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Sling hooks up with Verizon to rent Slingboxes to LTE customers
Looks like Verizon is shopping for ways to get its brand spanking new 4G airwaves loaded, because Sling's just announced an unusual subscription-based deal with them that should kill the upfront cost normally associated with buying a Slingbox and a $30 SlingPlayer Mobile app. Monthly pricing hasn't yet been announced, but if you've got one of Verizon's new LTE phones, you'll have the option of getting some dollar figure tacked onto your monthly bill and a box will get shipped to your door on loan; cancel the subscription, and you'll presumably have to return it or pay a fee. It's an interesting shift in Sling's business model, but from Verizon's perspective, it's also got an air of anti-net neutrality to it -- especially if the $30 SlingPlayer option in the Market goes away. Here's hoping it doesn't! Follow the break for the full press release.
Ford introduces MyFord Mobile app for smartphones
Sadly Ford isn't confirming the Focus Electric that it saw fit to tease earlier this week, but we can now tell you all about the new smartphone app that will let you monitor the charging of... certain Ford vehicles. The app is called MyFord Mobile and it offers similar features to the apps we've already seen for the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt, notably car's charging status from afar and deliver some climate settings to ensure that the car is properly hot or cold before you leave on your cold or hot commute. The car will also let you find the car by GPS and, once you do, unlock the doors with your phone. When the car and the app launches there will be versions for Android, BlackBerry, and iOS, though interestingly there will be a an HTML-5 browser interface that'll even work on featurephones. Yes, featurephones. Interestingly, the app can automatically charge... whatever mystery vehicle you connect it to at the optimal time of the night to ensure you get the lowest cost for your juice, automatically pulling down rates from your utility so that you don't have to worry about it. That is what we like to call smart. And thrifty. Again the app will be available with a certain car that has a plug whenever that certain car is available, and if you want to know when that is going to happen you're going to have to wait. Update: Yes, that's a WP7 phone up there, a Samsung Focus to be exact. No, the app is not announced for Windows Phone 7. Conclusion? Cloudy. We'll have a little more clarification for you later today and you're just going to have to wait. Plenty of time to sharpen up those conspiracy theories.
Sony's PlayStation Phone gets in-depth preview in China, PlayStation Pocket app in tow
Well, that was quick. It was just two days ago when the elusive PlayStation Phone popped up on a Hong Kong forum, and now it's back again in full exposure thanks to Chinese website IT168. It's now confirmed that said Xperia-branded device is powered by a Qualcomm Adreno 205 GPU, along with what's likely to be a 1GHz Snapdragon QSD8255 as featured on the HTC Desire HD. Interestingly, Neocore is reporting an impressive 59.1fps benchmark, which is a huge improvement from our exclusive look back in early December. Quadrant also reports a high score of 1,733, but hey, there's no saying that this is the final build, so the graphics performance may get even better. Other tidbits found in the latest leak include the generous battery capacity of 1,500mAh, the 854 x 480 resolution on a 4-inch LCD, a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash sans 720p video recording (although it's probably just that the leaksters didn't look in all the submenu in the camera app), 512MB RAM, 512MB ROM, a microSD slot, SIM slot, micro-USB, and a second mic on the back for active noise cancellation à la Nexus One. Interestingly, the still-empty game launcher app is now called "PlayStation Pocket." We're still unclear just what the app will run; will it be PSOne games (the company has written an emulator before), PSP games, or an entirely new lineup? (In contrast, the PSP Go has a 333MHz processor, 64MB RAM, and a 3.8-inch 480 x 272 display -- albeit on different, not-quite-comparable architecture.) Hopefully we'll know soon enough, eh Kaz? Anyhow, you can peruse some pictures and videos below, and definitely check out IT168 for the full skinny on this (somewhat tick) device. [Thanks, Dave] %Gallery-113164%
iRobot debuts AVA telepresence robot with tablet controls
iRobot's first attempt at a telepresence robot, a modified Roomba, was a false start, but now they're back with an all-new bot called AVA which should right all wrongs. The bot can adjust its own height from three feet to five feet tall to meet you at eye level, with a tablet perched on top (this is CES 2011, after all). Its base is an odd three-wheeled configuration for maneuverability, and the robot has DARPA Challenge-style environment mapping to avoid bumping into anything or anybody. For sensors the AVA is using dual Kinect-style PrimeSense sensors, along with laser rangefinders, scanning acoustic sensors, and bump sensors. There's naturally a microphone and camera for the bot's primary purpose: video telepresence. What's more interesting, however, is that iRobot has an apps platform for this, which will allow developers to build new functionality. There's no word on price or when this will go on sale, but we already know one thing: we want one. Check out some quality time that PC Magazine's Lance Ulanoff spent with AVA after the break.
Lady Gaga and Polaroid launch Grey Label Instant Camera, Printer, and insane Camera Glasses
Polaroid has officially gone off the deep end, as a willing accomplice in Lady Gaga's crazy schemes. The new Grey Label line also includes a rebirth for Polaroid as an instant camera company, with a sexy new GL30 Instant Digital Camera with built-in printer, a separate GL10 Instant Mobile Printer, and Lady Gaga's bizarre triumph: the GL20 Camera Glasses (pictured), which include a built-in camera and dual LCDs which appear to cover your eyes when you're wearing the oversized shades. This CES marks a full year of Polaroid's collaboration with Lady Gaga, and while the glasses are possibly the least commercially viable device to be announced this year (in the best possible way), the classy new camera and printer might just make up for it. Both devices are using Zink technology for the instant printing, which Polaroid has been using in a much uglier way in its OneStep cameras, but the new devices have a retro sort of look that we're really digging. For the most part specs are light, including the GL30's megapixel count, but the GL10 printer will be out in May for $150, while the GL30 camera and the GL20 glasses don't have prices and will be available "later this year." %Gallery-113150%
Samsung will offer access to TV, VOD from Time Warner & Comcast on its Galaxy Tab, TVs
Samsung is following Sony's lead by enabling owners of its tablets and TVs to control their cable boxes and access content directly via IP from Comcast and Time Warner Cable. For Comcast users, a new Xfinity TV app on the Smart TVs brings an all new "web-like GUI" (that looks a lot like the new set-top box interface it's currently testing) for accessing live TV, DVR recordings and VOD.Plans for the Galaxy Tab sounds just like the Xfinity Remote for iPad, with control and access to streaming TV and movies, with plans to add the ability to pause and resume across different devices in the future. Time Warner Cable followed up its partnership with Sony by announcing it's streaming live TV over IP directly to Samsung TVs and tablets, as well streaming from a DVR to TV or tablet in another room. Both services are expect "later this year," check the press releases after the break or our live blog from the event for more details.
iPad 2 mockup teases 128GB storage, exhibits speaker grille we've seen before
Apple itself might not be at CES, but the prospective upgrade of its iPad to version two has accessory manufacturers (or at least manufacturers' imaginations) working overtime. We've just come across our second iPad 2 mockup, this one a lot more comprehensive than the first, which seems to mesh well with some earlier imagery we've seen of the supposed next-gen Apple tablet. Not only that, its rear label reveals an A1337 product code -- one that's also shared by the current iPad WiFi + 3G -- and lists 128GB of onboard storage, two times the current tablet's maximum. We don't know what material it's made out of, but it felt felt the same as the current iPad's aluminum shell. All that said, this is still just a mockup from a no-name accessory maker and we're just as willing to believe it was put together on the basis of some decent rumor research as we are to think that it really is the iPad 2. No harm in browsing some pictures of this 9.4mm-thick device, though eh? %Gallery-113105%
HTC Thunderbolt first hands-on (update: video!)
It may not have a dual-core processor, but the 4.3-inch HTC Thunderbolt is a beauty to behold -- not to mention a speed demon with Verizon LTE on board. We just got our paws on the 1GHz Snapdragon-powered Android 2.2 handset at CES 2011, and immediately fired off packets in an online speedtest. While we're not entirely certain Verizon's building-penetrating 700Mhz frequencies would typically work deep in the heart of Las Vegas' Venetian Hotel, it definitely did here, delivering nearly 18Mbps and loading full websites in a snap. The Desire HD-inspired hardware itself is no slouch either, with a solid if oh-so-slightly hollow build, a responsive glass touchpanel, and positively lovely colors from the 4.3-inch Super LCD screen -- a coup for HTC in and of itself -- and the strong, EVO 4G-like kickstand that hides the speakerphone is a nice touch. Here's hoping Verizon doesn't ask for internal organs or first-born children to turn this beast into an LTE hotspot. Find video after the break, and loads of pics below. %Gallery-113084% Myriam Joire and Darren Murph contributed heavily to this report.
Samsung sends Verizon an unnamed Android smartphone with LTE, Super AMOLED Plus display
Though it's just being called the "Samsung 4G LTE Smartphone" at this point, rest assured: the Android-powered device is very much real and very much destined for Verizon's airwaves. Though the inclusion of LTE is obviously a high point, the phone's claim to fame might be that it'll be among the first devices in the world to feature one of Sammy's newfangled Super AMOLED Plus displays (4.3 inches, in this case) that offers even better contrast and outdoor viewability than the original Super AMOLED did. You've got TouchWiz-skinned Android 2.2, an 8 megapixel camera with flash paired to a 1.3 megapixel front-facing unit for video calling, and a 1GHz processor that seems to mirror what's already being offered on most of the Galaxy S series today -- no dual-core madness here. We had a few fleeting moments to touch (but not photograph) the phone recently, and the screen is definitely a sight to behold -- we're not sure how Samsung managed to make a more contrasty display than Super AMOLED, but it did. We'll admit, we didn't love the tapered shape -- we thought it looked a little strange sitting on a table, though some might like it and it's certainly not a big deal either way. We also weren't huge fans of the big physical buttons below the display, a surprising counterpoint to the recent trend toward capacitive buttons on high-end Android devices. It's a heavy phone, though probably not heavy enough to bother folks who are in the market for a 4.3-inch display anyway -- and hey, we won't know for sure how it stacks up until we pit it head-to-head in a brutal deathmatch with Verizon's other version-one LTE phones like the Droid Bionic. Follow the break for the full press release.
HTC Thunderbolt and LG Revolution official on Verizon (updated)
Would you look at that. Verizon's ongoing press conference has been accompanied by the appearance of two 4.3-inch LTE handsets coming to the network. Both HTC's Thunderbolt and LG's Revolution were pretty well known in advance, but hey, now we have big luscious high-res pictures to gawk at. The Revolution will come with Android 2.2 preloaded while the Thunderbolt has Skype video calling integrated right into HTC Sense. The latter device also boasts a Super LCD display, 8 megapixel camera with HD video recording, DLNA, Dolby Surround Sound, and the honor of being a Verizon exclusive in the US. Now that the devices have been made official, we also know that the Revolution can stream, play and record HD video, perform video chat with a front-facing camera, and share its 4G connection with up to eight devices through its built-in hotspot functionality. Jump past the break for the full announcement. Update: Hop on past the break for the Thunderbolt specs, courtesy of our friend Peyton (and HTC).
Star Wars Complete Saga Blu-ray news: release in September, 30 hours of special features, available for preorder now (video)
This might not be the "most impressive" Star Wars announcement you were looking for. Not that it's a bad thing the complete saga will be released on Blu-ray in September, and there was no mention of any exclusivity shenanigans, but despite making this the least disappointing thing that has happened to the series in a decade or so forgive us for being slightly underwhelmed. Fans will appreciate the promised 30 hours of special features -- or wait for Red Letter Media to recut them into a careful dissection of everything wrong about the prequels -- but the ability to buy the two trilogies individually for $44.99 ($69.99 MSRP) is definitely appreciated. You can queue your $89.99 ($139 MSRP) preorder on Amazon right now while you check out video of the announce featuring Lord Vader himself, including a peek at the trailer embedded after the break. Update: Check out the trailer directly, after the break! %Gallery-113042%
Dell Streak 7 first hands-on! (update: more video)
We just touched the Streak 7 for the first time, and if we had to sum it up, we'd say this thing is a giant Streak (the 5-inch version, that is) without an earpiece. That's not necessarily a bad thing considering that the Streak was a little too big to be a great phone and a little too small to be a great tablet; the glossy, curved design elements have never been the problem, and they look just as good here. The screen seems a bit washed-out -- it might not be the highest-quality thing in the world -- nor did it seem unusually speedy, though we're hoping Tegra 2 ends up kicking butt once the software's optimized. Update: Check out two hands-on videos. After the break, of course. %Gallery-113046% %Gallery-113354%
Razer Switchblade preview: 3G, Intel Oak Trail, almost definitely going on sale
Whoa, Nelly! We just made a beeline to Razer's booth here on the CES show floor, and were presented with a fairly technical talk surrounding the newly launched Switchblade. While officially deemed a concept, we came away with a serious impression that Razer's not investing loads of time and money on this just for kicks. In other words, we'd cautiously expect to see this thing on sale at some point next year -- but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. We spent a good half-hour toying with this Windows 7-based mini netbook, and we came away seriously impressed by what's happening here. Head on past the break for more of our impressions. %Gallery-113039%
Dell teases Streak 10 for literally five seconds, says we'll see it next year (update)
Dell just pulled out a 10-inch Android tablet on the CES 2011 stage. It looks like it's running Stage UI, and that tiny silver dot up top might be a front-facing camera. There's a docking port on the bottom and a headphone jack (and what looks like a volume rocker) on the left side. That's literally all we know for now. You're such a tease, Dell. Update: Dell says it's called the Streak 10. Makes sense, no? By the way, that's a non-functional unit that Dell's held up on stage -- just a backlit, static image on a device that's not yet ready for primetime. %Gallery-113041%
T-Mobile upgrading HSPA+ network to 42Mbps this year
Seems like T-Mobile's fed up with claims that its network isn't truly 4G -- starting today, it's doubling the bandwidth of HSPA+ to 42 megabits per second as promised. They've conducting a live test in Las Vegas on the CES 2011 stage, playing some online multiplayer Need for Speed, but it won't be limited to the City of Sin for long -- fully two-thirds of its 200+ million person coverage zone will find blazing transfer speeds by the end of the year as the improvements roll out. Next stop -- 650Mbps.
T-Mobile G-Slate revealed at CES press event
We knew it was coming, but we didn't know what it would look like... or anything else besides 4G, Honeycomb, and an LG partnership, but at its press event here at CES, T-Mobile has finally revealed its G-Slate tablet. It looks like, well, a big screen, and we're still working on getting more details, but for now these shots from the presser will have to suffice. %Gallery-113034%
Audi rolls out updated hybrid e-tron Spyder at CES
It's looking rather more polished since it first appeared the Paris Auto Show earlier this year, having been given a lovely coat of red paint (embarrassingly almost exactly the same hue as the Tesla Model S that's here) but keeping the some gorgeous, turbine-styled wheels. It's the Audi e-tron Spyder, a hybrid with a twin-turbo V6 and dual electric motors as well capable of 0 - 60 times of 4.7 seconds, and we thought you might want to see. Still no price or availability, though. Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler also took the time to show off the company's latest MMI system, with its character-recognizing touchpad, and also spoke a little bit about the future -- vaguely, anyway. He refuted our thoughts on the car of the future, replacing the dash with a mobile device, saying that those devices are designed to draw your attention which is, of course, a bad thing while you're driving. However, we can't help but think that there are ways to eliminate that problem with the right software layer. Anyway, we'll be speaking with Stadler a little later today and will be picking his brain a little bit more about this and other topics of the future. %Gallery-113031%
Dell Streak 7 official on T-Mobile's 4G network, bringing dual-core Tegra 2 and Froyo
Dell's Looking Glass tablet has just received its official papers, being dubbed the Streak 7 and packed off to T-Mobile HSPA+ network. Alas, unlike its fellow CES debutants from the likes of Motorola and LG, this slate only has Android 2.2 on board, no Honeycomb, but you do get a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera, a Gorilla Glass-protected screen, 16GB of internal memory, and of course the greatness and glory of that 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor. T-Mobile retail stores and Dell's direct online outlet should have the Streak 7 "in the coming weeks." Full PR and an introductory video follow after the break. %Gallery-113037%
Live from Dell's CES 2011 press event
Dell hasn't had a regular booth or presser at CES in a few years now -- the company chooses to bunker down in a suite at the Palms instead. That's where we're currently hangin', waiting to see what Round Rock has in store for us this year -- and there's a huge Alienware Hummer parked outside, so we're definitely expecting some gaming news. But what else will Dell do? Another Adamo-bearing model? Another super-hasty Streak hands-on in a back alley? We'll find out soon enough.
Boxee makes deal with CBS for digital content sales
As we eagerly wait for Netflix and VUDU to hit the peppy, young Boxee Box, The New York Times is reporting that the company has inked a deal with CBS for selling episodes through the software platform. As you know, the aforementioned network has traditionally tread carefully in the digital distro arena, while this is the first such deal between Boxee and a television network. "It's a major step for us, working with the biggest network in the U.S.," said the company, who expressed hopes that this is "the beginning of more deals with more major content providers both here in the U.S. and abroad." Just what we needed: more ways to watch Two and a Half Men.
