Not that we had any reason to doubt O2 Germany’s Twitter account , but a formal press release does help ease our few concerns. The HTC 7 Pro is now official on the European carrier for the asking price of €29 down and 24 months of €22.50. If you want to rip the proverbial band-aid off faster, it’s also available for a €599 flat fee — both of those without SIM lock. The rest of the world? We imagine it’s just a matter of time before HTC offers this through its other channels. HTC 7 Pro now available on O2 Germany, €22 monthly or €599 up front originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Since we reported that the Tegra 2-based LG Optimus 2X was slated to hit Korea and Europe this month, we’ve been dying to check out its 1080p video recording capability. Lucky for us, someone in Greece has uploaded a video to YouTube that was apparently recorded on the smartphone, and the results, well, decide for yourself. While we’re impressed by the video quality (digital zoom excepted) the subject matter leaves something to be desired: a shaky camera slowly pans a port full of docked fishing boats. Sure, we’d like to see some more action, but this sample still has us excited about getting our hands on our very own Optimus 2X. HD video after the jump. Continue reading LG Optimus 2X 1080p video surfaces, captures a slow day at the docks LG Optimus 2X 1080p video surfaces, captures a slow day at the docks originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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So, AppleInsider has some new info on Apple’s successor to the A4, which we were talking up last week , and our sources say it’s spot on. Specifically, AI claims that Apple is moving to dual-core SGX543 graphics, up from the A4′s single SGX535 GPU (also known as the PowerVR 535 ). What’s particularly great about this move is that the graphical power improvement is rated at around 4X the current generation — which makes a true 4X resolution iPad “Retina Display” upgrade seem much more of a possibility. We’re also starting to see 1080p HDMI video output as a “default” spec in this year’s generation of devices, so there’s no reason Apple will want to be left out — particularly in the Apple TV — and these dual graphics cores could handle that easily. The same cast of A4 characters are to credit for this new A5 generation, including the Apple-owned Intrinsity and PA Semi , while Samsung will again do the production duties. But details aside, we’re just excited to play around with all this new horsepower when it hits — apparently the PSP 2 is rumored to use the same graphics architecture with even more cores. Isn’t Moore’s law a grand thing? More details emerge on Apple’s A5 chip for upcoming iPad 2 and iPhone 5 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s hard to believe nowadays, but in a simpler time, cellphones really were called “cell phones,” not dumbphones, smartphones, feature phones, or superphones. They bulged in your pocket — if they fit in your pocket at all, that is — and they made calls. That’s it. None of this social networking, messaging, browsing, Instagramming, Flash 10.1 nonsense. They didn’t upload 5 megapixel photos to Flickr, and they most certainly didn’t turn into wireless hotspots. Of course, those bleak days are mercifully behind us now — but as carriers around the world start to light up a promising new generation of high-speed wireless networks, things are beginning to get a little confusing. Just what is “4G,” anyway? It’s one higher than 3G, sure, but does that necessarily mean it’s better? Why are all four national carriers in the US suddenly calling their networks 4G? Is it all the same thing? Answering those questions requires that we take a take a little walk through wireless past, present, and future… but we think it’s a walk you’ll enjoy. Continue reading 2G, 3G, 4G, and everything in between: an Engadget wireless primer 2G, 3G, 4G, and everything in between: an Engadget wireless primer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s crazy to think we’ve been writing about and waiting for AMD’s Fusion platform for close to five years now. Believe it or not, it was back in 2006 that the chipmaker first started talking about its “new class of x86 processors” and the idea of an Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) — a chip that would combine a CPU and a fairly powerful ATI GPU onto the same die. The company promised to have the silicon ready in two years’ time, but when 2008 rolled around , it was clear that all it was prepared to release was a series of roadmap slides . Now, don’t get us wrong, those charts and graphs made us pretty giddy about the superior graphics and improved battery life that AMD was promising to bring to affordable ultraportables, but then a year later, when AMD still had only PowerPoint slides to show for itself, we started to think “Fusion” was no more than a drunken fantasy. And it only got worse — from 2009 to mid-2010 the company continued to talk up its never-before-seen and highly-delayed chips. (Just a read through the Engadget archives from that period pretty much illustrates that we had lost hope and started to think the chips would never see the light of day.) But then in June of 2010 the unthinkable happened — AMD finally demoed its first Fusion Bobcat cores, and proved, at least from afar, that the soon-to-arrive ultrathin laptop solution would chew through Aliens vs. Predator , support DirectX 11, and use a lot less power than its previous platforms. It seemed almost too good to be true — AMD looked ready to stick to its timing and deliver the first Fusion Brazos platform by early 2011. So, what the heck does Fusion and AMD’s history of promises about the platform have to do with HP’s new Pavilion dm1z ? Almost everything. HP’s newest 11.6-inch not-quite-a-netbook (or a notbook as we like to call it) is the first Fusion system to hit the market, and with a dual-core 1.6GHz E350 Zacate processor and AMD Radeon HD 6310 GPU on the same chip it promises… well, everything AMD has promised for so long. According to HP and AMD, the system should last for over nine hours on a charge, play full 1080p content, and perhaps more importantly, not fry our laps as some previous AMD Neo-powered systems have done. For $450, it sounds like a true no-sacrifice system, but is it? Has AMD finally delivered an Intel Atom- / ULV-killer and has HP put it in a no-fuss chassis? We’ve spent the last week putting this system through the paces — hit the break to find out if it has been worth the wait! Gallery: HP Pavilion dm1z review Continue reading HP Pavilion dm1z (with AMD Fusion) review HP Pavilion dm1z (with AMD Fusion) review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 12:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …ADAC crash tests first production Mitsubishi i-MiEV, it makes a mess but scores well
January 17, 2011 No Comment
Looks like Volvo’s C30 Electric isn’t the only EV paying a heavy price for wanting to be run on the roads. Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV , one of the first modern full-bore electric autos to be promised to hit US shores (but certainly not the first to make it), has just been subjected to crash testing by the ADAC, Europe’s largest motorist club. The car went through both 40mph frontal and rear offset impacts, similar to the sort used by our own humble NHTSA. The car didn’t score perfect marks, with some deformation in the footwell, but there were no major problems noted and, most importantly, the electrical systems safety cut automatically upon impact. This means no surprise electrocutions for anyone on the inside or out, which is a good thing — unless you’re a mutant lizard who enjoys such things. Update : We’ve updated the source link to the ADAC site, where you can see some additional images and even video of the crash. You’ll need to exit the Google Translation window to view them, though. ADAC crash tests first production Mitsubishi i-MiEV, it makes a mess but scores well originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Wi-LAN reaches settlement with Intel over patent dispute, set to receive a ‘significant amount’
January 17, 2011 No Comment
It’s hard to know how to feel about this one, whether it’s a case of a patent troll getting a delicious kickback or the little guy slaying the evil, giant, patent-infringing corporation. Whichever interpretation you choose, know that Wi-LAN has apparently been victorious in its long-running dispute with Intel , not actually winning but, according to Chief Executive Jim Skippen, receiving a “significant” settlement due to apparent infringements of the company’s various wireless-related patents. There are apparently 16 other defenders left since Wi-LAN sued the world, but Intel throwing up its hands is not a good sign for the others. Or, maybe Intel just decided its legal fees are too high and is settling everything it can . Wi-LAN reaches settlement with Intel over patent dispute, set to receive a ‘significant amount’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Fujifilm FinePix X100 pre-orders begin, retro beauty is yours for $1,200
January 17, 2011 No Comment
We’ve yet to snap a single photograph with Fujifilm’s FinePix X100 , but we don’t let little things like substantive testing get in the way of love — it’s destiny that we and this gorgeous camera be together, no matter the cost. Of course, considering that cost is presently $1,200 at Adorama, where the 12.3 megapixel APS-C shooter just appeared for pre-sales, you may not feel the same way. That’s just fine. You’ll probably have until March to longingly gaze upon that F2 Fujinon lens, hybrid viewfinder and gorgeous magnesium curves before you make up your troubled mind. Fujifilm FinePix X100 pre-orders begin, retro beauty is yours for $1,200 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’ve seen fancy augmented reality projection before, but we’ve rarely been able to take it home — now, it seems Microsoft’s hack-friendly Kinect can bring the same trick to the consumer realm. Elliot Woods took the idea that Kinect can map a three-dimensional space and twisted it to his own devious ends — that is, throwing traditional Street Fighter fireball blasts, complete with the sound effect. What’s impressive here, though, isn’t the size of his hadouken , but rather the light it’s made of — each is a virtual dynamic light source casting light on the room’s real objects to create virtual shadows on the surfaces that stick out. Sounds lovely, but if you can’t wrap your head around all that, you’ll find all the hot fireball action you need in the video after the break at roughly the five minute mark. Continue reading Kinect + projector = augmented reality fireballs (video) Kinect + projector = augmented reality fireballs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Remember when the UK started distributing free laptops to poor schoolchildren in order to encourage them to get online? Well, a new, more frugal government is now in charge, and while the original scheme has been scrapped, today we’re hearing of alternative plans to help economically disadvantaged people leap onto the worldwide surfer’s web. The coalition government intends to offer
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