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OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones using a series of lenses developed

by Laura June, posted Jun 29th 2009 at 7:19PM

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute -- partnered with project HYPOLED -- have created an OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones. Unlike many previous iterations of similar technologies, this new prototype doesn't need an additional illumination system, instead relying on a lens system to project images produced by an OLED onto a screen or wall -- making it both smaller and more energy efficient. The prototype currently displays a monochrome image with a brightness of 10,000 candelas per square meter, and color images with a brightness of about half of that. The lenses are also made of glass at this point, though cheaper and simpler plastic ones are in the works. No word on when we might see these prototypes hitting the streets in actual projector phones, though.

[Via Gizmag]

Engadget's recession antidote: win a FREETALK headset and Skype voucher!

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 23rd 2009 at 12:20PM

This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we've got a FREETALK Wireless Stereo Headset along with a Skype voucher that'll net you free calls for three whole months. The World Plan voucher will link you up anywhere in the world that Skype supports, and coming off of a trip to Central America, we can certainly say it comes in handy (and works well, to boot). Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting!

Major thanks to Skype for the goods!

The rules:

Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one FREETALK Wireless Stereo Headset along with a Skype voucher that'll net you free calls for three whole months.
If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
Entries can be submitted until Tuesday, June 23rd, 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Full rules can be found here.

xpPhone runs Windows XP, gets costumed as a MID

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 5th 2009 at 3:04PM

You see, the name "xpPhone" is rather disingenuous here. At first glance, you may assume that you're about to discover what's likely the planet's first cellular telephone to run a full-fledged version of Windows XP. Sadly, we've got to slot the device shown above squarely into the MID category -- GSM support be darned. Still, we can't help but applaud the engineering efforts; after all, this thing somehow packs an AMD CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 64GB SSD, 4.8-inch 800 x 480 touchpanel, WiFi, various cell radios, a 1.3 megapixel camera and a battery good for five solid hours of use into a device barely larger than the average, yawn-inducing MID found in every last corner of Computex. In fact, it's so impressive that we're beginning to question its authenticity as a real, working product. Much like the number of licks to the center of a Tootsie Pop, the world may never know.

Video: Inventec's Moblin-based MediaPhone shown at Computex

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 3rd 2009 at 1:24PM

You may be doing your best to plug your ears and pretend that Moblin's no big deal, but blissful ignorance is only effective for so long. At a Moblin press event over at Computex, the Inventec handset you see pictured above was demonstrated. Reportedly, the MediaPhone was a working unit based around Intel's forthcoming Moorestown platform, and the talking head made it clear that we wouldn't see a "netbook experience" simply shoved in here. We also get the idea that this particular device is just the beginning of a short to medium list of similar products, but there's obviously no word yet on what other handset / MID / UMPC makers are swallowing the Moblin pill. Live demonstration video is just past the break.

Continue reading Video: Inventec's Moblin-based MediaPhone shown at Computex

Modu's next handset to sport a touchscreen?

by Darren Murph, posted May 23rd 2009 at 10:35AM

Modu may be down, but unlike one Ricky Hatton, it ain't out. We haven't heard a whole heck of a lot from the niche handset maker since it handed out pink slips to around one-forth of its workforce, but now that things are looking a bit brighter, it seems as if innovation is back in full force. In fact, a new report on the outfit has it that its next cellphone will pack a touchscreen in order to fit the mold of today's finger-friendly array. Aside from being "iPhone like" (its words, not ours), little else is known about the forthcoming device, though we're told that development should be complete in around eight months. So, anyone wagering that R&D accelerates that just a touch to get this thing out by CES 2010?

[Via Talking Mobile]

ViewSonic throws caution to the wind, plans own 3G smartphone

by Darren Murph, posted May 11th 2009 at 9:27PM

Take it from Garmin-Asus -- making a smartphone ain't exactly easy sauce. Regardless of the facts, ViewSonic has decided it prudent to jump head first into the tumultuous waters known only as "the smartphone industry," announcing today plans to create its very own offering that'll undoubtedly compete with the likes of HTC, Samsung, LG, Apple and the rest of the gang. The portfolio addition brings it a major step closer to realizing a "3- to 300-inch product line," but outside of a launch pattern, no details whatsoever were dished out. We're told that China will get the phone first, with Europe and the Americas following suit. We'll go ahead and start the vaporware watch now, just so we aren't caught off guard when there's nary a mention of this at CES 2010.

Samsung Eternity retrofitted within NES controller, has never looked better

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 28th 2009 at 8:41AM

Not that we've never had the pleasure of seeing an NES phone mod before, but there's just something especially elegant about this one. The not-at-all-ancient Samsung a867 Eternity was chosen by one Taylor Merrill to be shoved inside of a now-defunct Nintendo Entertainment System controller. The result, naturally, is what you see above -- er, half of it, anyway. For a look at the whole thing in its entirety, hop on past the break and mash play. Per usual, we take no responsibility for damage dealt to your retro game consoles, existing handsets or pride should you attempt to replicate.

[Thanks, stagueve]

Continue reading Samsung Eternity retrofitted within NES controller, has never looked better

ASUS P565 apparently available, unboxed

by Ross Miller, posted Apr 24th 2009 at 8:49PM

Lazarus be praised! The last time we heard about ASUS' P565 was back in February, when we mourned its sad and supposed demise. Turns out that's not the case, as we've now got a hands-on with the GPS / PDA phone from Polish site ASUSPDA, who claims (at least via machine translation) that it's been on sale for several months. The plethora of product / unboxing / interface pics look mighty legit, and as for the impressions, the reviewer seems very quite fond of it. Compliments are given for its general performance and design, though he does note the Glide interface isn't as seamless as you'd expect with a 816MHz processor inside. If you're interested in finding out for yourself, it looks like you can order the GSM / WCDMA-enabled device from Qbit for around $566.

[Thanks, Jackob]

Read - Unboxing
Read - Product page

Engadget's recession antidote: win an AT&T TL92278 DECT 6.0 phone!

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 23rd 2009 at 12:00PM

This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff or companies stop sending things. Today we've got an AT&T TL92278 Bluetooth-enabled DECT 6.0 home telephone for those of you not quite ready to kick the landline habit. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Hooray for free stuff!

Big thanks to AT&T for providing the gear!

The rules:

Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) AT&T TL92278 Bluetooth-enabled DECT 6.0 home telephone. Approximate retail value is $89.95.
If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
Entries can be submitted until Thursday, April 23rd, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Full rules can be found here.

Keepin' it real fake, part CXCVIII: TAG Heuer Meridiist gets way-too-low MSRP

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 16th 2009 at 2:18PM

You know how we know this here TAG Heuer Meridiist isn't the real deal? Not because it isn't sexy, and not because we don't really, really want to believe. No -- it's because the authentic handset can't be found for under five or six grand, while this little impostor can be had for the unfathomably low price of just $290. So yeah, you'll miss out on the fancy box and veritable bragging rights, but you will get twin SIM slots and a choice of black or red "leather." You know, come to think of it, maybe we would be willing to deal with a fake in order to save a few mortgage payments...

[Via Tehnozona]

Dell to launch smartphones in China by end of year

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 14th 2009 at 10:28AM

After having its prototypes rejected a few times over by carriers here in America, it seems that Michael Dell is taking his smartphone initiative overseas. 'Course, he'll need something mighty special to outshine Lenovo's OPhone over in China, but we digress. Hot on the heels of rumors galore, Reuters is reporting that Dell is indeed aiming to launch multiple smartphones in the Chinese market before the dawn of 2010. A pair of analysts have asserted that the firm is working with Chi Mei Communications -- an unlisted unit of Taiwan's Hon Hai -- on the hardware front, while China-based Red Office is engineering the operating system. Not surprisingly, spokespeople from these outfits are all remaining mum for the moment, but we are told that the US and Europe are on Dell's list of next-up launch markets assuming the China rollout goes well.

[Via MobileBurn]

Screen Grabs: Verizon Hub tells of Serena's galavanting

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 31st 2009 at 3:56PM

Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

We didn't happen to spot Nelly's shiny new BlackBerry Storm on last night's Gossip Girl, but we did see that cast-wide Verizon contract rubbed in our faces again. Verizon's newest non-cellphone (that'd be the Hub) made a brief appearance at the tail end of the episode to inform Lily van der Woodsen that her dearest Serena had reverted to her old carefree ways and hopped a private jet to Spain. Hope she took a worldphone over there, else making that "I'm here!" call is going to be just a wee bit difficult in GSM world.

Gallery: Screen Grabs: Verizon Hub tells of Serena's galavanting

Meizu M8 unboxing and hands-on!

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Mar 27th 2009 at 1:33PM

Yes, folks -- things are about to get really real. We have managed, through a series of delicate negotiations, to get our hands on an honest-to-goodness Meizu M8 -- heretofore the stuff of pure legend. At first glance, the build quality of the phone is actually pretty decent -- it's mostly plastic, but everything seems to snap together firmly. The battery (which is removable, naturally) is quite large, though we haven't had a chance to test its life in any significant way. Of course, the real showpiece here is the software -- which admittedly owes its entire existence to the iPhone. We've found that it's quite snappy, and the styling and functionality of the UI is really kind of impressive (though this did spend a long time in the oven). Still, the phone's KIRF roots are clear -- you can judge for yourself in the gallery below.

Thanks to the good folks at MP4 Nation for the hookup!

Gallery: Meizu M8 unboxing and hands-on!

How would you change Verizon's Hub?

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 21st 2009 at 1:09AM

Ah, the Verizon Hub. A curious beast this day and age, wouldn't you say? For those of you who spent the better part of Super Bowl Sunday setting one of these crazy contraptions up in your domicile, we're eager to hear of your experiences. Has it made you want to throw away your cellphone? Are you already regretting the contract you're now locked into? Are the widgets sufficiently useful? We found ourselves a bit torn as to whether or not the Hub was even a device worth considering given the monthly fee attached, but now that it's sat in your place for well over a month, we're anticipating some better feedback from those who've used it a time or two. Spill your guts below.

iriver WAVE-HOME internet phone thingamajig seen in the wild

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 12th 2009 at 2:02AM

Much like Sony's Rolly, we're still struggling to piece together exactly how iriver's WAVE-HOME device is supposed to revolutionize our lives. And, you know, figure out what exactly it does. Thanks to a unit floating out in South Korea (in black attire, no less), we're given a decent look of the internet phone / do-it-all home appliance getting unboxed and setup for the first time. Aside from phoning people, we're told that the handset can also double as a TV remote or controller for a radio / music player. We're still eager to get our own palms around one of these curious creations, but for now, you can tap the read link to get a few JPEGs closer.

[Via Portable Alliance]