Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, February 27, 2012

Samsung announces Galaxy Note 10.1 at MWC (update: hands-on photos!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/samsung-galaxy-note-10.1/

Samsung's announced another 10.1-inch tablet to join its burgeoning collection of slates. The Galaxy Note 10.1 is an S-Pen toting variant of the similarly sized-and-named Galaxy Tab. It's running Touchwiz-infused ICS on a 1.4GHz dual-core CPU with 1GB of RAM, but here's the answer to the question on everyone's lips: nope, you can't use it as a phone. Sadly you'll only have access to HSPA+, WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0, dashing our hopes of using this as our primary cellphone to annoy people on the train. The 10.1-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) display is nestled opposite a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera and beside a 2-megapixel one for video conferencing. S-Pen specific features include S Note for scrawling text, Shape Match and Formula Match (to digitize images and mathematical formulae) -- but more importantly is the ability to use Adobe's new Photoshop Touch and Ideas, which will both come pre-installed.

If you'd rather use the slate as one of the world's largest sat-navs, you'll be relieved to know it's packing both GPS and Glonass. For the businesspersons of you out there, there's Exchange ActiveSync, on-device encryption, Juniper Junos Pulse and Cisco VPNs. It'll come in 16, 32 and 64GB variations, with a microSD slot for you to add up to a further 32GBs into the mix. It's clear that Samsung's bisecting its tablet business: purely touch-driven devices will now be branded as a "Tab" and anything with a ~~stylus~~ S-Pen will be suffixed with "Note." Pricing and availability are currently unspecified, but we'll do our best to shanghai that information out of a passing company rep when we see one.

Update: We've added a gallery of hands-on photos just below.

Gallery: Galaxy Note 10.1 hands-on

Brad Molen contributed to this report.

Continue reading Samsung announces Galaxy Note 10.1 at MWC (update: h! ands-on photos!)

Samsung announces Galaxy Note 10.1 at MWC (update: hands-on photos!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia announces 808 PureView: Belle OS, 4-inch display, 41-megapixel camera(!) -- we go hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/nokia-announces-808-pureview-belle-os-4-inch-display-41-megap/

Remember that Nokia PureView tease from a few days ago? Well, suddenly it all makes sense. We are indeed looking at an imaging flagship phone and a true successor to the N8. It's called the 808 PureView and it's expected to reach Europe in the next quarter for a price of 450 Euros. Before we move on to its craziest feature -- the camera, of course! -- let's run down the other key specs: The OS is Symbian Belle; the engine is a 1.3GHz single-core chip; the display is 4-inches corner to corner but its resolution is a Nokia-style 360 x 640 (nHD). There's 512MB of RAM and 16GB of on-board storage that is thankfully expandable via microSD. A Pentaband modem increases the chances of getting a signal while globe-trotting, while data speeds will top out at plain HSPA 14.4Mbps. Now that Carl Zeiss-lensed camera: it handles continuous-focus 1080p, but is claimed to have an incredible sensor resolution of over 41-megapixels when shooting stills -- or 34-megapixels for 16:9 images. It uses some clever interpolation jiggery-pokery that condenses four or five pixels into one pixel, to produce a smaller file size for the output image. It's expected to arrive in May at a price of €450 and if you're curious, we've got a gallery of hands-on images and video for your viewing pleasure. Just follow the break for our first impressions.

Gallery: Nokia 808 PureView

Continue reading Nokia announces 808 PureView: Belle OS, 4-inch display, 41-megapixel camera(!) -- we go hands-on (video)

Nokia announces 808 PureView: Belle OS, 4-inch display, 41-megapixel camera(!) -- we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 03:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic Eluga Power: 5-inch 720p display, 9.6mm thin, S4 processor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/panasonic-eluga-power-5-inch-720p-display-9-6mm-thin-s4-proce/

Panasonic Eluga Power

Remember Panasonic's Eluga? The phone with a name that sounded like you'd eaten too much popcorn before going on a roller coaster now has a bigger brother to protect the family insignia: the Eluga Power. It's a 5-inch (1280 x 720) display-toting premium version of the device running ICS on a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU. The 9.6mm thick device includes a 1,800mAh battery that can reportedly quick-charge to 50 percent in half an hour. It's packing NFC, an 8-megapixel camera as well as an unspecified front-facer for video calls, 8GB storage and a microSD slot -- giving you up to 32GB expandable storage. There's a gallery below and full PR after the break.

Gallery: Panasonic Eluga Power

Continue reading Panasonic Eluga Power: 5-inch 720p display, 9.6mm thin, S4 processor

Panasonic Eluga Power: 5-inch 720p display, 9.6mm thin, S4 processor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 04:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS rebrands its tablets 'Transformer Pads,' announces the high-end Infinity Series with either Tegra 3 or Snapdragon's S4 chip

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/asus-rebrands-its-tablets-transformer-pads-announces-the-infi/

Yes, another one. Less than four months after announcing the original T201 Transformer Prime and slightly modified TF700T, ASUS is adding uno más to the collection. And don't be fooled by the name: though the company is rebranding its tablet line "Transformer Pads," the newly announced Infinity Series looks a lot like a product we've already seen. Essentially, it's the TF700T with a dual-core Qualcomm MSM 8960 Snapdragon S4 CPU and an optional LTE radio. Now, before you gasp that ASUS has ditched NVIDIA, hear this: there will still be a Tegra 3 option, but that's just the WiFi-only version; the 3G / 4G versions will pack the S4 chip.

Additionally, there will be a lower-end 16GB option (the TF700T was only available in 32GB and 64GB flavors). Otherwise, the specs are the same, including a quad-core Tegra 3 SoC, dual 8MP / 2MP cameras, 1GB of RAM, HDMI and a 10.1-inch, 1920 x 1200, Super IPS+ Gorilla Glass display. This time around, it has Gorilla Glass 2, but that's a mild spec bump indeed.

Unlike the original Prime, which shipped with Honeycomb but updated to Ice Cream Sandwich shortly after going on sale, the Infinity Pad will run Android 4.0 out of the box. It also comes with 8GB of free lifetime ASUS WebStorage and is rated for 10 hours of battery life (16 with that signature keyboard dock, sold separately). No word yet on pricing or availability. In any case, though, we wo! uldn't b e surprised if ASUS gave birth to another tablet between now and then.

Continue reading ASUS rebrands its tablets 'Transformer Pads,' announces the high-end Infinity Series with either Tegra 3 or Snapdragon's S4 chip

ASUS rebrands its tablets 'Transformer Pads,' announces the high-end Infinity Series with either Tegra 3 or Snapdragon's S4 chip originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS Padfone formally unveiled: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon S4 CPU, ICS, HSPA+, coming in April

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/asus-padfone-formally-launched-4-3-inch-super-amoled-display-s/

Just like it said it would, ASUS has formally unveiled its versatile, form-changing Padfone at Mobile World Congress. There are two stories here, and they're both quite compelling, frankly. On the one hand, you've got yet another high-end device, with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display, Snapdragon's new dual-core S4 chip, an Adreno 225 GPU, Ice Cream Sandwich and an 8-megapixel rear camera with an LED flash and f/2.2, autofocusing lens. (The front camera records at VGA resolution.) Other specs include 16 to 64GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD), Bluetooth 4.0, HDMI, GPS, A-GPS, a gyroscope, 1,520mAh battery and a compass. Connectivity options include WCDMA (900, 2100 MHz), EDGE / GPRS / GSM (850, 1800 and 1900 MHz) and HSPA+, with theoretical download speeds topping out at 42Mbps. Barring LTE, we wouldn't expect much less from a flagship launched at the world's premier wireless show.

But those are just specs. If you focus solely on its chip and 9.2mm-thick frame you'd be missing its most distinguishing attribute: it's ability to parade around in tablet's clothing (albeit, with the help of some optional, still-unpriced accessories.) Taking a cue from Motorola's Lapdock-friendly handsets, the Padfone can slide into an optional station that effectively allows you to use it as if it were a 10.1-inch tablet. Like the optional docks sold alongside ASUS' Transformer tablets, the station not only improves the ergonomics, but also extends the battery life -- in this case, by nine-fold. Speaking of keybo! ard dock s, ASUS will be selling one for this product, too, so that you can tuck that 10-inch phone-tablet into something with a full physical keyboard. Finally, there's that guy you see up there, which looks like a stylus (and is!), but also doubles as a headset for receiving calls. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the future.

And when can you make it yours? ASUS confirmed that the Padfone will ship in April. Unfortunately, the company stopped short of revealing any pricing, so you'll have to stay tuned for some country-specific details. For now, though, we're planning on getting hands-on with the device as soon as we can, giving you a much closer look than we were able to when we spied a prototype back at CES.

Continue reading ASUS Padfone formally unveiled: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon S4 CPU, ICS, HSPA+, coming in April

ASUS Padfone formally unveiled: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon S4 CPU, ICS, HSPA+, coming in April originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Broadcom releases new Ice Cream Sandwich-optimized chipsets at MWC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/broadcom-ics-chipsets-mwc/

Broadcom's taken the chance to bust out some killer new internals for Android phones here at MWC. The new range of SoCs are optimized for Ice Cream Sandwich, based on single or dual-core 40-nanometer ARM Cortex A9s. The BCM21654G has a 1GHz CPU, integrated HSPA modem and VGA video support, it's likely we'll see this popping up in budget phones. The romantically named BCM28145 and BCM28155 are dual-core chips with HSPA+ modems and can handle 720p and 1080p video respectively. All dual-core chips will come with a "videocore," a third low-power chip to handle video playback without occupying the main CPU and draining power as well as an Image Signal Processor chip that can support cameras up to 42-megapixels (glances across to the Nokia 808). Other options you'll find appearing in the cellphones of tomorrow include hybrid GPS / Glonass units, low-power NFC and active dual-SIM capability. If you're a garage-based cellphone manufacturer and want to grab some of these for your own business, head on past the break for some PR.

Continue reading Broadcom releases new Ice Cream Sandwich-optimized chipsets at MWC

Broadcom releases new Ice Cream Sandwich-optimized chipsets at MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for us! e of fee ds.

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ASUS outs lower-end Transformer Pad 300 tablet with 16GB of storage and 1280 x 800 display

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/asus-outs-lower-end-transformer-pad-300-tablet-with-16gb-of-stor/

Remember when we said ASUS was adding another tablet to its stable? Let's bump that number to an even two. ASUS just announced the Transformer Pad 300, a lower-end match to the new Infinity Series (and also made a quick appearance earlier this month). Hilariously (if rapidly aging gadgets can ever be funny), the 300 is, for all intents and purposes, the original Transformer Prime -- until recently the most lustworthy tablet. So far as we can tell, the only differences are that it offers different color choices (blue, white and red), a slightly downgraded display and optional LTE. Once again, it has a Tegra 3 chip, 8MP / 2MP cameras, HDMI and a 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 IPS display. Interestingly, this guy has a regular 'ole IPS screen, not the 600-nit Super IPS+ panel used on the original Prime and the new Infinity Pad. The 300 also comes with a fixed 16GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD), whereas the original Prime packed 32GB at the lower end. Still, ASUS won't skimp on some things: it ships with ICS, like its brother, and promises up to 10 hours of battery life (that's 15 with the optional keyboard dock, which is an hour less than what the Infinity Series claims). No word yet on availability, so expect some further announcements in the coming months with pricing specific to different regions.

Continue reading ASUS outs lower-end Transformer Pad 300 tablet with 16GB of storage and 1280 x 80! 0 displa y

ASUS outs lower-end Transformer Pad 300 tablet with 16GB of storage and 1280 x 800 display originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZTE Era flagship phone brings Tegra 3, 4.3-inch qHD display, 7.8mm chassis

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/zte-era-flagship-phone/

ZTE Era flagship phone

We're just about to get hands-on with ZTE's latest high-spec ICS phone, the Era, but in the meantime here's a heads-up on the main credentials. The guts are all NVIDIA, with a Tegra 3 quad-core processor and an Icera HSPA+ modem. The display has 960 x 540 pixels spread over 4.3-inches of real estate, housed in a razor-like 7.8mm-thick (0.31-inch) slab. The 8GB of onboard memory is expandable via microSD, while there's also HD Voice and Dolby sound processing. ZTE will be looking to release the Era in the second half of this year, and says it's counting on the handset to help it become a "top three handset provider by 2015." More big words in the PR after the break.

Continue reading ZTE Era flagship phone brings Tegra 3, 4.3-inch qHD display, 7.8mm chassis

ZTE Era flagship phone brings Tegra 3, 4.3-inch qHD display, 7.8mm chassis originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS Padfone hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/asus-padfone-hands-on-video/

We're here at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and ASUS just formally unveiled the shape-shifting Padfone -- just like it said it would. Even more than raw specs, what makes the phone striking are its accompanying accessories. Sure, you could use it as a standalone 4.3-inch handset, but it will also be sold with a so-called station that effectively turns it into a 10-inch tablet -- not unlike how you can slip certain Moto handsets inside the company's netbook-like Lapdocks. It will also be sold with an optional keyboard dock (just like the Prime) and -- get this -- a stylus that doubles as a receiver for when you receive phone calls. We elbowed our way to the front of a pack of voracious tech journalists, and stole a few minutes of hands-on time with both the handset and its various accoutrements. Join us past the break for some early impressions and a duo of videos.

Gallery: ASUS Padfone hands-on

Continue reading ASUS Padfone hands-on (video)

ASUS Padfone hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 06:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, February 26, 2012

This Container Always Pours The Perfect Portion [Food]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5888258/this-container-always-pours-the-perfect-portion

This Container Always Pours The Perfect Portion Here's another reason to store your dry ingredients in airtight containers. Quirky's new Silo features a couple of strategically placed dividers in the main reservoir that guarantee you're always pouring an exact amount, without having to dirty a measuring cup.

The clear container holds 3.25 quarts of dry goods, and comes with two swappable dividers that let you pour out either a half or full cup of ingredients at a time. While it's definitely going into production, there's no word on when you'll be able to buy one, or for how much. So in the meantime I just recommend sticking with my fistful for dinner/half-fistful for lunch measuring technique and you'll be fine. [Quirky via The Green Head]

Google Drive SDK, Gmail integration hinted at in Google Docs source code

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/google-drive-sdk-gmail-integration-hinted-at-in-google-docs-sou/

Still wondering if Mountain View's Google Drive service will launch as a Google Docs rebranding? The folks at the Google Operating System blog have some code you might want to peek at, then. Apparently the Docs' source code mentions an SDK connected to the upcoming Google Drive, opening the door for third party app support. The code hints at deeper Gmail integration too, "Say goodbye to email attachments and hello to real time collaboration," it says, "Drag anything shared with you to My Drive for easy access." If Drive turns out to be more than a hefty Docs update, at the very least it seems clear that the new service will play nice with El Goog's other web apps -- after all, isn't that what that consolidated privacy policy is supposed to be about?

Google Drive SDK, Gmail integration hinted at in Google Docs source code originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 23:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHK's new Super Hi-Vision sensor captures 8K at 120fps, fast enough for Usain Bolt?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/25/nhk-super-hi-vision-120fps-cmos/

As amazing as Super Hi-Vision televisions are, most of the footage we've seen is of slow-moving cityscapes, nature and portraits. We may get more action sequences soon, thanks to a new CMOS sensor capable of picking up 8K (33MP) footage at 120 frames per second. The joint project between NHK, Shizuoka University and the Research Institute of Electronics is being shown off on the 27th at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference The chip is developed on a .18 micrometer process, with an enhanced analog to digital converter that enables the faster frame rates. That cut down data processing time and power consumption, all key to getting some sweet super high res televisions (16x more pixels than your current HDTV) in our living room sooner rather than later. Our only question? If they can build a new camera around it in time to catch the world's fastest human being do his thing at the 2012 London Olympics.

NHK's new Super Hi-Vision sensor captures 8K at 120fps, fast enough for Usain Bolt? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA gets big names to embrace DirectTouch tech in Tegra 3 devices (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/25/nvidia-gets-big-names-to-embrace-directtouch-tech-in-tegra-3-dev/

DirectTouch

Synaptics, Atmel,N-trig, Raydium, Cypress and Focaltech -- big names in the field of touch-based devices -- have all agreed get on board with NVIDIA's DirectTouch platform. The tech offloads some of the work needed to track and process finger input from the controller to the Tegra 3, improving response and battery life. We were first introduced to the architecture at CES, but wasn't clear that others would embrace it. With two of the biggest makers of touchscreen controllers, Synaptics and Atmel, throwing their weight behind the project, though, things are looking up for NVIDIA-powered tablets. N-trig is even leveraging the processing power to improve the response of capacitive styli by combining DirectTouch with DuoSense (the tech behind the HTC Flyer). For more info check out the PR and video after the break.

Continue reading NVIDIA gets big names to embrace DirectTouch tech in Tegra 3 devices (video)

NV! IDIA get s big names to embrace DirectTouch tech in Tegra 3 devices (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung unveils new Galaxy Beam smartphone / projector combo with dual core CPU

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/25/samsung-unveils-new-galaxy-beam-smartphone-projector-combo-wit/

Samsung has finally started to reveal its new products at MWC 2012, starting with this refresh of the Galaxy Beam packing Android 2.3 and a 1GHz dual-core CPU. Just like its predecessor it brings an integrated projector capable of 15 lumens of brightness, enough to shoot a high definition image that's up to 50 inches wide. There's a dedicated app that activates the projection, letting users pump out video and pictures, as well as interact with games when the 4-inch WVGA screen just isn't big enough. It has a 2000 mAh battery to keep the party going -- handy when you're stuck somewhere inconvenient with a few dozen of your coworkers -- 8GB of built-in storage and a claimed 6GB of RAM (we're double checking that, consider it a likely typo until you hear otherwise). There's more details and specs in the press release after the break, but no word on release date or market availability of this HSPA phone just yet.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Beam

Continue reading Samsung unveils new Galaxy Beam smartphone / projector combo with dual core CPU

Samsung unveils new Galaxy Beam smartphone / projector combo with dual core CPU originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung announces Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/25/samsung-galaxy-tab-2-10-1-officially-unveiled-at-mwc/

We already saw Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) just over a week ago, and now the company has come clean with its 10.1-inch variant (along with a new Galaxy Beam smartphone). Aside from bumping up the screen resolution of its LCD to 1280 x 800, from 1024 x 600 on the 7.0, the 10.1 features the same 1Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity, front and rear cameras (VGA and 3-megapixels, respectively) and 21Mbps HSPA+ connectivity if you opt for the 3G model instead of WiFi. The 10.1-incher notably comes equipped with a 7,000 mAh battery (up from 4,000 on the 7.0), which will hopefully ensure stamina that's similar to its predecessor. The slate is unsurprisingly loaded with TouchWiz-flavored Ice Cream Sandwich, and will be offered in 16 and 32GB models (expandable by up to 32GB if you supply your own microSD card). There's no word on pricing just yet, but Sammy plans to start selling all 10.1-inches of this treat during March in the UK -- and you can bet we'll get our own in-person hands-on while we're traversing the show floor here at MWC. For now, you'll find full details about the slate in the press release after the break and press images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Samsung G! alaxy Ta b 2 10.1

Continue reading Samsung announces Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1)

Samsung announces Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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