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Tesla debuts an actual, mechanical prototype of its Optimus robot
Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised last year to have a working prototype of the Optimus robot ready to show off at AI Day 2022. On Friday, he debuted one.
Watch Tesla's AI Day 2022 event at 9:15PM ET
Tesla is streaming its AI Day event live at 9:15PM ET — here's how to tune in.
MIT teaches machines to learn from each other
There are two typical ways to train a robot today: you can have it watch repeated demonstrations of what you want it to do or you can program its movements directly using motion-planning techniques. But a team of researchers from MIT's CSAIL lab have developed a hybridized third option that will enable robots to transfer skills and knowledge between themselves. It's no Skynet, but it's a start.
T-Mobile announces LG G Flex and Optimus F3Q, both coming February 5th
Welcome, LG G Flex -- we've been expecting you. The curved smartphone has already been announced for T-Mobile, but we just didn't have the exact pricing or availability. That information has finally come down the wires: The G Flex will be arriving at stores and online on February 5th. The total cost of the device will be $576 $672, although you can get it for nothing down and 24 monthly payments of $28 on the carrier's Simple Choice plan. Additionally, anyone who grabs one will also get six free months of Netflix. (Update: T-Mobile originally mentioned $576 was the retail cost, but the math for monthly payments didn't add up; we reached out to company reps who told us that this was a typo and is actually $672.) Also announced with the G Flex today was the Optimus F3Q, an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean device that comes in misty blue and boasts a full physical QWERTY slideout keyboard. It offers a 4-inch IPS TFT display, 5MP rear camera, VGA front-facing cam, 2,460mAh battery, NFC, 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8930 processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB internal storage, up to 32GB external storage via microSD and some of LG's well-known features like QuickMemo and QuickSlide. The device retails for $312 at full price, or you can get it for 24 monthly payments of $13. You'll also be able to pick one of these up alongside the G Flex on February 5th.
How would you change LG's Optimus Vu?
When Samsung's Galaxy Note launched, it was treated as an enthusiast device, which would never gain mainstream popularity due to its hulking size. Of course, given the staggering popularity of the device (and its successors), it wasn't long before other companies sought to steal a piece of the action. LG's Optimus Vu was one such contender, packing a 5-inch display and a stylus but, and it's a big but, was hobbled from the get go. You see, LG didn't bother to integrate the stylus into the software, didn't offer an internal holster for the wand and committed the cardinal sin of shipping a 2012 smartphone with Gingerbread. What we want to know is: did you buy one? And if so, what, if anything would you change?
How would you change LG's Optimus 4X HD?
A year is a long time in technology, and reading back through the reviews of LG's Optimus 4X HD, it's clear to see a company in transition. Spool forward a few months, and the Optimus G and Nexus 4 has pushed the Korean giant back into the ascendancy. Still, we need to grapple with the 4XHD, which we said had a frustrating camera, underwhelming display and poor battery life. You've had several months to toil away at this device now, so it's time to ask -- did we get it right? That's what How Would You Change is all about.
How would you change LG's Optimus L7?
When we reviewed LG's Optimus L7, we compared it to BMW's 328i, saying that it was pitched as an entry-level car that could satisfy power-hungry buyers -- but really, that was very unfair on the vehicle in question. The problem with this particular phone is that while it promised to be a stylish low-price handset, the hardware inside didn't match its sleek exterior. Poor performance, bad voice quality, flaky touchscreen, slow data transmission and a lack of 3G bands for roaming meant that we suggested you look elsewhere. Still, what we want to know is did you agree with our reviewer? This is How Would You Change, so share your technical insight with us all.
Daily Roundup: LG G2 hands-on, Sony's RX100 Mark II, Oculus Rift's new CTO, and more!
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.
LG G2 purportedly spied in promo shots, may carry backside volume buttons
LG has teased the Optimus G's successor for awhile, but we've seen precious little of the phone's design. We may have just received a better peek: a tipster has sent @evleaks some images that appear to come from a promo video for the flagship device. While the snapshots are clearly victims of Mr. Blurrycam, they're detailed enough to suggest a big break from last year's model. They show both a previously seen buttonless front as well as an extremely slim profile that moves the volume controls to the back. There's also no mention of the Optimus badge -- all the on-screen graphics simply refer to the phone as the "G2." None of the images are verifiable, so there's no guarantee that they reflect the real thing. If we happen to see something similar-looking on August 7th, however, it won't come as a surprise.
LG Optimus F3 coming to Sprint June 14th for $30 on contract
The LG Optimus F3 has now gone public, and it's unsurprisingly on its way to Sprint starting June 14th. For $30 with a two-year contract (after the dreaded $50 mail-in rebate, mind), the device sits on the fence that separates entry-level from mid-range. While the 4-inch (resolution isn't specified, but it's most likely WVGA) smartphone will likely be coveted by Android lovers on a budget, some of its specs are reasonable for those needing a little extra power: it sports Android 4.1, a 2,460mAh battery, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, NFC, LTE, Gorilla Glass 2, a 5MP rear camera and unspecified front-facing cam. TalkBack is also preloaded on the device, which is a voice guidance feature meant to benefit the visually impaired. If this sounds like your dream phone -- or even a handset you wouldn't mind forking $30 and two years of your life to get -- you can order it online in silver or purple, with retail channels receiving inventory later this summer.
Mid-range LG Optimus F7 arrives with LTE and $100 price tag on US Cellular
The LG Optimus F7 with LTE is now available on US Cellular, shortly after leaked documents robbed it of any surprise. It comes with a healthy spec sheet for a mid-range Jelly Bean device, with a 4.7-inch 720p IPS display, a 1.3-megapixel front cam, and an 8-megapixel rear camera. The device is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and has 8GB of internal storage, expandable via the miracle of microSD. You can get the Optimus F7 via US Cellular's website for $99.99 on a two-year contract, but don't move a finger-muscle until you've checked out our hands-on.
LG Optimus F3 leaks with 4-inch screen and Jelly Bean, allegedly headed to Sprint
As was the case with another LG device recently, the Optimus F3 is making an appearance before going official. Today we're getting an early look at what appears to be an entry-level member of the Optimus family, courtesy of @evleaks, and one which will reportedly join Sprint's smartphone lineup pretty soon. Among the alleged specs said are a 4-inch WVGA display, 2,460mAh battery, LTE capabilities and one of the latest versions of Android -- Jelly Bean (4.1.2). Meanwhile, precise availability and pricing deets are still unknown, but, if all goes according to Phone Arena, we'll find all that out here "in the next few weeks."
PSA: LG Optimus G Pro now available at AT&T
American fans of giant smartphones haven't lately had the giant selection of devices to match, but AT&T can at last offer a little diversity: the LG Optimus G Pro is now on sale at the carrier's online and retail stores. For $200 on contract or $550 contract-free, US residents can get a 5.5-inch flagship that's about as full-featured as its Korean sibling, minus the spare battery. Just be aware of the timing before picking one up. While we doubt that AT&T plans on selling a lot of G Pros as Mother's Day gifts, we're sure at least a few moms would gladly take a quad-core Android powerhouse in lieu of flowers.
LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T: what's different?
Two Galaxy Notes and two Optimus Vus later, LG's ready to tackle the giant-sized smartphone niche, this time without the category's defining accessory: a stylus. The Optimus G Pro, part of the company's performance line, was a surprise when we first laid eyes and hands on it: it's a 5.5-inch embodiment of lessons learned, not just from LG's past endeavors, but also from Samsung's. That the device would ever make it out of South Korea and into the US was an uncertainty. And by entering the market now, the G Pro risks coming off as a stopgap between the Note II and III, as well as LG's own flagship G line. Yet, LG found a way. It paired with AT&T to bring the G Pro, with its Snapdragon 600 processor and 1080p display, to the States as an exclusive. For $199 on a two-year plan, subscribers get an attractive package: LTE, NFC, 32GB of storage (expandable by up to 64GB via microSDXC), a gargantuan 3,140mAh battery and dual 2.1MP / 13MP cameras with the option for dual-recording. So, aided by some competitive pricing and top-shelf specifications, the G Pro reads on paper like a boss. But the window for that dominance is short. So while we wait for Samsung to attempt a three-peat in the category it created (a Note III could debut by summer's end), let's examine the G Pro and its 15 minutes of fame. %Gallery-180272% %Gallery-187708%
Unknown LG Optimus with 1080p display and Snapdragon 800 spotted on Sprint's website
LG's flagship Optimus G Pro, due to launch on AT&T on May 10th, might just make its way to Sprint later this year -- and possibly with an upgraded processor. A User Agent Profile on Sprint's website reveals a 1080p, Android 4.2.2 handset called the LS980, which lines up with AT&T's model number (E980) and also corroborates an earlier listing at the Bluetooth SIG. Curiously, the UAP mentions Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 800 ("M8974"), in contrast to the existing G Pro's Snapdragon 600 processor. Then again, there's only so much you can tell about future products from XML files like these. It could be an upgraded Sprint G Pro variant, but the reference to a totally new chip has us (and Android Police) thinking it could also be a full-fledged Optimus G sequel, which has already been rumored and possibly leaked. Either way, it's nice to see evidence of a top-tier phone maker using this cutting edge Snapdragon, especially after the comedy of ZTE's Grand Memo.
Mystery LG smartphone spied with no front buttons
Hello, what's this? While many of us were out enjoying the spring weather, @evleaks was busy posting photos of an unknown LG smartphone that, if real, represents a notable shift in the Korean company's design language. The device shares the Nexus 4's slightly curvy outline and lack of front-facing hardware buttons, but appears to have a taller screen, a new speaker grille and a different sensor layout. It's not very likely to be part of the Nexus program with that conspicuous LG logo at the front, but there are few other clues as to where it would fit in LG's phone family -- is it an Optimus G sequel, an Optimus LTE2 follow-up, or something entirely fresh? We may well see more of this mystery hardware in the near future, though, and there's already a close-up of the top bezel to be found after the break.
LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T hands-on (video)
Earlier today, AT&T made the Optimus G Pro official as an exclusive on its network, giving subs an alternative to that other 5.5-inch handset, the Galaxy Note II. To LG and AT&T's credit, the G Pro's remained mostly unchanged in its transition to the US market, retaining the same 1080p HD IPS display, 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB RAM, 2.1-megapixel / 13-megapixel rear camera setup and 3,140mAh battery of the Korean-only model. The only major changes to the handset's internals are in its LTE bands, made to now run on AT&T's network, and inbuilt wireless charging. Oh and it still doesn't feature a stylus, but you'll hardly miss it. Fans of the glossy white G Pro we reviewed back in March will be disappointed to know that the AT&T variant will only ship in black -- at the carrier's specific request. That restrictive color choice and the carrier's familiar globe on back thankfully appear to be the only two intrusions AT&T's made to the G Pro. It still evokes a sense of solid craftsmanship, despite the overall use of plastics. And, given that it's just slightly more compact width-wise than the GNote II, the G Pro actually feels better in the hand and doesn't confer a sense of instability or slipperiness so often encountered with Samsung's same-sized smartphone. %Gallery-187332%
AT&T gets official with LG Optimus G Pro, available May 10th for $200 on-contract
We've already seen this one leaked and detailed -- and reviewed the non-AT&T variant ourselves -- but the carrier's now finally gotten official with its latest high-end smartphone: the LG Optimus G Pro. If this is the first you're seeing of it, though, you're looking at a phone with a 5.5-inch, 1920 x 1080 IPS display (which translates to 400ppi), along with a 13-megapixel camera (2.1 megapixel front-facing), LTE connectivity, a 3,140 mAh battery, 32GB of storage and Android 4.1.2 with some of LG's customizations. As we noted in our review, that puts it up squarely against the Samsung Galaxy Note II, although LG's decided to forego the stylus here. Look for this one to be available (exclusively on AT&T, incidentally) starting May 10th for $199.99 on the usual two-year contract.
LG Optimus F5 mid-range LTE smartphone hits France April 29, global dispersion to follow
LG's F-series handsets may not be in the same class an HTC One or GS4, but we can't help but appreciate the solid specs and LTE-goodness baked into these mid-range devices. Following a debut alongside its F7 sibling at MWC, the F5 will begin trickling out to French retailers on April 29th. While there's no mention of US availability -- despite a recent leak pegging it for Verizon -- we do know LG will soon be pushing it out to parts of Asia and Central / South America. Aimed at markets new to LTE, the smartphone packs a beefy 2,150mAh battery, 5-megapixel camera, 1.2GHz dual-core processor and a 4.3-inch screen for showing off LG's skinned version of Android 4.1.2. If you're curious to give LTE a go and this looks like a winner, you'll find the full press release after the break.
LG Optimus G sequel coming Q3 2013, will stick close to 5-inch screen size
LG's been teasing a big reveal for the start of May over in the US and we reckon it'll mark the official launch of the Optimus G Pro. But what about the not-so-humble Optimus G and the rest of the world? Well, we've been told that a (global-bound!) sequel flagship from LG will appear sometime in Q3. Direct from LG's HQ in Seoul, Won Kim, Head of Mobile Marketing says that we can expect "something different and something unique", which all sounds good to us. It'll also be something that won't skirt near the 5.5-inch screen size of the Optimus G Pro, and will instead stick closer to the five-inch mark. Unfortunately, he kept his explanation of new device tantalizingly vague for now, but it looks like LG will wait for the current flagship phone fight to settle a bit before it reveals its new weapon.