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LG goes nouveau nostalgic with first US Mobile DTV devices
LG just announced its first commercial products for the fledgling US Mobile DTV standard approved in October. First up is what appears to be a DTV-ified LG Lotus clamshell -- a phone first introduced in 2008 but now capable of extracting digital TV from the aether with an assist from that telescoping antenna. Also set for a CES launch is that DP570MH portable DVD player that lets viewers watch up to 4-hours of ATSC-approved Mobile DTV broadcasts before heading back for a charge. LG's also promising more ATSC Mobile DTV devices from Dell (laptops), Kenwood, and others including in-car receivers all using LG's LG2160A ATSC-M/H tuner chip. Still, mobile antennas and DVD players... how can something so new feel so retro?
LG Lotus successor LX610 seeks to look even stranger than the original
We've heard rumors in the past that Sprint is looking to replace its Lotus with an upgraded model, a testament to the fact that the bizarre mega-wide form factor must be doing relatively well at retail. And how, exactly, do you outdo a phone like the Lotus? One obvious answer is to add a huge display on the front, which is what the upcoming LX610 seems to be doing if the shots over on PhoneArena are legit. Without any obvious input method, we're not sure what good a big external display (QVGA, if we had to guess) does -- but then again, it sorta worked for the RAZR 2, so we suppose it could work here, too. Anyhow, time to start taking bets on the third-generation model -- twice as wide and a Dvorak keyboard layout is our best guess.
HTC Hero coming October 11th to Sprint?
Let's go through the steps together, shall we? A "senior member" forum poster on the xda-developers forums has posted the above pic as proof that the HTC Hero is coming to the US on October 11th -- a claim he's been making as far back as April, but this is the first time he's brought a picture with him. The poster says he works for a wireless developer firm, and while this picture can easily be faked, we don't think it's necessarily that much of a stretch. Let's look at some of the other phones listed. There's "Samsung Q (Android)," which could provide a missing link between the InstinctQ and the company's mysterious Android phone that was supposed to be out on Sprint and T-Mobile by now. BlackBerry Aries is the CDMA version the Curve 8520, and traditionally RIM's CDMA devices wind up on both Sprint and Verizon. The LG LX610 / Lotus 2 is a new one to us, but Lotus seems to have been well-received for Sprint. So to pull all that data together, if this list is the real deal, we'd say it came from Now Network company. This is the sort of phone Dan Hesse would be glad to have waited for, isn't it? Read - HTC Hero (Android) Release Date: 10/11/2009 Read - Initial release date claim
Dodge Circuit EV goes for a test drive
Value your bodily safety too much to get within shouting distance of an electric motorcycle or a two-seat Segway? Our friends at AutoblogGreen have you totally covered with a test drive in the utterly safe, normal and boring Dodge Circuit EV. It's based on the same powertrain that Chrysler is stuffing into all of its ENVI vehicles, but with the lightweight Lotus-derived frame on top, there's quite a bit of get-up-and-go to it. Unfortunately, the cabin is a bit cramped, and Chrysler still has some bugs to work out with its EV platform. Right now the regenerative braking bites right away, instead of letting the car coast, requiring constant use of the accelerator to keep moving, but Chrysler is working on it. There are still big questions on price and availability, but so it goes with most electric vehicles -- at least this one seems fairly ready to go. Note: Gallery jumps to AutoBlogGreen
Red LG Lotus in stock with Sprint for $49.99
There's all sorts of good news going on here: first of all, the third Lotus color, red, is now officially available at retail from Sprint, making good on the carrier's promise of mid-April availability. Second, in case you haven't noticed, the $99.99 price tag has dropped all the way down to $49.99 on contract after discounts, making the fattest, stubbiest flip in Sprint's lineup more affordable than ever. Dig in, you texters, you. [Thanks, Dave]
Sprint's LG Lotus back for round three in red
It's not available just yet, but Sprint has released a fact sheet for a third color of its unusual Lotus clamshell -- this time in red. Like the purple version, this one features a stylized cover (less flashy folk might consider sticking with the unstyled matte black model), but otherwise, all the specs carry over. If our leaks on this one have been accurate, we can expect this bad boy mid-April -- likely for the same price on contract after rebate as its siblings, which would peg it for $99.99. [Via Phone Arena]
Proton and Detroit Electric detail their forthcoming rechargeable offerings
If you didn't already have enough electric and plug-in hybrid cars on your shopping list for next year, make sure you add pair of offerings from the reborn Detroit Electric to the running. The company (which, naturally, isn't based in Detroit) has already announced a partnership with Malaysian automotive group Proton (owner of Lotus, responsible for much of the Tesla Roadster's underpinnings), and the two are now providing a few details of the offerings set to launch throughout next year in Europe, China, the UK, and the US. Two versions of the e63 model will be available, seemingly distinguished only by how far they can go before stranding you. The so-called "city range" model is rated for 112 miles to a charge and will sell for under $26,000, while the "extended range" version pushes that distance up to 200 miles -- and the price up to $33,000. MSRP for that radical ZAP Alias the company has been teasing you with for years? Nowhere to be found, naturally.[Via Financial Times]
Samsung M810, red LG Lotus found in Sprint's playbook?
We can't really be sure this is really a page from Sprint's playbook or something craftier, but according to the above screengrab, the carrier's set to launch the Samsung M810 / Instinct Mini in Graphite and Bronze colors on April 15th for partner Brightpoint and then 19th for everyone else for $450, which matches up quite nicely with some earlier reports from Boy Genius Report. For those wanting something more familiar, the document also notes the LG Lotus is getting a new red paintjob and will be happy to show us on the 15th / 19th of next month, respectively. Fans of the rojo phone'll be glad to know it'll reportedly be keeping the current $300 price tag.
Found Footage: The Macintosh Software Dating Game (1983)
In 1983, Apple was trying to get software developers excited about the new Mac platform and a new way of working with computers. The YouTube video below shows highlights of an Apple event in which Steve Jobs plays the part of The Dating Game host Jim Lange, asking questions about software development to three bachelors software magnates -- Fred Gibbons of Software Publishing Company, Mitch Kapor of Lotus Development, and some guy named Bill Gates from Microsoft.Of those three software giants, only Microsoft has really survived into the 21st Century. Software Publishing Company left the PC scene in 1994 and Lotus was assimilated into the corporate body of IBM. The video has edited out most of the bits with Gibbons and Kapor, so you get to hear Bill Gates gush about how wonderful the Mac platform is and how Microsoft in 1983 honestly expected Macintosh software to account for one-half of their revenue. It's a weird little video, and very indicative of the type of PR stunts that were popular in the early days of the digital revolution. Enjoy!Tipped by a tweet from Dennis
LG Lotus hands-on
We'd really harshed on this phone prior to its release, because... well, when you're used to flip phones looking a certain way, it looks kinda funny. In the flesh, though, the LG Lotus looks just fine -- once you get past the fact that it's basically a perfect square when closed -- and anyone who does a lot of messaging should probably take note.%Gallery-42487%
Lotus powersliding into the hybrid car market
If you want to make a car handle -- and handle well -- you call Lotus. Just ask Tesla; without the help of the gearheads in Hethel, the US's hottest electric vehicle would probably still be just a concept. Perhaps dissatisfied with the relatively minimal PR love it's been receiving from the Tesla relationship, Lotus has announced plans to develop its own battery-powered car. However, unlike the all-electric Roadster, this new offering will include a Volt-like supplementary fuel-burning engine to add a bit more range and, one would figure, rather a lot more mass. That's not exactly good news for those who worship the Lotus mantra of "to add speed, add lightness," but at this point we don't have any idea about what the thing will weigh, cost, or indeed look like. If all goes according to plan we should get some answers when those international automotive powerhouses who are still alive bum a ride to the Geneva Auto Show in March.[Via Autoblog]
Nokia adds support for Lotus Notes in Symbian S60
There's hardly anything more embarrassing that admitting that your company still uses Lotus Notes, but for the millions upon millions (140 million, in fact) of licensed users who'd love the opportunity to check in via their S60-based handset, this one's for you. Starting next month, Lotus Notes support will be granted for Symbian S60 3rd Edition, meaning that anyone with a fresh S60 device can soon tap into Lotus Notes Traveler and access real-time email, calendar, address book, journal and to-do list data. On second thought, maybe you shouldn't be so enthusiastic -- leaving work at work is a blessing too many take for granted.
LG Lotus, Samsung Rant and Highnote now available from Sprint
Those crazy new Samsungs and LGs (well, LG singular) reppin' Sprint's fall lineup have dropped into stores dressed and ready for retail, and text fanatics are definitely the ones making out like bandits here. Starting out on the low end, the Samsung Rant drops by for $49.99 on contract in your choice of red or black, giving the LG Rumor some solid competition and upping the ante with EV-DO. The Highnote, also a fruit of Samsung's powerful loins, rocks the music angle with an integrated loudspeaker that functions as the second slide of a dual-sliding mechanism -- it runs $99.99 on contract in red or blue. Finally, the Lotus from LG takes the whole clamshell concept and flattens it out a bit, making room for a full QWERTY keyboard underneath along with a landscape display. It's available in purple (and not just any purple -- fancy purple) or black for $149.99 on contract.Read - Samsung RantRead - Samsung HighnoteRead - LG Lotus
Hands-on with LG's Lotus for Sprint
Okay, okay, we admit it: we went a little harsh on the Lotus before we had a chance to cradle it in our own palm. It turns out that LG's latest texting machine for Sprint is actually quite a looker in a bizarre, quirky way, with the black version taking on a well-constructed, businesslike aura and the purple doing a reasonably good job repping the high-fashion set. Don't get us wrong, it still looks downright weird when closed -- mainly because we're just not used to a square flip, we suppose -- but when it's open, it looks as decent as any featurephone on the market. We didn't have a great opportunity to put the keyboard through it's paces (stay tuned for that), but that new One Click UI paradigm looks like a winner at a quick glance -- so even if you're too fat-fingered to enjoy top SMS speeds, at least you'll enjoy watching your mistakes materialize on the screen in glorious detail.%Gallery-31983%
Sprint shows fall dumbphone lineup, new "One Click" user interface
Sure enough, there wasn't anything squished about the image we saw of the LG LX600 a while back -- it was just loosening the belt a couple notches to make room for a full QWERTY keyboard running across its naughty bits. Oh, and it's no longer the LX600; turns out Sprint is releasing it as the Lotus, one of four all-new dumbphones for the autumn months to complement today's announcement of the Touch Diamond and Touch Pro. It'll be available next month for $149.99 on contract. Others in the mix include the Samsung Highnote -- a music-focused dual slider that dedicates one slide direction to a hefty little loudspeaker -- and the curiously-named Rant, which apes the LG Rumor's form factor to give text addicts another affordable option. Like the Lotus, the Highnote and Rant will both hit in October for $99.99 and $49.99, respectively. Meanwhile, iDEN freaks (and we use that term in the most loving way possible) will be happy to see that they're getting their grubby, calloused hands on another rugged option, the Motorola i576 flip. It'll start getting beaten senseless at retail come October 19 for $69.99.Sprint's also using those three new consumer sets (sorry, i576) to premiere "One Click," a new UI paradigm for its non-smartphone devices that allows folks to drop all sorts of commonly-used features with information-rich icons right on the home screen for... well, one-click access, hence the name. New Katana Eclipse colors coming later this fall will feature the new software, too.%Gallery-31623%
BlackBerry Thunder caught on video, with a ninja
BREW Ninja, who readily (and oddly, for a ninja) admits that he's a mobile QA engineer over at Yahoo! Mobile, just scooped 3x phones in this quickie 4 and half minute video. The HTC Coke -- a variant of the HTC Touch Pro -- and tiny LG Lotus with full QWERTY for Sprint (AKA, LX600) are both interesting, but it's the hands-on video of RIM's touchscreen Thunder that blows our doors. At about 2:50 in, he reveals the BlackBerry Thunder for Verizon (AKA, Storm 8350) saying, "I don't like it, it's, it's an ok phone." His biggest concern seems to be the touchscreen (something we've heard before) which acts like a button -- you have to actual push the screen, hard, unlike most capacitive touchpanel devices. See for yourself after the break. [Via Crackberry]
Lotus Concept Ice Vehicle promises to aid arctic expeditions, Thunderbirds missions
You know, if you're going to go to the trouble of undertaking an arctic expedition, you might as well do it in the most completely over-the-top fashion imaginable. At least that seems to be the thinking behind Lotus' new Concept Ice Vehicle (or CIV), which appears to have been specifically designed to help out the Moon Regan TransAntarctic Expedition. Among other notable features, the biofuel-powered, propeller-driven vehicle boasts an ice penetrating radar to detect potentially perilous crevasses, seating for one brave individual, and a spiked "foot" to stop the thing in a hurry. Be sure to head on past the break for an unfortunately all too short video of the vehicle, and hit up the link below for a few more pics.
Lotus Connections coming to BlackBerry
It may not be the most fascinating development to hit RIM's platform, but hey, considering that BlackBerrys are still the device of choice for a great many of the world's businesses, every little bit of work-oriented software helps, we suppose. Alongside RIM's platform enhancement announcement came news that the company would be tying up with Lotus to bring its Connections business social networking platform (an oxymoron? you decide) to BlackBerry devices later this year. The suite will let users collaborate on work-related stuff, get in touch with contacts across the company, and hopefully, promote their garage bands. No word just yet on what models will support the new goods.
Age of Conan's Assassin class is stealthy, badass
Ten Ton Hammer has published the fourth in its series of "class interviews" with Funcom. Previously it spoke with the Age of Conan devs about the Dark Templar, the Guardian, and the Conqueror. This time it's the Assassin.You can read the interview for all the details, but the gist of it is: Asassins use stealth and quick bursts of high damage melee attacks in tandem with poison and debuffs to fell opponents quickly. As a counter-balance to their extraordinary offensive capabilities, they are very weak in terms of defenses. They wear thin silk armor because it allows them to move freely and silently.So the class is about 90% the same as the Rogue class in games like World of Warcraft. Unfortunately, "Assassins do it from behind" just doesn't have the same ring to it. Check out our Age of Conan interview and video footage, and our gallery of new artwork!
Visto Mobile does Exchange, Lotus Notes for iPhone
It's not the first product to tout enterprise email integration for the iPhone, but Visto Mobile has announced a solution of its own, promising secure access to Exchange and Domino servers without any software install on the iPhone -- a good thing, we'd say, considering that most IT departments frown on having to hack their fleet of mobile devices to set them up. Unlike Synchronica's solution which games Exchange's Outlook Web Access feature to avoid having to expose POP or IMAP servers to the world, Visto Mobile actually does require that admins open up a secure IMAP port and publishes the corporate directory to a Safari-friendly web page. Many IT departments frown on all that, too, so if you're planning on pitching this lil' solution to your own IT peeps, know full well that you may be turned away brokenhearted. Individual users can get in on the action for a one-time fee of $39 plus $10 per month, while companies are looking at $799 plus $199 per year plus $10 per month per user. Whew, patent suits must not be cheap, huh?Update: Turns out Visto uses port 443 -- typically used for secure HTTP -- to do its IMAP thing, so your IT department should calm down a bit when they find out they don't need to open special holes in the firewall just for your iPhone-totin' behind.
