Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Boxee Box coming Q2 2010, D-Link revealed as hardware partner]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/boxee-box-coming-q2-2010-d-link-revealed-as-hardware-partner/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/boxee-box-coming-q2-2010-d-link-revealed-as-hardware-partner/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/boxee-box-coming-q2-2010-d-link-revealed-as-hardware-partner/#comments Like a good one-two punch, now that Boxee Beta has been unveiled, here comes a glimpse of the company's first hardware unit, the Boxee Box. D-Link takes the honors of being the inaugural hardware partner and Astro the designer. The Box, more like a submerged cube, boasts HDMI, SD card slot, two USB 2.0 ports, WiFi, and ethernet for old school internet connectivity. Unfortunately, we don't know at this point what's powering it under the hood, but we're hoping that NVIDIA collaboration on the beta software might suggest some Ion here. Target release sometime in the second quarter of 2010 for about $200.

Gallery: Boxee Box

Continue reading Boxee Box coming Q2 2010, D-Link revealed as hardware partner

Boxee Box coming Q2 2010, D-Link revealed as hardware partner originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boxboxeeboxee boxBoxeeBoxbreaking newsBreakingNewsmedia playerMediaPlayerthe boxee boxTheBoxeeBoxMon, 07 Dec 2009 20:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola Droid getting 2.0.1 now, Verizon posts details]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/motorola-droid-getting-2-0-1-now-verizon-posts-details/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/motorola-droid-getting-2-0-1-now-verizon-posts-details/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/motorola-droid-getting-2-0-1-now-verizon-posts-details/#commentsThe "coming weeks" timeframe that Verizon had promised for 2.0.1 to start pushing to Droids has been mercifully condensed down to just a few days, because a number of folks are starting to report that they're receiving the update on their retail units today -- and we've been able to confirm with the company that it's going down. That's great news for a Monday, we'd say, and if you haven't gotten the update just yet, Big Red has now posted update instructions and details on the Droid's support site that should be enough to tide you over for a few minutes. In brief, this looks like bug-fix nirvana with improved stability and battery life, better camera and call quality, faster visual voicemail, and a host of other goodies -- anyone hoping for new features is probably primed for disappointment, but we'll take what we can get. Keep an eye on your Droid today, owners, and let us know how the experience treats you.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Motorola Droid getting 2.0.1 now, Verizon posts details originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0.1androidandroid 2.0.1Android2.0.1breaking newsBreakingNewsdroidmotomotorolaupdateupgradeverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwMon, 07 Dec 2009 15:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Fusion Garage Joojoo tablet rises from the ashes of the CrunchPad]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/fusion-garage-joojoo-tablet-rises-from-the-ashes-of-the-crunchpa/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/fusion-garage-joojoo-tablet-rises-from-the-ashes-of-the-crunchpa/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/fusion-garage-joojoo-tablet-rises-from-the-ashes-of-the-crunchpa/#comments Fusion Garage has finally come clean with its side of the story in regards to the CrunchPad debacle, and just unveiled its new Arrington-free version of the device: the Joojoo. The way Fusion Garage tells it, the device was already in the works at the time of the original TechCrunch post about the idea, and that Michael Arrington and co. made zero contributions to the development of the device -- and apparently don't have any sort of contract to prove otherwise. The device is much along the lines of what we'd been hearing: it runs a UNIX-based OS, boots straight to a web browser (otherwise no apps at all), weighs about 2.4 pounds and features a 12.1-inch capacitive touchscreen. There are no physical buttons on the slate outside of the on-off switch, which taps into a 9 second boot time. Under the hood there's a 4GB SSD, WiFi (no 3G), an accelerometer and about 5 hours of battery life. Pre-orders start on December 11th, with a dream-shattering $499 pricetag bringing this thing back into the realm of reality. We're supposed to see demos of the Joojoo in the wild this week, and another shot of the device can be found after the break.

Continue reading Fusion Garage Joojoo tablet rises from the ashes of the CrunchPad

Fusion Garage Joojoo tablet rises from the ashes of the CrunchPad originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arringtonbreaking newsBreakingNewscrunchpadfusion garageFusionGaragejoojoomichael arringtonMichaelArringtontablettablet pcTabletPcMon, 07 Dec 2009 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC's 2010 roadmap goes on display?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/06/htcs-2010-roadmap-goes-on-display/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/06/htcs-2010-roadmap-goes-on-display/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/06/htcs-2010-roadmap-goes-on-display/#comments Those among us with minds like steel traps might recall that HTC's 2009 was leaked with shocking accuracy way back in January of this year, which lends some credibility to this already-believable series of slides we have seemingly showing off most of the good stuff we can expect out of the company in the coming months. The stuff we're privy to here was allegedly presented at a meeting in Vienna back in October, with both Windows Mobile and Android designs broken up into four target demo categories: Design / Lifestyle, Social, Performance (we like the sound of that), and Productivity -- but don't take our word for it. Follow the break for everything you need to know about this very real-sounding downpour of specs and renders.

Gallery: HTC portfolio for first half of 2010

Continue reading HTC's 2010 roadmap goes on display?

HTC's 2010 roadmap goes on display? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbravobreaking newsBreakingNewsbuzzgooglehtchtc bravohtc buzzhtc legendhtc photonhtc salsahtc terahtc tidehtc trophyHtcBravoHtcBuzzHtcLegendHtcPhotonHtcTeraHtcTideHtcTrophyleakLegendphotonroadmapsalsasmartphonesocialt-mobileteratidetrophywindows mobileWindowsMobileSun, 06 Dec 2009 19:23:00 EST<![CDATA[WSJ confirms Apple purchase of Lala]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/wsj-confirms-apple-purchase-of-lala/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/wsj-confirms-apple-purchase-of-lala/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/wsj-confirms-apple-purchase-of-lala/#comments Well that's that, apparently. Although this story has evolved quite a bit over the day, according to Peter Kafka over at All Things Digital, Apple has indeed coughed up the dough for music streaming service Lala. If you believe what you read in the report (and you probably can, Kafka tends to be a straight shooter), Apple's snapping up the company for what will amount to a bargain-basement price... possibly less than $.50 on the dollar. However, Kafka says at least one source claims his valuation of the deal is off, but we'll have to wait for some official word before we know for sure. If this turns out to all be true, the lingering question is still about Apple's reasoning behind the purchase -- is the company after a particular technology, or is there a service in the offing? Hopefully we'll know soon.

Note: If you want a little background on Lala, Ross Rubin has covered the service extensively in his Switched On column.

WSJ confirms Apple purchase of Lala originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebreaking newsBreakingNewslalaFri, 04 Dec 2009 22:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell creates communications division for push into handheld market]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/dell-reorganizes-creates-communications-group-with-focus-on-mob/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/dell-reorganizes-creates-communications-group-with-focus-on-mob/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/dell-reorganizes-creates-communications-group-with-focus-on-mob/#comments
 Turns out Mini 3i is only the beginning. Dell has announced plans to create a new Communications Group with a focus on mobile phones and similar portable devices. Current consumer division head and former Motorola exec Ron Garriques will take the helm. Not much else to say at this point, but make no mistake, Dell is now officially in the phone business for the long haul.

Dell creates communications division for push into handheld market originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsbusinessdelldumb phoneDumbPhonefeature phoneFeaturePhoneindustryminimini 3imini 3ixMini3iMini3ixphoneron garriquesRonGarriquessmart phoneSmartPhoneFri, 04 Dec 2009 19:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Android 2.1-equipped Motorola Sholes tablet spied in China as XT701?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/android-2-1-equiped-motorola-sholes-tablet-spied-in-china-as-xt7/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/android-2-1-equiped-motorola-sholes-tablet-spied-in-china-as-xt7/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/android-2-1-equiped-motorola-sholes-tablet-spied-in-china-as-xt7/#comments No sooner do we get brief corner glimpses of the supposed Motorola Sholes tablet do we get tipped off to this writeup from Androidin.net which has a number of pictures of an eerily similar keyboard-less handset with a 3.7-inch screen, Android 2.1, FM radio, and interestingly enough, only a 5 megapixel camera -- last we heard it was going to be 8. Also debatable is a HDMI port, since the image that would show it is a tad too blurry. Otherwise, it seems to be about in line with what we expected, and it also seems destined for China Unicom as the XT701 (analogous to China Mobile's Motorola Android device). Now how about a few dashes of hope we'll see this stateside, eh Moto? Two more shots after the break.

[Thanks, yee]

Continue reading Android 2.1-equipped Motorola Sholes tablet spied in China as XT701?

Android 2.1-equipped Motorola Sholes tablet spied in China as XT701? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.1Android2.1breaking newsBreakingNewschinachina unicomChinaUnicommotorolamotorola sholesmotorola sholes tabletMotorolaSholesMotorolaSholesTabletsholessholes tabletSholesTablettabletxt 701Xt701Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Android 2.0.1 SDK materializes, Droid getting it in 'coming weeks']]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/android-2-0-1-sdk-materializes-droid-getting-it-in-coming-week/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/android-2-0-1-sdk-materializes-droid-getting-it-in-coming-week/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/android-2-0-1-sdk-materializes-droid-getting-it-in-coming-week/#commentsIf you're looking for the fast, fun, and easy way to "enhance the user experience" on your Droid this holiday season, look no further than the Android 2.0.1 update that Verizon just slipped us some info on. We don't have an exact drop date at this point, but we're told that Droid owners can expect an over-the-air package in the "coming weeks" -- and most notably, changes will include improved camera autofocus and better voice reception. Since these particular fixes are presumably device-specific, it's interesting that this is being done in lockstep with an official Android trunk release -- but all Google's saying is that the underlying platform contains "several bug fixes and behavior changes, such as application resource selection based on API level and changes to the value of some Bluetooth-related constants." Good stuff.

Update: Google's got a changelog posted -- check it out. Nothing that's going to blow your mind.

Android 2.0.1 SDK materializes, Droid getting it in 'coming weeks' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.0.1Android2.0.1breaking newsBreakingNewsdroidfirmwaremotomotorolaupdateupgradeverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwThu, 03 Dec 2009 20:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia E72 now in stock in the New World -- the US, to be specific]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/nokia-e72-now-in-stock-in-the-new-world-the-us-to-be-specifi/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/nokia-e72-now-in-stock-in-the-new-world-the-us-to-be-specifi/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/nokia-e72-now-in-stock-in-the-new-world-the-us-to-be-specifi/#comments It's been a long, long journey, but Nokia's E72 -- the hotly-anticipated successor to the wildly popular E71 -- is finally available as an unlocked phone directly from Nokia USA following a November release elsewhere. The privilege of upgrading to what could very well be the finest S60 3.2 handset ever made won't be cheap, though: they're charging $469 before tax and shipping, but in exchange, you're getting a 5 megapixel cam, optical d-pad ("Navi Key" in Nokia parlance), and full-on HSPA with up to 10.2Mbps down and 2Mbps up. Of course, you won't get anything close to those speeds in the States -- but hey, you can't drive a Lambo 180 miles per hour on a public street, either.

[Thanks, Pankil]

Nokia E72 now in stock in the New World -- the US, to be specific originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewse72nokianokia usaNokiaUsaqwertys60s60 3.2S603.2Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia offers sneak peek at improved 2010 Symbian user interface]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/nokia-offers-sneak-peak-at-improved-symbian-user-experience/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/nokia-offers-sneak-peak-at-improved-symbian-user-experience/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/nokia-offers-sneak-peak-at-improved-symbian-user-experience/#comments
You know that new Symbian user experience promised by Nokia for next year? Want a sneak peak? Although Nokia's downloadable slide-deck from its Capital Market Day event leaves out all the new UI visuals, fortunately the webcast has 'em all. And if we're not mistaken then that's a wall-to-wall capacitive multitouch slate up there from Nokia's conceptual studios. As Nokia tells it, the Symbian OS is not the problem, the UI is -- and we agree. In 2010 new hardware and tweaked software will reduce Symbian's clutter, add multitouch input on "large capacitive displays," minimize steps to request functions (2-taps to get to favorite music or video instead of 8, create an email account in 2 steps, not 4), significantly improve the browser experience, and make the entire UI 3 times faster than current high-end Symbian products while taking scrolling to 60fps (up from 15fps used today). Notably, Nokia will remove more than 350 user prompts that make using Symbian so frustrating today. The user experience promises to be so good that Nokia CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, calls it "magical." Us? Sweet, but it's only slideware for now. Watch the rousing video after the break.

Update: We added a link to the 51MB PDF containing all the presentations. Bonus points for spotting our quote about the N900. [Thanks, Pasi]

Gallery: Nokia offers sneak peak at improved 2010 Symbian user interface

Continue reading Nokia offers sneak peek at improved 2010 Symbian user interface

Nokia offers sneak peek at improved 2010 Symbian user interface originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscapacitivecapital market daycapital market day 2009CapitalMarketDayCapitalMarketDay2009multitouchnokiaslatesymbianThu, 03 Dec 2009 06:51:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T and Verizon drop lawsuits, make nice for the holidays]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/atandt-and-verizon-drop-lawsuits-make-nice-for-the-holidays/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/atandt-and-verizon-drop-lawsuits-make-nice-for-the-holidays/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/atandt-and-verizon-drop-lawsuits-make-nice-for-the-holidays/#comments Well well, maybe we can all get along after all: AT&T and Verizon just dropped their various advertising-related lawsuits against each other. We can't say we're surprised, considering AT&T lost its request to have Verizon's ads pulled down for the holidays -- spending money to litigate this further would have simply been a waste, and generated even more bad PR. Now let's just hope these two suck it up and battle it out over service quality and pricing, like they should have been doing all along. Or AT&T can just make some more nonsensical Luke Wilson commercials, whatevs.

Update: Whoa, so this is crazy. We just checked out the other suit that was dismissed, and it turns out that Verizon actually sued AT&T back in July, but not for any damages -- instead, Big Red asked the court to rule that its various "Most Reliable 3G Network" taglines were actually true. That wackiness certainly explains why AT&T felt the need to push back, we suppose, and it makes Verizon's current whining over Sprint's "Most Dependable 3G Network" claims part of a larger, lamer pattern. We've included a shot of the case after the break, check it out.

Continue reading AT&T and Verizon drop lawsuits, make nice for the holidays

AT&T and Verizon drop lawsuits, make nice for the holidays originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisingattbreaking newsBreakingNewscommerciallawsuitlegalmap for thatMapForThatverizonWed, 02 Dec 2009 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Comcast deal to buy NBC is done, will be announced Thursday]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/comcast-deal-to-buy-nbc-is-done-will-be-announced-thursday/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/comcast-deal-to-buy-nbc-is-done-will-be-announced-thursday/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/comcast-deal-to-buy-nbc-is-done-will-be-announced-thursday/#comments We told you we had a feeling this thing was happening -- less than a day after GE consolidated ownership of NBC Universal in preparation to spin it off and sell a controlling stake to Comcast, CNBC is reporting that the deal is actually done and will be announced Thursday morning. As rumored from the start, Comcast will now own 51 percent of NBC to GE's 49 percent, and the new company will fold in Comcast's various content assets, which means the new NBC will rival Disney in size. That's a big enchilada, and it should make the future of Comcast initiatives like TV Everywhere extremely interesting. Of course, all this still has to go through the FCC and FTC, and we wouldn't expect anything to be approved and finalized for a year, but none of that takes away from the magnitude of this deal. We'll obviously know more in a couple days, stay tuned.

Comcast deal to buy NBC is done, will be announced Thursday originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsbuyoutcomcastgegeneral electricGeneralElectricmergernbcnbc universalNbcUniversalspinoffTue, 01 Dec 2009 18:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple dings Psystar for $2.67m, round two heads to Florida]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/apple-dings-psystar-for-2-67m-round-two-heads-to-florida/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/apple-dings-psystar-for-2-67m-round-two-heads-to-florida/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/apple-dings-psystar-for-2-67m-round-two-heads-to-florida/#comments It looks like the first phase of the Apple / Psystar Mac cloning saga is winding towards a conclusion, as the two sides have just filed to wrap up their case with the California court that ruled decisively in favor of Apple last month. As you probably expect, Apple hasn't ceded much ground here: Psystar's agreed to be deemed liable for illegally copying OS X Leopard, bypassing the OS X kernel encryption in violation of the DMCA, and breaching Apple's EULA, all to the tune of $2,675,050. In return, Apple's dropping its various trademark and unfair competition claims, and has promised to hold off on collecting any cash until the various appeals have run their course. Now, considering Apple and Psystar are currently engaged in pretty much the exact same case in Florida over Snow Leopard, we'd say that this agreement isn't much more than a way for both sides to save money and move on to that fight: Apple's already won the bulk of its case against Psystar in California, and spending money to litigate trademark claims we thought were weak when we first read them doesn't really buy Steve any leverage he doesn't already have, while Psystar probably needs to scrimp all the coin it can.

There's one other little wrinkle here, and that's exactly what Apple's eventually going to be able to prevent Psystar from doing. It's certain that the California court will bar Psystar from preloading machines with Leopard, but Psystar's arguing that its new Rebel EFI software shouldn't be covered by any decision, since it wasn't part of the case. That's an interesting argument and definitely worth some consideration -- but it's got some holes in it since Psystar's now admitted that it's liable for contributory and induced copyright infringement and violating the DMCA. As we've said before, Psystar's essentially doing with Rebel EFI what Grokster got smacked by the Supreme Court for doing in 2005: it's trying to build a business around the knowing copyright infringement of customers, and that usually doesn't fly. We'll see what happens -- and Florida awaits.

Apple dings Psystar for $2.67m, round two heads to Florida originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebreaking newsBreakingNewscloninghackintoshlawsuitlegalmac cloneMacCloneos xOsXosx86psystarTue, 01 Dec 2009 15:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Zii Trinity mobile platform packs 1080p punch, looking for OEM love]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/zii-trinity-mobile-platform-packs-1080p-punch-looking-for-oem-l/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/zii-trinity-mobile-platform-packs-1080p-punch-looking-for-oem-l/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/zii-trinity-mobile-platform-packs-1080p-punch-looking-for-oem-l/#comments Ready to start lusting after a new smartphone? If Creative has its way, you'll soon be enjoying Full HD video on a 3.5 / 4G device, with built-in WiFi, 5 megapixel autofocus camera, accelerated 3D graphics, and mini-HDMI and Composite video outputs. The newly announced 3.1-inch, multitouch-capable Zii Trinity has been designed by Creative subsidiary Ziilabs, and will be licensed out to clients who'll be able to customize a Zii-optimized Android install and Plaszma interface. As if we haven't got enough smartphone ecosystems knocking about already, this also marks the introduction of ZiiLife, which aims to be both a content delivery and productivity suite. Powered by the ARM-based ZMS-05 or ZMS-08, the new handset actually seems destined to perform plenty of KIRF and grey market duties, judging by Creative's "strategic partnerships" with Chinese manufacturers, but that might be no bad thing as, according to Gartner, the grey market is booming right now.

Zii Trinity mobile platform packs 1080p punch, looking for OEM love originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p3.5g4gandroidbreaking newsBreakingNewscompositeconcept phoneConceptPhonecreativemedia phonemedia playerMediaPhoneMediaPlayermini hdmimini-hdmiMiniHdmiplaszmaprototypesmartphonestem cell computingStemCellComputingtrinityziizii lifezii summitzii trinityziilabsZiiLifeZiiSummitZiiTrinityzms-05zms-08Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:14:00 EST<![CDATA[The CrunchPad disappears in a puff of vapor]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/30/the-crunchpad-disappears-in-a-puff-of-vapor/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/30/the-crunchpad-disappears-in-a-puff-of-vapor/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/30/the-crunchpad-disappears-in-a-puff-of-vapor/#comments Michael Arrington's CrunchPad has never had a particularly firm basis in reality, and although we'd been promised that the inexpensive browser-based tablet would be launching soon, the sky's come crashing down: Mike says Fusion Garage, the company he hired to build the CrunchPad, has reneged on their deal, and that he's about to file "multiple lawsuits." What happened? Well, it's not exactly clear: according to Mike, the CrunchPad was ready to be launched on November 20, but on November 17 Fusion Garage decided to cut TechCrunch out of the deal and sell it directly. Oh, it's a sad tale, especially since Arrington claims a wide variety of industry heavyweights were lined up to support his tablet -- including development assistance from Intel complete with sweetheart pricing on Atom CPUs, a "major multi-billion dollar retailer" who offered to sell it at "zero margin," and even venture capital firms "waiting to invest in the company." Making matters worse, Mike's no longer buds with Fusion Garage CEO Chandra Rathakrishnan, who he thought he'd be friends with "for the rest of our lives." Tear. Now, we're not sure we've heard the last of the CrunchPad -- if anything, Michael Arrington is irrepressible -- but we can't say we're surprised the first chapter has ended in such fantastic fashion. We're assuming several major Hollywood studios are already lining up to buy the rights, and we've heard unconfirmed reports that George Clooney has signed on to star for free because he believes in the project so deeply.

The CrunchPad disappears in a puff of vapor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arringtonbreaking newsBreakingNewscrunchpadmichael arringtonMichaelArringtontablettechcrunchvaporvaporwareMon, 30 Nov 2009 11:46:00 EST<![CDATA[LG bows its GW880 OPhone for China Mobile, we start packing our things]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/lg-bows-its-gw880-ophone-for-china-mobile-we-start-packing-our/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/lg-bows-its-gw880-ophone-for-china-mobile-we-start-packing-our/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/lg-bows-its-gw880-ophone-for-china-mobile-we-start-packing-our/#comments We don't know what exactly China Mobile is putting in its manufacturer partners' tea during contract negotiations, but considering how rapidly China's largest carrier has grown its OPhone line into the most desirable single-network lineup of Android handsets in the world, we'd strongly recommend they continue to do it. Rumors of an LG entry back in August have now come to fruition in the form of the GW880, a full touch handset launching this month featuring a solid 3.5-inch WVGA display, 5 megapixel camera, and support for a pair of pretty important homegrown standards -- TD-SCDMA for 3G and CMMB for mobile TV tuning. For comparison, LG's only other announced Android phone -- the GW620 Eve for global distribution -- steps down to a HVGA display, so yeah, if you'll excuse us, we've got a Mandarin lesson in a couple minutes.

LG bows its GW880 OPhone for China Mobile, we start packing our things originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewschinachina mobileChinaMobilegw880lgophoneWed, 25 Nov 2009 04:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Emblaze's First Else unveiled in London, promises to be a game-changer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/emblazes-first-else-unveiled-in-london-promises-to-be-a-game-c/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/emblazes-first-else-unveiled-in-london-promises-to-be-a-game-c/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/emblazes-first-else-unveiled-in-london-promises-to-be-a-game-c/#comments Folks, today might be the day when you start to notice how ancient our smartphones have become, even if they only came out in last few months. Blame Else (formerly Emblaze Mobile) for its confusingly-named First Else, a phone "built from scratch" over the last two years and now powered by Access Linux Platform (ALP) 3.0 -- a mobile OS thought to have quietly died out since our last sighting in February. Until today's London launch event, the last we heard of this Israeli company was from October's Access Day in Japan where it previewed the Else Intuition OS, which we like to think of as inspired by Minority Report. While it's still too early to tell whether the First Else -- launching in Q2 next year -- will dodge the path of doom, we were already overwhelmed by the excellence of the device's user experience, both from its presentation and from our exclusive hands-on opportunity. Do read on to find out how Else is doing it right.

Gallery: Emblaze ELSE unveiled in London, we go hands-on

Continue reading Emblaze's First Else unveiled in London, promises to be a game-changer

Emblaze's First Else unveiled in London, promises to be a game-changer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessaccess linux platformAccess Linux Platform 3.0AccessLinuxPlatformAccessLinuxPlatform3.0alpalp 3.0breaking newsBreakingNewsELSEelse intuitionElseIntuitionemblazeemblaze elseemblaze mobileEmblazeElseEmblazeMobilefirst elseFirstElsehands-onintuitionintuition oslinuxTue, 24 Nov 2009 20:34:00 EST<![CDATA[HP's Obsidian becomes iPAQ Glisten, officially comes to AT&T]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/hps-obsidian-becomes-ipaq-glisten-officially-comes-to-atandt/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/hps-obsidian-becomes-ipaq-glisten-officially-comes-to-atandt/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/hps-obsidian-becomes-ipaq-glisten-officially-comes-to-atandt/#comments Wow, talk about digging deep in the memory bank. The same phone that we spotted way back in July (known then as the iPAQ K3 Obsidian) has finally emerged in official fashion on AT&T. Dubbed the iPAQ Glisten, this all-business smartphone boasts a vanilla coat of Windows Mobile 6.5, a 2.5-inch AMOLED display, 3.1 megapixel camera, 256MB of SDRAM, a microSD expansion slot, A-GPS, 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, a QWERTY keyboard, 802.11b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. 'Course, you'll still be dealing with a resistive screen and a dated OS, but if you're turned on in some weird way, it'll be "available in the coming weeks" for $179.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and 2-year agreement.

Gallery: HP's Obsidian becomes iPAQ Glisten, officially comes to AT&T

HP's Obsidian becomes iPAQ Glisten, officially comes to AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amoledattbreaking newsBreakingNewsGlistenhphp ipaqHP iPAQ Glistenhp obsidianHpIpaqHpIpaqGlistenHpObsidianipaqiPAQ GlistenIpaqGlistenobsidianoledqwertysmartphonewindows mobilewindows mobile 6.5WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6.5winmowinmo 6.5Winmo6.5world phoneWorldPhoneTue, 24 Nov 2009 13:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Maps Navigation officially comes to Android 1.6]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/google-maps-navigation-officially-comes-to-android-1-6/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/google-maps-navigation-officially-comes-to-android-1-6/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/google-maps-navigation-officially-comes-to-android-1-6/#comments You might've thought that Google was positioning its industry-changing Google Maps Navigation as a value proposition for Android 2.0 and beyond, but yeah, not so much -- instead, they've gone ahead and backported it to 1.6 (alias "Donut") which means that T-Mobile's myTouch 3G and G1 plus other 1.6-equipped devices across the land can get in on the action. In the case of the memory-starved G1, that's especially surprising, and a heartening sign that the world's first retail Android device still has some fight left in it. It's available from the Android Market now, so go ahead -- try to get yourself lost. We dare you.

Google Maps Navigation officially comes to Android 1.6 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewsdonald trumpDonaldTrumpgooglegoogle maps navigationGoogleMapsNavigationnavnavigationMon, 23 Nov 2009 14:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple hits back at Verizon in new iPhone ads (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/apple-hits-back-at-verizon-in-new-iphone-ads-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/apple-hits-back-at-verizon-in-new-iphone-ads-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/apple-hits-back-at-verizon-in-new-iphone-ads-video/#comments Now look, we're not saying we know for sure that Apple thinks Verizon's latest round of merciless attack ads on its device and US carrier are worth responding to, but these latest iPhone spots would certainly suggest it. A new campaign launching tonight focuses on the iPhone's ability to carry voice and data simultaneously on AT&T's network, and each of the two new TV spots ends with the line "Can your phone and your network do that?" From where we're sitting, it looks like between this new round and AT&T's Luke Wilson-manned comparison spots, both the phonemaker and carrier are fully stepping into the ring. Way to get their attention, guys. See the full clips after the break.

Continue reading Apple hits back at Verizon in new iPhone ads (video)

Apple hits back at Verizon in new iPhone ads (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisementadvertisingandroidapplebreaking newsBreakingNewsdroidgooglemotorolaverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessMon, 23 Nov 2009 13:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon announces Samsung Omnia II: December 2 for $200]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/verizon-announces-samsung-omnia-ii-december-2-for-200/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/verizon-announces-samsung-omnia-ii-december-2-for-200/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/verizon-announces-samsung-omnia-ii-december-2-for-200/#comments As expected, Verizon has chosen December 2 as the Samsung Omnia II's date with destiny, bringing an interesting full-touch WinMo alternative to the HTC Imagio that launched back in October alongside Windows Mobile 6.5. Speaking of 6.5, there were some early concerns that Verizon's version of the Omnia II would launch on stale 6.1 code, but fear not -- it's now confirmed that you'll be looking at Microsoft's latest and greatest stuff when you gaze upon that 3.7-inch AMOLED WVGA display. It's also got a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, WiFi, and 8GB of internal storage along with microSD expansion -- good news for anyone who plans on making much use of that cam, especially in video mode. Verizon's site and retail locations both take delivery of the device on the same 12/2 date, pushing it for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. Considering the pricing, we've gotta ask: Droid or Omnia II?

Verizon announces Samsung Omnia II: December 2 for $200 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsomnia iiOmniaIisamsungverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwwindows mobilewindows mobile 6.5WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6.5winmo 6.5Winmo6.5wm6.5Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Barnes & Noble's Nook now sold out for the holidays]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/barnes-and-nobles-nook-now-sold-out-for-the-holidays/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/barnes-and-nobles-nook-now-sold-out-for-the-holidays/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/barnes-and-nobles-nook-now-sold-out-for-the-holidays/#comments Hoping to put your hands on a Nook this holiday season? Here's hoping you got in the door early, because bookseller Barnes & Noble claims that the Kindle-competitor has sold out for anyone hoping to gift the thing this year. According to the New York Times, B&N says pre-orders on the device have exceeded its expectations, and the well has now run dry on forthcoming stock. To make up for the loss, the seller is offering placeholder certificates for buyers, with a promise that the next round of devices will be shipping out around January 4th. Are suburban moms to blame? Only B&N knows for sure.

Barnes & Noble's Nook now sold out for the holidays originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barnes and nobleBarnes and Noble NookBarnesAndNobleBarnesAndNobleNookbreaking newsBreakingNewsnookFri, 20 Nov 2009 13:14:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T loses request for injunction against Verizon's Map for That ads]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/atandt-loses-request-for-injunction-against-verizons-map-for-that/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/atandt-loses-request-for-injunction-against-verizons-map-for-that/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/atandt-loses-request-for-injunction-against-verizons-map-for-that/#comments Looks like AT&T's not getting its holiday wish after all -- a federal judge just ruled against Ma Bell's request to have Verizon's Map For That ads pulled off the air. That doesn't mean that this whole thing is over, though: the judge called the ads "sneaky" and said that it was possible people might misunderstand them because "most people who are watching TV are semi-catatonic." Whether or not that's enough to support a legal conclusion that the ads are misleading is a fight for another day -- specifically December 16th, when AT&T will have a second chance to argue its case. Still, this is a big win for Verizon -- everyone ready to be inundated with these ads for the next month?

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AT&T loses request for injunction against Verizon's Map for That ads originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsattbreaking newsBreakingNewscommerciallawsuitlegalmap for thatMapForThatverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessWed, 18 Nov 2009 18:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson closing four facilities, laying off 2,000 employees worldwide]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/sony-ericsson-closing-four-facilities-laying-off-2-000-employee/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/sony-ericsson-closing-four-facilities-laying-off-2-000-employee/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/sony-ericsson-closing-four-facilities-laying-off-2-000-employee/#comments Sony Ericsson has yet to make this public, but we've learned that the flagging handset maker has caved once more to the pressures of the modern phone market place. If you'll recall, 450 employees were nixed from the company's payrolls in September of last year, and now the entire Research Triangle Park facility is being shuttered. In an internal announcement made this morning, SE is fixing to close four total sites: RTP in North Carolina, a smaller Miami facility and operations in Kista (Sweden) and Chennai. All told, 2,000 employees will be trimmed, with severance packages being offered to those who qualify. As of now, the departing individuals have yet to be chosen, with employees in RTP given the opportunity to apply for jobs elsewhere (likely in Atlanta or California). We're told that the cuts will happen "in stages," with project teams being assembled as we speak to work out the logistics. Frankly, we aren't as shocked as we are saddened to hear the news -- SE has refused to keep pace with the other handset makers, and its decision to wait until next year to ship an Android device is indicative of the choices that have kept it in the shadows these past few years. Here's hoping this restructuring effort actually gets things headed in the right direction.

Update: And it's official. SE will also be shutting down small offices in Seattle and San Diego, with its North American headquarters shifting from RTP to Atlanta and its research and development operation transitioning from RTP to Redwood Shores, California.

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Sony Ericsson closing four facilities, laying off 2,000 employees worldwide originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscellphoneEricssonfiredfiringlay offlay offsLayOfflayoffsncnorth carolinaNorthCarolinartpsesmartphonesoftwareSonySony EricssonSonyEricssonWed, 18 Nov 2009 08:58:00 EST<![CDATA[ATI Radeon HD 5970: world's fastest graphics card confirmed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/ati-radeon-hd-5970-worlds-fastest-graphics-card-confirmed/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/ati-radeon-hd-5970-worlds-fastest-graphics-card-confirmed/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/ati-radeon-hd-5970-worlds-fastest-graphics-card-confirmed/#comments ATI just announced its latest greatest polygon cruncher on the planet: the previously leaked Radeon HD 5970. The new card card is also one of the first to support Microsoft DirectX 11 and Eyefinity multi-display (driving up to three displays at once for a 7680x1600 maximum resolution) with ripe potential for overclocking thanks to the card's Overdrive technology. Instead of relying upon a single GPU like the already scorching Radeon HD 5870, the 5970 brings a pair of Cypress GPUs linked on a single board by a PCI Express bridge for nearly 5 TeraFLOPS of computer power, or a mind boggling 10 TeraFLOPS when setup in CrossFireX. Naturally, the card's already been put to the test by all the usual benchmarking nerds who praise the card as the undisputed performance leader regardless of game or application. It even manages to keep power consumption in check until you start rolling on the voltage to ramp those clock speeds. As you'd expect then, ATI isn't going to offer any breaks on pricing so you can expect to pay the full $599 suggested retail price when these cards hit shelves today for retail or as part of your new gaming rig bundle.

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ATI Radeon HD 5970: world's fastest graphics card confirmed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdatibreaking newsBreakingNewscrossfire xCrossfireXcypressdirectx 11Directx11eyefinityfastestgpugraphicsoverclockingoverdriveradeon hd 5970RadeonHd5970world fastestWorldFastestWed, 18 Nov 2009 01:49:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS G51J 3D sports NVIDIA 3D Vision with 120Hz display to bring 'real' 3D to laptops]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/asus-g51j-3d-sports-nvidia-3d-vision-with-120hz-display-to-bring/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/asus-g51j-3d-sports-nvidia-3d-vision-with-120hz-display-to-bring/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/asus-g51j-3d-sports-nvidia-3d-vision-with-120hz-display-to-bring/#comments No knock on Acer, who got here first with the Aspire 5738DG, but it sounds like the ASUS G51J 3D has the technology edge in the nascent 3D laptop category. We'll have to see it in action to be sure, but the laptop is using NVIDIA's 3D Vision tech for extensive game compatibility (around 400 games currently work with it), and a 120Hz, 15.6-inch screen paired with some active shutter glasses. We've found the shutter method to be typically a more enjoyable 3D experience than polarized solutions, with no knock on frame rate or resolution. The GeForce GTX 260M card with 1GB of DDR3 memory doesn't hurt either, but that hugegantic USB IR blaster that has to sit on the desk and sync up with the glasses could be a problem for 3D-on-the-go. Of course, the benchmark friendly Core i7-based G51J which this machine is based on (the only real difference is the screen) was never much of one for portability. The laptop will be out soon, with a starting price of $1,700.

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ASUS G51J 3D sports NVIDIA 3D Vision with 120Hz display to bring 'real' 3D to laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d glasses3d vision3dGlasses3dVisionasusbreaking newsBreakingNewsg51jg51j 3dG51j3dgeforce 3d visionGeforce3dVisionnvidiaTue, 17 Nov 2009 20:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon responds to AT&T's Map For That lawsuit: 'the truth hurts']]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/verizon-responds-to-atandts-map-for-that-lawsuit-the-truth-hurt/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/verizon-responds-to-atandts-map-for-that-lawsuit-the-truth-hurt/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/verizon-responds-to-atandts-map-for-that-lawsuit-the-truth-hurt/#comments Sure, Verizon's doubled down on the 3G map ads in response to AT&T's false advertising lawsuit, but eventually the company's lawyers had to file a response and, well, ain't nobody backing down in this one. Here's the freaking introduction:
AT&T did not file this lawsuit because Verizon's "There's A Map For That" advertisements are untrue; AT&T sued because Verizon's ads are true and the truth hurts.
Yeah. It's gonna be like that. Verizon goes on to argue that even AT&T concedes the maps are accurate, and that pulling any of the ads off the air without proof that they're misleading consumers would be unfair, and that at the very least both parties need time to investigate further. Honestly? We've read it over a couple times now and while the legal arguments are certainly interesting, it's hard not to get the impression that Verizon drafted this response with publication in mind -- check out this quote:
In the final analysis, AT&T seeks emergency relief because Verizon's side-by-side, apples-to-apples comparison of its own 3G coverage with AT&T's confirms what the marketplace has been saying for months: AT&T failed to invest adequately in the necessary infrastructure to expand its 3G coverage to support its growth in smartphone business, and the usefulness of its service to smartphone users has suffered accordingly.
See what we mean? Now, we still think there's some merit to the idea that Verizon's ads improperly conflate 3G coverage area with 3G service quality, but that's really not what AT&T's arguing -- hell, it's busy pimping EDGE. We'll see if these two can solve their differences and get back to work, but we've got the feeling this thing ain't over yet.

Update: Here's the PDF, in case you're interested.

Gallery: Verizon's response to AT&T: 'the truth hurts'

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Verizon responds to AT&T's Map For That lawsuit: 'the truth hurts' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attbreaking newsBreakingNewslawsuitlegalmap for thatMapForThattheres a map for thatTheresAMapForThatverizonMon, 16 Nov 2009 21:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia E72 in stores now, somewhere]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/nokia-e72-in-stores-now-somewhere/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/nokia-e72-in-stores-now-somewhere/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/nokia-e72-in-stores-now-somewhere/#comments Amazon's US pre-order site hasn't heard the news yet nor has Nokia USA's on-line store. Nevertheless, Nokia assures us that the E72 is "in stores now" and should cost €350 (as announced) before taxes and carrier subsidies are applied. Remember, this S60-powered followup to the much loved E71 sports a new 5 megapixel autofocus camera, 3.5-mm headphone jack, microSD slot (4GB included in the box), A-GPS and integrated compass, 10.2Mbps HSDPA, and new optical navigation pad right where a thumb would like it. The E72 also packs the latest version of Ovi Maps and Nokia Messaging with homescreen access to your IM accounts. Now scram buster and let us know if your pre-orders have been filled -- this baby's not going to unbox itself.

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Nokia E72 in stores now, somewhere originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewse72NOKon saleOnSaleS605thEditionMon, 16 Nov 2009 07:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung unveils Android-equipped Galaxy Spica i5700]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/15/samsung-unveils-android-equipped-galaxy-spica-i5700/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/15/samsung-unveils-android-equipped-galaxy-spica-i5700/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/15/samsung-unveils-android-equipped-galaxy-spica-i5700/#comments The long-rumored little brother to the Galaxy, the i5700, has finally been made official by Samsung -- and sure enough, it'll go by the trade name "Galaxy Spica." Sammy's latest Android-powered set clocks in at 13.2mm thick and comes equipped with a 3.5mm jack (which, frankly, every smartphone in the world should be including at this point), an 800MHz core (presumably the same as the Moment's), and an Android first: built-in DivX support. This one appears to be a no-frills Google Experience device considering the number of times that "Google" is mentioned in Samsung's press release, but for some Android connoisseurs, the purest, unskinned look and feel is preferred. Sammy says it's already out in Europe and the CIS and will be coming to the Middle East and Asia shortly.

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Samsung unveils Android-equipped Galaxy Spica i5700 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewsgalaxy spicaGalaxySpicai5700samsungSun, 15 Nov 2009 22:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Pre WebOS 1.3.1 update available now]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/14/palm-pre-webos-1-3-1-update-available-now-a-day-early/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/14/palm-pre-webos-1-3-1-update-available-now-a-day-early/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/14/palm-pre-webos-1-3-1-update-available-now-a-day-early/#comments webOS 1.3.1 was always destined to come right around the launch of the Pixi, but it's surprised us by showing its face early. No app catalog bombshells here, but there are a slew of more minor fixes and updates that should make users experience a great deal smoother. Is this the update that finally unlocks access to the GPU and provides the speed boost Pre owners are waiting for / advances the iTunes chess match another step? We'll let you know once our unit reboots, for now here are a few highlights from Palm's list of changes:

Update: Downloaded, applied and rebooted. iTunes still isn't spotting our Pre as a device to sync with, and at least for the moment there's no great speed increases to speak of, but we have noticed a few more key tweaks that owners are sure to like -- setting a specific ringtone for text messages is exactly what we've been looking for.
  • Yahoo! now appears as a Calendar/Contacts/instant messaging synchronization account.
  • You can forward a text or multimedia message by tapping the message > Forward.
  • A new option is available for restarting the phone: press and hold power > Power > Restart. The prior restart method (Device Info > Reset Options > Restart) is still available.
  • Widescreen videos (including YouTube) now display in widescreen mode on the phone by default, instead of being cropped.
  • If you tap to play a YouTube video embedded on a web page, the YouTube application launches and the video plays in the app.
  • You can select a unique ringtone for new message alerts: Open Messaging > application menu > Preferences & Accounts > Sound > Ringtone.
  • While listening to a song with album art displayed, you can tap the screen below the art to display a playback slider. Dragging the slider jumps forward or backward in the song.

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Palm Pre WebOS 1.3.1 update available now originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.3.1breaking newsBreakingNewscellphonefirmwarepalmphonepixipresprintupdateweboswebos 1.3.1Webos1.3.1yahooSat, 14 Nov 2009 00:49:00 EST<![CDATA[T-Mobile launching BlackBerry Bold 9700 on November 16 for $199.99]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/t-mobile-launching-blackberry-bold-9700-on-november-16-for-199/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/t-mobile-launching-blackberry-bold-9700-on-november-16-for-199/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/t-mobile-launching-blackberry-bold-9700-on-november-16-for-199/#comments Anyone looking for the hottest T-Mobile-powered BlackBerry experience that money can buy need only wait a few dozen hours now, because the carrier has just revealed that it'll be launching the latest rendition of the Bold -- the 9700 -- on Monday, November 16 for $200 on contract. Your hard-earned cash reels in T-Mobile's very first 3G BlackBerry underpinned by a 3.2 megapixel camera and 480 x 360 display, beating AT&T's launch by a solid six days. Enjoy, folks.

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T-Mobile launching BlackBerry Bold 9700 on November 16 for $199.99 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9700blackberryboldbreaking newsBreakingNewsrimt-mobilet-mobile usaT-mobileUsaFri, 13 Nov 2009 17:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell Mini 3i officially set for imminent launch in Brazil and China]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/dell-mini-3i-officially-set-for-imminent-launch-in-brazil-and-ch/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/dell-mini-3i-officially-set-for-imminent-launch-in-brazil-and-ch/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/dell-mini-3i-officially-set-for-imminent-launch-in-brazil-and-ch/#comments It would appear those leaked and unintentional early peeks at Dell's first foray into smartphones did not happen in Brazil and China by accident. Hans Erickson of Dell Latin America has announced the decision to "give priority" to those two countries, who will be first to experience the Mini 3i's Android glory, with China receiving devices "in the coming days" and Brazil getting 'em later this year. Interestingly, China Mobile will be making do without 3G, while Brazil's Claro will be offering a 3G-enabled handset. Dell remains mum on pricing and the rest of the spec, though all the information so far indicates that Brazilians will be able to buy the same WiFi-packing FCC-certified 3iX handset that's heading to the US. Either way, we've got another heavyweight's presence in the smartphone market, and we'll be even happier once we know what Dell's value-add will be.

Update: Official Dell press release is out making it clear that this is just the "initial" smartphone from Dell.

[Thanks Marcos R.]

Gallery: Dell Mini 3i official pictures

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Dell Mini 3i officially set for imminent launch in Brazil and China originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidavailabilitybrazilbreakingbreaking newsBreakingNewschinachina mobileChinaMobileclarodelldell minidell mini 3dell mini 3idell mini 3ixDellMiniDellMini3DellMini3iDellMini3ixmini 3mini 3imini 3ixMini3Mini3iMini3ixreleasesmartphonetouchscreenFri, 13 Nov 2009 06:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Behold II hits T-Mobile on November 18th, unboxed today (now with video!)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/12/samsung-behold-ii-hits-t-mobile-on-november-18th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/12/samsung-behold-ii-hits-t-mobile-on-november-18th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/12/samsung-behold-ii-hits-t-mobile-on-november-18th/#comments Dubbing itself the "multimedia powerhouse" for T-Mobile's expansive Android lineup, the Samsung Behold II has just been confirmed for that rumored November 18th launch on T-Mobile (still no word on price, though we're hearing a predictable $200). The slate-style touchscreen handset has a 3.2-inch AMOLED display, and puts it to good use with a hearty skinning job on the part of Samsung, porting in most (but not all) of its TouchWiz UI -- unfortunately for us, that silly cube menu made the cut. Underneath is Android 1.5, and what seems to be a pretty standard processor.

Hardware-wise there's really nothing to complain about on this phone. It's heavy, relatively thin (not iPhone-thin, but just fine), with solid materials and wonderfully tactile face buttons. The screen is everything you'd expect out of an AMOLED display, though high-resolution phones like the Droid dampen that enthusiasm somewhat. One wonderful Samsung addition to the traditional Android experience is a "real" camera button on the side, which can even register half-presses for focus. For someone who doesn't want a physical keyboard, but doesn't want their handset to feel like a toy (sorry, myTouch) there's plenty to love. However, we're more concerned about the software side of things. We're not morally opposed to Samsung adding in TouchWiz, but we are afraid of anything that has the potential to slow down the OS, and on first glance we'd say it's notably less responsive than stock Android. We'll of course be going further in-depth to see just how usable this iteration is, but let us just put this out on the table: a virtual 3D cube to launch media apps is no way "intuitive," "helpful" or "cool." OK, maybe it's kind of cool, but seriously Samsung, stop it. Check out our unboxing below.

Update: We added some video after the break. Behold the cube!

Gallery: Samsung Behold II unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading Samsung Behold II hits T-Mobile on November 18th, unboxed today (now with video!)

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Samsung Behold II hits T-Mobile on November 18th, unboxed today (now with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeholdbehold iiBeholdIibreaking newsBreakingNewsfeatureshands-onsamsungt-mobiletouchwizunboxingThu, 12 Nov 2009 19:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Boxee inks deal with first hardware partner: a 'Boxee Box' is coming]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/12/boxee-inks-deal-with-first-hardware-partner-a-boxee-box-is-co/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/12/boxee-inks-deal-with-first-hardware-partner-a-boxee-box-is-co/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/12/boxee-inks-deal-with-first-hardware-partner-a-boxee-box-is-co/#comments Color us shocked and elated. Boxee, the white-hot startup that has risen from nothing to everywhere thanks to its internet TV software portal, has just announced that a deal has been inked between it and an undisclosed "hardware partner." If you'll recall, we actually heard that the outfit was mulling the production of its own set-top-box back in January, and now it looks like Roku, Apple TV and a host of other mini PCs will have yet another formidable rival vying for space underneath the tele. The firm isn't spilling any details whatsoever on the so-called "Boxee Box," but we are told that mockups and the like will be presented at the Boxee Beta Unveiling on December 7th. Oh, and as if you aren't excited enough already, chew on this -- the company has informed us that they believe "this will be the first of several living room devices you'll see running Boxee in 2010," so don't be shocked if your favorite game console or Blu-ray player gains an embedded Boxee app in the near future.

Boxee inks deal with first hardware partner: a 'Boxee Box' is coming originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boxeeboxee boxBoxeeBoxbreaking newsBreakingNewscontenthardwareinternet tvInternetTviptvpartnerpartnershipplatformweb contentWebContentThu, 12 Nov 2009 11:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm's Pixi TV spot heads in a new direction, bids adieu to creepy redhead]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/11/palms-pixi-tv-spot-heads-in-a-new-direction-bids-adieu-to-cree/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/11/palms-pixi-tv-spot-heads-in-a-new-direction-bids-adieu-to-cree/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/11/palms-pixi-tv-spot-heads-in-a-new-direction-bids-adieu-to-cree/#comments Palm, somehow finally managing to glean that the creepy, confusing, weirdly not-relaxing spots they'd been rolling out for the Pre weren't having the kind of impact they probably had hoped for, appears to have turned over a new leaf. Witness the jubilant, effective new holiday campaign for the Pixi. We have to hand it to the ad department -- this one actually kind of works. See the full video after the break... and, goodbye creepy lady.

Continue reading Palm's Pixi TV spot heads in a new direction, bids adieu to creepy redhead

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Palm's Pixi TV spot heads in a new direction, bids adieu to creepy redhead originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisementadvertisingbreaking newsbreakingnewscreepy girlCreepyGirlpalmpalm pixiPalmPixipixitelevision advertisingTelevisionAdvertisingWed, 11 Nov 2009 21:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Zune HD Marketplace now loaded with free 3D games]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/11/zune-hd-marketplace-now-loaded-with-3d-games/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/11/zune-hd-marketplace-now-loaded-with-3d-games/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/11/zune-hd-marketplace-now-loaded-with-3d-games/#comments That latest update to the Zune HD's brainstem has unlocked an extra dimension to the multifunctional device, which can now boast "3D gaming device" among its many accolades. Aside from fixing a significant issue on the music side, the firmware refresh has given the green light for the following games to enter the Marketplace: PGR: Ferrari Edition, Lucky Lane Bowling, Vans Sk8: Pool Service, Piano, Checkers, and Audiosurf: Tilt. Yep, the music-surfing game that seems almost tailor-made for accelerometer-equipped media players is ready for your ownership and enjoyment. The best part? All the titles are free. So what are you waiting for, pilgrims, get downloadin' and do come back to tell us how well that Tegra chip performs, won't you? Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Zune HD Marketplace now loaded with free 3D games

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Zune HD Marketplace now loaded with free 3D games originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d gaming3dGamingbreakingbreaking newsBreakingNewsfirmwarefirmware updateFirmwareUpdategamingmicrosoftnvidianvidia tegraNvidiaTegrapmptegrav4.3zunezune 4.3zune firmwarezune hdZune4.3ZuneFirmwareZuneHdWed, 11 Nov 2009 08:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Saygus VPhone to bring video calls and a bit of chub to Android and Verizon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/saygus-vphone-to-bring-video-calls-and-a-bit-of-chub-to-android/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/saygus-vphone-to-bring-video-calls-and-a-bit-of-chub-to-android/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/saygus-vphone-to-bring-video-calls-and-a-bit-of-chub-to-android/#comments If you know that your personal happiness lies somewhere in the Verizon / Android abyss but neither the Droid nor the Droid Eris are hitting the spot, you might consider trying something completely out of left field. How "left field" are we talking here? Well, for starters, odds are good that you've never heard of a company called Saygus, and its shiny new QWERTY slider, the VPhone, won't be offered directly from Verizon -- it's a product of the carrier's Open Development initiative. Sure enough, that handset we spied a few days back is real, and the specs are all panning out: 624MHz PXA310 XScale core, 512MB of Flash on board coupled with 256MB of RAM, 3.5-inch capacitive WVGA touchscreen, WiFi, a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, front-facing VGA camera and -- of course -- EV-DO Rev. A support. The current incarnation is running Android 1.6, but it should be running 2.0 by the time of its launch next year, along with getting some Google-certification to let it run the Google apps. Saygus' real thrust here is apparently two-way video calling (good thing they picked Verizon, huh?), though they aren't showing it off just yet. Otherwise it's pretty much stock Android, and when asked if they swiped something from HTC Sense UI, Saygus said those buttons and the extra home screens are actually a standard part of Android's open source repository. The hardware itself is rather chubby, but it leaves room for an oversized QWERTY keyboard that could very well solve your Droid woes. No word on price or a firm release date.

Gallery: Saygus VPhone hands-on

Saygus VPhone to bring video calls and a bit of chub to Android and Verizon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewsfeaturesopen developmentOpenDevelopmentsaygusv1verizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvphonevphone v1VphoneV1vzwTue, 10 Nov 2009 18:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Kindle for PC app out now, Mac version to soon follow]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/kindle-for-pc-app-out-now-mac-version-to-soon-follow/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/kindle-for-pc-app-out-now-mac-version-to-soon-follow/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/kindle-for-pc-app-out-now-mac-version-to-soon-follow/#comments Amazon has just expanded the potential audience for its ebook format by a few orders of magnitude with the Beta release of its free Kindle for PC application. Doing exactly what it says on the (imaginary) tin, this will allow you to read the locked-down Kindle format on your Windows weapon of choice, though Mac users are left with merely the "coming soon" message you see above. Given that you'll now be able to consume Amazon's ebooks on your PC and iPhone, there's a risk that people might entirely sidestep the Kindle and Kindle DX for more familiar hardware, but clearly the company is willing to undertake it in order to get its wares out to a wider client base. We still think Amazon should do away with the proprietary madness and utilize a common standard like ePUB, but until then we can at least appreciate being given the ability to sync our Robinson Crusoe read across a few more devices than before.

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Kindle for PC app out now, Mac version to soon follow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonappapplicationbreakingbreaking newsBreakingNewsebookebook readerebook softwareEbookReaderebooksEbookSoftwarekindlekindle for pcKindleForPcsoftwarewhispersyncTue, 10 Nov 2009 05:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia N900 is now shipping!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/nokia-n900-is-finally-shipping/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/nokia-n900-is-finally-shipping/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/nokia-n900-is-finally-shipping/#comments Nokia's Maemo-based future has begun: the N900 is shipping. According to Nokia CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, the eagerly awaited handset is now en route to at least some pre-order customers. We'll soon see if this new generation of Nokia smartphones will be enough to generate the type of mass-market / high-margin appeal that Nokia needs at the top end of its product portfolio or if it's just a tentative first step on a potentially wobbly new platform.

Update: Nokia's official blog says to expect the Maemo 5 device to land in "Europe, the Middle-East, Russia and North America" shortly. However, it won't be compatible with the new 3G SIM cards from 3 in the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark and Austria until a software update hits sometime later this year.

[Thanks, Juhana J.]

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Nokia N900 is now shipping! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsmaemon900nokianow shippingNowShippingOlli Pekka KallasvuoOlli-Pekka KallasvuoOlli-pekkaKallasvuoOlliPekkaKallasvuoreleaseshippingTue, 10 Nov 2009 04:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Mac OS X 10.6.2 update out on the prowl (update: Atom support is gone)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/09/mac-os-x-10-6-2-update-out-on-the-prowl/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/09/mac-os-x-10-6-2-update-out-on-the-prowl/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/09/mac-os-x-10-6-2-update-out-on-the-prowl/#comments It's been awhile, but we've got ourselves a brand spanking new OS X update in the mix, 10.6.2 for Snow Leopard. So far the biggest change here seems to be fixing that nagging guest account deletion bug -- and thank goodness for that. As for whether or not it supports Intel Atom processors, last we heard this morning it wasn't going to be there, but we're gonna have wait and see now that it's officially hit the nets. Leopard users who haven't made the upgrade also get a gift today, in the form of a security update. 10.6.2 release notes after the break.

Update: We just installed it -- it took forever and a day on one of our machines, and sped by reasonably quick on another. Everything seems okay otherwise, how about you?

Update 2: We've gotten enough reports to call it -- Atom support is out. Sorry, hackintosh community.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Continue reading Mac OS X 10.6.2 update out on the prowl (update: Atom support is gone)

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Mac OS X 10.6.2 update out on the prowl (update: Atom support is gone) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10 6 210.6.21062applebreaking newsBreakingNewsleopardmacmac os xMacOsXos xos x 10 6 2os x 10.6os x 10.6.2OsXOsX10.6OsX10.6.2OsX1062patchsnow leopardSnowLeopardupdateMon, 09 Nov 2009 20:33:00 EST