Engadget

I've got you under my skin: Huawei to cover Android in new Emotion UI

Joseph Volpe — Mon, 28 May 2012 12:02:00 EST

In the animal kingdom, reptiles shed their skins. In the mobile marketplace, Android smartphones do just the opposite. So, in keeping with the natural order, Huawei's preparing a June coming out party for a UX of its very own, dubbed Emotion UI. The Chinese manufacturer's no stranger to custom interfaces, as we saw at CES 2012 with the optional 3D launcher it employed on the Ascend P line. But as the company continues its trek towards major mobile player status, certain stock perks were sure to fall by the wayside. It's a bid for differentiation that should arguably "enhance" the user experience, but if forums and comment sections are to be believed, this great leap forward is actually a devolution of the worst kind. Hit up the source below to gander at the garbled word constructions of good 'ol Google translate.

I've got you under my skin: Huawei to cover Android in new Emotion UI originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kanzi: ZTE's 3D UX for ICS handsets

Joseph Volpe — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:46:00 EST

To skin or not to skin? That's hardly ever a question for Android OEMs. And, in the case of some Chinese manufacturers, that mark of software differentiation comes in the form of three dimensions. We've already seen Huawei trot out its (optional) 3D UX for the Ascend P line, and now it appears ZTE's ready to follow suit with a custom interface powered by Rightware. The Kanzi UI, as it's called, will come pre-loaded on all of the company's smartphones currently shipping with Ice Cream Sandwich, treating users to a 3D homescreen experience and giving developers a unified platform to port their designs. It's good news if you're a fan of that overlaid visual gimmickry, but we much prefer our Google desserts vanilla and without any toppings. Hit up the break to check out the official presser.

Continue reading Kanzi: ZTE's 3D UX for ICS handsets

Kanzi: ZTE's 3D UX for ICS handsets originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 May 2012 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leap Motion reveals super-accurate motion control tech, $70 device to change the UI game

Michael Gorman — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 EST

In many respects, Microsoft has led the charge towards a future of gesture-based controls with its Kinect, and other tech giants like Samsung and Apple are getting in on the action, too. The move to motion controls isn't limited to the big boys, however. Leap Motion has created a new device, called the Leap, it claims is 200 times more accurate than existing technology and will take gesture controls to the next level.

It's about the size of a pack of gum, and once connected to your computer via USB, it creates a eight-cubic-foot virtual workspace. Within that area, it tracks all ten of your fingers simultaneously to within 1/100 of a millimeter -- that level of accuracy allows for rudimentary gestures like pinch-to-zoom and more complex actions like manipulating 3D-rendered objects. Naturally, the company isn't telling much about the black magic making it happen, but Leap Motion claims that its software can be embedded in almost anything with an onboard computer, from phones to refrigerators. Users can customize it to suit their needs with custom gestures and sensitivity settings, in addition to chaining multiple Leap devices together to create a larger workspace. Plus, Leap Motion has created an SDK for devs to create Leap-compatible applications and an app discovery platform to distribute them to others. That means the Leap can work in a variety of use cases, from simply navigating your desktop to gaming and computer-aided design. The best part? Leap brings you this next-gen UX for a mere $69.99, and a select few can pre-order them now, with the full roll-out coming this winter. Full details follow in the PR below, and you can see the Leap in action in the videos after the break.

Continue reading Leap Motion reveals super-accurate motion control tech, $70 device to change the UI game

Leap Motion reveals super-accurate motion control tech, $70 device to change the UI game originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Interview: Nokia's Peter Skillman talks design (video)

Myriam Joire — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:33:00 EST

Peter Skillman knows a thing or two about making beautiful devices. He's Palm's former VP of design, and he's the man behind Nokia's glorious N9 -- its look, feel and user experience. We bumped into him at Nokia World here today and asked him what went into the N9's -- and by association the Lumia 800's -- design. He shared quite a few interesting details with us, including tidbits about the "curvature continuous form" of MeeGo's icons, Nokia's Pure font and the nuances of the N9's sinuous taper. We even discussed the Play 360 Bluetooth / NFC speaker, which follows the same aesthetic principles. Take a look at our exclusive video interview after the break.

Continue reading The Engadget Interview: Nokia's Peter Skillman talks design (video)

The Engadget Interview: Nokia's Peter Skillman talks design (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel Ultrabooks to sell for under $1000, take a page from ASUS' design book?

Joseph Volpe — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:46:00 EST

Back at Computex, Intel whipped out its magic 8-ball to predict a "you may rely on it" 40 percent share for the upcoming Ultrabooks market. While we can neither confirm, nor deny the company's powers of retail clairvoyance, we can point you to a purported bill of materials that would usher its line in at a sub-$1000 price. The report from Digitimes doesn't lay out the specific assembly costs, but pegs the chipmaker's 18mm and 21mm thick laptops at $493 - $710 and $475 - $650, respectively. Intel is also reportedly meeting with manufacturers in Taipei next week to figure out a way to deliver on the budget-friendly goal, aimed at producing 11 - 13-inch models for the thinner entries and girthier 14 - 17-inch models. If you're wondering what sort of form factor the company's after, take a glance at ASUS' UX21 and UX31 ultrabooks -- supposed reference designs for the svelte, Ivy Bridge-powered computers. We hope that's the only bit of strategy Intel cops, otherwise we're all in for a disappointingly priced ultraslim future.

Intel Ultrabooks to sell for under $1000, take a page from ASUS' design book? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Andy Hertzfeld, 'former Macintosh wizard,' designed the Google+ Project

Darren Murph — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:24:00 EST

Google+ looks... a little different. Almost as if it didn't even come from Google. And those drag-and-drop circles? Luscious. Turns out, there's a reason for everything, and he goes by Andy Hertzfeld. According to an investigative piece put up by Wired, Andy's actually credited as being the "original Mac guy," responsible for software and user interface design while working for Apple between 1979 and 1984. He picked up a new role at Goog in 2005, but according to the report, "he had previously felt constrained because its design standards didn't allow for individual creativity." That all changed with Emerald Sea, a diddy that would eventually become known as the search giant's most ambitious foray yet into the wide world of social networking. It's bruited that Andy was given the freedom to go wild whilst designing Google+, and it shows -- the interface throughout is about as intuitive as one could ever hope. 'Course, it takes more than good design to seal a project, but there's no doubt that this is one heck of a start. The rest of the story? Tucked away in that source link, just south of here.

Andy Hertzfeld, 'former Macintosh wizard,' designed the Google+ Project originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS UX21 to be priced at less than $1,000, says Commercial Times

Vlad Savov — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 03:22:00 EST

The ASUS UX21, that 11.6-inch cake slicer that doubles up as an ultrathin laptop, is coming in September with a price tag of less than $1,000. That's according to the Commercial Times, which cites supplier sources in identifying ASUS' aggressive pricing strategy. Word is that the Taiwanese company is aiming to price the UX21 at 80 to 90 percent of the cost of Apple's competing products, namely the MacBook Air family. Of course, with a second-gen Intel Core i5 (or i7) CPU inside it, ASUS' new laptop has a significant spec advantage over Apple's similarly aluminum-encased laptops, so we'd argue simply matching the MBA's price will ensure the UX21 flies off store shelves. ASUS has a fine recent history of breaking through price barriers, as shown by the $200 Eee PC X101 that was announced alongside the UX21 at Computex, so if anyone was going to give us a 17mm-thick slab of up-to-date gorgeousness for less than $1,000, it probably had to be Jonney Shih's crew.

ASUS UX21 to be priced at less than $1,000, says Commercial Times originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 03:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia sneaks a look at new Symbian UI during China event

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:52:00 EST

Perched behind Nokia's head of smart devices, Jo Harlow, at a recent event in China is what appears to be a new home screen on an N8, yet more evidence -- hot on the heels of the company's MWC event -- that Espoo still has plenty of love in the wings for its dead-platform-walking. Notably, it appears they're looking at migrating key information to the top of the screen to create a dedicated status bar, which would presumably stay visible as you navigate from screen to screen -- akin to most other platforms on the market -- accompanied by a string of soft button icons at the bottom. Interestingly, the UI in some respects mirrors what we saw on the leaked shots of the apparently killed N9 -- small black status bar and icons along the bottom -- which would seem to tell us one of two things: either the N9 was a Symbian device all along, or the company had planned on standardizing UI elements between its future Symbian and MeeGo roadmaps. Either way, this looks like a nice improvement... and in all likelihood, a far cry from what we'll see when these guys start busting out Windows Phone 7 devices.

Nokia sneaks a look at new Symbian UI during China event originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Emblaze First Else UX engineer embraced by HP / Palm, magic ensues

Richard Lai — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:21:00 EST

Remember that day when Emblaze wowed the world with its First Else "death of main menu" smartphone? What a shame, eh? While it's unlikely that said Linux handset will ever be resurrected, there's a small chance that bits of its legacy will be passed onto other products. For instance, a recent LinkedIn newsletter led us to Itai Vonshak, who was one of the main engineers behind the architecture that powered the First Else's brilliant, mesmerizing UI. Now, according to his profile, our man has recently moved into HP / Palm's comfy little house to do UX strategy. Whether this means webOS will get a slice of that Minority Report action, we don't know; but it'll be interesting to see what Vonshak will surprise us with at the HP / Palm event next month. For now, there's a hands-on video of the First Else after the break for old time's sake.

Continue reading Emblaze First Else UX engineer embraced by HP / Palm, magic ensues

Emblaze First Else UX engineer embraced by HP / Palm, magic ensues originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIM buys TAT, BlackBerry UI in danger of becoming awesome

Vlad Savov — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 07:37:00 EST

This is not a joke, in fact it's quite official. Research In Motion has just confirmed the acquisition of Swedish UI design company TAT, which will soon be "bringing their talent to the BlackBerry PlayBook and smartphone platforms." You'll be familiar with TAT as the team that helped polish the original Android interface on the T-Mobile G1 as well as from more recent UI design projects -- the important thing is that these guys have shown they know what they're doing. We have to admit, pairing the rock solid foundation of the QNX-built PlayBook OS with some top-level spit-shine from a company specializing in exactly that has us legitimately excited. Who knows, maybe we'll even see a BlackBerry with a user interface that someone other than a BBMer could love.

[Thanks, Rasmus]

RIM buys TAT, BlackBerry UI in danger of becoming awesome originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 07:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's Peter Skillman talks design priorities, gives us hope for a sunny MeeGo future

Vlad Savov — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 16:26:00 EST

A day before jetting off to London to commence his role as MeeGo's head of User Experience and Services, Peter Skillman was kind enough to sit down with the design junkies at ZURB and dish out his thoughts on what makes for good mobile design and where it is that most companies trip up. Lest you forget, this is the dude that was in charge of putting the Palm Pre together, so he's not exactly without credence in these circles. Which is a good thing, because he doesn't bother with pulling any punches. Peter namedrops Motorola's Motoblur as an unnecessary layer on top of Android, criticizes the failure of different groups within companies to communicate effectively, and finishes off his treatise with a list of priorities for successful design: consistency, emotional content, and a paranoid fear of mediocrity. Inspiring stuff, we're sure you'll agree. Other tidbits of import include the fact that Pete had to withstand nine days of interviews before getting the Nokia job, and also this memorable quote on the topic of smartphones: "if you're not succeeding at the high end, then you're absolutely doomed to failure." We've been saying the same thing for ages and it's encouraging to know that Nokia now has an exec with his finger on the market's pulse. Now let's see him deliver on those words. You'll find the full interview at the source link below.

Nokia's Peter Skillman talks design priorities, gives us hope for a sunny MeeGo future originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's VP of Design has a plan to crack the US market with MeeGo, and we're all accomplices

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 04:31:00 EST

One look at the N8 and E7 should be enough to convince the casual observer that Nokia is serious about design. The man behind Nokia's hardware and software design for the last year is Marko Ahtisaari, Senior Vice President of Design and former CEO and co-founder of Dopplr. We asked Marco what it would take to be successful in the US market. His response, while not direct, was still illuminating and gives us implicit insight into how MeeGo, not Symbian, might be Nokia's near-term play to conquer the American smartphone market. While gesturing to the N8, Marko had this to say:

"In the US I think it will require a somewhat more consequent approach in the high end. No matter how smooth and fast we make this, and we improve the camera -- this is the best camera right -- it still won't cut though enough until we do an operating system level innovation. It will do extremely well in the market but it's not a breakthrough device."

Marko later added this clarification:

"In order to cut through in the media environment, I think you need to do operating system level innovation. The products will be cut-through successes in the market, in people's hands, in share of palms and share of thumbs it will be successful. But in order for it to cut through and people to say, whoa, why didn't somebody else think about that and that's kind of what Nokia should do, it will be easier to cut through, from the media point of view, with MeeGo."

In other words, it's the media (read: us), in Marko's opinion, that will affect consumer opinion by influencing enthusiasts (read: you) who will in turn evangelize Nokia's products throughout the US. MeeGo, not Symbian, is the product that will generate that degree of buzz and excitement. Marko finished by adding, "My goal is that very soon it will be cool to upgrade to the Nokia."

So, what will Nokia's high-end MeeGo devices look like? Click through to find out.

Continue reading Nokia's VP of Design has a plan to crack the US market with MeeGo, and we're all accomplices

Nokia's VP of Design has a plan to crack the US market with MeeGo, and we're all accomplices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 04:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia hires Peter Skillman, former Palm Design VP, as MeeGo user experience chief (update: confirmed)

Vlad Savov — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:45:00 EST

Now this, this is what we call exciting. Nokia has managed to scoop up Peter Skillman from the wreckage of the HP/Palm merger. One of the many senior VPs to leave Palm upon its assimilation into the HP empire, Peter spent 11 years with his previous employer and was in charge of the design team that produced the deliciously curvaceous Palm Pre. Now at Nokia, he'll be heading up the user experience and services division for MeeGo, which means that if you weren't excited for the platform already, you've now got a very good reason to be.

Update: We met with Marko Ahtisaari, Senior Vice President of Design at Nokia, to get comment on this story. His response? "Right, I just hired him." So why not announce it, we asked, this is pretty big news? According to Marko, "We have products today, products are more interesting. Peter is looking after the user experience design of MeeGo and services and is a great new addition to the team." Marko's team, to be specific. To us this seems like another component that could help Nokia break into the US market with MeeGo.

[Thanks, Dave]

Continue reading Nokia hires Peter Skillman, former Palm Design VP, as MeeGo user experience chief (update: confirmed)

Nokia hires Peter Skillman, former Palm Design VP, as MeeGo user experience chief (update: confirmed) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson X10 family to get Android 2.1 in 'Q4 2010'

Vlad Savov — Wed, 05 May 2010 08:24:00 EST

The Xperia X10, one of the big mindshare-grabbing devices of the smartphone world, made us wait a cool six months between its November announcement and wide retail availability in April. One of the secret hopes while all that waiting was going on was that perhaps SE would surprise us and upgrade the dusty old Android 1.6 base installation to a fresh and creamy Eclair (2.1) or even a frosty Froyo (2.2) treat shortly after launch. Time to lay those dreams to rest, dear friends, as Sony Ericsson has come with an official schedule for upgrading the firmware on the Xperia X10 and its X10 mini and X10 mini pro siblings, which places the Android 2.1 delivery in the fourth quarter of 2010 -- and knowing the company that probably means closer to Christmas than Halloween. All we can say is you'd better really like that UX platform a great deal, because it'll be the only thing you'll be seeing for quite a while on Sony Ericsson's Googlephones.

Sony Ericsson X10 family to get Android 2.1 in 'Q4 2010' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 08:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Symbian^4 makes video debut, fails to wow

Vlad Savov — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:11:00 EST

Maybe it's the lack of a banging soundtrack, but we're finding ourselves somewhat underwhelmed by these first video appearances by the highly anticipated Symbian^4 user interface. What we're shown is a now familiar layout for touchscreen devices, with a trio of home screens that can be customized with widgets and live information trinkets such as a clock and a weather app. It is, as promised, very touch-centric, but it is by no means revolutionary. Both videos are titled as mere "first glimpse" offerings, however, so the eternal optimist in us likes to believe that there'll be plenty more to get excited about as we move closer to that early 2011 launch. See them after the break and let us know what you think.

Continue reading Symbian^4 makes video debut, fails to wow

Symbian^4 makes video debut, fails to wow originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson lets XPERIA X10 videos and press shots loose

Vlad Savov — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:16:00 EST

If you weren't up all night following Engadget (and why wouldn't you be?), the first place you'll want to visit this morning is our extensive hands-on of Sony Ericsson's inaugural foray into Android territory. There you'll find the full XPERIA X10 announcement details and spec sheet, which is highlighted by a 4-inch capacitive display and a deeply customized user interface. With plenty of time to go before that first quarter of 2010 release date, though, we thought we'd get the anticipation revved up a few notches with a selection of handsome images of the device below, and a pair of videos -- one a spit-polished advertising promo, the other a useful demo of Speed Forge 3D -- after the break.

Gallery: XPERIA X10 official pictures

Continue reading Sony Ericsson lets XPERIA X10 videos and press shots loose

Filed under: Handsets, Sony Ericsson, GSM, HSDPA, Android

Sony Ericsson lets XPERIA X10 videos and press shots loose originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson lets XPERIA X10 videos and press shots loose

Vlad Savov — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:16:00 EST

Gallery: XPERIA X10 official pictures

Continue reading Sony Ericsson lets XPERIA X10 videos and press shots loose

Filed under: Cellphones

Sony Ericsson lets XPERIA X10 videos and press shots loose originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 announced, we go hands-on

Vlad Savov — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST

The first Android device from Sony Ericsson may have undergone an upgrade in the naming department, jumping from X3 all the way to XPERIA X10 (probably to avoid confusion with Nokia's X3 handset), but what lies under the hood is reassuringly in line with what we've been hearing. That is to say, a 1GHz Snapdragon chip from Qualcomm, wide 4-inch capacitive touch display, 8.1 megapixel camera with LED flash, and a thoroughly tricked out Android skin named Rachael. Sony Ericsson stressed to us the symbiotic importance of both the new flagship device and "open OS" UI -- they see the X10 as the patriarch of a whole new family of handsets, which we can expect to see in the first half of 2010, all sporting the beauty of Rachael and perhaps helping to bridge the gap between featurephones and, well, more advanced featurephones. So don't be shy, come along to Engadget Classic to see our full and uncensored first impressions of both, along with hands-on video and pictures.

Filed under: Handsets, Sony Ericsson, Android

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 announced, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 announced, we go hands-on

Vlad Savov — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST

The first Android device from Sony Ericsson may have undergone an upgrade in the naming department, jumping from X3 all the way to XPERIA X10 (probably to avoid confusion with Nokia's X3 handset), but what lies under the hood is reassuringly in line with what we've been hearing. That is to say, a 1GHz Snapdragon chip from Qualcomm, wide 4-inch capacitive touch display, 8.1 megapixel camera with LED flash, and a thoroughly tricked out Android skin named Rachael. Sony Ericsson stressed to us the symbiotic importance of both the new flagship device and "open OS" UI -- the X10 was presented as the patriarch of a whole new family of handsets, which we can expect to see in the first half of 2010, all sporting the beauty of Rachael and perhaps helping to bridge the gap between featurephones and, well, more advanced featurephones. So don't be shy, come along past the break to see our uncensored first impressions of both, along with hands-on video and pictures.

Gallery: Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 announced, we go hands on

Continue reading Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 announced, we go hands-on

Filed under: Cellphones

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 announced, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba NB205 netbook reviewed, loved

Nilay Patel — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:55:00 EST

We already knew the cats at Laptop were into the Toshiba NB205 / Dynabook UX netbook's aesthetic, and now they're back with a full review saying it "breaks the mold." Yep, even though it's packing the same 1.6GHz Atom internals as every other XP netbook out there, it's apparently a step above, with a tight design, kickin' keyboard, and 8.5 hours of battery life for $399. Of course, that's in contrast to some other reviews of the Dynabook UX we've seen, which called the keyboard "cramped," but it certainly seems like the NB205 is at least worth a look for potential netbook shoppers not put off by the upcoming CULV explosion.

Filed under: Laptops

Toshiba NB205 netbook reviewed, loved originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba's 10-inch Dynabook UX netbook gets hands-on treatment

Darren Murph — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:36:00 EST

Toshiba's Dynabook UX (or NB200, if you prefer) just popped on our radar last week, and already we're seeing netbook craving individuals in Japan get their paws on 'em. The 10-inch machine ain't too different than the other alternatives out there -- save for the N280 processor, which will never show its true potential without a GN40 chipset riding shotgun. At any rate, early impressions of the machine have been rather positive, with onlookers digging the design and the chiclet-style keyboard. Personally, we're a bit bored from afar, but hit the read link to have a look and make a judgment of your own.

Filed under: Laptops

Toshiba's 10-inch Dynabook UX netbook gets hands-on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba 10-inch Dynabook UX's got talent

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:09:00 EST

How much would you pay for an Intel Atom N280-based netbook? $300? $400? How about $600. That's the tax-inclusive starting price for Toshiba's 10.1-inch Dynabook UX followup to its dowdy NB100. While ditching the wooly-eyebrowed chub infecting most 1.6GHz N280 netbooks, the UX remains saddled with 945GSE graphics (not GN40), a 10.1-inch, LED backlit 1024 x 600 pixel resolution and 160GB disk. A bit steep considering CULV thin-and-lights are about to flood the market. Get up tight with the Tosh chicklets after the break.

Continue reading Toshiba 10-inch Dynabook UX's got talent

Filed under: Laptops

Toshiba 10-inch Dynabook UX's got talent originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS U / UX Series laptops hands-on

Darren Murph — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:59:00 EST

Maybe it's just because we visited that heart-stealing Eee PC 1008HA right before these buggers, but for whatever reason, ASUS' new U / UX lineup just didn't seem as sexy in person as they did in the press shots. We will say, however, that the light-up trackpad was one of the more whiz-bang things we've seen in awhile, though we're still skeptical of its actual utility. Curiously enough, one of the models on display even lacked letters on the chiclet style keyboard, and while we know good and well it won't ship like that, we were kind of fond of it... in a weird, nerd-type way. At any rate, feel free to dig in to the gallery below, and be sure to mind the ASUS rep waxing the fingerprints from the bezel -- you'll be doing lots of that should you select one of these.

Gallery: ASUS U / UX Series laptops hands-on

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS U / UX Series laptops hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS announces stylish U/UX series ultra-thin laptops

Ross Miller — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:31:00 EST

Looking to add some allure to its portable lineup -- as if a model named Lamborghini wasn't enough -- ASUS has announced the U and UX series of ultra-thin laptops, expected to launch sometime in Q2. Both feature an illuminated chiclet keyboard and auto-adjusting LED backlit display. The U series also features a 15.6-inch glossy LCD and a touchpad that uses progressively fading lights to follow your fingertips. Under the hood, there's an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, NVIDIA GeForce G105M, up to 500GB HDD, and Altec Lansing speakers with SRS true surround sound. We don't have nearly as much information on the UX, unfortunately, but we do know it's sporting a slot-in optical disc drive. Full press release after the break.

Continue reading ASUS announces stylish U/UX series ultra-thin laptops

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS announces stylish U/UX series ultra-thin laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VAIO UX gets hot-rodded with Core 2 Duo mod

Nilay Patel — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:02:00 EST

Sony's VAIO UX UMPC is definitely one of the sexier handheld PCs out there, but it's never been accused of being a rocket -- even the latest models only offer a lonely single-core 1.2GHz Core 2 Solo for your $2500, and since the chip is soldered onto the board, swapping it out for a Core 2 Duo isn't exactly easy, requiring an infrared soldering station and plenty of experience swapping chips. Nevertheless, it can be done, and Anh Nguyen from the Micro PC Talk forums pulled it off, upgrading his unit to a 1.2GHz U7600 Core 2 Duo with no ill effects or excess heat -- just some better benchmarks and hardcore modder bragging rights. Check out benchmarks after the break, and hit the read link for more.

[Thanks, Logan]

Continue reading VAIO UX gets hot-rodded with Core 2 Duo mod

Filed under: Handhelds

VAIO UX gets hot-rodded with Core 2 Duo mod originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony UX handheld gets outfitted with makeshift gamepad

Donald Melanson — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:50:00 EST

We've seen gamepads hacked for use with handhelds before, but they haven't always exactly been the most elegant solutions. That's happily not the case with this latest mod by Micro PC Talk forum member Dan Middle, however, who outfitted his Sony VAIO UX handheld with a discreet but usable gamepad attachment. The "hack" was made slightly easier by the use of a Genius USB mini gamepad, which was foldable to begin with, although Dan apparently did still have to hack it up a bit and attach it to a dummy CompactFlash card, which conveniently slots in right next to the USB port. As you can see in the video after the break, the setup appears to work quite well and, best of all, doesn't require any modifications to the pricey UX itself.

[Via Slash Gear]

Continue reading Sony UX handheld gets outfitted with makeshift gamepad

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Sony UX handheld gets outfitted with makeshift gamepad originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 May 2008 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's VAIO UX490N now on sale: yours for $2500

Darren Murph — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 05:49:00 EST

Merely weeks after Sony let slip a user's manual for its UX490N handheld, the unit is now (apparently) official. Granted, it's not like the specs are a surprise at this point, but the UMPC will indeed pack a 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Solo U2200 ULV processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a pair of integrated cameras (0.3-megapixels in the front, 1.3-megapixels in the rear), a fingerprint scanner, 48GB SSD, 4.5-inch 1,024 x 600 resolution touchscreen and a GMA 950 graphics set to boot. Furthermore, you'll also find built-in Bluetooth / WiFi, an Ethernet port, audio in / out jacks, an MS Duo expansion slot, WWAN support (AT&T), Vista Business and a Li-ion good for 1.5 to 3.5-hours. Enticed? Claim yours now for $2,499.99.

[Via MicroPCTalk]

Filed under: Handhelds

Sony's VAIO UX490N now on sale: yours for $2500 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Nov 2007 05:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Details for UX490N handheld show up on Sony's site

Donald Melanson — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:29:00 EST

While Sony's apparently yet to get official with it, the company has let slip a user guide and marketing materials for its hereto unheard of UX490N handheld, which thankfully provide plenty of details on the device. Like the most recent model introduced in Japan, this one packs a 1.2GHz Core 2 Solo U2200 processor, although it drops the SSD storage down to 48GB from 64GB. Otherwise, you can expect the usual 4.5-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, along with 1GB of RAM, Intel GMA 950 graphics, and built-in support for AT&T's EDGE network, among other densely-packed features. What's more, it seems that Sony will also be offering the handheld in a VGN-UX490N/C model, which throws in a Bluetooth GPS receiver and an extended battery. No word on a price or release date just yet, but we're guessing those details should be coming before too long.

[Thanks, benz145]

Filed under: Handhelds

Details for UX490N handheld show up on Sony's site originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Medion working on MD RIM 1000 UMPC with slide-out keyboard?

Paul Miller — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 10:51:00 EST

All we've got to go on here is a grainy scan from some Medion press materials being handed out at IFA, but if this new MD RIM 1000 UMPC proves to be for reals we'll have another welcome contestant in the slide-out keyboard space -- which is where we've been at all along when it comes to UMPCs. The specs aren't bad neither, with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, onboard GPS, DVB-T tuner and webcam. In fact, if this thing manages to weigh less than thirty pounds and cost less than twenty grand we're pretty sure Medion has got themselves a winner -- or should at least be able to give Sony's UX and Averatec's forthcoming AHI a bit of competition.

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Video, Tablet PCs

Medion working on MD RIM 1000 UMPC with slide-out keyboard? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Sep 2006 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony drops the UX280P, with twice the RAM and HDD

Paul Miller — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 11:30:00 EST

After mysteriously pulling all mentions of the UX180P from their online store a week or so ago -- they claimed they were merely out of stock -- Sony is back with the UX280P, which doubles both the RAM and the HDD size from that of the UX180P. Along with the new 40GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM, we hope they found some time to refresh that debilitating software we encountered in our hands-on preview of the 180. The processor remains the same ol' Core Solo U1200, and there's still EDGE, WiFi and Bluetooth radios. Unfortunately, the price has now reached the $2000 mark, so you best have cash to burn or a real good excuse for some UMPC+QWERTY action, or you're just going to look silly.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

Filed under: Handhelds, Tablet PCs

Sony drops the UX280P, with twice the RAM and HDD originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Sep 2006 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands on with Sony's would-be UMPC killer, the UX180P

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 17:45:00 EST

Sony is never a company to back down from raising a few eyebrows or ruffling a few feathers in the standards game, and so shall it be with the not-quite-UMPC UX180P. There's little question that the UX whips up on the current crop of UMPCs in the marketplace, sporting a more powerful processor, higher-res screen, integrated keyboard and EDGE -- but at $1800, it needs to. And right there lies the million-dollar question: at almost double the cost of a UMPC, does the UX serve its function? And what exactly is its function, for that matter? Read on for our take on the answers, along with some in-depth imagery.

Continue reading Hands on with Sony's would-be UMPC killer, the UX180P

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops, Tablet PCs, Wireless

Hands on with Sony's would-be UMPC killer, the UX180P originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jul 2006 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's Vaio UX90 gets 16GB flash drive and mobile TV

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 07:54:00 EST

So you thought Sony's VAIO U with Core Solo was pretty hot, right, but that hefty chub and feedback-free keyboard were keeping you on the fence? We understand. Well, how would you feel if Sony aced the hard disk in favor of a silent running 16GB solid-state flash drive which bumps battery life by 13%, drops the weight by 29g to 492g, massively accelerates app launches, and should cut XP's resume and boot times by half? No, not doing it for ya? Then how about some hot OneSeg mobile digital television squeezed in for some on-the-go entertainment? Well Sony did just that today with the introduction of their Vaio UX90. Still, you'll have to be ready to pop for the ¥209,800 (about $1,800) when these drop July 3rd in Japan. But if you lived in Nippon, you might just bite, eh? Thought so.

[Via Impress]

Filed under: Handhelds

Sony's Vaio UX90 gets 16GB flash drive and mobile TV originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jun 2006 07:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vaio UX reviewed

Ryan Block — Thu, 25 May 2006 15:48:00 EST

Even though Sony prematurely created -- then killed -- the UMPC market a couple years back with their U-series ultramobiles. Many seemed stoked to learn that they're back at their old tricks with their Vaio UX "Micro PC," and none too soon with competition from Samsung, TabletKiosk, and Asus. DWT got their hands on a UX and gave it a thorough once-over; seems like they were quite enamored by the 4.5-inch 1024 x 600 display (that sometimes requires use of zoom keys to actually read that tiny, tiny text), and the Japanese version's IC-card reader for SuiCa. Unfortunately the keyboard is supposedly quite terrible, with "almost no tactile feedback from key presses and typing is a real chore," and the battery life wasn't doing much more than 2 hours, dropping out at 1.5 hours under relatively heavy use. Basically it doesn't sound like they're recommending the UX all that much, but as with any Micro / ultramobile PC, if you really want to pony up the couple of grand to get one you've probably got a very decent reason why.

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops, Tablet PCs

Vaio UX reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 May 2006 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Podcast 081 - 05.23.06

Randall Bennett — Tue, 23 May 2006 13:00:00 EST

What a week for product launches! Seems like out of the gate past E3 everybody wanted to get theirs out the door: Apple loosed the MacBook, Motorola and Verizon launched the Q, Sprint and Verizon launched the Palm Treo 700p, and Sony launched their UX Micro PC. But it wasn't all rosy new toys for everyone to play with, Creative and Apple are heading to court to go toe to toe over some patents, as apparently is XM and Pioneer over the RIAA-contestable recording capabilities of the Inno. Tune in to find out how it all unfurls on this week's Engadget Podcast!

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Host
Peter Rojas and Ryan Block

Producer
Randall Bennett

Music
J J J - 'Suits' in Japan

Format
1:00:46, 27.8 MB, MP3

Program
01:00 - Motorola and Verizon announce Q: $199
04:44 - Treo 700p announced
08:48 - Apple's MacBook: 13-in, Core Duo, black and white
17:26 - Creative sues Apple, then Apple sues Creative
21:34 - Record labels sue XM over Inno recording
30:00 - Sony gets official on new Vaio UX Micro PC
36:28 - Xbox 360 hacks: Playing backup games, and backing up games
40:01 - Listener voicemail and email
59:00 - Engadget reader meetup in Merced

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Contact the podcast: 1-888-ENGADGET, Engadget (Gizmo Project) or podcast at engadget dawt com

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Handhelds, Laptops, Podcasts, Portable Audio

Engadget Podcast 081 - 05.23.06 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 May 2006 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's UX latest to get naked

Ryan Block — Thu, 18 May 2006 13:25:00 EST

You must know by now how much we adore gore n' guts of new toys -- especially those particularly small, compact devices that boggle the mind as to how they fit all that junk inside. One thing we didn't realize about Sony's UX ~~UMPC~~ Micro PC was that it was so freaking thick, but that said, it's still something of a little marvel of engineering that they got all that gear into a package as small as the UX appears to be. So sate yourself and look into the delicate, fragile inner workings of a device we're sure could not possibly be properly reassembled after being torn down.

[Thanks, Jan]

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops, Tablet PCs

Sony's UX latest to get naked originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 May 2006 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Vaio UX previewed

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 18 May 2006 05:17:00 EST

Digital World Tokyo got an early hands-on look at the Sony Vaio UX50 micro PC when launched in Tokyo earlier this week. The obvious difference between this and those much maligned first gen UMPCs is the sliding keyboard. However, it's not exactly a tactile wonder as DWT reports. The reviewer found the keyboard "difficult to use" as the keys are almost flush with the case and don't move much when pressed. Still, he managed to enter text without any misspellings. The 4.5-inch screen was "sharp and bright" and its 1,024 x 600 resolution (UMPCs go 800 x 480 on a 7-inch display) made full screen web browsing possible if you don't mind uh, "squinting" a bit with those "handy" buttons along the right-side of the case giving a quick zoom when necessary. Although the reviewer notably only had a few minutes with the device, it's certainly a promising start for this micro device with massive features mirrored in its expected $1800 price tag. We'll reserve judgment, however until some proper full-reviews hit the sheets or we nab a UX for ouselves when they drop Stateside in July.

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

Sony Vaio UX previewed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 May 2006 05:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony gets official on new Vaio UX Micro PC

Paul Miller — Tue, 16 May 2006 01:18:00 EST

Just don't call it a UMPC. Like the "we don't need no stinkin' WMCE" days of yore, Sony is launching into a new market segment with little regard for the generally accepted Microsoft or Intel standards. They have just announced their new Vaio UX Micro PC, which seems more akin to an OQO device than a UMPC. For starters, this unit obviously has a hardware keyboard, which doesn't seem that bad of decision given the difficulty of using current-gen UMPC keyboards. The UX is also powered by a full on Core Solo processor (don't ask us how they got it in there), and runs Windows XP Professional. As rumored, the device also includes Bluetooth, WiFi, WWAN (EDGE connectivity) and a fingerprint reader. Along with the front camera for video conferencing, there is a camera in the rear for snapping pics, and the UX also can plug into a VGA adapter for powering an external monitor. The 4.5-inch screen is capable of a 800 x 600 resolution and accepts stylus input. We're not sure if the UX has another pointer device, but the unit can be docked to allow for desktop use, including VGA, Ethernet, IEEE-1394, three USB 2.0 ports and AV out, so you can use a regular mouse in those situations. We wish Sony would mention their battery life predictions for this mini beast, but they did let us know that the UX will be out in July for around $1800.

[Thanks, Stan]

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops, Wireless

Sony gets official on new Vaio UX Micro PC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 May 2006 01:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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