Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Motorola RAZR i: hands-on with the 2GHz Android ICS smartphone (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/18/motorola-razr-i-hands-on-intel-2ghz/

Motorola RAZR i handson with the 2GHz Android ICS smartphone

While we've seen similar things from the RAZR M already -- and even reviewed it -- we reckoned those 2GHz Intel internals and HSPA-only radio inside the RAZR i (as well as European availability) warranted another tour of the hardware. In summary, there's decently bright, if a little jaggy, 4.3-inch AMOLED screen, with a water resistant coating covering the already hardy Kevlar backing. There's space for microSD expansion, and thanks to that tiny bezel, it's a phone that very happily resided in the palm of our hand. We're booting up our benchmark toolkit to assess how Intel's processor fares, but until the final scores are revealed, take a look at our hands-on video after the break.

Continue reading Motorola RAZR i: hands-on with the 2GHz Android ICS smartphone (video)

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Motorola RAZR i: hands-on with the 2GHz Android ICS smartphone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 05:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 7:52 AM

Samsung starts producing faster 2GB LPDDR3 memory for mobile devices, 128GB flash storage too

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/18/samsung-memory-storage/

Samsung announces new 2GB 30nmclass DRAM and 128GB mobile memory chips

While the scales may be steadily tipping towards mobile in the world of DRAM production, there's still plenty of room for technological enhancements. To prove the point, Samsung has just started mass production of what it claims to be the first 2GB LPDDR3 DRAM chip for mobile, which can shuffle information in and out 1,600 Mbps (compared to its 1,066 Mbps LPDDR2 predecessor), with up to 12.8 GB/s of bandwidth. In addition, the manufacturer has also started mass production of a place to hold all of that lovely data, in the form of a 128GB mobile flash storage chip. When will you be able to buy a superphone sporting 2GB of RAM and 128GB of storage? We don't know for sure, but even in the face of adversity all of the components seem to be falling into place.

Continue reading Samsung starts producing faster 2GB LPDDR3 memory for mobile devices, 128GB flash storage too

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Samsung starts producing faster 2GB LPDDR3 memory for mobile devices, 128GB flash storage too originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink SammyHub  |  sourceSamsung (Korean), Samsung Tomorrow (Korean)  | Email this | Comments

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Posted by Augustine at 7:52 AM

Monday, September 17, 2012

Purported ASUS holiday roadmap pegs Windows 8 tablets at $599 and above

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/17/asus-windows-8-tablets-599-799/

Purported ASUS holiday roadmap pegs Windows 8 tablets at $599 and above

Windows 8 tablets have had their specs bandied about for months, but their prices have continued to remain off the radar. Now, however, a purported ASUS holiday roadmap sent to ZDNet may give us a glimpse as to how badly bank accounts could be affected this fall. According to the slide, the ASUS Vivo Tab will carry a $799 price tag and its Windows RT counterpart will come in at $599, which matches the previously reported price difference between slates running Redmond's latest OS with Intel and AMD processors. The ASUS Taichi dual-screen notebook / tablet hybrid is said to ring up at a heftier $1,299. As for the firm's Transformer Book, it will supposedly set purchasers back $1,399. If these prices are any indication of what we can expect from other OEMs, Microsoft's Surface might be pricier than hoped.

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Purported ASUS holiday roadmap pegs Windows 8 tablets at $599 and above originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:! 41:00 ED T. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 7:59 PM

HTC's 5-inch behemoth phone spied in press render, may be called One X 5

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/17/htc-5-inch-behemoth-phone-may-be-called-one-x-5/

HTC One X 5 leak

Something big has been brewing at HTC, most often referred to as the DLX or by its less-than-flattering 6435LVW name. While there have been unconfirmed photos of prototypes floating around, a Sina Weibo user has posted what we have reason to believe is an authentic press image of the finished result: meet the One X 5. As the name and image suggest, the phablet-class device should be dominated by a 5-inch (and possibly 1080p) screen that makes even a regular One X look dainty. Internal details haven't been nailed down alongside the looks, although previous benchmarks have had it using a Snapdragon S4 that might ultimately be a quad-core S4 Pro. There's no immediate signs of a stylus or other tricks besides that sea of glass. We may not have long to wait before we find out, however. HTC just happens to have a New York City event planned for this Wednesday, and previously detected links between the 6435LVW and Verizon could see the One X 5 quickly reach the US if it's meant to show at that gathering -- although it might get another name change to fit into the Droid family.

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HTC's 5-inch behemoth phone spied in press render, may be called One X 5 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceSina Weibo (sign-in required)  | Email this | Comments

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Posted by Augustine at 3:47 PM

Canon PowerShot G15 features f/1.8-2.8 lens and DSLR-like controls, we go hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/17/canon-powershot-g15-hands-on/

Canon PowerShot G15 features f1828 lens and DSLRlike controls, we go handson video

Not completely sold on Canon's large sensor-packing PowerShot G1 X? The company's latest jumbo compact offers a comparable smooth focus effect, thanks to its super-wide f/1.8-2.8, 28-140mm optical zoom lens, with image stabilization that boosts your shooting capability by up to four stops. The camera, which is designed to replace the G12, features a 12.1-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor paired with a DIGIC 5 processor, enabling RAW shooting, 1080p video and a top sensitivity of ISO 12,800 all in a body that's significant smaller and lighter than its predecessor. There's also a super-sharp 922k-dot 3-inch LCD (no touchscreen here, not that we miss it) and a built-in optical viewfinder.

The $500 G15 isn't set to hit stores until October, but we caught an early peek at Photokina today. A Canon representative also clued us in on the camera's naming scheme -- that jump from 12 right to 15. As we know, 13 is an unlucky number in North America and Europe, but the 14 was also avoided because the number four "sounds like an unlucky word" in Japanese. So, there you have it. Regardless of what it's called, though, the G15 is one powerful shooter, with a very solid design to boot. Though it is smaller than the G12, it's still far too large to fit in a pocket -- you'll likely walk around with this guy dangling from your neck. There's a mode dial up top, along with a dedicated exposure compensation dial, enabling more precise EV control. We weren't able to exami! ne sampl es in order to evaluate the camera's bokeh capabilities, but Canon reps said that the effect is on par with the G1 X. You'll be able to get your own mitts on the G15 beginning next month, and you can catch our hands-on photos just below, along with a video walkthrough after the break.

Continue reading Canon PowerShot G15 features f/1.8-2.8 lens and DSLR-like controls, we go hands-on (video)

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Canon PowerShot G15 features f/1.8-2.8 lens and DSLR-like controls, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms f! or use o f feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 2:35 PM

Google releases new Java to iOS source code translator

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/17/google-releases-new-java-to-ios-source-code-translator/

Google releases new open-source Java to iOS translator: makes transferring apps easier

Developers have their work cut out. Even if we (impolitely) sidestep the likes of Windows Phone, BlackBerry and the rest, those coders often have to pitch their work across web, iOS and Android. Google's trying to make that job a little easier, introducing a new tool that automatically converts Java source code into Objective-C, which is used in iPad and iPhone apps. While the J2ObjC tool can't tackle the UI for these, it does allow developers to craft other parts (including data access and nuts-and-bolts programming) into an easily shareable code without editing. Some existing Google projects already utilize the new translator, but its results remains a little temperamental -- the tool hasn't translated all possible paths just yet, and many Java devs have, according to the project page, "a slightly different way of using Java."

Google releases new Java to iOS source code translator originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink ZDNET  |  sourceGoogle Open Source Blog  | Email this | Comments

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Posted by Augustine at 2:34 PM

Panasonic Lumix GH3: The Hacker's HD Video Camera Gets Its Bits Juiced [Cameras]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5943780/panasonic-lumix-gh3-the-hackers-hd-video-camera-gets-its-bits-juiced

Panasonic Lumix GH3: The Hacker's HD Video Camera Gets Its Bits JuicedA whole community of filmmakers—amateur and pros alike—turned the Panasonic GH2 into a surprisingly successful camera. It turned out, that with a simple to execute hack, you could use the camera to record ultra-sharp 100-Mbps+, 1080p HD video. The results were spectacular. With the new GH3, Panasonic has beefed up its stock camera to look more like the powerful hack.

Let's start first with the GH3's photo powers: the camera has a new 16-megapixel micro four thirds sensor that can now take photos all the way up to a standard ISO of 12800. In the past people complained that high ISO picture quality on the GH3 was too noisy, and Panny says it has fixed this. The GH3s also has a new contrast AF system that's supposed to be one of the fastest out there. As with any claims—especially about the speed of autofocus—we'll believe it when we see it.

But what's really impressive is the camera's video quality specs. Panasonic took a tip from hackers and now the GH3 can record HD video at a bit rate of up to 72Mbps—that's not as high as what the hacked firmware can do, but it should still capture a lot of detail for a camera at this price point. Unlike many other cameras, the GH3 can record video at 1920 x 1080 at up to 60 fps. Unfortunately, it won't be able to sustain that at the full 72 Mbps. When you shoot at higher frame rates your bit-rate will be limited to 50Mbps.

Panasonic Lumix GH3: The Hacker's HD Video Camera Gets Its Bits Juiced

The camera's hardware has been upgraded as well. As with many other new cameras these days, the GH3 comes with built-in Wi-Fi that allows you to move you photos and videos wirelessly from the camera to another device. Panasonic also beefed up the GH3 so that it's now splash-proof and dust-proof. The tiltable touchscreen makes adjusting controls a breeze. There's also an electronic OLED viewfinder that'll be attractive to photogs who can't stand shooting on a 3-inch LED alone.

What's got us excited about the GH3 isn't actually one single feature—it's that the camera seems to embrace just about every technology out there, from its touchscreen and Wi-Fi to its high-quality video specs. It weighs just under 20 ounces without a lens, so considering how much camera you're getting, the DSLR-mimicking design is surprisingly efficient.There's no word on what this beast of a camera will cost when it's available, but we're hearing numbers in the ballpark of $2000—nearly twice what the GH2 cost. That's a huge bummer, but if this camera's s powerful as it looks, it might just be worth the money. [Panasonic]

Panasonic GH3

• Price: unknown
• Sensor: 16-megapixel, micro four thirds (17.3 x 13.0 mm)
• Max ISO: 12800 (Standard)/ 25600 (expanded)
• Video: 1920 x 1080 60/50/30/24
• Max Drive: 6 frames-per-second at full resolution
• Screen: 614,000 3-inch touch LCD
• Storage: SD card slot
• Weight: 19.4 ounces

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Posted by Augustine at 8:24 AM

Hands-on with Kingston's DataTraveler Workspace at IDF (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/17/hands-on-with-kingstons-datatraveler-workspace-at-idf-video/

Handson with Kingston's DataTraveler Workspace at IDF video

What's this? Just another USB 3.0 thumbdrive at IDF 2012? Not quite. You're looking at Kingston's DataTraveler Workspace, a storage device that incorporates bona fide SSD technology not usually found in thumbdrives -- like a bunch of ultra speedy flash memory and a SandForce controller that supports TRIM and S.M.A.R.T commands. As such, it shares more in common with Kingston's line of SSDs. It's not really designed for data storage -- instead, it's meant to be used as a certified Windows To Go fixed drive, "a fully manageable corporate Windows 8 workspace on a specially configured, bootable USB drive".

The idea is that corporate IT can deploy these thumbdrives to employees who can then run a secure, managed instance of Windows on a variety of PCs with a bootable USB 2.0 (or faster) port. Another interesting feature of Windows To Go is that Kingston's DT Workspace thumbdrives can be removed for up to 1 minute without crashing Windows -- the OS simply alerts the user to "keep the USB drive plugged in" and continues where it left off. Pricing remains a mystery, but the device will be available for business customers in 32, 64 and 128GB capacities when Windows 8 launches. Until then, you're invited to peek at the gallery below and to watch our hands-on video past the break.

Continue reading Hands-on with Kingston's DataTraveler Workspace at IDF (video)

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Hands-on with Kingston's DataTraveler Workspace at IDF (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 06:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 6:51 AM

Future Panasonic G camera's 72Mbps movie-making prowess teased through speedy drama (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/16/future-panasonic-g-cameras-72mbps-movie-making-prowess-teased/

Future Panasonic G camera's 72Mbps moviemaking prowess teased through speedy drama video

If Panasonic didn't have attention from movie producers before, it just might as of this week. Joining the quickly developing tradition of camera makers producing elaborate short movies as technology demos, the company has let cinematographer Philip Bloom wield (and tease) a "brand new G camera" to record Genesis, a fast-paced mini-drama showing a man's race to meet his love before it's too late. While Bloom can't talk much about the hardware in question until the 17th, he's allowed to confirm that the upcoming Micro Four Thirds body relies on a "superb" 72Mbps All-I codec for video -- letting it capture a sprint through the streets without the compression artifacts of the AVCHD format used by most mirrorless cameras. Panasonic's upcoming shooter also touts "much improved" results in the dark, Bloom says. It all sounds very tempting, especially if it turns out that Panasonic's inadvertent leaks are for the same camera we see in action here. The full movie is available after the break, and Bloom has the behind-the-scenes details at the source link.

Continue reading Future Panasonic G camera's 72Mbps movie-making prowess teased through speedy drama (video)

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Future Panasonic G camera's 72Mbps movie-making prowess teased through speedy drama (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Sep 2012 23:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink 4/3 Rumors  |  sourcePhilip Bloom  | Email this | Comments

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Posted by Augustine at 5:53 AM

T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note II firmware update appears, points to Jelly Bean and HSPA+

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/17/t-mobile-samsung-galaxy-note-ii-firmware/

Samsung's new full-fat smartphone has hinted at appearances on both Verizon and AT&T, and now an update spotted at SAM Mobile suggests that -- just under two months since the original appeared -- there will be a Magenta-branded version of the Galaxy Note II... too. Going under the SGH-T889 model number, firmware from September 15th is now available to try -- if you have a phone that's not yet out on any official channels. The site's sources have said that the device runs closer to a global iteration, lacking any true LTE capabilities, but it's more than happy to substitute that for HSPA+ support. If you're part of Samsung's secretive cabal of handset testers you can seek out the new build at the source below.

T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note II firmware update appears, points to Jelly Bean and HSPA+ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 03:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 5:52 AM

Canon adds the G15, S110 and SX50 HS to its PowerShot lineup

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/17/canon-powershot-g15-s110-sx50-hs/

Canon adds the G15, S110 and SX50 HS to its PowerShot lineup

Canon already outed a pair of superzoom cameras prior to Photokina 2012, but it turns out the company wasn't done adding to its PowerShot family. First, we have the PowerShot G15, which has a 28 - 140mm wide angle f/1.8 - f/2.8 lens, 12.1 megapixel sensor and Canon's DIGIC 5 image processor. Its sensor has a max 12,800 ISO, shoots RAW stills and records 1080p video, and you can view your subjects using the optical viewfinder or the 3-inch, 922,000 dot LCD on the back. It replaces the G12 in Canon's lineup when it goes on sale for $500 this October.

The PowerShot S110 replaces the S100, and like that camera, it's got a 12.1-megapixel sensor, max 12,800 ISO and an f/2.0 lens. Unlike its predecessor, however, its got a 3-inch, 461,000 dot capacitive touchscreen on the back and ditched GPS in favor of WiFi. That wireless capability lets the S110 pull GPS data for geotagging from Android or iOS devices using Canon's CameraWindow app and share photos and videos on the web. It does RAW shooting, has a 10fps burst mode and records 1080p 24fps video as well. It'll come in both black and white versions that run $450 when it goes on sale next month.

Lastly, there's the PowerShot SX50 HS superzoom camera. It packs a 24-1200mm, f/3.4 - f/6.5 lens and optical image stabilization to ensure clear shots even when using the camera's full 50x zoom capability. Like the SX40 HS is replaces, it has a hotshoe and a 12.1-megapixel sensor. It has a max 6,400 ISO and like its new PowerShot mates, it has a 10fps burst mode, shoots RAW photos and 1080p video. The SX50 HS can be had in October for $480.

Continue reading Canon adds the G15, S110 and SX50 HS to its PowerShot lineup

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Canon adds the G15, S110 and SX50 HS to its PowerShot lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, ! 17 Sep 2 012 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 5:52 AM

Olympus E-PL5 and E-PM2: Micro Four Thirds cameras with OM-D-like focusing, performance boosts (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/17/olympus-e-pl5-e-pm2-hands-on/

Olympus EPL5 and EPM2 Micro Four Thirds cameras with OMDlike focusing, performance boosts handson

We've been very impressed with Olympus' first OM-D camera, the EM-5. That model's 5-axis image stabilization and super-fast autofocus won us over, while the retro design appeased nostalgics as well. Now, it's time for that speedy shooting to make its way to the company's other Micro Four Thirds models -- the E-PL5 and E-PM2. Both models, announced today, offer nearly identical specifications, with notable differences on the form-factor front. The E-PL5 is the premium model of this bunch, coming in at $700 with a 12-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens or $650 for the body only, while the E-PM2 will run you 100 bucks less for both configurations. Both cameras include 16.1-megapixel Live MOS sensors, top ISO of 25,600, 3-inch 460k-dot touch-enabled LCDs, 1080i video and an 8fps continuous shooting mode. The EM-5's five-axis stabilization is absent here, though a three-axis version should suffice in low light. Each model also includes an external flash and a rebate offer for a free Toshiba FlashAir 802.11b/g/n card, which enables connectivity with the OI Share apps for Android and iOS.

We had a chance to check both cameras out just before Photokina, and were quite pleased with the design, along with that OM-D-like focusing performance, which really is as speedy as Olympus claims. The camera focused instantaneously with almost all of the lenses we tried, though it was! a bit s luggish, understandably, when paired with the 60mm f/2.8 macro. The displays were equally sharp, though the PL5 packs a nifty articulating version, which can tilt up, down or face forward for self-portraits. We also enjoyed shooting with the super-slim 15mm f/8 body cap lens, which features a tiny front element with a slide-over cover -- while it's limited on the aperture front and includes fixed focus, it's arguably more useful than a traditional cap (Olympus hasn't confirmed pricing for that optic, though it'll likely come in below the $100 mark). That aforementioned dust-and-splash-proof macro will retail for $500 in early October, while a new 12mm f/2 lens will ship during the same time for $1,100. The "Mini" E-PM2 will be available in silver, black, white and red, while the E-PL5 will ship in silver, black and white -- both versions will be available in October. You can take a closer look at each of the offerings in the gallery below, then jump past the break for the full rundown from Olympus.

Continue reading Olympus E-PL5 and E-PM2: Micro Four Thirds cameras with OM-D-like focusing, performance boosts (hands-on)

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Olympus E-PL5 and E-PM2: Micro Four Thirds cameras with OM-D-like focusing, performance boosts (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 05:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 5:52 AM

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Turn a Cheap Laser Pointer Into a Removable Macro Photography Lens for Your Phone [DIY]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5943363/turn-a-cheap-laser-pointer-into-a-removable-macro-photography-lens-for-your-phone

Turn a Cheap Laser Pointer Into a Removable Macro Photography Lens for Your PhoneSmartphone cameras are better than ever, and while they can take some pretty solid pictures, you can really get some fun shots with a DIY macro lens. Here's how to put a macro lens on your phone without having to open up your hardware.

Turn a Cheap Laser Pointer Into a Removable Macro Photography Lens for Your PhoneWe've talked about one way to hack your phone's camera with a macro lens, but it involved taking apart your camera completely. Imgur user Mor0n posted a tutorial on doing it with no permanent modifications required: just take apart a cheap laser pointer, grab the lens from inside, and attach it to your phone using something like a bobby pin as shown above. With that setup, you can get awesome, super closeup shots like the image to the right (it's a picture of sugar, if you're curious). Hit the link to see the full how-to.

Here is a quick DIY lesson on how to create insanely close-up pictures with your mobile phone. | Imgur via Apartment Therapy

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Posted by Augustine at 8:07 PM

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