we'll let you know. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motorola Droid RAZR HD unveiled: 4.7-inch 720p display, ICS, dual-core S4 for Verizon Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:26 AM PDT It's been a day of big smartphone reveals, but Motorola's not one to let the glory shine too long upon rivals. At its press event today in New York City, the Google-owned manufacturer gave the public its first official look at the Droid RAZR HD. Unless you've been living off the grid, it's hard to find much about this announcement fresh and / or exciting, as specs, photos, tutorials, FCC docs and even sample pics have been leaking since the start of April. Surprise already blown, the handset falls in line with previous reports, running a lightly-skinned version of Android 4.0.4 (upgradeable to Jelly Bean) and bearing a 4.7-inch 720p display, dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 8-megapixel rear camera, NFC, as well as a massive 2,500mAh battery. So, what's changed in this RAZR refresh? Well, the phone's back may still be Kevlar-coated (in this case, it's pretty much fully wrapped), but a few cosmetic differences have been made to the Droid RAZR HD's body. For starters, its front face almost spans from edge to edge, with just a little bit of bezel surrounding that display. Dimensions-wise, it's 131.9mm tall, 67.9 mm wide and still pretty thin at 8.4mm. It's definitely a coup for design-focused consumers that prefer to have their devices appear as a sea of seamless black glass. While it'll be hanging out on Verizon's 4G network, we're still waiting on pricing -- but we're promised that it will arrive "before the holidays."
Motorola Mobility Takes Screen Size and Battery Life to the Edge with Three New Smartphone Additions to RAZR™ Family More screen. More battery life. More compact. More colors. And the best of Google packed inside. Introducing the new RAZR™ M, RAZR™ HD and DROID RAZR™ MAXX™ HD. Sept. 05, 2012 LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Sept. 5, 2012 – Speed, power, design and the best Android™ experiences around. Motorola Mobility is delivering all that and more with three new additions to its RAZR™ smartphone family: Motorola RAZR M, the full screen phone; the nonstop all-day entertainer Motorola RAZR HD; and the unmatched, live-forever battery of DROID RAZR MAXX HD by Motorola. All three Android-powered smartphones are built with top-of-the-line materials, are small in size, big on battery life and packed to the gills with the best experiences Google has to offer. Pushing Screen Space to the Edge Motorola RAZR M is also easy to use. It comes with interactive, swipe-by-swipe tutorials that walk you through the setup and help customize your phone to your needs – no instruction manual required. While RAZR M already has a long-life battery, when you set up the SMARTACTIONS™ battery saving rules too, your phone settings will automatically adjust to squeeze even more from every charge. Available in sleek black or stand out white, the Motorola RAZR M will be coming soon to consumers in several Asia Pacific countries. For those in the US, it's coming to the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network as DROID RAZR M by Motorola for the unbelievable price for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. All that power, speed and edge-to-edge beauty at a great price. No catch. Go. All. Day. It's not all about looks though. If you feel like hitting the road, you can drive with confidence knowing you'll get up to 6 hours of voice-guided turn by turn GPS navigation all on a single charge. No matter where the day (or night) takes you, Motorola RAZR HD will keep up with 24 hours of battery performance. Available in sleek black or stand out white, the Motorola RAZR HD will be coming soon to consumers in various countries throughout Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and Latin America. In the US, it will be available before the holidays on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network as DROID RAZR HD by Motorola. We'll provide more details on pricing and availability soon. Long Live the Battery DROID RAZR MAXX HD will be available before the holidays in black in the US on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. More details on timing and pricing will be made close to availability dates. Premium Materials and the Best of Google ● Chrome™ for Android, giving you a personalized Web experience anywhere you go Calling All Devs and Mod Enthusiasts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google's Eric Schmidt: 1.3 million Android activations a day, 480 million devices worldwide Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:15 AM PDT Kicking off the Motorola event in NYC, Google's Eric Schmidt has revealed some new Android figures for its captive audience of journalists and bloggers. It's now notching up some 1.3 million activations a day, which includes around 70,000 tablets ("We were late to them", notes Schmidt) every 24 hours. In total, that makes for just shy of 500 million Google-powered mobile devices around the globe -- 80 million in just over two months. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple denies giving FBI any iOS device UDIDs, raises questions over AntiSec claims Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:03 AM PDT Hacking group AntiSec (connected to Anonymous and LulzSec) made some bold claims Tuesday that it had obtained the unique device identifiers (UDIDs) of 12 million iOS devices from an FBI laptop, setting more than a few people on edge. The FBI has already denied that anything was stolen, but Apple has gone one step further to argue that it had no involvement. Spokeswoman Natalie Kerris tells AllThingsD that Apple hasn't given UDIDs to the FBI "or any organization" -- suggesting that either AntiSec or the FBI isn't telling the whole story of what data emerged and where. Even if there are real UDIDs floating around, Kerris adds that they don't necessarily pose much danger. She notes that programming hooks in iOS 6 will provide an alternative to UDID for device-specific data, and that apps will eventually be forbidden from using the older identifiers altogether. While the truth in the situation is hard to pin down, the technical reality doesn't leave much risk that our iPads and iPhones will be compromised. At least, not after this month. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Twitter offers embeddable timeline tool, gives web designers new toy to play with Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:59 AM PDT Until now, the only way for folks to see someone's tweets on the web was to grab screenshots or head directly to their Twitter page. No more. The microblogging platform just launched a new tool that lets folks embed Twitter timelines into any website, meaning you can have your 140-character musings right alongside your long-winded blog posts. Plus, you can interact with those tweets as you would at twitter.com, following and replying directly from the module. Interested? Head on down to the Twitter Developers source link below to learn how the embedding works. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: Barnes & Noble prepping Nook Tablet followup with 'incredible display' for fall release Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT This week may belong to Amazon and whatever information the mega-retailer decides to drop on our heads tomorrow at its press conference in Santa Monica, but Barnes & Noble's apparently won't be letting the Kindle maker hog the spotlight for too long. We've been tipped off from a reliable source that there is, in fact, a successor to the Nook Tablet heading our way this fall. The device is said to be "super light," while packing an "incredible display," rocking 243 ppi. Industrial design on the apparently forthcoming tablet will be handled by Barnes and Noble favorite, Robert Brunner of Ammunition, who's already got some Nook design under his belt. All of this is said to coincide with a brand new video store from the company, in an attempt, no doubt, to take advantage of the aforementioned "incredible display." That's about all we've got for the moment, but we're told more information will be forthcoming from more official channels soon. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Live from Motorola's 'main event' in NYC! Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:45 AM PDT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung asks for South Korean injunction against LG for allegedly stealing OLED tech Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:34 AM PDT LG and Samsung have had to live with each other as cornerstones of the South Korean economy, but that uncomfortable balance might just have been knocked off-kilter through an escalating legal battle. Samsung has filed for an injunction against LG for supposedly coercing 11 Samsung researchers (already indicted in July) into leaking the secrets behind its OLED screens, including 18 pieces of technology and 21 related documents. The accuser wants 1 billion won (about $879,771) in compensation for every piece of technology that might have slipped out. Suffice it to say that LG isn't happy with being labeled as a thief -- it notes that LG screens use white OLEDs instead of Samsung's RGB technique, reducing its incentive to swipe anything Samsung makes. LG even contends that Samsung is just trying to hide its embarrassment at losing OLED TV demo units that were headed to IFA 2012. Without a clear resolution in sight, there's every indication the legal dispute could become very ugly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia's Damian Dinning goes in-depth on phase two of PureView for the Lumia 920 (video) Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:17 AM PDT Nokia's imaging chief Damian Dinning has released a paper explaining the "second phase" of PureView technology that's included in the new Lumia 920. Charged with improving low-light photography and eliminating camera shake, the experimental 808 handset was developed with a 41-megapixel sensor that oversampled images down to 5-megapixels. However, such equipment is bulky and expensive, so it changed tack for its second crack at the whip, which you can find out about if you join us after the break. Reiterating the point that (emphasis his) "It's not about the NUMBER of pixels but HOW YOU USE THEM," the company limited its pictures to 8.7-megapixels, and rather than use pixel oversampling, developed custom optics, increased the aperture size to f/2.0 and paired it with a backside-illuminated CMOS and a high pulse power LED. The above image is taken with the new technology, while below, there's a comparison shot taken by a "leading competitor," which Stephen Elop let slip was the Samsung Galaxy S III. In order to reduce shake, the company customized Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which detects a camera's movement with a built-in gyroscope, compensating accordingly. With PureView, the entire optical assembly is moved mechanically to maintain parity with what you're shooting, which it claims is 50 percent more effective in reducing shake. We've also got a video which compares OIS and non-OIS shot video, which also reveals that the Unsafe Cyclist teaser was shot using Finland's latest flagship.
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| Nokia Lumia 920 vs. Lumia 900... fight! Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:09 AM PDT Both arriving in a fanfare of primary colors and big screens, we've already taken a look at the spec sheet breakdown, but how does the Lumia 920 compare to its predecessor in the looks department? In a battle of polycarbonate matte and gloss, we put them both into an Engadget editor's outstretched hands and let the photography do the talking. Ben Gilbert contributed to this report. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia adds Qi wireless charging tech to new Lumia phones, we go hands-on Posted: 05 Sep 2012 09:46 AM PDT So the big buzz of the day's just passed, but now's the time to focus on the lesser details of Nokia's big Windows Phone 8 / Lumia presser: the accessories. Revealed during the presentation today, the Lumia 920 and 820 both incorporate Qi tech for wireless charging (albeit, optionally in the latter's case), a perk that will let users choose from the company's own stylish, soap-bar like dock, Fatboy pillow or an NFC-equipped charging stand. All three function exactly as advertised -- put the phone on top and it starts charging right away. The basic dock is the same sort of plastic that now graces the outside of the Lumia line. It's simple, slightly shiny and comes in a variety of hues. The Pillow is broad, flat and not exactly comfortable. The charging element sits right in the middle and is surrounded by beanbag-like cushions on all sides save for the top -- we wouldn't advise putting it under your head to go to sleep. The most interesting peripheral is definitely the charging stand. It's the least cumbersome of the charging options and it's got a neat trick up its sleeve. An NFC chip embedded in its base can be used to tell a Lumia to launch an app when you place it in the dock. So, you could easily put a 920 down, keep it charged and automatically open your music player or alarm clock. You can see the NFC trick in action in a video after the break.
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| Focusrite launches Forte, 24-bit / 192kHz portable audio interface (video) Posted: 05 Sep 2012 09:43 AM PDT If you like your audio interfaces with added "on-the-go," then the new Forte from Focusrite might be worthy of your attention. The two-input four-output device has two remote control preamps with 24-bit 192kHz analog / digital converters. If you are worried that the pocket-friendly form means less space for meters etc, fear not, as an OLED display with on-screen buttons provides visual feedback, along with control over levels and even some software (DAW) parameters. There's a breakout cable included, and dedicated control software (PC and Mac) so even your devices with XLR connections will get a look in, while the aluminum casing should hold it all together nicely -- not to mention make it look pretty. How much you ask? That'd be £399 / $600 when it lands in stores in October. Promo video after the break.
Focusrite Launches Forte New flagship interface is the pinnacle of design and technology British audio equipment manufacturer Focusrite has launched a brand new flagship portable audio interface: Forte. It represents the pinnacle of Focusrite's analogue audio circuit design coupled with the latest in digital conversion technologies, alongside stunning, no-compromise industrial design and professional practicality. Forte is a premium two-input, four-output USB 2.0 audio interface that works with Mac and PC. It has two remote control mic preamps, as used in Focusrite's RedNet range of professional audio interfaces, and uses class-leading, 24-bit/192kHz A-D/D-A converters. Forte features a colour OLED (Organic LED) display to indicate input and output signal levels, mic preamp gain and other useful information, with stylish motion graphics giving you detailed visual information. A single, smooth-feeling control knob operates in conjunction with touch-sensitive icon buttons to give you complete control over input and output levels, and DAW control parameters. Key Features In addition to providing the highest quality signal path, Focusrite has paid particular attention to ergonomic design. A breakout cable with locking connector is used for microphone (XLR) and line/instrument (TRS) inputs, but balanced line and independent headphone outputs are provided on the unit itself, so the breakout cable is not required for playback-only applications. In addition, the mic and line-level inputs on the breakout cable are separate, meaning all inputs can be connected simultaneously, without having to re-patch when you switch from one to the other. The elegant aluminium case includes non-slip strips on the base to ensure that it is always stable during operation. An external power supply is included with the unit, however Forte can also operate as a USB powered interface. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SanDisk announces 32GB ReadyCache for Windows: $55 at Amazon, keep your existing HDD Posted: 05 Sep 2012 09:28 AM PDT MILPITAS, Calif., September 4, 2012-SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced an affordable, easy-to-install SSD caching solution that lets consumers significantly improve their desktop computer's performance. The SanDisk ReadyCache™solution can boost a desktop computer's boot, shutdown and application launch times, allowing consumers to enjoy a more responsive computing experience, while utilising their existing hard drive's storage. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia Lumia screens tout Synaptics tech for gloves-on use, 920 adds outdoor-friendly brightness Posted: 05 Sep 2012 09:17 AM PDT Everyone who regularly deals with cold winters knows the pain of using a smartphone in January -- you're usually forced to take your gloves off and risk frostbite if that call just can't wait. Nokia's new Lumia 820 and Lumia 920 phones bring in a Synaptics ClearPad Series 3 sensor whose responsiveness will keep those hands toasty. Super Sensitive Touch, as Nokia calls it, lets the capacitive surface react to more than just direct skin contact: it can recognize input through gloves, as well as from those with long fingernails. You'll want to spring for the Lumia 920 if you envision updating Twitter during a sunny skiing trip, however. On top of that extra-large 1,280 x 768 resolution, the 920's PureMotion HD+ display is reportedly about 25 percent brighter than its next-best rival. We're looking forward to a real field test -- not to mention preserving all the feeling in our fingers. Synaptics Introduces Advanced Touch Experience in Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820 Super Sensitive Touch(TM) built on ClearPad(TM) Series 3 enables enhanced touch support on Nokia's first Windows Phone 8 smartphones SANTA CLARA, California - Synaptics Inc. (NASDAQ: SYNA), a leading developer of human interface solutions, today announced that the new Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820 will be the first smartphones in the world to use a new advanced multi-touch experience based on the Synaptics ClearPad capacitive touchscreen sensing technology. Synaptics ClearPad Series 3, the premier mobile touch solution for premium high end smartphones, has raised the bar for high performance touch on the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 with the introduction of support for gloves and fingernails. Previously, people were unable to use their smartphone touchscreens with gloved fingers or long fingernails, requiring them to remove their gloves, or awkwardly position their fingers with long nails in order to operate their phones. For the first time ever, ClearPad Series 3 technology instantly optimizes the touch experience by automatically detecting the presence of skin, gloved fingers, or fingernails, giving users a seamless multi-touch experience regardless of input methods. "With Synaptics' continuous innovation on touch, we are able to pioneer new technologies that improve the smartphone user experience," said Kevin Shields, senior vice president, Smart Devices, Nokia. "Nokia has been a leader in display technology, and we are setting a new standard with Super Sensitive Touch technology on the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820." Nokia's flagship Windows Phone 8 device, the Nokia Lumia 920, features an impressive smartphone display based on exclusive technology called Nokia PureMotion HD+. With better than HD resolution, overdrive technology for keeping moving images pixel-perfect and sunlight enhancements for easy viewing even in the brightest sunlight, the 4.5-inch display of the Lumia 920 produces a totally immersive experience. PureMotion displays are super-sensitive with any touch interaction, enabled by the ClearPad Series 3 technology. "We are excited to participate with Nokia as they unveil their first Windows Phone 8 devices by enabling advanced features such as gloved finger support," said Kevin Barber, senior vice president and general manager of Synaptics Handheld Division. "Synaptics and Nokia have partnered for many years and we're pleased to continue the innovation with the introduction of these new devices." ClearPad Series 3 offers up to 10 finger full-time tracking and fast refresh rates, with industry leading signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR), delivering high performance to the most demanding smartphones. Synaptics' patented SignalClarity(TM) technology improves tracking accuracy, finger separation, and environmental and electrical noise robustness for an unmatched user experience. Synaptics' Design Studio(TM)4 (DS4) accelerates the ClearPad development cycle by enabling customers to evaluate and optimize the performance of their touch experience, enabling OEMS to implement their custom ClearPad sensor solution more efficiently. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HTC shows off Cushnie et Ochs edition One X ahead of New York Fashion Week (update: not for sale!) Posted: 05 Sep 2012 09:11 AM PDT In the last HTC Frequencies media summit, the company didn't shy away from the possibility of exploring different color options for its flagship devices, but never did we expect it to come out with such a simple yet eye-catching combination of black and white on the same body. Courtesy of Frequencies II today, what we're looking at here is an HTC One X (on AT&T) with a bit of love from fashion label Cushnie et Ochs: the design simply consists of a two-part chassis instead of a unibody shell, so we could just about feel the seam along the center of the backside. Other than that, this is a surprisingly attractive device, especially with the preloaded wallpaper that matches the shell colors -- we like the effect of it moving along horizontally as we swipe between home screens. There's no word yet on availability, but keen fashionists should see this pop up at Milk Studios during the New York Fashion Week in a few days. Update: Bad news, folks: we've just had confirmation from HTC that this funky phone will not be available for purchase. Only certain celebrities will receive one as a gift.
HTC NAMED OFFICIAL TECHNOLOGY PARTNER FOR MADE FASHION WEEK HTC and MADE Fashion Week Come Together to Celebrate the Collision of Fashion and Technology NEW YORK, NY (August 30, 2012) – HTC, a global leader of mobile innovation and design, has been named the official technology partner for the 2013 Spring/Summer MADE Fashion Week taking place in New York City at Milk Studios September 6-12. HTC and MADE have come together for a ground-breaking partnership that celebrates the collision of fashion, technology and art through one-of-a-kind collaborations with a renowned artist and burgeoning designer. "HTC's generous support has helped us give over 40 designers the opportunity to show at New York Fashion Week," said Mazdack Rassi, Co-Founder of MADE, Creative Director of Milk Studios. "They have been an extraordinary partner to MADE Fashion Week and we have the upmost respect for the innovative and creative work they do within their industry." As a kick-off to fashion week, HTC will co-host a star-studded, exclusive party at Milk Gallery on September 4th in honor of famed photographer Ben Watts' Mix Tape exhibition. Watts, whose photography has been seen in fashion publications such as Elle, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Vanity Fair, has taken several photos using his HTC One device that are being featured in the exhibit. The photos will be on display along with a series of behind-the-scenes videos documenting Watts' experience creating them. A part of the Mix Tape exhibition will feature a custom built EVOLVE / Ben Watts scooter housing four HTC One devices. Guests will be able to take their picture as they strike a pose on the scooter, and this will be on display at MADE for the duration of fashion week. HTC has teamed up with Watts to develop the "Wattsup Photo" app - now everyone can create imagery "just like Ben". Watts' punchy color saturation and neon gaff tape borders make every photo look like a behind-the-scenes shot from a swimsuit magazine shoot. Users will also be able to use the app to collage their photos in Watts' signature scrapbook-style. "I teamed up with HTC because of their strong presence in pop culture, which I like to shower myself in and am a big follower of," said Ben Watts. "Now tap that HTC 'WattsUpPhoto" app and get your collage on shhhhh." In addition, HTC has announced their collaboration with the dynamic fashion design team and MADE Fashion Week participants Cushnie Et Ochs to create the HTC One by Cushnie Et Ochs. This limited edition, beautifully designed device references the simple color palette and boldsensuality of the Cushnie Et Ochs Spring 2013 collection, which will be shown at MADE Fashion Week this September. "Bringing the Cushnie Et Ochs aesthetic to a world outside the realm of fashion was so new and inspiring and really allowed us to develop the ultimate sleek and sexy tech accessory," said Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs. And guests visiting MADE Fashion Week will be able to stay powered by plugging into several HTC charging stations. These stations will be accessible throughout Milk Studios during MADE Fashion Week including backstage, and VIP lounge areas. During the busy week, HTC will be providing select attendees with a VIP Fashion Week Survival Kit featuring essential items for stylistas on-the-go including a nail file, lip balm, sewing kit, hand lotion, stain treatment stick, mirror and mints. Tweet us at #HTCMADE. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Focusrite launches iTrack Solo, a two channel interface for iOS and desktops (video) Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:55 AM PDT There's a stack of different plugs, cables and connectors aimed at piping sound into your iPad, but when studio-stalwart Focusrite makes one, we pay attention. The iTrack Solo is a two channel interface compatible with the iPad, as well as your Mac or PC, offering mobile recording all the way up to 24-bit / 96kHz. The onboard preamp is the same as used in the brand's flagship Liquid Saffire 56 interface, and there's phantom power for microphones. As well as the mic-in there's a quarter-inch input for guitars etc., as well as a chunky volume control for monitoring. Front "halo" indicators change from green to red if your recording levels go too high, and the aluminum casing should prevent it from getting damaged at the bottom of any gig bag. Once you've created a masterpiece in Garageband (or other recording app), you can use the line-level phono outputs to run it through your sound system of choice. Sound like something you can get down to? You'll be able to get your hands on the iTrack Solo starting next month, and it'll set you back $160 at your local dealer -- in the meantime, you can jam on the PR after the break.
Focusrite iTrack Solo Brings Quality Recording To iPad® Record guitar and vocals with a Focusrite mic preamp With a quarter of a century of experience building legendary pro-audio equipment for top recording studios around the world, leading UK-based pro-audio manufacturer Focusrite turns its attention to recording on the iPad with the launch of the new iTrack Solo – a compact, rugged 2-channel interface for the iOS platform. It is also fully compatible with Mac and PC computers. Focusriteʼs iTrack Solo is a dual-input audio interface designed for recording instruments iTrack Solo features a professional, low-distortion, low-noise Focusrite microphone preamp as used in Focusriteʼs flagship Liquid Saffire 56 interface. Phantom power allows the use of top-quality studio microphones, and alongside the microphone input on the front panel Owners of Focusriteʼs popular Scarlett 2i2 USB interface will find the layout and features quite familiar – in fact iTrack Solo is based on the proven technology found in Focusriteʼs existing range of computer audio interfaces. Focusriteʼs signature "halo" indicators around the input knobs let you know if you are recording at the correct level (green) or at too high a level (red). Thereʼs a large monitor knob that controls the output level. Monitoring can be switched to listen to your recording signal against your backing track without incurring off-putting latency introduced by your music software.
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| Nokia Lumia 820 vs. Lumia 800: what's changed? Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:45 AM PDT Curious about how Nokia's new second-tier handset matches up against its predecessor? Well, we certainly are. That's why we've compiled a list of key specifications and stacked the Lumia 820 side-by-side with the 800 -- so we can see how Redmond's newest mobile OS has liberated Finland's finest design minds.
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| Nokia Lumia 920 vs. Lumia 900: what's changed? Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:35 AM PDT Just five months after grandly returning to the United States with the Lumia 900, Nokia's switching it out for an even better Windows Phone 8 offering. The 920's coming with a beefier display, better internals and has wholly embraced wireless charging -- but that's not the feature everyone's gonna be talking about. No, that's reserved for the 8-megapixel PureView hardware and the new imaging tech behind it. Still, that shouldn't distract from the real business at hand: identifying the tiny hardware differences that separate the current and future iterations of the flagship, which we've broken down for you after the break.
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| Nokia Lumia 820 hands-on (update: now with video) Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:14 AM PDT Nokia's Lumia 820 is here, after countless leaks, and the budget-friendly handset is exactly what we expected. We'll admit we're sad to see the rather singular design of its spiritual forebear, the Lumia 800, fall by the wayside, but we can't complain about the build quality here. The usual attention to detail and materials we've come to appreciate from the Finnish phone maker is on full display. The flat glass panel on the front may lack the mystique of the curved display on the 920 and 800, but it's hardly something that should factor into your decision to buy this handset or another. The ceramic volume rocker and lock button on the right side have a pleasant and satisfying click, though we're sad to report that the camera button still leaves us wanting. Sure, any dedicated camera key is better than none, but its squishy response to our press was hardly encouraging. At least Nokia had the good grace to upgrade to a dual-stage solution. We were also a bit put off by the shine of the body. The Lumia series stole our hearts with its matte finish when it first debuted; now the glossy exterior is more likely to throw some glare and attract fingerprints. The new plastic also feels quite a bit lighter in the hand, which makes the 820 feel more like the midrange device it is and less like the premium handset it's succeeding. What's under the hood certainly makes up for some of those shortcomings. The 1.5 GHz dual-core processor with 1GB RAM simply chewed through the lightweight Windows Phone 8, leaving us to wonder if Apple and Google can truly keep up. All of the UI animations were smooth and fluid, and apps launched with nary a hiccup. And, can we just say that Windows Phone 8 is an absolute pleasure to use. At the risk of angering quite a few people -- there's simply no mid-range Android phone or iOS device that's as quick and satisfying to use as the Lumia 820, and much of that is thanks to the highly optimized Microsoft OS. It's a pleasure to see that new features like the customizable home screen and background multitasking haven't weighed down Redmond's phone platform. And things will likely only get better as the final wrinkles are ironed out and bugs are squashed. But, as we all know, speed and smooth animations alone don't make a device -- Microsoft will have to convince developers to support its still fledgling platform.
Our one major gripe about the 820 is its screen. Sure, it's not the worst panel on the planet, but we've come to expect better from Nokia. The WVGA resolution puts it a full generation behind its competitors and there's no fancy tech at work here -- like Super AMOLED or IPS -- to help smooth its rough edges. Sure, the straight lines and flat colors of Windows Phone make it easier to hide the displays shortcomings. But, when placed next to its big brother, the Lumia 920, they become immediately apparent. Thankfully contrast and brightness are slightly above par for a budget handset. We're also a little sad to see that Nokia's PureView branding hasn't been carried over to the 820. While we're sure the 8-megapixel Carl Zeiss-equipped shooter won't be a huge disappointment, it won't pack the wow factor of the 920 either. Alas, Nokia wasn't willing to show off the 820's camera because the software isn't quite hands-on ready. Ultimately, the 820 feels and looks exactly like what it is -- a midrange handset. There's no shame in that and the software flies already. Still, it's hard to dismiss the somewhat lackluster specs and the unfortunate new design direction. Then again, maybe you'll be able to pick up this little bugger for free on contract, and that would make it one of the best deals on the market. Daniel Cooper and Ben Gilbert contributed to this post. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JBL intros Power Up speaker to charge your Nokia Lumia 920, pair over NFC Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:06 AM PDT JBL just kicked out a pair of new accessories to go with that new Nokia Lumia 920. The Power Up speaker does more than just start Bluetooth music sharing over NFC -- it has a Qi wireless charging point so that you can just leave your shiny new Windows Phone on top for an extra jolt of energy without looking for that FatBoy pillow. We'll provide more details as they emerge following Nokia's special event. Dana Wollman contributed to this report. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia announces Lumia 820, a 4.3-inch, LTE-running, budget-friendly Windows Phone 8 handset Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:02 AM PDT No matter your budget, Nokia's got a Windows Phone 8 handset for you. While the Lumia 920 dominated today's press conference, the company's more modest Lumia 820 is planning to sneak in and capture the mid-range. The handset is packing the same 1.5Ghz dual-core Snapdragon S4 internals you'll find in the 920, along with 1GB RAM and a 4.3-inch display. While the handset isn't unattractive, the design language of the 800 (and N9) that captured our hearts has been dumped in favor of something more symmetrical. The glass of its 800 x 480 ClearBlack OLED screen is flat rather than convex (poached by the 920) and the body's finish is a little more shinier than the previous generation of Nokia's polycarbonate. Photography fans looking to get their hands on that PureView goodness will be disappointed to see that it's also been reserved for the flagship (in some form). Instead, this unit comes with the more familiar 8-megapixel Carl Zeiss optics we've seen before, but at least there's a front-facing VGA lens for video conferencing. While the unit only has 8GB of on-board storage, it's packing microSD support (up to 32GB, as per usual) and you'll also get an additional 7GB of storage on Microsoft's cloud service, Skydrive. The company's including a series of protective cases in a variety of colors, including a set that add bundle QI-compatible wireless charging to the handset -- at the cost of adding an extra 1mm to the handset's overall thickness. It'll arrive in Red, Yellow, Grey, Cyan, Purple, White and Black, with separate LTE and HSPA+ variants shipping "later in the year," but Elop and co declined to give a specific announcement on availability or price today.
Espoo, Finland and New York, NY - Nokia today announced the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Nokia Lumia 820, the first devices in Nokia's Windows Phone 8 range. The Nokia Lumia 820 The Nokia Lumia 820 is a stylish, mid-range smartphone that delivers high-end performance in a compact package. While the Nokia Lumia 820 has the same unibody look and feel as the high end Lumia smartphones, it comes with an exchangeable shell design. Exchangeable shells not only make it possible to select from a range of colors, but also to add wireless charging. Beneath the shell is room to insert a micro SD memory card. Powered by Windows Phone 8 Windows Phone 8 provides a more personal smartphone experience, with a start screen that can be more easily rearranged to reflect individual priorities and new animated Live Tiles for real-time updates on the things that matter most. The ability to sync content between Windows Phone 8 smartphones, Windows 8-based PCs and tablets or Xbox means files, music, pictures and video can be accessed in whichever way is most convenient. With Internet Explorer 10 for faster, safer browsing and Microsoft Office apps built into the platform, Windows Phone 8 is also the easiest way for getting things done. Wireless charging partners Nokia also announced a range of wireless charging accessories and partnerships. The Fatboy Recharge Pillow provides a fun way to recharge, while JBL introduced the JBL PowerUP, a wireless charging docking station with high quality audio in retro styling. Deals with Virgin Atlantic to put wireless charging stations in the London Heathrow Clubhouse lounge and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to put charging plates on tables in some of their cafés, were the first of many deals Nokia intends to sign to take wireless charging outside the home and office. Availability The Nokia Lumia 920 comes in yellow, red, grey, white and black. The Nokia Lumia 820 comes in red, yellow, grey, cyan, purple, white and black. Both phones will be available in pentaband LTE and HSPA+ variants and are expected to start shipping in select markets later in the year. Nokia will announce pricing and specific roll-out dates country by country when sales are due to begin. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia Lumia 920 hands-on: the dual-core, HD Windows Phone 8 flagship to take on the beasts Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:01 AM PDT It's official. Nokia's just taken the wraps off its worst-kept Windows Phone 8 secret: the Lumia 920. The device, announced at the manufacturer's event in New York City today, is a spiritual successor to the 900 that first broke onto American shores and can largely be seen as a response to critics of that former device. With a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 CPU (the same one that drives the current US supremos, the HTC One X and Galaxy S III), a "better than HD" 1,280 x 768 LCD display, PureView imaging (albeit with only eight megapixels), NFC capabilities, 2,000mAh battery with wireless charging and a next-gen Redmond-baked OS, this handset's a big-break proposition for the flailing Finnish company; an attempt to up the ante and compete on even ground. From the outside, it may appear as though not much has changed in this generational hardware leap, but rest assured that what Espoo's packed inside should take the mobile outfit to the next level. So, follow on after the break as we dive into our first impressions of this curiously hued smartphone splash.
If you've fondled a Lumia 900 before, you'll know what to expect here. The 920 retains much the same form factor as its predecessor, with an all-polycarbonate chassis (in this case, a sunny, near-neon yellow) replete with rounded side edges and a familiar button placement. The finish of the body has changed slightly, with the 2.5D glass now blending gently into its polycarbonate border -- a nod to the "sinuous tapering" of the original, awesomely built Lumia 800. But, on the downside, what once was matte and grippy is now a polished, glossy affair. It's a design decision that we wish Nokia hadn't made, since it lends a cheapness to the handset that belies its hearty internals. Obviously, that last bit is a matter of personal taste and it's entirely possible the company went with this less premium exterior to keep costs down, but we miss that matte refinement. That said, the Lumia 920 is surprisingly light to hold, though we fear owners with slippery fingers might have a hard time keeping a tight grip. In the cramped constraints we operate under during these official launch events, it's not always possible to test out a phone's imaging capabilities. We weren't able to put the dumbed-down 8-megapixel PureView module to the test, nor any of the various lenses that Nokia's pre-loaded. A company rep assured us that much of that software was still a work-in-progress, so we had to make do with a demo of Cinemagraph. And we're pleased to report the simple-to-use interface, which allows for an isolated area of motion, worked like a charm and even brought a smile to our face. When it ships, expect the 920 to pack at least three of these new lenses: SmartShot, Cinemagraph and Panorama. What should be apparent from that 920's 8-megapixel PureView camera, and the device's smooth back, is that this Lumia won't deliver the same awe-inspiring optic performance of the 808. Perhaps Nokia's saving that ace for another smartphone reveal, but in the meantime, users will have to suffice with the optics the company's cooked up; a sensor that can capture "between five and 10 times" the light of any other smartphone. Then there's also "floating lens" image stabilization, which Nokia insists can even beat the optical stabilization of DSLR cameras. Even at our most open-minded, we can hardly absorb marketing claims like that until we've had a chance to test the Lumia 920's photo-taking performance for ourselves -- which hopefully won't be far off. So, you know how it looks, how it feels and even what's inside, but let's not forget the most important piece of this smartphone pie: how it works. By now, you should be well aware that this is a Windows Phone 8 device. It's infused with the mobile OS Microsoft crafted from the bottom up and one that shares a kernel with its desktop sibling. Fans of WP will feel right at home when they power on the handset, as that start screen -- now expanded to fill up the entire 4.5-inch real estate --pops with an array of live tiles and a balanced vibrancy of color, even without the contrasty AMOLED technology of the Lumia 800. There's definitely a floating effect at play here, as the tiles seem to hover up right to the screen's surface. As for the display itself, it's subject to a bit of glare, but take heed we were also under the bright lights of this event space. Viewing angles held up remarkably and the glass itself felt soft to the touch, allowing our finger to glide over the many live tiles unperturbed. Despite the availability of apps crowding the homescreen, Nokia's decided to keep a tight lock over the actual software performance of Windows Phone 8. Because of the decision, our interactions with the OS and even app list were extremely limited. From what we did experience, we can tell you that the dual-core S4 powering the 920 makes for smooth scrolling and navigation. There are, however, minute delays when switching between screens and even launching apps. Chalk that up to Windows Phone's signature animations, obviously included to add that element of fluidity, but we would've preferred to see a bit brisker performance. If all the above has you hankering for the Lumia 920's release, we'd advise you to take a few deep breaths and dial back your expectations. As Stephen Elop repeatedly stressed at the end of today's event, the company's not ready to share pricing or release details. You'll have to sit tight for Q4 to hear more on that. Still, this is an excellent first taste of Nokia's US sophomore effort. Fingers crossed these cheery-colored handsets actual deliver beyond that superficial sheen. Dana Wollman contributed to this report. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Engadget Interview: Nokia CEO Stephen Elop Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT It's been nearly a year since we spoke with Stephen Elop in New York City for the launch of the Lumia 800, a year that hasn't exactly been full of success on the financials front. But, forget all that, because the new devices are here! We had the chance to chat with Stephen about the new Lumia 820 and 920 and ask him what he thinks the chances are of this version of Windows Phone will be the one that finally gains some traction in the market.
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| Posted: 05 Sep 2012 07:52 AM PDT The first new Windows Phone 8 feature to appear alongside Nokia's Lumia 920 launch is the camera-augmenting Lens apps. Offering both in-house and third-party programs, (and no more zoom bar -- pinch-to-zoom!), these will all launch immediately from the camera button. On stage, Joe Belfiore detailed a handful of the apps, encompassing Bing Vision (camera-based search), Photosynth, Blink, FXSuite, PhotoStrip and CNN iReport. FXSuite offers up a preview of your viewfinder in all your favorite token visual effects, which can capture an image, and then send you back to the single Lens app, or back to the Lens menu. As to be expected, all your photographic skills can be instantly transferred across to your SkyDrive-powered cloud camera roll -- something that could be especially useful with the Blink app, which captures a burst of photos in one touch. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia and AOL announce Entrance, an entertainment app for Nokia's Windows Phone devices Posted: 05 Sep 2012 07:45 AM PDT In case you didn't notice, Microsoft and Nokia are holding a pretty major press event right now, and while we've mainly been waiting for some shiny new hardware, a few fresh apps never hurt either. Nokia just made a joint announcement with AOL, unveiling an entertainment hub called Entrance, which will be available only on Nokia's Windows Phone devices. AOL (which happens to be Engadget's parent company) naturally used the app as a way to highlight its various properties, including Moviefone, AOL Music and Huffington Post Entertainment. So, for example, you might watch trailers or buy tickets on Moviefone, or read news from HuffPo. Like its various Android apps, it includes Shoutcast Radio integration with streaming from over 55,000 radio stations worldwide. Perhaps the most compelling bit, though, is an augmented reality feature with overlays for movie posters and show times. The app's free and available for download at the source link below, and we've also got some screenshots to help give you a sense for the look and feel.
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| Nokia: 7 million Lumia phones sold to date in 54 countries, 4 million in the last quarter Posted: 05 Sep 2012 07:42 AM PDT Fresh on the heels of the much-anticipated Lumia 920 announcement, some new figures have come to light regarding its predecessors' success. According to the Finnish phone-maker, a total of 7-million Windows Phone / Lumia devices have shipped to date. The firm was also keen to point out that this number comes from 54 markets in total -- some 130 different operators. While this might seem modest, especially with only 600,000 of those sales being in the US, 4-million of those Lumia devices were sold in Q2, roughly double that of the preceding two quarters, so things are on the up. Now it just remains to see what impact any new Windows Phone 8 phones will have. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia brings wireless charging to Virgin Atlantic lounges, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Posted: 05 Sep 2012 07:33 AM PDT Nokia thinks you'll like the wireless phone charging on your Lumia 920 or 820 enough to want to take it on the road, and to that end it's striking a deal to bring the cable-free experience beyond the home. Both Virgin Atlantic's lounge at Heathrow Airport and countertops at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the US will let you top up your Windows Phone without having to hunt for a power outlet. We're still waiting on details like the timing, but we're glad to know that we won't have to lug around our FatBoy Recharge Pillows just to keep living in Nokia's vision of the future. Nokia and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® form partnership to introduce wireless charging to cafés across the United States Coffee house introduces new smartphone technology to help consumers recharge over a coffee Bringing charging solutions from the home and office to the high street, Nokia will introduce integrated wireless charging plates into The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® cafés in select major metropolitan cities across the United States. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® is the oldest and largest privately-held specialty coffee and tea retailer in the United States with more than 850 stores in 24 countries. It is also present in 40 prominent airport locations, such as Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Changi Airport in Singapore, and New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport. This follows the launch of two new Nokia Windows Phone 8 devices which both offer wireless charging. The Nokia Lumia 920 features in-built wireless charging, while the new Nokia Lumia 820 benefits from wireless charging via a removable and exchangeable shell. "With Nokia wireless charging access points located in its chain of coffee houses, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® can provide technology that will offer total convenience and simplicity to its consumers," said Jo Harlow, executive vice president, Smart Devices, Nokia. "The partnership highlights Nokia's commitment to making wireless charging as ubiquitous as Wi-Fi is today." In addition, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®, the world's largest privately held specialty coffee and tea retailer, will launch a new mobile app for Nokia Lumia and Windows Phone smartphones. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® app will include features such as social media feeds, store locator, store amenities and contact information. Additional features include seasonal beverage selections, gifts, charitable initiatives and much more. "With the large number of customers that pass through each The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® cafe daily, many use it as a place to work, rest and play. Wireless charging provides a convenient way for consumers to recharge their phone while relaxing with a coffee, so that they can leave their house and use their phone freely without worrying about running low on battery," says Bob Kaufman, Vice President of Business Development at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®. Nokia is part of the Wireless Power Consortium, an organization that supports the Qi wireless charging standard. This group is comprised of a number of operators, service providers, component suppliers and consumer electronics companies that have pledged their support to Qi and are working together to build an infrastructure ecosystem that will make it possible to charge wirelessly throughout the day. The Nokia wireless charging plates are able to charge any smartphone with wireless charging capabilities based on the Qi standard. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia announces wireless charging pads, Fatboy Recharging Pillow for Lumia phones Posted: 05 Sep 2012 07:30 AM PDT Any of you who bothered to read Engadget this past Labor Day Monday must've noticed all those Nokia leaks making the rounds. Chief among them was a wireless charging pad, featured in a legit-looking press shot. Well, Nokia's big day of announcements has arrived and indeed, the company just formally unveiled the charging accessory -- a soap-dish-shaped device based on the popular Qi wireless standard. (Of course, the Lumia 920's built-in Qi tech means that you can use all manner of third-party charging pads; they don't have to be made by Nokia.) Additionally, the company briefly teased a Fatboy-branded pillow (pictured), also designed for recharging. Other than that, the company didn't share too many specifics, though it did reveal that Virgin Atlantic and Coffee Bean will both be offering wireless charging -- Virgin in its Heathrow Airport lounge, and Coffee Bean on its countertops. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 05 Sep 2012 07:12 AM PDT It was only this past spring that Nokia crashed onto the US smartphone scene to stake its claim and make inroads into consumers' minds and hearts. Now, just five months later, the Finnish company's poised to overtake the buzz of its fledgling, former Windows Phone flagship, with what many consider to be a true high-end contender: the Lumia 920. As one of the first Windows Phone 8 devices to be officially announced, this device augments Espoo's line with a larger, curved 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ display, dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 CPU, 2,000mAh battery, NFC, integrated wireless charging and an 8-megapixel rear PureView camera capable of 1080p video. The display packs WXGA (1,280 x 768) resolution, is 25 percent brighter than the next best panel on the market and it's the fastest LCD that Nokia has ever shipped on a smartphone. What's more, the screen also boasts what Nokia calls "Super Sensitive Touch," which promises to let you use it even when wearing gloves or mitts. As you can tell from its humpless back, this PureView is not that of the 41-megapixel variety -- it's merely all about the branding, as the moniker will now ring synonymous with "high-end cameras." Despite that fall from 808 grace, Nokia's Head of Imaging Damian Dinning has assured detractors the magic is in what's done with the optics and pixels and not sheer gargantuan sampling size. To wit, the 920 employs a "floating lens," which, in layman's terms, translates into hardware image stabilization and also packs impressive low-light capabilities -- an area the company's seems squarely focused upon. In a true return to form, the 920 also hearkens back to the Lumia that started it all, opting for the "sinuous tapering" that debuted on the 800 with glass edges that blend gently into the polycarbonate hull. Unfortunately, not all of that design language has made the transition, given its chassis now appears glossier and more polished, distancing itself from that premium matte finish. Still, as looks go, the handset's keeping to its 900 origins, appearing nigh indistinct from its predecessor save for that attention-grabbing mellow yellow hue.And as a bonus, Nokia's imbued the device with integrated wireless charging, based on the Qi standard, which corroborates those leaks we saw just last week. The Lumia 920 will arrive in pentaband LTE and HSPA+ variants and both are expected to ship "in selected markets" later this year.
Mat Smith contributed to this report. Nokia Lumia 920 Captures Best Pictures and Video Ever Seen on a Smartphone | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Live from Nokia and Microsoft's Windows Phone event! Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:45 AM PDT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contour+2 review: the best consumer helmet camera on the market Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:01 AM PDT More InfoIt's been a little while since the two major players in the helmet cam industry, Contour and GoPro, refreshed their wares. Contour launched its Contour+ and Roam models last summer, while GoPro delivered the HD Hero2 late last year. As our extensive testing can attest, both companies put out great cameras, but with Sony about to get in the game with its $199 Action Cam, the pair need to raise their games -- and that's exactly what Contour is doing with the Contour+2. This logically named follow-up to the Contour+ is a big step forward on many levels, still delivering 1080p recording while offering many design and software improvements, including the ability to use your smartphone not just as a viewfinder, but to start and stop recording, too. Plus, at $400, it's $100 cheaper than last year's offering -- and that's despite coming with a fully waterproof case. Join us as we put it through its paces. Hardware
We've been tracking the evolution of this camera series since the company first hit 1080p with its ContourHD line back in 2009. Since then, the cameras have maintained their familiar shape, but with each iteration, they've gotten subtly better and better. The Contour+2 is the best yet. It's a small and unmistakably cool-looking thing, the dark plastics working well with the brushed metal barrel that holds the camera internals. The branding printed on the side is sophisticated and doesn't detract from the overall clean look. Up top is the most important control: the Contour's trademark slider. As before, knock it forward and the camera starts recording. Slide it back and it stops. The raised slider is textured and easy to find, even with gloves on, and there's still the reassuringly loud beep to let you know that you have, indeed, started filling up your memory card. Now, though, the power button is moot. You no longer need to even think about turning the camera on before filming. Just pop that slider forward and you're good to go. That slider has been augmented with a manual lock, so you can ensure your recordings stop only when you want them to, while a series of three status LEDs are now situated behind it. From left to right, there's battery, memory card and GPS. The left two turn from green to red as they are slowly exhausted, while the GPS indicator blinks when searching for a lock. The Bluetooth toggle button still sits ahead of the slider, but now it's thankfully far easier to press than before. On the back, where once was a power button there's now one called "Status." Tap this and all three indicator lights will illuminate, so you can see how you're doing, and the alignment laser up front will pop on, too. Yes, the front-mounted laser makes a triumphant return, shooting out a red line to help you quickly orient your camera.
That's important thanks to the rotatable nature of the Contour line. Like before, its largely cylindrical shape belies the clever, twistable innards that spin 270 degrees. So, regardless of how you mount it, you can ensure your footage is right-side-up. Below that barrel is the same grooved extension, shaped the same as all the older models to enable compatibility with old mounts. Thankfully, there's now a threaded receiver built into the bottom, meaning you can just screw this onto any standard camera mount and ignore those grooves altogether if you like. Also on the bottom is an audio input, covered by a rubber door. This means you can run your own mic solution if the internal microphone isn't up to your standards (and there's a good chance it won't be). On the back, two more doors flip open to expose a mini-USB port for charging (still no micro) and a mini-HDMI socket to get a direct, digital feed of content. Furthermore, the whole back flips open to expose the 1,050mAh battery (same as before), as well as the microSD card (a 4GB unit included is in the box). Finally, there's a mode switch, so you can quickly toggle between two configurable video presets. Software Connectivity with the Contour line mostly happens courtesy of the same old Storyteller software, which remains little changed from before -- that is to say, it's kind of clunky and sluggish. But it's thankfully been granted some additional functionality that makes it rather more usable, especially on the sharing side. Before, if you wanted to share your Contour footage and include the GPS metadata -- map, altitude, speed and such -- you had to use a proprietary embed. You couldn't bake it right into the video itself. That changes with the +2. The new version of the software will let you add an overlay to the video showing the map, altitude and speed -- or, if you'd like to hide any of those figures, you can. You can choose which corner of the video contains the overlay and then push it straight to YouTube, if you like. You can also get a GPX export of the coordinates recorded by the camera, which can then be fed straight into any of a number of tracking applications, like Strava or Endomondo. The mobile apps have also been updated. Well, the iOS app has been updated -- the Android version will get a fix soon, we're told. With the iOS app you can still use it as a remote viewfinder, connecting over Bluetooth and getting a live stream of the footage to help you get the camera perfectly aligned. Now, though, you can start and stop the footage remotely. So, if you've mounted the camera somewhere out of reach, like the roof of your car, you can start or stop it without having to release your racing harness. (Or, you could just ask a member of your pit crew to do it for you.) Accessories Inside the box, the +2 comes with a fully waterproof case, a first for the series. If you've used the Underwater Mount Kit you'll be familiar with it. It's good down to 60 meters and allows you to start / stop recording with the slider on the top and also access the status button on the back. Two latches will lock it onto any sliding mounts and we're happy to report it's far easier to pop open than the GoPro's crack-prone latches, but it still feels secure when closed. You also get a low-profile adhesive mount, good for sticking on smooth surfaces like motorcycle helmets, and another adhesive mount with a rotating base. This allows you to spin the camera around to point in the opposite direction, should you be so inclined. Both of these mounts use double-sided 3M adhesive, which we've found over the years to be highly effective at sticking on at extreme speeds without damaging the finish beneath. If that doesn't provide you with enough options, Contour will be making available a series of mount kits. We checked out the Moto kit, which gives you two more of those low-profile adhesive mounts (one for each side), another rotating flat surface mount, a flex strap mount that's great for handlebars and roll cages and a PanaVise suction cup mount. We've used these PanaVise mounts extensively on shoots in the past and found they stay stuck even when your speeds are well into the triple-digits -- like, say, on the wing of a stunt airplane. Finally, the kit also comes with a little pouch to carry all that mess. Testing
Cameras like this are meant to move, so we didn't waste much time before slapping the +2 on the side of a helmet and taking it for a ride. First, though, we charged it up over mini-USB and hopped into Storyteller to tweak some settings. We opted for 720p60 recording for a stint on a motorcycle, then dropped down to 720p30 for a more leisurely bicycle ride. We left the GPS on in all situations, and bumped it up to 5Hz mode for better precision (sampling five times per second, rather than the usual 1Hz that most GPS units record). After we took the camera outside, we were pleasantly surprised to see that a GPS lock was acquired after only a few seconds of green blinking. So, without further ado we flipped the recording slider forward and hit the road. We tried the rotating helmet mount first inside the waterproof case, then switched over to the PanaVise suction cup mount and ran that both with and without the case. Finally, we wrapped the strap mount around the handlebars of a road bicycle and went for a ride. We stuck with 720p recording for the most part as that gives the widest field of view at 170 degrees. The camera cuts down to 125 degrees at 1080p, and we didn't find the increase in resolution a worthwhile tradeoff for the restricted field of view. Default is 60fps recording at 720p, but you can select 30 if you like or, if you really want to capture every moment of the action, there's a 120fps mode -- but only at 480p. Captured footage looked bright and clear, though a bit heavy on the compression. Naturally the tiny sensors found in these cameras do best when there's plenty of light to be found, and indeed that's the case here. Riding around on a sunny day resulted in plenty of beautiful footage of the fields and trees that whisked by on the sides. But, even on the dark, morning bicycle ride, dodging in and out of long shadows, the camera coped quite well. In bright sunlight, we did notice some visual aberrations when using the waterproof case. The corners of the video showed a hint of distortion from the edges of the lens and a bit of internal refraction of the sunlight was also occasionally apparent. So, you'll want to leave it off whenever the sun is shining, which means you'll unfortunately have to make do with some excessive wind noise.
Sadly, the biggest problem of the Contour line is still here. Audio quality still falls a bit short, with the front-mounted mic picking up a good deal of wind noise at anything above about 20MPH. So, it should be fine for snowboarding and skating, but for motorsports you'll want to rely on an external mic should your +2 be mounted out in the wind. We'd hoped that the new waterproof case would help, and it does to some degree, but it also mutes just about everything else. Again, though, the presence of a line-in for audio means you can fix this with a cheap external microphone. Put it somewhere out of the wind and distortion-free audio can be yours. Wrap-up This helmet camera doesn't take any big steps forward with audio or video quality compared to the competition. Then again, with 1080p recording in a package this small, and a line-in for audio from whatever source you want, it could be argued there's not a lot of headway to make there. The improvements here lie elsewhere, with the addition of a fully waterproof case, better wireless viewing and control from mobile devices over Bluetooth, easy video sharing and an MSRP that's $100 cheaper than last year's model. While it's still about $100 more than the GoPro HD Hero2, the wireless functionality and GPS tracking here more than make up for that. The Contour+2 is a great package. Given the choice, it's the one this author would slap on his helmet. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contour+2 action camera puts waterproof 1080p recording in your pocket for $400 Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:00 AM PDT Just over a year later, Contour has released the Contour+2 camera as the follow up to its Contour+ model. Like its predecessor, the +2 shoots video at up to 1080p and 120fps, though that max frame rate's only available at 480p resolution. It also sports the same rail mounting design, a sliding power/record switch on top and a 270-degree rotating lens. Naturally, the camera comes with a waterproof case, for filming in hostile environments, and a couple of adhesive mounts, so you can get those super gnarly POV shots. The +2 stores clips on an included 4GB microSD card, but it can also stream live video using the mini-HDMI port round the back. GPS is onboard to track the location and elevation of any epic runs, and you can add a map of your route with speed and distance data and edit your videos using the free Storyteller app for PC and Mac. Once you've tweaked things, the app also does simple sharing of the results directly to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Vimeo. The best part? Contour's latest will set you back $400, which is $100 less than the original Contour+. Hit the break for a video walkthrough of Contour's latest action cam courtesy of company CEO Marc Barros, and head on over to our review to see how this thing operates in the field.
NEW CONTOUR+2 CAMERA OFFERS A NEW PERSPECTIVE IN ACTION VIDEO Mobile connectivity right out of the box – Users can turn their smartphone into a remote control and viewfinder by pairing the Contour+2 with their mobile device. Contour's built-in Bluetooth technology enables users to line up and preview shots before recording or press record from their phone while the camera is already mounted. Locking Instant On-Record switch – No power button? No problem. Users can simply slide the Instant On-Record switch into its locked position to immediately start capturing video. 120 frames per second - In addition to shooting in four different HD modes including 1080p, the Contour+2 also shoots 120fps in 480p. That puts super slow motion video at the users' fingertips. Waterproof case included – The waterproof case included will bring those aqua adventures to life. The Contour+2 waterproof case is rated to 60 meters. Live Streaming – Contour+2's HDMI out port lets users live-stream events, meetings, and more. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tonino Lamborghini L2800 tablet and TL700 phone rumble in Hong Kong, we go hands-on (video) Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:45 AM PDT Looks like Russia isn't the only place with an appetite for overly expensive gadgets. Following the original launch last month, two of the four latest Tonino Lamborghini devices have made their way over to Hong Kong. Pictured above is the L2800 tablet which has since been upgraded from Android 2.3 to 4.0.3, but the hardware remains the same: a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm chip, 9.7-inch 1,024 x 768 display, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and microSD expansion, along with 3G connectivity, two- and five-megapixel cameras front and back, four obviously redundant capacitive buttons, 7,500mAh battery and, sadly, a proprietary dock connector. All of this plus the nicely crafted titanium chassis weigh 850g, and it'll cost you just HK$13,800 or about US$1,780. Hey, quit moaning -- it's a massive reduction from the US$2,320 price tag in Russia.
On the other hand, the Switzerland-assembled TL700 smartphone is very much the same as before: still Android Gingerbread, 3.7-inch 800 x 480 display with sapphire screen, 0.3- and five-megapixel cameras, 1,400mAh battery, 316L fine stainless steel body and genuine leather back. No word on which Qualcomm processor lies within, but we do know that all of this adds up to 190g in weight. In fact, this phone's been in the area since February this year, which makes us wonder how many of the 650 limited edition phones have actually been sold. Anyhow, Danny Mak from Engadget Chinese used the opportunity to get his hands on one, and he found the grip to be much nicer than that of the more expensive Tag Heuer Link thanks to the texturized sides. Oh, and that SOS button on the right? Hitting it would automatically dial the preset emergency number -- presumably for in case you crash your sports car or, ironically, get robbed. Still interested? Then you'll have to fork out HK$21,800 or US$2,810. For now, enjoy Danny's hands-on video above. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Editorial: Android cameras -- could Samsung's Galaxy gamble save the point-and-shoot industry? Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:30 AM PDT WiFi in a camera. No matter the practicality or the cost of adding wireless functionality, it's become a must for high-end point-and-shoots, and if they don't pack it now, they soon will. But access hasn't become as prolific as protocol prophets once preached -- we're at the mercy of pay gates, passwords and bandwidth limitations, even today. Our smartphones, on the other hand, are always connected. There's no need to fuss with hexadecimals or other cryptic keys -- assuming we haven't crossed an international border, getting online is as convenient as taking a breath. As the world's most prolific smartphone maker, Samsung is very much invested in cellular. Sure, there were gasps from the crowd at last week's Unpacked, but built-in 4G makes perfect sense, and while WiFi and a Micro SIM may make the Galaxy Camera an instant winner, it's Android that completes the package, as the glue that cements this latest category's promise. Samsung may be the pioneer, but should other manufacturers be scrambling to shift roadmaps, ready to embrace this new digital direction? Tap past the break for our take. Connectivity doesn't need to stop at WiFi, or even HSPA+. Android opens up the door to hundreds of thousands of apps, many of which are designed to make photos pop, on our own screens and millions more around the world, while also delivering simple access to sharing tools like Android Beam, WiFi Direct and DLNA, along with familiar Bluetooth options. We poked around a few of Samsung's prototypes at IFA in Berlin, and while the camera had no shortage of bugs, one thing was quite clear: Jelly Bean is delicious on any 4.8-inch HD touchscreen, even one mounted to the back of a 16-megapixel superzoom. Android has become omnipresent among our content consumption devices, but it could be a major win for creators in the future, too, bringing access to powerful image and video editing software. On a professional scale, Android could streamline the newsgathering process among journalists in the field, letting them edit and transmit photos and videos immediately, or even create complete blog posts -- directly from a camera -- while Google's OS on mirrorless cameras, like Samsung's NX series, would pair similar tools with higher-end, more versatile optics. Based on its size alone, Samsung clearly isn't targeting the entire gamut of photographers with its first Android model, but it's still far more than a proof of concept -- it'll ship, but it will be expensive, and while it's not likely to fit in your pocket, this camera is but the first in a long line of compacts to come. Shortly after we caught wind of Android "consideration" within Samsung's camera division, a report surfaced that implied a change in course for the Galaxy giant -- the Korean company was ramping up mirrorless camera production at the cost of scaling back point-and-shoots, and the move appeared to represent a general shift away from compacts with a heavier focus on improving optics in smartphones. Now, the cause of those rumblings is quite clear: a touchscreen model that bundles mobile successes with full camera functionality -- it wasn't a smartphone to replace your point-and-shoot, but a powerful hybrid compact that capitalizes on each segment's strengths in an attempt to return cameras to relevancy, and perhaps even bring them into the spotlight. If the Galaxy Camera heads north of the crucial $500 threshold, it will surely flop. Samsung has our attention, but our wallets won't fling open until the camera's official launch this fall, and once they do, there's no telling to what degree. As with all consumer electronics, price will trump functionality when it comes to creating demand, and if the Galaxy Camera heads north of the crucial $500 threshold, it will surely flop. What Samsung, Sony and the rest of this industry need, however, is for this first iteration to be a triumphant success -- there's already plenty of buzz, sure, but if this is the future we want, our bank accounts need to do the talking. Once they do, competitors will follow. Sony's camera app ecosystem, while significant, is far too limited. It represents an open mind and willingness to embrace the inevitable within Japan's darling CE corp, however, and with Samsung and Sony leading, Olympus, Panasonic and perhaps even Canon and Nikon will follow up with their own offerings. Will there be hundreds and thousands of Android-equipped cameras? That remains to be seen. There will be demand for basic, isolated entry-level models for many years to come, especially in developing countries, where AA-powered gadgets are still the norm and surfing the web means a 20-minute trek to an internet cafe, where browsing and social updates are billed by the minute. In Europe, North America and parts of Asia, Galaxy Cameras will be an object of desire, and, for better or worse, Instagram feeds will explode with telephoto shots, proper exposures and sharp details, in massive, occasionally impossible to manage quantities. A meaty spec list means a massive footprint, making accessories like shoulder straps or waist holsters all but mandatory. Heavy, perhaps overwhelming social flows will prevail, but the setbacks won't stop there. As we've seen quite clearly with Samsung's Galaxy, Android cameras need big screens and features that go far beyond current smartphone offerings. A meaty spec list means a massive footprint, making accessories like shoulder straps or waist holsters all but mandatory unless you don't mind walking around with a bulging pocket. Battery life has also yet to be proven, especially with features like automatic cloud backup enabled. Perhaps more significant is the requirement to purchase prepaid SIMs for border crossings -- a process so expensive and convoluted that this limitation seriously diminishes the convenience factor for frequent travelers. And, above all, price is the foremost concern -- with all these bells and whistles, Samsung could justify charging $699 for such a These concerns aside, it's clear that Samsung is committed to this digital photography revolution -- the Galaxy Camera garnered just as much attention as the Note II from show attendees, commanding a serious chunk of the company's sprawling IFA booth. The upper echelon of the point-and-shoot segment will be led by cameras that can connect to the web from anywhere, while doubling as full-fledged communication and manipulation devices -- smartphones that enable everything but telephone calls. Last month, the digital compact was an endangered species. Today, it's dumb cameras that need to listen up -- there's a new Galaxy being formed, and it's suiting up for war. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 50 quadrocopters take to Austria's skies for synchronized swarm (video) Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:19 AM PDT If AscTec's Hummingbird quadrocopters continue to fly around in your nightmares, you might not want to watch their latest video -- even if they resemble hypnotic robot fireworks. Ars Electronica Futurelab and Ascending Technologies teamed up for this latest show, programming 50 LED-equipped quadrocopters to frolic over the Danube last week. Watch them dance after the break.
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| Livestream announces Studio HD500 all-in-one video switcher, ships October 15th for $8,500 Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:00 AM PDT Earlier this year, Livestream quietly entered the hardware business with a real-time streaming puck known as the Broadcaster -- an adequate moniker, to say the least. Now, some five months after that camera add-on made its intriguing debut, Livestream's introducing the Studio HD500, an all-in-one video production switcher aimed at both hobbyists and pros. Most notable, however, is the fact the company's entering this fresh market in good pricing fashion, given the Studio HD500's appealing tag of $8,500 -- which may still seem like a hefty amount, but ends up feeling light when compared to other similar tools that start off at a cool $15-$20k, such as, say, one of NewTek's TriCaster offerings. At any rate, those near $9,000 for the Studio HD500 will get you a switcher loaded with live audio / multi-camera mixing capabilities, a built-in DVR and media player, one-click live streaming to the outfit's own platform, plus a handful of inputs and outputs -- including HD / SD, SDI, S-Video and HDMI. It's also worth noting the Studio HD500 isn't fully attached to Livestream's site by any means, making it possible to use with other competing sites such as YouTube, Ustream and many more. While kindly speaking to us, Livestream's CEO Max Haot said, "Our goal is to get multi-camera switching equipment into as many hands as possible," adding that the "key is to make it easier and more cost effective." The Studio HD500 is available for pre-order today and set to start shipping on October 15th -- which could be around the same time the free-of-charge, software-based variant makes an appearance, though all we know about that so far is it'll be coming at some point "later this year." In the meantime, there's a couple of extra pics for your viewing pleasure down below, and the detailed presser from Livestream right after the break. Livestream Enters the Switcher Market with Livestream Studio HD500: A Truly Portable All-In-One Live HD Production Switcher Expanding its hardware offering, Livestream solidifies its position as a full-service NEW YORK, NEW YORK – September 5, 2012 – Livestream, the market leader for live event Live video mixing for multi-camera productions The Livestream Studio HD500 is available for pre-order today for $8,500 at http:// "A key part of our mission at Livestream is to make it easier and more affordable for The Livestream Studio HD500 is designed to perform as a standalone, broadcast quality The first product in the Livestream Studio family, Livestream Studio HD500, is a portable HDMI, Component, Composite, S-VIDEO). The product includes a built-in screen and Tom In the first quarter of 2013, Livestream will also release software which will work with The soon-to-be-released software will be free to download when used with the Livestream About Livestream Livestream (Livestream.com) is the market leader for live event coverage. With simple to | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget HD Podcast 314 - 09.05.2012 Posted: 05 Sep 2012 04:47 AM PDT Get the podcast 02:20 - TiVo Stream transcoder officially set to go on sale September 6th for $129 Hear the podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 05 Sep 2012 04:26 AM PDT Everything Everywhere's been keeping itself plenty busy on the mobile wallet frontier and its involvement with the slow-burning alliance with Telefonica UK (O2) and Vodafone has finally been given a nod of approval from the European Commission. The joint venture aims to "remove a number of barriers" that are apparently hampering the phone networks' efforts, while it will allow businesses to connect with a single mobile payments system compatible with the majority of the UK's carriers. Take a look at more specifics (including the less thrilling advertising details) at the press release after the break. Statement from Everything Everywhere, Telefonica UK, Vodafone UK
Everything Everywhere, Telefonica UK (O2) and Vodafone UK welcome today's news from the European Commission that their mobile commerce joint venture ("JV") has received unconditional clearance.
At the heart of the JV is a desire to bring to the UK an easy and effective solution for businesses to create and for consumers to enjoy mobile marketing and wallet services. With EC clearance received, the job of getting the JV up and running as quickly as possible can begin, starting with the hiring of the necessary people and the creation of the new company.
The mobile marketing platform is expected to be the first part of the business that is brought to market. The JV has the potential to transform the mobile marketing landscape in the UK. It will remove a number of the barriers that currently inhibit growth and create a single channel with access to millions of UK consumers at launch. It will provide a single contact point for media agencies, retailers and brands, enabling them to create campaigns that will reach millions of opted-in mobile users. This will apply across the majority of handsets, operating systems and mobile operators. For consumers, this means they will be able to receive the discounts and offers that they want to receive from the brands that are relevant to them.
In mobile payments, the JV will benefit businesses and consumers by accelerating the deployment of mobile wallets and associated services in a secure way. Through the solution offered by the JV, businesses will be able to connect once in order to offer a wide variety of mobile wallet services – including payment and loyalty cards – to millions of consumers on the majority of handsets, operating systems and mobile operators. It will give consumers a simple and secure shopping experience, allowing them to purchase goods and services using their handsets in physical locations such as shops, using contactless technology, as well as online.
The shareholders remain committed to making the JV services open to all, including all operators and MVNOs, 3rd party publishers, banks, advertising agencies, retailers and any company that wants to engage in this space. The partners in the JV believe it has an important role to play in helping to keep the UK at the forefront of digital innovation, creating jobs, promoting innovation and stimulating competition. |
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