Instinct
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Garmin's Instinct Crossover is a rugged hybrid smartwatch with a useful display
Garmin has unveiled a rugged hybrid smartwatch that can last for over two months on a charge.
Garmin updates some of its most popular watches with solar charging
The addition of solar panels squeezes an extra few days of life out of the sun.
Garmin's rugged $300 smartwatch can last two weeks on a charge
Garmin has added another entry to its growing list of rugged devices for outdoors enthusiasts. It's a smartwatch called Instinct, and it was built to comply with military standards for shock and water resistance. It's also encased in a fiber-reinforced polymer shell with a chemically strengthened and scratch-resistant display. Since it was obviously created for outdoor activities, the device has a 3-axis compass and supports GPS, GLONASS and Galileo, so it can track your location even if you go off the beaten path. To be safe, though, you can plan your route through the Garmin Explore app before you leave, and it will automatically send you on the same route when you head back.
The Summoner's Guidebook: Reckless risk-taking in League of Legends
Most people who play League of Legends tend to take really silly, ridiculous risks. If you've read the Summoner's Guidebook for any length of time, you know that I always recommend playing your cards close to your chest and avoiding uneccessary risk-taking. However, being extremely cautious is not the best idea in the long-term. I'm not suggesting that taking risks all the time is good, but I do advise taking at least one or two stupid gambles every game. Calculated risk-taking is important to victory. You can't be timid and let the enemy walk all over you, but you also can't be mindless. It's important to know the difference.
Samsung Moment slider coming to Sprint, packing Android (update: official, $179)
Samsung just accidentally leaked a Sprint-bound Android QWERTY slider called the Moment in an otherwise totally boring press release about its OLED handset lineup -- it'll have an 800MHz processor, a 3.2-inch AMOLED screen, optical trackpad and a 3.2 megapixel camera. We're guessing this is the long-rumored "high-end" InstinctQ, but we're not sure why Sprint and Sammy have dropped the Instinct branding in favor of Moment. Samsung has a press event scheduled for 2PM EST, so we're guessing we'll find out more shortly -- stay tuned. Update: Oop -- Sprint just posted its PR ahead of the event as well, along with a pre-registration page. Yep, the Moment is indeed the InstinctQ. Pricing will be $179 on a two-year contract after $50 instant savings and a $100 mail-in rebate when it launches November 1. Oh, and there's no TouchWiz here after all -- that's another hyped manufacturer UI shelved in favor of "With Google" branding. Interesting.
Screen Grabs: Instinct HD captures evidence in NCIS: Los Angeles
Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com. It seems that LL Cool J is still too hip to be seen rockin' the latest and greatest from Samsung, but evidently Chris O'Donnell had no qualms doing the honors. The recently loosed Instinct HD was recently spotted handling all sorts of detective word on this week's episode of NCIS: Los Angeles, with the famed HD movie mode showing itself on a number of occasions. Truth be told, though -- we get how a guy of O'Donnell's affluence could swing $250 for a new featurephone, but is the average agent seriously in the same tax bracket?[Thanks, Josh]%Gallery-74430%
Instinct HD hands-on
So, we got this little guy in the mail today and naturally cracked it right out of its box. We have to say, we're impressed with the feel of the phone and the general responsiveness of the touchscreen, though the software seems to be biting off a lot more than it can chew when it comes to getting around. We noticed more than our fair share of lag when jumping from screen to screen, but there were times when the Instinct HD actually felt really snappy. We still can't say you'd be justified in dropping a cool $249.99 on this phone (especially with choices like the Pre, Hero, Tour, and forthcoming Pixi), but if you're an Instinct enthusiast, the photos below should get you properly hot and bothered. %Gallery-74018%
Samsung's Instinct HD lands itself a quick video hands-on
At this point we're a little bored of the Instinct HD leaks, especially now that it's been saddled with that hefty $250 pricetag, but how about a detailed video hands-on for olde tymes sake? Interestingly, on video we're shown the location of the mythic HDMI out port, though it's covered up by a flap, and we'd say that in motion the phone doesn't look as terribly chubby as those blurry photos made it out to be -- who says TV adds 10 pounds? Video is after the break. [Thanks, Taylor]
Sprint temporarily loses its mind, wants $250 for Samsung Instinct HD
And you thought T-Mobile and Sprint were sniffing the good stuff when they demanded $350 for the HTC Touch Pro2. Shortly after Instinct HD boxes began showing up at select Sprint stores, the flagging carrier has finally come forward with an official ship date (9/27) and price. Try as we may, we still can't figure out why exactly "HD" is tacked on the end of this thing; the 480 x 320 display is decidedly average, it can't play back high-def content on the device itself, and the "HD" video output is a feature that approximately 3.8 Earthlings will ever use (on a phone like this, anyway). Compounding the problem is the remarkable lack of detail in the specifications -- Sprint simply swears that its 5 megapixel camera and video record mode are HD, but it fails to provide any elaboration whatsoever. Other specs include WiFi, EV-DO Rev A support, Opera Mobile 9.7, an ambient light sensor, haptic feedback and an accelerometer, but even those can't help justify the $249.99 (after a $100 mail-in rebate and a two-year agreement) asking price. Hey Sprint -- we thought you guys were actually looking to gain subscribers. Right?
Instinct HD spotted with box, looking chubbier than ever
Look, we enjoy a bit of excessive caloric intake now and again ourselves, but the much-leaked Instinct HD really seems to have let itself go. We just got pics of the device up against a box, and the word is it "feels like a bloated s30 in your hand... and that is not meant as a compliment." Ouch. The instructions apparently say that you can plug an HDMI cable into the phone somehow, but so far all that's been discovered is the standard proprietary power jack -- so that's odd, but at least we have our first hint at some sort of "HD" functionality. %Gallery-73840%
Instinct HD gear starts turning up at Best Buy
A funny thing happens when a major new handset's released on a big carrier: matching accessories come along for the ride. Cases, chargers, armbands, screen protectors, you name it -- anything to get you to double your spend before you walk out of the door with your multi-hundred-dollar phone. Of course, those accessories frequently aren't perfectly synced with the phone itself -- they ship a few days beforehand or after the fact, so stuff like this is bound to happen. In this particular case, the upcoming Instinct HD is getting some silicone protection ahead of time courtesy of Best Buy, which should go well with those invisibleSHIELDs you picked up a few weeks back. Meanwhile, the phone itself is expected just a handful of days from now, so at least it's not totally insane to start stocking up on accessories now. [Thanks, Matt G.]
Sprint newsletter lets slip Instinct HD
Samsung still hasn't come completely clean with its forthcoming Instinct HD, but it might as well. A recent Sprint Premier Connection newsletter not only introduced the Any Mobile, Anytime plan that was detailed this morning, but it also let slip a staggeringly pixelated image of the Instinct HD. Sprint tells us a few things we already knew -- like how the phone has a 3.2-inch display that's decidedly not high-def, a 5 megapixel camera and an improved web browser -- while leaving us to wonder about things like price after rebate. We'll take "Coming soon!" to mean "within the next month or so." Right, Sprint?[Thanks, Ellis]
Samsung Instinct HD spotted in the wild, powered on
We've already seen one exceedingly blurry image of Samsung's Sprint-bound Instinct HD, and one seemingly official image courtesy of Best Buy, but Phone Arena has now gotten its hands on what looks to be the most complete set of pics to date. That includes a peek at the phone's mostly familiar-looking interface, a quick comparison with some of its predecessors, and a look at some curiously repositioned Sprint and Samsung logos, which now match the Instinct S30 (whatever that may signify). Hit up the link below to check out the whole set for yourself.
Samsung Instinct HD pops up on Best Buy's website with 5 megapixel camera, TV out
As it turns out, Instinct HD really was the final name that Samsung decided for its Sprint-bound S50 / m850 Dash, at least as far as Best Buy is concerned. The "Weekly Ad Specials" listing confirms that the smartphone really does handle HD video, both recording and playback, with a 5 megapixel camera and a TV out connection for sharing. It's also got visual voicemail, WiFi, and corporate calendar (likely Exchange and Lotus Domino) support. No price listed, but whatever it is will be effective from today through September 26th, so using our great powers of logic and deduction, we're gonna predict it'll hit stores sometime within the next month -- bold assumption, we know. Don't let us down, Sammy. [Thanks, Benny L]
Samsung Instinct S50 now reportedly the Instinct HD, 'HD' officially the new black
It's already gone through more than its share of name changes, but it looks like Sprint's upcoming Samsung m850 Dash, most recently known as the Instinct S50, has now apparently found one that's stuck: the Instinct HD. No word if that means it'll actually handle HD video in one way or another, of course, nor is there any word on anything like a price or release date -- although with the FCC business out of the way, it seems like this one could be getting fully official sooner rather than later.
Sprint's Samsung m850 Dash in the wild with sweet, action-packed motion blur
We'd just seen the m850 Dash earn its FCC wings earlier today, and now here it is again -- this time in living color. Though we don't know whether it'll ultimately end up trading the Dash name we've heard so far for more familiar Instinct branding, it goes without saying that the new model is a spiritual member of the Instinct family, taking the curvy industrial design first seen in the s30 to another level. We'll admit, it's pretty -- but as we've said before, it remains to be seen how relevant a phone like this will ultimately be in the face of Android-powered models from Sammy on Sprint in the same price range. [Thanks, Matt]
How would you change Samsung's Instinct s30?
Ah, Samsung's Instinct s30. One step forward, three steps back -- or something like that. Of course, we're not out to remind you of what we thought of the next-gen Instinct, we're here to find out what you think of it. If you plunked down the coin in order to grab yourself the Sprint-locked featurephone, have you been fully satisfied? Is life going alright without EV-DO Rev. A? How's that web browser treating you? Are you wishing you would've held off for the Pre? Feel free to voice your opinion below, and remember, this chance won't ever, ever come around again. Ever.
Retailers getting meager Pre stock, Radio Shack recommending Instinct S30 instead?
Boy Genius Report cites a source claiming that Best Buy -- the whole chain -- will be allotted just 4,250 Pres for launch day, which works out to something like 4 per Pre-selling Best Buy Mobile installation. Seems like those should sell out right quick and leave a whole bunch of folks high and dry (if demand is as strong as Palm and Sprint undoubtedly hope it'll be), and the situation isn't any better over at Radio Shack where we've learned an internal communication reads:"Due to inventory constraints on the June 6 launch date, not all stores will be able to carry the Palm Pre at launch. To make sure we get the maximum advertising and brand benefit while still having enough inventory to meet the expected demand, we have selected key markets to receive the device at launch."Here's the best part, though: Radio Shack locations not receiving the phone on the 6th are being encouraged to offer the Instinct S30 as an alternative. Look, the S30's a fine phone for what it is (we suppose), but something tells us that no one -- and we mean no one -- is cross-shopping it with the Pre.[Thanks, RWS]
Samsung Instinct s30 review
Once assumed to be a physically smaller version of the original Instinct (affectionately referred to as the Instinct Mini), the Instinct s30 is actually not an Instinct Nano. Sure, it's trimmed up and a bit more curvaceous, but those accustomed to the original won't notice a great deal of weight loss here. Unlike the original, Sprint's (smartly) not pushing this handset as an iPhone killer; instead, it's letting it be exactly what is it, which is a decent featurephone with a few unique niceties and nothing whatsoever that's mind-blowing. So, is the second iteration of the Instinct worth your time (and by extension, money)? Head on over to Engadget Mobile to find out!
Samsung Instinct S30 now on sale at Sprint: $129.99 on contract
Right on cue, Samsung's retooled Instinct (that'd be the Instinct S30, if you had any doubts) has gone on sale at Sprint. You'll also notice that the $129.99 on-contract price we heard about is completely in tact, despite the fact that Best Buy Mobile could be selling this same handset in stores later this week for $80 less. At any rate, those champing at the bit to get one headed their way can now do so after choosing between Cobalt Metal and Touch of Copper hues, and if you're looking to snag one with no strings attached, you'll be paying $449.99 in order to do so.[Thanks, Mike]
