Five months is a very long time to wait for the large-handed smartphone addict, but finally there is some good news, everybody! We previewed Acer’s massive 4.8-inch phone / tablet hybrid back in February and it looked like it would arrive in the U.S. sometime in April. It’s now August and and according to Acer’s Facebook page, we still have a month to wait. The phoneblet (Yes, there’s already a name) retains the same specs we heard about in February: Snapdragon processor, twin cameras and Android 2.3 Gingerbread . When it finally does arrive, it’ll cost Europeans €499 — around $710. [Thanks, Christof] Acer Iconia Smart arrives in September, doesn’t apologize for being late originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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There’s a lot to be said for timing. Earlier today, HP quietly rolled a permanent price drop on the first generation TouchPad, and now it seems that the 4G version of the webOS slate has paid a visit to the folks at the FCC. The filing has “TouchPad” written all over it — literally — plus a few labels sporting “HSPA+ AT&T.” Continue reading HP TouchPad 4G hits FCC on the way to AT&T HP TouchPad 4G hits FCC on the way to AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Rumors of international expansion seem to follow every streaming media company and Hulu has finally revealed plans to launch in Japan later this year. There’s not many details, but it appears the free side is staying home in favor of a Hulu Plus -only approach with plans to bring “premium feature films and TV shows” to PCs, TVs, phones and tablets. That it’s also avoiding a direct confrontation with Netflix across borders is also notable, as the other major all you can eat video service focuses on Latin America and Europe . Interested parties can sign up for updates at Hulu.jp, but how many yen they may have to spend is as much of a mystery as who is going to be Hulu’s lucky new owner . Hulu goes international, will launch in Japan later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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See that bloke? That’s Darren Murph . Well, a digital representation of the human version, anyway. That image was captured in two painless seconds at the hands of 3D3 Solutions, which was on-hand here at SIGGRAPH to demonstrate its newest FlexScan setups. The rig that snapped our face rings up at around $10,000, and relies on a Canon DSLR (strictly for capturing textures), a projector and a secondary camera. As you’ve likely picked up on, this is hardly designed for average DIYers, but these solutions are also far more detailed and flexible than using Microsoft’s Kinect . We’re told that the company recently started to support Nikon cameras as well, and for those who’d prefer to use their existing cameras / PJs, a hobbyist-centric software package will allow you to do just that. The only problem? Figuring out where the $2,700 (for software) is going to come from. Head on past the break for a demonstration vid, or peruse the gallery below if you’re feeling extra creepy. Gallery: 3D3 Solutions scans our face in two seconds flat at SIGGRAPH Continue reading Visualized: 3D3 Solutions scans our face in two seconds flat Visualized: 3D3 Solutions scans our face in two seconds flat originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We hate to break it to you, dear readers, but we’re in the throes of back to school season. In a few short weeks, lots of wide-eyed freshmen will be setting up their dorm rooms and begging off name games during orientation, which means they (and their generous parents) are stocking up on gear now. We’ve been testing a bunch of budget and mid-range laptops aimed at young folk and pretty much any other mainstream consumer who’d happily forgo some bells and whistles in exchange for a lower price. So why not start with a review of one of the best? Sony’s VAIO SB series is the 13-inch laptop for the kindele who can’t afford the VAIO Z , or even the slimmed-down SA series . It offers good specs for the money, a bright, matte display, a solid keyboard, long battery life and a (mostly) well-built design. And while we try not to spoil our reviews, we’ll say this: it’s one of our favorite mid-range Windows laptops, period. How much do we like the SB? Join us as we count the ways. Gallery: Sony VAIO SB Series review Continue reading Sony VAIO SB Series review Sony VAIO SB Series review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Logitech trots out another keyboard case, this time for the Galaxy Tab 10.1
August 10, 2011 No Comment
You might have noticed that accessory makers have a habit of churning out stuff for iDevices first and everything else second. Specifically, though, we’re noticing that in the world of tablets, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is fast becoming companies’ No. 2 once they’ve gotten the iPad squared away. Take Logitech, for example. The company just announced a keyboard case for Samsung’s deliciously thin slate — a near facsimile of the one it released for the iPad a few months back. To recap, this isn’t your garden-variety folio case with a keyboard and kickstand, but rather, an aluminum lid with a full ‘board lining the interior. Logitech also attempts to justify the steep $99.99 price with shortcut keys for copying and pasting and cushioned corners that offer a modicum of protection in the event of a drop. But does that make it worth it? We’ll leave that to your and your wallet. Logitech trots out another keyboard case, this time for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Welcome to Engadget’s Back to School guide ! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we’re here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we’re settling down in front of a few of our favorite HDTVs, but you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they’re added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back — at the end of the series we’ll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides — and hit up the hub page right here ! The bad news is that unless you chose your major very carefully, your assignments will not often include a directive to plop down in front of the TV for any large amount of time. The good news, however, is that you’ll probably end up doing plenty of that anyway, so whether you’re zoning out to some reality TV drama, enjoying an enlightening documentary, or playing video games in the dorm, you’ll want a nice set to watch on. Jump past the break for our recommendations, and another opportunity to enter our back to school giveaway. Simply leave a comment below to be entered to win , and head over to our giveaway page for more details. Continue reading Engadget’s back to school guide 2011: televisions Engadget’s back to school guide 2011: televisions originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Organic Motion’s OpenStage motion capture system grabs 200FPS, no backdrop required (video)
August 10, 2011 No Comment
At just under $40,000 for an eight camera setup, we’re hardly in hobbyist territory here, but Organic Motion’s new OpenStage 2.0 motion capture system could certainly make do in the average basement. Unlike a few competing solutions shown here at SIGGRAPH , this one actually has no backdrop mandate, and better still, doesn’t require you to latch a single sensor onto your subject. The magic lies within the cameras hung above — kits are sold that contain between eight and 24 cameras, and even the latter can be handled with a single workstation. Multi-person tracking ain’t no thang, and while you aren’t capturing HD footage here, the high-speed VGA capability enables up to 200 frames per second to be logged. Not surprisingly, the company’s aiming this squarely at the animation and medical realms, and should start shipping bundles as early as next month. Looking to take down Pixar? You’ll need a lot more than 40 large, but perhaps the video after the break will give you a bit of inspiration. Gallery: Organic Motion’s OpenStage motion capture system grabs 200FPS at SIGGRAPH Continue reading Organic Motion’s OpenStage motion capture system grabs 200FPS, no backdrop required (video) Organic Motion’s OpenStage motion capture system grabs 200FPS, no backdrop required (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Nintendo to release Flame Red 3DS console next month, sunglasses not included
August 10, 2011 No Comment
Better dust off your finest pair of shades, because this Flame Red Nintendo 3DS is on its way to the States. The console, which launched earlier this summer in Japan as the Red Flare , will hit stores next month (alongside the new Star Fox 64 3D game), joining a 3DS lineup that already features Cosmo Black and Aqua Blue. The company will also be releasing two new games this winter — Super Mario 3D Land in November and Mario Kart 7 in December — in the hopes of rectifying its disappointing Q2 earnings report with a strong holiday campaign. Only time will tell whether or not it has any effect on Nintendo’s bottom line, but if you’re interested in adding a touch of Santa-like cheer to your yuletide gaming season, you can grab a Flame Red console on September 9th, for $170. Find more information in the full PR, after the break. Continue reading Nintendo to release Flame Red 3DS console next month, sunglasses not included Nintendo to release Flame Red 3DS console next month, sunglasses not included originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Samsung Galaxy R officially announced for Europe and Asia, nobody surprised
August 10, 2011 No Comment
That Samsung Galaxy R we’ve heard about? Yep, it’s real. Not that it’s much of a surprise to us, considering we’ve seen leaked press renders and even a four-minute video about the device, but Samsung and NVIDIA have finally banded together to give the “mystery phone” its official blessing. Here’s the skinny: the Galaxy R will house a 1GHz Tegra 2 CPU, a 4.2-inch WVGA (800 x 480) Super Clear LCD, dual 5MP / 2MP cameras in the rear and front (respectively), and Gingerbread with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI . The phone’s already available in Sweden as the Galaxy Z , but it’s finally on its way to parts of Europe and Asia (including China). No word on if or when we can plan on seeing the R in North America, but it’s likely that its launch would be quickly obscured by its older brother, the Galaxy S II , if it made an appearance. A full press release and demo video can be found after the break for your enjoyment. Continue reading Samsung Galaxy R officially announced for Europe and Asia, nobody surprised Samsung Galaxy R officially announced for Europe and Asia, nobody surprised originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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