Tuesday, September 06, 2011

drag2share: HP TouchPad gets multitouch drivers for Android courtesy of Team-Touchdroid

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/hp-touchpad-gets-multitouch-drivers-for-android-courtesy-of-team/

TouchPad mania has been in full effect since the slate went on blue-light special a few weeks ago. Yet, with the future of webOS in flux, crowds have clamored to get Google's green bots on the woebegone tablet. Last week, Team-Touchdroid gave the TouchPad a slice of Gingerbread, and now it's delivered full 10-point multitouch as well. Of course, the video below only shows it doing the trick on a testing app, but it's a good start. Shouldn't be long now before you TouchPad owners can get touchy-feely with any Android app your hearts desire.

Continue reading HP TouchPad gets multitouch drivers for Android courtesy of Team-Touchdroid

HP TouchPad gets multitouch drivers for Android courtesy of Team-Touchdroid originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Liliputing  |  sourcefnj001 (Youtube)  | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

drag2share: Vizio rolls out Tablet software update, promises performance boosts aplenty

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/vizio-rolls-out-tablet-software-update-promises-performance-boo/

No, it's still not Honeycomb, but Vizio has just rolled out an update for its 8-inch Tablet that promises quite a few improvements, including better graphics performance, faster UI navigation, and better battery life. Home theater-minded folks will also no doubt be pleased with the updates to the company's Universal Remote Control app, which now boasts support for "up to 95 percent of all CE devices in North America."

Continue reading Vizio rolls out Tablet software update, promises performance boosts aplenty

Vizio rolls out Tablet software update, promises performance boosts aplenty originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

drag2share: How to turn a spare LCD panel into a working monitor for $33

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/how-to-turn-a-spare-lcd-panel-into-a-working-monitor-for-33/

We know how it is. You have a laptop or monitor that's finally bought it, so you decide to salvage it for parts that you'll use someday. Well, here's one decidedly inexpensive option for any spare LCD panels you might have lying around. As noted by Make, you can now buy a simple LCD controller on eBay for just $33, which will turn that panel (assuming it's compatible) into a fully functional monitor without too much skilled required on your part -- you're on your own to make it presentable, though.

How to turn a spare LCD panel into a working monitor for $33 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceMake  | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

drag2share: The Geyser Strokkur Captured One Second Before Eruption [Image Cache]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5837553/the-geyser-strokkur-showing-fire-inside-water-one-second-before-eruption

The Geyser Strokkur Captured One Second Before EruptionThis beautiful photo by Tatyana Kildisheva shows a surreal scene: gas apparently glowing inside water inside the Icelandic geyser Strokkur, just one second before it erupted. How did she do it? Easy, she told me:

The process for timing the shot was very simple: just sit, wait, and have a good reaction to press the shutter button fast. I did not have my tripod and camera remote control with me.

Good timing is everything indeed, but the result—taken with an Olympus E-510 camera at ISO 200—is beautiful, almost outworldly.

Located in the geothermal area beside the Hvítá River, east of Reykjavik, Strokkur fires every 4 to 8 minutes, reaching 65-foot heights, sometimes even going up to 131 feet (40 meters). It was blocked in 1896, when an earthquake blocked it. In 1963, the icelanders cleaned the conduit and Strokkur has been happily puffing ever since.

Photo by Tatyana Kildisheva used under permission.

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

drag2share: ASRock Vision 3D 2nd Gen HTPC leaks with Sandy Bridge on board

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/asrock-vision-3d-2nd-gen-htpc-leaks-with-sandy-bridge-on-board/

ASRock 3D Vision 2nd Gen
The tiny box that AnandTech called, "the best SFF HTPC [they had] ever reviewed, hands down," is finally joining the Sandy Bridge brigade. A tipster was doing a little Google-fu when he came across a listing for the unannounced Vision 3D 2nd Gen Series. The specs are certainly a worthy upgrade to last year's Computex standout, including a switchable 1GB GeForce GT540M card, 1333MHz RAM and an HMDI 1.4a port. You still get a Blu-ray drive, NVIDIA's 3D Vision, a media remote, four USB 3.0 jacks and your choice of Core i3, i5 or i7 processors -- so this isn't exactly a complete overhaul. Check out the gallery below from a few images and some screenshots of the listing.

[Thanks, TheRealBamse]

ASRock Vision 3D 2nd Gen HTPC leaks with Sandy Bridge on board originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceASRock  | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

drag2share: Verizon's Pantech Breakout rendered, is four inches of LTE goodness

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/05/verizons-pantech-breakout-rendered-is-four-inches-of-lte-goodn/

Verizon's LTE lineup will soon be expanding like a balloon. With this week's launch of the Motorola Droid Bionic and eventual release of the Samsung Stratosphere and LG Revolution 2, 4G shoppers will soon have options aplenty to choose from; why not throw another one into the mix? The LTE-enabled Pantech Breakout -- which passed through the FCC as the Apache -- now has some higher-quality renders, courtesy of PocketNow. While most of the phone's specs are in line with the HTC Thunderbolt and Samsung Droid Charge, it differs by offering a smaller 4-inch WVGA display, Pantech's custom Android UI and a 10-device mobile hotspot. There's still no word on pricing or release date, though we were expecting to see the device come out last week; we can't think of many people completely devastated by the delay, but it will at least provide much-needed variety to Verizon's arguably stale 4G setup.

Verizon's Pantech Breakout rendered, is four inches of LTE goodness originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 22:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourcePocketNow  | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

drag2share: Samsung Epic 4G Touch available for pre-order on Wirefly, early adopters get a $50 price break

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/samsung-epic-4g-touch-available-for-pre-order-on-wirefly-early/

There's nothing new whatsoever about high-demand phones becoming available for preorder, but it's not every day that you get a discount for being the first kid on the block to get one. As if there's any concern about pushing inventory of the Samsung Epic 4G Touch -- Sprint's variant of the Galaxy S II -- Wirefly is making the phone even more enticing by slashing $50 off the cost, bringing it down to $150 when signing up for a two-year agreement. Doing the math a different way, lighter on the checkbook plus a Samsung Galaxy S II equals happiness. Head to the source link to check out the deal.

Samsung Epic 4G Touch available for pre-order on Wirefly, early adopters get a $50 price break originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink SprintFeed  |  sourceWirefly  | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

drag2share: LG developing slimmer Optimus 3D handset, might be ready for 2012

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/lg-developing-slimmer-optimus-3d-handset-might-be-ready-for-201/

The LG Optimus 3D certainly isn't the slimmest smartphone we've ever seen, but it looks like the chunky handset is about to get seriously streamlined. In an interview with Pocket-Lint, LG developer Dr. Henry Noh confirmed that his company is working on a thinner version of its 4.3-inch phone, hinting that it may be ready for release by next year. Noh didn't offer specifics on dimensions, but acknowledged that the current version, at 11.9mm (0.47 inches) thick, definitely isn't the "sexiest phone on the street" -- something he hopes to change. "Eventually, we want to make it so that having the 3D won't necessarily mean that it's going to be thicker," Noh explained. "That's going to be a differentiating factor that comes for free to the user." Doing so, he claims, could help LG's glasses-free 3D device distinguish itself from its 2D competitors:

"These days, all the phones look the same. They have a huge screen - 4.3-inches is normal these days - and next year they're moving even larger. And they have a fixed number of touch buttons. They're the same thickness. They have the same camera. And even the same OS. It's so boring."

Of course, it remains to be seen whether or not this strategy actually pans out, but it's definitely something we'll be keeping an eye on.

LG developing slimmer Optimus 3D handset, might be ready for 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 05:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourcePocket-Lint  | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

drag2share: Baidu, Dell join forces to produce line of smartphones and tablets in China

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/baidu-dell-join-forces-to-produce-line-of-smartphones-and-table/

Just a few days after introducing its own Android-like OS, Baidu is now looking to expand its mobile reach to the hardware front, with the help of Dell. According to Reuters, the Chinese search giant has joined forces with the PC manufacturer to produce a line of tablets and smartphones within China, in the hopes of capitalizing on a market of more than 900 million mobile subscribers. A Dell spokeswoman declined to offer a launch date for the new line of products, but sources close to the matter say they could launch as early as November. Details on the devices remain equally opaque, though Dell seems intent on resurrecting its tablet / handset unit, following the demise of the Streak 5. "We have a partnership with Baidu and you know we have the Streak 5 tablet, so the partnership will be in that space," the company's rep explained, adding that future releases would involve Baidu's mobile app platform, as well. Today's announcement also comes after Dell's Chinese sales grew by 22 percent during the first quarter of this year, though it remains to be seen whether or not this alliance will have much affect on a market currently dominated by Apple and Lenovo.

Baidu, Dell join forces to produce line of smartphones and tablets in China originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

drag2share: Samsung Stratosphere aims to be Verizon's first QWERTY-packing LTE device

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/samsung-stratosphere-aims-to-be-verizons-first-qwerty-packing-l/

Verizon's LTE network may be praiseworthy for its blazing-fast mobile broadband and high-end devices, but there's one area of the carrier's 4G lineup that's always needed improvement: variety. From renders revealed by PocketNow, it's apparent that one of the next-gen handsets slated for release soon (perhaps even this week) is the QWERTY-laden Samsung Stratosphere, also known as the SCH-I405. If true, this would be the very first LTE device that comes with a hardware keyboard, finally giving us a new option aside from the 4.3-inch slates that have dominated Big Red's offerings for so long. It's rumored to have an "awesome" screen (Super AMOLED Plus?), Android 2.3.4 preinstalled, 2GB internal storage and 5MP rear / 1.3 front cams; not much of a spec sheet to go off of, of course, but at least we know it's unique. With several other LTE handsets taking the stage between now and the holidays, there's no reason to make them all look the same... right?

Samsung Stratosphere aims to be Verizon's first QWERTY-packing LTE device originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 07:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourcePocketNow  | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

Monday, September 05, 2011

drag2share: Zero1 VooMote Zapper remote control for iOS hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/04/zero1-voomote-zapper-remote-control-for-ios-hands-on-video/


Are you one of those old-school types who still watches TV programs on an actual television? Then you probably also own one or fifteen of those cordless channel changer contraptions -- you know, the kind that use AA batteries and magic beams of light to command station and volume adjustments. Well, set down the remote, lean back in that oversized plastic-covered velvet sofa, and get ready to toss out your last pair of alkalines. Zero1's new VooMote Zapper remote module has been making the rounds at IFA, letting you use any iOS device as a universal remote. Sure, the concept itself isn't new -- there have been other iOS-integrated remotes -- but the Zapper is small, relatively inexpensive, and interfaces quite nicely with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Your programmed selections are stored on the Zapper itself, so you can easily use it with multiple iOS devices.

The $70 device can be matched with identically colored cases ($20 and up), and also includes rather comprehensive TV Guide functionality, enabling you to see local programming, watch previews of unfamiliar content, and send an infrared signal to your TV to launch a program -- during its scheduled airing time, of course. We took a look at the app / itsy bitsy hardware combo, and it seemed to work well, with an easy setup process (codes for nearly every device come preloaded) and fast response time. VooMote reps said the device has a range of 25 feet, which is more than plenty for our tiny apartment configs, but may not suffice in some stadium-style media rooms. At the end of the day, it's really just a (very) elegant touchscreen universal remote solution, so we'll leave it at that. Jump past the break to see the Zapper in action.

Continue reading Zero1 VooMote Zapper remote control for iOS hands-on (video)

Zero1 VooMote Zapper remote control for iOS hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 13:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

drag2share: Elgato EyeTV Mobile eyes-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/04/elgato-eyetv-mobile-eyes-on-video/

Elgato's been experimenting with live TV on the iPad for over a year now, but until now, that meant streaming programs that were already broadcast online anyway -- a mighty large limitation, wouldn't you say? This week, though, the company announced EyeTV Mobile, a TV tuner that plugs into the iPad 2's 30-pin connector, allowing it to pull in broadcast television. We just happened to stumble on Elgato's booth here at IFA and treated ourselves to a short TV break. The tuner, which fits easily in the palm of your hand when the antenna is collapsed, only allows you to draw in signals using the DVB-T standard, so make no mistake this is a product just for our European readers. (Although Elgato says it hopes to release something similar in Japan.) Even more than the hardware or the programming selection (fútbol, anyone?), we remain impressed by the free EyeTV iOS app, whose interface is pretty much the same as the HDHomeRun for iPad app, with the ability to swipe the screen to change channels and, in this case, save your location. It'll be available across the pond for €99.95 / £99.95 at the end of this month. Until then (or if you're just stuck in the states), check out our hands-on photos below and a video demo after the break.

Continue reading Elgato EyeTV Mobile eyes-on (video)

Elgato EyeTV Mobile eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

drag2share: LG's 'Dual Play' TVs let gamers share a single screen, different perspective

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/04/lgs-dual-play-tvs-let-gamers-share-a-single-screen-different/

Challenging Sony's PlayStation 3D display, LG's new LW980T "Dual Play" TV lets Xbox users see two different views on the same screen -- ditching the standard split gaming view. Spotted this week at IFA, the technology requires a pair of snazzy all-right / all-left passive specs and a compatible 3D Xbox game to get two different 2D perspectives on one TV. Compared to Sony's $499, 24-inch active-shutter offering, the 47-inch and 55-inch passive 'tubes are significantly larger and more expensive, rumored to retail for £1799 (or $2915) and £2499 (or $4050), respectively. According to sources, this feature will join LG's lineup of Cinema 3D displays sometime in September -- offering gaming as well as LG's SmartTV and 3D movie support. Hey gamers, since we're not splitting up anymore, is it safe to say we can stay "in a relationship" on Facebook?

LG's 'Dual Play' TVs let gamers share a single screen, different perspective originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 16:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceThe Telegraph  | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

drag2share: Haier's transparent organic TV eyes-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/04/haiers-transparent-organic-tv-eyes-on-video/

What's the worst thing about your TV? If you said "opaqueness," boy have we got the set from you. This is a 22-inch transparent organic TV from the folks at Haier (you know, the ones who also showed off that mind control TV today). It's a slim display with a metal bezel that has a clear OLED at its center with a 1680 x 1050 resolution. The images appeared pretty sharp on screen, though the colors didn't particularly pop.

And really, this thing isn't likely headed to any living rooms in the near future -- Haier sees it more as an advertising tool, letting shoppers see its images from both sides. The display in its demo form was actually hooked up to a Windows PC, running video through a media player, making this not too unlike that 14-inch Samsung laptop that we saw at CES last year.
The TV is still in its early demo stages, so pricing and availability are a ways off. Video after the break.

Continue reading Haier's transparent organic TV eyes-on (video)

Haier's transparent organic TV eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 19:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

Sunday, September 04, 2011

drag2share: LG Thrill 4G officially arrives at AT&T for $100, fairy tales can come true

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/04/lg-thrill-4g-officially-arrives-at-atandt-for-100-fairy-tales-ca/

C'mon, admit it -- you didn't really think the LG Thrill 4G would ever be released, did you? After several weeks of unexplained delays, the AT&T-branded Optimus 3D is truly, honestly available on the carrier's website for sale at a respectable $100. The device, announced at CTIA 2011 in March, isn't hiding anything we didn't already know: it's got a 1GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4 CPU with 512MB of RAM, Froyo, a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 display, 1080p video capture and dual 5MP rear stereoscopic cameras to add the extra dimension. So if you've been waiting for this phone to get the green light, it's time to stop idling at the intersection.

LG Thrill 4G officially arrives at AT&T for $100, fairy tales can come true originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 04:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAT&T  | Email this | Comments

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...