We already got a peek at LG’s Smart TV Upgrader box , but now it’s revealing a bit more info about why it thinks anyone will be opting for their app-laden displays this year. Deriding the QWERTY remotes offered by competitors, LG’s big idea is a simple dashboard with four elements, controlled by its Magic Motion gesture control remote . We’ll still need to wait for some hands on time with its DLNA sharing and web browser to see if the simple life is the way, but if you were freaked out by all the buttons on Sony’s Google TV remote then your sometime is now. Continue reading LG’s 2011 Smart TVs focus on easy, instant access LG’s 2011 Smart TVs focus on easy, instant access originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Disney commits to ‘at least 15′ Blu-ray 3D releases for 2011 including Tron: Legacy
January 4, 2011 No Comment
Even though Blu-ray 3D officially hit the streets in 2010, actually finding any discs available at retail was easier said than done, but that may be turning around this year starting with Disney announcing it plans “at least 15″ releases this year. Recent 3D hits like Tron: Legacy and Tangled will be available at retail in 3D day-and-date with the 2D DVD & Blu-ray releases, with conversions of classics like The Lion King and Beauty in the Beast also in the works. Like it or not, the consistent box office success means there is more 3D than ever on the way, and it won’t be any different at home. Check the press release after the break for a few more details about which movie will find their way out of the Disney vault in 2011. Continue reading Disney commits to ‘at least 15′ Blu-ray 3D releases for 2011 including Tron: Legacy Disney commits to ‘at least 15′ Blu-ray 3D releases for 2011 including Tron: Legacy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Opera for tablets teased on video, bringing first public preview to CES (video)
January 4, 2011 No Comment
As if building a top notch browser wasn’t hard enough when having to develop for both desktop and mobile, here comes Opera with a third category: tablet-specific browsers. Opera for tablets has just been teased on video, exploiting a Galaxy Tab to show off slippery smooth pinch-to-zoom functionality plus a finger-friendly landing page for all your favorite websites when opening a new window. It’s really not much to go on, but the Norwegian company is trying to hold the details until its proper public preview, which will be happening right here at CES very soon. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Continue reading Opera for tablets teased on video, bringing first public preview to CES (video) Opera for tablets teased on video, bringing first public preview to CES (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’ve already heard that Sharp was planning to bring its Galapagos tablets / e-readers to the US, and it looks like they’ve now crossed one key hurdle on that path — or one of the tablets has, at least. The 10.8-inch EB-WX1GJ “media tablet” recently passed through the FCC, where it posed for the camera, went through the usual battery of tests, and picked out a nice spot for an FCC label. Not much in the way of surprises at this point, but the device’s user manual does also mention the 5.5-inch EB-W51GJ model, so it may well be following it’s larger counterpart through the FCC, if it hasn’t already. There also happens to be a rather large technology trade show happening this week, which seems like an ideal opportunity for Sharp to divulge some additional details. We’ll keep you posted if that happens. Sharp’s 10.8-inch Galapagos EB-WX1GJ ‘media tablet’ hits the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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QWERTY fans, rejoice: at this point, we’re pretty sure this thing’s getting announced this week, seeing how it’s out and about in retail packaging. Here’s Sprint’s EVO Shift 4G in all its in-the-wild glory — and yes, it turns out it’s definitely called the EVO Shift 4G, not the EVO 4G Shift , since we’ve got the name spelled out on the official branded box here. As a refresher, this phone’s shaping up to be the EVO 4G’s keyboard-equipped cousin, albeit with a lower-res camera (5 megapixels), a smaller display, and — seemingly — no front camera. For some, that could be an acceptable tradeoff… and it’s conceivable that we’ll see it on sale within a few days considering the flurry of retail leaks we’ve witnessed. Check out all the juicy shots below. [Thanks, anonymous tipster] Gallery: HTC EVO Shift 4G in the wild! HTC EVO Shift 4G in the wild! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Best Buy’s Buy Back Program will let you trade in old tat for new hotness
January 4, 2011 No Comment
Best Buy ‘s crafty ploy for the new year has seemingly been uncovered by BGR ‘s tipsters. According to those knowledgeable sources (and the paperwork they’ve passed along), Best Buy intends to roll out a new Buy Back Program, which will guarantee a given trade-in value for your gadgets, depending on how old they are. Thus, any laptop, tablet, or smartphone you buy from the retailer will be tradeable for 50 percent of its original price within six months of purchase, 40 percent before the first year passes, 30 in the 12- to 18-month period, or 20 in the dying embers of a two-year ownership period. That’s pretty hefty depreciation and you’ll have to pay an up-front fee to get enrolled in the Program, but hey, if you upgrade like mad, maybe there’s some way to make this a financially appealing proposition for the consumer. Maybe… though probably not. Best Buy’s Buy Back Program will let you trade in old tat for new hotness originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Apple worth more than $300 billion, your first iPod barely pushing $20 on eBay
January 4, 2011 No Comment
Remember when Apple edged past Microsoft in the market capitalization game, way back in 2010? We were young and innocent, and AAPL was only trading at $249.99 a share. Fast forward seven months and Apple has left Microsoft in the dust, with a share price at $329.75 that puts the company’s market capitalization at more than $300 billion — making it one of only two companies worth that much in the stock market’s eyes. Naturally, market cap isn’t the only game afoot — Exxon Mobil still rules the top spot, and we can’t think of the last time oil did any hard work revolutionizing device UI — but it’s a pretty nice mark for a little Cupertino firm that would’ve been called the tech industry underdog just a decade ago. Apple worth more than $300 billion, your first iPod barely pushing $20 on eBay originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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If you even possess a landline, the phone itself is probably not as awesome looking as it could be. But don’t fear! Pioneer will help you change that. Available in Japan and Japan only, the TF-FN2000 is 2.4 GHz cordless phone that comes in red, black, or white. Featuring a backlit LCD for caller ID, voicemail, phone book, and more, this device really has us wishing we knew Japanese. In fact, we just might have to buy a language course or something. Get a closer look after the break. Continue reading Pioneer debuts new range of ‘future retro’ landlines, but only in Japan Pioneer debuts new range of ‘future retro’ landlines, but only in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Often when you hear minimum spec doom and gloom, it proves to be wildly inaccurate, or only part of the picture. This time, however, it’s worth a closer look. PC Magazine ‘s Sascha Segan is confidently citing the director of Enspert, a Korean consumer electronics company (which recently announced its own Android tablet), who claims that Honeycomb will require a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor. He’s also confident that Motorola’s tablet will be the first device to market with the new version of Android, and his other minimum specs line up with the idea of Honeycomb being initially a tablet-only release. Apparently 1280 x 720 is going to be the minimum resolution, with screen sizes “as small as” 7-inches, though it sounds like 10-inches could be the default. These specs seem to clearly leave out Galaxy Tab , along with anything else on the market or soon to arrive that doesn’t have a Tegra 2 chip. It also makes sense that the Galaxy Tab 2 is going to be using Tegra 2 — Samsung clearly won’t be deterred. And how about phones for Honeycomb? The picture is decidedly murkier, other than the fact that we could see a temporary splintering of the platform while tablets show off their new Honeycomb digs, with enough battery to back up that dual-core proc. Of course, dual-core handsets are right around the corner, so we doubt handsets will be without Honeycomb for long — Google should know which side its bread is buttered on. There’s also the possibility that this Enspert source is only talking tablets, and phones (which are required to push way fewer pixels, and have much stricter battery requirements) will get a pass on the dual-core requirement altogether. No matter what, you should settle in for a year of entertainment as Google continues to iterate its wildly successful operating system, and manufacturers strain to keep up. [Thanks, Jason] Honeycomb to require dual-core processor, initially tablet-only? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Mitsubishi i MiEV electric car launches in Costa Rica next month for a mere $61,500
January 3, 2011 No Comment
Did you miss out on the Nissan Leaf pre-orders ? Yeah, us too. Are you planning on cruising around in Costa Rica sometime after February? Sadly you can count us out there, but if you’ve checked both boxes you might want be interested to know that Mitsubishi’s i MiEV electric car will be available there starting next month, making it the first country in this hemisphere to sell them. The car offers a 100 mile maximum range and a top speed of 80, quite comparable to the Leaf , but the $61,500 price down there almost doubles Nissan’s offering up here. That’s also twice what the i MiEV is expected to sell for when it ships to the mainland this fall, quite possibly thanks to the massive import duties applied to cars in the land of Pura Vida. But, with as few as 25 of the machines offered for sale, this is something of a niche release anyhow. Mitsubishi i MiEV electric car launches in Costa Rica next month for a mere $61,500 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 19:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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