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Nokia X1-00 is ultra cheap, ultra loud
Nokia's just-announced X1-00 candybar has exactly two claims to fame: first, at €34 ($47) unsubsidized, it's one of the cheapest phones that the company has ever offered. Second, it's got a gigantic loudspeaker mounted on the back that promises 105 phon of perceived loudness (no, we didn't know that was a unit of measurement, either) -- apparently enough to rattle glass without distortion. As with many other devices targeted at emerging markets, the X1-00 featured an integrated LED flashlight, FM radio, and five distinct contact lists, good for sharing the phone among multiple members of the family. It's also got a microSD slot good for up to 16GB of expansion, a color display, and Nokia's entry-level Series 30 operating system. Look for it in April in your choice of flashy colors.
Azpen shows off dual, dual-boot Windows / Android tablets (hands-on)
You didn't think we were done with tablets at CES just yet, did you? This latest offering comes courtesy of Azpen, which is actually introducing two variations on a dual-boot Windows 7 / Android tablet: one with a 16:9, 10.1-inch screen, and one with a 4:3, 9.7-inch display. Both are otherwise identical, however, and pack an Atom N455 processor, a capacitive display, "up to" 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, a microSD card slot, two USB ports, and Android 2.2 alongside Windows 7 (though the early demo unit on display was only running Android 1.6). Unfortunately, that dual-boot functionality also leaves these demanding quite a premium over your run of the mill Android tablet -- look for them each to set you back $500 when they launch in a few weeks. Hit up the gallery below for a closer look. %Gallery-113473%
Leica quietly showcases D-Lux 5, redesigned X1 and rebranded DMC-FZ100
We're tucked away in Leica's high-brow design preview event here in Köln, and while it appears that the vast majority of those in attendance showed just to boast about their suit, we're strictly here for the gear. That being said, let us be the first to formally introduce you to the now-official D-Lux 5 rangefinder. Or, sort of official D-Lux 5. Unlike the M9 'Titanium' -- which the company spent a solid two hours boasting about -- the D-Lux 5 (a rebranded / tweaked LX5?) has been given nothing but a passing glance of affirmation, though we're anticipating a more formal release with specifications and the like tomorrow. Leica aficionados have likely been hearing whispers of this beaut for the past dozen months, but at long last, the unicorn has apparently transformed into a Gypsy Vanner. Though, still a mysterious one. In case that's not exactly your cup of million-dollar tea, it appears that Panasonic's DMC-FZ100 -- deemed the world's best megazoom by critics back in August -- has been reborn as a Leica, though the shell doesn't appear to have changed at all. Of course, we've seen Leica pull this rebranding trick before, but we're sure the so-called V-Lux 2M is far superior in some way that we've yet to be informed about. Rounding out the round of mystique is the gently refashioned X1, which was seen sporting a far more luxurious casing compared to the original. Feel free to drown yourself in the images below, and keep it locked right here for more as we hear it. %Gallery-102818% %Gallery-102820% %Gallery-102821%
Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04 gets ported onto Sony Ericsson's Xperia X1
Not even a fortnight after we saw Android 2.0.1 slapped onto Sony Ericsson's all-but-forgotten Xperia X1, along comes a port that makes the other look like child's play. A dedicated coder over at XDA Developers has managed to stuff Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04 onto an X1, and while the functionality is limited (as you'd expect), the amount of fun to be had is restrained only by your imagination (and available vacation time). Go on and peek that source link to join the discussion -- but be warned, you'll be sucking down over a gigabyte worth of data before the first installation process. [Thanks, Jules]
Native Instruments Kontrol X1 impressions
We don't typically do a lot of coverage of music gear here at Engadget because, by and large, it's an entire world unto itself -- a universe of specialty products that require unique knowledge (and often, talent) to use, let alone review -- and ultimately, we're only writing for a limited subset of our readership. There are, of course, countless exceptions to the rule; mixing gear in particular has really come into its own, technologically, over the past several years as a whole new generation of would-be DJ superstars come into the fold. A skill once dominated by turntables is... well, still dominated by turntables, but everything surrounding the spinning vinyl is changing: nowadays, you've got a PC that can serve as a virtually bottomless pit of tracks, state-of-the-art software for synchronizing and manipulating those tracks, and dedicated external controllers to help you control the software. Once an art form, modern DJing is now half art, half science. It's exciting, it's cool, and even if you don't know the difference between a crossfader and a high-pass filter, it's a lot of fun to see how this stuff works. To that end, today we're taking a quick look at Native Instrument's Kontrol X1 -- the first official, dedicated controller for its Traktor series of apps, one of the world's most widely-used DJ suites.
Xperia X1 and Android 2.0.1 joined in unholy matrimony
Tired of waiting for the Xperia X10 for your first taste of Android and Sony Ericsson? Leave it to the gang at the XDA-developers forum to jump the gun. Last week marked the successful port of Android 2.0.1 (or Android 1.6, if you so choose) to the Xperia X1. No bluetooth, camera, or GPS -- not yet, at any rate -- but WiFI, GSM, resistive touchscreen, and all the other amenities should be functioning. Tweakers at heart can find all the necessary files and instructions via the source link, and as for the rest of us, there's a video to live vicariously through after the break.
Leica X1 review digs deep, can't find value
The Leica X1 is a lovely little camera and, as we've seen, it can take some stunning shots. Now it's been given a full examination in a review big enough to match the thing's decidedly over-sized asking price of $2,000. Over 28 pages dpreview attempts to verify that this machine has the performance to match that MSRP, and the news is not particularly good. The Leica does well enough, particularly when it comes to delivering high-quality images even at high ISO settings -- a major stumbling block for most compacts -- but it didn't deliver performance that significantly trumps the Panasonic GF1, which costs less than half as much and has the added bonus of capturing HD video. Value proposition? Hardly, but a solid performer if your disposable income and aesthetic needs greatly outweigh your common sense.
Sony Ericsson confirms WinMo 6.5 isn't coming to the X1
We can understand not investing in a deprecated product, we really can -- but when you consider the fact that Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 is still sold around the world, the fact that its hardware is still thoroughly modern, and the fact that Windows Mobile 6.5 is a trivial boost over 6.1, there's really no excuse for this. Sony Ericsson has gone ahead and made it official that it won't be providing an official 6.5 upgrade for its uber-pricey fallen smartphone that never quite achieved its seemingly stratospheric potential -- and its 6.5-based replacement isn't looking much more promising -- so we imagine this is going to spark a voracious run on hackery to get picture-perfect 6.5 builds working on units in the field. Oh, wait, that already happened! No worries, Sony Ericsson -- looks like we've got this one covered then.
Leica X1 photo gallery proves that big shots do come in little packages
For those who've never really understood the mystique and allure surrounding Leica's retro-styled cameras (and their stratospheric price tags), here's a gallery of shots that might just lend a little insight into the fixation. The outfit's X1 was announced back in September, though initial shipments aren't expected to begin across the pond until early 2010. That said, the shutterbugs over at dpreview managed to procure one ahead of time, and they've hosted up a cornucopia of sample images from the currently unpriced compact. Go on and give that read link a look if your interest in piqued -- we're guessing you'll come away wishing your SD200 could produce similar results.
Leica gets official with M9 and X1 cameras, hands-on ensue
No surprises here (at all), but Leica's 09/09/09 event has just led to the formal unveiling of the full-frame, 18 megapixel M9 rangefinder and the compact X1. The former (which is shipping now) supports all Leica M lenses and ships with a "newly developed glass sensor cover designed to guarantee the suppression of the infrared portion of the light spectrum." There's also a quick-access ISO adjustment button alongside a few other hotkeys, a full metal housing, Kodak-sourced CCD, a fresh microprocessor-controlled shutter (which is supposedly "near silent") and a staggering £4,850 ($8,004) price tag. As for the X1, you'll find a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor (APS-C), a fixed-mount Leica Elmarit 1:2.8/24mm lens, numerous "auto" modes for the newbies in attendance, a maximum ISO of 3200, 2.7-inch rear LCD and a Live View function that replaces the optical viewfinder. Expect to hear more regarding price when the January 2010 ship date nears, but for now, feel free to peruse the hands-on galleries linked below.Read - Leica M9 announcement and hands-onRead - Leica X1 announcement and hands-on
Leica M9 microsite and brochure leaked, new X1 details in tow
At cursory glance there's nothing new here on the Leica M9 that we haven't already seen in the numerous other leaks, but if you're jonesing for more on the upcoming M9 -- and a dash of the CMOS-equipped X1 while you're at it -- Leica Rumors has managed to dig up the screencaptures of the M9 microsite and the M9 brochure. Getting excited for new professional-grade cameras this Wednesday? It's not like you had anything else to look forward to, right? Read - Leica brochure Read - Screenshots of M9 microsite
Leica M9 and X1 leak out ahead of schedule
Wondering what Leica has up its sleeve for that destined-to-be-overshadowed event on the 9th? Well, wonder no more: these pics of the long-rumored M9 and something called the X1 just leaked out, along with some specs. We're told the M9 will sport a full-frame 18.2 megapixel sensor and improved low-light performance, but the real surprise is the X1, pictured above, which'll supposedly have a 12 megapixel APS-C sensor, a fixed 24mm lens and that funky grip handle, by which we're oddly fascinated. Maybe Leica's got some surprises left for the 9th after all -- pic of the M9 after the break.
Sony Ericsson X1 and C510 launch on Rogers
Better late than never, right? Some sixteen excruciating months after its announcement, Sony Ericsson's WinMo superphone -- the mighty XPERIA X1 -- has finally come to Rogers as expected. Considering that the X1 is still very much one of the world's premier smartphones (on paper, anyhow), the on-contract promotional price of CAD $249.99 after discounts seems reasonable enough -- of course, whether you feel the same way after three years of mobile marriage is another story altogether. Staying within the Sony Ericsson realm, the C510 has also launched, an attractive candybar with 7.2Mbps / 2Mbps HSPA and a 3.2 megapixel cam; it's all yours for CAD $79.99 on contract.[Via Howard Chui]Read - X1Read - C510
Sony Ericsson X1 upgrade pricing on Rogers: $499.99?
We figure that the Sony Ericsson X1 is destined for Rogers any day now -- just around the same time that we suspect the X2 will be announced, ironically -- and now we're starting to get an idea on pricing. A tipster writes in to tell us that this CAD $499.99 you're seeing here is for an upgrade customer with no data plan, which would be crazy high for a new lad coming in off the street and signing up for a three-year deal, we hope, but it gives us a good picture of what current customers might have to gear up for. Excessive, perhaps -- but then again, some of us will go to the ends of the Earth for WVGA.[Thanks, cell143]
Sony Ericsson X2 spotted?
A tipster tells us that the device you're looking at here is Sony Ericsson's codename "Vulcan" -- better known as the X2 -- which would presumably replace the X1 at some point in the next few days, weeks, months, or years. Though the picture's small, you can clearly make out the X Panel button in the lower left of the phone's front and a Windows key in the upper left of the keyboard, which adds a dose of credibility -- the company has, after all, put quite a bit of time and effort into pimping its panel interface SDK, and right now, the X1 is the only device that supports it. The image looks a little rough around the edges, but we can easily chalk that up to this being either a composite mockup or a very early prototype combined with the fact that our tipster seems to have blanked out the surroundings to protect the source. We're not saying it's definitely real, but this certainly looks plausible -- we're just not convinced yet that it looks better than the model it'd replace. Thoughts?[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Sony Ericsson X1 gets promising firmware update
We don't have confirmation whether BlackBerry connectivity is in there, but that rumored new firmware release for the X1 is apparently out and about. It's supposed to make the phone generally more responsive -- we always like to hear that -- but you'll also get a brighter keyboard backlight, improved messaging, and better signal strength. In other words, they seem to have hit a bunch of things that we wouldn't imagine could be fixed with a firmware update alone, so we're counting our blessings -- as long as this doesn't think they're allowed to slack on getting that X2 to market, that is.[Via CoolSmartPhone]
New Sony Ericsson X1 firmware with BlackBerry Connect in the works?
SEMC Blog -- which tends to have an inside line on these matters -- is claiming that a new firmware for the awesome-but-pricey X1 is just around the corner. That in itself isn't really notable since we've seen new firmwares for the device hit in the past, but the juicy morsel here seems to be that the latest build will include "support of BlackBerry connection," which we take to mean integrated BlackBerry Connect. That'll certainly improve the X1's street cred in the business world, but we can't help but wonder whether it's too late to eke out a major sales push on this one -- especially now that buzz over the X2 has swelled to a rolling boil.
Lenovo's X1 for China is full of KIRF, win
Okay, there's some amount of originality here, but enough to justify a Red Dot design award? What you're looking at here is the award-winning Lenovo X1 -- as opposed to, say, the Sony Ericsson X1 -- which is a triband EDGE handset Lenovo sells in China. To us, it looks like an Instinct with a slide-out keypad and TouchWiz, but what do we know? Coincidentally, Lenovo calls this totally original UI "Touch Dream," which sounds just a little bit (okay, a whole lot) like an HTC device. So, to summarize: Sony Ericsson and HTC branding, Samsung design, made by Lenovo. Right then. [Thanks, Bin Xu]
Panasonic 2009 VIERA HDTVs official pricing revealed
Just in case the HDGuru didn't carry enough credibility for you, Panasonic has finally issued a press release with prices and shipping months for most of its 2009 VIERA brand lineup. We've taken a peek, and everything appears to line up with the leaked figures, including that slim wireless HD equipped Z1 and its $5,999 pricetag, while only copping to a summer ship date. The rest of the lineup proceeds downward in pricing and features from there, the wall-busting details are but a mere click of the read link away.
HTC Touch Pro2 vs. Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1... fight!
It may not have been a fair fight to put the mighty X1 up against the original Touch Pro -- the X1's got the better display and oodles of sex appeal -- but HTC's already back for round two with an all-new device. Is it an even match this time around? The final call will probably have to wait a couple months for production Touch Pro2s to start circulating, but in the meantime, we now have a few side-by-side shots to ponder. "Too much awesome hardware" is a great problem to have, isn't it?[Via WMPoweruser.com]