We just spotted it at the FCC earlier this month , and Clear customers will now soon be able to get their hands on the company’s new Clear Spot 4G Apollo mobile hotspot. Clearwire announced today that the device will be available for $99 (or leased for $6 a month) in “late July,” which should mean any day now unless our calendars are off. Built by Gemtek, the hotspot allows for up to eight simultaneous connections, and promises up to six hours of continuous use from its built-in rechargeable battery — plans to go along with it start $35 a month, with unlimited mobile data running you $45/month (with no long-term contract, of course). Press release is after the break. Continue reading Clearwire announces $99 Clear Spot 4G Apollo hotspot Clearwire announces $99 Clear Spot 4G Apollo hotspot originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Dell UltraSharp U2412M display features 1080p resolution and IPS, doesn’t cost $999
July 25, 2011 No Comment
Sure, 1080p HDTVs aren’t exactly an ultra luxury these days, but a 1920 x 1080-pixel panel on your desk? That’s a privilege often enjoyed by stock brokers, graphic designers, and those of us who know how to beat the technology ordering system at work. Luckily, Dell’s new UltraSharp U2412M isn’t ultra expensive, delivering 1080p resolution with its 24-inch LED-backlit display. It also features in-plane switching (IPS) with a wide viewing angle, a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, DisplayPort and DVI connectivity, a built-in USB hub, and height adjustability. Oh, and it retails for $399. That price tag may make you reconsider spending an extra $200 per inch for Apple’s new $999 Thunderbolt Display , though Dell’s 24-incher notably lacks a built-in webcam, and is somewhat limited in the connectivity department. Still, we like to see HD monitors that don’t cost more than many all-in-ones , and, knowing Dell, you should be able to find the U2412M for less than retail, assuming you’re willing to test your patience with that 17-inch CRT for a few more weeks. Dell UltraSharp U2412M display features 1080p resolution and IPS, doesn’t cost $999 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Jealous of Comcast customers with their 105Mbps cable hook ups or those lucky residents of the Kansas cities relishing in Google’s 1Gbps service ? Well add Londonites to the list of people that drive you to indulging in one of the seven deadly sins. Virgin Media has finally started testing its DOCSIS2-powered 1.5Gbps network in the heart of merry ol’ England. Right now it’s being enjoyed by a group of test sites around Old Street that also get a 150Mbps upload connection. Virgin claims it’s the fastest broadband in the world, which may be true if you’re not counting lab experiments . The really good news is that it’s based on the same tech already delivering 100Mbps to residents across the country so, if the trial goes well, it should be trivial to deliver these mind numbing speeds to the rest of its customers. PR after the break. Continue reading Virgin Media testing 1.5Gbps internet for lucky Londonites Virgin Media testing 1.5Gbps internet for lucky Londonites originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We bet the Britney Spears’ classic Email My Heart would take great offense (and potential intellectual property beef) to Ivan Cash’s startup, Snail Mail My Email. The 25-year old entrepreneur and lover of the quaint, soon-to-be anachronistic form of communication quit his advertising day job in favor of an out-of-pocket, handwritten transcription service. That’s right, Cash and his global network of volunteers painstakingly re-create your digital salvos with the flourish of awkward and potentially illegible penmanship for free . Before you rush to overwhelm his servers with epic, misspelled ravings, pay close attention to that 100 word limit — do-gooders’ hands get tired, ya know. It’s a quirky approach to letting that special someone know you care, and a great way to say, “I hope while you’re reading this you’re no longer drooling or pooping in your pants.” (Their words, we swear !) Snail Mail My Email outsources your emotions to foreign hands originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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HTC is out a top executive with the departure of chief innovation officer Horace Luke. The exec has been gone for some time now, having exited at the end of April. The Taiwanese phone maker formally announced the news this week, citing “personal reasons” as the motivation behind the CIO’s exit. HTC had nothing but kind words for Luke, who had been with the company since 2006, stating that he had “nurtured a culture of innovation.” The company’s vice president of design, Scott Croyle, has stepped into the Luke’s vacant position. HTC exec leaves company for ‘personal reasons’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The latest G-Shock watch from Casio boasts the usual array of shock and water-resistant claims, and now it can add FCC acceptance to the list, having passed through that government agency’s approval process. So, why did this wristwatch hit the FCC in the first place? Well, the rugged little timekeeper is packing Bluetooth 4.0 in its bag of tricks, which lets the wearable gadget communicate with your smartphone. No word on a release date, but Casio did mention a fairly broad “some time in 2011″ window when it was first announced back in March. Here’s hoping that its FCC debut will speed the shock-filled process along. Casio’s Bluetooth 4.0 G-Shock is water and shock-resistant, FCC-approved originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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When you head to Apple’s online store to configure your MacBook Air , you’ll find options to increase processor speed or SSD capacity — depending on the model you select, of course. There’s no mention of flash drive speed, however, though it’s now clear that not all SSDs are created equal at Apple — not only when it comes to capacity, but also performance. Jonathan over at TLD discovered a fairly significant discrepancy when benchmarking both MacBook Air models over the weekend. The 128GB Samsung SSD in his 11-inch Air was able to achieve 246 MB/s write and 264 MB/s read speeds. When he switched to the 13-inch model, however, speeds dropped to 156 MB/s and 208 MB/s, respectively, using that notebook’s 128GB Toshiba SSD. We compared speeds on two generations of 13-inch models, and confirmed Jonathan’s findings. During our tests, the 256GB Samsung drive in our older model achieved 214 MB/s write and 251 MB/s read speeds, while the 128GB Toshiba drive in the new MacBook Air scored 184 MB/s and 203 MB/s during write and read tests, respectively. Overall, you’re not likely to notice a significant difference during normal usage, though it’s certainly an interesting find, nonetheless. [Thanks, Larry] Continue reading PSA: Apple using slower SSDs in some MacBook Air models (video) PSA: Apple using slower SSDs in some MacBook Air models (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …ASUS Eee Pad SL101 slides through the FCC, still misses promised May release
July 25, 2011 No Comment
Sure, it’s not unusual for gadgets to miss their shipping targets , suffering months-long delays as they jump through the varies hoops necessary before a release. Fortunately, ASUS can now check FCC approval off the Eee Pad Slider’s to do list, with the Honeycomb QWERTY tablet receiving a green light from the feds late last week. ASUS has already confirmed August availability in the UK (after previously promising a May ship date), so we can only hope that the same timeframe applies stateside as well. We’re also curious to see whether or not ASUS was able to use this unexpected delay to beef up supplies, so the Slide doesn’t suffer a hangup similar to that of its Transformer cousin. The company has yet to confirm Slider pricing in the U.S., though we imagine those details will be revealed along with a shipping date within the next few weeks. ASUS Eee Pad SL101 slides through the FCC, still misses promised May release originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Pricing for the LG Thrill 4G popped up on Radio Shack’s corporate systems a few days ago , at $80 with a two-year contract. AT&T just shared its official Thrill pricing, however, with the glasses-free 3D smartphone commanding a healthy $99 at the company’s retails stores when it ships “in the coming weeks.” That timeframe meshes nicely with the August 7th launch date that a pair of Radio Shack insiders shared with us last week, though until we receive confirmation otherwise, it’s within reason to expect that devices will begin to ship before or even after that date. Either way, it doesn’t look like you’ll need to hold out much longer for your Thrill, with only a few more days of tranquility to go before the excitement begins. AT&T confirms LG Thrill 4G pricing, release ‘in the coming weeks’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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There comes a time when that giant, corporate-issued laptop stops fitting into your lifestyle. When dragging around a Kensington roller case just won’t do. When you start to hear the siren lilt of something thinner, lighter, and maybe a bit more alluring. For years the MacBook Air has been that svelte temptress hollering your name, but it’s always been a bit too slow — all show and no go. It didn’t have the power and the longevity to make it a serious contender for your serious affections. No more. With its latest refresh, Apple has taken what was once a manilla-clad curiosity and turned it into a legitimate machine, not just a sultry looker. Good thing, too, because the death of the plastic-clad MacBook means the Air is now Apple’s entry-level portable. Weary traveler looking for a laptop that will lighten your load and, it must be said, your wallet too? This might just be it. Gallery: MacBook Air Review Continue reading MacBook Air review (mid 2011) MacBook Air review (mid 2011) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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