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Samsung DeX review: The impressive, unnecessary, phone-powered PC
My family's first computer was a boxy, squat Tatung with an AMD K2, a handful of RAM and a 4GB hard drive. It was ugly and slow, even by 1998 standards, but it (somehow) got the job done. The decade and change that followed brought staggering leaps in performance and huge reductions in size. I'm writing this on a Galaxy S8 Plus -- a metal-and-glass slab I just pulled out of my pocket -- connected to a monitor, keyboard and mouse with Samsung's new DeX dock. The kicker: It's far better than I dared expect. Ten-year-old me would be losing it if he saw this. In fact, the me from three or four years ago would've done the same. After all, this isn't a new idea. Companies have tried -- and mostly failed -- to make smartphones work like PCs for years now. Just look at Motorola's Atrix or Microsoft's Continuum or any of the startups languishing on Kickstarter. And yet, here we are — the Galaxy S8 doubles as a surprisingly respectable PC. The real question now isn't about how feasible the idea is, it's whether anyone should bother. Unfortunately, as impressive as DeX can be, the answer for most people is a big ol' "no."
Watch HP's Elite X3 Windows Phone simulate a desktop
After spending plenty of time with HP's Elite X3 Windows Phone, it's hard not to be impressed by the company's ambition. It's just too bad the execution isn't so great. The Elite X3 builds on Microsoft's Continuum feature, which gives phones pseudo-desktop interfaces on larger monitors, with Workspace, a virtual environment that lets you run full Windows apps. Together with a Desk Dock and Lap Dock, HP intends for the X3 to serve as both a laptop and desktop replacement. But while Workspace is a decent fix for Continuum's issues, I don't think it's enough to make the X3 a viable option for most workers.
Meet HP's Elite X3, a Windows Phone with a wireless lapdock
It's been ages (fine, two years) since HP released a smartphone, so surely a device making its debut at Mobile World Congress ought to be special, right? Well, HP's newest mobile -- the Elite X3 -- is special, for a few reasons. First off, it's a Windows Phone in an age where Windows Phone growth has basically stopped. And second, HP is looking at it as a productivity powerhouse, supplementing it with a lapdock that the phone connects to wirelessly. The result? A mostly full-size laptop with all the power of a smartphone.
Microsoft: We need a phone as good as the Surface line
Speaking to Twit's Windows Weekly show, Microsoft's Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Chris Capossela has admitted that the company's latest Windows Phones are not enough to reverse the ailing platform's fortunes. Describing the flagship Lumia 950 as simply "solid," he told host Leo Laporte and Microsoft journalists Mary Jo Foley and Paul Thurrott that the company has a lot more work to do before it can persuade people to "move from an iPhone to one of [Microsoft's] phones."
Your Windows 10 phone is a tiny desktop computer with Continuum
Microsoft just demoed its 2-in-1 Continuum feature on a Windows 10 phone giving the mobile device the ability to become a really tiny desktop computer. Continuum adjusts the UI of Windows 10 on a device from desktop to tablet mode based on what's plugged into it. If you plug a keyboard and mouse into a tablet or phone, it goes into desktop mode. When those are unplugged, a pop-up asks if you want to enter tablet mode with touch input. Desktop mode includes the Start Menu and Taskbar you usually associate with a full-size computer. For anyone that travels who would like to pare down the devices they pack, this is great. Corporate Vice President of the Operating Systems Group Joe Belfiore did note that phones would need a hardware upgrade to fully implement the feature.
Here's a closer look at the latest build of Windows 10 (video)
Shortly after Microsoft wrapped its epic Windows 10 keynote today, we had a chance to see the latest version of the next-gen OS running on some honest-to-goodness hardware. Using a Dell Venue Pro 11 tablet on display here at Microsoft's Redmond headquarters, we got to experience the software in a slightly more final form than when we last saw it. New features include a button for bringing the Start Screen to full-screen, a notification center, revamped Photos and Settings apps and, most importantly, Cortana voice search built right into the desktop. In addition, we got a closer look at the so-called Continuum feature that allows the UI to change depending on what device you're using (laptop, tablet, et cetera).
The design of Windows 10: a consistent look across all devices
We knew that Microsoft was planning to tuck that Modern UI inside the resurrected Start Menu for Windows 10, and today, the company provided more details on the next installment's aesthetics. When the update arrives, there will be a version that's designed specifically for devices that are smaller than eight inches in size. This means that the look and feel of the desktop and larger tablets will carry over, and universal apps will allow for seamless transitions from mobile to office sessions. Apps like PowerPoint and Word carry a similar look in mobile versions, and features, like a list of recently opened files, sync across phones, slates and desktop machines. The goal here is an easy-to-use cross-device experience that's accessible anywhere, and consistent aesthetics will certainly help.
The Game Archaeologist: Four online sci-fi titles no one remembers
In the MMO industry, science fiction has always taken the role of the overlooked little brother to big sister fantasy's popularity. Sure, there have been several online games that eschewed dungeons and dragons for spaceships and solar radiation poisoning, but even today the fantasy genre continues to be the dominant one in the genre. So not only have we had fewer online sci-fi games, but the ones that have attempted to make in-roads are all too soon forgotten. Over the years that I've been researching and writing The Game Archaeologist, I continue to come across these little games that have been all but forgotten by modern gamers, and many of these titles are indeed of a sci-fi bent. This week I'll be taking a look at four such games, including one that never even made it to launch, in an attempt to acknowledge their place at the family dinner table.
Must See HDTV (June 3rd - 9th)
The summer programming schedule has officially arrived, and this week familiar warm weather favorites return including Continuum, Falling Skies and Burn Notice. There are also a few new entire including TNT's The Hero reality show and Sinbad on Syfy, plus a lengthy list of Blu-ray releases including a few classics and season five of Breaking Bad. The NHL Conference finals are in full swing, and tonight we'll find out who's joining the Spurs in the NBA Finals. All that, and we haven't even mentioned the Game of Thrones season finale or the news that Dan Harmon is returning to Community. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. Continuum Despite a plot centering around the always-tricky-to-pull-off time travel, season one of this Canadian science fiction show impressed us when it finally aired here, and now season two is ready to go on Syfy. The first season left plenty of juicy plot threads and cliffhangers for us to wonder about, and now we'll find out if the show can continue to deliver on them. Check after the break for a season two preview. (June 7th, Syfy, 9PM) Falling Skies TNT's own science fiction effort returns for its third season this weekend and features a new twist in the battle against Earth-invading aliens -- more aliens. The first two seasons have had some inconsistent quality and gotten bogged down in romantic or political plot lines occasionally, but the premieres and finales always suck us right back in. (June 9th TNT, 8PM) Mad Max Trilogy All three Mad Max films get a Blu-ray set this week, and the third movie Beyond Thunderdome makes its debut on the format. We shouldn't have to convince you this one is worth viewing, but you can see a few trailer clips after the break. Why is this set arriving now? A new flick, Fury Road, is due next year with Tom Hardy taking over the title role. ($34.86 on Amazon)
Screen Grabs: Continuum scrubs the Acer off an Iconia W500
Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dot com. TV producers always think they can sneak a fast one by us and our eagle-eyed readers. Little do they realize that together we are a near unstoppable force, capable of spotting, identifying and mocking nearly every use (and misuse) of tech on TV. A tipster caught this un-branded tablet on a recent episode of Continuum and, after a little bit of sleuthing, we were able to identify it as the Iconia Tab W500. Without the company's branding it was a little tough to pick out exactly what this slate was, but the off-center placement of the Windows logo and unique looking webcam gave its identity away. Sorry Canadian television, you'll have to try harder to sneak a device by us. [Thanks, Reece]
Verizon drops Samsung Fascinate, Droid Incredible, Droid R2-D2 to $100
You can call it a Valentine's sale or a pre-iPhone 4 blow out, but any way you slice it there's some pretty good deals on Android phones available from Verizon right now. That includes the Samsung Fascinate and Continuum, as well as the HTC Droid Incredible and Motorola Droid R2-D2, which are all now available for just $100 on the usual two-year contract (the Fascinate deal is apparently today-only). Unfortunately, the sale doesn't include the Droid X, Droid Pro or Droid 2 Global, but Verizon is promising some additional one-day only sales during its "ten days of sweet deals" from now until February 10th, so folks interested in one of those might not be out of luck just yet.
Samsung Continuum gets software update, V CAST Apps along for the ride
Seriously, Continuum owners, you couldn't have possibly thought you dodged this bullet, right? Big Red's pushing an update today that's kind of a double-edged sword; on the one hand, you get a boatload of bug fixes to visual voicemail, messaging, WeatherBug, and more. But on the other hand, the update will automatically install V CAST Apps, Verizon's app store, whether you like it or not. We'd like the option of choosing an update either with or without additional software on carrier-branded phones these days -- but we suppose we can understand the complexities of forking updates like that. At any rate, this one's over the air, so expect a notification from Verizon on your phone shortly.
Verizon sucks at Photoshop: the Continuum definitely can't do this, we checked
Notice something missing from that Continuum there on Big Red's home page? That's right: if this were a real phone, there'd be an arbitrary black bar across the screen somewhere around the young lady's midsection, followed by a "ticker" at the bottom... but instead, just as with the iOS-powered Droid X, they've once again exceeded the bounds of reality with a little help from Adobe products. Don't get us wrong, the phone Verizon's got up on its home page is the Continuum Verizon probably should've launched... but then they would've had to answer the burning question of why they released a slightly sexier, slimmer version of the Fascinate. It's alright, though, guys -- we've got your back -- just follow the break for the corrected version. You're welcome to use it!
Samsung Continuum first hands-on (update: video!)
If surprise was the focus of the event, we'd say the Samsung Android-powered, Verizon-exclusive (and, alas, Bing-driven) Continuum reveal was a comedy of errors -- but who cares now that we've got our hands on the Galaxy S phone, secondary ticker and all (at 480 x 96 resolution). The Android buttons themselves, as it turns out, are on the display as well -- basically, it's one huge display. The grip sensor that activates the display seems to work well, although it's pretty easy to squeeze the camera button by accident since it's also on the lower right of the phone. Unfortunately, there's no way for third-party apps to update the ticker -- it's limited to Samsung's stuff right now. We're trying to get some battery life info -- we're curious if turning on a smaller screen more often will result in a longer shelf life, or if it'll just be about even. Update: Video after the break! Update 2: Okay, we got some more info on that screen. The entire front of the phone is one huge four-inch screen, with the Android buttons more or less painted over the lower third -- the screen lights up underneath them in white to illuminate them. Samsung says it's just easier for marketing purposes to say it's two screens, but that they're selectively turning on the bottom portion of the display for the ticker. As far as battery life, it's a 1500mah battery that'll last about a day, we're told -- the lower screen turns on whenever a notification comes in, but since it's a smaller screen the battery life is on par with the Fascinate. We also learned the "grip sensor" isn't really grip-based at all -- it's capacitive, so just lightly touching both sides of the phone lights up the ticker. It's pretty nice, although super easy to set it off by just holding the phone. Samsung says there will eventually be an API for third-party apps to use the ticker, but right now they're just focused on their core experiences. As for Bing, well, no one's saying why some Verizon phones get Binged out and some don't, but every indication is that Verizon calls those shots, not Samsung. We're also told that an Android 2.2 update will eventually arrive, but there's no timeline yet -- and there's a real chance this'll launch with 2.1 after 2.3 hits. Developing... Update 3: Added a quick macro pic of the buttons after the break -- you can see how it's just one big screen. We also took some side-by-sides with a Captivate -- the Continuum is thicker and narrower. Samsung says the narrower size is designed to appeal to women, who generally have smaller hands. %Gallery-107011%
Samsung confirms Continuum dual-display Android handset for Verizon
After a rather large complement of leaks, Samsung has finally confirmed its Continuum phone for Verizon, via Twitter of all places. The phone will ship on November 11th. Samsung is billing it as the "first phone with a dedicated ticker display," referring to the secondary 1.8-inch color screen below the capacitive touch buttons. There's a Samsung Mobile event happening at 6PM EST that will undoubtedly shed more light on this Android handset, but for now we expect the specs to be in line with other Galaxy S-series handsets. You know, except for the ticker part. Samsung is also proud to announce that it's shipped 3 million Galaxy S phones in the US, a sizable chunk of the 7 million or so sold globally so far. Update: We've got PR! Check it out after the break. Here's the feature breakdown: 3.4-inch Super AMOLED primary display, 1.8-inch Super AMOLED secondary "ticker" display. "Grip sensor" lets you touch the bottom sides of the phone to light up the ticker. Android 2.1 (ouch). Bing Maps / Bing Search (double ouch). Samsung 1GHz Hummingbird processor. Six-axis sensor + accelerometer. 5 megapixel camera, shoots 720p video. 802.11n WiFi. 8GB microSD card included. $200 on two-year contract after $100 mail-in rebate. Update 2: Hands-on! %Gallery-107012%
Live from Samsung's Android event!
We're here live at Samsung's mysterious Android event... actually, it's not that mysterious since we're dead certain we're about to see the well-leaked Continuum make its official debut. Regardless, we're here and we're bloggin', so settle in and let's see if Sammy and Verizon have any actual surprises for us, shall we?
Samsung throws up hands, posts Continuum user manual on Verizon website
There is a slim possibility that come tomorrow evening, Samsung won't reveal the dual-display Continuum smartphone. But honestly, the company may not have to, as all the pertinent details have already leaked out. However, if you harbor any lingering curiosity about how that 1.8-inch secondary "ticker" display might work, you can find out right now -- the full user manual is inexplicably available on Verizon's website ahead of a formal announcement, along with the standard size comparison and 360-degree views. Find them at our source links immediately below.
Verizon pricing Droid Pro at $179, Samsung Continuum at $199?
Well, here's some good news -- we just received an internal Verizon pricelist confirming that the Droid Pro will sell for $179 when it hits on November 9th, a far sight lower than the $299 we'd originally heard. That's a pretty tempting price for Moto's Android-with-a-Blackberry-keyboard handset, although we're assuming that it'll be $279 with a $100 rebate at launch. We're also seeing that the dual-display Samsung Continuum Galaxy S phone will hit for the usual $199, while the Droid 2 indeed fell to $149 last week in order to make room for the now nearly-mythical Droid 2 Global, which will come in two colors for $199. We're also separately told that the HTC Merge won't arrive until after the 17th, so those reports of a launch on the 11th might be premature. Either way, it looks like Verizon's going to have a pretty loaded holiday lineup -- and it looks like we've got some serious reviewing to do.
Full Samsung Continuum specs leak out in Verizon comparison charts?
How does the as-yet-unannounced Samsung Continuum stack up against Verizon's pack of Droids, not to mention its Galaxy S brethren? That's what we're finding out for the very first time in a set of allegedly leaked charts. Performance-wise we're looking at a fairly familiar beast with a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, 384MB of RAM and 512MB of ROM, plus 2GB of on-board flash storage and a preloaded 8GB microSD card. Where it gets interesting is that secondary display, which measures 1.8 inches with a 96 x 480 resolution, which will indeed act as a status update, RSS feed and weather report stock ticker that you activate (even when the handset is asleep!) by gripping the bottom of the phone. You're also getting a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p video recording, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and 3G mobile hotspot for up to five devices, but it's not all peaches and cream -- the whole shebang uses Bing for search, and runs on Android 2.1. Here's hoping Samsung intends to provide us a Froyo rollout date when it finally announces this phone. Find the full spec sheets at our source links.
Samsung Continuum turns up on Verizon's holiday site
Verizon still hasn't officially announced that it will be carrying the Samsung Continuum Galaxy S phone, but that doesn't seem to have stopped it from including the phone on it's new holiday website -- 'tis the season for being generous, after all. Unfortunately, any word on pricing or a release date will apparently still have to wait for that formal announcement, which we assume will be coming any day now -- previous leaks have pointed to a November 11th release for the dual-display phone.
