Samsung Galaxy Precedent coming to Straight Talk, seemingly $150 off-contract (video)
August 20, 2011 No Comment
Walmart and its MVNO partner, TracFone, are preparing to plunge into the shallow depths of Android with the Samsung Galaxy Precedent. While little is known about the device itself, it appears strikingly similar to the Samsung Prevail , from the chunky volume rocker and external microSD card slot on the side of the phone, to the absent flash on the rear. Of course, Straight Talk’s primary selling point with the Precedent is the price itself, which — according to a promo video for the device — is said to be just shy of $150 off-contract. This, combined with Wally World’s competitive pricing of $45 per month for unlimited voice, text and data, could be a boon for many users who rely on Verizon for coverage (assuming this is a CDMA phone, anyway). While no official launch date has been set, you’re welcome to get in line and reserve yours today. Or, just check the video after the break. [Thanks, Nickolas] Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Precedent coming to Straight Talk, seemingly $150 off-contract (video) Samsung Galaxy Precedent coming to Straight Talk, seemingly $150 off-contract (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 07:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’re still trying to wrap our heads around yesterday’s sounding of what will most likely be the death knell for webOS. The fine folks over at The Next Web have offered some insight, and it seems that hardware was the problem. It’s no secret that the TouchPad was released with a single-core chip in an age of dual-core tablets and super phones. As we noted in our review , the device simply couldn’t keep up with the competition. According to TNW’s sources, developers actually managed to port webOS over to the iPad 2 for testing purposes, and it ran “over twice as fast.” It’s not terribly surprising that Apple’s dual-core A5 chip was able to outpace the single 1.2GHz core found inside the TouchPad, but It may seem strange that the 1.2GHz chip inside the TouchPad was so easily outclassed by the slower clocked A5, but Apple’s chip is sporting faster Cortex-A9 architecture, while HP relied on Qualcomm’s slower A8-based Snapdragon. It seems that the hardware constraints were ultimately what did in the Linux-based mobile OS. Update : This article incorrectly stated that the TouchPad shipped with a single-core processor. It was in fact a dual-core Snapdragon APQ8060 . Was webOS tested on an iPad, HP done in by its slower hardware? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 08:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The US Postal Service just honored the IBM Selectric typewriter and some other icons of American design with their own postage stamps last month , and now Canada Post has gotten in on the act to recognize four key Canadian inventions. That includes the pacemaker, the electric oven, the electric wheelchair and one that’s considerably more recent: the BlackBerry. A bit of an ironic choice, perhaps, considering that it could also be seen as contributing to the decline of the postage stamp itself, but Canada Post acknowledges that the “invention freed information workers from their desks and changed the way the world communicates.” The company may be facing some tough times these days, but it’s hard to argue with that. Canada Post issues BlackBerry stamp, for your less urgent BBMs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We here at Engadget Mobile tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol’ Federal Communications Commission’s site. Since we couldn’t possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there, we’ve gathered up all the raw info you may want (but probably don’t need). Enjoy! Phones Read – Pantech P9060 Read – HTC PH85110 Read – Huawei U5300 Read – Huawei G6609 Read – Huawei G7300 Read – Huawei C5630 Read – LG C395 Read – LG 910G Read – LG P690B Read – RIM RDC70UW Read – Motorola XT531 (Fire XT) Peripherals Read – Huawei E397 FCC Fridays: August 19, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Are you one of the few out there who thought Latitude was, like, totally awesome, but your heart lies with the boys at Redmond? Well, rejoice Bing fans, because We’re In is the location-based social network you’ve been waiting for. At its most basic, the app lets you share your location with friends, find contacts on a map, and update your status — great for seeing who is around and organizing outings. But, We’re In has one unique feature that’s actually quite ingenious, location sharing is time limited. You choose who to share GPS data with and for how long. Once the invite expires — poof! No more tracking. A few more details and the download link can be found at the source. We’re In ushers Bing into the location-based social networking game originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 04:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Hangout video sharing is one of Google+’s more appealing features — not that we use it often, but when it comes to things to do in an online social gathering, watching YouTube clips would certainly rank near the top. Now you can launch Hangouts directly from YouTube, rather than heading over to Google+ and pasting in a link. Sure, it’s a simple tweak that probably took less than an hour to code, but it’s a clever addition nonetheless. YouTube adds Google+ Hangout button, lets you share videos with a click originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Apple, Microsoft meet with Turkish minister, may bid to supply 15 million tablets to schools
August 19, 2011 No Comment
When it comes to the economy, things appear to be pretty shaky in the land of feta and olive oil, but at least Greece’s neighbor to the east is ready to spend, considering a very ambitious (and costly) investment in its education system. Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan just completed a tour through Seattle and Silicon Valley, making stops to meet with executives at Apple , Intel and Microsoft along the way. Caglayan’s stateside mission was to discuss Turkey’s FATIH Project, which somehow stands for “Movement of Enhancing Opportunities and Improving Technology” and aims to equip 15 million students with tablets within the next four years. The official seems to have left with a positive impression, telling the Turkish Weekly that “upon agreement, Microsoft teams will come to Turkey to cooperate with Turkish firms on the project.” He went on to say that Apple executives expressed interest in having iPhone and iPad accessories manufactured in Turkey as well. Doesn’t exactly sound like a firm commitment from either company, but 15 million tablets would be nothing to sneeze at, so we’d be surprised if the tablet makers didn’t end up making formal bids. With South Korea and now Turkey making commitments to improving education, perhaps we’ll see a similar plan hit stateside soon? Apple, Microsoft meet with Turkish minister, may bid to supply 15 million tablets to schools originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 01:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Sometimes, you just can’t handle it all. There is so much to learn about consumer electronics every week that you simply can’t handle the stress. Don’t despair: we, The Engadget Podcasters, are here to help. Let us do the tough work of digesting acquisitions, spinoffs, Grids, Xiaomiphones, and a pocketful of BlackBerrys while you lay on the chaise and have grapes fed to you by your loved ones…or whatever it is you people do to relax these days. Just make sure to listen, let the news wash over you, and feel the knots in your neck and back go the way of the TouchPad. Host: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater Guests: Dana Wollman, Josh Fruhlinger Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: S&M 00:02:30 – Editorial: Engadget on the death of HP’s webOS devices 00:03:38 – HP may spin off PC business, shift focus to software and services 00:05:10 – HP will ‘discontinue operations for webOS devices’, may spin off Personal Systems Group 00:22:55 – Google acquiring Motorola Mobility 00:28:45 – Verizon embraces Google’s Moto Mobility deal, hopes for an end to patent disputes 00:38:30 – TabCo reveals itself as Fusion Garage, unveils Grid 10 tablet and Grid 4 smartphone (update) 00:41:25 – Fusion Garage Grid 10 tablet and Grid 4 smartphone hands-on 00:46:48 – The Engadget Interview: Fusion Garage’s Chandra Rathakrishnan 00:53:11 – BlackBerry Bold 9930 review 00:55:25 – BlackBerry Torch 9850 review 00:56:30 – BlackBerry Torch 9810 review 00:58:14 – Xiaomi Phone hands-on (updated with video) 01:02:07 – Motorola Photon 4G review 01:02:58 – The NYC Engadget Reader Meetup is less than two weeks away! 01:04:43 – The Engadget Show returns Friday, August 19th — win a ticket to the taping! 01:09:28 – Listener questions Hear the podcast Subscribe to the podcast [ iTunes ] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [ RSS MP3 ] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [ RSS AAC ] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [ Zune ] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) Contact the podcast Send your questions to @tim_stevens . Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005) E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot com Twitter: @tim_stevens , @bheater , @fruhlinger , @danawollman Filed under: Podcasts Engadget Podcast 253 – 08.19.2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Mobiado’s Grand Touch phones ditch the Nexus S plastic for a precious metal finish
August 19, 2011 No Comment
Nothing quite screams money to burn like last year’s tech gilded in pricey, CNC-machined metals. Purveyor of mobile extravagance, Mobiado , has recently rolled out the red carpet for two new additions to its Grand Line — the Grand Touch and Grand Touch GCB. These high-end exercises in wireless hauteur are merely gussied up versions of Samsung’s Nexus S , sporting the same ol’ 1GHz Hummingbird processor, 16GB of storage, 512MB RAM, 4-inch Super LCD display and front-facing VGA / 5 megapixel rear camera. Available in either anodized aluminum or solid brass with gold plating (take a guess which is costlier), the sapphire crystal-backed duo comes unlocked with quad-band GSM, and tri-band UMTS / HSDPA radios, so you can stay connected aboard that yacht in St. Tropez. Mobiado’s Grand Touch phones ditch the Nexus S plastic for a precious metal finish originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 23:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The last time we spoke with Stephen DeWitt, the head of HP’s webOS global business unit was on the defensive about the TouchPad. In spite of — or perhaps because of — the anticipation of the device, the first webOS tablet received a lukewarm reception at hands of reviewers. DeWitt vigorously defended the slate against the critics, suggesting that technology writers had been approaching the product the wrong way. A lot has happened since that conversation, of course, including reports of unmoved stock and, more significantly, yesterday’s news that HP would effectively be discontinuing production on its webOS devices, the TouchPad included. There’s been a good deal of confusion around precisely what yesterday’s announcement means for both the company and the mobile operating system that it picked up with its purchase of Palm back in April of last year. In spite of his understandably packed schedule, DeWitt sat down with us to set the record straight and shed some light on the future of webOS — a future both he and the company remain rather optimistic about. Read on for the full interview. Continue reading The Engadget Interview: HP’s Stephen DeWitt discusses the state of webOS The Engadget Interview: HP’s Stephen DeWitt discusses the state of webOS originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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