Echo
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Kyocera Echo leaks on Sprint's site
We still don't know whether this'll be the "industry first" shown off at Sprint's event later today, but in light of the WSJ's information, we certainly wouldn't be surprised. A quick check of Sprint's site currently shows a hit for the Kyocera Echo, described as "the first dual-touchscreen smartphone" that offers a "pivot hinge" design with a maximum of 4.7 inches of combined screen real estate while still being "pocket-friendly." No other details are offered -- and the link to the Echo product page is dead right now -- but it's an interesting tidbit nonetheless. [Thanks, Leighton and Dave G.]
Sprint expected to introduce Kyocera Echo at event later today, HTC Arrive also indirectly corroborated
Businessweek has managed to track down an insider with information on the plans of both Sprint and Kyocera, and he (or she) has been talkative enough to confirm that a Kyocera Echo is all set for launch on the Now Network at an event later today. Sprint's tagline for said event was that it'll deliver an "industry first" that makes us believe "the impossible is possible," and with all due respect to Kyocera, neither of those really sounds like the company's upcoming Android handset. The first time we got wind of the Echo, however, it was accompanied by a tip about a Windows Phone 7-based HTC Arrive, a more likely candidate for that industrial innovation prize -- there are no CDMA WP7 devices quite yet. We could imagine the Arrive being a carrier-specific brand name for HTC's 7 Pro, which is already expected on Sprint and has even cleared the FCC in a CDMA flavor. But again, that doesn't fully satisfy the bluster about the impossible becoming possible, so maybe Sprint will have even more to show us -- we'll be attending its shindig tonight to make absolutely sure.
HTC Arrive and Kyocera Echo bow for Sprint?
Okay, armchair sleuths, this one's for you -- we've got two very legit-looking logos here, but not a lot of proof. Our tipster tells us that both of these high-quality vector graphics are the names of upcoming devices for Sprint, with the HTC Arrive (née Ruby) allegedly an upcoming Windows Phone 7 device, while Kyocera Echo is apparently the retail name for the phone internally known as the Sanyo Orange. It just so happens that the trademark for "HTC Arrive" was registered the very same day we received this logo, so we think we're onto something here, but the truth of the matter is that all of these codenames are falling on virgin ears. [Thanks, anonymous]
Intel's Sandy Bridge hits the desktop realm: Dell, CyberPower, Digital Storm and more
For the most part, Intel's Sandy Bridge introduction at CES made a giant impact in the outlook of future laptops, but not as much was said over in the desktop world. Quietly, a slew of custom PC makers have slid out revised towers with the second generation Core lineup, with Dell's XPS 8300, Digital Storm's entire family, Cyber Power's Gamer Xtreme 1000 / 2000 and iBuyPower's Chimera XLC seeing the new Core i5 and Core i7 chips. Care to dig in deeper? Hit the source links below, and be sure to bust out your credit card -- Intel's fastest doesn't come cheap, you know.
Lexar reveals Echo MX and ZX USB 'no-touch' backup drives
One-touch backup? Pssh. That's so 2010. Lexar is revealing its second CES introduction this morning with the uncovering of its Echo MX and ZX high-speed backup devices. Both units provide 'no-touch backup' along with 128-bit AES encryption, with the MX offering an always-on capacity meter, built-in Echo backup software and speeds of up to 28MB/s (read) and 10MB/s (write). It'll play nice with both Mac and PC platforms and will ship later this quarter in capacities of 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB (priced from $44.99 to $499.99). Taking things down a notch (from a volumetric perspective, anyway), the ZX USB nub is designed to remain plugged into your system at all times, continually backing things up in the event of an all-too-sudden disaster. This guy should ship prior to the summertime in capacities of 8GB, 16GB and 32GB, with prices ranging from $44.99 to $139.99. The full release is after the break.
Ancient acoustic engineers used stucco, drugs, and architecture to rock and confuse audiences
It's always fun when scientists discover new stuff about really old cultures, especially when it has to do with getting weird and rocking out. Recent research suggests temples built around 600 A.D. in Palenque, Mexico were designed with projection rooms that shot the sound of voices and instruments 300 feet away with the help of stucco-coated surfaces. 1600 years before that, in the Peruvian Andes, a pre-Incan society in Chavín was constructing a nightmarish Gallery of Labyrinths to play "strange acoustic tricks" during cult initiations: animal-like roars from horns, disorienting echoes, and maybe even choirs designed to produce otherworldly effects. And all of this while the poor inductees were being fed psychedelic San Pedro cacti. Yikes! To a certain extent this is all speculation, but we can tell you that if we were ancient priests with this kind of gear at our disposal we'd be using it for mind-controlling purposes too. Just because! [Photo adapted from Jenny Pansing's flickr]
Engadget's back to school guide: Fun stuff!
Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. On the menu today are a handful of fun yet practical gadgets, but feel free to check out our Back to School hub for more recommendations in other categories. It's a tough road ahead for aspiring students like yourself (yes, you!), but that doesn't mean one should abstain from any form of entertainment throughout the course. If anything, you'll be needing a few fun gadgets from our Back to School guide to impress your schoolmates -- it's not like your Facebook page will be automagically adding friends any time soon. But as the old saying goes, "work hard, play hard," so we've also thrown in a few picks that'll aid your study. When you're ready, click along for our latest list of awesomeness.
Livescribe gets pensive, unleashes new Echo Smartpen
Okay, so smartpens aren't as common as smartphones, but, hey, they're getting smarter too! That's right, Livescribe's taken the cap off its new Echo smartpen, and not only is it thinner and lighter than the original Pulse pen, but it also packs more power. Like its predecessor, the Echo can capture audio and handwriting, but it's now armed with more storage and features. The $169.95 4GB version promises up to 400 hours of audio recording, while the $199 8GB one up to 800 hours. However, the real updates come in the software arena -- the Echo can now be password protected to safeguard those love letters, err notes / recordings, and has a new function for launching applications. Additionally, new desktop software lets users export pencasts -- what the company has dubbed its visual note and audio recording -- to share with others via social networks and e-mail. But that's not all, Livescribe's promising more updates this fall, and they actually happen to be the most compelling of the bunch. By then you'll be able to send notes via e-mail by just docking the pen to the computer and turn the pen and paper combo into a Wacom-like graphics tablet. Basically, you'll be able to attach the pen to a computer via it's micro-USB cable and just draw free hand on the screen. The latter option could be pretty awesome for designers and such, but we'll have to wait a few months to test it out. Oh, you're looking for some more Echo action now? We've got some brief impressions and a hands-on video after the break. %Gallery-97702% %Gallery-97703%
Visualized: a strange world where echo doesn't exist
Anechoic chambers are special rooms designed to absorb sound or electromagnetic radiation; they're nothing new, and most audio and electronics companies consider them critical parts of their testing facilities. Considering how odd they look, though, we never get tired of a good picture of one -- and Apple's press conference today pimping its in-house inventory of 17 such chambers gave us an opportunity to look at some of the craziest we've ever seen. See more at Apple's web page devoted to its antenna design and test labs.
Dropcam Echo streams imagery to your iPhone, sends push notifications
Oh, sure -- you've got oodles of options when it comes to webcams, particularly the security types that are meant to monitor your home, garage or underground lair. But by and large, the ones already out there are difficult to install, pricey and impossible to troubleshoot. Dropcam's aiming to make things far simpler with its barebones Echo, which is the outfit's second-ever product. Essentially, it's a wireless Dropcam (original) with audio support added in, and after you've got it mounted and streaming, you can sign up for a (partially paid) Dropcam.com service to access remote viewing via PC, iPhone, iPod touch or iPad (other devices are "coming soon"), and automatic alerts can be pushed to your iDevice whenever motion is detected. There's even the ability to review up to 30 days of footage on a timeline, and Dropcam makes it easy to generate video clips for permanent storage, too. It's on sale now for $279, representing an $80 premium over the video-only model.%Gallery-95542%
Eliza Dushku starts playing WoW
Alright, so maybe she's only picked it up after almost five years of the game being out, but it looks like actress Eliza Dushku has started to play World of Warcraft. The actress, who broke into the nerd radar when she played a renegade Slayer in Joss Whedon's Buffy, tweeted yesterday asking her followers whether she should roll Alliance or Horde. The tweet made a small ripple across the nerdverse. The Dollhouse star, whose new show is getting pummeled in the ratings, received a number of responses on Twitter, most of them telling her to roll a Horde Blood Elf. We certainly hope she bucks the trend, though... Dear Eliza, Please roll a female Tauren Druid. Sincerely, Zach Dushku isn't the first actress or celebrity to publicly reveal a geeky side, and certainly not the first, uh, cryogenically-challenged female to play the game. There's Mila Kunis from That 70's Show, Guild creator and star Felicia Day, or even gaming event staple Kat Hunter, so the actress' firing up WoW probably isn't that big a deal. I mean, it's really okay to be geeky. There's nothing to it. Even girls play video games. It's also stipulated in the nerd handbook that we should play them in our underwear. The Chewbacca one.
QuantumPhonic QR wildly claims to nix echo and reverberation in arenas
Although QuantumPhonic's QR technology is emerging a touch late to make a difference at the Beijing Olympics, it certainly has its sights set on zapping excess noise at the 2012 Summer Games in London. In a rather excited and somewhat unprofessional release, the aforementioned company has announced a technology that can seemingly kill the echo and reverberation that almost always sour the audio experience in large arenas and stadiums. Of course, it also claims that the tech "defies all feasible common sense and design," so believe at your own risk. If you're terribly interested in learning more, there's an immensely entertaining video waiting just after the break.
Echo Robotics kicks out matchmaker bears for the socially impaired
Alright fellas, you've got just over a fortnight remaining before what could possibly be your one and only shot (at least for this year) at hooking up with your dream gal, but if all the singles still in the pool end up toting one of Echo Robotics' latest creations, the hard work will already be done. In what looks to be the next step in finding true companionship for the socially impaired, the Echo team has unveiled a prototype bear which "serves as a nucleation point for conversation," and gives off your choice of signal when you've just brushed by your (potential) soulmate. Essentially, you program your "interests" into the Echo via Bluetooth, and when coming into range of another Echo (which can be housed in any "skin" or stuffed animal) with similar interests (hobbies, work, alma mater, etc.), it will start acting up by waving to alert you to start breakin' that ice. Of course, these little guys are only effective when being carried around by perfect strangers you come near, but the idea is intriguing nonetheless. So if you're interested in carrying around a conversation starter with you at all times, and want to bring back the Tamagotchi craze in a whole new light, be sure to click on through for the prototype in action.[Via RobbotGossip]
GamePro's Reviews Editor admits error
On the heels of 1UP's retraction of an editorially awkward review, we've been handed a similarly awkward GamePro review of Sega Genesis Collection. Website seganerds.com points out numerous issues in detail. The review's writer spells "Echo the Dolphin" incorrectly (it's Ecco) and calls it "B-grade," even though Ecco the Dolphin is generally considered one of the best games released on Genesis. The reviewer says Sega, "clearly scraped the bottom of the barrel in an attempt to beef up the number of titles." Although there is some padding, 19 of the 28 games on the disc are recognizable. He also says, "If Sega really wanted this compilation to matter, it should have included hits like Road Rash [and] Contra." But the rights to those games belong to EA and Konami. Under normal circumstances, we would say this was due to a lack of editorial oversight but, sadly, this review was written by GamePro's Reviews Editor Tae Kim, who teases in his profile, "I know everything."To add insult to injury, there was a significant advertisement buy from Sega on the GamePro site promoting the Sega Genesis Collection. It's bad enough to an advertiser when their game gets a bad review, but if you're going to talk smack about a title, please spell the name of their game correctly ... at least we can be sure they weren't paid off for the review.Tae Kim contacted Joystiq to explain the review. He starts off by saying that the "I know everything" comment is meant as a joke. He admits errors were made and will be corrected immediately. He says he is fully aware that Road Rash and Contra are not Sega titles and his original article included a line on how they should have tried through licensing to include the games. Kim concludes, "Mistakes do happen over the course of editing and I should have exercised better judgment in the choice of my words and should have worked harder to make sure everything was copy edited, a mistake I will try not to make in the future."
