Myriam Joire

Technology By Myriam Joire

iPhone 5c review

After weeks of leaks and speculation, the iPhone 5c is finally here. Apple's colorful new lower-cost handset slots below the iPhone 5s flagship and ships with iOS 7. This is the first time the company's launched two new iPhones simultaneously. The 5c replaces the iPhone 5 in the middle of the lineup, and the 8GB iPhone 4s is now available free on contract. Unlike years past, the iPhone 5 doesn't carry on as a second-tier device -- it's just gone. The 5c is built from steel-reinforced, colored-through, machined polycarbonate that's coated in a glossy finish. Apple's last plastic handset was the iPhone 3GS in 2009, but it only came in black and white. In contrast, the 5c arrives in a rainbow of pastel hues: white, pink, yellow, blue and green, along with a matching set of cases. Spec-wise, the 5c is basically an iPhone 5 with an improved front-facing camera and global LTE support. The 16GB model costs $99 with a two-year commitment ($549 unlocked) and the 32GB version is $199 on contract ($649 unsubsidized) -- as such it's more affordable than the departed iPhone 5. While Apple's clearly positioning the 5c as an aspirational product, we suspect it's also less expensive to manufacture than the iPhone 5, which means the company gets to enjoy some higher profit margins. It's obviously not the cheap iPhone some folks were expecting, and frankly, we're not surprised -- it's an Apple device, after all. So does the 5c live up to the hype? Is it an improvement over the iPhone 5? Should you pony up for the iPhone 5s instead? Let's find out.

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News

News By Myriam Joire

Nokia Here research brings map data to life (video)

Nokia Here collection vehicles aren't the only way the Finnish giant is gathering data about our highways and city streets. The company's researchers are also using anonymous smartphone, PND and even CAN bus data to further our understanding of traffic flow and driver behavior in different conditions. Beyond improving maps and navigation, the goal is to make our roads better and cars smarter. We recently spoke with Nokia's Jane Macfarlane, Head of Research for Here, who shared how her team is bringing map data to life with the collaboration of opt-in smartphone users and fleet vehicle operators. Take a look at our gallery below and watch the video after the break.

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Technology By Myriam Joire

Nokia Here collection vehicle v2.0 ride-along (video)

What do the Lumia 920, Surface Pro, Velodyne LIDAR, NovAtel GPS and Jetta TDI wagon all have in common? They're all essential parts of the next generation Nokia Here collection vehicle. When Here was announced last fall, we checked out v1.0 of the car which featured an elaborate but clunky set of sensors and cameras. That's also when Nokia announced it was acquiring Earthmine, a Berkeley-based 3D-mapping company. Nine months later, we're seeing the results of this collaboration with v2.0 of the collection vehicle. It's a simpler and more advanced setup which provides much improved image quality. Nokia recently invited us to take ride in a next generation Here car -- check out the gallery below then hit the break for our video and breakdown of the technology.

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Technology By Myriam Joire

JPL's RoboSimian flexes its robot muscles, haunts your nightmares (video)

Not content on landing several rovers on the surface of Mars, NASA's JPL team's been working on more earthly projects. RoboSimian is an ape-like robot designed for search-and-rescue missions that's expected to compete in the DARPA Robotics Challenge. It features four multi-jointed limbs with unique hands and no defined front or back -- allowing it to always face the right way. Thanks to its primate-like movement and posture, the robot will be able to navigate over difficult terrain, climb ladders and even drive vehicles (one of the DRC's requirements). While the project itself isn't new, JPL recently published an interesting video that shows RoboSimian gripping tools, lifting its own weight and balancing delicate objects. This means, of course, that robot monkeys will soon join spiders, cats and dogs in your dystopian nightmares. Video after the break.

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EVs and Transportation

EVs and Transportation By Myriam Joire

Honda teases upcoming NSX with Concept-GT hybrid race car

Honda's got a lot riding on the upcoming 2015 NSX hybrid (which will be sold in the US as an Acura). When it launched in 1990, the iconic first generation NSX took the sports car market by storm with an impressive (and affordable) combination of performance, comfort, design and build quality. Production ended in 2005 with the company shifting its focus towards hybrids and other green vehicles. As such, Honda enthusiasts have eagerly been awaiting the NSX replacement. While the new flagship is still being developed, the company just announced the NSX Concept-GT, a hybrid race car which is designed to compete in the Japanese SUPER GT series (GT500 class). Unlike the street version, which features a mid-mounted V6 and three electric motors, the Concept-GT boasts a 2.0L turbocharged direct-injection I4 paired with a "racing hybrid system". When it launches next year, the technology-packed NSX will compete with vehicles like BMW's i8 plug-in hybrid and Lexus' LF-CC.

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Mobile

Mobile By Myriam Joire

Verizon shelves Wind and Mobilicity acquisitions, ponders Canada's 700MHz auction

Verizon's insatiable appetite for spectrum is legendary. The company's most recently been eyeing Canada's valuable 700MHz airwaves and even shown interest in acquiring troubled carriers Wind Mobile and Mobilicity. (Especially after the CRTC rejected Telus's attempt to purchase the latter.) The Globe and Mail now reports that VZW's chosen to delay its potential acquisitions of the two carriers until after next year's 700MHz auction and that the US company is considering a bid for the spectrum directly. It's unclear if Verizon is attempting to buy time, trying to push the price of the struggling operators down or simply losing interest in the Canadian market. One thing's for sure -- if the company bids in the auction it won't be able to negotiate any deals with other applicants until next year. [Image credit: Andrew Currie, Flickr]

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Technology By Myriam Joire

ASUS MeMo Pad FHD 10 LTE specs revealed in official video

It's been sliced, it's been diced, it's been flaunted before. The ASUS MeMo Pad FHD 10 LTE -- a mouthful, we know -- was all but announced when CEO Jerry Shen brandished the slate on stage during Qualcomm's keynote at Computex. While we got our mitts on the dual-core Atom-based (Clover Trail+) non-LTE model in Taipei, the Snapdragon-equipped LTE version's been shrouded in mystery -- until now. ASUS just posted an official promo video on YouTube that outlines the tablet's specs: 9.9mm thick (vs. 9.5mm), 572g (vs. 580g), quad-core processor, stereo speakers, Miracast support, 5MP AF camera, 10-inch 1,920x1,200 IPS panel (178-degree viewing angles), 10-hour battery life, microSD card slot and an optional Folio Key keyboard cover. Not. Too. Shabby. Of course, it's unclear exactly which quad-core Qualcomm SoC the device features, but with LTE in the mix, we're guessing there's a Snapdragon 800 on the menu. Hit the break for the promo video.

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Apps By Myriam Joire

Drippler 2.0 for Android launches with tablet support, new features

It's only been a few short months since popular Android discovery / recommendation app Drippler made the jump to iOS, and today it's launching version 2.0 for Android. The update brings proper tablet support, a new magazine-like layout and a slew of new features -- including categories, favorites and search. As a refresher, Drippler offers the latest tips, updates, apps and accessories recommendations for your particular device and lets you personalize the discovery of related content. The app's already provided over 200 million "drips" to help users enhance their smartphone experience. We spent some time using version 2.0 and came away rather pleased -- it's definitely an improvement over the original. Take a look at our screenshot gallery below and check the full PR after the break. %Gallery-195887%

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Apps By Myriam Joire

Firefox for Android Beta gains new features and improvements

It's been a busy couple months for the folks over at Mozilla. The company rolled out a new logo, launched the first Firefox OS handset and shipped version 23 of its popular web browser. Still, Mozilla shows no signs of slowing down -- it just announced a new version of Firefox for Android Beta, which is ready for download and testing. The update brings a raft of new features and improvements, including WebRTC support for real-time web communications, a new Reader and Reading List with enhanced functionality, NFC Bump to share URLs on compatible phones, a Quickshare menu to share content with other apps and additional languages (Catalan-Spanish, British-English and Swedish) for a total of 24. Moreover, Firefox Beta for Windows, OS X and Linux gains a tweaked Browser Console to help web developers -- phew!

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Tablets

Tablets By Myriam Joire

Nexus 7 factory image and binaries now available from Google

Wanna mod that shiny new Nexus 7? Today's your lucky day. Google just posted the factory image and binaries for its second generation 7-inch tablet -- also known by the product name "razor" and device name "flo". The factory image lets you restore your new Nexus 7 to the exact software it shipped with in case you grow tired of that custom ROM you cooked up using the binaries (natch). Speaking of which, the packages include drivers for audio and sensors from ASUS, NFC from Broadcom plus graphics and everything-but-the-kitchen-sink from Qualcomm. This comes mere hours after some open source drama surrounding the binaries (which now appears to be resolved) and with plenty of time to spare for UK customers. Follow the source links below and have fun hacking this weekend.

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Wearables

Wearables By Myriam Joire

Casio's new G-Shock watches pack Bluetooth, music remote control

Newcomers like Pebble might be the current darlings when it comes to connected watches, but it doesn't mean that established players are standing still. Back at CES, Casio showed a G-Shock watch with Bluetooth (GB-5600A) capable of receiving calls and text-message notifications (with sound and vibration), plus automatic time updates from an iPhone. Today the company announced a pair of G-Shock watches (GB-6900B / GB-X6900B) with Bluetooth 4.0 LE that extend the existing functionality to select Android handsets. In addition, both watches feature music remote control (via AVRCP, presumably) and the ability to set alarms and timers from Casio's companion smartphone app. Battery life is a pretty impressive two years (with 12 hours of Bluetooth use per day) on a single CR2032 battery. The GB-6900B and GB-X6900B will be released in Japan on September 21st for 18,000 yen (roughly $187) and 20,000 yen (roughly $208) respectively. All that's needed now is a retro-looking Databank or calculator watch with Bluetooth, right, Casio?

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Smartphones By Myriam Joire

The Engadget Interview: LG Mobile's Dr. Ram-chan Woo on the G2 design and features

Today at LG's G2 launch event in New York City, we had the chance to speak with Dr. Ram-chan Woo -- LG Mobile's head of LTE product planning -- about the company's new flagship. He walked us through the handset's design with its signature back-mounted volume rocker and power button. We discussed the ultra-thin bezel surrounding the 5.2-inch 1080p GRAM-equipped IPS panel and how the combination of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 SoC and a pyramid-shaped 3,000mAh Li-poly cell helps balance performance and battery life. Next we talked about the 13MP camera which packs OIS, 9-point AF and software-enhanced digital zoom. Finally, Dr. Woo shared his excitement about Hi-fi audio and the phone's ability to playback 24bit / 192KHz FLAC and WAV files right out of the box -- a feature we're rather fond of ourselves. Hit the break for our video interview and be sure to read our hands-on.

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Mobile

Mobile By Myriam Joire

HTC Mini+ companion device coming to the UK with added functionality

When the HTC Butterfly (better known as the Droid DNA here in the US) launched in China several months ago, it was soon followed by a companion device called the HTC Mini. This accessory -- not to be confused with HTC's One mini -- is basically designed to be a Bluetooth handset and remote control for the larger smartphone. It features NFC for pairing, plus a numeric keypad and monochrome LCD. What's more intriguing, however, is that UK retailer Clove recently outed an update to the product -- the HTC Mini+ -- which gains an IR blaster and the ability to remote control a variety of TVs, along with HTC's Media Link HD. The companion device is expected to be available soon fort £54.16 (about $83) before taxes.

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Apps By Myriam Joire

LinkedIn lands on Nokia Asha touch phones, lets S40 users network like a boss

Considering how popular Nokia's Series 40 handsets are worldwide, it should come as no surprise that the platform is finally getting a dedicated LinkedIn client. The app, which is available on the Nokia Store for free, is designed specifically for Series 40 touch phones like the sexy new Asha 501 (it also supports the Asha 305, 306, 308, 309, 310 and 311). Existing users can update their LinkedIn stream, manage their inbox, search their network and check their profile, while new users can sign up right from the login screen. LinkedIn for Series 40 comes hot on the heels of last month's Foursquare client and joins the existing Symbian and Windows Phone apps. Check the source links below for more info.

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Tablets

Tablets By Myriam Joire

DataWind Ubislate 3G7 mystery tablet visits FCC with HSPA in tow

DataWind's no stranger to making inexpensive tablets (India's Aakash immediately comes to mind) but to date its products (including the iconic PocketSurfer) have only featured 2G connectivity -- in addition to WiFi, of course. This appears to be changing with the Ubislate 3G7, an unannounced 7-inch, 3G-enabled tablet that recently sauntered through the FCC. According to the test reports, it supports quadband GPRS and tri-band HSPA (2100 / 1900 / 850MHz), making it compatible with AT&T "4G" in the US. Little else is known about this mystery device beyond what's outlined in the FCC documents. From what we've been able to gather, it features WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0, a microSD card slot plus front and rear (2 MP) cameras. Follow the source link below to check it out for yourself.

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Technology By Myriam Joire

Autonet Mobile puts a new twist on the car key (video)

Remember Autonet? The company -- which is best known for providing manufacturers like Chrysler with in-car WiFi hotspot solutions -- is launching a new product designed to replace the key fob and enable low-latency remote vehicle control and diagnostics from any smartphone. Of course, this is nothing new -- car makers have been featuring apps to unlock doors, start the engine and monitor vehicles for some time now. Still, most existing solutions rely on satellite or 2G connectivity and often require the car's computer to be fully booted before responding to commands, which makes for a slow and unreliable experience. Autonet's new system combines in-vehicle hardware, mobile software and cloud services to streamline this process for both manufacturers and owners. More after the break. %Gallery-195223%

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Smartphones By Myriam Joire

Moto X set to rock nano-SIM, join exclusive club

And then there were three. What you see above is the Moto X along with its SIM tray and a matching nano-SIM. According to GSM Insider, this picture (which we've enhanced) recently popped up in Hong Kong. We've checked the left side of Motorola's upcoming flagship in other leaked images, and the dimensions of the SIM tray opening appear to be correct. A such, the Moto X is poised to follow the iPhone 5 and PadFone Infinity as the third-ever handset to adopt the nano-SIM (4FF) standard. It's unclear why the company chose the new SIM form factor (the phone isn't particularly small), but we'll be sure to ask at Thursday's launch event.

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Apple

Apple By Myriam Joire

Low-cost plastic-clad iPhone mentioned in China Labor Watch report

Remember that China Labor Watch report we recently covered? After digging further into the document, 9to5Mac's Computerworld's unearthed more possible evidence about that often leaked, low-cost plastic-clad iPhone. The introduction states: Its assembled products include iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, and low-priced plastic iPhones. Then, on page 27: Today's work is to paste protective film on the iPhone's plastic back cover to prevent it from being scratched on assembly lines. This iPhone model with a plastic cover will soon be released on the market by Apple. [...] The new cell phone has not yet been put into mass production, so quantity is not as important. Of course, there's no definitive proof that Apple will be launching a more affordable iPhone made of polycarbonate -- after all the company might just be testing prototypes that are not destined to market. Still, the information in this report sure gives all these recent iPhone rumors a lot more merit. Update: It looks like it was Computerworld that originally discovered this information, and we've changed the source link to reflect this.

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Smartphones By Myriam Joire

Android 4.3 supports TRIM, improves performance on Nexus devices

It's no secret that many Android phones and tablets show a decrease in performance over time. Nexus devices are not immune -- it's particularly noticeable with the original Nexus 7. Our friend Brian Klug over at AnandTech discovered an interesting tidbit while testing the new and improved Nexus 7: Android 4.3 supports TRIM. What this means is that Google's mobile OS can now instruct the flash storage controller when to collect / recycle unused data pages / blocks. The net result is that devices running Android 4.3 will no longer become sluggish with time -- in fact, existing Nexus handsets and tablets will see performance improve after the update. It also looks like Jelly Bean invokes TRIM maintenance once within a 24-hour window (after one hour of inactivity), and only if the battery is 80% full (30% when charging). Follow the source link below for all the details.

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Wearables

Wearables By Myriam Joire

Tokyoflash releases Kisai Neutron, makes Cylons proud (video)

Like most tech-savvy humans, we're big fans of Tokyoflash watches here at Engadget -- after all, what's not to like about eccentric design and blinkenlights? Now Cylons everywhere can proudly get in on the fun thanks to the company's latest timepiece, the Kisai Neutron. This futuristic-looking LED watch is available for $139 during the next 48 hours and features an integrated motion sensor. It can be set to display the time (or date) by pulsing in and out or waving up and down. The light show is activated by flicking your wrist or pressing a button -- there's even a bonus "always on" mode. Color options include black, gold and gunmetal for the stainless steel and plastic case, plus red, white and blue for the LEDs. A USB-rechargeable battery completes the package. Enjoy the gallery below, then hit the break for a video of the new timepiece in action. %Gallery-194949%

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Apps By Myriam Joire

Moto X gesture-tastic camera app makes cameo in leaked APK

We already know the camera app for the Moto X (and Droid Ultra, MAXX and Mini) will feature a minimalistic, gesture-based UI, but the clever souls over at Android Police went one step further and recently leaked an APK of the app. The file (later pulled and cached here) installs just fine on many devices but lacks some functionality. We tested it on a Nexus 4 running Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) and it worked okay, mostly. HDR and slow-motion video recording are disabled, panorama mode crashes and Quick Capture (double-twist your wrist to launch the camera) is not operational. Still, the camera UI is ultra simple -- swipe right for the settings, left for the gallery, up /down to zoom; tap to capture, and hold to take multiple shots. The resulting pictures (16:9 aspect ratio only) look pretty much like those snapped with the stock Android camera, and suffer from the same composition issues since the viewfinder crops the right edge of every image. It'll be interesting to see if any of this changes when we finally get our hands on the Moto X next week. Until then, check out the gallery of screenshots below and sound off about the APK in the comments. %Gallery-194805%

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EVs and Transportation

EVs and Transportation By Myriam Joire

2014 Spark EV test drive: affordable green fun (video)

We've driven a number of EV's over the years -- from the Ford Focus Electric to the Tesla Model S -- but none have been as affordable as the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV. It costs $19,995, including the $7,500 federal tax credit, and just $17,495 in California, thanks to an additional $2,500 credit. The Spark EV is GM's first pure electric car since the company scrapped the EV1 program in 2002. It's a five-door supermini designed to carry four people plus luggage in comfort. While it's primarily a city car, it's perfectly at ease on the highway. We recently got the chance to take one for a spin in lovely Portland, Oregon, so hit the break for our impressions and hands-on video. %Gallery-194735%

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Smartphones By Myriam Joire

Android 4.3 source code reveals support for 4K resolution

We've seen Android run on anything from low-resolution smartwatches to high-PPI phones and tablets, including the new 1920 x 1200-pixel Nexus 7 Google launched earlier this week. To make this possible, the mobile OS supports a number of pixel densities for app content -- from 120PPI (LDPI / Low DPI) to 480PPI (XXHDPI / Extra Extra High DPI). Close examination of the Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) source code reveals the addition of a 640PPI (XXXHDPI / Extra Extra Extra High DPI) pixel density, which -- according to the comments in the code -- is intended for 4K televisions. Does this mean we'll begin to see Android devices with 640PPI Ultra HD displays? Perhaps, but considering 480PPI is overkill on handsets, this is most likely designed to make image assets and fonts, such as the Google TV UI, readable on 4K screens when viewed from a distance.

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Accessories

Accessories By Myriam Joire

Lomography reinvents Petzval lens for analog and digital SLRs

When it was invented in 1840, the Petzval lens revolutionized photography thanks to its f/3.6 aperture. It's legendary for producing images with super sharp centers and unique backgrounds with a whirly bokeh -- as such it's particularly well suited for shooting portraits. Most Petzval lenses today are defective because of age and not optimized for modern cameras, so Lomography set out to reinvent the lens for the 21st century. The company just launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring the Petzval lens back for $300 -- it's teaming up with Zenit to manufacture high-quality lenses for analog and digital SLRs with Nikon F and Canon EF mounts. Lomography's Petzval lens is made of brass, features a gear rack focusing mechanism and comes with a Waterhouse aperture set (f/2.2, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11 and f/16). Are you as intrigued as we are? Follow the source link below for the full campaign details.

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Apps By Myriam Joire

SwiftKey Cloud syncs your keyboard profile, includes trending phrases (video)

Here's something we've all been wanting for some time. SwiftKey Cloud is launching today with a bunch of new functionality including -- you guessed it -- cloud backup and synchronization across multiple devices. By keeping your keyboard profile and settings online, you no longer have to re-teach Swiftkey your typing habits if you upgrade to a new tablet or lose your phone. Trending phrases is another new feature which analyzes relevant and localized phrases that are trending on social networks and other media and adds them daily to the keyboard's vocabulary. It supports US / UK English and eleven other languages at launch, with more coming in the future. Finally, SwiftKey Cloud makes its easier than before to personalize your keyboard by connecting it with your GMail, Facebook, Twitter and now Yahoo! mail accounts. We've been using the beta for about a day now and everything's working as advertised. Check out the gallery below, then hit the break for the promo video and PR. %Gallery-194389%

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