Dante Cesa

Contributing Editor

Introducing Dante to the command line at age four would prove to be a fatal mistake in the then serene and quiet lives of his parents. What would initially stem from subtle curiosity, not long would pass before his gadget lust would develop into full-blown obsession. But an extreme desire to tinker would, of course, be matched with consequences: countless hours of his childhood were spent with fdisk and restoring computers with tape backups, or a string of awkward calls to carrier's customer service attempting to explain astronomical charges from a very, very, long WAP data call. Returning to the US for college, Dante would eventually settle in San Francisco, writing for Engadget by day and being an Objective-C ninja by night.

Articles by Dante Cesa

LG X3 supposedly leaks, to challenge HTC Edge as first quad-core phone?
Your next tablet is going to rock a quad-core chip, so why not stuff that same silicon into your next phone too? Per PocketNow, that's apparently what LG has up its sleeve with the forthcoming X3. Evidently, the four-core Tegra 3 device will also tote a 1280 x 720 4.7-inch display, 16GB of storage, Ice Cream Sandwich and NFC all in a svelte 9mm package. The whispers didn't stop there, of course, indicating it'll also wield 21Mbps HSPA support coupled with 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0. So will the X3 be the world's first quad-core phone, much in the vein of LG's G2X that preceded it? Or will it be beaten to the punch by HTC and Samsung? Here's to hoping we'll find out at MWC.
RIM's BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9981 gets splayed by the FCC
Thus far, the Waterloo-Stuttgart wünderchild's been scooped, made official and even toyed with back at this year's CES. What hasn't happened yet, is a proper review, but until that joyous day comes we'll take what we can get in the form of this quasi-teardown, courtesy of the FCC. Those with stellar memory and a keen eye will recall we'd seen it pass through governmental annals once before, yet at that time any revealing imagery of its internals were strictly verboten. That's changed, as that once barren page now houses a PDF titled "Temp Confid_Internal Photos" which conveniently splays three snaps of the teutonic device's interior. Sure, it isn't a proper iFixit dissection -- ripe with details and color -- but it'll probably be the closest anyone will get to the innards of the $2,000 BlackBerry for quite a while. Read this far? Go on, don't be shy, espy the governmental shakedown at the source link below.
NetLED WiFi-enabled, app-controllable, LED light tubes come to Japan
Because deep down, all you've ever really wanted are smartphone adjustable WiFi-LED light tubes controlled by a remote server out in the ether. Snarkiness aside, that's exactly what Japan's Net LED Technology Corporation has done with a lighting system it lovingly calls NetLED. The setup isn't for frugal types as, before even purchasing lights, you'll need to plunk down 60,000 yen (around $780) for a netLED router that serves as an intermediary between those fixtures and the company's remote server. The addition of that hardware enables the 19,800 yen (around $260) WiFi-equipped 40W LED arrays to be monitored and adjusted remotely via a web browser or an iPhone app. And, if WiFi tubes are too rich for your blood, each WiFi-toting fixture can be paired with up to three cheaper WiFi-less slaves that cost 14,000 yen (around $182). It's complex and pricey stuff, yet the company estimates you'll cut energy consumption by half after you amass 200 units. Those brave enough to find out, can take the plunge February 20th when it all goes on sale -- just let us know how you fare, cool? In the meantime, get up close and personal with a shot of the light emitters themselves after the break.
KDDI gets WiMax Galaxy S II, isn't your grandfather's Epic 4G Touch
Can't keep track of all the different variants of Samsung's Galaxy S II? Tough, because here comes Sammy with another one. Japan's KDDI will soon have a GSII to call its own, boasting the all too memorable model number of ISW11SC -- or rather a Galaxy S II rocking WiMax. That's different than Sprint's Epic 4G Touch, the SPH-D710, which also sports that radio, but not its higher resolution 1280 x 720 4.7-inch display. Rounding out the package are an unspecified 1.4GHz dual core processor, an 8 megapixel rear shooter capable of 1080p video recording, a 2 megapixel front facing cam, microSD and support for NFC -- making it pretty darn close to its Korean and AT&T permutations. You'll find a video demo of it in all its glory at the source below.
Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 7.0 Plus get bleached, on sojourn in Vietnam
Release a device in black to much furor, and then follow it up a white variant later. That's a game Samsung's been playing all too well lately, and its latest are all-white versions of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 7.0 Plus. Otherwise identical to their existing counterparts, the duo spotted by Tran Quoc Huy in Vietnam extend the alabaster luster all the way to the bezel. Catch them in a cornucopia of photographic evidence at the source.[Thanks, Sahil]
LG Marquee comes to Boost Mobile on January 23rd for $279
Having raided the smartphone coffers of its parent just a few days ago, today Sprint subsidiary, Boost Mobile, is at it again. Today's plunder comes in the form of the LG Marquee -- the Now Network's version of the Optimus Black -- which we first espied in carrier grab back in September. Setting you back $279, it'll be offered in Boost Mobile stores January 23rd, followed by everywhere else come February. PR on the 4-inch Gingerbread-totin' smartphone is after the break.
Motorola Smart Controller now available for $99, drive your Xyboard without holding it (video)
We first caught wind of Motorola's wireless pointing device, the Smart Controller, back in October when we played with a small army of Droid RAZR accessories. Whilst paired with phones, the Bluetooth remote control also moonlights as a handset that can receive and make calls, thanks to a dedicated call button on its backside. Naturally, it can also be paired with Moto's family of tablets, which is how we encountered it here, wirelessly tethered to a Xyboard 8.2 at CES. Featuring a trackpad and the same four Android nav buttons you'd encounter on a Motorola handset, tracking was generally good, although occasionally jumpy especially as we neared the end of web pages. You could chalk that up to a less than ideal demo environment, but at least we can report its build quality was top notch. Clicking on the trackpad was also nice, as your thumb's treated to a wee bit of travel before clicks actuate. It's a niche device, sure, but with full navigation and pinch to zoom, this add-on could make for a nice couch browsing experience while your tablet's tethered to your TV. If you're jonesin' for one, they're available now for a cool Benjamin from Moto or Verizon.
Coda announces cheaper, worse version of bland all-electric sedan
We know what you're thinking: Coda's all-electric sedan is getting another price cut? No plebes, instead of slashing the price, it's opting instead to release a lower-ranged variant of the $39,900 car for $2,650 less. Those savings net a smaller 31kWh battery which'll go 125 miles on a charge -- 5kWh and 25 miles less than its more expensive brother. That equates to a real-world starting price of under thirty grand after federal rebates take effect. Last we checked, we can't think of anyone wanting less range, but maybe with its lower starting price it'll generate enough buzz to hit those lofty sales goals.
Facebook launches 'listen with friends' feature, lets others shame you for poor taste
While Facebook's Open Graph might have exposed you as a Belieber way back in September, you couldn't chat and stream that questionable musical taste to your friends, Turntable.fm style, until now. Listening to tunes on music services that integrate with Facebook's API -- like Spotify and presumably Rdio, amongst others -- populates the ticker adjacent to the news feed and the chat overlay with clickable "Listen with" buttons (as seen above). Upon clicking those, you're slung into a group chat window whereupon you can listen and discuss those beats with your friends. Don't fret if you can't see it just yet, as it'll roll out in the following weeks, but while you wait a link explaining all awaits at the source.
Toshiba FlashAir wireless LAN SD card hands-on (video)
The first card using the SD association's Wireless LAN standard is Toshiba's FlashAir and we've just spent some time with it here at CES. It's much like Eye-Fi's Direct Mode insofar that it also can sling pics to devices over WiFi from a diminutive SD card, but instead of requiring pairing and an app download the FlashAir requires just a browser. The 8GB class six card broadcasts an 802.11b/g/n hotspot, replete with its own web server onboard, which means its contents -- like say pictures you've previously snapped in your camera -- can be accessed in a browser by any connected device.Despite some false starts (CES is where WiFi networks go to die...) pictures from a point and shoot appeared as quickly as we could refresh http://flashair/ -- the address from where one accesses its contents. Once there, you can browse individual folders, splaying pics (and we'll assume other contents) for your perusal. As previously planned, it'll start shipping in February at around $70 and we were told more capacious units will follow at a later date. Video demo of the tech awaits in the video after the break.
Hands-on with Verizon Novatel MiFi 4620L Jetpack (video)
We just got hands-on with one of Verizon's JetPacks, the Novatel MiFi 4620L. At about the same size and thickness as previous endeavors, the quad-band 4G LTE unit boasts a gimmicky OLED display that apparently makes interfacing with the unit easier. We weren't convinced, but we did like its removable 1500mAh battery, which can be swapped for a more potent (but not included) 3000mAh unit. Its final party trick is the ability to relay location coordinates over WiFi to up to 10 devices (like say a tablet) that support GPS streaming. We couldn't get the Novatel rep on hand to confirm pricing or availability, but we got the sense this little guy will ship soon.
SiGNa Chemistry sodium silicide might power your next fuel cell
We've been promised portable fuel cells for years, but tech from SiGNa Chemistry might have a real shot at taking the concept mainstream. Instead of the more commonly used methanol, the outfit serves up a sodium silicide mix which it's begun licensing to companies bearing the "SiGNa fueled" logo. One example is PowerTrekk that first went on sale in Europe last December and is now making its way to the US this spring. The special salt concoction comes packaged into 5Wh hockey puck cartridges -- appropriately called Pukks -- to generate power and subsequently juice whatever device you plug into it over USB. It'll ship stateside in May for around $200, replete with an onboard 5Wh lithium-ion battery which acts as a rechargeable buffer, ensuring you'll still have some juice even after you run out of cartridges. Catch the power generating tech in a video after the break.
Kodak files new ITC lawsuits against Apple and HTC
Kodak and Apple might already be embroiled in an existing brouhaha, but that's not stopping the company from going on the offensive with two new suits. Filed in the Western District of New York, the company alleges Apple's violated four of its patents and HTC five. The claims primarily center around transferring images on and off devices and cover a wide gamut including iPhones, various EVOs and tablets. FOSS Patents muses it's all a ruse to demonstrate there's still gold in Kodak's patent mine -- either way, the market's eating it up.
TuneIn Radio comes to Ford SYNC AppLink, brings 50,000 radio stations with it
Unhappy with the radio selection in your auto? If you're rocking a Ford equipped with SYNC AppLink and a smartphone, that selection is about to get a whopping 50,000 bigger thanks to TuneIn Radio. An updated version of that app enables support for Dearborn's auto interconnect which'll allow drivers to tune into AM, FM, HD and Internet radio stations. And naturally like everything else SYNC, it'll be just as happy taking commands over voice. The updated app should hit the App Store soon, but we'd imagine an update to the Android version isn't far out.
Mercedes-Benz intros mbrace2 at CES, brings apps to the car
Here at Mercedes-Benz's CES keynote (its first), the creator of the automobile just unveiled the successor to its telematics system: mbrace2. This second generation builds upon last year's release, focusing heavily on adding social media into the mix with app support like Twitter, Facebook and Yelp via a smartphone interconnect -- much in the vein of BMW Apps and Ford SYNC AppLink. Rolling out first in the 2013 SL and later eventually to all US models, CEO Dieter Zetsche also mentioned it'll update itself, as lets face it, visits to the dealer just for new features isn't pleasant nor speedy. Stay tuned for a hands-on from the show floor in a few. Joe Pollicino contributed to this report.
OnStar unveils second generation Research Vehicle with Verizon (video)
At last year's CES, OnStar and Verizon made a pact, unveiling their dream to bring 4G LTE connectivity to the vehicles of tomorrow. The duo's gotten a little closer to reality this year with the unveiling of their second research vehicle -- this time in the form of a Chevy Volt. Packed to the gills with wireless goodness, the hyper connected pair can stream content from the cloud, share it within the vehicle and communicate with OnStar's RemoteLink app. But that's not even the best part, as Skype video calling -- between car to computer and even car to car -- is now a go. Video proof and PR await after the break.
Aha Radio partners with Subaru and Honda, brings social media to 2013 vehicles
At last year's CES, Aha Radio brought its hyper-connected social media ways to two high-end Pioneer head units. This year, however, the service is about to make a bigger splash by announcing it'll be built into select 2013 Subaru and Honda vehicles. Equipped autos will have access to "thousands of personalized, web-enabled stations" like MOG, Rhapsody and Slacker, appearing as a selectable source alongside more traditional AM, FM and satellite radio options. And naturally it'll integrate with Aha's iPhone and Android apps. If a new vehicle isn't to your liking, Kenwood will also start integrating the service into head units later in 2012. We'll get hands-on with the above system in a Subaru's new BRZ soon, but to tide you over, two PRs await the break.
Panasonic intros 2012 LED line-up, 47 and 55-inch WT50 and DT50
Ready for a bevy of new Panasonic TVs? 2012's lineup shifts almost entirely to LED, with 14 out of the 16 new sets using the tech. There's a metric ton of info packed into one release, but highlights for this year include larger IPS LED TVs and a 25 percent reduction in power consumption across the line. Most impressive are the 47 and 55-inch DT50 and WT50. Differentiated primarily by design -- the WT50 has a super-narrow metal frame and a crescent stand -- they're both IPS LED panels with Viera Connect and can convert 2D content into 3D. And both have four HDMI ports and three USB ports. PR detailing all awaits you after the break.
Panasonic outs 'world's smallest and thinnest' 4K x 2K IPS LCD monitor
The world's smallest and thinnest 4K x 2K monitor? According to Panasonic, you're looking at it. Unfortunately the company conveniently also left out its actual size, but what looks to our eyes like a 15 or 17-inch display that's also only 3.5mm thin? Alright, we'll bite. For those that can do math, that's an array of 8 million pixels and vibrant from all angles thanks to IPS-Pro technology. That's great Panasonic, but put it in a tablet or a laptop and we'll show you the greenbacks. Update: Turns out it's 20.4-inches, and rocks an official total of 8.29 million, hit the official PR after the break to see for yourself.
Ford's SYNC Destinations gets updated, now computer optional
Last year, Ford unveiled the SYNC Destinations app, which allowed owners to use their smartphones to preview and sling locations previously entered on syncmyride.com, to equipped vehicles. This year's update simplifies that process, removing that last step, as locations can now be entered and sent to the vehicle entirely on device and sans website. Also new, is the ability to access and report traffic incidents from "every major interstate, highway, arterial and city street in North America" and support for a plethora of new languages like French and German. It also supports Ford's AppLink which uses your phone's smartphone connection for quicker directions downloads. PR detailing all the new features awaits after the break.

...