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Monday, February 16, 2009

Nokia E75 QWERTY slider announced with Nokia Messaging built-in

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/nokia-e75-qwerty-slider-announced-with-nokia-messaging-built-in/

Nokia's second phone of its MWC presentation is the E75, a full QWERTY side-slider that we've seen more than a few times in the past few months. It's the first phone to come equipped with Nokia Messaging built-in. It ships next month for 375 euros, and if you're eager, pre-orders are being accepted starting today on Nokia's site.

Update: Some more details from its fact sheet: The display is a 2.4-inch QVGA, a 3.5mm headphone jack, 3.2 megapixel camera, built-in VPN, HSDA, 802.11 b/g, EGPRS, Bluetooth, and support for up to 16GB microSD card. Standby time is 11 days, and talk time is 5.4 hours on GSM, 4.2 hours on WCDMA, and yes, official colors are silver black, red and copper yellow.

Gallery: Nokia E75 QWERTY slider announced with Nokia Messaging built-in

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia E75 QWERTY slider announced with Nokia Messaging built-in originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus PC 3D Viewer Kit: perfect for up-and-coming stereoscopic stars

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/olympus-pc-3d-viewer-kit-perfect-for-up-and-coming-stereoscopic/

Like it or not, 3D is back. Er, it's attempting to be back, though we'd argue the jury is still out on whether it'll stick around for any meaningful amount of time this go 'round. At any rate, those who are already sold on the mesmerizing powers of stereoscopics should probably give this one a look, Olympus' PC 3D Viewer Kit is one of the first consumer-level packages designed to give 3D content creators a look at their work on a standard LCD. The bundle will be comprised of a BenQ E2400HD 24-inch LCD (1,920 x 1,080 resolution), 3D media player software, 3D shutter glasses and a controller box -- just enough to get you proofing without having to rent out a visual effects studio. There's no word on a price for the currently Japan-only package, but really, you can't put an MSRP on the third-dimension.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Filed under: Displays

Olympus PC 3D Viewer Kit: perfect for up-and-coming stereoscopic stars originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tikitag renamed Touchatag, adds QR codes to repertoire

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/tikitag-renamed-touchatag-adds-qr-codes-to-repertoire/

We haven't heard much from Tikitag since they showed up on the scene last September, sticking RFID tags to everything in sight. The Alcatel-Lucent Venture-backed company's popped up on the radar again, only this time it's taken on a more tactile-focused name, Touchatag, and is now touting 2D barcode support, including do-it-yourself tag creation system for adding some QR ciphers to your business cards or anything else you wish to lay claim. No word on the new pricing -- a Tikitag RFID set was supposed to cost $50 in October -- but if you're interested in testing the service out, there's a sign up to join the developer community on their main site.

Read - Press Release
Read - Touchatag Developer Network

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Tikitag renamed Touchatag, adds QR codes to repertoire originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia E75 hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/nokia-e75-hands-on/

Here she be, up close and personal, Nokia's newly official E75 QWERTY slider. We're still not seeing much of the 9000 series heritage Nokia mentioned in its presser, but it's one sexy wide-QWERTY phone, any way you slice it. There's video after the break!

Gallery: Nokia E75 hands-on

Continue reading Nokia E75 hands-on

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Nokia E75 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First hands-on with the HTC Touch Pro2 (with video!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/first-hands-on-with-the-htc-touch-pro2-with-video/

So this thing's definitely got some heft to it -- and honestly, especially for a business-centric device in this class, we don't think that's a bad thing. As with just about everything HTC churns out, the Touch Pro2 is exquisitely manufactured, feels rock-solid, and the WVGA is absolutely awesome -- we noticed that the gestures and animations are totally smooth and responsive, proving that WinMo is perfectly capable of handling this kind of UI dazzle. The Straight Talk functionality for seamlessly moving between different types of communication will be appreciated by anyone who spends half their business day on the phone and seems to work (and look) positively lovely -- and as for that speakerphone? We can totally picture ourselves slamming this thing upside down during a meeting in a fit of "our company just lost a $100M contract"-style rage with a satisfying, weighty "thud" and instantly bringing the whole room into the conversation. Follow the break for a couple videos of this thing in action (and sorry, no angry speakerphone fits).

Gallery: First hands-on with the HTC Touch Pro2 (with video!)

Continue reading First hands-on with the HTC Touch Pro2 (with video!)

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

First hands-on with the HTC Touch Pro2 (with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First hands-on with the HTC Touch Diamond2 (with video!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/first-hands-on-with-the-htc-touch-diamond2-with-video/

While HTC's press didn't deliver on our Android dreams -- or electric sheep -- it did land us the new Touch Diamond2. First off, this set is a stunner, build quality and feel in your hand is really a quality affair. The material choices in both metal and plastics used here are really first rate -- we gush because we're rather impressed. The screen is bright, easy to read and the UI overhaul -- and new features underneath -- are much appreciated. One standout in the new improved UI has to be the start menu which, when clicked, pops you into a full screen shortcut list which is miles better to surf through with a finger. All in all? We're impressed with the Touch Diamond2 and though it's not a wildly new device, it is worth peeking at if you're lost in the decision making process for a new Windows Mobile phone. Follow on for some video action.

Gallery: First hands-on with the HTC Touch Diamond2 (with video!)

Continue reading First hands-on with the HTC Touch Diamond2 (with video!)

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

First hands-on with the HTC Touch Diamond2 (with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia E55 hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/nokia-e55-hands-on/

We sniffed out Nokia's new E55 not-a-QWERTY QWERTY candybar phone, which uses a SureType-esque predictive text mechanism with two letters per key, and looks pretty good doing it. Nokia's calling this the "world's thinnest smartphone," quite the feat if it's true, and it might just give Nokia's ultrapopular E71 a run for its money in the "fashionably smart" category. We played with the phone for a brief moment, and though it's running an alpha software build, we didn't have much trouble typing out a quick message. Unfortunately, while the keys are naturally larger, they aren't very "clicky" or distinct -- not horrible, but certainly not best-in-class. The prediction works well enough, learning new words after one entry, and letting you d-pad up and down through other options if it doesn't get it right the first try. Overall the phone feels on par with quality of the E71, though lighter and smaller, and is insanely pocketable. Video is after the break.

Gallery: Nokia E55 hands-on

Continue reading Nokia E55 hands-on

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Nokia E55 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG brings S-Class UI to Windows Mobile with GM730

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/lg-brings-s-class-ui-to-windows-mobile-with-gm730/

Turns out LG's fancy new feature phone UI -- S-Class, as it's called -- isn't just for feature phones. The GM730 brings the same 3D interface into the wide world of Windows Mobile, along with 7.2Mbps HSDPA, 2Mbps HSUPA, quadband EDGE, and Internet Explorer Mobile 6.0 into a package just 11.9mm thick. Sadly, LG's elected to do nothing but 900 / 2100MHz with the 3G here, so North Americans are left out of the equation at this point -- but much of the rest of the world can look into picking it up in the first half of the year.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

LG brings S-Class UI to Windows Mobile with GM730 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's GD900 previewed, features transparent keypad

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/lgs-gd900-previewed-features-transparent-keypad/

Most of its "advanced features" are being kept under wraps for the time being, but LG is showing off its strikingly-designed 13.4mm-thick GD900 this week with 7.2Mbps HSDPA in preparation for a launch later in the year. By and large, the design DNA here doesn't break rank with LG's sliders of the past year or two save for one very important exception: it features the world's first transparent keypad that softly glows when open -- and we've got to admit, this might be one of those rare instances where we're digging sheer beauty over functionality or usability. The company has also designed a dedicated Bluetooth headset to go along with its latest work of art -- but unfortunately, this image is about as close as you'll get to any of it until the planned second-half retail availability.

Filed under: Cellphones

LG's GD900 previewed, features transparent keypad originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: ZiiLABS demos Android in HD on ZMS-05 processor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/video-ziilabs-demos-android-in-hd-on-zms-05-processor/

ZiiLABS -- that same company that blew up the hype machine with its StemCell Computing initiative at CES -- is making good on its promise to demonstrate Android in HD on its ZMS-05 media-rich processor / development platform. There's not much here that can't be better explained via video than words, so hop on past the break for a look at the (admittedly silky smooth) demonstration.

[Thanks, Ruben]

Continue reading Video: ZiiLABS demos Android in HD on ZMS-05 processor

Filed under: Cellphones

Video: ZiiLABS demos Android in HD on ZMS-05 processor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, February 15, 2009

V12-designed dual-screen laptop going into production?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/15/v12-designed-dual-screen-laptop-going-into-production/

Sure, we were skeptical when we first saw V12 Design's dual LCD concept -- but it seems to be one step closer to production. Named the Canova, the Italian designed laptop boasts an LCD where the keyboard and trackpad traditionally are. We don't have any specifics about the construction or innards of this crazy-looking beast yet, but they've hooked up with an American company, Estari, to bring the laptop into reality. We also hear it's going to cost somewhere around $400 when it hits the streets sometime "soon." Check a few more photos after the break.

[Via Notebook Italia]

Continue reading V12-designed dual-screen laptop going into production?

Filed under: Laptops

V12-designed dual-screen laptop going into production? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saturday, February 14, 2009

Samsung dashes hopes for 12 megapixel phone at MWC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/13/samsung-dashes-hopes-for-12-megapixel-phone-at-mwc/

Okay, so a recap is definitely in order here. Merely 11 days ago, a flurry of rumors about Samsung's Mobile World Congress plans filtered out, which just so happened to include word of a 12 megapixel cameraphone. Then, the outfit itself leaked nine new models, giving just a wee bit of credence to the whispers we'd heard. Following that, we even saw a certain UK branch get ahold of one of its flagship models prior to the show, while it casually mentioned that no Android-based phones would be on display. Now, the other most awesome handset (er, rumored handset) is being squashed for a MWC debut, as Telecoms Korea has it that no dozen-megapixel phone is coming to Barcelona. No worries, though -- you'll have plenty to gawk at between the Blue Earth and the Ultra Touch S8300.

[Via Samsung Central, thanks David]

Samsung dashes hopes for 12 megapixel phone at MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darpa develops a 1.8 gigapixel digicam and no, you can't 'check it out'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/13/darpa-develops-a-1-8-gigapixel-digicam-and-no-you-cant-check/

Yeah, I know you thought your Hello Kitty digicam was some hot stuff, but believe it or not the kids at Darpa have even got that one beat. Called ARGUS-IS (both named after the mythological eye guy and an acronym for Autonomous Real-time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance - Imaging System) this guy straps a 1.8 gigapixel camera to the bottom of an A-160T Hummingbird robot helicopter. The device is able to hover at high altitude (over 15,000 feet) for up to 20 hours -- keeping tabs of an area of over a hundred square miles. The frame rate is 15 fps and the "ground sample distance" is 15 centimeters -- each pixel represents about six inches. The sheer amount of data taken in by a camera like this is too large to be completely relayed to the ground, but users are able to define upwards of sixty-five independent video windows within the image and zoom in or out. Additionally, windows can be set to automatically track items such as moving vehicles, individuals, the books you get out of the library, and the items you pick up at 7-11 after a night out with the gang.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Darpa develops a 1.8 gigapixel digicam and no, you can't 'check it out' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huawei announces i-Mo 3G modem with WiFi

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/13/huawei-announces-i-mo-hspa-modem-with-wifi/

Here's a peek at a tiny modem making its debut at MWC next week. The Huawei i-Mo HSPA modem is, indeed very small -- the company says about the size of a key chain -- and it boasts both an HSDPA / HSUPA USB modem as well as WiFi, plus it's got a MicroSD slot for storage. We don't know about pricing or availability for this little guy yet, but it will probably be offered through carriers, and should show up sometime in the fourth quarter of 2009. Hooray!

Filed under: Peripherals

Huawei announces i-Mo 3G modem with WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia shows off sample image from mysterious 8 megapixel phone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/13/nokia-shows-off-sample-image-from-mysterious-8-megapixel-phone/

This one won't be a mystery for too much longer but, for now at least, Nokia is more than happy to tease out its latest high-end cameraphone right up until the official announcement at MWC. What we do know is that the above picture was taken with said cameraphone, and that the EXIF data revealed a couple more details in addition to its 8 megapixel nature. The most notable of those is that the phone will apparently come equipped with a Carl Zeiss lens which, judging from the sample image, certainly seems to be capable of producing some decent results. Hit up the read link to check out the full resolution version, and keep an eye on our MWC coverage for further details as we get 'em.

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia shows off sample image from mysterious 8 megapixel phone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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