Engadget

Quantum Phantom prototype lets you control your computer screen with a webcam (video)

Amar Toor — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:53:00 EST

A guy named Ben Wu sent us this video recently and it sort of blew our minds. Wu, an engineer and self-described dreamer, has spent the past year developing a program he calls Quantum Phantom -- an Iron Man-inspired system that allows users to control a computer's cursor using only an ordinary webcam. With his Windows software onboard, Wu can draw, write and move onscreen icons or widgets, simply by waving his camera in front of a set of dual monitors. The prototype is even sophisticated enough to recognize his own webcam-produced handwriting and automatically convert it to rich text. In most cases, the sensor relies upon an ordinary cursor to navigate a screen, but Wu has also developed a pointer-free solution, as demonstrated toward the end of the above, three-part video. Be sure to check it out for yourself and get lost in the magic.

[Thanks, Ben]

Quantum Phantom prototype lets you control your computer screen with a webcam (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Galaxy Indulge microSDHC card regularly reports back to MetroPCS (but hey, you get Iron Man 2 for free!)

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:24:00 EST

If you're the kind of person who buys phones based on Hollywood tie-in deals (and for your sake, we hope you're not) you'll be pleased to know that the Samsung Galaxy Indulge comes pre-loaded with Iron Man 2. That's right, a sequel to a movie you only ever saw half of, once, while it was on the TV over the bar at Armand's on Liberty Ave. (assuming that you're a certain Engadget editor, and for your sake we hope you're not) is coming pre-loaded on the world's first Android-packing, LTE smartphone. And if that wasn't enough, the SanDisk microSDHC card that the movie is stored on regularly reports back to MetroPCS with usage statistics:

This intelligent SanDisk mobile memory card provides specific, real-time network data to MetroPCS to measure customer interest in digital content. Details of aggregated, anonymous consumer usage will allow MetroPCS to determine the impact of its movie offering, which in turn allows them to provide customers with more customized content and services in the future.

We're sure everything is on the up-and-up here, but for some reason we don't think most consumers will be comfortable with storage that reports regularly to a carrier -- for any reason. Still, things could be much worse: you could be stuck with the pre-loaded Iron Man app on an LG Ally.

Continue reading Galaxy Indulge microSDHC card regularly reports back to MetroPCS (but hey, you get Iron Man 2 for free!)

Galaxy Indulge microSDHC card regularly reports back to MetroPCS (but hey, you get Iron Man 2 for free!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skullcandy Fix versus Yurbuds Ironman ... battle of the in-ear headphones! (video)

Vlad Savov — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 13:23:00 EST

Skullcandy is hitting CES with a characteristically bold claim: its new Fix in-ear headphones are touted as the first to never fall out of your ears, irrespective of the intensity of your physical activity. We've matched them up against the Yurbuds Ironman Series, a rather larger pair of in-ear speakers, which makes the exact same assertion. Both companies have patented their particular technology and both claim to be the one and only true solution. Obviously targeting runners, vigorous exercisers and discreet headbangers, they're priced at $70 for Skullcandy's Fix and $50 for the Yurbuds Ironmans. We've had a pair of each to play around with for a few hours here and sound quality is generally satisfactory on both. The Ironmans are much punchier in the bass range and offer significantly better sound isolation -- a lot of external noise leaks in through the Fix's seal, but the oversized Ironman buds netralize the vast majority of it. Both sets feel comfortable in the ear and shouldn't cause any grief if you opt to wear them for prolonged jogs outdoors ... or impromptu indoor moshing sessions.

Gallery: Skullcandy Fix hands-on

Gallery: Yurbuds Ironman Series hands-on

Skullcandy Fix versus Yurbuds Ironman ... battle of the in-ear headphones! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raytheon revamps Sarcos exoskeleton, creates better, faster and stronger XOS 2 (video)

Sean Hollister — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:01:00 EST

When we first laid eyes on the Sarcos XOS military exoskeleton three years ago, its sheer power and dexterity left us in awe... but as you can see immediately above, that wasn't enough for Raytheon. Today, the defense contractor's unveiling the XOS 2, a lighter, stronger robotic suit that uses 50 percent less power for dropping and giving us several hundred pushups. Video and a press release after the break don't specify the suit's military duties (they're focused on instilling the notion that the XOS 2 is a real-life Iron Man) but we can definitely imagine these causing some serious damage if Hammer Industries decided to weaponize that high-pressure hydraulic frame.

Update: We previously stated that the suit didn't need to be tethered to a power source for operation, but that information was incorrect.

[Thanks, SmoothMarx]

Gallery: Raytheon Sarcos XOS 2 exoskeleton - press pics

Continue reading Raytheon revamps Sarcos exoskeleton, creates better, faster and stronger XOS 2 (video)

Raytheon revamps Sarcos exoskeleton, creates better, faster and stronger XOS 2 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iron Man Xbox 360 escapes Stark Industries, heads right to eBay

Darren Murph — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:02:00 EST

Halo-inspired Xbox 360? Check. Xbox 360 laptop? Seen it. Xbox 360 fused with a PS3? Yep. A Tony Stark-approved Xbox 360? Thanks to one Zachariah Perry Cruse, we can now add this beaut to the list. This here design student managed to use his summer vacation for a little more than weekend jaunts to Gary, putting an awful lot of blood, sweat and fear into his very own Iron Man Xbox 360. Naturally, it's the older, less slimmer 360 console, complete with a 120GB hard drive and an HDMI socket. There's a video of the LEDs doing their thing after the break, and that eBay link will get you where you need to be if you're a prospective buyer. And let's be honest here -- you are a prospective buyer.

Continue reading Iron Man Xbox 360 escapes Stark Industries, heads right to eBay

Iron Man Xbox 360 escapes Stark Industries, heads right to eBay originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Timex Ironman Global Trainer review

Donald Melanson — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:22:00 EST

Running has changed quite a bit as an activity over the last decade or so. Moisture-wicking (or "technical") clothing has become commonplace, portable media players are small and light enough to not be a hinderance, and GPS watches and other gadgets have emerged on the scene and rapidly come down in price. While some may think those devices are reserved for only the most serious runners, they can actually be a great tool for those just starting out as well.

One of the latest such gadgets is Timex's Ironman Global Trainer, the company's first true GPS sports watch (previous models relied on a separate GPS module), and one of the few rivals to Garmin's well-established Forerunner line. How does it stack up? Timex kindly let us put the watch through its paces so we could find out. Read on for our review.

Gallery: Timex Ironman Global Trainer

Continue reading Timex Ironman Global Trainer review

Timex Ironman Global Trainer review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iron Man fanatic crafts his own repulsor, shows you how to do likewise (video)

Darren Murph — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:50:00 EST

It's certainly not the first homegrown Iron Man repulsor to surface, but it's definitely one of the best. And frankly, we're fond of any mod where the modder details the build process to the rest of the peons in attendance (us included). Granted, this still pales in comparison to the one on Tony's own arm, and never mind that the LEDs won't actually level anyone on command. Truth is, you're still going to have a peek at the video just below, and you're going to love it.

Continue reading Iron Man fanatic crafts his own repulsor, shows you how to do likewise (video)

Iron Man fanatic crafts his own repulsor, shows you how to do likewise (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iron Man 2 Blu-ray goes on sale September 28 with plenty of extras

Richard Lawler — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:21:00 EST

After breaking $300 million in the domestic box office and a record breaking (though initially flawed) predecessor, you'd figure Iron Man 2 would be in for an incredibly well-spec'd Blu-ray release... and you would be right. The three disc Blu-ray/DVD with Digital Copy set has plenty of extras including a 5.1 DTS-HD MA English soundtrack, commentary from director Jon Favreau and Previsualization and Animatics special features -- and that's just Disc 1. Disc 2 brings even more HD features including an extensive making of, more featurettes and a shout out to the late DJ AM. Check after the break for box art and all the other details in the press release (except for the MSRP) we'll be waiting to find out if this is a proper addition to the collection of reference quality discs this fall.

Continue reading Iron Man 2 Blu-ray goes on sale September 28 with plenty of extras

Iron Man 2 Blu-ray goes on sale September 28 with plenty of extras originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Timex Global Trainer GPS watch now available exclusively at REI

Donald Melanson — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:54:00 EST

Timex said that REI would get its Global Trainer GPS watch first when it announced it way back in January, and it looks like it's now finally available both in REI stores and at REI.com -- albeit a bit later than the originally promised May launch date. That includes both the standalone watch and the bundle with a heart rate monitor, which will set you back $275 and $325, respectively. As for the watch itself, it seems to stack up pretty well against the likes of Garmin's Forerunner GPS watches -- complete with SIRFstar III GPS, water resistance to 50m, ANT+ compatibility, and training software for both PC and Mac -- and it does so while looking considerably more watch-like. Look for it to launch at other retailers globally this September.

[Thanks, Derek]

Timex Global Trainer GPS watch now available exclusively at REI originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man recreates Iron Man suit so amazing we never even noticed it (video)

Laura June — Mon, 31 May 2010 02:31:00 EST

We don't know how we missed this the first time it was making the rounds on the internet -- but we have a theory. Twenty five-year old Iron Man fanatic Anthony Le spent one month and over $4,000 making the Iron Man (well, War Machine, actually) suit you see above (and in the video below). It's constructed mostly of high-impact urethane and has a resin helmet which was made from a clay mold. It's incredibly impressive, and insanely detailed -- and it looks just like Iron Man. So yeah, the first time we saw this, we probably just assumed we were looking at the real Iron Man and moved on without ever investigating or reading the text. And for that, we are truly sorry.

Continue reading Man recreates Iron Man suit so amazing we never even noticed it (video)

Man recreates Iron Man suit so amazing we never even noticed it (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 May 2010 02:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Objet 3D printing put to the test in Iron Man 2 (video)

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:07:00 EST

We got a pretty good look at some of the tech of Iron Man 2 recently, and it looks like the flick's gadgety goodness extends behind the camera as well. It appears that all that bad ass armor is actually produced on the fly by the film's production company, Legacy Effects, using an Objet Eden 3D printer. The company describes the process as "print-to-wear" - pieces come out of the printer, get applied with paint, and make their way to the actors. And since the designs begin with an actual scan of the actor's body, they are much more comfortable. Believe us, there is nothing that a director wants to see less than a cranky Robert Downey, Jr. on their set. For more info on how the device is being used throughout the creative process, check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Objet 3D printing put to the test in Iron Man 2 (video)

Objet 3D printing put to the test in Iron Man 2 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 May 2010 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's $100 Ally crashing Verizon stores on May 20th, pre-orders start tomorrow (update: now with specs)

Darren Murph — Wed, 12 May 2010 09:24:00 EST

We had a hunch that LG's Android 2.1-based Ally would see its first customers on May 20th, and Verizon Wireless has finally opened up and confirmed as much this morning. The Iron Man 2-infused smartphone -- which we spent some time with yesterday -- will be available in all VZW stores beginning May 20th, with pre-orders going live for phone and web customers tomorrow. We've already given you the rundown when it comes to specs (they're after the break for those with memories shorter than their shoelaces), but now we're able to confirm that it'll sell for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and a new two-year contract. A well-specced Android smartphone for under a Benjamin? Not bad, LG.

Update: Nothing in particular to write home about, but LG has just unveiled the Ally's nearly complete spec sheet. [Thanks, Rey E.]

Continue reading LG's $100 Ally crashing Verizon stores on May 20th, pre-orders start tomorrow (update: now with specs)

LG's $100 Ally crashing Verizon stores on May 20th, pre-orders start tomorrow (update: now with specs) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 May 2010 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iron Man 2: the gadgets (video)

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 07 May 2010 05:27:00 EST

When done right, a science fiction or fantasy film will leave audiences with a prescient glimpse into our actual gadget future. Remember the heady pre-iPhone, pre-Pureness days of 2002 when you first saw Minority Report? Staring silently, mouth agape, jonesing for a chance to partake in a multi-touch, transparent display future using nothing but gestures? Well now that Iron Man 2 has been released, we've got another chance to look into the high-tech crystal ball, this time envisioned by a team of artists at Perception who did the design, animation, and visual effects work that turned Tony Stark's transparent LG smartphone (pictured above), touch-screen coffee table, and holographic lab environment into an on-screen reality. The group was compelled by director Jon Favreau and the team at Marvel Studios to keep the UI elements "legible and logical, while still appearing to be several generations beyond the typical user experience." Perception tells us that some of its inspiration was directly attributed to Engadget as it researched near-term technologies for the film's future reality. No doubt, we do see influence from Emblaze's First Else navigation elements and limited color palette as well as Microsoft's InkSeine research at the heart of the doomed Courier UI. And if we're not mistaken, Stark's big ass computing table is almost certainly inspired by Microsoft Surface. Now get past the break and check out Perception's contribution to Iron Man 2, the future of Google search alone is not to be missed.

Gallery: Iron Man 2: The technology (video)

Continue reading Iron Man 2: the gadgets (video)

Iron Man 2: the gadgets (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 May 2010 05:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Ally gets its own website, details finally start to flow

Darren Murph — Wed, 05 May 2010 11:01:00 EST

LG's Ally recently got its stamp of approval from LG, but outside of a terse acknowledgment that the phone was real (and had a thing for iron-clad superheroes), little else was divulged. Today, we've stumbled upon the phone's dedicated product page over at the company's website, which not only plugs Iron Man 2 to the nth degree, but also informs us that it'll ship with a 3.2-inch touchscreen, Android 2.1, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a backside camera and a microSD card slot. There's also a link over there to jump into the LG Ally community, so feel free to do just that if this trickling of information is driving you up the wall.

LG Ally gets its own website, details finally start to flow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG confirms Android-powered Ally, coming May 20th

Donald Melanson — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:33:00 EST

Well, this hasn't exactly followed the usual smartphone launch route, but LG has now officially confirmed the existence of its new Android-powered LG Ally handset, although it's still not doing much talking about the phone itself. It has, however, revealed that the phone will be available on May 20th (presumably on Verizon, though LG oddly doesn't mention a carrier in its press release), and that it will naturally feature plenty of Iron Man 2 tie-in content, including an augmented reality application of some sort. Otherwise, LG is only saying that the phone will have a touchscreen and a full QWERTY keypad, and it's pointing folks towards an Iron Man 2 tie-in site (linked below) that, last we checked, still says to check back on April 30th. We should be getting some more details on the phone soon enough, however, as LG is holding an event in New York on May 11th where it will be showing off the Ally and other "Stark-worthy" technology.

Continue reading LG confirms Android-powered Ally, coming May 20th

LG confirms Android-powered Ally, coming May 20th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 May 2010 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chad Barraford's JARVIS life assistant is the envy of Pepper Potts (video)

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 03:42:00 EST

Chad Barraford is living the dream. Inspired by Edwin Jarvis, the superhero's man-servant turned computer in the film adaptation of Iron Man, the 27 year old Barraford pieced together a digital life assistant, dubbed JARVIS, to keep his household (and life) in order. JARVIS is built on a 4-year-old Mac mini linked to everything from his home lighting/security and RFID entry system (self-built on Arduino) to his George Foreman grill plugged into his X10 home automation network. JARVIS is always aware of Chad's location (thanks to Google Latitude) and can be controlled in the house via remote control or a wireless mic and the Mac's built-in speech recognition software; or via Twitter and text messages when away. Chad's friends each have their own keychain RFID tags. So does his dog. When his friends are in the house, JARVIS becomes less chatty and doesn't speak any personal information related to his finances or Facebook updates, for example. When the dog comes home JARVIS turns on the lights in the mutt's room. The Chad started the project less than a year ago and cost the man less than $700 in gear. Yes, he hopes to commercialize it. Until then we've got a few choice video selections after the break.

Continue reading Chad Barraford's JARVIS life assistant is the envy of Pepper Potts (video)

Chad Barraford's JARVIS life assistant is the envy of Pepper Potts (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 03:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Timex readying GPS-equipped Ironman Global Trainer wristwatch

Darren Murph — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:37:00 EST

It's been a white hot minute since we've seen a snazzy new timepiece from the labs at Timex, but it seems that the outfit will finally be dishing out a new GPS-laden watch a year after introducing the Expedition WS4. Set to debut next month, the Ironman Global Trainer with GPS is easily one of the slimmest, most not-ugly GPS watches we've ever seen. At a glance, you'd never know that such features as real-time speed, pace and distance data were included courtesy of the SiRFstarIII module tucked within, and you'll also get 50 meters of water resistance, a customizable display to showcase four metrics at once and the ability to push performance reports out to your PC. The device will be compatible with Timex heart rate and bike sensors, not to mention any third-party power meters utilizing ANT+ wireless technology. Unfortunately, next month's reveal will only let you know that it'll ship this May to REI stores here in the States, while the rest of the world will have to wait until September to strap one on.

Continue reading Timex readying GPS-equipped Ironman Global Trainer wristwatch

Timex readying GPS-equipped Ironman Global Trainer wristwatch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epix HD queues up Iron Man, Madonna and Eddie Izzard for online & FiOS launch October 30

Richard Lawler — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:23:00 EST

Epix HD has locked down a launch date and lineup, confirmed for Verion FiOS subscribers so far, the festivities will kick off October 30th with television and online premieres of Iron Man, Madonna "Sticky & Sweet: Live from Buenos Aires," and Eddie Izzard: Live From Wembley. Other titles set for launch weekend are The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Madea Goes to Jail, Pink Panther 2, the Indiana Jones movie that sucked, Cloverfield, The Duchess and more. Epix has previously stated a goal to build the largest stable of movies online with a planned 3,000 titles available in the Epix Megaplex, you'll see if this whole new way of delivering a premium movie experience is all it's appeared to be very soon.

Update: Epix just passed along the launch weekend schedule so check after the break for all the times (EST)

Continue reading Epix HD queues up Iron Man, Madonna and Eddie Izzard for online & FiOS launch October 30

Filed under: Fiber, Internet, New content

Epix HD queues up Iron Man, Madonna and Eddie Izzard for online & FiOS launch October 30 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's Sawgrass, Android-powered Heron do the vertical slide onto AT&T?

Ross Miller — Sun, 24 May 2009 22:41:00 EST

The previously rumored Motorola portrait QWERTY slider Iron Man has popped up again, this time as the AT&T-bound Heron, with listed specs being a 2.8-inch touch screen, 3 megapixel camera with flash, aGPS, 3G, and a big red "subject to change" notice since the device has moved to (drumroll, please) Android OS. Planned availability is said to be November 2nd here, but we suspect these slides are a bit dated and that may ultimately be wholly off target. Also on the menu is another portrait slider, the Sawgrass. This one may in fact be Alexander, and if that's the case, at least we've got a cleaner press shot to put on its tombstone. Then again, we hear from Boy Genius Report that it's reincarnated under the name Somerset. The information you (probably) seek is in the gallery below.

Gallery: Motorola Sawgrass, Android-powered Heron do the vertical slide onto AT&T

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, ATT

Motorola's Sawgrass, Android-powered Heron do the vertical slide onto AT&T? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 May 2009 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's Sawgrass, Android-powered Heron do the vertical slide onto AT&T?

Ross Miller — Sun, 24 May 2009 22:41:00 EST

Gallery: Motorola Sawgrass, Android-powered Heron do the vertical slide onto AT&T

Filed under: Cellphones

Motorola's Sawgrass, Android-powered Heron do the vertical slide onto AT&T? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 May 2009 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's first Android phone(s) to have sliding QWERTY?

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:37:00 EST

Motorola needed to release an Android set about six months ago, but we know these things take time -- and if it's any consolation, it sounds like the first fruits of the labor could be pretty awesome. Boy Genius Report now claims that the rumored landscape QWERTY slider Calgary will be the first Android-powered Moto device to go commercial, though it's not clear when (or where) it'll hit shelves; given the device's seemingly unusual appearance and the possibility (foolish hope?) that they'll be infusing some customizations into the UI, they might just have an angle to attack offerings from HTC and others. That's not all for the Android department, though -- it looks like there might also be a portrait QWERTY slider in the works for the third quarter codenamed "Ironman," pictured, which will pack 3G, WiFi, and some sort of high-res camera. In other words, a solidly high-end device. Bring it on, guys.

Moving on, it seems the lovely full touchscreen Flash has been canned, along with the Krave's successor, the Inferno -- possibly further confirmation that Moto's throwing virtually all its weight into the Android camp at this point. Finally, rumor has it that a device codenamed "Rolex" is in the labs -- and as you might've guessed, it uses the Aura's astonishingly awesome ultra-high-res circular display. Odds are this is another luxury phone given its aspirational name and the screen being used, but a poor guy can dream.

Read - Calgary, Inferno, Flash, and Rolex
Read - Ironman

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Motorola's first Android phone(s) to have sliding QWERTY? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's first Android phone(s) to have sliding QWERTY?

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:37:00 EST

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Android

Motorola's first Android phone(s) to have sliding QWERTY? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Dark Knight Blu-ray sells 1.7 million in a week, shows Iron Man a magic trick

Richard Lawler — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:46:00 EST

Just like it did to the one day Blu-ray sales record, The Dark Knight Blu-ray disc jumped even Warner's projections for its first week, selling 1.7 million copies worldwide, topping Iron Man's 500,000. Apparently undeterred by any claims of issues fans jumped on the release, with DVDs added it moved a total of 13.5 million on both formats. No word yet whether there's still space to chat with director Chris Nolan on the 18th, but Warner's also claiming 300,000 digital copies activated, and the number on spot on iTunes. Not enough celebratory back slapping for you? Check the press release after the break while we try to figure out what movie has a chance of breaking the #1 sales figure next.

Continue reading The Dark Knight Blu-ray sells 1.7 million in a week, shows Iron Man a magic trick

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray

The Dark Knight Blu-ray sells 1.7 million in a week, shows Iron Man a magic trick originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iron Man Blu-ray review roundup

Darren Murph — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST

Considering that Iron Man is the best selling Blu-ray Disc of all time, it makes sense that there are countless reviews of it out on the web. If you've somehow held back from picking up a copy of your own, you'll be glad to know that pretty much everyone in existence agrees that this film rocks. The most noticeable positive was the absolutely outstanding video transfer, making this flick one you'll undoubtedly pull out when trying to wow your friends with your system's capabilities. Amazingly enough, critics on the whole were even more impressed with the audio, with TweakTown going so far as to say that the soundtrack " almost single-handedly justifies the cost of a home theater." The only real knock that we could find was that blacks fell a tad flat in a few scenes, but really, that's neither here nor there. The critics have spoken, and this is a must-own title for any BD fan.

Read - DailyGame
Read - HighDefDiscNews
Read - Film School Rejects
Read - TweakTown
Read - DVDTalk
Read - Monsters And Critics
Read - IGN

Filed under: Reviews, Blu-ray

Iron Man Blu-ray review roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iron Man's Blu-ray release manages 20 percent of DVD's market share

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:28:00 EST

At this point it seems that the only one not talking about how well Iron Man sold on Blu-ray is Paramount, as Adam's Research tells Video Business that the Blu-ray version of Iron Man managed to take 20 percent of the market share away from DVD. This number confirms our estimates that Blu-ray market share has doubled since HD DVD demise. The previous record holder, I Am Legend, that was released around the time HD DVD called it quits, only managed 9 percent. We have to say that this even exceeds our expectations though, and although there is no doubt that this title fits in the Blu-demographic, it once again is some indication that the future might just be Blu after all.

Filed under: Blu-ray

Iron Man's Blu-ray release manages 20 percent of DVD's market share originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iron Man lives up to expectations, breaks all Blu-ray records

Ben Drawbaugh — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:25:00 EST

Although we'll probably have to wait another week for the official Nielsen VideoScan charts to reflect the sales of Iron Man this week on Blu-ray, director Jon Favreau was bragging on the Howard Stern Show that the sales of Iron Man had already outsold every other Blu-ray release to date. We can't say we're that surprised though, especially after reports that the load on Paramount's BD-Live servers were too much to handle -- not to mention the fact that it is/was the number two selling disc on Amazon (the DVD version is number one). Either way, it'll be interesting to see how much better Iron Man moved discs then the previous record holders like Spider Man 3, I Am Legend and Casino Royale.

Filed under: Blu-ray

Iron Man lives up to expectations, breaks all Blu-ray records originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are BD-Live download times bogging down your Iron Man experience?

Darren Murph — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:10:00 EST

Paramount was more than adamant that absolutely nothing was wrong with its Iron Man discs, but in what's easily one of Blu-ray's biggest releases of the year, folks are still having issues. The bulk of the problems seem to hover around clogged up pipes from everyone downloading BD-Live material at the same time. Users are reporting a handful of issues ranging from the film hanging on a "blue chest loading screen" (affectionately dubbed the Blue Ring of Death) to a muffled TrueHD soundtrack. Some PS3 owners have suggested that manually telling it to bypass the whole BD-Live download circumvents the hangs, but it seems that other players aren't having such luck. So, how has your Iron Man experience been? Do these folks have legitimate beefs, or are these fools just whining for nothin'?

[Thanks, Mark]

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray, Internet

Are BD-Live download times bogging down your Iron Man experience? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell pre-loading Iron Man, world asks "Why?"

Tim Stevens — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:10:00 EST

While in the throes of customizing your dream machine over at Dell, weighing CPU cost vs. memory cost, would you click on a $19 option called "Iron Man movie with bonus content?" We sure wouldn't, but now you can, part of what the Director of Dell's Global Consumer Group is calling the company's "slow immersion into content as a major piece of the puzzle in terms of what consumers want from a PC." Right. The (surely DRM-riddled) film is available on any Inspiron, Studio, or XPS laptop or desktop, playable on that machine itself or through your choice of Windows Media Extender. Iron Man is the only film on offer now, but meaty palms are likely being pressed as you read this to drive other partnerships and more choices. This could let the company hook customers before even shipping their hardware, a potential advantage for what looks to be a looming content battle with Apple.

[Thanks, SebS]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Dell pre-loading Iron Man, world asks "Why?" originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blu-ray releases on September 30th 2008

Ben Drawbaugh — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:39:00 EST

We are finally getting our first Summer blockbuster in time for the holiday season, after some rumors of delays, as Iron Man is set to hit the shelves tomorrow. This is the first title to be released in some time that is expected to once again raise the Blu-ray bar and be the best selling titles to date. But this isn't the only news this week, for starters Discovery has its latest title, When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions, which we expect to sell well, but nowhere near what Planet Earth did. Universal has a decent slate as it has a few catchup titles HD DVD and DVD fans have been enjoying for some time like Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Halloween is very obviously right around the corner as all the horror flicks are being released in droves this week, like the famous Dawn of the Dead and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Another catalog we look forward to enjoying for the first time all over again is The Sixth Sense. Noticeably absent from the list this week is two Olympic titles like the Opening Ceremonies and a Michael Phelps special, that are only available on DVD. Looking forward, next week is the first time Disney is going into the vault and releasing a classic on Blu-ray with Sleeping Beauty, and there are a bunch more horror movies on the schedule as well.

Iron Man (Paramount)
When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions (Discovery)
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Universal)
Knocked Up (Universal)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Universal)
Can't Hardly Wait (Sony)
Daredevil (Fox)
The Sixth Sense (Disney)
Dawn of the Dead (Universal)
Halloween Starter Pack (Land of the Dead / Dawn of the Dead / The Thing) (Universal)
Land of the Dead (Universal)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Dark Sky)
The Thing (Universal)

Filed under: Blu-ray

Blu-ray releases on September 30th 2008 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looks like the Blu-ray release of Iron Man may be postponed

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:42:00 EST

Bad news Blu-ray fans -- it appears Paramount hasn't gotten past all its production problems and it just might affect the Blu-ray release of Iron Man. Easily one of the biggest movies of the year, Iron Man was expected to really move some volume on Blu when it was set to release this Tuesday on September 30th, but after some rumors that review copies weren't working in some players, it was expected that Paramount would issue a full recall. At this point the studio is doing everything it can to deliver enough replacement discs to retailers, but if it doesn't happen in time, then we'll all have to wait another week until October 7th to take in the latest sci-fi action flick.

Update: Paramount rang to say that the release is still on track for a September 30th release. Phew!

Filed under: Blu-ray

Looks like the Blu-ray release of Iron Man may be postponed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iron Man contest winner announced!

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST

After weeks of hand-wringing, we've finally settled on a winner of our contest for LG's uber-limited $1,500 Iron Man edition Shine! We asked you to send in pictures of the busted-up pieces of garbage you call "phones," and holy cow, did we get some doozies.

Without further adieu, our winner, Mark H., comes to us from Novato, California. Here's his story:

"I need a new phone as you can see. I have had this Nokia phone since 2001. I'm in the military service and my friends make fun of my old phone and now they're really on me since my phone was run over by a car and I use electrical tape to keep the faceplate together. I don't get paid enough by the service to buy a nice new phone."

Congratulations, Mark! Even if this relic were in perfect condition, it'd still be time for an upgrade. Let's try to keep this one a little less scuffed, because that solid gold battery cover definitely does not live up to the "Iron Man" name. Follow the break for some honorable mentions -- you guys made it really hard to choose!

Continue reading Iron Man contest winner announced!

Filed under: Handsets, LG, ATT, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, Announcements

Iron Man contest winner announced! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tanita works out the Ironman segmental body composition monitor

Joshua Fruhlinger — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:03:00 EST

Getting the low-down on your body fat percentages can involve a scale, calipers, calculator, spreadsheet, and lots of math. Enter the Tanita Ironman Segmental and Full Body Composition monitor. This torture device comes with retractable hand-grip electrodes that measure each body quadrant's water, muscle mass, bone mass, BMR, visceral fat, metabolic age, and physique rating. Engadget Fitness Club (EFC) public service note: keep in mind that electrodes of this sort can be a bit inaccurate based on your water weight. Most fitness experts consider calipers to be the most accurate way to get body composition data even though they're a bear to use. That said, this could be a great long-term monitoring tool if the $299 price tag doesn't scare you off and Wii Fit just isn't doing it for you.

[Via ChipChick]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Tanita works out the Ironman segmental body composition monitor originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"Is that a $1500 Iron Man cellphone in your pocket, or are you just happy to see Engadget Mobile?"

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:30:00 EST

Yes, that's right, one lucky Engadget Mobile reader is going to walk away with a gorgeous, ultra-limited LG Shine worth more than the combined value of, like, every phone we've ever had. How exactly does one get in on this action? Head on over to Mobile for the scoop!

Filed under: Cellphones

"Is that a $1500 Iron Man cellphone in your pocket, or are you just happy to see Engadget Mobile?" originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 May 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Mobile, LG, and Stark Industries want you to have a $1,500 Iron Man phone

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:30:00 EST

If ever there were an LG Shine to live up to its lofty name, this would definitely be it. We'd like to introduce you to the Iron Man phone -- presented here by our boy Robert Downey, Jr. -- based on the Shine slider as sold by AT&T. Unlike the garden-variety Shine, the Iron Man edition trades up to a deep red case with gold plated highlights and a solid 18K gold battery cover to commemorate the launch of the film in style. That's plenty enough element 79 to give this thing some serious heft. We're not bragging, though -- we want you to have it.

The phone is valued at a princely $1,500; twenty are being given away by LG directly -- we've got the twenty first. How do you pry it out of our hands? Easy: we want to see just how nasty, disgusting, and close to complete breakdown your current face candy is. Send us a pic and tell us a little bit about your poor, dilapidated phone and the long journey it's taken to its current state of disrepair. We'll pick the saddest entry and let you retire that terrible thing for something just a little flashier.

One word of advice though: don't bother breaking your phone or taking a photo of your dad's Dynatac or something, that's not what we're looking for.

Check out the gallery to see shots of the very Iron Man phone that could be yours, and don't forget to enter. Good luck!

The rules (yeah, there are always rules)

Send us your original photo. If we find your picture elsewhere on the internet, you will so be disqualified. Don't test us here, we've seen every picture of every phone. Ever.
Email submissions to contests [at] engadget [dawt] com with the subject "I am Iron Man!" And for the love of our inbox, please keep your images 1MB or under, ok?
You may only enter this contest once. If you enter this contest more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc.
Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Entries must be in by 11:59PM EDT, Sunday, May 18th. After that, give us some time to sort through the entries and pick out the best (or worst, depending on how you look at it).

Gallery: Engadget Mobile, LG, and Stark Industries want you to have a $1,500 Iron Man phone

Filed under: Handsets, LG, ATT, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, Announcements

Engadget Mobile, LG, and Stark Industries want you to have a $1,500 Iron Man phone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 May 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iron Man case mod shows lots of dedication, is still ugly

Darren Murph — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:44:00 EST

Let's go ahead and get this out of the way: we can't deny that the Iron Man Mark I case mod took some serious work (and skill). That being the case, it'd take a pretty hardcore fan of the character (or the new flick, we guess) to love this one with reckless abandon. Reportedly, the whole shebang was built in just three weeks, and while we're still waiting for the full work log, feel free to hit the read link for an array of angles.

Filed under: Desktops

Iron Man case mod shows lots of dedication, is still ugly originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on with LG's Iron Man handset, it's Superhero approved

Sean Cooper — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:46:00 EST

Movie tie-ins are usually a pretty tiring lot, with garrish colors, sparkly add-ons, and outrageous campaigns being par for the course. Not so -- well almost -- for LG's Shine as Iron Man handset, this thing is so exclusive, it apparently won't ever hit the retail channels, and at about $2k a pop, nobody will miss it. Of course, there isn't much new here, it's a typical LG Shine with a dab of 18k Gold -- and by dab we mean, the battery cover is solid, solid gold -- and a fetching maroon color that nicely coordinates with Iron Man's fab suit. Follow the link for a pile more pics of the handset and a few of Iron Man, too.

Gallery: Hands-on with LG's Iron Man handset, it's Superhero approved

Filed under: Handsets, LG

Hands-on with LG's Iron Man handset, it's Superhero approved originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Timex rolls out Ironman iControl watch

Donald Melanson — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:24:00 EST

We heard it was coming, then we knew it was coming, but Timex has now finally gotten all official with its iPod-controlling Ironman iControl watch. As has already been revealed, the watch uses an RF transmitter to let you control all the basic functions of your iPod (or iPhone in airplane mode), which'll let you keep it safely tucked away during your workout (or other less athletic activities). Otherwise, you'll get some fairly standard sport watch features, including a 50-lap memory recall chronograph, a training log, various timers and alarms and, of course, Indiglo backlighting. You'll also get your choice of gray/black, pink, blue, orange or green color schemes, with each setting you back $125.

Filed under: Portable Audio, Wearables

Timex rolls out Ironman iControl watch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Timex's iPod-controlling i-Control watch hits the FCC

Darren Murph — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 02:27:00 EST

Chalk another one up to the rumor mill, as it looks like the leaked PowerPoint slide we saw just last month was indeed referring to an actual product. Thanks to an FCC filing, we now know that Timex is actually cranking out a Made for iPod timepiece in its Ironman series. The i-Control isn't the most handsome of watches, but it will be available in a water-resistant casing, sport Indiglo backlighting, and play nice with your dock connecting iPod. According to the documentation, users will clip an included RF transmitter into their Pod, which will allow the watch to control the volume, track, and play / pause function so long as the it's within "about ten feet" of your wrist. Of course, it still sports the same alarm, chrono, recall, and interval timer modes as the rest of its siblings, but unfortunately, it doesn't look like you'll see any scrolling track tags on this one. As expected, there's no word on price just yet, but click on through for a more detailed shot of it all sprawled out.

Continue reading Timex's iPod-controlling i-Control watch hits the FCC

Filed under: Wearables

Timex's iPod-controlling i-Control watch hits the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jul 2007 02:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massive Gigantor statue coming to Japan

Darren Murph — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 03:21:00 EST

Erecting an 18-meter high robot statue in Japan may not shock and awe as it would in the US of A, but a brightly colored, 70-ton Gigantor is still apt to catch quite a few eyes. Kobe, Japan is set to be the home of the mammoth tribute statue, which will simultaneously commemorate the life of the late Mitsuteru Yokoyama and the revitalization of the surrounding areas since the 1995 Kobe earthquake. The project will cost an estimated ¥135 million ($1.09 million) and should be completed next Spring, but how it will affect property values (or tourism from fanboys and girls) remains to be seen.

[Via SciFiTech]

Filed under: Robots

Massive Gigantor statue coming to Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2007 03:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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