Selasa, 15 Februari 2011

What's new on SlashGear.com

What's new on SlashGear.com


AT&T Unleashes $49 iPhone 3GS Commercials

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 02:51 PM PST

With the iPhone no longer exclusive to one carrier, the new competition with Verizon has pushed AT&T to launch a slew of strategic promotions to retain its customers. The latest bait is an iPhone 3GS for $49. They just unleashed a commercial for the offer, which should entice those late adopters on a budget.

The iPhone 3GS is getting close to two years old, but at a price tag that’s $150 cheaper than a 16GB iPhone 4, it should open up a whole new demographic of iPhone users.

Rumors that Apple was planning on an iPhone nano to target lower end markets, should prove unlikely if huge price drops of older iPhone models becomes the pattern. Other than getting locked into a two-year contract, getting a full blown iPhone for under $50 should land the phone in many many new hands.

[Via TUAW]


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Orange Launching Contactless Payments in Q2 For Europe

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 02:37 PM PST

European carrier Orange announced today that the company will have NFC (near-field communications) services for contactless payments in the UK, Spain, France, and Poland starting from Q2 of this year. Orange will bring in other European markets later on. The carrier hopes by the end of 2011 over half of its smartphones will be NFC enabled.

The Samsung Wave 578 will be Orange's first phone with NFC capability and mobile contactless services. New SIM-card technology will allow users a range of services from mobile payments to ticketing and transportation. Contactless mobile phones have a second antenna that allows NFC exchanges of information. This enables you to wave your phone over a scanner and exchange information like payments or confirming a ticket.

"Mobile contactless services will change people's daily lives. We are pleased that partners like Samsung are helping us to accelerate these plans. Our clear ambition is to create an vibrant eco-system and by combining our own mobile innovations with the best handsets, we can fulfill our vision of bringing new mobile services that will benefit everyone, " said Anne Bouverot, Executive Vice President, Mobile Services of Orange.

[Via IntoMobile]


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AT&T Will Carry HTC Facebook Phones And More Android Phones Later This Year

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 02:18 PM PST

It seems like with the end of iPhone exclusivity, AT&T is really broadening its smartphone offerings. The carrier just announced that they will be carrying HTC’s Facebook phones later this year and will be adding at least twelve Android devices to their line up.

It’s uncertain if the so called Facebook phones—Facebook integrated phones—will be exactly the same as the HTC ChaCha and Salsa that were shown today at MWC, but they will definitely have the same integrated social features. The most notable social feature introduced today by HTC was the single Facebook button that lights up when viewing something on screen that can be shared online.

"In the U.S., AT&T and HTC are exclusively bringing this unique user experience to the market later this year," said an AT&T representative. However, specific details of the device are not yet available.

As for the dozen of so Android devices, AT&T expects to pick up phones from Samsung, HTC, and Motorola. "It goes without saying this is part of our commitment to have the industry's best Android portfolio this year," the AT&T spokesman said.

[Via All Things Digital]


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HP Clarifies Plans To Expand WebOS On PCs

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 01:24 PM PST

Some have been wondering what HP meant during its "Think Beyond" event when launched a slew of webOS based devices and announced that it would “drastically expand” its webOS platform beyond smartphones and tablets. There was speculation that this meant the near future involved HP replacing Microsoft Windows on its laptops and desktops with webOS. However, HP clarified that this wasn't the case and that instead they are seeking an improved integration of webOS with Windows.

"There's a huge user base that still wants the [Windows] PC, " said HP Chief Technical Officer Phil McKinney in an interview with The Seattle Times. "The key is that even on their PCs, people want to have it integrated with their devices. We have our PCs, you have your pads, you've got your phones. How do they work together? In today's world they all act as individual information islands. What webOS does is bring all that together."

They won't be bringing integration through virtualization. HP wants to develop webOS apps that will combine all your devices together into a unified and smooth experience. So webOS is not replacing Windows on PCs, but rather, more fully integrating with it. They plan to eventually have this webOS integration consistent across all of their PC-based products.

[Via All Things Digital]


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Skype Expands To Over 500,000 WiFi Hot Spots

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 01:05 PM PST

Skype just announced at MWC 2011 that it has expanded its Skype Access coverage to over 500,000 hotspots. The Skype Access service was introduced back in January 2009 and provides pay-per-minute access to WiFi hotspots around the world. With this service, users can take advantage of Wi-Fi hotspots without having to pay by the day or by the hour, and can conveniently pay only as much as they use with their Skype Credit.

Skype Access is made possible through partnerships between Skype and Wi-Fi hotspot providers throughout the world. Skype’s newest partner has expanded their coverage to 500,000 hotspots including 500 airports and 30,000 hotels.

Here’s a list of current Skype Access partners:

• BT Openzone – The largest Wi-Fi hotspot provider in the UK.
• Fon – This is billed as the “world’s largest Wi-Fi network.”
• M3 Connect – Major German Wi-Fi provider.
• Row 44 – An in-flight broadband platform that serves many international flights.
• Skyrove – A hotspot provider in South Africa.
• Spectrum Interactive – A Wi-Fi provider in the UK with a focus on the travel and media sector.
• Tomizone – A Wi-Fi provider in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
• Vex – A South African Wi-Fi provider.

Skype is offering the service for free to users in Spain until February 18. To use the service, make sure you have the latest version of Skype setup on your computer.

[Via Yahoo News]


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Is Microsoft’s Zune on the way out?

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 12:52 PM PST

With all the talk about Windows Phone 7 recently, many people are starting to wonder why Zune hasn’t been mentioned at all. It seems logical that Zune software would be a part of a Windows phone, since Joe Belfiore, the Corporate Vice President of the Windows Phone Program Management said in 2010′s keynote at Mobile World Congress "Every Windows Phone will be a Zune". But now, nobody is talking about Zune. Is Microsoft getting ready to kill it off? Or are they just going to re-brand it?


Paul Thurrott of Windows Supersite favors the re-branding theory: “My sources tell me that the Zune brand is on the way out and that all Zune products and services will be moved into other businesses, including Windows Live. Zune will essentially cease to exist under this plan.” But it may also be that Microsoft will re-brand Zune as “X-Box Entertainment”, since the Zune team (which has been split and reorganized twice) is already in the same division (Interactive Entertainment Business) as the X-Box.

Blogger Mary-Jo Foley asked Microsoft if they planned to kill Zune, and they responded:

"We're not 'killing' any of the Zune services/features in any way. Microsoft remains committed to providing a great music and video experience from Zune on platforms such as Xbox LIVE, Windows-based PCs, Zune devices and Windows Phone 7, as well as integration with Bing and MSN."

But it should be pointed out that though they said they are not “killing any of the Zune services/features”, they did not say they would not be killing the brand.

[via ZDnet]


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Apple’s New App Store Rules Impact Amazon’s Kindle App

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 12:03 PM PST

Apple’s new app store subscription plan, specifying that Apple will take a 30% cut of all content sold within apps, will also affect Amazon’s Kindle app when used on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. It will also impact other booksellers selling through apps on Apple products. Publishers and content sellers have to remove any links within their apps to outside-the-App Store purchasing options. This means that Amazon must remove the “Shop in the Kindle Store” link that it currently provides on its iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad apps.


Publishers and content sellers must remove any links within their apps to outside-the-App Store purchasing options, Apple said, a requirement that means Amazon.com must eliminate the link to the Kindle Store that it currently provides in its iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad apps.

Steve Jobs said in a statement Tuesday: “Our philosophy is simple — when Apple brings a new subscriber to the app, Apple earns a 30% share, when the publisher brings an existing or new subscriber to the app, the publisher keeps 100% and Apple earns nothing.”

Kindle app users can still purchase books outside of the App Store, on Amazon’s web site or through a non-Apple Kindle app, and then have them loaded onto the device. Apple has not specified a deadline for developers to modify their existing apps.

[via Computerworld]


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Recap Of New HTC Smartphones, Tablet, and Announcements From MWC 2011

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 11:44 AM PST

We had quite a rush of HTC news live from MWC 2011 this morning, so here's a recap in case you didn't catch everything. Our very own Chris Davies got plenty of hands-on time with the new product line up from HTC including the Incredible S, Wildfire S, Desire S, Chacha, and Salsa smartphones, as well as the Flyer tablet. Other HTC announcements included an updated version of their HTC Sense, a new video chat app, new support for OnLive cloud gaming service, and their partnership with Qualcomm to develop multi-core devices.

The HTC Incredible S, is perhaps their least appealing device with an" inside-out" industrial style. Performance and features are similar to the previous Incredible , but notable differences include an added front-facing webcam that supports HTC's new video call app as well as Mirror app. And the device now is GSM compatible. Check here for hands-on video and images.

The HTC Wildfire S is the company's cheapest phone but the new model seems to be a huge improvement over its predecessor. It has found its own identity now sporting a more angular chassis and also stepped up to an HVGA display from its original QVGA display. However, it lacks a front-facing webcam and therefore cannot utilize HTC's new video call app. Check here for hands-on details and images.

The HTC Desire S is their bestselling smartphone and has a chassis milled from a single piece of aluminum. The new model's responsiveness is similar to its predecessor, the Desire, as it still uses 1GHz single-core Snapdragon, but now has added a front-facing webcam that supports the HTC's new video call app and Mirror app. The production model will be running Android 2.4 Gingerbread. Check here for a hands-on video and images.

The HTC ChaCha and Salsa are the two new smartphones that deeply integrate with Facebook. Of the two, the ChaCha has the better hardware. The Salsa has the bigger screen but feels like a lesser build. It's difficult to judge the software at this point because the demo units did not seem to have final software loaded. However, they did demonstrate that the integrated Facebook buttons light up when viewing something on screen that can be shared online. Actual production units with final software won't be available until Q2 2011. Check here for hands-on video and images.

The HTC Flyer tablet introduces the use of stylus in addition to multi-touch with more focus on note-taking and content creation. The 7-inch tablet has a slick aluminum unibody with a matte-finish plastic. The build feels more solid than the Galaxy Tab, and also feels easier to hold. The Flyer features a newly updated HTC Sense on top of Android 2.4 Gingerbread resulting in an enhanced user interface. Check here for hands-on video and images.

Other announcements:

HTC announced that they intend to partner with Qualcomm to develop multi-core devices. However, no timeline or any specifics were presented on upcoming multi-core plans.

The HTC Video Chat app made for Android was demoed as loaded on the HTC Desire S and the HTC Incredible S. The app can be used with the front-facing VGA webcams on the HTC smartphones or on the 1.3MP camera on the HTC Flyer tablet. The app features a simple interface but it is unclear for now whether it is limited to devices within its own ecosystem like how Apple limits Face Time to its own devices, or if there is more flexibility.

HTC also demonstrated their new integration with OnLive cloud gaming on the HTC Flyer.

And, an updated version of the HTC Sense was announced that supports portrait and landscape orientations as well as high-resolution displays like the 1024×600 display of the HTC Flyer.


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Powermat Wireless Car Charger Available Later This Year

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 11:05 AM PST

Powermat is releasing a windshield-mounted, wireless car charger later this year, according to CNET. The charger can adjust to fit any of the phone types that Powermat supports, so it could be great for cars with multiple drivers, or drivers with multiple phones, since people will not need to keep multiple car chargers in the car.


It does plug into the cigarette lighter, so it doesn’ t look all that different from a standard car charging system, but since the charger mounts on the windshield, it puts the phone more at eye level for easier access to navigation apps. For every smartphone you want to charge, you will need to purchase a Powermat Battery Door separately ($19-$29).

Powermat will be releasing other wireless charging products for the home and office in 2011, such as a rechargeable backup battery and a rechargeable travel mat. They are also marketing a line of Powermat integrated furniture, like tables, that we may see in airports or cafes (Starbucks?). The wireless car charger is expected to be released in the third quarter of 2011, and will sell for $59.

[via CNET]


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Eric Schmidt Speaks at Mobile World Congress 2011, Answers Many Questions

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 10:50 AM PST

Eric Schmidt, while speaking at the special Google keynote series at Mobile World Congress 2011 began by showing a video editing app called Movie Studio. The overarching theme here seems to be control of the technology rather than the technology controlling the user. Using apps to bring you where you want to go rather than just finding results on what time it is in the place you wish you were. He mentioned monetization of provisional software (like lots and lots of money from Google Adsense via Android,) and moved on into disruption. Disruption here is essentially the switch from non-internet commerce to an internet-based economy where supply is essentially infinite.

Schmidt noted that he believes that computer science can turn fundamental transparency can help fix all the world’s problems (Wikileaks? Nah.) Memory, referring back to every bit of information we’ve got to remember, never getting lost in the world or on the map. You will never get lost, says Schmidt, and with your permission, all your friends know where you are too.

Human problems will be fixed by humans with machines, here is an age where technology is based on being good. Very warm and loving.

During the Q and A, an Australian man asks about more service and advertising – he wonders when the rest of the world will pick this market for advertising up.

Schmidt responds by saying that Australia is leading the world as far as Fiber goes. The tools and technology that’s required to create TV-level ads to a mobile audience, this is the goal that will lead to the next big frontier as far as advertising goes. Schmidt notes that this is commerce, and that these advertising business people are aiming for revenue.

Another man asks about Android, notes how Schmidt mentioned that Google wanted more developers, but that fragmentation is a giant problem for developers and that he sees this as a monster of a situation.

Schmidt notes that the App store is the center. With this central station, the Android Marketplace, everyone has an even platform. He notes that Gingerbread will be another even platform in a sense, and that the man should not worry.

Another question arises about payment.

Schmidt responds with a note about “Google Bucks” and how that’s unrealistic, but notes that NFC chips are next. This chip, in a couple of phones already, will be used for payment in the future. He notes that the UK is already implementing legal business as far as NFC goes, and that NFC is going to blow everything else away. This model, instant payment via NFC, or something like it, is the way of the future.

A lady asks a question about Twitter, how Schmidt likes it (if he wants to buy it,) and about business via mobile.

Schmidt first notes that he loves Twitter and that he likes to Tweet, basically brushing off that question. Schmidt notes that wireless capacity is not big enough to work with business and government already today.

A man asks a question about Android versions, and says there’s some confusion amongst everyday users.

Schmidt eventually gets to a rather important point: Chrome is keyboard, Honeycomb is touch.

A man asks some harsh questions about Larry and Eric, if Larry should have been here instead, to which Schmidt immediately replied that his new job is essentially doing the traveling, and that Larry likes this arrangement. The man continues with a question (actually first, but answered second) about HTML5, Schmidt replying by saying that HTML5 will work on both platforms (mobile and desktop) will be a good way for further integration and flattening of the playing ground for developers.

The man asks a third question about monetization in Apps.

Schmidt notes that they’ve purchased an App developers group heavily invested in both OS and Android [what is this?]

A government man from Belgium asks a question about addresses for internet.

IPV4 addresses will soon be gone, notes Schmidt, and we’ve got to work on network address translation boxes, more items like this that only work now with IPV4 technology. We need, Schmidt says, IPV6 to move forward.

There is a question on Health Care and how Mobile will help in this problem around the world.

Schmidt notes that he feels that all of your medical info should be with you at all times – 3 and 4% of all questions on Google are medically related, thus he’d like it to be more automated (YOU ARE HAVING AN HEART ATTACK.)

There’s a question on Facebook and if they’re Google’s main competitor (because of “likes” and advertising via Facebook.

Schmidt notes that Microsoft is Google’s main competitor, that their search engine Bing might be “a little too good” and we know what he means, but that Facebook isn’t quite on the same road as them.

A man asks a question on Egypt, and Schmidt immediately notes that they’re very proud of the ways Google and Facebook and other sites were used to create a positive move in the country. Schmidt notes though that devices in countries like Egypt are too expensive, their networks are too small, and that today’s smartphones are tomorrow’s feature phones, and that the future is giving devices away for essentially free to connect everyone.

There is a question on SDKs and releases to which Schmidt notes that they try to release one single phone that shows the best that can be done, and that this happens within each big release (XOOM for Honeycomb, Nexus S for Gingerbread, etc.)

A man asks a question about education and Android, how it’s not accepted in the classroom yet.

Schmidt notes that there have been moves to get mobile into classrooms for the greater good but that there is always resistance to change in education, especially where technology is concerned.

The Q and A ended with applause, and everyone went to go get a bite to eat and were all left satisfied and smiling.


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Solider in Afghanistan Uses Recycled Materials to Make Awesome Action Figures

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 10:15 AM PST

PFC Rupert Valero, stationed at Khandahar, Afghanistan, has been using his spare time to build robots and action figures out of found recycled materials. He uses things like bottle caps, microwavable soup containers, yogurt cups, and even Dr. Scholl’s foot powder containers to assemble his creations.

In an interview with the blog Another Limited Rebellion, Valero said: “I love to improve 6" super-articulated action figures. I have an engineer's mentality, so nothing is ever perfect enough. So I am big on tweaking and at time breaking and rebuilding toys. The use of found items is based on what is available to me out here. Slowly, I have amassed more resources like paint and hobby tools. Assemblage has really grown on me to the point I will continue to build from found items.” Continue after the cut to see more of his super-fantastic action figures.

Building the action figures has helped him to interact and connect with the local people, he says.

Valero’s work is for sale in his Etsy store, with most items around $10-$20. You can also see more photos of his work on his Flickr stream.

[via TreeHugger]


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HP Pre 2 Starts Selling At Verizon February 17

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 10:06 AM PST


If you can’t wait until later this year for HP’s Pre 3, the Pre 2 may still be a good option as it will be the first smartphone to run webOS 2.0 that offers a good multitasking interface. Verizon just announced today that they will be carrying HP’s Pre 2 starting February 17th and the device will be available both in stores and online.

The Pre 2 will have a 3.1-inch glass multi-touch screen, 5-megapixel camera, and the slide-out QWERTY keyboard design that the Pre is known for. It weighs 5.1 ounces and will have 3G mobile hotspot capability. Start multi-tasking with webOS and test out the new improvements that HP has made.

The Pre 2 will be $149.99 with a two-year contract after a $50 mail-in rebate from Verizon. To get the most out of the Pre 2 subscribers will have to sign up for a data plan, unlimited data plans start at $29.99 monthly. The rebate comes back to the customer as a debit card and can be used wherever debit cards are accepted.

Press Release:

VERIZON WIRELESS' NETWORK TO INCLUDE NEXT GENERATION OF INTUITIVE MULTITASKING PLATFORM WITH PRE 2 FROM HP
Verizon Wireless Customers Have Fast, Fun Access to Work and Play on HP webOS 2.0

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless, the company with the largest and most reliable wireless voice and 3G data network, announced today that the Pre 2 smartphone by HP will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com on Feb. 17. Pre 2 is the first device to run on HP webOS 2.0, allowing quick and easy multitasking of e-mail, games, music and more.

Key features:
· 3.1-inch glass multi-touch screen with a vibrant 24-bit color, 320 x 480 resolution HVGA display
· Slide-out physical QWERTY keyboard
· Support for Microsoft® Exchange e-mail, as well as personal e-mail support (Google Gmail™ push, Yahoo!®, POP3, IMAP)
· Integrated IM, SMS and MMS
· VZ Navigator® capable – Receive audible turn-by-turn directions to millions of points of interest and share the directions with others
· TI OMAP 1GHz processor with 512 RAM
· 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, extended depth of field, geo-tagging and video capture
· Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11 b/g/)
· Bluetooth® wireless technology 2.1+ EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support
· 3G Mobile Hotspot capability
· Dimensions: 2.34 inches (w) x 0.66 inches (d) x 3.96 inches (h)
· Weight: 5.1 ounces

Lifestyle features:
· Contact Integration via HP Synergy – Customers can keep contacts and calendars up to date automatically with built-in integration for Facebook®, Google, LinkedIn®, Yahoo! and Microsoft Exchange.
· Customized Inbox – Customers can view all of their accounts together or separately to access work e-mail alone or combined in a favorites folder with personal e-mail from places like Gmail or Yahoo! Mail.
· Full HTML Browsing – Customers have access to full websites just like on their Macs or PCs. They can play video, upload photos, access online banking and much more. webOS also now integrates a beta of Adobe Flash Player 10.1 in the browser, which provides access to rich, Flash-based Web content.
· With Just Type in webOS, customers can start an e-mail, create a message, update their status and search their favorite websites – all before they even open an app.
· Mobile Music Store – Customers can buy and download music right from their webOS smartphones using the Amazon MP3 app when on a Wi-Fi hotspot.
· Skype mobile™ – webOS 2.0 supports Skype-to-Skype calls and messaging while in the United States to anywhere in the world, and low-rate calls to international landlines and cell phones.

Pricing and availability:
· Pre 2 will be available from Verizon Wireless for $149.99 after a $50 mail-in Verizon Wireless rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Pre 2 customers will need to subscribe to a data plan. Unlimited data plans are available to customers starting at $29.99 monthly access. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
· For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go towww.verizonwireless.com.


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ZTE Skate 4.3 hands-on

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 09:58 AM PST

ZTE isn’t generally recognized for its own brand, instead providing low-cost devices – often with Android on them – for carriers to rebrand and push out on cheap pre-pay deals. The ZTE Skate 4.3, though, might actually deserve a little bit more than that; although it’s expected to be cheap, it also doesn’t stint on the spec sheet. As well as running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the smartphone has a sizeable 4.3-inch WVGA touchscreen and a 5-megapixel autofocus camera.

It’s well put together, too, and the display – though one big, glossy, fingerprint magnet – is bright and with decent viewing angles. Three hardware buttons are under the display, for home, back and menu, while the UI itself is pure Gingerbread with no unnecessary modifications. Unfortunately it seems ZTE’s build isn’t quite up to release status yet; we saw several force-close messages in our time with the device.

As always, though, pricing will win the day here, and the Skate 4.3′s success will depend on how good a deal ZTE can cut with the carriers. Still, with the Orange San Francisco – rated as one of the best low-cost Android devices around – aka the ZTE Blaze finding favor, there’s every possibility that a rebranded ZTE Skate 4.3 could be taking on more expensive Android rivals sometime soon.


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Panasonic’s first 3D LED TVs Debuting in 2011

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 09:46 AM PST

In 2011, Panasonic’s Viera TV line will include the brand’s first 3D LED TVs. The DT30 series will include two TVs, the 32-inch TX-L37DT30, and the 37-inch TX-L37DT30. These panels will add mid-size TVs to the larger plasma TVs that Panasonic already offers. They will have IPS panels for a wide viewing angle, and the addition of improved motion response and Intelligent Frame Creation to produce cross-talk-free 3D images, according to Panasonic.



The DT30 series models will include Panasonic’s Viera Connect internet service, which gives viewers access to a series of apps with functions including accessing Twitter, Facebook and Skype. They also will include Wi-Fi and DLNA connectivity, and 4 HDMIs, 3 USB ports, and a PC input.

The DT30 will be available in the UK in May, according to PocketLint. Panasonic’s flagship VT30 3D Plasma screen will also be available in 42, 50, 55, and 65 inch screen sizes.

[via PocketLint]


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Huawei IDEOS S7 Slim hands-on; X3, HiLink & Mobile WiFi official

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 09:36 AM PST

Huawei’s IDEOS S7 Slim isn’t exactly a tricky proposition to understand: take the original IDEOS S7, shave some heft off the chassis and switch out the unloved resistive panel for a capacitive one instead. As we found with after our hands-on with the slate at MWC 2011, it all adds up to a surprisingly convincing slate.

Gone is the sponginess of the S7′s screen, replaced by a reasonably responsive capacitive screen. There’s now multitouch support in the browser and other apps, and since there’s integrated 3G – along with WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth – you get Android Market access as well, which puts the S7 Slim ahead of many other low-cost slates. There’s also an HDMI output, for hooking up an HDTV.

The touchscreen is still WVGA 800 x 480 resolution, however, while rivals like the Galaxy Tab and the new HTC Flyer have 1024 x 600 displays, and Android 2.2 Froyo – even with Huawei’s skin – isn’t ideal. The software experience is little changed from what we’ve seen before, so a selection of paneled homescreens split into work, entertainment, communications, favorites and the full apps list. It’s obviously not as slick as Honeycomb.

Still, that’s why Huawei can expect to sell the IDEOS S7 Slim for under $300 when it arrives on the market in April 2011. Meanwhile,the company has a new smartphone, the X3, and a pair of new modems, the HiLink and the Mobile WiFi Smart Pro hotspot. The X3 is headed to Japanese carrier Softbank in the spring, while the two modems will launch in April and Q2 respectively.

Press Release:

Huawei Reveals Expanded Suite of Smart Devices at 2011 Mobile World Congress

Huawei IDEOS™ X3 Smartphone – Sleek, stylish design, the thinnest device in the 3.2-inch screen range on the market with latest intuitive Android 2.3 interface
Huawei IDEOS™ S7 Slim next-generation tablet now more streamlined for easier portability
Huawei HiLink for automatic, hassle-free Internet connection anywhere, anytime
Huawei Mobile WiFi Smart Pro wireless modem with intelligent routing

Spain, Barcelona, 15 February 2011: Huawei, a leader in providing next-generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world, introduced its latest Android Gingerbread smartphone, the Huawei IDEOS™ X3, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on 15th February. The ultra-stylish Huawei IDEOS X3 blends sleek hardware with high-performing software to help users more effectively manage their communication and social networking activities.

At the same event, Huawei also launched the Huawei HiLink, a plug-and-link data card which connects users to high-speed Internet on-the-go, the Huawei Mobile WiFi Smart Pro wireless modem, an intelligent device which automatically selects the best high-speed Internet connection available, as well as the Huawei IDEOS™ S7 Slim, a next-generation 7-inch capacitive touchscreen tablet offering a blend of style and portability.

"The IDEOS range and our latest mobile broadband solutions are intuitive, simple to use products that offer users an enhanced mobile experience integrated seamlessly across different wireless technologies," said Mr. Victor Xu, chief marketing officer of Huawei Device. "As we move into 2011, Huawei will continue to lead the drive to provide consumers with smart mobile connectivity at the right price."

The Huawei IDEOS™ X3 smartphone: intuitive, power-efficient, ultra-stylish
The Huawei IDEOS X3, featuring an ultra-slim exterior, is a high-performing smartphone that boasts a 3.2-inch capacitive HVGA touchscreen, a 3.2 megapixel camera and the Huawei Handset Over-the-Air and Online Upgrade (HOTA) solution for Android, which provides users easy and timely OS upgrades. It is the thinnest device in the 3.2 inch screen range on the market. The smartphone runs on the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform, which features a refined user interface that makes the smartphone easy to navigate, more intuitive and more power-efficient.

The Huawei IDEOS X3 also comes standard with applications that allow users to easily manage information and seamlessly sync their various social communication channels.

Product availability:

· The Huawei IDEOS™ X3 will be available in Japan via SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp. from Spring 2011[1].

· The Huawei IDEOS™ S7 Slim will be available in April 2011.

· The Huawei HiLink will be available in Europe in Q2 2011.

· The Huawei Mobile WiFi Smartpro will be available in Q2 2011.


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Shuttle Introduces Two New Mini-PC Models

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 09:26 AM PST

The Mini-PC maker is about to release two new barebone systems on Intel's "Sandy Bridge". The XPC Barebone SH67H3 and SH67H7 will support Intel's i3, i5, and i7 processors and both will be available by the end of March.

The small form factor of Mini-PCs is pack a lot in a tiny bundle and Shuttle's new models are no different. Both the SH67H3 and SH67H7 can hold two 3.5" drives and one 5.35" drive with four DIMM slots capable of up to 16 GB of DDR3 memory. There are plenty of ports for users too with four USB 2.0 slots and three USB 3.0 slots.

The chassis and case cover for both models are made of aluminum and a 300 W power supply keeps the Mini-PCs running. The H7 model is the more stylish of the two with ports and connectors hidden behind drive doors, while the H3 is more traditional with all connectors exposed.

Press Release:

Mini-PCs for 2nd generation Intel Core processors

Product demonstrations at CeBIT 2011 in Hall 17, Stand E41

Shuttle Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of
multi-form-factor solutions such as the world-famous XPC Mini-PC
Barebones, showcases two models for Intel’s new 32 nm-technology
processor generation (code name: Sandy Bridge) at CeBIT 2011.

Shuttle, as the Mini-PC pioneer, is set to launch the XPC Barebone
SH67H3 and SH67H7 at the end of March 2011. Both are based on the
Intel H67 Express chipset and boast extremely impressive technical
features to support all Intel Core 2nd generation i3, i5 and i7
processors with LGA1155. There are four DIMM slots that enable DDR3
memory support with a maximum capacity of 16 GB.

Furthermore, these Mini-PCs are able to accommodate two 3.5″ drives
and one 5.35″ drive with the motherboard offering 2x SATA 6 Gbit/s and
2x SATA 3 Gbit/s. Additional drives can be connected externally via
eSATA or via an array of USB ports. On the front and rear of the
SH67H3 and SH67H7 models there are for the first time 4x USB 3.0 and
4x USB 2.0 ports as well as 2x eSATA/USB combo ports. A Gigabit-LAN
interface is also provided for fast network access and data transfer.

All second-generation Intel Core processors have a built-in graphics
function. At the rear of both SH67 models are two digital monitor
outputs. With both HDMI and DVI-I connections, the user can run two
monitors and enjoy seamless playback of HD content. The Mini-PCs
deliver audio signals via S/PDIF or HDMI.

Additional graphics performance is provided by the PCI-Express 2.0
x16 port which is compatible with the latest dual-slot graphics cards.
If a single-slot graphics card is used, one PCI-Express 2.0 x1 port is
then available for expansion cards. The third expansion option is the
Mini-PCIe port, which can be used for various applications, e.g. a
WLAN module.

A 300 W, 80-PLUS-certified power supply unit ensures the compact PC
is able to deliver high performance. The overall system is cooled by
means of a heatpipe with a large speed-regulated fan.

“With one machine available in two different designs, consumers are
able to choose their preferred option. The H3 design is more
traditional and all connectors are directly available. The H7 on the
other hand has a more elegant look and all connectors are elegantly
hidden from view behind drive doors,” states Tom Seiffert, Head of
Marketing & PR at Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH. “With these new
models, we are responding to the commonly expressed wish of our
customers to go back to aluminium as the material for the chassis and
case cover.”

Shuttle’s recommended retail price for the Barebone SH67H3 is EUR
239.00. For the XPC Barebone SH67H7 the recommended retail price is
set to EUR 251.00 (both prices ex VAT).


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Movie Studio tablet App at Google Event During Mobile World Congress 2011

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 09:09 AM PST

We’re here at the Google presentation speeches here at Mobile World Congress 2011, and the music is loud. After presenting a monumentally impressive moving infographic showing the increase of Android Activations worldwide since launch, Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google continued the statistics, everything leading up to “the world’s fastest growing mobile platform,” a powerful claim indeed. Schmidt notes that he believes that we will eventually grow to serve technology – that we are losing the battle against cold, lifeless contact between real humans. He goes on about how mobile is decimating PC, how connection speeds are increasing, and how the future is serendipity – gaining accomplishments, knowledge, and relationships you did not know about before you hopped on the computer (or here, the phone.) Eventually, after about 15 minutes of rather impressive statistics, the app was revealed in earnest.

Schmidt continues by noting the Cloud and how we’re in an age where it doesn’t matter what machine you’re on, you can drop it and pick up another to access the very same info. He asks Google exec Gill to the stage who introduces the Nexus S uploading photos to Picasa and notes that the Motorola XOOM would be good for this as well.

He then shows off a new App called Movie Studio. This is slick a movie editor that works with still photos and movies, effects, zooms and more. Essentially it looks like a very simple movie editor (like the one on that fruit-based platform, for example, with an i in front of it.) The difference here is the simplicity in using via a touch interface. Dragging and dropping with fingers.

He then saves for YouTube, checks his channel, and uploads the video in basically an instant. Once we’re able to access the video (in a couple minutes, it seems, we’ll be able to upload it here. Very neat.

Google Video Studio for Android Honeycomb demo:


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Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 hands-on

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 08:47 AM PST

Samsung’s Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 isn’t the only Galaxy S family PMP the company has that’s new at MWC 2011 this year; there’s also a smaller, 4-inch version – rather predictably called the Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 – on show. Based around a 4-inch WVGA Super Clear LCD TFT display, it’s actually the same as the YP-GB1 we’ve seen before, running Android 2.2 Froyo.

There’s also GPS, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and twin cameras: a front-facing webcam for video calls, and a 3.2-megapixel camera on the back for photography and video. Like the WiFi 5.0 it can play back 720p HD video. There’s Android Market access, an FM radio, 8GB or 16GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot.

Hands-on, it’s just like a Galaxy S smartphone, though of course you miss out on 3G and the camera is lower resolution. It’s quick, thanks to the 1GHz Hummingbird CPU, and Samsung preload Skype and Qik for VoIP and video calls. As a PMP, it’s a compelling device, though perhaps a little large; still, if an iPod touch is too small for you, and if Samsung price the Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 PMP correctly, this could be a solid Android alternative to the Apple media player.


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WorldGSM at MWC 2011: Mobile Data for Impoverished, Isolated Villages

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 08:12 AM PST

Since you’re reading SlashGear, you almost certainly don’t live in an isolated village in rural Africa. But if you do, you’re almost certainly connecting to our site thanks to WorldGSM from VNL. This solar-powered mobile network hub is rugged, green and designed to be affordable in areas with an ARPU of less than $2.

WorldGSM doesn’t need to be cooled and can be set up by people with virtually no technical know-how. Each unit costs roughly $20,000 and provides up to 10 Mbps of connectivity. Each base station draws less than 50 watts, meaning solar panels can keep them running “off the grid”. The system is expandable too, allowing impoverished areas to broaden their coverage at a pace they can afford.

There are nearly two billion people online today, but billions more live in areas where the power grid itself is unreliable. But with data-driven cell phones and the WorldGSM, these folks finally have a practical option to get wired. Now, if only the unit on the show floor was working. A 10 Mbps connection sounds real nice, right about now.


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Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 hands-on

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 07:27 AM PST

All eyes were on Samsung’s larger Galaxy Tab 10.1 at MWC 2011, but if you judge a Dell Streak 5 a tablet by virtue of its 5-inch display, then the Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 has to be considered one as well. The 5-inch PMP looks like an oversized Galaxy S – unsurprising, since Samsung considers it a varient with 3G missing – with a WVGA display, 720p HD playback and a pair of cameras for video chat and photography.

Since it runs Android, and has Android Market access, there’s plenty of software out there, and a microphone – tuned, Samsung tells us, for VoIP apps like Skype – means that, as long as you have a wireless connection (or a mobile hotspot) you could feasibly use this as a phone replacement. In fact, Skype and Qik Plus are both preloaded, along with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI.

In the hand, we couldn’t help but find the Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 a little unwieldy; like the Dell Streak, it can feel too much like there’s a foot in each camp – smartphone-scale and tablet-scale – and convincing success in neither. Screen quality is strong, though it’s an Super Clear LCD TFT panel rather than a Super AMOLED or Super AMOLED Plus, if a little lacking in clarity. It’s only really side-by-side that you notice any shortcomings, however.

An HDMI output, stereo speakers and Samsung’s SoundAlive audio DSP system round out the key specs. What we don’t know at this stage is pricing; that’s likely to be the deciding factor as to whether this oversized iPod touch rival can take on its Apple foe.


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MeeGo Tablet UI hands-on [Video]

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 07:07 AM PST

After a generally apathetic response to MeeGo’s new tablet UI yesterday, we thought we should stop by the booth and check out the system for ourselves. Running on Atom-based hardware, the interface is undeniably less complex than what Google, Apple, HP or RIM are pushing with their respective platforms; check out the demo video after the cut.

Video demo after the cut

By default, it consists of six panes – My Tablet, Friends, Music, Photos, Video and Web – each of which can be scrolled between horizontally, reorganized and scrolled vertically to show more content. A further “View All Applications” layout – which is portrait, not landscape – looks remarkably like an early Android homescreen; the MeeGo reps we were talking to acted quite sheepish when we pointed that out.

Friends is the social networking side, pulling in updates from RSS feeds, social networks, email accounts like Gmail, Last.fm and other sources. Music, Photos and Video are self-explanatory – each opening up into a straightforward gallery of content – while Web lists your most recently visited sites first and then has bookmarks at the bottom. Downloads from the AppUp store can be found in the All Applications view.

MeeGo tablet UI demo:

It works, in as much as it does exactly what the MeeGo team says it does (though multitouch hadn’t been enabled on this particular demo unit), but it feels spartan in comparison to rival platforms. There’s none of the sense of flexibility you get from iOS and Android: the overly-simplistic layout leaves the UI feeling more like that of a web-connected digital photo frame than a modern tablet.

Still, that could be a boon for those for whom other tablets intimidate with their complexity. Even an iPad can be a struggle for an entry-level user, and the simple swiping list system MeeGo offers might appeal. Whether MeeGo-adopting OEMs can cultivate that into a sizeable enough market, though, remains to be seen.


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Apple App Store subscriptions system gets official

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 07:02 AM PST

Hardly a great surprise, since we saw it used on The Daily and Apple VP Eddy Cue said it was coming soon, but Apple has officially launched subscriptions for the App Store. Publishers will be able to set the price and length of the subscription, whether weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-yearly or yearly, and then users will be able to opt into their subscription length of choice.

Automatic renewals will be used, and as normal Apple processes all payments, keeping the same 30 percent share that it does today for other In-App Purchases. It’s also being officially stated that publishers must make subscription offers available outside of apps available for the same – or better – terms inside that app.

“All we require is that, if a publisher is making a subscription offer outside of the app, the same (or better) offer be made inside the app, so that customers can easily subscribe with one-click right in the app” Steve Jobs, CEO, Apple

As for subscription information sharing, Apple will be giving out name, email and ZIP code to the publisher as long as the user gives permission first. Apple also insists that “publishers may no longer provide links in their apps (to a web site, for example) which allow the customer to purchase content or subscriptions outside of the app.”

Press Release:

Apple Launches Subscriptions on the App Store

CUPERTINO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Apple® today announced a new subscription service available to all publishers of content-based apps on the App Store℠, including magazines, newspapers, video, music, etc. This is the same innovative digital subscription billing service that Apple recently launched with News Corp.'s "The Daily" app.

Subscriptions purchased from within the App Store will be sold using the same App Store billing system that has been used to buy billions of apps and In-App Purchases. Publishers set the price and length of subscription (weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-yearly or yearly). Then with one-click, customers pick the length of subscription and are automatically charged based on their chosen length of commitment (weekly, monthly, etc.). Customers can review and manage all of their subscriptions from their personal account page, including canceling the automatic renewal of a subscription. Apple processes all payments, keeping the same 30 percent share that it does today for other In-App Purchases.

"Our philosophy is simple — when Apple brings a new subscriber to the app, Apple earns a 30 percent share; when the publisher brings an existing or new subscriber to the app, the publisher keeps 100 percent and Apple earns nothing," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "All we require is that, if a publisher is making a subscription offer outside of the app, the same (or better) offer be made inside the app, so that customers can easily subscribe with one-click right in the app. We believe that this innovative subscription service will provide publishers with a brand new opportunity to expand digital access to their content onto the iPad, iPod touch and iPhone, delighting both new and existing subscribers."

Publishers who use Apple's subscription service in their app can also leverage other methods for acquiring digital subscribers outside of the app. For example, publishers can sell digital subscriptions on their web sites, or can choose to provide free access to existing subscribers. Since Apple is not involved in these transactions, there is no revenue sharing or exchange of customer information with Apple. Publishers must provide their own authentication process inside the app for subscribers that have signed up outside of the app. However, Apple does require that if a publisher chooses to sell a digital subscription separately outside of the app, that same subscription offer must be made available, at the same price or less, to customers who wish to subscribe from within the app. In addition, publishers may no longer provide links in their apps (to a web site, for example) which allow the customer to purchase content or subscriptions outside of the app.

Protecting customer privacy is a key feature of all App Store transactions. Customers purchasing a subscription through the App Store will be given the option of providing the publisher with their name, email address and zip code when they subscribe. The use of such information will be governed by the publisher's privacy policy rather than Apple's. Publishers may seek additional information from App Store customers provided those customers are given a clear choice, and are informed that any additional information will be handled under the publisher's privacy policy rather than Apple's.

The revolutionary App Store offers more than 350,000 apps to consumers in 90 countries, with more than 60,000 native iPad™ apps. Customers of the more than 160 million iOS devices around the world can choose from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.


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Rumor: Apple to give next iPhone a 4-inch screen

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 06:11 AM PST

A new rumor has surfaced that claims the next iPhone will have a larger 4-inch screen. The rumor comes by way of component supplier sources and DigiTimes. According to the rumor, the production lines for the next iPhone are in testing right now and the screens are supposedly 4-inch.

I can see a bit of validity here, the iPhone used to have a large screen compared to other smartphones and today many phones are over the screen size of the current iPhone. There are also some rumors that the next iPhone and iPad will both sport multi-core processors.

A larger screen and a dual-core processor will help the iPhone out to compete on paper with the other smartphones on the market running Android with multiple cores and larger screens. Naturally, there is no official word from Apple on any iPhone changes.


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SandForce ships a million SF-1500 and SF-1200 SSD processors in first year

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 05:24 AM PST

SandForce has announced that at the closing of the first full year that its SSD processors SF-1500 and SF-1200 have been on the market they have shipped a million units. These processors are in use in a wide range of SSD offerings from a variety of customers all around the country.

SandForce says that manufacturers using its SSD processors have shipped an estimated 100 petabytes of NAND flash into the mainstream computing market. That is enough space to store two billion four-drawer filing cabinets full of text documents! That amount of storage could also store 5,000 years worth of continuously played DVD movies. That is a huge amount of storage.

"We designed the SandForce SSD Processors to kickstart the SSD market by bringing enterprise-class performance and longevity to SSDs made with cost-effective commodity MLC flash, and that's exactly what has happened," said Michael Raam, President and CEO for SandForce. "SSD manufacturers building products for enterprise, client, and industrial, applications are using SandForce SSD Processors with the unique DuraClass™ technology to bring out solutions that outperform the competition and meet or exceed the needs of each of these market segments. We anticipate our shipment volumes to increase by several multiples as the value proposition of SSDs based on our technology further proliferate into the mainstream market."


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Kingston unveils new secure DataTraveler 4000 and DataTraveler Vault Privacy Edition flash drives

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 05:16 AM PST

Kingston has announced a pair of new secure flash drives for enterprise and business customers that carry sensitive data that needs to be encrypted. The new drives include the DataTraveler 4000 and DataTraveler Vault – Privacy Managed.

The DT4000 uses military-grade encryption for health data and financial info that needs the best protection. It has FIPS 140-2 Level 2 validated for the entire cryptographic module. It will also be offered as a centrally managed drive later this year.

The Privacy Managed drive allows the corporate manager to centralize all USB activity control. It uses the SafeConsole server software from BlockMaster. It also has advanced security features like password control, device state management, file audit logs, file restrictor options, and lots. The DT4000 comes in 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB versions starting at $75. The managed drive comes in 2GB – 32GB.


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SanDisk providing microSD cards for MetroPCS Android smartphones

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 04:52 AM PST

We mentioned last week that MetroPCS was getting its first Android smartphone on the LTE network called the Samsung Galaxy Indulge. The phone sounds interesting on its own and it will ship with a microSD card from SanDisk that has 4GB of storage.

The card is also pre-loaded with a full copy of Iron Man 2. The downside to the name brand microSD card with the full-length action flick is that the memory card is “intelligent.” What that means is that each time the user of the Android device uses the microSD card it will contact the MetroPCS servers and monitor their content use.

SanDisk and MetroPCS says that the usage statistics are anonymous, but few people like to have their content consumption monitored for any reason. MetroPCS says the eavesdropping on the content use will allow them to personalize the content they offer to users.


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Sakar Licenses NERF brand for lots of electronic gear

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 04:14 AM PST

NERF has been around for a long time with all sorts of stuff made from foam. I would bet most of us are familiar with their toys. The NERF name has been used on other stuff too with lots of cases for portable game systems that carry the name. Sakar has announced that it has licensed the NERF brand to use on a line of electronics.

The new line of gear will hit market in time for the holiday season of 2011. Sakar says that it will offer digital cameras, video cameras, and cases for devices in the line. Other products will include MP3 players, walkie talkies, binoculars, flashlights and headlamps.

I can imagine a bunch of foam covered items that will look like the NERF toys. The foam will help protect the gear though. At this point, there is no word on pricing; we will have to wait until Q4 to learn more.


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HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa hands-on [Video]

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 03:53 AM PST

Looks like we spoke too soon on the HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa; while the company first told us they only had a couple of devices at MWC 2011, locked up in a cabinet not even Mark Zuckerberg could penetrate, we later managed to grab some proper hands-on time with a pair of prototypes. Check out our hands-on impressions after the cut.

Video demo after the cut

Of the two, the ChaCha makes the best hardware impression. HTC may be envisaging it as a relatively affordable handset, but the matte white and silver casing feels solid and high quality, and the keyboard has decent finger feedback despite the pre-production status. The screen, too, may only be HVGA resolution, but because all those pixels are squeezed down into a 2.6-inch panel, it looks great. The bend in the chassis lets the ChaCha sit nicely in your hands as you thumb out messages.

The Salsa is a little less inspiring, though the bigger screen is likely to be eye-catching in stores. As we initially suspected, it feels very much like the Legend, if somewhat less weighty and premium in its build. The Facebook buttons on both devices light up when you’re looking at something you can share online.

HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa hands-on:

As for software, neither prototype had final software present; in fact the Salsa seemed to be showing a screenshot rather than anything else. You can see it bounce across when we accidentally thumb the display in the video above. That will have to wait until production units are ready for review, and that won’t be until sometime in Q2 2011.


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Sonim XP3300 Force has longest talk time in the world

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 03:51 AM PST

Sonim has unveiled a new rugged mobile phone at MWC 2011 that it claims to have the world’s longest talk time called the XP3300 Force. The phone has a rugged design and works on GSM networks. It is aimed at people that work in harsh environments for long shifts and need a phone that will work the entire shift and will survive harsh conditions.

The phone promises 20 to 24 hours of talk time or when used for GPS tracking the device will last up to 26 hours with MRM applications with 5-minute location interval updates. The phone has a 2MP camera with LED flash and digital zoom for job site information storage and the device can run JAVA apps.

The XP3300 can be submerged in 2 meters of water and survive and can keep going after a drop from 2 meters up onto concrete. The screen on the phone is a 2-inch unit and has 1.5mm thick Gorilla Glass over it. The housing of the device is reinforced with fiberglass and it can survive salt, fog, humidity, and thermal shock. The phone is good for 800 hours on standby and has noise cancellation tech. Pricing is unknown.


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LeapFrog unveils new LeapPad Explorer learning tablet for kids

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 03:38 AM PST

LeapFrog has been making some really interesting and high-tech learning toys for kids for a long time. These toys are often a little geek’s first foray into the world of gadgets and electronics. The latest offering from LeapFrog has landed and it is called the LeapPad Explorer. The Explorer reminds me a lot of the VTech InnoPad that I mentioned last week.

The LeapPad Explorer is a cool little tablet hat has all sorts of activities that kids can play to help them learn letters and other basic educational stuff. The Explorer also has a lot of software that can be added to expand it including books, flash cards, and lots more. There will be over 100 games available for the tablet.

The tablet has a 5-inch screen that supports touch with a finger and with a stylus. The tablet is thin and very sleek, but is rugged enough to survive drops and other bumps that kids will put it through. The LeapPad Explorer will hit stores this summer and will sell for $99.99 with download apps for $7.50 and normal software titles on cartridges for $24.99.


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