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'Star Wars' drones can do aerial stunts and shoot lasers
When Propel releases its official Star Wars drones this fall, fans could challenge fellow fans to a space battle in their own backyard. The RC toy company has launched small replica quadcopters of the Millennium Falcon, an X-Wing, a TIE fighter and a speeder bike. According to Wired, their propellers are clear and are attached to their underside to be as inconspicuous and true to the movies as possible.
Yves Rossy's jetpack loops a hot air balloon, looks great doing it (video)
Looks like Swiss daredevil Yves Rossy is back to the, well, daredeviltry. On November 5, 2010, the self-described Jetman lept off a platform attached to the side of the Esprit Breitling Orbiter hot air balloon and, after reaching an altitude of 2,400 meters (7,874 feet), came back to loop around the thing twice. He was aided in his endeavor by a new, smaller wing (two meters across) with four jets, and executed the maneuvers using only his body movements to steer. Afterward, he deployed his parachute and landed in Denezy, in the Swiss canton of Vaud. We might also add that we tried to get one of these devices for an Engadget Show giveaway, but our lawyers seem to think it's a terrible idea. Video after the break.
Samsung Propel Pro review
Earlier this month at CTIA, AT&T launched quite a few new phones into its lineup, one of which happened to be Samsung's sophisticated, college-educated Propel Pro. For a smartphone, the design is quite unorthodox; rarely do you see a WinMo handset that looks more like a square than anything else and can easily double as a mirror for the fashionistas. Engineered specifically for those who favor texting but can't afford to live without the luxuries that come with owning a bona fide smartphone with a bona fide data plan, the Propel Pro caters to an interesting niche. Follow us past the break for our thoughts on the just-launched handset.
AT&T's Samsung Propel Pro hands-on
AT&T's Propel Pro ups the ante not only in build quality and material, but the new set is also reborn as a proper smartphone thanks to the inclusion of Windows Mobile 6.1. Though like its predecessor, we find a QWERTY keypad for the much loved messaging features, a 3 megapixel camera, and a well thought out and put together metal housing -- though the latter does add heft to an already chubby device. So, what do we like? Well, the display is right on, the keypad is solid, and the $149 price tag is definitely going to win it some fans looking for a messaging device that'll do a bit more. The heft on the other hand is a bit much, and we're still troubled by the almost square form factor, but what do we know, people loved the Samsung Propel. We'll take some more time to get to know it tomorrow and hopefully add a little video to the mix -- and some decent lighting.
Verizon's Nokia Intrigue, AT&T's E71, LG Zenon, and others expected shortly
We've stumbled across a... ahem, major national retailer's stock sheet for the next few weeks, and things are looking up -- particularly on AT&T, where we'll have a couple of long-awaited releases. Let's start with the unknown, though: there's a "Jackfrost" due at the end of the month, and without even a manufacturer listed, it's impossible to know what this thing could possibly be. More importantly, though, the long-rumored LG Zenon (which spikes the less-trademarkable "Xenon" spelling we'd seen before) is slated for mid-April, and the even longer-rumored E71x -- which may simply be known as the E71 by the time it launches -- should drop by at the beginning of next month. Moving over to Big Red, that Nokia 7205 Intrigue that's been kicking around in spy shots since the early part of '08 might finally launch in just a few days' time. All told, we have a lot of emotional closure around the corner with these launches, don't we? [Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Samsung Propel Pro in the wild, caught on camera
More spy shots from the net, eh? This latest set shows what's purported to be the Propel Pro, an update to Samsung's QWERTY that launched last October. There's a more streamlined interface under the screen, including a new optical joystick that according to Boy Genius Report's source is "worthless." The Windows Mobile 6.1 device also sports 3G and a camera of unknown quality, although we expect to at least match its 1.3-megapixel predecessor. Mum's the word on price and availability.
Samsung's a767 Propel now available on AT&T
Part of its huge fall QWERTY blitz, AT&T has now released the Samsung Propel in four fresh 'n fruity colors. Your hard-earned $79.99 will buy you a 1.3-megapixel camera, UMTS (no mention of HSDPA in the specs), AT&T Navigator and Video Share support, and a full sliding keyboard that should keep your numeric keypad friends on the defensive during a heated SMS exchange. Of course, that $79.99 is an on-contract price -- but if you're down, the Propel can be all yours starting today.
AT&T goes wild with texting, announces four QWERTY phones
If you're into that whole SMS craze and you're on AT&T, you're in luck -- four times over. The carrier's gone ahead and announced not one, not two, but four QWERTY-equipped dumphones today, including a dual slider and a Pantech being billed as "the world's thinnest device with a full QWERTY keypad."First up, the Pantech Matrix is available now in your choice of blue or green, with red being added on Thursday, October 16. It slides two ways -- a conventional vertical slide to reveal a numeric keypad, and a second side slider for the full QWERTY action. It's got 3G, AT&T Navigation, Video Share support, and a 1.3-megapixel cam, running $79.99 on contract with rebate. Next, the Samsung Propel apes the i620's industrial design -- but make no mistake, there's no Windows Mobile to be found here. It also does 3G and features the full host of AT&T services, packs a 1.3-megapixel cam, and will run the same $79.99 as the Matrix when it hits in late October in blue, green, red, and white with red accents. Next, the Pantech Slate is pretty appropriately named -- if its claim of being the thinnest QWERTY device in the world ends up holding water, anyway. It'll be available in late October alongside the Propel for $49.99 on contract with a 1.3-megapixel camera, but there's no high-speed data to be found in this sucker. Finally, the long-rumored Quickfire -- you may know it better as the Knick -- will come in November bearing AT&T branding and a Sidekick-esque style that'll likely appeal to the young'uns among us. It's got a touchscreen in addition to a slide-out QWERTY deal, a 1.3-megapixel camera (notice a trend here?), and 3G in your choice of orange, lime, and silver for $99.99 after you've inked up the dotted line.
Samsung's QWERTY slider for AT&T is the Propel
Perhaps "Sangria" was just a little too alcoholic for a teen-oriented device? Samsung's sliding QWERTY dumbphone for AT&T has been christened "Propel," it seems -- and we've now gotten the word from two independent sources, so we're feeling pretty good about it. Until AT&T changes its mind, anyway. The phone looks halfway decent, appears to support AT&T Navigation, and at the $80 we're hearing AT&T will be asking for it out the door on contract after rebates, they could sell pretty well -- especially when you consider that they'll be available in red, green, and blue.[Thanks, Kal]
Trio of AT&T phones comes to light, Pantech Matrix released Thursday
This week is the week for Pantech and Sony Ericsson fans on AT&T to break out the bubbly and throw a wild, crazy party, because the trick dual-sliding C740 Matrix will be joining the W760a (check the gallery) for release on Thursday; they'll be available for $79.99 and $129.99, respectively. Down the road, we're now seeing signs of a Pantech "Slate" running $49.99 and a Samsung "Propel" for $79.99 (in three available colors, no less), the latter of which is signed up for a late October release, but we really don't know much more about 'em.We don't have dates, but it looks like that Samsung Epix will suck $199.99 out of your wallet after rebates, and the Fuze will run $299.99. Finally, we're seeing an AT&T "Quickfire" that's due in late October just like that Samsung Propel -- but unfortunately, we don't know much about this one, either. Any educated (or completely wild) guesses?[Thanks, Kal]%Gallery-33944%
Swiss daredevil cruises the friendly skies with winged jetpack
Sure, watching Wowwee's FlyTech Dragonfly buzz around the room at your command elicits quite a few positive emotions, but we can't even fathom the thrill (not to mention the feeling of impending death) that would come from cruising the skies via jetpack. Yves Rossy -- a Swiss daredevil whom we all look forward to living through vicariously -- says he has become "the first person to gain altitude and maintain a stable, horizontal flight thanks to aerodynamic carbon foldable wings." While we've seen jetpacks before, and realize that folks have taken to the air on similar devices in years past, Reuters is giving us a sneak peek at Rossy's flight, which he took on the kerosene-powered, back-strapped vehicle -- and we admit, it looks like quite the thrill ride. So if you're looking to quell your fears before picking up one of your own (hopefully) in a few years, be sure to hit the read link for a live action video (and a good reason to grin).[Via Fark]
SpineAssist robot tours spinal canal with camera in tow
While ridiculously small robots crawling around in our bodies seems quite painful (and in some cases, it is), a team headed by Moshe Shoham of Haifa's Technion is developing a smoother riding robot to cruise the friendly passageways of the spinal canal. Dubbed the SpineAssist, this low-powered microbot is being crafted to "aid surgeons in performing delicate spinal procedures" by propelling itself through the water-like cerebral spinal fluid and channeling live video / snapshots back to the doctors in charge. Researchers have already engineered the propulsion system, and describe the device as a "free-swimming endoscope" with two actuators and swimming tails that will lug a camera into the fragile depths. Shoham estimates that a few more years of work will be needed to up its payload capacity and shrink it to an appropriate size, but at least someone's working on taking the back aches out of surgery, eh?[Thanks, William]