Believe it or not, the tablet world hasn’t all turned into a Honeycomb / Tegra 2 monopoly. Some manufacturers, like industry newbie eFun here, are sticking with ye olde Froyo and looking to conquer a slice of the thrifty consumer market. The Nextbook Next4 is a 10-inch panel aping the iPad in offering a 1024 x 768 resolution and what will be a brushed aluminum back (ours was made out of plastic, but it was just a display prototype). Unfortunately, that’s pretty much where the similarities end, as this device’s software really wasn’t up to scratch. It’s almost stock Android 2.2, by the looks of it, but eFun opted to take the familiar Android soft keys into software, leaving the only capacitive touch for the panel. The biggest problem for us, aside from some instabilities and a random reboot, was lag when navigating through menus and an atypically long load time to get Angry Birds running. Performance might be an issue, in spite of the 1GHz Cortex A8 processor inside, but price likely won’t be. The Next4 is launching in the first quarter of the year with a price somewhere around $350. Its 7-inch sibling, the Nextbook Next6, is also joining it in Q1 and also eschews Android keys for a software implementation. Its designed primarily for reading ebooks and has a pair of physical keys on the side for flipping pages, which worked well. It had similar issues, however, to its bigger brother, but maybe its target audience will be more forgiving of its lack of immediate responsiveness than we are. It’ll be a Home Shopping Network exclusive for a week when it launches, with an MSRP of $300 that will likely be discounted to $250. Hit up the gallery for the hands-on action! Gallery: Nextbook Next4 tablet hands-on Gallery: Nextbook Next6 tablet hands-on eFun Nextbook Next4 and Next6 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Improv Electronics shows off color-changing iPod touch cases, details upcoming Boogie Board ‘Recorder’
January 7, 2011 No Comment
We haven’t heard much from Improv Electronics since it first introduced its reflective LCD-equipped Boogie Board “writing tablet” last January, but the company’s now back at CES with some new products and some new promises. The first of those is a new iPod touch case based on the same reflective or “Reflex” display technology, which allows the case to change colors without needing any power — the company says it’ll last “several years” before it finally dies out. Look for those to launch around the middle of the year for under $50, with iPhone cases expected to follow. The company’s other upcoming product is a “Recorder” version of the existing Boogie Board, which we managed to check out in a very early prototype form but weren’t able to photograph (though it admittedly wasn’t much to look at). It will apparently be much like the current Boogie Board, but pack two buttons — one to erase and one to save what you’ve written or drawn, which you’ll then be able to transfer to your computer via USB. Look for it to launch in the third quarter of the year for “under $100.” Gallery: Improv Electronics hands-on Improv Electronics shows off color-changing iPod touch cases, details upcoming Boogie Board ‘Recorder’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Boxee is here at CES showing off two unreleased products to eager Boxee fans and novices alike. We were sufficiently bummed when both Netflix and Vudu were delayed for the box, but we can report that they’re definitely getting close to primetime. The Vudu app we saw was incredibly polished, quick, and had nice video quality even on the overcongested and questionable internet connection. It actually does a network test the first time you launch the app, but after that you can manually select to watch each program in either SD or HD. Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to see the Netflix app in action because “Netflix would not be happy with us” according to Boxee chief and Engadget Show alum Avner Ronen. (It wasn’t even loaded on the demo box — we promise we looked). Head past the break for deets on the iPad app, as well as shots of it in action. Gallery: Boxee’s Vudu app hands-on Continue reading Boxee’s unreleased Vudu and iPad apps (hands-on) Boxee’s unreleased Vudu and iPad apps (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …MMT’s DisplayLink-equipped 15.4-inch Monitor2Go hands-on at CES 2011 (video)
January 7, 2011 No Comment
We just happened upon MMT’s Monitor2Go at CES’s ShowStoppers event here in Vegas, and… well, it’s a Mimo monitor, but huge. The new version — which is expected to ship in a few months here in the US for $279 — lacks the number pad that was on last year’s model. That one was aimed primarily at accountants on the run, whereas this DisplayLink-equipped version is aimed at everyone else. You can catch up on all of the specifications and such here , but the actual display felt satisfactorily light, the swiveling hinge was rock solid and the screen itself was acceptable for a secondary solution. The low resolution won’t dazzle anyone, and it’s certainly no replacement for a legitimate monitor, but it’s definitely easier to lug around than a new ST2220T . Head on past the break for a quick video demonstration. Gallery: MMT’s DisplayLink-equipped 15.4-inch Monitor2Go hands-on at CES 2011 Continue reading MMT’s DisplayLink-equipped 15.4-inch Monitor2Go hands-on at CES 2011 (video) MMT’s DisplayLink-equipped 15.4-inch Monitor2Go hands-on at CES 2011 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Do we deliver or what? Just as promised , we went back for seconds with the Samsung 9 Series laptop , and man, it is one beautiful laptop. As you already know, it is incredibly thin, but it also has a very rigid construction thanks to its duralium build. (Fun fact: apparently they build planes out of the same stuff.) As you will see in the video below, the design is very clean and the sharp edges have been designed to make the system look even slimmer. The lead designer of the system Youngkyu Choi told us that the 9 Series was inspired by nature’s beauty, including waves, leaves, and water. But it’s not just the outside of the system that’s beautiful — the matte 400nit, 13-inch display is incredibly bright and crisp and the viewing angles are just top notch. Below that screen is one very nice chiclet keyboard with matte keys. Sammy’s gone with a single button ClickPad, which in our short time with the laptop seemed fine for navigating with our index finger while keeping our thumb on the bottom. Naturally, we weren’t able to get a real sense of the Core i5 performance, but we did notice that the system resumed from sleep rather quickly thanks to its 128GB SSD. Truth is we haven’t been this excited about a Windows ultraportable since the Dell Adamo XPS , we just hope the 9 Series really brings the brawn with the beauty. Gallery: Samsung 9 Series hands-on Continue reading Samsung Series 9 hands-on preview (video) Samsung Series 9 hands-on preview (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Lady Gaga and Polaroid launch Grey Label Instant Camera, Printer, and insane Camera Glasses
January 7, 2011 No Comment
Polaroid has officially gone off the deep end, as a willing accomplice in Lady Gaga’s crazy schemes. The new Grey Label line also includes a rebirth for Polaroid as an instant camera company, with a sexy new GL30 Instant Digital Camera with built-in printer, a separate GL10 Instant Mobile Printer, and Lady Gaga’s bizarre triumph: the GL20 Camera Glasses (pictured), which include a built-in camera and dual LCDs which appear to cover your eyes when you’re wearing the oversized shades. This CES marks a full year of Polaroid’s collaboration with Lady Gaga , and while the glasses are possibly the least commercially viable device to be announced this year (in the best possible way ), the classy new camera and printer might just make up for it. Both devices are using Zink technology for the instant printing, which Polaroid has been using in a much uglier way in its OneStep cameras , but the new devices have a retro sort of look that we’re really digging. For the most part specs are light, including the GL30′s megapixel count, but the GL10 printer will be out in May for $150, while the GL30 camera and the GL20 glasses don’t have prices and will be available “later this year.” Gallery: Lady Gaga and Polaroid Continue reading Lady Gaga and Polaroid launch Grey Label Instant Camera, Printer, and insane Camera Glasses Lady Gaga and Polaroid launch Grey Label Instant Camera, Printer, and insane Camera Glasses originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Hardcore Doctor Who fans might argue that the faulty chameleon circuit is to be blamed here, but really, this mini TARDIS is just a forthcoming Speakal iPod speaker dock that also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker and an IR remote control. As pictured above, the dock connector lies in a pull-out tray at the bottom-front of the device, with the stereo speaker drivers hidden behind the front windows. There’s also a bass chamber inside the box, and we could see the opening through the back windows, along with the volume dial and power switch at the bottom. We were told that the final product will actually be slightly smaller than this prototype, and the lamp at the top will also have an IR emitter installed, which can control your TV via an iOS app (presumably via Bluetooth). Anyhow, expect to see this blue box on the shelves for around $130 to $150 in April. Gallery: Speakal Doctor Who TARDIS speaker prototype hands-on Filed under: Home Entertainment Speakal Doctor Who TARDIS speaker prototype hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Audi’s next-generation, Tegra-Powered MMI Touch is coming to Audi A3 first
January 7, 2011 No Comment
When it comes to the proliferation of fancy infotainment systems into cars there are two schools of thought. Some, like Ford , believe that these systems should start at the lower range cars and spread across the brand. Other marques, typically higher-end ones, go the other way ’round, and Audi is definitely guilty, launching its MMI on the higher-end sedans and SUVs, like the A8 and Q7. That’s changing with the next version of MMI Touch, starting on the (relatively) attainable A3. NVIDIA was quite proud to show off the system, with Tegra providing the power behind the scenes as we saw last year. That means lovely rendering of Google Earth, in 3D no less, and of course responsive performance. According to Autoblog it looks like the system’s capacitive touchpad is being integrated into the scroll wheel, which should offer a solid usability improvement. No word on when we’ll get to experience it, though, but we wouldn’t be surprised to learn more next week in Detroit. Audi’s next-generation, Tegra-Powered MMI Touch is coming to Audi A3 first originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Remember the RVU Alliance from last year ? The idea is to use standard tech like DLNA and UPnP to move live TV and DVR’d content around the home and straight to your screens, instead of having to plug a separate set-top box into every television. Well, Samsung is about to ship the first TVs in the world that support the RVU protocol, the Samsung LED D6000, LED D6400 and LED D6420. When networked with DirecTV’s RVU server (the first of its kind), the TVs will display the UI and features from the DirecTV box, with ability to pause live content, share DVR storage, and record up to five shows simultaneously. No word on cost for the sets, but can you really put a price on the future? Continue reading Samsung launching RVU-compatible D6000 series TVs in March Samsung launching RVU-compatible D6000 series TVs in March originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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You may remember back in September the sad story of an Apple filed patent-infringement lawsuit that HyperMac and their beloved HyperMac batteries found themselves at the end of. The big whigs in Cupertino accussed HyperMac of using their patented MagSafe power connector and 30-pin iPhone / iPod dock connectors without the proper licensing agreements. Well, HyperMac has responded with a clever yet uninvasive way to avoid future legal ramification and still satisfy a power hungry family of MacBooks and their equally demanding users. HyperMac has now included a new Auto / Airline Adapter with their newly renamed Hyper Juice external batteries which connects to a Magsafe Airline Adapter that you can legally purchase from Apple for $49. It is still the same old HyperMac battery we know and love, but with a juicier name and new connection. HyperMac responds with vengeance, and non-patent infringing adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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