Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Sony plans largest ad campaign in 'many years' to launch new Xperia smartphones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/sony-plans-largest-ad-campaign-in-many-years-to-launch-new-xpe/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/sony-plans-largest-ad-campaign-in-many-years-to-launch-new-xpe/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/sony-plans-largest-ad-campaign-in-many-years-to-launch-new-xpe/#comments
Sony didn't just reveal some new smartphones at its Mobile World Congress press event today. It also took the opportunity to announce that it will be launching what Sony Mobile CMO Steve Walker describes as "by far the largest brand advertising campaign that we have run for many years." He went on to say that Sony would be "significantly increasing" its marketing investment in 2012, but failed to get any more specific than that, noting only that the company would be "engaging consumers in new and very creative ways." There's also no word on when that campaign might start, but the company's two latest smartphones are slated to roll out sometime in the second quarter of this year.

Sony plans largest ad campaign in 'many years' to launch new Xperia smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisementmarketingmobilepostcrossMWC 2010Mwc2010sonysony mobileSony Mobile CommunicationsSonyMobileSonyMobileCommunicationssteve walkerSteveWalkerSun, 26 Feb 2012 13:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Freescale's 7-inch tablet runs Android, Chromium OS or Linux, costs $200 (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/09/freescales-7-inch-tablet-runs-android-chrome-os-or-linux-cost/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/09/freescales-7-inch-tablet-runs-android-chrome-os-or-linux-cost/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/09/freescales-7-inch-tablet-runs-android-chrome-os-or-linux-cost/#comments Remember the $200 smartbook reference design that we saw at CES this year? Well, it's back, it's holding on to that same price and 7-inch enclosure, but this time it's also showing off an expanded OS compatibility. Adapting the open source Chromium OS and another Linux variant to the ARM architecture of the prototype device was apparently not much of a hurdle for Freescale, who has an Android option in the works as well and claims to be just optimizing and enhancing the user experience at this point. Presumably one of the enhancements will be the installation of a capacitive touchscreen as the present demonstration requires either a mouse and keyboard or a resistive torture test to operate, but we'll accept the company's explanation that this is just a proof of concept and not the final product. Slide past the break to see some HTML5 video running on this bargain bin tablet, and hope that your friendly neighborhood OEM picks these designs up for some retail action.

Continue reading Freescale's 7-inch tablet runs Android, Chromium OS or Linux, costs $200 (video)

Freescale's 7-inch tablet runs Android, Chromium OS or Linux, costs $200 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid osAndroidOsarmcheapchromechrome osChromeOschromiumchromium osChromiumOsfreescalefreescale semiconductorFreescaleSemiconductorgooglehtml5html5 videoHtml5Videoi.mx51linuxmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010proof of conceptProofOfConcepttablettablet pcTabletPctouchscreentouchscreen tabletTouchscreenTabletvideoTue, 09 Mar 2010 05:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Qualcomm's 7x30 offers stellar 3D and multimedia performance, coming this year (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/01/qualcomms-7x30-offers-stellar-3d-and-multimedia-performance-co/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/01/qualcomms-7x30-offers-stellar-3d-and-multimedia-performance-co/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/01/qualcomms-7x30-offers-stellar-3d-and-multimedia-performance-co/#comments Feeling the post-MWC blues? Not enough smartphone hardware talk to get you through your Monday trudge? Fear not, we've grabbed a pair of Qualcomm demo videos from this year's event in Barcelona that show off its MSM7x30 smartphone platform (first announced in November of last year). It has now made its way into some demo devices and its early performance points to a very happy future for all of us mobile media vultures. Equipped with the same CPU as resides inside Qualcomm's Snapdragon, this system-on-chip comes with an HDMI output and the ability to play back 720p video on both its host device and your nearest HDTV. There's also some very welcome 3D gaming on show as well as YouTube playback using Flash 10.1 (smooth and silky), but our attention was captured by a nifty picture browser provided by Scalado. It allows you to view up to 1,000 images at the same time, zoom into each individual one, or sort them by name, color and other attributes. Being able to handle all that, with only minor perceptible lag, shows we're looking at what's shaping up to be a pretty beastly chip. Check it out after the break, and expect it to show up in a lust-worthy smartphone near you by the end of 2010.

[Thanks, TareG]

Continue reading Qualcomm's 7x30 offers stellar 3D and multimedia performance, coming this year (video)

Qualcomm's 7x30 offers stellar 3D and multimedia performance, coming this year (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d gaming3dGaming7x30armchipcpuflashflash 10.1Flash10.1gaminghardwarehardware platformHardwarePlatformmobile hardwaremobile platformMobileHardwareMobilePlatformmsm7x30mwcmwc 2010Mwc2010openglopengl es 2.0OpenglEs2.0platformqualcommqualcomm 7x30Qualcomm7x30scorpionsmartphone platformSmartphonePlatformsmartphonessystem-on-chipvideoMon, 01 Mar 2010 08:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Pelikon's MorphPad demoed, combines touchpad, morphing keyboard into one awesome rectangle]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/01/pelikons-morphpad-demoed-combines-touchpad-morphing-keyboard/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/01/pelikons-morphpad-demoed-combines-touchpad-morphing-keyboard/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/01/pelikons-morphpad-demoed-combines-touchpad-morphing-keyboard/#comments British firm Pelikon was showing off its MorphPad technology at MWC this month, undoubtedly hoping to score some interest from representatives of handset manufacturers who just happened to be wandering the show floor -- but this isn't just any old morphing keyboard, you see. Not only can the board be dynamically reconfigured by backlighting different portions of the keys -- the entire surface of the thing doubles as a touchpad, which you can probably imagine has virtually limitless utility in a mobile device where the space for a true touchpad simply doesn't exist. Pelikon already works with Toshiba on its domestic-market Biblio, but we'd love to see it hit devices around the world -- in fact, we wouldn't really mind if they just released this prototype they're showing as a Bluetooth accessory. diNovo Mini competitor, anyone? Follow the break for video of the touch-enabled MorphPad in action.

Continue reading Pelikon's MorphPad demoed, combines touchpad, morphing keyboard into one awesome rectangle

Pelikon's MorphPad demoed, combines touchpad, morphing keyboard into one awesome rectangle originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>keyboardmorphpadmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010pelikonqwertytouchpadMon, 01 Mar 2010 08:06:00 EST<![CDATA[LG GW990 shows up on video, competes with HTC HD2 for camera's attention]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/26/lg-gw990-shows-up-on-video-competes-with-htc-hd2-for-cameras-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/26/lg-gw990-shows-up-on-video-competes-with-htc-hd2-for-cameras-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/26/lg-gw990-shows-up-on-video-competes-with-htc-hd2-for-cameras-a/#comments When people say the smartphone market is growing, they don't usually mean literally, but looking at the massive popularity of HTC's HD2 whopper, and the anticipation surrounding Dell's Mini 5 and LG's GW990, it's pretty safe to say there is a market for oversized and overpowered (is there such a thing?) handsets. The Moorestown-powered GW990 has made another video appearance, this time showing off its multi-screen functionality and not altogether smooth pinch-to-zoom skills. We're reminded this Mobile Internet Device (a title that's inscribed on its case) will run Moblin (now known as MeeGo), before a HD2 is whipped out for a showdown between super-sized smartphones. It's really quite a sight. After all that excitement is done, the video continues on to take a look at the forthcoming GT540 Android handset and Mini GD880, giving you all the more reason to click past the break for a viewing.

[Thanks, Iacopo]

Continue reading LG GW990 shows up on video, competes with HTC HD2 for camera's attention

LG GW990 shows up on video, competes with HTC HD2 for camera's attention originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5-inchgd880gt540gw990intel moorestownIntelMoorestownlglg gt540lg gw990lg mini gd800LgGt540LgGw990LgMiniGd800meegomidmobile internet deviceMobileInternetDevicemoorestownmultitouchmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010pinch-to-zoomsmartphonevideoFri, 26 Feb 2010 06:32:00 EST<![CDATA[ARM and Globalfoundries partner up for 28nm Cortex-A9 SOCs, invite great expectations]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/arm-and-globalfoundries-partner-up-for-28nm-cortex-a9-socs-invi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/arm-and-globalfoundries-partner-up-for-28nm-cortex-a9-socs-invi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/arm-and-globalfoundries-partner-up-for-28nm-cortex-a9-socs-invi/#comments This one slipped the net during the excitement that was MWC this year, but it's such a promising development that we have to give it its due attention. ARM and Globalfoundries have announced plans to start building new systems-on-chip using the latter's ultramodern 28nm high-k metal gate production process, with the resultant chips offering up to 40 percent greater computational power, 30 percent greater power efficiency, and a terrific 100 percent improvement in battery longevity relative to their current-gen siblings. Mass production of these Cortex-A9-based units is expected in the second half of 2010, which means they should be among the very first chips off Globalfoundries' 28nm assembly line. The good news, though, is that the technology is described as "ready for high-volume implementation," so there should be no shortages when things finally get rolling. Let the wild-eyed anticipation begin.

ARM and Globalfoundries partner up for 28nm Cortex-A9 SOCs, invite great expectations originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>28 nanometer28Nanometer28nmarmchipscortex-a9cpudresdenglobalfoundrieshardwarehigh-kmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010processorsmartphonessystem-on-chipWed, 24 Feb 2010 07:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Sonim XP2 Spirit gets hammered with Engadget]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/sonim-xp2-spirit-gets-hammered-with-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/sonim-xp2-spirit-gets-hammered-with-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/sonim-xp2-spirit-gets-hammered-with-engadget/#comments
At the MWC Pepcom event earlier in the week we bumped into Sonim and its almost indestructible handset, the Sonim XP2 Spirit. The XP2 is a seriously tough set with the display covered in Gorilla Glass from Corning, a magnesium core, and a shell crafted with hardened rubber and fiberglass, all backed by a rather bold unconditional 3-year guarantee: you break it, they replace it. Sonim gave us an opportunity to try to destroy the thing, and... well, how could we turn down an offer to try and smash a phone? So with hammer and nail we give it an honest go -- follow on to the video after the break to see who wins.

Continue reading Sonim XP2 Spirit gets hammered with Engadget

Sonim XP2 Spirit gets hammered with Engadget originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corninggorilla glassGorillaGlasshands-onmobilemwcmwc 2010Mwc2010sonimxp2XP2 spiritXp2SpiritWed, 24 Feb 2010 06:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Emporia Solid and Elegance hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/emporia-solid-and-elegance-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/emporia-solid-and-elegance-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/emporia-solid-and-elegance-hands-on/#comments
Emporia landed at MWC with a couple sets geared specifically to the elderly, the Emporia Elegance (pictured left) and the aptly named Solid. Both of these freshly launched phones are targeted squarely at your grannie's generation, that's to say they include large easy to read fonts, huge keys, and a pretty slim feature set. The Elegance will ship in both black and white, features a 1.8-inch OLED high contrast display, an extra loud ringer, hearing aid compatibility, and 900 / 1800 GSM. Elegance, the slicker of the two launched phones will retail for €129 (roughly $175) and will hit the shops round about Q2 of this year. The Solid is a rugged -- at least looking -- phone for seniors into extreme sports and adds Bluetooth into the mix. The Solid will retail for €199 (roughly $275) and also launched in Q2. Gallery is right down below.

Gallery: Emporia Solid and Elegance hands-on

Emporia Solid and Elegance hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eleganceemporiaemporia eleganceemporia solidEmporiaEleganceEmporiaSolidhands-onmobilemwcmwc 2010Mwc2010solidWed, 24 Feb 2010 02:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget Podcast 184: MWC 2010 Roundup - 02.19.2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/engadget-podcast-184-mwc-2010-roundup-02-19-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/engadget-podcast-184-mwc-2010-roundup-02-19-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/engadget-podcast-184-mwc-2010-roundup-02-19-2010/#comments MASHUP CULTURE INVADES THE ENGADGET PODCAST as we STEAL BLATANTLY from Engadget Mobile's podcasts during MWC. Tune in for all the big news and depravity that comes when people who normally only communicate from lairs in their parents' basments get together in meatspace and hang out with Jim Beam.

Hosts: Chris Ziegler, Sean Cooper, Joshua Topolsky
Guest: Thomas Ricker
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Daestro - Light Powered (Ghostly International)

Hear the podcast




Subscribe to the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace

Download the podcast

LISTEN (MP3)
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Contact the podcast

1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.

Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget

Filed under:

Engadget Podcast 184: MWC 2010 Roundup - 02.19.2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mwcmwc2010podcastpodcastsFri, 19 Feb 2010 21:01:00 ESTEngadget Podcast 184Josh Topolsky, Chris Ziegler, Sean Cooper01:19:08podcasts<![CDATA[Engadget Mobile Podcast 037: MWC Day 3 - 02.19.2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/engadget-mobile-podcast-037-mwc-day-3-02-19-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/engadget-mobile-podcast-037-mwc-day-3-02-19-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/engadget-mobile-podcast-037-mwc-day-3-02-19-2010/#comments

Sleeplessness. Angst. Megalomania. Just a few of the conditions that bloggers can succumb to at the tail end of a mobile technology trade show in a faraway land.

Well, one outta three ain't bad.

Join your traditional Engadget Mobile Podcast Crew as they round up the best things that happened at Mobile World Congress in 2010.

Hosts: Chris Ziegler, Sean Cooper
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Daestro - Light Powered (Ghostly International)

Hear the podcast



Subscribe to the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace

Download the podcast

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)

Contact the podcast

podcast (at) engadgetmobile (dot) com.

Filed under:

Engadget Mobile Podcast 037: MWC Day 3 - 02.19.2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mobilemwcmwc2010podcastpodcastsFri, 19 Feb 2010 18:00:00 ESTEngadget Mobile Podcast 037Chris Ziegler, Sean Cooper0:39:41podcasts<![CDATA[Fonera SIMPL aims to ease 3G overload, give smartphones a better way to upload]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/fonera-simpl-aims-to-ease-3g-overload-give-smartphones-a-better/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/fonera-simpl-aims-to-ease-3g-overload-give-smartphones-a-better/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/fonera-simpl-aims-to-ease-3g-overload-give-smartphones-a-better/#comments If you've never heard of Fon, its mission is pretty simple: to equip the world with Fonera routers, and thus blanket the planet in WiFi that no one is scared to share. Over at Mobile World Congress this week, the company unveiled a new device that exploits the impending bandwidth crisis that operators all over the globe are attempting to deal with. The all-new SIMPL is a palm-sized router that has just two Ethernet ports and could be doled out by carriers in order to provide a city-wide WiFi network that can be accessed by any WiFi-enabled phone, thereby easing the demand on its 3G network. Equipped with 802.11n, a faster CPU than the Fonera 2.0 and a shiny white shell, we're told that an order has already been placed by an undisclosed customer for 400,000 of 'em, though it's unclear when these will be made available to the general public and for how much. Hop on past the break for a five minute showcase video.

Continue reading Fonera SIMPL aims to ease 3G overload, give smartphones a better way to upload

Fonera SIMPL aims to ease 3G overload, give smartphones a better way to upload originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g3g router3gRouterfonFoneraFonera simplFoneraSimplmobile broadbandmobile internetMobileBroadbandMobileInternetmodemmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010routerSIMPLvideowifiwifi routerWifiRouterwlanFri, 19 Feb 2010 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[LG not interested in proprietary smartphone OS, likes Android and Windows Phone 7]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/lg-not-interested-in-proprietary-smartphone-os-likes-android-an/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/lg-not-interested-in-proprietary-smartphone-os-likes-android-an/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/lg-not-interested-in-proprietary-smartphone-os-likes-android-an/#comments LG has told the press at MWC that it will not be developing its own smartphone platform "at least for the next two to three years." We think companies should focus on what they do well, and given our ambivalence toward the S-Class UI, it's probably a good thing that LG will narrow its operation down to churning out delectable slabs of electronics and leaving the software side to the geeks over at Google and Microsoft. The head of the company's handset unit, Skott Ahn, has indicated that the future of LG smartphones will be shared between Android and Windows Phone 7 (sorry, Symbian lovers). It will have taken plenty of restraint to not respond to local nemesis Samsung -- who has just introduced its first Bada handset -- but LG appears to be of the opinion (which we share) that the smartphone OS sector is already overcrowded, and its expectation is that over the next couple of years the market will distill itself down to just three predominant operating systems.

LG not interested in proprietary smartphone OS, likes Android and Windows Phone 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid osAndroidOsLGmobile osMobileOsmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010operating systemoperating systemsOperatingSystemOperatingSystemsosproprietarys-classs-class uiS-classUismartphone osSmartphoneOssmartphoneswindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7SeriesFri, 19 Feb 2010 04:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Adéu, Barcelona: MWC 2010 draws to a close]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/adeu-barcelona-mwc-2010-draws-to-a-close/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/adeu-barcelona-mwc-2010-draws-to-a-close/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/adeu-barcelona-mwc-2010-draws-to-a-close/#comments For the industry, the press, and phone geeks alike, the GSMA's Mobile World Congress in the lovely Catalonian capital of Barcelona is the biggest event of the year -- and apart from a few unplanned power outages at Engadget's home base, an average nightly rest hovering around three hours, and unseasonably cold weather, 2010's gathering didn't disappoint. Let's take a quick look back at some of the highlights:

Windows Phone 7 Series coverage
Windows Phone 7 Series: that's the name
Live from Microsoft's Windows Phone press event at MWC 2010
Windows Phone 7 Series hands-on and impressions (updated with video)
Editorial: Engadget on Windows Phone 7 Series
Windows Phone 7 Series: everything you ever wanted to know

Liveblogs
Live from Samsung's 2010 MWC press event
Live from Sony Ericsson's MWC 2010 press conference
Live from Nokia's (and Intel's) MWC 2010 press event
Live from Microsoft's Windows Phone press event at MWC 2010
Live from HTC's MWC 2010 press event
Live from Eric Schmidt's keynote at MWC 2010

Hands-ons
Aava Mobile's Intel Moorestown prototype hands-on
Acer Liquid e, beTouch E110 / E400, and neoTouch P300 / P400 hands-on
Alcatel OT-980 with Android hands-on, we feel frugal just looking at it
Bug Labs' BUGbase 2.0 prototype hands-on
Chumby prototype with Marvell innards spotted at MWC 2010
Garmin-Asus Nuvifone M10 and A50 hands-on
General Mobile's Touch Stone: how can something so wrong be so right?
Hands-on with TAT's dual-screen phone concept and augmented reality app
HTC Desire first hands-on (updated with video)
HTC HD mini hands-on
HTC Legend hands-on (updated with video)
iWonder why the logo is upside down
LG Mini GD880 hands-on
Motorola MOTOROI hands-on with video
Motorola MT710 quick hands-on
Motorola Quench hands-on with video
Myriad Dalvik Turbo hands-on: Android apps just got fast
Notion Ink Adam hands-on (with video) at MWC 2010
Puma Phone hands-on
Sagen Orga shows off pricey SIMfi prototype at MWC
Samsung Wave first hands-on: Bada-packed and super fast (video!)
SK Telecom shoves Android onto a SIM, we check it out
Sony Ericsson Vivaz pro hands-on
Sony Ericsson X10 mini and X10 mini pro hands-on with video
Toshiba K01 hands-on
Toshiba TG02 hands-on
Windows Phone 7 Series hands-on and impressions (updated with video)
ZTE and OKWAP team with Intivation to deliver next generation solar devices

On-site podcasts
Engadget Mobile Podcast 035: MWC Day 1 - 02.16.2010
Engadget Mobile Podcast 036: MWC Day 2 - 02.17.2010

As fantastical as it might sound, mobile trade show season isn't over just yet -- CTIA Wireless and Microsoft's MIX are on deck for next month, so stay tuned for the kind coverage of those shindigs that only Engadget can offer. See you next year, Espanya!

Adéu, Barcelona: MWC 2010 draws to a close originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mwcmwc 2010Mwc2010Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:53:00 EST<![CDATA[SK Telecom shoves Android onto a SIM, we check it out]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/sk-telecom-shoves-android-onto-a-sim-we-check-it-out/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/sk-telecom-shoves-android-onto-a-sim-we-check-it-out/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/sk-telecom-shoves-android-onto-a-sim-we-check-it-out/#comments
SK Telecom was showing off some interesting ideas about where it'd like to see SIM cards go in the future here at MWC this week, including a couple particularly juicy ones called Android SIM and the SIM Theme Package. Android SIM shoehorns a CPU, the Android OS, applications, user data, and 1GB of storage into the card pictured above. SK Telecom envisions it being used in dumbphones -- as the CPU is onboard, there wouldn't be a need for the device to have one -- letting consumers move between sets or perhaps to a tablet with even more ease than they already can. SKT's Theme SIMs use a similar smart card to take advantage of the storage space for theme elements, music, pictures, and any variety of apps that vendors or operators care to put in them. Follow on for a quick demo (and some minor failure -- typical demo time Murphy's Law) of moving the themed chips between two handsets.

Gallery: SK Telecom Smart SIM Technology hands-on

Continue reading SK Telecom shoves Android onto a SIM, we check it out

SK Telecom shoves Android onto a SIM, we check it out originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>android SIMAndroidSimhands-onmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010sk telecomSkTelecomsmartcardtheme SIMThemeSimThu, 18 Feb 2010 16:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Sagem Orga shows off pricey SIMfi prototype at MWC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/sagem-orga-shows-off-pricey-simfi-prototype-at-mwc/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/sagem-orga-shows-off-pricey-simfi-prototype-at-mwc/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/sagem-orga-shows-off-pricey-simfi-prototype-at-mwc/#comments Sagem Orga was on the floor of MWC this week, a company that really doesn't typically draw a lot of attention outside wireless industry suits who fly out to Barcelona to broker deals -- at least, not until they do something totally insane like stuff a WiFi radio into a SIM card. We talked to the company a little bit about its coin-sized technological tour de force and we were shocked to learn that it doesn't instantly nuke your phone's battery -- the gentleman running demos said that he was getting about a days' worth between charges with occasional use. Of course, "occasional use" could mean anything, but he added that the card is currently throwing out a hotspot cloud of anywhere between 5 and 50 meters, and it could easily be reworked to stay within a much smaller radius which improves battery consumption in the process.

Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take any pictures of the actual SIMfi; this is just a dummy pictured above, but our demo guy took off the battery cover of his phone and we were shocked to find that the real thing looks no different from any other SIM (no, seriously). We guess that makes sense since it has to fit into a standard SIM slot, but it's rocket science how they managed to fit all that circuitry into a board that tiny -- in fact, we were shown an x-ray view of the card, and the number of chips, resistors, and miscellaneous pieces of technology in there is nothing short of mind-bending. It's hard to say when (or if) we'll see these on carriers around the world, but it's going to be a little while -- Sagem Orga tells us the prototypes cost a stout €5,000 (about $6,800) each.

Sagem Orga shows off pricey SIMfi prototype at MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hands-onmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010orgasagemsagem orgaSagemOrgasimsimfiwifiThu, 18 Feb 2010 15:26:00 EST<![CDATA[iWonder why the logo is upside down]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/iwonder-why-the-logo-is-upside-down/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/iwonder-why-the-logo-is-upside-down/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/iwonder-why-the-logo-is-upside-down/#comments Among Marvell's many demos at MWC this year was a curious white tablet out of well-traveled ODM Foxconn -- the so-called iWonder -- that will see duty in China later this year. It's got a pretty awful 10.1-inch display (resistive with nary a trace of meaningful brightness or contrast), but when you consider that they're targeting an exceptionally thrifty price point in the low $100s, it's actually a pretty reasonable package. It's got Android 1.6, WiFi with a dedicated hardware on-off switch, an accelerometer (though it was totally flaky on the version we used), and a handful of touch-sensitive buttons around the bezel, including last- and next-page buttons for using the iWonder as an e-reader. Marvell touts that the tablet is using its reference design as a starting point -- now the next trick is helping Foxconn find a decent LCD supplier. Follow the break for some video of the iWonder showing off its Donut prowess -- if you can avoid the distraction of the curiously inverted logo, that is.

Gallery: iWonder why the logo is upside down

Continue reading iWonder why the logo is upside down

iWonder why the logo is upside down originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidfoxconnhands-oniwondermarvellmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010tabletThu, 18 Feb 2010 11:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Beceem's BCS500 4G modem splices WiMAX and LTE into one chip, sampling later this year]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/beceems-bcs500-4g-modem-splices-wimax-and-lte-into-one-chip-sa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/beceems-bcs500-4g-modem-splices-wimax-and-lte-into-one-chip-sa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/beceems-bcs500-4g-modem-splices-wimax-and-lte-into-one-chip-sa/#comments When we were told market research pointed to WiMAX and LTE standards for 4G connectivity coexisting, we didn't expect they'd do it quite so closely. Beceem, the maker of the WiMAX chips inside "every device in Clearwire's network," is working on a 4G modem that can handle both WiMAX and LTE, with the added extra of being able to move seamlessly between the two networks in order to find the best signal possible. The mashup of the two standards makes sense in light of all the equivocation from Clearwire and Sprint on the subject of which one they'd prefer, and would be a more than welcome simplification of our collective 4G future. Anyhow, the latest development is that Beceem and Motorola are working to pair the BCS500 to the latter's WiMAX 4G infrastructure, with the first dual-mode chips set to start sampling "later this year" and hit mass production in early 2011.

Beceem's BCS500 4G modem splices WiMAX and LTE into one chip, sampling later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4g4g modem4gModembcs500beceembeceem bcs500BeceemBcs500broadbandinternetltelte modemLteModemmobile broadbandMobileBroadbandmodemmotorolamwcmwc 2010Mwc2010wimaxwimax modemWimaxModemThu, 18 Feb 2010 11:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Alcatel OT-980 with Android hands-on, we feel frugal just looking at it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/alcatel-ot-980-with-android-hands-on-we-feel-frugal-just-lookin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/alcatel-ot-980-with-android-hands-on-we-feel-frugal-just-lookin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/alcatel-ot-980-with-android-hands-on-we-feel-frugal-just-lookin/#comments This is arguably one of the cheesiest Android devices we've ever handled -- and yes, we're including KIRFs in that observation -- but you've got to give Alcatel some credit here for taking the platform to a form factor that's entirely under-served and doing so with an affordable price point in mind. The company plans to aggressively target HTC's Tattoo when the OT-980 launches in its usual non-US markets later this year with Android 2.1, full HSPA, WiFi, AGPS, compass, and a 2.8-inch display. The thing is a straight-up fingerprint magnet (and the harsh lighting certainly wasn't doing it any favors), but that's not really any different from the Pre that it vaguely apes. The only prototype Alcatel had on hand had a busted display -- if you look closely, you can make out the UI, so it seems the backlight may have passed on to the giant circuitboard in the sky. That doesn't speak very highly of the build quality here, but then again, this is an homage to the Pre, right?

Gallery: Alcatel OT-980 with Android hands-on, we feel frugal just looking at it

Alcatel OT-980 with Android hands-on, we feel frugal just looking at it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alcatelandroidhands-onmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010ot-980portrait sliderPortraitSliderqwertyslidertctThu, 18 Feb 2010 09:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Chumby prototype with Marvell innards spotted at MWC 2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/chumby-prototype-with-marvell-innards-spotted-at-mwc-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/chumby-prototype-with-marvell-innards-spotted-at-mwc-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/chumby-prototype-with-marvell-innards-spotted-at-mwc-2010/#comments Even though they don't make retail devices, the booths of component makers like Qualcomm, Broadcom, TI, and Marvell at trade shows are often great venues for actually seeing retail devices -- these guys have to help showgoers make the connection between a boring chunk of silicon and an end product if they're hoping to score orders, after all. Indeed, Marvell's tent at MWC this year is a veritable cornucopia of Good Things, and we couldn't help but notice that they're showing what appears to be one of Chumby's not-for-sale reference designs sporting an 800 x 600 display with an 800MHz Marvell Armada core (hence the appearance here in the booth). For the record, we're told this is a successor to last year's reference platform known as "Silvermoon" that had been running on a 1GHz PXA168 and that there's a chance it'll be available in retail form later this year. The UI's attractive, but not really as multi-functional as Sony's Dash -- you can think of this as more of a giant Chumby One, really, with some extra screen elements designed to take advantage of the significantly higher resolution. There's no guarantee this'll ever be produced -- or if so, when -- so for the time being, our video UI tour after the break is about as close as you're going to get.

Continue reading Chumby prototype with Marvell innards spotted at MWC 2010

Chumby prototype with Marvell innards spotted at MWC 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chumbyhands-onmarvellmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010prototypereference designReferenceDesignsilvermoonThu, 18 Feb 2010 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson CEO: Google asked us to build the Nexus One, we refused]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/sony-ericsson-ceo-google-asked-us-to-build-the-nexus-one-we-re/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/sony-ericsson-ceo-google-asked-us-to-build-the-nexus-one-we-re/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/sony-ericsson-ceo-google-asked-us-to-build-the-nexus-one-we-re/#comments Aw, why don't these CEOs say stuff like this in press conferences? Sony Ericsson's head Bert Nordberg has shared with Swedish publication Sydsvenskan the rather salacious news that his company was asked to build the so-called Google phone before HTC... and it turned down the opportunity. Fearing brand dilution or something equally crazy, Nordberg states that Sony Ericsson is committed to building only its own-branded hardware and will not be a subcontractor to anyone. Haughty words from a company whose own Android device is still a good couple of months away from hipsters' pockets, but we're sure Bert knows best. After all, it's not like HTC got a ton of positive press and brand awareness out of its partnership with Google, and it's exceptionally clear that SE doesn't need a dime of additional revenue. Oh, wait.

[Thanks, Michael N]

Sony Ericsson CEO: Google asked us to build the Nexus One, we refused originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbert nordbergBertNordbergceogooglegoogle phonegooglephonemwcmwc 2010Mwc2010nexusnexus oneNexusOneoemsmartphonesmartphonessony ericssonsony ericsson ceoSonyEricssonSonyEricssonCeoThu, 18 Feb 2010 08:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola MT710 quick hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/motorola-mt710-quick-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/motorola-mt710-quick-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/motorola-mt710-quick-hands-on/#comments
We've already had a quick look at the Korean Motorola MOTOROI, and we figured it was only fair if we gave the Motorola MT710 a fair shake, too. The MT710 is running the Android-based Ophone OS on some pretty sweet hardware including an 854 x 480 FWVGA resistive touchscreen display -- to help with Chinese handwriting recognition we'd bet -- replacing HSPA 3G with TD-SCDMA for 3G, and a pretty slick housing accented in reflective and red metals. Of course the MT710 isn't meant for our market, but we're still encouraged to see how many Android sets are cropping up here at the show and indeed from Motorola.

Gallery: Motorola MT710 quick hands-on

Motorola MT710 quick hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hands-onMotorolamt710MWCMWC 2010Mwc2010ophoneOphone 1.5Ophone1.5TD-SCDMAThu, 18 Feb 2010 07:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone 150 lays claim to 'world's cheapest phone' title, ST-Ericsson works on thrifty 3G]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/vodafone-150-lays-claim-to-worlds-cheapest-phone-title/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/vodafone-150-lays-claim-to-worlds-cheapest-phone-title/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/vodafone-150-lays-claim-to-worlds-cheapest-phone-title/#comments There are only two possible reasons for why a gadget freak like you would want a cheap phone: you're either a very sensible person (who probably got mugged once), or you're saving up for the phone of your life. Oh, who are we kidding? We all want a nice phone for next to nothing, right? The legendary Motorola MOTOFONE came close, but check out these new bad boys -- the sub-$15 Vodafone 150 and the sub-$20 250, produced by TCL. Fine, they may look more like toys than your everyday eye candy, but you do get five hours of battery, SMS, two games on that mini monochrome screen, and even an LED torch on the back -- and what's more, the lowly 150 is claiming the holy grail "world's cheapest phone" title that every manufacturer with an interest in emerging markets would kill to own. For an extra $5 there's even a larger screen in color (!), not to mention FM radio. If you want one, you better start flying walking to either India, Turkey or Africa where the phones will be launched over the next few weeks, or you can just gaze at Fonehome's hands-on video of the 150 after the break.

On a similar topic, ST-Ericsson has launched the U6715 mobile platform with 7.2Mbps HSPA modem for Linux-based OSes (Android and MeeGo, to name a couple), and expects participating manufacturers to deliver sub-€100 (about $137) smartphones in the first half of 2010. Apparently, the trick is to use "structurally-less expensive silicon, without compromising the end user experience." With a 1000mAh battery, the platform will deliver up to 40 hours to musical entertainment -- twice that of the Nexus One with 1400mAh -- and up to seven hours of 3G talk time on one charge. Pretty sweet at first blush, except there's no mention of what the CPU would be clocked at. Regardless, all we want is some smooth video playback from the "elegant and powerful multimedia engine" -- is that too much to ask?

Continue reading Vodafone 150 lays claim to 'world's cheapest phone' title, ST-Ericsson works on thrifty 3G

Vodafone 150 lays claim to 'world's cheapest phone' title, ST-Ericsson works on thrifty 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>150affordable phoneAffordablePhonecheap phoneCheapPhoneemerging marketemerging marketsEmergingMarketEmergingMarketshspamwcmwc 2010Mwc2010st-ericssonst-ericsson U6715St-ericssonU6715U6715vodafonevodafone 150Vodafone150Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:03:00 EST<![CDATA[General Mobile's Touch Stone: how can something so wrong be so right?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/general-mobiles-touch-stone-how-can-something-so-wrong-be-so-r/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/general-mobiles-touch-stone-how-can-something-so-wrong-be-so-r/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/general-mobiles-touch-stone-how-can-something-so-wrong-be-so-r/#comments General Mobile -- maker of the DSTL1 dual-SIM Android phone -- has always walked a fine line between KIRF and originality with its phones, and its latest batch is no different. Normally it's easy to resist a device widely regarded as a knockoff (for most of us, anyhow), but in the case of the newest model here, General Mobile's actually managed to answer a question HTC's failed to so far: where the hell is the HD2 with Android? The so-called "Touch Stone" (deep breaths, Palm) rings true to many of the actual HD2's specs, from the 5 megapixel camera to the 4.3-inch capacitive WVGA display, but this sucker adds an "optional" analog TV tuner (which won't do countries with digital transitions any good) and Android 2.0 atop an ARM9-based PXA935 core. Sadly, this phone doesn't quite exist yet -- we were shown a dummy model today with the promise of retail toward the end of the year, at which point HTC and others will undoubtedly have phones like the Supersonic on the shelf. If you'll excuse us, we need a cold shower, but you'll find more shots of the Touch Stone along with the Cosmos (launching soon) and Cosmos 2 dummy (launching... well, eventually) in the gallery.

Gallery: General Mobile's Touch Stone: how can something so wrong be so right?

General Mobile's Touch Stone: how can something so wrong be so right? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcosmoscosmos 2Cosmos2general mobileGeneralMobilehands-onkirfmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010touch stoneTouchStoneWed, 17 Feb 2010 16:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Myriad Dalvik Turbo hands-on: Android apps just got fast]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/myriad-dalvik-turbo-hands-on-android-apps-just-got-fast/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/myriad-dalvik-turbo-hands-on-android-apps-just-got-fast/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/myriad-dalvik-turbo-hands-on-android-apps-just-got-fast/#comments Even on the latest round of Snapdragon-powered models, Android apps don't typically seem to exhibit the same level of buttery-smooth prowess as their iPhone equivalents. There are a variety of reasons for that, but the most damning seems to stem from Google's choice of the Dalvik Java runtime, which -- to put it simply -- trades performance for diminutive processor and memory footprints. You may not have ever heard of Swiss company (and OHA member) Myriad, but it sprung to life through the merger of Esmertec and Purple Labs and claims to have software running on an astounding 2 billion phones worldwide -- in other words, these guys know a thing or two about phones -- and they've applied their expertise to tighten up Dalvik and make it burn rubber. Follow the break for video!

Continue reading Myriad Dalvik Turbo hands-on: Android apps just got fast

Myriad Dalvik Turbo hands-on: Android apps just got fast originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dalvikdalvik turboDalvikTurbohands-onmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010myriadWed, 17 Feb 2010 15:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget Mobile Podcast 036: MWC 2010 Day 2 - 02.17.2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/engadget-mobile-podcast-036-mwc-2010-day-2-02-17-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/engadget-mobile-podcast-036-mwc-2010-day-2-02-17-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/engadget-mobile-podcast-036-mwc-2010-day-2-02-17-2010/#comments

Hey, do you know what your Bizarro name is? Because these guys certainly do. Tune in to hear what happens when bloggers stop sleeping, and also what happens when a shoe company makes a cell phone.

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Engadget Mobile Podcast 036: MWC 2010 Day 2 - 02.17.2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mobilemwcmwc2010podcastpodcastsWed, 17 Feb 2010 14:55:00 ESTEngadget Mobile Podcast 036Chris Ziegler, Sean Cooper0:40:54podcasts<![CDATA[Bug Labs' BUGbase 2.0 prototype hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/bug-labs-bugbase-2-0-prototype-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/bug-labs-bugbase-2-0-prototype-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/bug-labs-bugbase-2-0-prototype-hands-on/#comments At first glance, Bug Labs' latest creation actually seems like a bit of a downgrade from the version it replaces -- it loses the onboard LCD display and a handful of buttons, after all -- but we sat down with CEO Peter Semmelhack today on the hustling, bustling floor of MWC to get the straight dope on what makes the BUGbase 2.0 a superior product. First of all, you can't overlook the fact that they've moved to a Cortex A8-based OMAP3530, an appreciable boost from the ARM11 core it replaces, but it turns out there are a whole bunch of subtler changes too, like the inclusion of on-board audio out (pictured above toward the left of the base), HD video out capability through a module, and a second microSD slot. Why two, you ask? Isn't 32GB of external storage enough? Probably, but Semmelhack points out that the second slot (covered behind a flap) is dedicated to loading the operating system, making it a trivial task to quickly switch between kernels or get unbricked.

Although the unit we saw today has functional guts, we're told that the casing is pre-production -- not to say that "production" BUGbases need to look amazing, anyway, considering that they're frequently used for prototyping themselves. Though Android's already been ported to the Bug platform, the company is really driving home the message in 2.0; when you think about it, this kind of makes any Android dev out there a de facto Bug dev, so that's a nice angle to play. Look for it to ship by "early Summer," so it's time to scoop up that first-gen unit now if you're jonesing for the integrated display.

Gallery: Bug Labs' BUGbase 2.0 prototype hands-on

Bug Labs' BUGbase 2.0 prototype hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugbug 2.0bug labsBug2.0bugbasebugbase 2.0Bugbase2.0BugLabshands-onmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7 Series: everything you ever wanted to know]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/windows-phone-7-series-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/windows-phone-7-series-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/windows-phone-7-series-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know/#comments Microsoft just planted a massive flag in the ground with the debut of Windows Phone 7 Series. The company's new mobile operating system is a radical and potent departure from the past, and there's a lot to take in -- so we've gathered together all our knowledge and impressions of the device so far and rolled them into a single, concise guide. Of course, there will be plenty more to learn in the coming months, and we're going to be beating down Redmond's door for more details on this thing, but for now let's dive into what Microsoft has revealed so far about its latest and (potentially) greatest phone operating system.

Gallery: Windows Phone 7 Series Interface

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 Series: everything you ever wanted to know

Windows Phone 7 Series: everything you ever wanted to know originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmicrosoft windows phone 7 seriesMicrosoftWindowsPhone7Seriesmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010windows mobilewindows mobile 7windows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsMobileWindowsMobile7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7SeriesWed, 17 Feb 2010 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer Liquid e, beTouch E110 / E400, and neoTouch P300 / P400 hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/acer-liquid-e-betouch-e110-e400-and-neotouch-p300-p400-han/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/acer-liquid-e-betouch-e110-e400-and-neotouch-p300-p400-han/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/acer-liquid-e-betouch-e110-e400-and-neotouch-p300-p400-han/#comments Acer took MWC rather seriously this year with no fewer than five phone intros to its name spanning the range from Android to Windows Mobile 6.5.3, so we went ahead and put our hands on all of them today. Starting at the bottom of the range, the lowly beTouch E110 is obviously designed to compete head-to-head with the likes of the HTC Tattoo -- in fact, it apes the Tattoo's design pretty closely in some respects. Unlike Acer's higher-end Android phones, the E110 uses a custom skin that seems pretty well-suited for its QVGA resolution, and it's still managing 3.6Mbps HSDPA in your choice of 900 / 2100 and 850 / 1900 flavors for different areas of the world. It feels as cheap as it looks, but as long as it's priced appropriately, we still think it's a reasonable way to get new audiences on the smartphone bandwagon.

Follow the break for more impressions, shots, and video!

Gallery: Acer beTouch E110 hands-on

Continue reading Acer Liquid e, beTouch E110 / E400, and neoTouch P300 / P400 hands-on

Acer Liquid e, beTouch E110 / E400, and neoTouch P300 / P400 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerandroidbetouche110e400hands-onliquidliquid eLiquidEmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010neotouchp300p400windows mobilewindows mobile 6.5.3WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6.5.3winmowinmo 6.5.3Winmo6.5.3wm6.5.3Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:52:00 EST<![CDATA[SK Telecom's Android SIM prototype combines CPU, storage and OS into one (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/sk-telecoms-android-sim-prototype-combines-cpu-storage-and-os/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/sk-telecoms-android-sim-prototype-combines-cpu-storage-and-os/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/sk-telecoms-android-sim-prototype-combines-cpu-storage-and-os/#comments This is the future, we tell ya! Not the immediate future, mind you, as it's a humble prototype with no commercial intentions behind it, but it sure looks like the right direction for us to be moving in. SK Telecom has somehow fit a processing chip, memory, a gigabyte of flash storage and Google's Android OS onto the SIM you see above. The concept is pure genius -- you store your entire mobile environment on the SIM card, including your contacts, operating system and customizations, which should then allow you to switch up your handset hardware as often as you like without the need to set it up anew each and every time. We'll head to SK Telecom's booth at MWC later today for a closer look, but for now you should click past the break for a video.

Continue reading SK Telecom's Android SIM prototype combines CPU, storage and OS into one (video)

SK Telecom's Android SIM prototype combines CPU, storage and OS into one (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid osandroid simAndroidOsAndroidSimconvergencefuturegoogle androidGoogleAndroidmobile world congressMobileWorldCongressmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010simsim cardSimCardsk telecomSkTelecomWed, 17 Feb 2010 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Opera Mini on iPhone is fast, but why?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/opera-mini-on-iphone-is-fast-but-why/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/opera-mini-on-iphone-is-fast-but-why/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/opera-mini-on-iphone-is-fast-but-why/#commentsWe came, we saw, and we're still scratching our heads over what Opera is up to with its Mobile World Congress demonstration of its Opera Mini browser running on the iPhone 3GS. But before we get into that, let's talk performance: it's fast. Opera Mini is very, very fast on the iPhone. Loading the New York Times, for example, was about 5x faster than loading the same page in the iPhone 3GS' stock browser. Pages loaded smoothly and were interactive just as quickly as the content began to load -- not unlike the Safari browsing experience. From a functionality standpoint, Opera Mini operates exactly as it does on other, less-contentious platforms. So while double-tap to zoom is supported, pinch-to-zoom is not. The iPhone version does, however, remember the state of the browser when you exit Opera Mini. As such, you'll find your tabs and recent pages right where they were when you last used the app.

The impressive performance gain has to do with how Opera Mini works. First, it's not doing any rendering of the pages or code processing locally. Web pages are processed by Opera's servers before sending just the results to the iPhone. Not only does this speed up the local processing but it also limits the amount of data sent -- a potential big money saver for people browsing while data roaming (like us in Barcelona) or for those without unlimited data plans.

Unfortunately, Opera refused to let us or anyone photograph the app or take any video of it in action. We couldn't even photograph the Opera icon in the launch bar or the wallpaper adorned with the Opera logo. Why? It looks just like Opera Mini beta on any other device so it's not like we're exposing any competitive intelligence. And it's not like Opera would be violating any Apple NDA related to the SDK or the app approval process. Unfortunately, Opera was unable to give us a valid reason other than, "you just can't."

So why is Opera making such a fuss about this before it has even submitted to Apple for approval? We have three theories that we discussed with Igor Netto, Senior Product Manager within Opera's Mobile group. Click through if you like conspiracies.

Continue reading Opera Mini on iPhone is fast, but why?

Opera Mini on iPhone is fast, but why? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeapp store approvalapp store approval processappleAppStoreAppStoreApprovalAppStoreApprovalProcessiphonemobile world congressmobile world congress 2010MobileWorldCongressMobileWorldCongress2010mwcmwc 2010Mwc2010operaopera miniopera mini 5 betaOperaMiniOperaMini5BetaspeculationWed, 17 Feb 2010 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[VoxOx Universal Translator makes multilingual communication a breeze]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/voxox-universal-translator-makes-multilingual-communication-a-br/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/voxox-universal-translator-makes-multilingual-communication-a-br/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/voxox-universal-translator-makes-multilingual-communication-a-br/#comments Despite being launched at Mobile World Congress, VoxOx has yet to make a mobile version of its Universal Translator. That said, the desktop version is still quite useful for those with Windows or OS X-based rigs who attempt to communicate with friends -- particularly with friends who speak a different native language. The new software build enables real-time language translation for SMS chat, social media and email, and so long as the VoxOx client is pulled up, you can send and receive any of those messages in your own tongue while receiving translated messages in return. Granted, we get the idea that some phrases will be quite literally lost in translation, but this sure beats accessing Google's Language Tools for each questionable phrase. Hit the download link below to grab a copy, and head on past the break for a video demonstration of what's on offer.

Continue reading VoxOx Universal Translator makes multilingual communication a breeze

VoxOx Universal Translator makes multilingual communication a breeze originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>globalinternationalmobilemwcmwc 2010Mwc2010softwaretelcentristranslationUniversal TranslatorUniversalTranslatorVoxOxVoxOx Universal TranslatorVoxoxUniversalTranslatorWed, 17 Feb 2010 06:33:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM CEO claims we are staring 'down the barrel of a capacity crunch,' should all get BlackBerrys to prevent it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/rim-ceo-claims-we-are-staring-down-the-barrel-of-a-capacity-cru/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/rim-ceo-claims-we-are-staring-down-the-barrel-of-a-capacity-cru/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/rim-ceo-claims-we-are-staring-down-the-barrel-of-a-capacity-cru/#comments Capacity crunch, isn't that a breakfast cereal? RIM's Mike Lazaridis seems to have been a real grouch at MWC this week as apparently he hasn't stopped talking about the doom and gloom awaiting mobile carriers over the next few years. Focusing on the bandwidth-hungry North American market, Lazaridis has criticized the apparently irresponsible network saturation growth, which he sees as being primarily driven by app-centric operating systems. If you're wondering who he could possibly be referring to, let Mike clarify it -- according to him, you could carry five BlackBerry devices for each iPhone on a network. As evidence of his firm's focus on efficiency, he points us to that freshly demoed WebKit browser, which he claims uses a third of the bandwidth required by the competition from Apple and Google. If only he wasn't implying that owning a BlackBerry would save the internet, Mike's sales pitch would be rather compelling -- those are mighty impressive numbers he is citing.

RIM CEO claims we are staring 'down the barrel of a capacity crunch,' should all get BlackBerrys to prevent it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gappleapple iphoneAppleIphonebandwidthbbmblackberrybroadbandceointernetiphonelazaridismike lazaridisMikeLazaridismobile broadbandmobile internetMobileBroadbandMobileInternetmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010networksresearch in motionResearchInMotionrimrim ceoRimCeospectrumwirelessWed, 17 Feb 2010 03:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Puma Phone hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/puma-phone-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/puma-phone-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/puma-phone-hands-on/#comments
Chalk one up for Sagem and Puma who apparently just want a cell to be fun -- and somehow, we're right there with them. The obviously-named Puma Phone launched today, and for a pretty basic handset, it was drawing some reasonably large crowds at the booth. That might be thanks to some of the silly stuff like a calculator that teases you when you try an operation it deems too trivial, a pet puma on the device called Dylan (who shows up on-screen when you leave your handset untouched for a while), and an audio player with a turntable you can actually scratch -- but the real draw is probably the solar panel around back. It's quoted at a respectable 15 minutes of talk time or two hours of music playback for every hour in the sun, meaning you should theoretically be able to charge the phone even while blasting tunes (of course, the proof is in the pudding when it comes to battery claims, as always). It's not going to replace your Pre, but the Puma set is definitely geared toward a youthful active market that focuses on sports and entertainment, and you've got to admit that it's driven by a brand everybody recognizes. Sure, it's simple; sure it is at its most basic a feature phone; but all that aside, we just liked the experience of using it. We're feeling that if the companies behind this thing align themselves with the right carrier when it launches in Europe this April, it'll actually do pretty well. No plans for it to land in North America yet, but we're told that if its launch goes well it could cross the pond later this year. Follow on for a full tour and gallery of the goods!

Gallery: Puma Phone hands-on

Continue reading Puma Phone hands-on

Puma Phone hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hands-onmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010pumapuma phonePumaPhonesagemWed, 17 Feb 2010 00:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with TAT's dual-screen phone concept and augmented reality app]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/hands-on-with-tats-dual-screen-phone-concept-and-augmented-real/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/hands-on-with-tats-dual-screen-phone-concept-and-augmented-real/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/hands-on-with-tats-dual-screen-phone-concept-and-augmented-real/#comments What, you thought Home was the only project in the pipeline for these guys? The mobile UI experts at Sweden's TAT are in the house at MWC this week showing off a couple other nifty developments that are keeping them busy these days: a dual-screen UI concept utilizing TI's next-gen hardware, and an app that makes good on a concept it had demoed before. First up, they've been using a TI Blaze to demonstrate their vision of a phone with two displays, likely in a slider configuration (in fact, they showed a Droid to represent how they think the form factor could work) with a screen where you'd normally expect they physical QWERTY keyboard to be. It's slick and wicked smooth on the brutally powerful OMAP4 core, but realistically, this is something unusual enough so that we'd need to play with a unit for a good, long while before drawing any usability conclusions. TAT believes we could see devices with this kind of setup by years' end, but we don't know what carriers, manufacturer, or time frames would be involved at this point.

Next up, Recognizr is the realization of the Augmented ID concept it showed off last year that lets you tag your face (it sounds weird, but it's quite literally true) with icons representing services that you use, each of which exposes information about you that you want others to know; then, other users with the system can put you in their viewfinder and see the same icons. It's not flawless -- in fact, TAT readily admits that they probably need better camera tech before it can be commercialized, and they had quite a few issues during our demo time -- but it's a clever concept that's better watched on video than explained, which is convenient considering that we've got videos of both of these goodies in action after the break. Check 'em out, won't you?

Continue reading Hands-on with TAT's dual-screen phone concept and augmented reality app

Hands-on with TAT's dual-screen phone concept and augmented reality app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>augmented realityAugmentedRealityhands-onmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010omap4recognizrtattexas instrumentsTexasInstrumentsthe astonishing tribeTheAstonishingTribetiTue, 16 Feb 2010 22:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Commodore PET caught running Windows Phone 7 Series?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/commodore-pet-caught-running-windows-phone-7-series/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/commodore-pet-caught-running-windows-phone-7-series/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/commodore-pet-caught-running-windows-phone-7-series/#comments
We're not sure what to think of this one, but it would be remiss of us not to pass it along to you. On one hand, pics like this can be faked pretty easily these days. Yet again, the tipster seemed pretty convincing: he used the term "datassette" like he knew what he was talking about. We'll let you be the judge, OK?

Update: We have received one further image, which seems a little more... plausible? Not really -- but you can scope it after the break nonetheless. Thanks, Lincoln!

Continue reading Commodore PET caught running Windows Phone 7 Series?

Commodore PET caught running Windows Phone 7 Series? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsmicrosoftmwcMWC 2010Mwc2010Windows Phonewindows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7SeriesTue, 16 Feb 2010 14:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Notion Ink Adam hands-on (with video) at MWC 2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/notion-ink-adam-hands-on-with-video-at-mwc-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/notion-ink-adam-hands-on-with-video-at-mwc-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/notion-ink-adam-hands-on-with-video-at-mwc-2010/#comments We got a few minutes today to check out the latest build on Notion Ink's Adam prototype that we first saw back at CES. Like we heard a week or so ago, there will indeed be two versions of the Adam -- one which will be 12.9 mm thick and boast the Pixel Qi 3Qi e-paper screen, and another, thinner, non-Pixel Qi screen. The thinner, lighter version will measure in at 11.6 mm thick. As far as we know, the only difference in the two Tegra-powered Adams will be the display, and we also hear they are shooting for a third quarter of 2010 launch. The prototype on hand at MWC was not working, so one of the Adam's developers was kind enough to shoot a demo video of a working unit for us (and its Flash support) -- which is after the break.

Gallery: Notion Ink Adam hands-on

Continue reading Notion Ink Adam hands-on (with video) at MWC 2010

Notion Ink Adam hands-on (with video) at MWC 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adamfeaturefeaturedfeatureshands onhands-onHandsOnmwcMWC 2010MWC 2010 videomwc 2010-mwc2010Mwc2010-Mwc2010Videonotion inkNotionInknvidiapixel qiPixelQiTue, 16 Feb 2010 13:09:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM demos new WebKit-based BlackBerry browser at MWC -- it's fast!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/rim-demos-new-webkit-based-blackberry-browser-at-mwc-its-fas/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/rim-demos-new-webkit-based-blackberry-browser-at-mwc-its-fas/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/rim-demos-new-webkit-based-blackberry-browser-at-mwc-its-fas/#comments We weren't expecting much out of RIM's presser here at MWC this morning, but the company managed to bust out one surprise -- a demo of the company's new WebKit-based BlackBerry browser. We're assuming this is what came out of that Torch Mobile acquisition, and the early build shown off on-screen looks pretty solid, rendering Amazon.com quickly and scoring a full 100/100 on the Acid3 test. Unfortunately, there's no word on when BlackBerry users will actually be able to get their hands on this, but rest assured we're digging for more info. Video after the break.

Continue reading RIM demos new WebKit-based BlackBerry browser at MWC -- it's fast!

RIM demos new WebKit-based BlackBerry browser at MWC -- it's fast! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberrybrowsermwcmwc 2010Mwc2010rimwebkitwebkit browserWebkitBrowserTue, 16 Feb 2010 11:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Live from Eric Schmidt's keynote at MWC 2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/live-from-eric-schmidts-keynote-at-mwc-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/live-from-eric-schmidts-keynote-at-mwc-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/live-from-eric-schmidts-keynote-at-mwc-2010/#comments We've just been ushered into the rather gigantic Auditorium 1 of Hall 5 at Mobile World Congress 2010 where we're awaiting none other than Google chief Eric Schmidt to take the stage. What's in store -- Buzz news? Android buzz? Buzz buzz? Read on to find out!

Continue reading Live from Eric Schmidt's keynote at MWC 2010

Live from Eric Schmidt's keynote at MWC 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androideric schmidtEricSchmidtgoogleliveblogmwcmwc 2010Mwc2010Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Puma joins forces with Sagem to birth the Puma Phone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/puma-joins-forces-with-sagem-to-birth-the-puma-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/puma-joins-forces-with-sagem-to-birth-the-puma-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/puma-joins-forces-with-sagem-to-birth-the-puma-phone/#comments Looks like the rumors we heard were true: august cordwainer Puma has teamed up with Sagem to make a phone -- and it's quite a looker, too. The Puma Phone (as it's called) is a lightweight little guy that boasts an integrated solar cell for charging and charge indicator to let you know how you're doing on juice, a QVGA TFT 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen, plus a 3.2 megapixel cam with LED flash and 6x zoom. It also packs in GPS, a compass and geotagging, plus it's got a host of 'sporty' features (pedometer, stopwatch and GPS tracker)... if you're into an active lifestyle. This bad boy can be strapped to your arm when you're on the go, but don't blame us if it doesn't score you any points with the passersby. The Puma Phone will be available throughout Europe in April of this year -- no word on pricing or availability elsewhere yet. The full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Puma joins forces with Sagem to birth the Puma Phone

Puma joins forces with Sagem to birth the Puma Phone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activecellphonecellphoneseuropefitnessmwcmwc 2010mwc2010pedometerpumapuma phonepumaphonesagemsolarsportsTue, 16 Feb 2010 11:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon to allow unlimited Skype calling over 3G starting next month]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/verizon-to-allow-unlimited-skype-calling-over-3g-starting-next-m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/verizon-to-allow-unlimited-skype-calling-over-3g-starting-next-m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/verizon-to-allow-unlimited-skype-calling-over-3g-starting-next-m/#comments
 We may be way off base here, but we're pretty sure the game just got upended. Days after AT&T appeased the masses by finally enabling 3G streaming over the iPhone's SlingPlayer app, Verizon Wireless has delivered some big gargantuan news of its own. Starting next month, all Verizon Wireless customers with smartphones (and an accompanying data plan) will be able to make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any user in the world over its 3G network, which is something that AT&T users have been able to do since last autumn. Let us repeat that: VZW, which is known historically as one of the most controlling carriers in this great nation, is opening up its 3G network for limitless Skype calling. The forthcoming Skype Mobile application will also support Skype Out calling, instant messaging between Skype users and an ability to "remain always connected... to see friends' online presence." Nine smartphones will be compatible at launch (the full list is after the break), and we're guessing that more will be added in due time. Giddy yet?

Continue reading Verizon to allow unlimited Skype calling over 3G starting next month

Verizon to allow unlimited Skype calling over 3G starting next month originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g3g calling3gCallingappbreaking newsBreakingNewscallinggame changegame changergame changingGameChangeGameChangerGameChangingMWCMWC 2010Mwc2010skypeskype mobileSkypeMobilesoftwareVerizonVerizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvoipvoip callingVoipCallingTue, 16 Feb 2010 11:34:00 EST