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Here are the biggest announcements from Apple's education event
That Apple would choose a massive high school in the Midwest to host a press conference was peculiar enough. Then Apple went and crafted class schedules for everyone and set up a room where people could try on Romeo and Juliet costumes, across from another room where drones were zipping around and virtual frogs were being dissected. We knew today's press event wasn't going to be business as usual, but we had no idea just how delightfully strange Apple wanted everything to be.
IFA 2016 showed us how far wearables have come
The wearables world has come a long way in a very short time, and plenty of companies have had to learn their lessons out in public. The first devices they launched were often far, far too ugly to find mainstream acceptance, but now the fashion and wearables worlds are perfectly aligned. That's why we're taking a look at the devices that arrived at this year's IFA, and comparing it with their more embarrassing predecessors. Think of it like #throwbackthursday, except nobody's got one of those face-worn retainers you only see in '80s movies.
SXSW 2014 wrap-up: Snoop Dogg, stun copter, Snowden, Mario Kart and more!
SXSW Interactive can hardly match the significance of CES, MWC or IFA when it comes to consumer electronics launches, but there's always a ton of awesome gear to see. This year, Chaotic Moon's "CUPID" stun copter was perhaps the most shocking innovation, but IBM's Watson-powered food truck, a Leap Motion-equipped Oculus Rift and Neil Young's PonoMusic player also dominated on the gear front. In between hands-on demos, we caught up with Aereo, BlackBerry, Shaquille O'Neal and even Snoop Dogg, while also sitting in on SXSW sessions featuring the likes of Edward Snowden and 23andMe's Anne Wojcicki. We say farewell today, but South-by 2014 will live on for a few days to come, with hundreds of concerts and other events dominating the seemingly countless performance venues in Austin, Texas.
Mirrorless cameras, pricey point-and-shoots shine at Japan's CP+
While Japan's prominence continues to wane when it comes to consumer electronics in general, the country remains enormously relevant in the digital imaging space. Canon and Nikon dominate the market, alongside other mainstream players like Sony and Panasonic. Manufacturers like Casio, Fujifilm, Olympus, Sigma and Ricoh continue to release compelling models, too -- your own camera probably got its start in an office tower near Tokyo, as other shooters will for years to come. Each year, Japanese consumers gather at CP+ in Yokohama, a four-day trade show that's served as a venue for camera makers to show off their new products to local audiences for more than 50 years. Following the final PMA show in 2010, CP+ has been an important event for us as well -- CES hasn't caught on with the camera industry, and with Photokina held only once every two years, this February photo fest is the place to be.
Microsoft Surface 2 event wrap-up
We weren't surprised when Microsoft unveiled new Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 tablets at its New York City event. However, the company still had a few surprises up its sleeve, including a Music Kit, significantly improved keyboard covers and a 4K-ready docking station. You may have missed out on a few of the announcements the first time through, but don't worry -- we've rounded up all of the Surface news in one place, including our hands-ons and post-event commentary. Check out the stories linked after the break and you'll know what to expect when Microsoft ships its second-generation Windows slates.
IFA 2013 wrap-up: Galaxy Note 3, Xperia Z1, smartwatches, lens cameras, 4K displays and more
We reckoned IFA would be an exceptionally busy show, and now that we've combed through all of our coverage and condensed it here, it's clear the event lived up to our expectations. Sure, the venerable CES may have topped IFA in show floor square feet, but the announcements in Berlin generated perhaps even more excitement than those that came out of Las Vegas in January. A pair of high-profile smartwatches, two titanic smartphones, a duo of lens cameras, 4K displays and a bevy of hands-ons await you in a neat, yet massive, roundup after the break.
Sony throws down new games, new footage, and the gauntlet at E3 2013
Sony finished day 0 of E3 2013 with a bang, following up on its PlayStation 4 console announcement from earlier this year with some more game teases and reveals, and then laying down one of the most memorable E3 moments ever, with Jack Tretton taking full advantage of the public discontent with Microsoft's Xbox One licensing policies. Here's a post-conference rundown of what exactly took place at the Sony event last night.
Computex 2013 wrap-up: Windows 8, tablets, Haswell, high-res displays, smartphones, earthquakes and more!
This year's Computex certainly didn't come and go quietly. From a 6.5-magnitude earthquake shortly after landing in Taipei to tons of tablets, smartphones, Haswell systems and more peripherals than you can shake a Taiwan dollar at, this has been one whirlwind week of hot and humid adventure. Unlike other shows abroad, this country's massive computer exhibition is only growing in importance, as more manufacturers from both East and West choose to announce products and services here in the Republic of China. The week was filled with unveilings both revolutionary and evolutionary -- from quirky to crucial, there was a lot to take in. You'll find many of our show picks at our Computex 2013 event page; there are dozens upon dozens of articles, hands-on videos and photo galleries to sift through, so set aside some time over the weekend and dig on in. We've also rounded up links to each and every related post after the break -- click on through for all that and more.%Gallery-190496%
Google I/O 2013 opening keynote roundup: All Access music streaming, a vanilla GS4 and more
Phew. Day one of Google I/O is far from over, but there's already been an onslaught of news. While our editors are running around the floor, why not catch up on any bits of the opening keynote you may have missed? There's now a Galaxy S 4 with vanilla Android Jelly Bean for $649, a $9.99 per-month music subscription service and a host of updates for Google+, Play, Maps and others. Join us past the break where we've got it all neatly categorized for your viewing pleasure.
SXSW 2013 wrap-up: Google Glass, Elon Musk, robots, instruments and more!
When we attend a trade show, we typically spend an entire week jumping from one exhibition hall to the next, surrounded by thousands of suit-clad corporate execs. That's the case at MWC in Barcelona, IFA in Berlin and CEATEC in Japan -- at SXSW in Austin, however, bars, tents, parking lots and even single-family homes host manufacturers large and small, and instead of starched button-downs and cufflinks, attendees sport t-shirts and tattoos. People are friendly, the weather is fantastic and there's live music and hot food at every turn -- we have to admit, we're in love, and we're devastated that it's time to leave. At traditional mega-shows, we arrive with clear expectations and even a list of products to check out. We didn't quite know what would come of SXSW. What we found were insanely awesome products like the Roli Seaboard digital piano and Leap Motion, paired with presentations from industry legends like Elon Musk and Al Gore. We also had a chance to take a closer look at Google Glass, and, after an awesome night at our very first Engadget+gdgt event, we even caught a free ride home in a Tesla Model S. It was a week we'll never forget, and, thanks to the power of the internet, you've had a chance to join in on the fun, even if you're thousands of miles from Central Texas. Our content-packed event page is the place to be for anything and everything gadget at SXSW, but we're happy to share a recap of sorts here as well. Join us past the break to relive the magic that was South by Southwest Interactive 2013.%Gallery-181445%
Wrap-up: Engadget editors sound off on MWC 2013
We blew out last month's CES with our biggest group of editors to date, and now we've done it again here in Barcelona. There may have been fewer high-end smartphones than expected at the show, but we still managed to spend time with dozens of handsets and tablets, and even a surprise hybrid or two. Fira Gran Via, Mobile World Congress' new home for 2013, was a fitting venue, and there's even room to grow, should that be in the cards for next year. Still, we leave Spain with mixed emotions, and mixed impressions of the show. So, what exactly did we take away from our week of smartphones, sangria, tablets and tapas in Europe? Read on past the break for our take.
Distro Issue 74: The CES 2013 wrap-up and the fight for the second screen
Now that we're all back to the normal grind outside of the confines of a double-wide trailer, it's time to reflect on the last week's events in chilly Las Vegas. In a return to weekly installments of our tablet mag, we recall the high points of CES 2013 with a look at the battle surrounding second screen tech. We also discuss of all of the Ultra HD news and rundown the Best in Show items in all of the major categories. Eyes-On takes a gander at QNX's Bentley, Hands-On wraps the final two days from the show floor and travel photographer Austin Mann visits for the Q&A. The end of another week is here, friends, so grab your device of choice and cozy up for an extra helping of leisurely gadget reading. Distro Issue 74 PDF Distro in the iTunes App Store Distro in the Google Play Store Distro in the Windows Store Distro APK (for sideloading) Like Distro on Facebook Follow Distro on Twitter
Wrap-up: Engadget editors sound off on CES 2013
This was our biggest CES group of all time, by a long shot. As we pack our bags and return to our home cities around the country and beyond, our team of ace editors took some time to share their final impressions of the show. Scroll down below to hear from Tim Stevens and Darren Murph, who helped to provide invaluable direction and motivation here in Vegas, then click past the break for some brief reports from the rest of the team. Tim Stevens, Editor-in-chief For me, the story of CES 2013 was the massive shift of focus from mega-announcements by mega-corporations to the micro-innovations pitched by the crowd-funded. This, to me, is far more exciting than the usual iterative advancements we fixate upon in Las Vegas every year. I don't know what that means for the future of CES as a mega-show, but I can't wait for 2014's iteration. Darren Murph, Managing Editor Here's the problem with CES 2013: nothing is shipping soon, and nothing is affordable. But that's also what made CES awesome. I'll one day be able to afford a 4K HDTV, and the new Tegra 4 / Snapdragon gear will one day be in an Android phone I'll crave. Now that the dust has settled, I'm actually pretty amazed that envelopes are still being pushed in a world where people are increasingly content with existing technologies. Onward and upward.
Tokyo Game Show 2012 wrap-up: Sony's new PS3, 'Prototype-SR' and assorted gaming peripherals
After a few humid and sweaty days in Tokyo, TGS 2012 is drawing to a close. While the public days continue through the weekend, us media types are headed back to our respective homelands until next September. The lasting impression from the week -- aside from eating massive amounts of gyoza -- will undoubtedly be the news Sony dropped the day before the show started at its own press event. A new, even slimmer PS3 is on the way and two new colors for the PS Vita were outed -- at least for Japan. On the show floor, though, we encountered some peripherals well-suited for other gaming tech like Nintendo's 3DS XL, Xbox 360 and PC rigs. You can peek at those for yourself in the Sony Tokyo Game Show gallery that follows and relive all the action in the wrap-up that lies just beyond the break. Also, don't forget to check out our pals over at Joystiq for more coverage from this week's happenings. %Gallery-166241%
Computex 2012 wrap-up
After getting our hands on more than three dozen Ultrabooks, tablets and plenty of other miscellany over an intense gadget-fueled week in Taipei, Computex is finally winding down, and we're packing our bags for the 24-hour journey back to New York. There's no question that Windows 8 stole the show, with hundreds of devices making an appearance both at flashy press events and on the exhibit floor -- Release Preview in tow. We happened upon quite a few surprises on that front, including a touchscreen-based ASUS Zenbook UX21A and Intel's prediction that the majority of next year's Ultrabooks will be touch-enabled, along with the unique (and perhaps even slightly bizarre) TAICHI, which will change the way we interact with at least two clamshell models. We've barely scratched the surface here, however -- you'll find direct links to all of our Computex coverage just after the break.%Gallery-157630%
NAB 2012 wrap-up
"That's a wrap!" Finally, an appropriate use for that industry cliché, since, ya know, we really are at a motion picture / television conference. As our first trip to the National Association of Broadcasters' annual event in Las Vegas fires its last frame, we're going to roll to the credits, honoring all those products that enabled us to justify spending a week in Sin City on the company dime. From Canon's 4K-capable 1D C (that'll sadly run you far more than $4k) to RED's Dragon sensor upgrade set to render "obsolescence obsolete," there's plenty to look forward to in the world of cinematography. We also happened upon a few consumer-facing gadgets, including Ceton's new DVR companion apps for Android and iOS, that Lenscaster SLR lens mount for iPad and a new Dolby 3D standard that could help propel glasses-free 3D into mass production. That's but a small sampling of the gadgets at NAB 2012, however, so jump past the break for all our hands-ons from the show.
CES 2012: Automotive roundup
It's always a nice break from ultrabooks, smartphones and massive OLED TVs to catch a glimpse of the new auto tech that will be rolling out in the months to come. This year's focus at CES was infotainment and software add-ons for a handful of manufacturers and models. Sure, the plug-in Fusion was a highlight, but for the most part, the emphasis on on-board screens and content delivery while you're blazin' down Route 66. Read on for some highlights from the week that was.
CTIA Enterprise & Applications 2011 wrap-up: Springboard, Atrix and CUE
And that's all she wrote, folks -- warm and sunny San Diego was a wonderful host for this year's CTIA Enterprise & Applications, but now it's time to head on home. The show was tremendously affected by the news of Samsung canceling its much-anticipated Nexus event, but there were still a few gems we were able to grab. AT&T got the show started off right by announcing a grand total of five new smartphones, not the least of which was the Motorola Atrix 2 (no "4G" in the title, interestingly enough). T-Mobile also unveiled the Springboard, a 7-inch tablet that's sure to make a splash. So if you're finally catching up with the week's gadget news, we've compiled a list that'll make your reading much more convenient. Here's our full CTIA coverage in all its glory. We're live from CTIA! Wilson Electronics debuts the AWS 70 Live from CTIA's day one keynote with Dan Hesse, Dan Mead and Ralph de la Vega T-Mobile Springboard hands-on (video) Motorola announces the LapDock 100 for Atrix 2, Droid Bionic and Photon 4G Cadillac unveils CUE infotainment system Motorola Atrix 2 for AT&T hands-on (video) TeleNav 7.1 for Sprint Android phones: this time it's personal Samsung Stratosphere for Verizon hands-on (video) Pantech Pocket for AT&T hands-on (video) Samsung Transfix for Cricket hands-on (video) Navigon demos MobileNavigator for iOS, WP7 and Android The Engadget Mobile Podcast, CTIA edition! LG Optimus Slider for Virgin Mobile hands-on (video) Kyocera DuraMax for Sprint hands-on (video) EcoATM offers instant money for your old phone A look inside Verizon's test car
The Road to Mordor: 'Twas the night before Isengard...
I feel it. It's those excited butterflies that appear somewhere in my navel region when I realize that I'm on the verge of something new, fun, and possibly involving an alien xenomorph bursting out of my insides. It's the thrill of anticipation almost realized. For this time next week, we'll be well on our way to Isengard. I've never been around for a Lord of the Rings Online expansion release, which makes this a first for me. Sure, I have my concerns about Rise of Isengard, but on the whole I'm ready to jump into an untamed region and explore the living deeds out of it. I'm not in a rush to get through it all and start raiding or anything, so my Lore-master will be taking his sweet time milking each quest for the calcium-rich story within. Oddly enough, I'm most excited about the prospect of cool new cosmetics because I have a sick obsession with them that's going to require a full-scale intervention. I'm not quite sure how LotRO's third expansion will be taken by the larger community, and I probably won't know until the launch fever dies down and we evaluate how useful, entertaining, and engaging it is over the long term. I'm just glad we're moving forward. In this week's Road to Mordor, I want to look back at the build-up to Isengard's release, what we know so far, and what changes are in store for our characters. Might as well tidy up the place since it's going to get hecka messy soon enough.
Intel Developer Forum (IDF) 2011 wrap-up
We came, we saw, we conquered -- and just like that, Intel's Developer Forum was over. Much like years past, Chipzilla was proudly beating its own drum: we saw demos of Ivy Bridge and Haswell, a healthy helping of Ultrabooks and of course its high speed interconnect du jour, Thunderbolt. But that doesn't mean we didn't see a lot of other random, mind-stimulating otherness. Did you catch all the treasures we found lurking deep within the halls of this year's show? Unfortunately, we can't tell from here, so you better hop past the break for the full listing and find out.
