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Kinect hack lets you manage your bank account with gestures, will occupy your living room (video)
You know all those convoluted gestures and hate-infused fist pumps you make every time you look at your bank account? Well, you can now put them to good use, thanks to a new Kinect hack from Lithuania-based Etronika. The company's software, which made its debut at last week's CTIA E&A event, effectively brings motion-controlled banking directly to your living room. All you have to do is stand in front of your display, clap your hands to choose an icon, or wave your hand back and forth to navigate across the app's carousel menu. This means you can pay your bills, check your balance and return to fetal position without even touching a sharp object. "A lot of banking software apps are filled with boring crap," Etronika CEO Kestutis Gardziulis explained with refreshing candor. "With our software, you could be on the couch at home, having a beer, all while dealing with your bank account and kicking back." Beer, banking and body language -- sounds scandalous! Head past the break to watch a demo video, starring Pam Beesly's doppelgänger.
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
A look inside Verizon's test car: we go heads-in at CTIA E&A 2011
Imagine if Verizon's Testman was actually the admiral of a fleet of Chevy Tahoes, all dedicated to the purpose of testing and comparing networks and asking if others can hear them now over a million times each year. The famous Testman himself is just an actor, of course, but Verizon's self-proclaimed "test cars" are a thing of reality; in fact, the fleet numbers a cool hundred nationwide. We had the opportunity to take a quick peek inside one of these cars, each of which drive an endless number of miles to measure the performance of not only Big Red's network, but its competition as well. You wouldn't recognize any of these unmarked cars if they drove past you on the street unless you were trained to look for the outside clues: on the roof lies a GPS module in concert with several black nubs, each one acting as its own phone antenna. If you look close enough at the back windows, you may be able to make out the multitudes of USB data sticks taped to them. All of these elements are crucial for Verizon in order to collect real-time data on how its network stacks up against the likes of AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint, not to mention regional carriers such as Cricket and MetroPCS. Thus, each test car is equipped with phones that work on almost every network and try each one out thousands of times a year. The company's goal? To ensure that it maintains a standard of excellence in its network performance for both its voice and data quality. So how does this all happen? Read on past the break to find out what's inside the car. %Gallery-136457%
EcoATM offers instant money for your old phone, we go hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video)
Old-fashioned ATM meets modern-day phone recycling program. That's the idea behind EcoATM, a startup aimed to help reduce electronic waste and beef up your wallet at the same time. Of course, it's not a new concept: phone recycling programs have been around for a while now, helping you stay green by giving you some green. Trading in an old phone for the almighty dollar, however, typically involves filling out paperwork, printing labels, shipping the device to the facility and waiting for four weeks for a check. EcoATM's goal is to eliminate all of that in favor of a simple 5-minute process that ends with cash in-hand. The company has machines set up in popular shopping malls in various cities across the country, ready to help you part ways with your old device. Take a gander at a gallery and the full demonstration below. %Gallery-136313% Zachary Lutz contributed to this report.
Kyocera DuraMax for Sprint hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video)
Call us what you will, but we couldn't resist taking a quick look at the Kyocera DuraMax, which (along with the DuraCore) represents the first of Sprint's handsets to support Direct Connect for CDMA. It's no smartphone, for sure, but we were intrigued by its certification for the military's 810G standard, which promises resistance to dust, shock, vibration, water, low pressure, extreme temperatures and solar radiation -- among other nasty elements. %Gallery-136305% Kyocera DuraMax hands-on Kyocera Duramax is in the batter's box, launching with Sprint Direct Connect October 2nd Rugged gadgets put to the test in Engadget labs, wanton destruction ensues From the outset, the phone appears stout and bulky. It measures a full one-inch thick, although it seems like even more. Perhaps this is due to the grooved rubber finish, or maybe it's the clamshell shape, but you'll want a holster for this one, as the protrusion in your pocket would be hard to ignore. So just who is this device for? We'd like to imagine it's targeted at the kids who played with Tonka trucks as kids, who now drive bulldozers and pour hot tar on roofs. Yes, this phone is designed to take some punishment, which is undoubtedly its greatest strength. After carefully inspecting each angle, peeking underneath the battery cover and testing the "walkie talkie" feature -- which seems to work beautifully -- we began dishing out some seriously bad behavior. Check out the video after the break to see just what we mean.
LG Optimus Slider on Virgin Mobile at CTIA E&A 2011, we go hands-on (video)
Curiously enough, the prepaid market had as much of a field day at this week's CTIA Enterprise & Applications as anyone else; we already got our fair share of hands-on time with the Samsung Transfix for Cricket, and shortly afterward beheld our eyes (and mandibles) on the LG Optimus Slider, the latest beauty making a beeline to Virgin Mobile as early as this coming Monday. Aside from the obvious slide-out QWERTY, the Android 2.3.4 device will feature a 3.2-inch HVGA display, a 3.2MP camera and microSD support up to 32GB, and will be available without a contract for $200. Head underneath to take a look at the full image gallery and hands-on video. %Gallery-136414% Zachary Lutz contributed to this report.
The Engadget Mobile Podcast, CTIA edition, live at 12 AM ET!
What do you get when you mix together a lack of sleep, a desk full of candy and two of our mobile editors at a trade show? Late night shenanigans in San Diego, that's what -- Myriam and Brad are up to no good while attending CTIA Enterprise & Applications 2011, and they're ready to tell you all about their wild and crazy adventures while in the midst of a convention center (some crazy stuff goes down in those places, believe us). We'll also tell you exactly what didn't happen at this week's show, and offer up a double dosage of ranting. That's right, Myriam and Brad are in the same room, opining from the exact same mic. Should be a great way to spend the wee hours of the morning, eh? Tune in at 12AM ET (9PM PT) for this week's special California Nights edition of the Engadget Mobile Podcast!
Navigon demos upcoming MobileNavigator for iOS and Android, latest Windows Phone app (video)
So, get this. We were cruising through the halls of Pepcom's Mobile Focus with a horrible fever and on the brink of delirium. Unsure how much longer we could keep composure, we came upon Navigon's booth. In addition to displaying its brand new Windows Phone application, the company was also showing off its upcoming releases of MobileNavigator for Android and iOS. Fortunately, Navigon's Public Relations Manager, Johan-Till Broer, was kind enough to give us a demo of each app. Among the new features, users will be able to select individual states for local map storage, which goes a long way toward freeing up space. Additionally, there's also a driving mode called Cockpit, which allows leadfoots to check their speed and acceleration over the last 30 minutes. The app updates will be free to all existing users, although if you want to load up new maps, that'll be a one-time fee. We're told to expect these latest gems in a couple of months. As for the Windows Phone version, it sells for $50, although is currently available for $30 -- at special introductory pricing. A demo video and full PR is just after the break. Be sure to check it out. %Gallery-136410%
Samsung Transfix on Cricket at CTIA E&A 2011 (hands-on video)
Staring intently at the image above? It's understandable. After all, it is called the Samsung Transfix, right? Cricket's latest Android addition doesn't necessarily break any new ground in its quiet release at this year's CTIA Enterprise & Applications, but it has a lot of potential for anyone looking to get an inexpensive prepaid phone. The new 3.2-inch QWERTY runs on Gingerbread, is powered by an 800MHz CPU and brings a 3.2MP camera to the tablet. Nothing to write home about these days, but don't forget: your parents might appreciate at least hearing from you, even if it's not regarding a smartphone. Stay transfixed below the break at our full hands-on gallery and vid, and a press release thrown in for good measure. %Gallery-136345% Myriam Joire contributed to this post.
Pantech Pocket for AT&T hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video)
It's the glitz and glamour that typically defines shows such as this week's CTIA Enterprise & Applications 2011, but Pantech chose to fly under the radar this time around. Sure, the company didn't have its own multi-million dollar booth at the event, but it still at least had a significant product to show off. We were given the opportunity to spend some brief time playing with the Pantech Pocket, a follow-up to the crossover with better specs and another unique form factor. The pocket features a 4-inch SVGA (800 x 600) display, which means you can expect the device to be wider and shorter than your typical handset; in terms of width, we felt as though we were holding a 4.7-incher. We noticed, however, that its shorter length allowed for additional places to grip, which made it at least easier to hold in our hand as a result. Specwise, the Pocket is a Gingerbread phone running on Android 2.3.4, uses a similar UI to what's found on the Crossover, offers a textured scratch-resistant battery cover, has a 5MP rear cam with 720p video capture (and no LED flash or front-facing camera) and is powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 single-core CPU and 512MB of RAM. No pricing has been set on the Pocket, but it's certain to be gracing the midrange section of your neighborhood AT&T store starting November 6th. Gallery and vid below. %Gallery-136393% Zachary Lutz contributed to this hands-on.
Samsung Stratosphere for Verizon hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video)
The selection of devices to show off in the Samsung booth at this year's CTIA Enterprise & Applications is a bit meager when compared to previous shows, but we hunted down a pearl: the Samsung Stratosphere. The newest addition to Verizon's LTE lineup is also by far the most unique of the bunch, simply due to its physical QWERTY slide-out keyboard. In fact, you're apt to find a hefty number of similarities between the Stratosphere and last year's Epic 4G, as both devices come with 4-inch Super AMOLED displays, 1GHz Hummingbird single-core CPUs and 5MP rear cameras, though the former brandishes a nicer 1.3MP front-facing cam and comes with Android 2.3.4 installed. Verizon's little beauty is priced smugly between the Pantech Breakout and LG Revolution at a cool $150 with a two-year commitment, and will be available on October 13th. Check out our full hands-on gallery and video below. %Gallery-136311%
Mobile devices may outnumber humans in the US, but they can't take our soul
We're not really sure what to make of this, but it looks like Americans may be under siege... from their own cellphones. No, seriously -- according to the latest survey from CTIA, there are now more mobile devices in the US than there are human beings. The trade association's semi-annual statistics show that during the first six months of 2011, the number of wireless subscriptions rose by nine percent over the previous year, to a total of 327.6 million. The combined population of the US, Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Islands, by comparison, is around 315 million. That translates to a nationwide wireless penetration rate of 103.9 percent, and, not surprisingly, a 111 percent surge in data usage. CTIA says these results highlight "the industry's need to purchase more spectrum from the federal government," as well as our collective need to get a life. You can find more crunch-able numbers in the full PR, after the break. [Image courtesy of Wrong Side of the Art]
TeleNav 7.1 for Sprint Android phones: this time it's personal
Sure, everyone loves Google Maps Navigation, it's free, and it comes on every Android handset. However, those wanting a more personal experience from their phone's GPS (and are on the Now Network) should check out TeleNav GPS Navigator 7.1. Among the changes from prior iterations of the app are a new home screen with real-time traffic updates and customizable "Home" and "Work" buttons to show your impending commute times. So you can pick the fastest way home (or the most direct route to happy hour) 7.1 also recommends multiple routes to your chosen destination and provides drive times and traffic conditions for each route. As if that weren't enough, you can also download three widgets to put on your Android home screen: a map showing your current location, a search bar, and a widget that shows your home and work commute times. We enjoy celebrities giving us directions and all, but it's good to see some new functional features coming to the GPS game. Full PR after the break.
Motorola Atrix 2 hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video)
Motorola and AT&T are at it again with their Android shenanigans, this time following up the Atrix 4G with something a tad more... Atrix-y. Indeed, we're referring to the sequel of February's smash hit, honorably called the Motorola Atrix 2, announced at this week's CTIA Enterprise & Applications. We had the opportunity to get some brief time with it, and it's a fair device worthy of the family name: the 4.3-inch device feels good in the hand, and closely resembles the Photon 4G, only without the cutout corners. The sequel swaps processors, trading the 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 CPU for a TI OMAP model with the same clock speed, and offers a full gigabyte of RAM to go along with it. Fortunately, the qHD 960 x 540 display looks gorgeous without its predecessor's Pentile clothes. Also gone? The fingerprint sensor. Oh, and don't be fooled by the missing "4G" moniker in the title; this little ditty packs a 21Mbps HSPA+ radio, up from 14Mbps in the first version. All in all, we like what we see here -- we enjoyed the brief time we had with the sequel. It seems as though Motorola learned some important lessons from the original device, but we'll reserve total judgement until our forthcoming review. Check out the full gallery and hands-on video (complete with bonus psychedelic carpet!) below. %Gallery-136335% Myriam Joire contributed to this post.
Cadillac unveils CUE infotainment system for connected driving excitement in 2012 (video)
Cadillac may be an unlikely exhibitor for a mobile conference, but it is using CTIA as an opportunity to unveil the Cadillac User Experience (CUE). CUE is its new car infotainment system that will debut next year, first in the XTS and later in the ATS, before spreading to the company's entire line. It combines an eight-inch capacitive multitouch LCD and haptic feedback with proximity sensors for a more rewarding user experience. Touch isn't the only input that Cadillac is quite proud of, as CUE also includes voice recognition technology from Nuance. This means users should be able to interact with their phone and car stereo without ever taking their eyes off the road. %Gallery-136323% Remarkably, CUE has ties to the Linux Foundation and it is based on the namesake operating system. It's built on a tri-core ARM 11 CPU that simultaneously chews through 3D navigation maps and displays BluRay in the backseat with aplomb. Cadillac tells us that it has been working on this system for nearly two years, which supports Bluetooth 3.0, and also adds connectivity with two USB ports and an SD card slot. The folks at Caddy also hinted that more third-party apps will eventually be part of the story, but those details will be revealed further down the road. That said, the CUE already supports Pandora, Stitcher and provides an HTML5-based browser with full JavaScript support. The company also provided a video tour of its latest wonder, which you'll be able to see in greater detail after the break along with the press release.
Lapdock 100 brings a Webtop IQ boost to Moto phones on Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T
Looking to harness all the power of your smartphone PC-style? Motorola is looking to help with its Lapdock 100 for a number of devices, including the Atrix 2, Photon 4G and Droid Bionic. The laptop shell sports a 10.1-inch screen (smaller and hopefully cheaper than the Atrix 4G's axed lapdock), keyboard with dedicated Android keys, touchpad, multi-tasking and tabbed web-browsing via WiFi or your phone's data plan. You'll also be able to utilize a full Firefox browser, Adobe Flash, Quick Office, Google Docs and a PC-esque File Manager. Just in case your smartphone's SD card doesn't offer enough storage space, the dock packs two USB ports for all those extra documents you might collect. Looking to stay ultra-portable, the peripheral weighs a hair over two pounds (less than 1Kg) and touts five hours of battery life -- which can also be used to recharge that tired handset if needed. If you're looking to snatch up one of these bad boys, you'll have to wait until October 17... and even then, it'll only hit shelves at AT&T. Verizon and Sprint customers will get their chance "later this quarter" and there's no word yet on pricing. Need more info? Hit that coverage link for product page and get yourself better acquainted.
T-Mobile Springboard hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video)
HTC Flyer touches down at T-Mobile, Scribe pen not included T-Mobile Springboard and Galaxy Tab 10.1 finally get official launch dates Developer does the math: only 3.4 million Honeycomb tablets in the wild? CTIA Enterprise & Applications 2011 has blessed us with a 7-inch tablet by the name of the T-Mobile Springboard. Similar in look and feel to the HTC Flyer, this Huawei-made slate is just as easy to hold, though it's completely sans a fancy pen. The device has a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, runs on the latest version of Honeycomb (Android 3.2), and offers a 5MP rear camera with a 1.3MP front-facing shooter. We couldn't get any confirmation on pricing or availability, aside from being told to expect the Springboard sometime during the holiday season. That may not narrow the timeframe down as much as we'd like, but at least you know it's an idea for that holiday wish list you've been trying to put together. Head below for a full smorgasbord of pictures and a hands-on video. %Gallery-136312% Update: We were informed by T-Mobile at this evening's media event that the Springboard will debut for under $200, though no additional solid information is available yet.
Live from CTIA's day one keynote with Dan Hesse, Dan Mead and Ralph de la Vega
We're seated for the official kickoff of this week's CTIA Enterprise & Applications show, the opening keynote address. Today we'll have the pleasure to hear from the Dan Hesse, Dan Mead and Ralph de la Vega, the CEOs of Sprint, Verizon Wireless and AT&T (respectively). The topic: "Return of the Titans -- carrier insights." We can't be quite certain yet as to what this entails, but we expect many of these "insights" will actually be a plethora of witty jabs flying back and forth at each other. Regardless, we're rather stoked to hear what these gentlemen have to say. Tune in after the break!
Wilson Electronics debuts the AWS 70 signal booster to bring life to your office's T-Mobile dead zone
See that beauty up above? That, dear friends, is the Wilson Electronics AWS 70 signal booster. We know, it doesn't look like the standard-issue 50-cent sticker that you slap underneath your battery, right? This beefy guy is meant to be a thousand times more effective, aiming to amplify your office's poor AWS signal -- most notably T-Mobile, but any 1700 / 2100 AWS connection can benefit -- by a total gain of 70dB. The booster offers the ability to manually adjust the amount of gain for uplink and downlink separately, so you can optimize it however you deem fit. With a MSRP of $360, it's not for the weak-walleted -- you'll likely want to put it on the company tab. If you're interested in how this all goes down, check out the presser below.
We're live from CTIA Enterprise & Applications 2011!
We're gathering at the San Diego Convention Center to attend the fall edition of CTIA Wireless, also known as CTIA Wireless Enterprise & Applications 2011. Sure, the name's a mouthful, but we can't wait to check out the show floor and get a handful of the latest and greatest gadgets. The biggest news so far is what won't be shown off at this week's event, but we're certain this shindig's got plenty more to take our attention away from good ol' Nexus whats-his-face. So be sure to follow Engadget's CTIA 2011 tag to get all the action!
