Sharp RW-T107 Android tablet packs NFC reader, will accept payments in Japan
August 22, 2011 No Comment
Tools like Square’s credit card reader and Apple’s proprietary iOS retail system make mobile payments possible in the US, but they’re hardly streamlined, or widespread. A new Gingerbread tablet from Sharp — the RW-T107 — sets out to simplify payments in Japan with its built-in NFC reader. You won’t be using your own tablet to pay — instead, retailers will utilize point of sale apps to process transactions, without a customer ever needing to swipe their credit card. RFID payment cards, like Sony’s FeliCa, have been used throughout Japan for the last decade, so consumers are already familiar with the technology and ready to make payments. There’s no word on what retailers will expect to pay to add Sharp’s tablet to their checkout mix, but with the company set to release only 5,000 devices per month (and no plans to introduce them to the US), we’re not planning to ditch our cash just yet. Sharp RW-T107 Android tablet packs NFC reader, will accept payments in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 01:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’ve been wondering what would happen if the infinitely resourceful Ben Heck got his hands on the powerful Android ADK . Thankfully, in the most recent episode of the accomplished modder’s show, our curiosity is satiated. The crafty Wisconsinite tackles a reader request — to recreate the soothing motion of a car ride and help put a three-month-old baby to sleep. Mr. Heck uses the accelerometer in his phone to record the bounce and sway from the backseat as he drives around. He then draws up some code that will feed that data to the Arduino -powered ADK and move a series of servos that will tilt and shake a child’s car seat. Sadly, the completion of the project will have to wait till the next exciting episode, but by the end of the installment embedded after the break you do get to see a scale model. What are you waiting for? Click that little read more link for PR and video… you know you want to. Continue reading Ben Heck tackles Android ADK, whips up car trip-simulating baby seat Ben Heck tackles Android ADK, whips up car trip-simulating baby seat originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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While the world waits to find out what the fifth-generation iPhone looks like, TechCrunch reports an anonymous app developer has pulled information from their registration logs confirming the existence of a new device that’s rocking both CDMA and GSM radios. That conclusion is based on registrations that came from the same device that show mobile network codes and mobile country codes from both AT&T and Verizon. This is hardly shocking however, since the Verizon iPhone 4 already has a dual mode chipset from Qualcomm with the GSM side turned off, and we’d heard back in January that Apple was planning to go the one-size-fits-all route this time around. Who this does matter for however, could be world travelers that will find keeping their device connected between countries and networks much easier with a world iPhone , whenever the new phone is revealed later this year. The bad news is still the same however, as this probably also means there’s no plans for speedy LTE access — pencil in a pithy explanation from Steve about why it’s not necessary here . App logs reportedly confirm dual mode CDMA / GSM iPhone 5 in testing originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Shoulda, woulda, coulda, but alas, HP ultimately didn’t. Such is the tale of the behind-the-scenes gaffes that almost saw webOS launch on a path to success, and instead, ended in the platform’s corporate disavowal. The story may be all too fresh in our memory, but did you also know we were this close to a fire sale for a lesser-sized tablet? According to a report on GDGT , HP’s QA team had in its possession a production-ready model of the “Opal” tablet , and were in the process of debugging the unit. The aborted 7-inch little brother to the TouchPad had reared its head at the FCC only two weeks ago, en route to a future AT&T home in both 16GB and 32GB versions as the TouchPad Go. Though the passing days bring further bits of this muddled HP puzzle into perspective, it appears likely this mini webOS tab may never know the appreciative touch of consumer hands. And with the recent news of an overseas-only bow for the Pre 3 , all that remains to be seen is what’ll happen to our recently adopted TouchPads. Continue reading Opal: the 7-inch HP tablet that almost was Opal: the 7-inch HP tablet that almost was originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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After multiple spec and picture leaks , we seem to have finally hit the mother-lode with even more details of Sony’s soon-to-be-released A77 DSLR. With a reported Exmor HD CMOS sensor, the camera is said to work at ISO 100-16000 with an expandable ISO 50 option and 1/8000 shutter speed. Rumors are swirling that the camera has a 19 point AF sensor and 12fps burst, rather than the previously leaked specs citing an 11 point AF and 10fps burst. It reportedly runs on a Bionz processor and has built-in flash and GPS as well, and has enough juice to capture 500 shots on a single charge. Word on the street is that there’s a TrueBlack 921k swiveling display round back and a three million dot OLED viewfinder. Of course, we won’t be able to separate fact from fiction until the camera launches later this week. If you can’t hold your breath that long, check the source for more leaked pics of Sony’s slick new shooter. Sony A77 24 megapixel camera teases with more specs and photos originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 22:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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If you’ve been counting down the days leading up to the Xperia Ray’s release, get set to add a few more X’s to that calendar. A recent product page over on Vodafone UK teases an imminent launch for the svelte, Sony Ericsson handset, and slims down that multi-hued selection to one gold-backed option. The 3.3-incher had previously been up for pre-order on Play.com with a purported mid-August release , only to see that date slip back into the folds of September. Whenever the phone does finally make it to market, expect to see this quadband HSPA-capable device sporting an 854 x 480 Reality display, 1GHz processor, 8.1 megapixel rear-facing camera and Android 2.3. Import-minded types can look forward to running an unlocked version on AT&T, or just wait around for a potential stateside release. Eager for more info? Then head to the source below where you can sign-up for the deets. Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray shows up on Vodafone UK, inches towards launch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Were you mostly on board with the N100 , but wished Sammy would have held the MeeGo ? Those of you in India or Russia are apparently in luck, as Notebook Italia has spotted its Windows-toting twin: the N102. Identical to the N100 in every other way, 10-inch netbook kicks the open source OS to the curb, opting instead for the pared down Windows 7 Starter Edition . Naturally, you’ll pay a little extra for the privilege, as the 8,930 Roubles (around $320) gizmo is about 50 bones more than its MeeGo-wielding doppelg
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Looking for a DIY project with a bit more danger than an Arduino-powered TV muter , but don’t have the resources to start building a fusion reactor in your garage? Well, challenge yourself with this electron accelerator project that requires little more than a wine bottle, a vacuum pump, a neon sign transformer and a diode from a microwave oven. OK, so that’s not exactly a list of components you’re likely to have laying around, but they’re not terribly difficult to come by and at the end of the day you’ll have your very own, home-made cathode ray tube . That’s right, just like the one inside that TV you finally junked last week. You won’t be able to create your own old-school display with it, but you will be able to observe interesting effects like sputtering (a ring of metal ion deposits) and magnetic deflection. Check out the instructions at the source and the video after the break. Continue reading DIY CRT is fun, slightly dangerous, won’t lead to a home-made TV DIY CRT is fun, slightly dangerous, won’t lead to a home-made TV originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We didn’t exactly get the most extensive look at Oppo’s new Android-based X903 smartphone when the company announced it with Leonardo DiCaprio’s help earlier this month, but our pals from Engadget Chinese thankfully managed to come through on that front in a big way. As you can see, the phone’s brushed metal exterior certainly makes this one an eye catcher, although that apparently also contributes to a weight that’s a tad on the heavy side (there’s also a full QWERTY keyboard tucked underneath, albeit one that apparently suffers a bit from some short key travel). Those trade-offs also extend to some of the phones specs; you’ll get a high-end 4-inch IPS display, for instance, but you’ll have to make do without a front-facing camera. Hit the source link below for the full preview. Oppo’s Android-based X903 smartphone gets previewed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s Monday, and we’re still here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to mp3 at 5:30 pm . We finally managed to find our regular time on our regular day, but at this point is there even a such thing? So take a peek at the live stream, chat and list of topics after the break. Continue reading Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 5:30 p.m. Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 5:30 p.m. originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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