From the front it looks like yet another plain smartphone — dark, nondescript, and maybe a little like an iPhone 4 that’s had its right-most extent sliced off. Pick it up, though, and you realize this little thing isn’t so nondescript. In fact, it feels oddly substantial, with a strange bevel cutting around the edge and a curious amount of heft. And then you flip it open. Suddenly it’s a little tablet, two screens forming one 6-inch slate bisected by a few millimeters of bezel. Shades of the Echo ? Sure, but this is actually a very different device to hold, and a very different device to use. The software customizations built over Android 2.3, the bezel gestures, the proper multitasking, all make this into a unique device that feels incredibly familiar yet altogether different. It’s a prototype device from Imerj and Frog Design , something that’s months away from production and hasn’t even been blessed with a model designation more specific than “2-in-1 smartpad.” So, is this poncho-clad Phone with No Name a legitimate threat to the established families of devices that own our little wireless San Miguel? Or, will it ride straight off into a sunset of obscurity when it launches? Read on to find out. Gallery: 2-in-1 smartpad prototype from Imerj and Frog Design Continue reading Prototype dual-screened 2-in-1 Android smartpad from Imerj preview Prototype dual-screened 2-in-1 Android smartpad from Imerj preview originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Just as Viacom took a break from courtroom battles over Time Warner Cable’s iPad app the media giant has filed a lawsuit against Cablevision, claiming the Optimum for iPad app does not have the right to stream its channels. Viacom wants a new agreement before it sees its content appear on new screens , while Cablevision believes the delivery method it uses to get content to the app makes it the same as any cable box in a customer’s house. We’ll have a look at the actual lawsuit in a moment, check after the break for a quick statement from Viacom about why it’s going this route. Continue reading Viacom sues Cablevision over its TV-streaming Optimum for iPad app Viacom sues Cablevision over its TV-streaming Optimum for iPad app originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Archos intros 80 GB and 101 G9 Android 3.1 tablets: 1.5GHz CPU, 250GB HDD, 3G-ready
June 23, 2011 No Comment
Angling for a new Android 3.1 tablet, are ya? If so, Archos has a new pair emerging from Paris today, the 80 G9 and 101 G9. Predictably, the biggest differentiator between the two is the screen size, with the former offering an 8-inch panel with a 1024 x 768 screen resolution and the latter stepping up to a 10.1-incher (1280 x 800). Both of ‘em are proudly using Seagate’s 7mm Momentus Thin in order to scale to 250GB, but of course, only time will tell how a power-hungry HDD will do in tablet form factor. Under the hood, you’ll find a dual-core OMAP 4 processor (1.5GHz ARM Cortex A9), support for Flash, access to the Android Market and a full-size USB port — one that’s good for accepting the outfit’s new G9 3G WWAN stick ($49). You’ll also get an HDMI output, support for 1080p playback and a pay-as-you-go option with the aforesaid 3G dongle. The duo is scheduled to go on sale at the end of September (you know, just a month or two before Ice Cream Sandwich makes Honeycomb look like old hat), with the 80 G9 going for $279 and the 101 G9 for $349. Don’t ever say Archos’ accountants didn’t look out for you . Gallery: Archos 80 G9 and Archos 101 G9 press images Archos intros 80 GB and 101 G9 Android 3.1 tablets: 1.5GHz CPU, 250GB HDD, 3G-ready originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Tokyoflash resurrects readable Rogue watch with combo LCD/LED display (video)
June 23, 2011 No Comment
Tokyoflash is notorious for selling geek-friendly and borderline indecipherable timepieces but, not every watch the company hawks is unreadable. One of its more easily interpreted wrist clocks, the Rogue, has been resurrected with an always-on LCD display (a rarity from the shop) and a brightly colored LED backlight in your choice of red, green, blue, or orange. Like the RPM , the Rogue SR2 tells time with a series of unnumbered, inner and outer rings that represent hours and minutes — all you need to do is spot the gaps. Sure, it requires you fire a few more synapses than that cheap digital Casio you’ve been wearing, but think of it as mental exercise — it’s like wearing Brain Age on your wrist. You can order one now for $179 at the source, and don’t forget to head after the break for one more photo and a video demonstration. Continue reading Tokyoflash resurrects readable Rogue watch with combo LCD/LED display (video) Tokyoflash resurrects readable Rogue watch with combo LCD/LED display (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Tokyoflash resurrects readable Rogue watch with combo LCD/LED display (video)
June 23, 2011 No Comment
Tokyoflash is notorious for selling geek-friendly and borderline indecipherable timepieces but, not every watch the company hawks is unreadable. One of its more easily interpreted wrist clocks, the Rogue, has been resurrected with an always-on LCD display (a rarity from the shop) and a brightly colored LED backlight in your choice of red, green, blue, or orange. Like the RPM , the Rogue SR2 tells time with a series of unnumbered, inner and outer rings that represent hours and minutes — all you need to do is spot the gaps. Sure, it requires you fire a few more synapses than that cheap digital Casio you’ve been wearing, but think of it as mental exercise — it’s like wearing Brain Age on your wrist. You can order one now for $179 at the source, and don’t forget to head after the break for one more photo and a video demonstration. Continue reading Tokyoflash resurrects readable Rogue watch with combo LCD/LED display (video) Tokyoflash resurrects readable Rogue watch with combo LCD/LED display (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Nothing livens the day like a blurry screen grab of some Javascript, especially when it hints at the ghostly form of a social networking tool that doesn’t officially exist. The code was spotted hiding in plain sight at Google Profiles by Austrian blogger Florian Rohrweck, who fortunately enjoys browsing computer-speak more than playing in the park. Rohrweck noticed the word “circles” used repeatedly in the context of people adding and maintaining groups of contacts, and made the connection to the Google Circles social networking platform that was feverishly rumored and then vehemently denied earlier this year (a saga fully recapped at the More Coverage link). It’s impossible to know whether these few lines of code represent a forthcoming service, another social layer on top of existing services, or just pure experimentation on the part of Google devs. In any case, the circular references have apparently now been zapped, leaving us with nothing more than that screen grab — oh yeah, and Facebook . Google code reveals inner Circles, a social secret weapon? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Verbalizer: the open-source wireless microphone of your Arduino-loving dreams
June 23, 2011 No Comment
Google’s Voice Search for desktop is nifty and all, but what it’s really been lacking is a worthy way to trigger it into action. The Verbalizer is an open-source dev board made specifically to be used with the search giant’s new tools from up to ten meters away. This microphone-shaped piece of circuitry was made with Arduino compatibility in mind, which means that voice search is just the beginning. The company (who happens to be the same folks behind the brilliant Instaprint ) will be distributing schematics and source code through its website, and promises to give away a “limited run” of kits for free in a drawing starting today. Head on over to the source link if you feel like testing your luck, but not before checking after the break for one more shot of these mini masterpieces on display as well as the nitty gritty PR. Continue reading Verbalizer: the open-source wireless microphone of your Arduino-loving dreams Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Verbalizer: the open-source wireless microphone of your Arduino-loving dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Not so long ago, we were ready to believe that this plastic EV might stand a fighting chance thanks to its local charm and initial $28,000 price tag. But then the price soared , sales failed to pick up, and now it appears the Norwegian maker of the Think City couldn’t cling on any longer. Think Global has filed for bankruptcy and will be liquidated in an attempt to pay off its creditors, including US battery producer and investor Ener1, which is making a $33 million charge on the company’s assets. It’s sad to see any such enterprise fail, but Think Global might one day be seen as a victim of the success of the EV industry, which is beginning to see better competition and lower prices . EV maker Think Global files for bankruptcy after poor US sales originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Toyota premiers smart charging G-Stations in Japan, world instantly jealous
June 23, 2011 No Comment
Recharging tired EVs and plug-in hybrids in Japan just got a little more exciting thanks to Toyota ‘s upcoming G-Station charger, which relies on contact-less smart-cards to identify vehicles and owners. Toyota’s Windows Azure-powered Smart Center drives the machines, which allows users to connect to the internet and use smartphone apps to find chargers, receive notifications, and check usage history. The G-Station will be coming this July in two flavors, creatively named Type A for the standard and Type B for the more advanced model. Pricing for the aforementioned units will be 280,000 yen ($3,469 USD) and 448,000 yen ($5,549 USD) respectively. Toyota is expecting to sell around 3,000 units by the end of 2012, making these stations available to its retail car dealers, shopping malls and restaurants. Soon the outside of pachinko parlors will be just as electric as the inside. Toyota premiers smart charging G-Stations in Japan, world instantly jealous originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Pioneer’s AppRadio delivers iPhone integration, automotive and audio bliss for $400
June 23, 2011 No Comment
We knew Pioneer’s AppRadio car stereo was coming to cozy up with our iPhones, but we didn’t know how much its iOS integration capabilities would cost, until now. Turns out 400 bucks buys you one, and it’s picked up some new capabilities since we got handsy with the device last month. In addition to letting you listen to tunes stored on your iPhone, access Google Maps, and make calls, the AppRadio now has access to your iPhone’s contacts, calendar, videos, and photos as well. Unfortunately, there’s still only four other apps (Rdio, Pandora, MotionX-GPS Drive, and INRIX ) available, though Pioneer says more are coming. With a name like AppRadio they ought to get here soon, as in immediately . Peep the PR after the break for the full monty. Continue reading Pioneer’s AppRadio delivers iPhone integration, automotive and audio bliss for $400 Pioneer’s AppRadio delivers iPhone integration, automotive and audio bliss for $400 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 07:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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