This one’s only a concept so don’t get your hopes up, but we’re loving the design here, called the Flip from designer Kristian Ulrich Larsen. It’s a triple-display handset running stock Android that pops out like a tent, collapses into a standard (if curved) slate, and even folds out like a little book. Each screen is said to be Super AMOLED hiding behind Gorilla Glass , with steel mesh acting as hinges — and there’s a full QWERTY keyboard somewhere in there too. Is it magic? No, it’s just a render, but we’re hoping that something like this becomes rather more physical in the not too distant future. Until then, enjoy the dreamy video after the break. Gallery: Flip concept phone Continue reading Triple-display Flip phone powers our dreams with Android (video) Triple-display Flip phone powers our dreams with Android (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Motorola Droid X gets 1.2GHz software overclock for China, we feel slighted too
January 20, 2011 No Comment
For years foreign nations have received better and faster cars than America but, finally, we thought we’d at least received smartphone parity. Not for Motorola , who is bringing its 4.3-inch Droid X slab to China with one major tweak: a processor running at 1.2GHz. That’s a 20 percent boost over its cycles in domestic form despite having the same TI ticker humming away in there. Now, that’s not to say there aren’t ways to unofficially overclock your X to 1.2GHz — and beyond — but those of us who prefer staying stock are left to wonder why, and to hope for an equivalent update on these shores. Futile hopes, these. Motorola Droid X gets 1.2GHz software overclock for China, we feel slighted too originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Like the Sony A560 DSLR but need a few million more pixels at your disposal? That’s basically what you get with the A580 , a successor to the A550 and doing basically everything the A560 does — but with a 16.2 megapixel sensor. So it sports 1080i recording, a 3-inch tilting LCD, and 7fps burst shooting, but can’t match the continuous autofocus of the funky A55 and its mystical, magical, translucent mirror and overheating sensor . Overall performance and image quality are said to be good, with minimal noise up to ISO 1600 and fancy modes like HDR built in. All yours for about $899. Sony A580 reviewed: 16.2 megapixels of mid-range DSLR goodness originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Kongregate app pulled from Android Marketplace, CEO hopes it’s just a misunderstanding
January 20, 2011 No Comment
We’ve heard of apps getting 187′d from the iTunes App Store ad nauseum, but Google’s Android Marketplace ? That’s pretty novel. In what is probably the most high profile bait-and-switch since the mobile platform’s launch, Kongregate found its eponymous software pulled on the very same day it came out. As CEO Jim Greer tells Joystiq , the app was pulled due to the “claim you can’t use their app store to distribute another app store.” Which is all well and good until you realize that what Kongregate the app does is simply serve as a portal for Kongregrate the mobile site — Greer says it’s the same experience as visiting m.kongregate.com to play its free Flash games — with the option for offline mode. “It’s all essentially cached content delivered in a browser,” he said, “which to me is just bizarre that that would be considered an ‘app store.’” In fact, as Greer notes, Android’s rule of thumb here for disallowing Kongregate could also apply to popular apps like Amazon’s Kindle. The Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement says, “you may not use the Market to distribute or make available any Product whose primary purpose is to facilitate the distribution of Products outside of the Market,” with Product defined broadly as “Software, content and digital materials created for Devices in accordance with the Android SDK and distributed via the Market.” Greer also says a number of people in Google had seen it previously and liked the app (not the ones who ultimately pulled it, mind you), and he hopes this is all some grand misunderstanding. We hope so, too — that, or Google presents its own compelling version of events and we’re left deliberating to ourselves. In the meantime, the app is still available for side loading care of Kongregate’s website. Nothing like a backup plan, eh? Kongregate app pulled from Android Marketplace, CEO hopes it’s just a misunderstanding originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 22:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Some careful digging in the iOS 4.3 beta has revealed an intriguing new string intended for the iPad’s Settings menu. As you can see above, users will be able to toggle a new auto-unlocking feature on their iPad, which would respond to closing and opening of the slate’s cover (or case , or sleeve , or whatever ). Though the iPad already has an ambient light sensor, the one true way to make this functionality work is by employing a good old proximity sensor, so we can probably pencil that into our ever-expanding list of iPad 2 attributes . Who’d have thought there were so many ways to improve on a magical revolution , eh? [Thanks, Mike] Next-gen iPad may come with proximity sensor, iOS 4.3 beta reveals originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 22:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Google Voice now lets you port your own phone number (update: option disappears)
January 20, 2011 No Comment
We’d be lying if we said we hadn’t been waiting on this feature since the service’s debut. As one reader just notified us (and verified by a number of staffers), Google Voice now lets you port your own phone number into its system — as in, that 10-digit hometown relic you’ve been holding onto as long as you’ve carried a handset can now live in the cloud and grant you freedom to start afresh / forward to your many on-hand devices. Check under phone setting to see if “change / port” is now an option. The cost of porting is $20 and, as you may guess, it’ll terminate your current service plan and probably prompt the carrier in question to charge applicable early termination fees, but that’s pittance for saving your old line for the indefinite future. You know, just in case your seventh grade crush gets the nerve to call and say, “sorry.” Of course he / she will, just give it time. Update: Google just pinged us to note this feature is still being tested and may not be available to everyone. “We’re continually testing new features to enhance the user experience. For a limited amount of time, we’re making the Google Voice number porting process available to users. We don’t have any additional details to share at this time, but plan to offer this feature to all users in the near future.” Update 2: Ninja vanish! Looks like the option to port is gone — for now, at least. Just keep an eye on your settings pane, it’s bound to resurface sooner or later. Google Voice now lets you port your own phone number (update: option disappears) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …iPhone rumor two-pack: multitasking gestures and MobileMe Photo Streams? (Update: those pics are real)
January 20, 2011 No Comment
Looks like the iPad might not have an exclusive on those new “multitasking” gestures unearthed in the latest iOS 4.3 beta, because BGR ‘s got some shots up of an purported internal build that seem to indicate Cupertino intends to push them down to the iPhone line as well. Now, there are a couple of obvious red flags here — using “four or five fingers” sounds pretty unreasonable for a 3.5-inch display, though it’d certainly tie in with recent rumors that Apple’s turning sour on the physical Home button and might indicate that the complete redesign we’re hearing about could include a slightly larger display. Of course, it could also indicate that this is really early software with the wrong (read: iPad) wording — but at any rate, we could definitely see the benefit of, say, a two-finger gesture to swipe between apps. Now, on to part two: 9to5 Mac seems to have unearthed traces in the iOS 4.3 beta of a new feature called “Photo Streams” that seems to be — you guessed it — a way to share continuous streams of photos with friends you approve, presumably through MobileMe (which would fit in nicely with the Find my Friends stuff). Alone, that’s not worth $99 a year — plenty of other services offer similar functionality — but we wouldn’t be surprised if this were bundled in with a bunch of MobileMe refreshes this year. Update: We just received an interesting tidbit of information on the above pic (and others that BGR has its hands on). According to sources, after the iPhone 4 barroom debacle, Apple made significant changes to how it keeps track of — and identifies to third parties — its devices. Namely, the company began adding clauses to screens on the phones which read “Confidential and Proprietary, if found, please contact…” followed by a 408 number (that’s Cupertino, of course). This prevents any misunderstanding from parties who may come across these devices. So what does it all mean? Well, not much, save that it seems these photos we’re viewing are in fact the real deal… which means gestures may be headed to your iPhone. Intrigue! iPhone rumor two-pack: multitasking gestures and MobileMe Photo Streams? (Update: those pics are real) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Samsung’s got a reputation for building crazy awesome display technologies , and it just added another one to the stack — with the buyout of Philips-spinoff Liquavista this December, it’s gained quite the foothold in electrowetting . In case you’re not familiar, electrowetting has been repeatedly pitched to us as pretty much the Holy Grail of displays : flexible, colorful, unbreakable, outdoor-readable e-paper screens with high refresh rates and low-power consumption that can be manufactured on existing assembly lines. We’ll have to see if the theories equate to meaningful products, but we imagine ownership by Samsung can’t hurt one bit, especially as the company says it will “expand its leadership in next generation display technologies by pioneering the application of electrowetting in e-Paper and transparent displays.” Sounds like a commitment to us. PR after the break. Continue reading Samsung buys Liquavista, dives headfirst into electrowetting displays Samsung buys Liquavista, dives headfirst into electrowetting displays originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Our subsidized Symbian superphone dreams remain squashed, but it looks like we might have a different party to blame — the Wall Street Journal ‘s anonymous sources say it was Nokia itself who decided to pull plans to launch the X7 exclusively on AT&T. Originally, the phone would would have waved the white globe banner at Mobile World Congress next month, but Nokia reportedly decided that AT&T didn’t have its back, and wouldn’t provide sufficient marketing support — and cheap enough subsidized prices — to make it worth the company’s while. If you simply must have the handset and live in the US, though, we’re sure you’ll still find a way. It’s only a matter of time before Nokia launches in countries more willing to play ball… and unlocked models appear on eBay. WSJ: Nokia X7 canceled for AT&T, but at Espoo’s behest originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Xbox 360 mandatory update restores boot to disc, detains Call of Duty pirates for a tad
January 20, 2011 No Comment
The story of the Trojan Horse must be a favorite among video game console manufacturers, because software updates these days often come with more than bargained for — today, Microsoft issued a mandatory Xbox 360 update, reportedly for a single bugfix, but which seems to have coincidentally halted scores of pirates and hackers from playing Call of Duty : Black Ops and Modern Warfare 2 on the console. Members of the Xbox-Scene forums noted the update was taking suspiciously long to download, discovered that backup copies of these games ceased to work, and presently believe that Microsoft included a patch for these two games to enable an anti-piracy feature that specifically targets burned copies. What does the mandatory update do for you if you’re not part of the hacking scene? It merely enables the console to automatically boot a pre-inserted game when you power it on, a feature that was accidentally disabled in November . [Thanks, Brian] Xbox 360 mandatory update restores boot to disc, detains Call of Duty pirates for a tad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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