swivel
Latest
Nokia making a crazy Sidekick-esque phone for Verizon? (Update: looks like!)
This rumor's got more holes than swiss, but stranger things have happened, so it'll be an interesting scoop to keep an eye on nonetheless. A tipster to Boy Genius Report claims that Nokia is working on a "swiveling E71-type handset" for -- get this -- Verizon, of all carriers, featuring a full QWERTY keyboard and running Series 40. Judging from the mockup here, that sorta puts it in the same vein as the Sidekick -- a form factor most carriers and manufacturers (especially Nokia) have avoided. Given that Espoo's still basically dipping its toes in the CDMA waters -- and the fact that a Verizon device running Series 40 proper seems implausible at best -- we're going to be shocked if this thing sees the light of day. Pleasantly surprised, yes, but still shocked.Update: Since originally running this story, we've been contacted by a number of individuals who claim to have seen this phone in person; Boy Genius Report also emphatically defends the rumors legitimacy, so we're more inclined to think it's real. (Of course, that doesn't make it any less crazy.)
Sony looks to help consumers out with new swivel HDMI cables
Sony's launching its own version of the suddenly popular swivel head HDMI cable, with both vertical and horizontal links going on sales this month in lengths of about three or six feet. At $50 and $60, respectively, they solve the need for "costly" 90 degree adapters ($3 or so at Monoprice or other online retailers) and save space on flat panel wall mounts. Of course, if you were planning on wildly overpaying for HDMI cables already, they're really not that bad. It's all about perspective.
iriver SPINN gets knocked off as... a digital camera
We were pretty impressed by the unique design of the iriver SPINN media player when we got our hands on it last year, but that doesn't mean it's a design that'll instantly improve any device, as fully exemplified by this little wonder now making the rounds in China. Apparently dubbed the SWIVEL-CAM, this one's a 5-megapixel shooter that packs an 8x digital zoom (and digital zoom only), along with a 3-inch LCD, 16MB of internal memory, an SD card slot for expansion, and video recording in either 4:3 or 16:9 modes, not to mention the usual e-book reader, voice recorder, and "game player." Intrigued? Then you can get your order in right now for $120.[Via PMP Today]
PCD's swively TXT8020 is Pantech born and raised
Remember how we noted an uncanny resemblance between PCD's TXT8010 -- better known as the Verizon Blitz -- and the TXT8020 revealed at CES this year? Turns out there's a great reason for the similarity: they're both made by Pantech. We've been sent this nifty little graphic showing one of those EV-DO-enabled TXT8020s bearing Pantech branding, and while we still don't know what carriers plan on carrying this sucker, Verizon sure does seem like the perfect fit, doesn't it? More on this bad boy soon, hopefully.[Thanks, Jeremy]
LG's LU1400 swivels right into your heart
It's not every day that you see a wide VGA swivel with DMB support launching in South Korea. Oh, wait -- yes it is! The LU1400 from LG doesn't bring anything particularly new or fabulous to the table, but just about anything with a 2.8-inch 800 x 480 display is still pretty fabulous by our count. It's got a 3-megapixel cam, and if you care to take your glorious little toy outside the homeland, the LU1400 will roam on CDMA in 18 countries around the globe (including the States). And yes, if we see someone walking around New York with one of these, we will yoink it right out of their unsuspecting hands. Just a fair warning.[Via Akihabara News]
Centronics intros its own pivoting head HDMI cable
We get the feeling Panasonic really started something its swivel-head HDMI cables, as we've got the relatively unknown Centronics bringing its own iteration to the table. The EHD-branded HD FLEX 90 degree pivoting head HDMI cable does precisely what it says, enabling users / installers to hook up HDMI-equipped gear in tighter spaces with less pressure on the sockets. The prices aren't too outrageous either, with the 6/12/24-foot strands ringing up at $39.95, $49.95 and $69.95, respectively.
Mystery T-swivel handset identified as Compal Tabasco
It looks like that obscure Korean handset we spotted a week or so ago has been identified as a MID from Compal with the unlikely name of Tabasco. The images we saw were shot at Computex 2008 in June, and this is what Blog Times has to say about it: the non functioning prototype sports a rear facing 3.2 megapixel camera with 2x optical zoom and a flash, a front-facing webcam, and it measures about 6.3 x 3.3 x 1.3-inches with a 4.5 or 5-inch screen. It's impossible to determine the device's processor, OS or storage capacity at the this time -- so it seems that, after all this, the handheld is still something of a mystery. Of course, it could always turn out to be that fresh breath of Palm New-ness we've been warned of -- after all, it's been rumored that the company placed a significant order with Compal way back in August. Perhaps we'll find out at CES.[Via Pocketables]
Nokia patent app suggests N97's form factor isn't complicated enough
Combining huge screens with usable keyboards in a pocketable package is the challenge phone manufacturers are eternally doomed to try to solve, leading to an endless stream of (mostly comical) patent applications for ridiculous form factors that will never see the light of day. That's where we think -- well, we hope -- Nokia's latest app comes into play, combining a portrait-oriented QWERTY keyboard with a wide display that somehow swivels behind the body of the phone when you only need a little bit of screen real estate. Looks cool on paper, but realistically, we think this thing would be the most unwieldy Frankenstein of a handset since the MPx were it ever to be produced. Tilt-slide on the N97 looks fine, guys. Seriously.[Via Cellpassion]
Engadget Podcast 121 - 12.12.2008
Ah yes -- another refreshing installment of the Engadget Podcast! This week the boys get in touch with their deep feelings on Palm's potential New-ness, Nokia's mystery touchscreen phone, fresh additions to the Open Handset Alliance, and news on the forthcoming reader meetup. You also get to hear Josh, Paul, and Nilay mix it up about their hopes for the future, next jewelry purchases, and Gmail contact syncing nightmares. Sounds badical, right? 01:20 - Palm's New-ness, coming to CES 13:38 - Mysterious T-swivel handset appears on Korean site, keeps us guessing 15:43 - Mysterious new Nokia touchscreen interface and handset unveiled (sort of) 26:39 - Open Handset Alliance signs up 14 more Android-lovers, including Sony Ericsson, ASUS and Garmin 51:00 - Reader meetup update: 'Fallout 3' bundles, Nokia N-Gage / Ovi, Make, and more! Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, and Nilay Patel Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: Doctor Octoroc - Carol of the Belmonts Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast 1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.
Mysterious T-swivel handset appears on Korean site, keeps us guessing
Here's a Sunday challenge for you -- what in tarnation is this thing? The mysterious T-swivel type handset has appeared on a Korean site, presumably signifying its status as a simple concept. Obviously, the device packs a full QWERTY keyboard, a front-mounted camera, a rather sizable display and a swivel contraption to keep things horizontal when texting and the like. Beyond that, your guess is as good as ours here. Any clues on this thing's origins? We only ask because, you know, we'd love to actually toy around with one.[Via Pocketables]
Panasonic introduces HDMI cables with swiveling heads
Alright, so you're stocked up on locking HDMI cables, but what are you to do about those real tight situations where a traditional HDMI cable end simply sticks out too far? Panasonic to the rescue. As the pre-IFA news continues to trickle out, Panny has introduced a new HDMI cable with a swiveling head, one that can point up or down in order to work nicely in wall-mounted TV applications and the like. We are told to expect a 1.5- and 3-meter version this September, although pricing has yet to be revealed.[Via HDTV-Space, thanks Marcus]
Samsung files a gaming phone patent... again
If we didn't know better, we'd say Samsung really wants to develop some type of hybrid gaming / phone device. One need only look back on the plethora of patent applications from the electronics-maker to realize that something game-related is going on over at HQ. Whatever the case may be, the Korean company has applied for another iteration of device, this time taking a more modular approach to the layout of buttons and screen. In this new configuration, a RAZR-like clamshell would actually house a swiveling screen which allows the unit to flip open, thus placing the display squarely between two "wings." The resulting arrangement would be a symmetrical device that would encourage a more familiar hand position for gamers. Of course, like those other designs, these are just images on paper -- though it does spark the imagination considerably.[Via Unwired View]
Samsung U470 for Verizon gets a name: "Juke"
We may not know when this thing's going to be at retail, but hey -- at least we'll know our way around the external controls by the time it does. A tipster has graciously hooked us up with overview documentation for the Samsung U740 for Verizon, an off-the-beaten-path, swiveling musicphone that has apparently been christened "Juke." The key legend doesn't reveal anything too terribly special, though we're happy to see a speakerphone made the cut despite the unit's diminutive outline. Our tipster tells us "it's your basic Verizon Wireless phone," so beyond a music player, stereo Bluetooth, and a trick mechanism that'll impress friends (for a few days, anyway), we're banking on a reasonably low price point. How's everyone feeling about the form factor?[Thanks, anonymous tipster]%Gallery-7802%
Prototype display adjusts pixels for your viewing (angle) pleasure
We've certainly seen displays that look right back at you for interactive purposes, but a new system developed by Wayne Cheng and Chih-Nan Wu at the Photonics and Display Institute, National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan could enable the LCD to alter itself based on your viewing location. The researchers have devised a solution in which a camera tracks the eyes of the onlooker and subsequently uses software to adjust the "orientation of liquid crystals in the display and the power fed to light-emitting diodes behind each." The result is an image that remains clear and sharp regardless of how you're looking at the screen, and while the developers admit that it can only respond to one set of eyes at a time, they're hoping that "doctors and surgeons who use LCDs to view scans or X-rays" would be among the first to benefit.
Verizon rolls out LG VX9400, second VCAST TV phone
Sure, Samsung's u620 was the first on the scene when Verizon's MediaFLO-based VCAST TV service launched earlier this month, but the fashionably late VX9400 from LG seems to be the real prize. At least that's the impression we got when we had the opportunity to mess around with both side by side at CES in January, and starting today, Verizon customers can start buying and critiquing VX9400s of their very own (in VCAST TV markets, anyway). Your hard-earned $200 -- plus the standard issue two-year agreement, of course -- will net you the Chocolate-esqe handset with a swivel screen, 1.3 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, microSD expansion, and naturally, EV-DO data. We wouldn't mind a few more teevee channels, but beggars can't be choosers when it comes to the mobile TV landscape here in the US -- and besides, it's a pretty nifty lookin' handset anyway, right?[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
The next Kickflip? Helio-branded Pantech in the wild
So, we covered the Pantech PN-810 in passing a couple weeks back as part of our regular FCC Fridays series, and at the time, we had absolutely no idea what significance the device had. Those familiar with the FCC's online document repository know that the "External Photos" and "User's Manual" PDFs are usually the most exciting bits. The test reports, on the other hand, typically cause one's eyes to glaze over by page two or three, and attempting to digest the entire thing is akin to torture. Anyhoo, eagle-eyed (and brave) HowardForums members have picked out a couple telling pictures buried deep within one of those test reports; besides revealing the form factor and design of the handset, they also leak a carrier -- Helio. Since VK Mobile's implosion earlier this year, it only makes sense that Helio would be looking to replace the VK-sourced Kickflip with another swivel phone (although this could be a slider, too) from a manufacturer more likely to stick around for a while, and that's where Pantech comes into the equation. All this being said, we don't know much of anything about the phone besides what we see here, and we don't think this is the rumored QWERTY phone Helio's been said to have up its sleeve. With an FCC approval under its belt, though, we hope this'll all sort itself out sooner rather than later.[Via HowardForums, thanks Simon]Update: Our original tipster, Simon, has pointed out something very important: there appears to be another "layer" hiding on the bottom of the phone that would presumably slide out to reveal a full keyboard. Combined with the centering of the screen and the soft buttons up top, it lends credibility to the theory that this really is the mythical Danger-designed QWERTY superphone after all. Shouldn't be long now, folks. (We hope.)
Samsung delivers P930 TV swivel phone for Italy
Fresh out of Samsung's gates comes the do-it-all SGH-P930 swivel phone, a handset that rocks pretty much every acronym we care about: HSDPA and DVB-H, just to name a couple. The 20-millimeter thick phone presumably locks into the 90-degree orientation or swivels fully open at the user's discretion, making for a more pleasant viewing experience when vegging out with that mobile TV they've got goin' on over in Europe these days. Italy's TIM will be the first carrier to take delivery of the P930, which also packs in a 2 megapixel cam, VGA front cam for video calling, picture-in-picture (as if the 2.3-inch display is even big enough for a single channel), and microSD expansion. Grab it on TIM now for a stiff €529 (about $700), which we sincerely hope is a contract-free price.[Via Tech-On!]
Sprint's mobile TV service to be called VUE?
Last time we checked in on Sprint's SPH-M250 DMB phone from Samsung, we met the swiveling clamshell head-on with a fair dose of skepticism that it'd ever see the light of day in these parts. Our bad; rumor has it that a handful of Sprint customers are now receiving invitations to participate in a market trial for the service, which is now apparently named "VUE." As a refresher, the M250 holds its own as a decent flip phone, packing a microSD slot, Bluetooth, voice recognition, and of course, that rare-in-the-States swiveling display. We're still not sure we entirely understand which multicast tech is being used on the M250 -- DMB, TDtv, or some proprietary concoction -- but if this invite is legit, we don't really care what tech they're using, as long as we can get our mobile TV on post haste.[Via SprintUsers, thanks Jaime]
The PT-S130: Pantech looks to steal a "world's first"
Yes, we know this looks like your garden variety Korea-only swiveling flip phone with DMB, but Pantech is making a very interesting claim about its PT-S130: it's allegedly the first DMB phone with Bluetooth. Of course, Samsung's been trying hard to collect every "world's first" title under the sun, but if this thing beats Sammy's Bluetooth / S-DMB SCH-B450 to market, Pantech's claim might just be legit. Other features include a 2.4-inch QVGA display, stereo speakers, and 2 megapixel autofocus camera -- pretty standard fare in Korea, but as usual, that doesn't stop us yanks from drooling.
Samsung SCH-A990 hits the streets on Verizon
Here's a feel-good story for all you Verizon users looking for some high-end love: the SGH-A990, Samsung's 3.2-megapixel object of desire chock full o' swiveling QVGA and EV-DO goodness, has officially dropped on your network. Bluetooth -- sans A2DP as best we can tell -- and a microSD slot (for those gargantuan pictures you'll be snapping) are also in the package, but getting yourself atop the Verizon food chain ain't cheap: the A990 will run you $349.99 on two-year contract with a $50 rebate.[Via Mobiledia]
