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ASUS Eee Pad Transformer and Slider: another look
Remember those eccentric ASUS Android tablets at CES? Yeah, it's all a bit of a blur for us as well, but turns out both the Eee Pad Transformer and Slider prototypes just made it to the BETT (British Educational Training and Technology) Show in London this morning, so we decided to wander along to get our hands dirty again. Sadly, the Transformer had a bit of a rough ride from Vegas and remained dormant, but we were still able to admire its sturdy keyboard dock with great key press travel. And in case you've forgotten, said dock is also an external battery that doubles the juice up to 16 hours. UK shoppers will see this slate popping up in the stores around May or June for £379 ($597), and its docking kit for £100 ($158). We were more fortunate with the functioning Slider prototype, even though it had the same sliding issue we saw at CES. But fear not, as we were told that the engineers are already reworking the mechanism, and here's hoping that they'll do something about the flexing keyboard as well. As for software, we didn't have time to test everything, but we were surprised by the general snappiness of the current Froyo test build. And speaking of which, we're not too sure what the plan is with ASUS' Android roadmap -- even though we were told at CES that Honeycomb will be on these tablets at launch, the folks we met today said that they'll be shipped with Gingerbread instead; and even then, there's no time frame for the 3.0 upgrade just yet. Anyhow, this is less of a concern for the Slider given its July or August launch, but it'll cost you a hefty £429 ($676). Additionally, both tablets will see their 3G variants in the UK a quarter after their respective launches, but regardless, it's never too soon to start a petition for your carrier to spread the ASUS tablet fever. %Gallery-114020% %Gallery-114019%
Best of CES 2011
Maybe, just maybe, you've noticed that Engadget relocated this past week to the City of Sin for CES 2011. Oh yes, we set up camp in a double-wide trailer, liveblogged our hearts out, combed the show floor, and worked our rear ends off to bring you more gadget news than you ever thought possible. It's true, we've written over 720 posts (40 or so about tablets alone!), shot more than 180 videos, and brought you over 350 photo galleries in the last seven days. That's a ton of technology news and products, but naturally, only certain ones have been able to rise above the rest and stick out in our scary collective hive-mind. With that said, we've complied our annual best of list for you, so hit the break and feast your eyes on what are bound to be some of the best products of the new year.
HTC 7 Pro arriving on O2 Germany 'next week,' priced at €569
Last we heard of the HTC 7 Pro, it was taking a casual stroll through O2 Germany's website, throwing around boasts that it'll be on sale come January 2011. Well, guess what? That promise has just been reiterated by O2's German Twitter stream, which says that the 7 Pro will be on sale next week for an unsubsidized price of €569 ($735). That's available via O2's usual MyHandy payment plan, where you dish out €29 in advance and then pay off the phone in equal monthly payments over two years. We can't imagine HTC leaving the rest of the world sitting idly by, twiddling their QWERTY keyboard-loving thumbs, so look out for this WP7 handset to filter through to your local market some time soon. [Thanks, Mario]
HTC EVO Shift 4G vs. Motorola Cliq 2... fight!
HTC's ThunderBolt along with Motorola's Atrix 4G and Droid Bionic might be taking the overwhelming majority of the attention here at CES over the past few days, but remember that both companies have introduced some other models that are expected to be serious midrange breadwinners for their respective carriers. One of the most obvious head-to-head matches would be the HTC EVO Shift 4G taking on the Motorola Cliq 2, both launching this month on Sprint and T-Mobile, respectively. %Gallery-113461%
ASUS tablet lineup preview: Slider, Transformer, MeMO, and Slate EP121 go wild (with video!)
We just played with ASUS whole new tablet lineup, which is truly impressive not only in scope, but also for the fact that ASUS didn't just pick a few capacitive screen sizes and call it a day. Each of the four tablets (three Android-based Eee Pads and one Windows-based Eee Slate) has its own "twist" on what's come to seem traditional in modern day tablets, while also maintaining significant hardware and screen quality. We're not crazy about the 'MyWave' ASUS software skin on its Android models, but they at least seem serious about providing UI and apps for the entire experience -- they're not kidding around, is what we're saying. We've got a ton of pictures and impressions, so follow after the break as we break it all down! Update: We've added video as well. You'd be a fool not to click.
ASUS Eee Pad Slider and Transformer arrive for those that can't imagine using a tablet without a physical keyboard
Here they are: ASUS's duo of Tegra 2-powered, 10.1-inch tablets with unique physical keyboards. Starting with the craziest of them, is the Eee Pad Slider (pictured on the left), which reminds us a lot of HTC's old school Shift with its slide out QWERTY keyboard. The device is planned to run Google's Honeycomb, sports a IPS, 1280 x 800-resolution display, and houses mini-HDMI and miniUSB ports as well as a microSD card slot. The 2.2-pound / .5-inch thick slab also has dual cameras -- a 1.2 megapixel front-facing one and a 5 megapixel one with an LED flash on the back. We have to say we love the idea of always having that keyboard around, but if you don't want to drag along a physical keyboard all the time, ASUS has something for you too. It's the Transformer, and like the Eee Pad we saw at Computex, it's a 10.1-inch tablet that will come with a laptop like dock with a full size keyboard and touchpad. The tablet part -- like the Slider -- will run Android 3.0 and packs a dual-core Tegra 2 processor, two cameras, and a 1280 x 800-resolution IPS display, however, the dock has an integrated battery that will keep the tablet running for 16 hours on a charge -- the tablet on its own should last eight. We're obviously aching in our seats here waiting to get these two in our hands so stay tuned for some crazy videos of the two in action -- until then we leave you with the specs after the break. Update: How much will it cost you to keyboard-ify your slate and how long will you have to wait? ASUS says the Transformer will run between $400 and $700 and the Slider from $500 to $800. Expect them in April and May respectively. %Gallery-112500% %Gallery-112544%
HTC EVO Shift 4G in the wild!
QWERTY fans, rejoice: at this point, we're pretty sure this thing's getting announced this week, seeing how it's out and about in retail packaging. Here's Sprint's EVO Shift 4G in all its in-the-wild glory -- and yes, it turns out it's definitely called the EVO Shift 4G, not the EVO 4G Shift, since we've got the name spelled out on the official branded box here. As a refresher, this phone's shaping up to be the EVO 4G's keyboard-equipped cousin, albeit with a lower-res camera (5 megapixels), a smaller display, and -- seemingly -- no front camera. For some, that could be an acceptable tradeoff... and it's conceivable that we'll see it on sale within a few days considering the flurry of retail leaks we've witnessed. Check out all the juicy shots below. [Thanks, anonymous tipster] %Gallery-112409%
ASUS EP121, EP102, EP101, and EP71 tablets get diagramed in latest teaser
Haven't had enough CES titillation yet? Good. ASUS has apparently been up to some mischief overnight in uploading and then pulling a new version of its teaser video from a week ago, though this time it also included explicit product names attached to some quite informative diagrams. It looks to be the full family of upcoming CES tablets, with the EP121 touting stylus input and a wireless keyboard, the EP102 showing that there will indeed be a slider in ASUS' Pad family, and the EP101 looking like, well, a laptop. There's also a media-centric EP71, whose proportions make it seem likely to be a sort of oversized PMP. Skip past the break for a closer look at them all and don't forget to grace our comments with your theory as to why ASUS feels compelled to have such a segmented product offering.
HTC EVO Shift 4G headed for a January 9th launch at $150, according to RadioShack leak
HTC's worst kept secret (this side of the Thunderbolt) has popped up online again, this time as part of some RadioShack promo materials, which list its price, launch date, 4G capabilities, and screen size. Earlier indications had this Android slider launching on January 9th at a $150 price point with a two-year contract and now, lo and behold, both data points seem to have been confirmed. $450 is the price for the EVO Shift 4G sans any carrier obligations, though you'll probably want to stick with Sprint to make use of that WiMAX radio contained within. Bring on 2011 already!
ASUS teases Eee Pad and Eee Slate ahead of CES launch
Seems like all these CES vendors have wised up to the fact that announcing their new products amidst a maelstrom of new product announcements tends to be slightly counterproductive. So, naturally, they're spending their December carefully teasing out little pre-release details. It's ASUS' turn today, who clearly isn't content just telling us about its Eee Pad / Slate / Tablet / Chopping Board and has decided to dish out some candid hardware shots. What we see above is a USB 3.0 port embedded within a very slinky keyboard panel, which itself seems attached to a touchscreen display (with Android buttons!) up top. It's looking more like a tablet PC (presumably with a pivoting screen) than a tablet, which is corroborated by other images at the source link. Two devices are included in this teaser picture set, with the other looking like it has a slider keyboard (see it after the break) -- none of it is definitive just yet, but it makes for a good guessing game to fill the time until the big show kicks off in Vegas next week.
HTC EVO Shift 4G spotted in the wild, said to have 800MHz CPU
We had our doubts the last time we encountered an HTC EVO Shift 4G, but it looks like they were mostly unfounded -- here's Sprint's new QWERTY slider in the flesh -- armor finally shed -- revealing a chrome bezel beneath. PhoneArena obtained these pics from an anonymous tipster, who says the device has an 800MHz processor much like the T-Mobile G2, and while we can't infer much more about the internals than we have before, there are a few new things to note: HTC Sense is alive and well, there's a particularly large camera module buried in the smooth plastic back and a headphone jack up top, and it appears there's a pair of status LEDs for Caps Lock and Function Lock right above the keyboard. See two more pics of the device at the source link below, while we wait for Sprint to own up.
T-Mobile drops the G2 to $50 on contract, really wants you to buy one
Pretty self-explanatory really: the T-Mobile G2 is now available to buy for a measly 50 greenbacks from its carrier's online store. It's a web-only deal, but it's sweetened by free overnight delivery for anyone ordering before the 20th of December. So, $50 and two years of your wireless freedom in exchange for a phone capable of exploiting T-Mobile's HSPA+ network and offering an almost stock Android experience? Decisions, decisions.
Samsung Gloria to be a 10-inch Windows 7 tablet with slide-out keyboard?
Like a netbook, only not. The latest thing to drop into our "crazy rumor" inbox is the Windows 7 tablet conceptualized above. Blogeee have it on the authority of two separate sources that Samsung is planning a 10-inch slate device dubbed Gloria, which would run Windows 7 and have a slide-out keyboard. What you see above is only a mockup of how this Gloria might appear -- if she ever does appear at all -- though we're told it'll include a Samsung software overlay to make Windows 7 that little bit more touch-friendly. We've yet to find any other corroboration for this beyond Blogeee's sources, so treat it as the unconfirmed bit of salacious info that it is, but if you must feel hopeful about the future, March and April are the months mentioned for a potential release.
EVO Shift 4G (aka HTC Knight / Speedy) shows up in accessory pics, exhibits dubious dress Sense
Can't have enough Androids in your life? Well, here's another one! Alternately known as the Knight or the Speedy, HTC's upcoming Android device has made a couple of premature photo appearances in an effort to help sell some cases for its future self. The guys at HTCPedia report they have all the cases in their imagery in stock and confidently identify the Speedy Knight as a 3.7-inch QWERTY slider, while the phone's UI and rear inscription leave no doubt about it running HTC's Sense skin for Android. The likeliest scenario for this phone's retail future is that it'll be dubbed the EVO Shift 4G and exploit Sprint's WiMAX airwaves, leaving the only unresolved issue as a one-word query: when?
Dell Venue Pro finally available to order: $99 on contract, shipping December 9th
The much-delayed and much-desired Venue Pro is now finally ready for its proper launch. Dell has begun taking online orders for its first Windows Phone 7 device and prices are set at $99 for the 8GB handset or $149 for the 16GB version -- both on two-year contracts with T-Mobile as your carrier -- or, alternatively, you can snap them up for $449 or $499, respectively, if you just want the phone by itself. Shipping is promised for December 9th and there's even free delivery if you have a couple of business days' worth of patience. So, what are you waiting for? [Thanks, BeeMichael]
Weird Nokia 'N00 Prototype C' shows up on eBay, possible N86 8MP successor?
With the N8 and the E7 stealing most of Nokia's Symbian-flavored spotlight right now, it's easy to forget that numeric keypads and sliders aren't necessarily dead and gone -- but a strange prototype that's shown up on eBay's German site suggests that Espoo might still be hard at work on the form factor currently championed by the N86 8MP. This device is labeled as the N00 Prototype C; "N00" is a really common designation for Nokia prototypes in the Nseries, so that comes as no surprise, but the "Prototype C" is an especially odd thing to silkscreen onto the case. Notably, the phone appears to feature a 12 megapixel camera sensor with Carl Zeiss optics and a xenon flash, likely giving it most or all of the N8's photography chops, and a strange element below the display might be a touch-sensitive strip of some sort -- possibly for zoom control or manual focus while snapping pictures and videos. There's also a kickstand on back, suggesting the screen's big enough to make people want to set it up on a desk and watch content. There's a very real chance, of course, that this thing has been wiped off Nokia's roadmap; worse yet, it could be a hoax -- but if you're willing to drop $800 on the auction, you can find out.
HTC Desire Z review
HTC's come a long way since its first ever portrait QWERTY slider phone Blue Angel (O2 xda IIs, Vodafone v1620, Sprint PPC6600, etc.) circa 2004, the legacy of which is carried by the TyTN, Touch Pro, G1, myTouch 3G Slide, and many more sliders albeit in landscape form. The cumulative phone-building expertise leads us to the Desire Z, which is probably better known as the European alter ego of the T-Mobile G2 (which we've already reviewed). The difference? As far as hardware goes, the two Androids are practically identical twins; but for software, the AWS-free Desire Z comes tattooed with HTC's Sense UI, and packs a handful of extra goodies. So will this phone trump its American cousin? Read on to find out. %Gallery-106469%
HTC Merge emerges on Verizon site a little early
Far be it from us to tell Verizon how to do a product launch, but showing off a 360-degree view of the HTC Merge before the phone's even been announced doesn't seem like the soundest strategy to us. Of course, we doubt anyone intended for this Flash module to have become public knowledge like it has, but sure enough, a forum member over at Android Central spotted it among VZW's web properties and now we can all take a multidimensional look at this upcoming Android handset. Yes, that includes seeing it with its sliding QWERTY keyboard open -- you can find more imagery of that after the break -- though the pivotal questions of when, for how much, and "can you disable Bing?" remain unanswered for the time being. Ah well, let's just enjoy the eye candy.
LG Apex with Android and QWERTY hitting US Cellular this week for $80, Optimus U in December
Between the Desire, the Mesmerize, and the Galaxy Tab, US Cellular's already made it clear that they're pretty committed to Android, and the latest evidence of that comes this week in the form of the LG Apex. The QWERTY slider features a 3.2-inch display, 3 megapixel autofocus camera with flash, and Android 2.1 -- hopefully with a Froyo or Gingerbread upgrade in the works -- for $79.99, launching this Friday in US Cellular stores. Kind of looks a little bit like a keyboard-equipped version of the Optimus One, doesn't it? Well, just like T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon, USCC will be picking up its own version of the One next month, this time known as the Optimus U; we don't have pricing on it just yet, but we imagine it'll be a bit less than the Apex. Follow the break for the full press release.
HTC Surround and LG Quantum available for $0.01 at Amazon this weekend
Want the cheapest way to try out Windows Phone 7? Outside of getting yourself hooked up with a job at a tech blog, Amazon might have the very finest option for you with its newly discounted $0.01 pricing on two AT&T handsets for the new platform. The HTC Surround and its slide-out speaker are available immediately whereas the LG Quantum, which slides to reveal a more conventional QWERTY keypad, is on back-order. Fear not, though, both will cost you a mere cent when obtained in conjunction with a new AT&T line and a two-year bond with the carrier. We might still prefer their European counterparts, but you can't deny these phones look to be priced just about right for what they are. Shame that this pricing will only last through the weekend.
