You may remember back at Computex we caught a very quick look at Intel’s MeeGo for tablets . Well, Intel’s landed at MWC with that very same tablet user interface, except it has done a bit of work to the underlying software and it’s finally ready to start letting the press play around with it. If you were to closely compare the design of the UI or what Intel is calling its “tablet user experience” to the one we saw back in June, you probably wouldn’t notice much of a difference in terms of aesthetics, and that’s because most of the work Intel’s been doing has been to the code and framework — it shifted it away from C++ and moved it over to QML, which is part of the Qt language. The entire OS and the individual apps (we’ll get to those, or the lack there of soon) are all built on QML, which Intel’s Mike Richmond promises will enable lots of neat UI elements. So yes, Intel’s done some important retooling on the technical and software end of things, but unfortunately, that doesn’t mean the interface is anywhere close to done yet. We got a look at the software running on an Atom-powered ExoPC , so hit the break to find out just what we are talking about. Gallery: New MeeGo Tablet User Experience hands-on at MWC 2011 Gallery: MeeGo Tablet User Experience screenshots Continue reading Intel shows off more of its MeeGo Tablet UI, still needs lots of work Intel shows off more of its MeeGo Tablet UI, still needs lots of work originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 06:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We promised to dig up ViewSonic’s dual-booting Windows 7 and Android 2.2 ViewPad 10Pro tablet when we got to Barcelona, and here we are delivering on our word. We just got a chance to check out the 10.1-inch slate and we have to say hardware-wise, we’re dealing with typical ViewSonic quality — the 1024 x 600-resolution, capacitive screen isn’t exactly high quality (horizontal viewing angles were pretty bad) and the build was mediocre at best. However, software-wise we have to say the 10Pro is pretty interesting — the Intel Atom Oak Trail -powered slab boots Windows 7 Home Premium, but is running Android 2.2 on top. Unlike the first ViewPad 10 , you don’t have to reboot the device to switch between Android and Windows as the Google OS is running as a virtualization. No word on the pricing of this one, but it should be hitting the market this May. Hit the break for a quick look at the relatively-quick Android / Windows hand-off. Gallery: ViewSonic ViewPad 10Pro Continue reading ViewSonic ViewPad 10Pro hands-on ViewSonic ViewPad 10Pro hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 06:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Glory be the LG Optimus 3D. Okay, we’ll get right to it: the Optimus 3D is kinda kitschy, but at the same time fun, inevitable on a mobile device, and still a great conversation piece. The 4.3-inch glasses-free 3D display’s effect in games, film, and even the UI is pretty convincing using the set’s applied parallax barrier technology, which is otherwise unnoticeable while the effect is off. Best bit? You can film your own 3D videos using the dual cameras on the back then watch them on your 3D set via HDMI. The Optimus is by no means a tiny set, though, still pretty comfy when held. Material choices are top notch — as we’d expect hope for in a high end device — and as you’ll see in the vid, it is plenty fast with no lag getting in the way of the little demo we had. So why not take a few minutes to admire the pics and videos (which unfortunately will be very flat for your eyes) won’t you? Gallery: LG Optimus 3D hands-on Continue reading LG Optimus 3D hands-on LG Optimus 3D hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 05:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’ve just gotten back from playing around with LG’s 8.9-inch, 3D-friendly Optimus Pad (known as the G-Slate in the US). This Android Honeycomb tablets sports a dual-core CPU inside and a dual-camera array outside, giving you both the optical and processing capabilities to produce 3D video. Its screen cannot actually play back glasses-free 3D, but if you really have to have that third dimension on the move, you’ll be able to buy a set of glasses to recreate the effect. The Optimus Pad is slim, though we couldn’t get a great feel for its ergonomics with all the wiring attached to it, has nicely curved corners, a matte black back cover that’s pleasant to the touch and seemingly durable, and an admittedly extremely glossy screen up front. We likened the Pad to the Optimus 2X in an earlier post and it carries over a lot of industrial design elements from its smartphone sibling, including the metallic strip down the middle of its rear branded with a “with Google” logo. That’s actually meaningful this time — the Optimus 2X wasn’t a stock Android installation, it was subjected to LG’s ( not entirely successful tweaks), however the Pad looks to be a straight Google Experience Device, in much the same vein as the Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, its nearest and most direct competitors. That being said, the code on the device we handled still wasn’t up to scratch on the software front, as evidenced by us managing to crash both the browser and Google Maps within a few minutes of putting down our first fingerprints on the tablet. The 3D camcorder also seems like a memory hog , we weren’t able to get it started up initially because of the number of apps that were already open (which at the time was no more than four ). Let’s remain optimistic, though, this wasn’t exactly a slate we snatched off a retail shelf and LG has time to optimize and spruce things up before shipping this thing out. We’ve got pictures for you below and a press release after the break. Video is incoming at the very fastest speed our wireless connection can carry it. Gallery: LG Optimus Pad first hands-on! Continue reading LG Optimus Pad first hands-on! LG Optimus Pad first hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 05:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Motorola Xoom gets Q2 European launch, WiFi-only and silver models now extra official
February 14, 2011 No Comment
Motorola just went official with its WiFi-only Xoom headed to Europe along side its 3G and WiFi cousin in the second quarter of 2011. Besides that little detail, it’s still the original 10.1-inch Honeycomb tablet built upon a dual-core 1GHz processor and 1280 x 800 pixel resolution display. Oh, and look at what we spotted here in Barcelona? Yup, a Xoom decked out in silver just for your viewing pleasure in the gallery below. Gallery: Motorola Xoom in silver at MWC 2011 Continue reading Motorola Xoom gets Q2 European launch, WiFi-only and silver models now extra official Motorola Xoom gets Q2 European launch, WiFi-only and silver models now extra official originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 05:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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A couple of changes for Motorola this morning. First up is a new version of Moto’s Media Link iTunes sync software. Media Link version 1.5 is available now for Mac users or March for the beige box bunch. More importantly, perhaps, is a new version of Motoblur with enhanced location, messaging, music, and gallery features. The new Connected Music service features streaming lyrics and a social aspect that lets you follow the tracks your friends are listening to. Connected Gallery unites your photos and videos with your friends’ online albums from sites like Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, and Picasa. Aloga, meanwhile, is a Motoblur-integrated location-triggered push platform that provides third-party publishers with information about your location, identity, and social relationships. The idea is to offer users non-intrusive information about places, events, or bargains for the “channels” they select. Look for the new Motoblur to arrive on “recently announced devices” like the Cliq 2 and Atrix 4G . Full detail in the press release after the break. Continue reading Motorola updates Motoblur and Media Link client for Macs and PCs Motorola updates Motoblur and Media Link client for Macs and PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 04:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Qualcomm unveils next-gen Snapdragon family, including quad-core 2.5GHz CPU
February 14, 2011 No Comment
Not one to let the name Snapdragon down, Qualcomm ‘s gone and announced a much faster generation of the processor family, with speeds up to 2.5GHz per core. The multi-core (one, two, and four) 28nm chipsets, codenamed Krait, will feature WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, and FM, support NFC and stereoscopic 3D video / photo (capture and playback), and also boast multi-mode LTE modem integration. Qualcomm claims a performance increase of 150 percent and a power consumption drop of 65 percent over current ARM-based CPU cores. Included is a new Adreno 320 GPU with support of up to four 3D cores. Samples for the dual-core MSM8960 will be avialable in second quarter this year, while single-core MSM8930 and quad-core APQ8063 (for “computing and entertainment devices” — i.e. tablets) versions are coming early 2012. The power-crazed products housing these chipsets? You’ll have to wait even longer to see those. Qualcomm unveils next-gen Snapdragon family, including quad-core 2.5GHz CPU originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 04:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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You do realize that Mobile World Congress is underway in Barcelona, right? To celebrate, Motorola just announced a Eurofied Droid Pro under the more succinct Motorola Pro moniker. The portrait QWERTY candybar features Android 2.2 running on a 1GHz processor and 3.1-inch HGVA touchscreen display. But this pup’s all business with the ability to remote wipe the device and SD card and integrated VPN, Quickoffice, and complex password support. See it in action after the break. Continue reading Motorola Pro: the Droid Pro takes a European vacation Motorola Pro: the Droid Pro takes a European vacation originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 04:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Count ‘em, because RIM has now announced four varieties of its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. As of today, we’ve got the PlayBook with WiFi + LTE and WiFi + HSPA+ models joining the previously announced PlayBook with WiFi and PlayBook with WiFi + WiMax. As such, there’s a pretty good chance that your carrier will have a 7-inch dual-core PlayBook with the QNX-based BlackBerry Tablet OS on offer at some point in the future, no matter how it chooses to define “4G.” Continue reading RIM PlayBook tablet now in delicious LTE and HSPA+ flavors RIM PlayBook tablet now in delicious LTE and HSPA+ flavors originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 03:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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What happened when Samsung’s phone division gobbled up the media player team ? We’re pretty sure you’re looking at it right now — the YP-MB2 / Galaxy Player 50 is now formally known as the Galaxy S WiFi 4.0, and it’s big bad brother the Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 is pictured immediately above. While we can’t actually tell you much about the SIM-less smartphone other than hazard guesses at front-facing camera, HDMI port, microSD card slot and (given naming conventions) a 5-inch screen, we can tell you that the 4.0-inch version of the device is now sporting Samsung’s Super Clear LCD . We’re expecting the company to unveil these any hour now in Barcelona, so keep your eyes peeled for further coverage at MWC. [Thanks, Kin-Yip] Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 looks like a new Android PMP originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 03:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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