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ASUS PadFone 2 hands-on in Taipei (updated with video)
Well look at this! Our lucky buddies over at Engadget Chinese managed to get an early hands-on with the brand-spanking new PadFone 2 from ASUS. As we mentioned earlier, the bulkiness of the original model is totally gone and we're still blown away by the combo's new weight. But first, the phone: in our hands, it really just feels like an enlarged version of the original PadFone, especially with the ripple pattern on the back, as well as the plastic chin at the bottom along with the slightly tapered aluminum bezel. We do love the new and larger Super IPS+ screen, which is much sharper than the old PenTile Super AMOLED display, and it no doubt has better outdoor performance as well. Additionally, the Android soft keys are no longer virtual -- you can access them below the screen at any time, and we dig that. While docking the phone into or pulling it out of the PadFone Station is hardly a challenge, there's some sort of magic that keeps the phone tucked into the bay no matter how hard our pals shook the tablet upside down (please don't try this at home) -- the geared rubber grip along the two sides of the bay are somehow responsible for this. The back of the PadFone Station has a rubbery texture that's essentially identical to its predecessor's, making it just as comfortable to hold, but only time will tell how durable the coating is. Software-wise it's just as snappy on the tablet as it is on the phone, and we noticed the switch between phone mode and tablet mode is now a tad quicker as well. It'll probably be easier to see once we have our English hands-on video, so stay tuned. Update: We've finally managed to upload our hands-on video -- it's right after the break. Watch how we kept shaking the PadFone Station upside down and the phone still stayed inside its bay (again, don't do this at home, kids!). Also, we have a demo of the phone's Instant Dictionary feature. It's very handy. Update 2: We've just been informed that the magical grip mechanism in the docking bay took over two years to develop. Nice one, ASUS!
ASUS PadFone 2 vs PadFone 1... hang out!
While getting their hands dirty with the ASUS PadFone 2, our guys over at Engadget Chinese also had the chance to compare it with the OG PadFone, and they came back with a generous batch of side-by-side shots. Here you can see how the phone itself is almost just a scaled-up copy of its predecessor, while the new PadFone Station slate loses some body fat by shedding the original docking bay cover, and we're certain that the battery has become denser and lighter as well to achieve this amazing diet -- we're talking about losing just over 200g here! Also apparent is the new 13-pin dock connector (MHL plus concurrent data, display and power) at the bottom of both the phone and the tablet. For the rest, we shall let your eyes do the work in the gallery below. Enjoy!
ASUS PadFone 2 unveiled in Taiwan, boasts quad-core CPU, LTE, NFC and lighter tablet (video)
Today's no doubt a big day for ASUS: while chairman Jonney Shih is gearing up to introduce the PadFone 2 in Milan later today, we just saw CEO Jerry Shen wowing the crowd with the same phone-in-tablet combo back in Taipei. Just as the recent leaks have shown, ASUS' surprisingly quick follow-up to the original PadFone is simply bigger and better in many ways, notably with a screen upgrade to 4.7-inch 720p Super IPS+ panel (with up to 550nits brightness thanks to Sharp's efficient IGZO LTPS technology), Qualcomm's awesome quad-core APQ8064 SoC instead of its dual-core sibling, 13-megapixel f/2.4 BSI sensor from Sony, 1.2-megapixel front camera, and a much slimmer PadFone Station slate -- partly because it no longer features a docking bay cover! New owners will be greeted by Android Ice Cream Sandwich, but ASUS promises a Jelly Bean upgrade soon. There's much more than meets the eyes so read on to find out more. Update: We've been notified that the phone's display is of the more mature LTPS nature instead of IGZO. %Gallery-168424%
Alcatel announces One Touch Evo 7 ICS tablet in Europe, doesn't say when it's coming
Just as we had talked about Alcatel not necessarily being known for its hardware offerings, the company's now announcing its first "modular" tablet, the One Touch Evo 7. As the moniker adequately implies, the Ice Cream Sandwich slate boasts a 7-inch display (mum's the word on the resolution), which is paired alongside an unnamed processor that's clocked in at 1GHz, 1GB of RAM and a microSD slot is available to take care of up to 32GB of storage needs. While the One Touch Evo 7 is set come out of the box with WiFi capabilities only, Alcatel says a 3G option will be available as a separate bundle via a "removable 3G module." -- a fitting fact given some of the slate's additional characteristics, such as detachable colorful frames. Unfortunately, Alcatel made no mention of when it plans to release its One Touch device, but we'll let you interested Euro folk know as soon as those details come out.
Best Buy reveals Insignia Flex Tablet, 9.7-inches of Android 4.0
It's been a little while since we visited anything from Best Buy's Insignia brand, but this new tablet from the retailer just caught our (or rather a tipster's) eye. Called the Insignia Flex, it's a 9.7-inch, dual-core 1GHz, Android 4.0 slate that promises up to ten hours of battery life. As you can see, the design is unique enough to stand out from the crowd, with a squared off look, and an almost Xperia T-esque curve to the bezel. That's about all we know about it at the minute, other than it being penciled in for release a month from now. We're hoping that this could land with a smile-friendly price tag, but if you want to know for sure, hit up the source link to follow along on Facebook. [Thanks, Matt]
NTT DoCoMo opens Japanese pre-orders for the LG Optimus G L-01E tomorrow, sales start October 19th
LG revealed Japan's NTT DoCoMo would be the first carrier to offer its Optimus G (which it's been proud enough to announce more than once) and now we have an exact date. Pre-orders for the L-01E start tomorrow ahead of it going on sale October 19th, bringing its quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon CPU, 4.7-inch True HD IPS LCD, 13MP camera, Android 4.0 packaged with the waterproofing, DMB tuning and FeLiCa wallet support local buyers will expect. While we wait for release details in the US on AT&T and Sprint (or another leak of that supposed LG Nexus phone) you can check out the red and black variants rolling out across the Pacific.
Alcatel intros One Touch T10 tablet with 7-inch display and Ice Cream Sandwich
Even though Alcatel does have devices out in the market like that Venture or OT986, the company still isn't exactly known for its hardware offerings. With the 7-inch (800 x 480) One Touch T10, Alcatel's entering the overcrowded Android tablet space, and doing so without much flare -- especially when compared side-by-side with, say, Google's flagship, the Nexus 7. Something also tells us the One Touch T10 might just be one of those reincarnated slates, but that's not to say some won't appreciate the inclusion of Ice Cream Sandwich alongside a 1GHz, single-core Rockchip CPU, 1GB RAM and 4GB of internal storage (expandable up to 32GB via microSD). Details on pricing and availability are still a tad bit scarce, though word on the web is it'll be priced at €130 (around $170) once it's up for grabs in the US and Europe.
Sony Xperia TL for AT&T hands-on (video)
It's not unusual for a device to be sold under a couple of different names for the purposes of carrier branding, or to distinguish a global GSM model from its US bound LTE sibling. Sony seems to be trying for a record though, with the Xperia T adding a fourth rebranding. The company's latest flagship is landing on AT&T here in the US as the Xperia TL. At an event today in NYC the carrier broke out the curved 4.6-inch LTE Android device and we took the opportunity to give it yet another chance to impress us, after falling short of "wow" it's first few times around the block. Back at IFA 2012, when we first got up close and personal with Sony's latest flagship, we were left feeling rather unimpressed and things haven't changed. The fit and finish of the TL just doesn't live up to the big boy breeches of its high-end ilk. Yes, it feels good in the hand, owed in part to that matte plastic back and subtle arc S-like curve, but the materials feel cheap. Thankfully, that sentiment doesn't spill over into its performance, as the 1.5GHz dual-core S4 powering the device does an admirable job keeping navigation brisk. With a 720p HD Reality display powered by the outfit's Mobile BRAVIA Engine, you'd expect superb readability from the handset, especially in the dim light of this event. Though colors on the panel are bright and viewing angles seem to hold up fairly well, we did take issue with its overall brightness. Even pumped up to max, the screen just seemed a bit too dark for our tastes. As with all things carrier-branded, this one lands with a host of AT&T apps onboard alongside three of Sony's own like Media, Album and Walkman. The build of Android on the device is still Ice Cream Sandwich with a light skin, but we were assured an upgrade to Jelly Bean is forthcoming and, given the company's track record, we're inclined to believe it. This official Bond Android phone's targeted for a holiday season release, so sit tight if you want to go all in on this Xperia. Click on past the break for a brief video tour. Terrence O'Brien contributed to this report.
ICS and Jellybean now on a quarter of all Android devices, but over half still stuck on Gingerbread
It seems like only yesterday that Google bundled Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 in its little biscuit layers and sent it off into the world (it was December, 2011, actually). That Android flavor has since climbed the charts rapidly, around four percent each month for the last while, and now occupies the ROM on 23.7 percent of robot-based devices -- up from 20.8 percent last month. That's in part due to new devices (like many in China) still coming out of the box with it, on top of older warhorses like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 finally grabbing some ICS. Meanwhile, its smooth-running younger sibling, Jelly Bean, made a slight gain to 1.8 percent of all Google-run slates and phones -- though that will likely change when the Galaxy Note II hits the market en masse and the Galaxy S III OTA 4.1.1 disseminates to all its owners. Meanwhile, Gingerbread still dominates Google OS installed devices at 55.8 percent, probably thanks to delays or denials of newer flavors to legacy devices.
Sony Tablet S gets chunky update: better multi-tasking and IR, 'guest mode', new media apps (correction)
The original Tablet S has already absorbed a few interesting updates and now it's getting one more: devices are waking up to an Android 4.0.3 update that brings significant additions like a Guest Mode for creating restricted user accounts, revamped media and social aggregation apps, and six assignable macro buttons on the IR Remote Control app. Sony has also bolstered its Small Apps function, allowing you to overlay a browser, IR remote and other utilities in a window on top of another app. What this update isn't is Jelly Bean, which is headed to the Tablet S's similarly-named replacement, the Xperia Tablet S. Correction: We originally confused the Tablet S with the newer Xperia-branded model. Thanks to all who spotted the error.
Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G review: T-Mobile's QWERTY slider falls flat
More Info Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G bringing keyboard, longwinded name to T-Mobile September 19th Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G shows off all sides, sticks with new name Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Q may be renamed to equally awkward Galaxy S Relay 4G We first heard rumblings about the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Q slider back in August, and what stood out most -- apart from the rumored Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and HSPA+42 connectivity -- was that long-winded moniker. Interesting, then, that Sammy should re-brand the T-Mobile device with a name that does nothing to clarify this handset's identity: the Galaxy S Relay 4G. That jumble of words aside, this phone offers a five-row QWERTY layout, a dual-core S4 chip and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, all for the moderate price of $150 (with a $50 mail-in rebate). Is this slider the best T-Mobile has to offer? Join us past the break as we give the Relay the full run-through.
Sony Xperia Tablet S review: Sony's second-gen Android slate has a slimmer design, faster guts
More Info Sony Xperia Tablet S official Sony Xperia Tablet S hands-on Sony's Xperia Tablet S gets the full tear-down For Sony, it's all about the presentation. To be sure, since the company put all of its mobile products under one roof, it's achieved more of a balance between style and substance than it did with the original Tablet S and Tablet P -- two devices that had a lopsided emphasis on unique, proof-of-concept designs over user experience. It's fair to say those initial tablet efforts failed to resonate with consumers, leaving the company with little recourse other than an all-out do-over. Which is why the new Xperia Tablet S has a lot to prove: it can't get by based on looks alone. Running skinned Ice Cream Sandwich and packing a quad-core Tegra 3 SoC, this 9.4-incher maintains the same 1,280 x 800 IPS LCD panel used on the first-gen S, and even assumes the same folded-over magazine shape -- albeit, in thinner form. Yes, that full SD slot remains, but you might not need to rely on it now that the tablet comes with up to 64GB of built-in storage. So, will an emphasis on OS, ecosystem (Video Unlimited, Music Unlimited, Crackle, Reader, etc.) and a slimmed-down build make up for the blunders of the first-gen Tablet S? Will a $399 starting price help this WiFi-only tab stand out amongst the Android competition? Stick around as we find out whether this S is more than initially meets the eye.%Gallery-165044%
LG Optimus Vu II specs leak out: twice the RAM of the original, few other changes
Having put the phat back in phablet with its original 4:3 aspect ratio, 5-inch Optimus Vu, LG seems bent on releasing a successor already, the Optimus Vu II, according to a leak from Korean blog Bad IT Tong. The new Galaxy Note II challenger would carry the same form factor and 1,024 x 768 IPS screen as the current Vu model, while doubling the RAM to 2GB, bumping the Qualcomm processor to an 8960 1.5GHz dual-core model (not the international quad-core version) and keeping the LTE radio from its US Intuition variant. It would come out of the box with Android 4.0, an 8-megapixel rear shooter, up to 32GB of microSD storage and a 2,150 mAh battery, judging by the leaked image above -- all specs we've seen before. There's no word yet on US pricing, availability, a stylus or an intriguing universal remote app teased by LG, but recent purchasers of the original Optimus Vu might be feeling left in a technology wake.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 now on sale in Canada for $499
After landing on American store shelves just a few short weeks ago, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 has officially gone on sale in the Great White North. Priced at $499, the Galaxy Note 10.1 features a 10.1-inch display, a 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos 4 quad processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.9-megapixel front shooter for placing video calls. Sadly, the Galaxy Note 10.1 ships with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but Sammy has promised that it'll be blessed with Jelly Bean "very soon." In addition to its snazzy innards, the Galaxy Note 10.1 includes its signature S-Pen and offers 50GB of free storage from Dropbox for two years. If you think this sounds like all that and a bag of chips plate of poutine, you can purchase the Galaxy Note 10.1 at Staples and other major Canadian retailers.
Archos 101 XS available in Europe for £300 via the company's online store
The Archos 101 XS, a 10-inch ICS tablet packing a magnetically attached keyboard dock, is now available for purchase via the company's European websites. The slate, with 16GB of internal storage, is going for £300 (about $487). No word yet on when this guy will make it to North America. Check out our review for the full lowdown on this unique, productivity-minded tablet, and non-stateside types can click through to the Archos site to nab one for themselves.
LG Intuition review: Optimus Deja Vu with a Verizon LTE twist
More Info LG Optimus Vu review LG Intuition officially announced Intuition by LG hands-on It's not uncommon for US carriers to take an international smartphone under their wings, make a few adjustments to hardware and firmware, stamp their fat logos in multiple places and then sell it to the masses. Verizon is no exception: the LG Intuition is its interpretation of the Optimus Vu, a 5-inch phablet we reviewed over the summer. Perhaps calling it an "interpretation" is a bit of an overstatement: aside from a bump in firmware and Big Red's LTE, it is the Optimus Vu. In fact, going into this review, we had a difficult time believing our experience would be much different than our run-in with the Korean version. Our first reaction is that this doesn't bode well for the carrier. If Verizon opted for the Intuition in order to fill a gaping hole in its lineup, we have a hard time understanding why it would choose to greenlight this particular device with the Samsung Galaxy Note II coming within the next two months. The device's quiet launch is a solid enough indication that the network isn't planning on throwing a lot marketing dollars behind it, so it feels as though the Intuition's main reason for existing is to bolster Verizon's rapidly expanding LTE portfolio. Is there something intriguing about the Intuition ($200 with a two-year commitment) that wasn't there when we first played with the Vu? Or will we find ourselves in the Twilight Zone, reliving the same moment over and over again? Let's find out.
Samsung Galaxy Victory hands-on: a $100 handset on Sprint with LTE and Android 4.0
Okay, it's not the nicest phone we've handled this week (heck, it's not even the best mid-range phone), but you wouldn't be reading this site if you didn't enjoy gawking at new devices, right? Right. So, with that in mind, we offer you the Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE. It went on sale at Sprint last weekend, priced at $100 after a $50 mail-in rebate, but we only just got some hands-on time at a press event happening tonight. On paper and in person, it's a forgettable sort of handset: it has a 4-inch (800 x 480) display, 5- and 1.3-megapixel cameras, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of built-in storage and a middling dual-core Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 Lite processor, clocked at 1.2GHz. And, at 12.7mm thick, it's one of the chunkiest phones we've handled in some time. Still, it redeems itself somewhat with the promise of LTE service -- once Sprint gets some momentum behind its new 4G network, that is. It also comes with Google Wallet, as well as some features found on the Galaxy S III -- things like S Beam and AllShare Play. Curious enough to peek but not compelled enough to buy? You've come to the right place. Check out our hands-on photos below and meet us after the break for some quickie impressions.%Gallery-166195%
ZTE Warp Sequent now available on Boost Mobile for $200
Boost Mobile has a history of recycling Sprint's smartphones, but every now and then it releases a first-run phone of its own. This time around we're looking at the ZTE Warp Sequent, a fitting follow-up to last year's ZTE Warp. Packed to capacity with entry-level goodness, the Warp Sequent features a 4.3-inch qHD display, a 1.4GHz processor, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 1.3-megapixel front shooter, 768MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and Android 4.0. So, if you've got a serious hankering for an off-contract Android running last year's operating system, the ZTE Warp Sequent can be yours for $200.
Kobo Arc tablet hands-on (video)
When Kobo released the Vox, its first tablet, Engadget had just recently abolished review scores. In retrospect, that was a good thing for the company, as we didn't have very many nice things to say about it. The product suffered from short battery life, for one, along with sluggish performance and WiFi connectivity issues. It's no wonder, then, that Kobo is loathe to call its new Arc tablet a "follow-up" to the Vox so much as a "re-thinking." The tablet, which will go on sale in mid-November starting at $199, brings a faster 1.5GHz TI processor, a battery rated for 10 to 12 hours of runtime and a re-tooled software experience built on Ice Cream Sandwich. Is that enough to unseat the new Kindle Fire HD or the Nexus 7? That, friends, is a question best answered in our forthcoming review, but after a few minutes of hands-on time we can at least say that we're pleasantly surprised. Meet us past the break to find out why.
Lenovo outs dual-SIM waterproof A660 ICS smartphone, likely for China only
Lenovo is burning up the Chinese smartphone market, and it's just announced a new midrange 4-inch ICS model, the A660, with two twists: dual-SIM slots and a waterproof case. The IP67 certification and Gorilla Glass also make it dustproof, but apart from that, the device carries pedestrian specs: Android 4.0, 1GHz dual-core processor, 800 x 480 screen and 5-megapixel rear camera. As with other recent models in China aiming down the middle of the road, the A660 boasts several colors, and supports WCDMA + GSM networks with dual-SIM / dual-standby capability. There's no word yet on how much or when, but don't start shopping for lime green or burnt orange furniture to match just yet -- few of Lenovo's smartphones have crossed the Great Wall.
