Thursday, September 29, 2011

drag2share: Skype 2.5 for Android brings video calls to 14 new devices, including Honeycomb tablets

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/29/skype-2-5-for-android-brings-video-calls-to-14-new-devices-incl/

Skype Video Calling
...And then there were 41.

Oh, sorry, we're talking about Android devices here. Specifically ones that support video calling over Skype. With the update to version 2.5, the VoIP service has tacked on another 14 Goog-powered gadgets to its list of officially supported handsets and tablets. Yes, that's right, we said tablets. In addition to bringing support to phones like the Atrix, Bionic and Nexus One, Skype is inviting the Xoom, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Acer's Iconia to the party. We've even received reports that video calls are working on other Honeycomb slates like the ASUS Transformer. You'll find the full list of officially supported devices in the PR after the break.

Continue reading Skype 2.5 for Android brings video calls to 14 new devices, including Honeycomb tablets

Skype 2.5 for Android brings video calls to 14 new devices, including Honeycomb tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: HTC Sensation Z710t becomes first smartphone to offer ST-Ericsson's NovaThor SoC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/29/htc-sensation-z710t-becomes-first-smartphone-to-offer-st-ericsso/

There's a new Sensation on the block that'll be making its way to China Mobile, but rather than rehashing more of the same, this release marks the first smartphone to place ST-Ericsson's NovaThor SoC under the hood. Unlike offerings from Qualcomm, the chip inside the Sensation Z710t offers a dual-core A9 processor along with connectivity to the carrier's TD-SCDMA infrastructure. Other specs are expected to remain the same, which includes a 4.3-inch qHD display and 8 megapixel camera. Unfortunately, press photos weren't released, which suggests its design hasn't changed. You'll find the full PR after the break, heralding this latest Sensation among the top-tier of China Mobile's offerings. While pricing or a release date have yet to be announced, we're inclined to agree.

Continue reading HTC Sensation Z710t becomes first smartphone to offer ST-Ericsson's NovaThor SoC

HTC Sensation Z710t becomes first smartphone to offer ST-Ericsson's NovaThor SoC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: ASUS announces Ivy Bridge PCI-Express motherboards, for early early-adopters

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/29/asus-announces-ivy-bridge-pci-express-motherboards-for-early-ea/

If you get your jollies from things like procuring motherboards months before compatible chips are released, then boy have we some good news for you! ASUS is releasing three PCI-Express 3.0 enabled motherboards that are capable of handling Intel's souped-up Ivy Bridge chips when they debut next year. The company isn't in the business of giving its boards romantic names, so the three Z68-powered arrivals will be called P8Z68-Deluxe/GEN3, P8Z68-V Pro/GEN3 and P8Z68-V/GEN3. The whole lot will get two PCI-Express 3.0 slots, LucidLogix Vertu graphics-switching and USB 3.0. They'll be available from October -- the Deluxe model will peel €230 ($310) from the rear of your pocket, while the V-pro commands a more modest €185 ($250) and the V an even lower €160 ($220). After the break, we've got a shot of the German spec list that those nice folks at TechConnect managed to snaffle. Go on, geek out -- we won't tell.

[Thanks, Alexandre]

Continue reading ASUS announces Ivy Bridge PCI-Express motherboards, for early early-adopters

ASUS announces Ivy Bridge PCI-Express motherboards, for early early-adopters originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Sharp's Aquos Phone 102SH brings 3D qHD display, 12 megapixel CMOS sensor to Japan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/29/sharps-aquos-phone-102sh-brings-3d-qhd-display-12-megapixel-cm/

Just a few days after unveiling the waterproof IS13SH, Sharp has come out with yet another beastly submersible, known as the Aquos Phone 102SH. Juiced by a 1GHz TI OMAP 4430 CPU, this Gingerbread-coated handset boasts a 4.5-inch glasses-free 3D display with 720 x 1280 resolution, along with 1GB of RAM and a 32GB microSDHC card. The device also packs a 12 megapixel CMOS sensor and supports DLNA, infrared connections, e-wallet functionality and your standard 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0 capabilities. No word yet on price, but Japanese carrier SoftBank will begin selling the 102SH in early December. Scurry past the break for more information in the full and translated PR.

Continue reading Sharp's Aquos Phone 102SH brings 3D qHD display, 12 megapixel CMOS sensor to Japan

Sharp's Aquos Phone 102SH brings 3D qHD display, 12 megapixel CMOS sensor to Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Why The Kindle Fire Beat the iPad 2 (For Me) [Kindle]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5844712/why-the-kindle-fire-beat-the-ipad-2-for-me

Why The Kindle Fire Beat the iPad 2 (For Me)There are times when less is more in terms of technology. And frankly, at its $199 price point. That less is definitely more.

The iPad 2 is a great device. Hell, I bought my wife one. But I don't need a $500 tablet. The Fire gives me the features I want at a price point that's less than half of the iPad 2. I can check my email, browse the Internet, maybe play a few games, most importantly, I can read magazines in color on a Kindle.

I use the computer to work. While it's fair to say that the iPad can be used to create content, I really don't have time to tap away on a touchscreen when I have a perfectly good MacBook Air. The features that set the iPad above the Kindle Fire are wasted on me. I don't need those. I'll never edit a video on the iPad. I have Final Cut Pro for that. Taking pictures on a tablet is ludicrous, I have an iPhone for quick shots and a DSLR to make me feel like I'm talented. It comes down to features and price. It's too much, for too much.

The Kindle Fire fills that tiny tablet gap in my life. It only has the features I really care about at a price point that's reasonable. It's more than reasonable, it's pretty great. But more importantly, it's the color Kindle I've been waiting for. I don't care about built-in 3G. That's what Mi-Fis are for. The camera on our iPad was used the first week just to point out how horrible the pictures looked. The only downside to the Kindle Fire is the lack of are the lack of external speaker and Bluetooth. But this isn't a deal breaker in my book.

Amazon has already sucked me into its Kindle-library clutches. I find myself trolling the Kindle store for books while sitting on the couch. Amazon's Whispersync has made it easy to add those purchases to the Kindle app on my iPhone. Now that I can run borrow books from the local library on the Kindle, I'm sold. You win Amazon, here take my money.

Apple was the first company to realize that a tablet computer doesn't need to be a full-fledged "computer" to succeed. All a tablet needs are the features that people actually use. Amazon just took that idea and ran with it. It won't be long before other companies attempt the same thing at an even lower price point.

My wife loves her iPad 2 and I'm happy I bought it for her. But for me, the $199 Kindle Fire is the tablet I've been waiting for.

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