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The Daily Roundup for 07.22.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
This is the HTC One Mini
The leaks are true: HTC's rumored M4 is indeed the One Mini. We know because a trusted source in possession of the "petite" 4.3-inch handset has fed us a direct image, while also confirming some specs. From what we've seen, the few renders and blurrycam shots that bled out earlier this year appear to be dead-on. The One Mini's a more approachable (and affordable) version of the One -- both inside and out -- with some notable differences. For starters, its screen size has been reduced to 4.3-inches, much like Samsung's Galaxy S 4 Mini, making it much more palm-friendly and deserving of the Mini moniker. But we don't yet have a clear handle on its resolution. Certainly, the Mini's not going to ape the One's dazzling 1080p Super LCD 3 display -- what's more likely is that this "smaller" screen is of the 720p variety. The Mini still features the much-lauded metallic unibody HTC ushered in with the One and Beats Audio branding on the back, although now its front face is ringed with plastic. The consequence of that latter design change should aid in reducing its weight, but it also means you're getting considerably more bezel than on the One. There's also no IR blaster on the device, so you won't be able to use it as a handy replacement for your tv remote. And cosmetically, that's about as far as the Mini strays from the One. Much could change by the time the One Mini is released later this year -- should be sometime in Q3 -- but for the moment, the handset's running a Sensed-up version of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with BlinkFeed on board. Specific details on the UltraPixel cameras weren't made available to us, but we do know the rear module's capable of full HD video recording and Zoe share capture. As for the processor inside, our source provided us with a few benchmark results, pegging the CPU as a 1.4GHz dual-core setup -- presumably, a Snapdragon 400 just like the HTC First. That's about the extent of what we have on the One Mini. For anything further, you'll just have to wait for more leaks or HTC's official announcement later this fall.
Leica Mini M camera pictured ahead of June 11th launch
There's a mysterious new Leica coming next month, and now we know what it looks like. The German camera maker teased its new model, dubbed the Mini M, with an image of a generic black box posted last week. It looks like a French iPad app spilled the beans a bit early, though, and Mirrorless Rumors managed to snag a screen grab. The new cam (in the foreground above) will reportedly sport a 16.1-megapixel APS-C sensor and a fixed 28-70mm f/3.5-6.4 lens -- not the interchangeable mount some fans were expecting. The camera is said to be manufactured from aluminum, and includes support for an optional electronic viewfinder. Specs are fairly light, but there's supposedly HD video recording (that's a safe bet) and a copy of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom that ships in the box. Leica is scheduled to introduce the Mini M on June 11th, at which point all of the above, along with the rumored €2,450 (about $3,150) price tag, will likely be confirmed.
BMW and Mini cars add iOS integration for Audible, Glympse, Rhapsody and TuneIn
BMW hasn't been quite as aggressive in pushing smartphone app integration as American counterparts like Ford or GM, but it certainly knows how to make up for lost time: the Munich automaker just greenlit tie-ins with the iOS apps from Audible, Glympse, Rhapsody and TuneIn. Plug in a device and it will be possible to wield the apps' respective audiobook, location sharing, subscription music and live streaming radio services from a BMW Apps-capable BMW or Mini, with an interface optimized for the center stack. Each of the developers will need to update their app to make everything click, which we're told may take weeks. There still shouldn't be much wait before fans of Teutonic (and British) rides can get lost while streaming favorite songs -- and tell everyone just how far they went off-course.
TiVo Mini goes on sale for $99.99 with a $5.99 monthly subscription
Remember the adage that good things "come to those who wait?" Well, if you managed to hold your nerve and resist signing up with Suddenlink, then your patience is ready to be rewarded. The TiVo Mini is finally ready to strike out on its own two feet four rubberized corners. The DVR extender will set you back $99.99, plus a monthly charge of $5.99, or a one-off payment of $149.99 -- in a way, you kinda wish the company had just priced it at $249.99 and let us get on with it.
A Mini mindset: how an automaker's Connected platform could spark a seismic shift in infotainment expectations
Mini sold some 66,000 vehicles in the United States last year, and despite being on American soil (in its current incarnation, anyway) for just 13 years, this market has quickly become its biggest. Those drawn to the brand are likely intrigued by, if not outright enamored of, its quirkiness. Mini likes to say that the company is "Not Normal," and it only takes a glance inside its cartoonish Countryman to see what that means. During a recent kickoff event to celebrate the impending launch of its Paceman model, we sought to get beneath the sheet metal and gear ratios, instead looking at the kinds of decisions that impact the marriage of automobiles and technology. Turns out, Johnly Velasquez and Chris Potgieter -- two gentlemen in charge of determining what technology ends up in Mini products -- were more than happy to discuss those nuances. In particular, we discussed how those details relate to the future of its Connected platform, the role that infotainment plays in its entire range of motorcars and the opportunities that lie ahead for Mini to embrace alternative power. Could Mini's prioritization of technology as a pillar of automotive manufacturing influence the entire industry? That's exactly what we'll explore just beyond the break.
Jackery outs Bar and Mini portable battery packs, aims to give power-hungry devices a boost
Mophie's Juice Packs are all the rage when it comes to giving a meaningful power boost to popular slabs like the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III, but let's not forget others outside that group may need some help, too. Here's where the California-based firm Jackery hopes to come in. The company's just introduced its Bar and Mini external batteries, touting rather portable and peculiar designs as some of the main features present. More importantly, both of the USB-equipped power packs are loaded with 5,600 and 2,600mAh, respectively -- and, according to Jackery, this is enhanced by the peripherals' ability to hold a charge for up to six months, thanks to the company's own "unique power lock technology." Jackery's 5.4-ounce Bar is available starting today for $40, while the more petite Mini (which weighs in at less than three ounces) can be yours for 10 bucks less than its heavier sibling.
TiVo Mini DVR extender launches on Suddenlink, gets rental pricing
The TiVo Mini has yet to make its retail debut, but cable provider Suddenlink is now serving up the DVR extender for use with its own services. According to Zatz Not Funny, the outfit is pricing rentals of the boxes between $6 and $12 depending on a customer's location, and presumably their service package as well. That rental fee nabs users the privilege of slinging live TV from a TiVo Premiere DVR on their network to another television set, in addition to searching for and watching recorded shows. While dynamic tuner allocation is on the hardware's roadmap, it doesn't appear to be switched on just yet. Waiting to pick up the hardware from retail shelves rather than take Suddenlink up on its offer? TiVo's pint-sized offering is slated to ship this spring.
Kobo Mini gets a big price drop for a limited time
Looking for something, um, stocking-sized later this week? Kobo's announced a temporary but significant price-drop on its diminutive 5-inch Mini e-reader. From December 21st to the 23rd, the pocket-sized device will have a budget-friendly price of $50 -- that's down from the original $80. You can pick one up for the literati on your list at Best Buy and select independent bookstores. An appropriately mini press release, meanwhile, can be read after the break.
Macworld benchmarks Fusion Drive Mac mini
Macworld has benchmarked a BTO Mac mini with a 1 TB Fusion drive, 2.6GHz quad-core Core i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM. The extra RAM cost them a whopping $300. (Why has Apple RAM always been so expensive? Does it contain unicorn tears?) The benchmarks are thorough, but I think this sums up how the Mac performs: "The BTO Mac mini is $1449, but it adds up to one of the fastest Macs the Macworld Lab has ever tested."
Apple reportedly changing some iPad mini ship dates
Apple has been tweaking some of the reported delivery dates for its new iPad mini products, according to reports from a few people who've preordered the LTE-enabled version of the devices. Originally, Apple was reporting a ship date of November 23 for most of the day-one preorders, but that date has since been changed online to "mid-November." That most likely means that Apple is already running out of early shipments, essentially delaying delivery of the units by a few days or even more. Apple has already predicted shortages for some products, so this news isn't exactly unexpected. This is probably little consolation to folks who can't wait to get their fingers on the new iPad mini, but it's a good problem for Apple to have.
Nordic retailers list a Galaxy S III 'Mini,' insider info or wishful thinking?
While it's not as complex as one of the region's twisty crime dramas, the story surrounding the Galaxy S III Mini has taken another turn. Retailers in Europe's northernmost countries are now listing such a device with the codename GT-I8190 in blue and white, with or without an NFC chip, for $540 and $560, respectively. Given that the company is planning an announcement about a "little sensation" on Thursday, it's certainly less likely that we'll see the Galaxy Ace III turn up.
Caturday: Kitty wireless
Late on Caturday, reader Paulo Vinicius Vitto Ruthes shares his cat's preference for a warm alcove atop the Mac mini Airport Extreme, sorry. He notes that the image is a bit old, and while the cat still likes that spot it's not so easy for him to fit there anymore -- see below. If you've got a Caturday candidate, please let us know.
Hands-on with Kobo's Glo and Mini e-readers (video)
Earlier today we had a nice sit-down with Kobo, where we got some quality hands-on time with the company's Arc Android tablet. As you can imagine, that was the marquee product on display, but we also had the chance to handle the outfit's newest e-readers: the Glo ComfortLight, which has built-in frontlighting, and the Mini, which is exactly what it sounds like. Both will be available October 1st, with the 6-inch Glo going for $129 and the 5-inch Mini priced at $79. Neither will have ads, which might be one of the biggest differentiators between these and some of Amazon's offerings. If you're short on time, we've got some hands-on photos below, but if you've got a few minutes to spare, a walk-through video awaits after the break.
Kobo announces three new readers: one glows, one's small, one runs Ice Cream Sandwich
As the saying goes, it's all in the timing. But look at it this way: Kobo could have announced its new line of devices the day after Amazon's big reveal. Instead, the outfit's looking to take some wind out of Amazon's sails a few hours before its big event. And while the chances are extremely slim that the company will manage to undercut the looming Kindle news, there's no question that it's coming out of the gate swinging, with the announcement of not one, but three new readers: one glowing, one mini and one slathered in Ice Cream Sandwich. The mini and glowing Glo Comfortlight will arrive in October, with the Android-based Arc arriving in November. All told, they'll range in price from $80 for the Kobo Mini to $250 for the top-end tablet. That's the short version, but if you follow past the break we've got a full rundown of the specs, along with additional photos.
Drobo debuts a duo of Thunderbolt drives: the 5D for desktops and the Mini for road warriors
Drobo's been delivering quality desktop storage for businesses and prosumers for awhile now, but previously, the company hadn't dipped its toe into Thunderbolt waters. But that's about to change with its two new units. The 5D is a BYOD desktop offering with two Thunderbolt ports and one USB 3.0 socket for connecting up to five hot-swappable, 3.5-inch drives to your Mac or PC. It also has an mSATA SSD for data-caching quickness and a variable-speed fan to keep things cool and quiet. We don't know exactly when the 5D will go on sale -- Drobo's not telling until July -- but it'll cost under $850 when it does, and that price includes a Thunderbolt cable.%Gallery-158786% Meanwhile, the Mini is the first Drobo meant to be taken on the road. It packs up to four 2.5-inch drives in its front bays, plus, like the 5D, there's an mSATA SSD nestled in its underside that serves as a caching tier to speed up your main storage -- all in a 7.3 x 1.8 x 7.1-inch package weighing three pounds when fully loaded. All the drives are hot-swappable, a process made simple and easy with a trick, spring-loaded mechanism (patent pending) that lets users swap drives as they would SD cards. As for connecting the thing to your computer, dual Thunderbolt ports (for daisy chaining) and one USB 3.0 port reside round back along with the power plug and two vents for the Mini's variable-speed fans. Ringing the front face of the Mini are five LED strips that serve as drive indicators and capacity meter to let you know when a drive has failed or you're running out of space. Intrigued? Well, we got a sneak peek at the Mini and a little history lesson about its origins at Drobo HQ, so join us past the break for more.
Blog Azeroth Shared Topic: You always want what you can't have
Each week, Blog Azeroth hosts a Shared Topic for bloggers to answer on their blogs and then link to in the forum. This week, dragonray from Azerothian Life asks: What is in game that you want, but you can't have? Is there an animal you want to tame, a critter you want to collect, a tabard that has the perfect design for a transmog set etc etc. What is it you want, but know you can't get your hands on and have to stare at longingly whenever you log in? I wish I had the original World of Warcraft Collector's Edition companion pets: Mini Diablo, the Zergling, and the Panda Cub. I don't have to stare at them longingly whenever I log in, because people rarely have them out. But I do have to look at the Collector's Edition box on a daily basis.
BlackBerry Mini Keyboard ships March 23rd for $120, a match made in Canada
Work it. Anywhere. Any time. Those were the fighting words behind the BlackBerry Mini Keyboard promo shots we showed you a few days back. Now, backing up what we'd heard, RIM's officially (and very quietly) taken the wraps off its new PlayBook add-on, with a shipping date of March 23rd and a $120 price tag. The Canadian outfit is pushing this peripheral on the business-oriented consumer, but there's nothing keeping the average Joe from dropping some hard-earned cash on it. Folks looking to pair up the physical keys and multitouch trackpad with BlackBerry's revised OS can do so by heading over to its online shop. In the meantime, you can get acquainted by checking out the video tour after the break.
Official BlackBerry PlayBook Mini Keyboard coming on March 23rd for $120?
While there's an array of unofficial third-party keyboards willing to pair up with your 7-inch RIM slate, an approved peripheral is likely to be the better option. At least, it's what the BlackBerry-authorized add-on aims to accomplish. Dubbed Mini Keyboard, which also doubles as a "convertible" case, it's said to start shipping on March 23rd for $120, packing a multitouch trackpad and claiming up to a month of juice on a single charge. Additionally, the device features 128bit encryption to put your paranoia at ease when you're using that shiny OS 2.0. We've yet to hear an official word from RIM about price and availability, however, the source below seems to be taking pre-orders now.
Here are the PSP games that will work on Vita at launch [update: more compatible games spotted]
Sony has posted a how-to guide on downloading PSP titles to the PlayStation Vita and, along with it, a list of the 275 PSP titles and Minis that will be compatible with the Vita at launch. Obviously, it's a pretty hefty lineup, though some favorites are certainly missing, including Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Valkyria Chronicles 2, Lumines and others.That said, Sony promises more titles will be added in "the coming weeks." Head over to the US PlayStation Blog for the current list. And, before you ask, yes, of course Dragon's Lair is compatible.Update: A couple of industry tweets reveal that some games not mentioned on the official list are already compatible with the Vita, notably Valkyria Chronicles 2 and PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe. It would appear that Sony's official list may not be entirely comprehensive. Then again, the public won't actually get its hands on the Vita for another week, so maybe there's still some tweaking going on.
