Wednesday, February 29, 2012

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Live from Microsoft's Windows 8 press event at Mobile World Congress 2012!
Feb 29th 2012, 13:00

Today's the day! It's been months since we tested the Windows 8 Developer Preview, and now Microsoft is finally ready to let the general PC-using public give it a whirl. While we already have a feel for the overarching interface, which mashes together the traditional desktop and Metro-inspired tiles, we haven't yet had a glimpse of the native apps that will ship as part of the OS. And think of the untold number of tweaks Redmond must have made since the Developer Preview dropped! Will we get to poke around the Windows Store? Will switching between apps be any less jarring this go 'round? And what's the fate of the Start button? Stay tuned to find out what the OS will look like in its (almost) final form.

February 29, 2012 9:30 AM EST

Live from Microsoft's Windows 8 press event at Mobile World Congress 2012! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tianyu K-Touch Treasure V8 hands-on at Mobile World Congress 2012 (video)
Feb 29th 2012, 12:59

Ever heard of Tianyu? You probably haven't, but that's why the Chinese manufacturer left most of the heavy PR lifting for its ICS-equipped, quad-core phone to NVIDIA at this year's Mobile World Congress 2012. Details on this Tegra 3-based Android handset are admittedly scarce for the time being, but from what we were able to glean, the 4.3-incher should be able to hold its own in the high-end smartphone market. Aside from an 8 megapixel shooter with single LED flash on its back and the aforementioned CPU clocked at 1.5GHz, there's not much else to divulge spec-wise.

In terms of build, the design is a mixed bag. From afar, the Treasure V8 appears sleek and even (dare we say it?) sexy, but once the unit's in hand, you'll notice the cheapness of the glossy, white plastic enclosure. A metal trim borders the device lending to the mix of high and low quality materials used in its construction, but actually makes the phone uncomfortable to hold. The screen also tapers in towards the edges, leaving a ridge to form that's unpleasant in the hand. It doesn't appear that this is the final build of the product and it could even wind up becoming sleeker as it approaches an indeterminate launch, so there's room for improvement. Of course, pricing and availability for China are also unknowns, but we have a feeling that could very well be resolved in the coming weeks. Check out the gallery below and head on past the break for a brief video tour.

Continue reading Tianyu K-Touch Treasure V8 hands-on at Mobile World Congress 2012 (video)

Tianyu K-Touch Treasure V8 hands-on at Mobile World Congress 2012 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Flight reinvents itself as free-to-play simulator (video)
Feb 29th 2012, 12:45

Microsoft's Flight Simulator has long prodded gamers to splash out on hardware upgrades and insane joysticks. Like Madonna, it's reinvented itself for the 21st century as a single-named free-to-play game for those who want to zoom around the skies of Hawaii. The company will make its money by selling premium add-ons including new aircraft and "adventure packs." The game is now ready for download (at the source link) and, if it proves popular, Redmond should expect a nice gift basket from AMD and NVIDIA this Christmas.

Continue reading Microsoft Flight reinvents itself as free-to-play simulator (video)

Microsoft Flight reinvents itself as free-to-play simulator (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visualized: Nokia's 41-megapixel PureView sensor
Feb 29th 2012, 12:23

If you thought a bigger pixel count just meant bigger file sizes, then take a look above. That big guy at the bottom is the 41-megapixel sensor responsible for those awesome Nokia 808 PureView shots we saw at MWC on Monday. The two above it are 8- and 5-megapixel sensors respectively, and give you an idea of the real-estate cost of packing a superior snapper. At two and a half times the physical size of the N8's prized optics, we think the PureView system earns its title as the biggest thing in mobile imaging somewhat convincingly.

Visualized: Nokia's 41-megapixel PureView sensor originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doro PhoneEasy 740 smartphone hands-on at MWC 2012
Feb 29th 2012, 12:02

Don't recognize the name? If so, it's probably because Doro is a completely new player in the smartphone industry, as it doesn't necessarily quench the appetite of power users. The vendor primarily focuses on providing the elderly with simple handsets, which in the past equated to offering nothing but feature phones. Doro's got a few new tricks up its sleeve which may be the most ridiculously easy transition from old-school to new-school yet. Their creation, with a title nearly as simple as the device itself, is called the PhoneEasy 740. It's a phone running essentially a forked Android OS with an incredibly user-friendly launcher -- called the Doro Experience -- that consists of only a few major functions, such as phone, messages, email and pictures. As for the handset itself, you're looking at a meager spec sheet: 5MP rear camera, 3.2-inch HVGA shooter, four hours of continuous talk time, FM radio, 512MB of RAM and 4GB internal memory. The software itself isn't fully functional yet, so we were only able to scroll through the main menu. We're anticipating the device to be ready in time for a summer release in markets around the world.

Speaking of the Doro Experience, the UI's going to be available on tablets this spring as an optional Android launcher. Fortunately the software can be paired with a desktop-specific app -- the Doro Experience Manager -- that gives the user the ability to remotely customize and manage the device. This is actually quite ideal, due to the fact that it's not limited to a proprietary Doro-made tablet. We haven't heard details on pricing and availability, but we'll get that information as it comes in. For now, anyone intrigued by the idea should hightail it to our gallery below.

Continue reading Doro PhoneEasy 740 smartphone hands-on at MWC 2012

Doro PhoneEasy 740 smartphone hands-on at MWC 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's 2012 Xperia series gets together for awkward family portrait
Feb 29th 2012, 11:42

While Sony's newly-christened Xperia phones are a bit difficult to tell apart, there's nothing quite like getting the whole clan together to tell these statement slabs apart. It's largely about the size and build differences here -- while the 4.3-inch Xperia S readies itself for retail stores very soon, the middleweight Xperia P is showing off its aluminum unibody frame. The Xperia U then shyly rounds out the series with the smallest footprint of the bunch. Hopefully our gallery will help you decide exactly which Sony phone is the one for you.

Sony's 2012 Xperia series gets together for awkward family portrait originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 07:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus OM-D E-M5 Micro Four Thirds camera to ship on March 31st?
Feb 29th 2012, 11:39

If a ship date pops up on Amazon for a date in the not-so-distant future, we're typically inclined to listen up -- after all, the world's largest e-tailer probably has a fairly good idea of when its products will first leave the warehouse. This time, it's the Olympus OM-D E-M5, which just appeared on the distributor's Japanese site with an estimated release date of March 31st. There's no mention of a date on the company's U.S. site, however, so it's still unclear whether or not the Micro Four Thirds cam will hit North American shores on the 31st as well. Still, unless a trip to Japan is in the cards for the end of Q1, your best bet for getting early access to the highly-anticipated mirrorless cam would probably be to get your pre-order on at our coverage link below.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Micro Four Thirds camera to ship on March 31st? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 07:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PixelQi has heavy night, wakes up married to French 'PadPro' tablet
Feb 29th 2012, 11:06

10-inch Pad Pro slate with PixelQi display
What has Mary Lou Jepsen been up to since 3M's cash injection? It's hard to say, but her sunlight-readable PixelQi panels are still popping up on the odd device -- like this Windows 7 slate from little-known Evigroup. The 10-inch PadPro is aimed at graphics types who are willing to bid adieu to €599 ($800) in return for a pressure-sensitive display, a 1.6GHz Atom processor (no mention of Cedar Trail), 1GB RAM and 160GB hard-drive. They also need to really hate Android.

PixelQi has heavy night, wakes up married to French 'PadPro' tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 07:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceEvigroup (French)  | Email this | Comments

Nokia Drive 3 teased at MWC with commute alerts via live tiles (video)
Feb 29th 2012, 10:31

Nokia Drive 3 teased at MWC with commute alerts via live tiles (video)
When the folks at Nokia took us aside and asked if we'd like a preview of the latest features slated for Nokia Drive, we knew something good was in store. Our intuition wasn't wrong. The next version of Nokia's navigation software will focus on commutes -- aiming to make the daily chore easier by learning driving habits, identifying regular trips and providing users with live tile updates that estimate journey times and traffic flow. Nokia Drive 3 will automatically query this data 30 minutes before an established commute is expected to begin, and will also provide drivers with suggested quicker routes to their destination. The traffic data is gathered both from traditional navigation sources and other Nokia Drive 3 users -- we're told this latter bit is completely optional and, while the privacy policy is quite explicit, the company insists it doesn't personally identify users.

Nokia tells us the software interface isn't finalized, so what you see in the Flash demonstration may change before Nokia Drive 3 arrives in the coming months. You'll find a demonstration of the new My Commute feature, from the creator himself, right after the break.

Continue reading Nokia Drive 3 teased at MWC with commute alerts via live tiles (video)

Nokia Drive 3 teased at MWC with commute alerts via live tiles (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 06:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) hands-on (video)
Feb 29th 2012, 10:10

It's easy to get confused by the variety of 7-inchers coming out of Samsung's gate; you might even speculate that the category is getting a bit crowded. But with the arrival of the Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0), it appears the popular Android manufacturer has an ace in its sleeve. The slate leaps past its cousins with the latest build of Ice Cream Sandwich out of the gate, although it still reps the same 1024 x 600 PLS TFT display, 3MP rear camera, 4,000mAh battery and dual-core setup. We had a chance to get a real feel for the tablet, so join us after the break as we parse through our initial impressions.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) hands-on (video)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 06:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) hands-on (video)
Feb 29th 2012, 09:58

As far as product launches go, the 10-inch Galaxy Tab 2's debut was relatively discreet. Announced with little fanfare, it's not even on display in Samsung's booth here at Mobile World Congress; you'll have to talk your way into a private room if you want a shot at getting hands-on.

And we can see why: with a 1280 x 800 display, 1GHz dual-core processor and 3-megapixel rear camera, its specs are nearly identical to what you'll find in last year's Galaxy Tab 10.1. Sure, it has a redesigned back cover and ships with Android 4.0, but otherwise, it's the same tablet. But with the new Galaxy Note tablet replacing the original 10.1 as Samsung's premier 10-inch tablet, the new 10.1 could be the budget-friendly option its predecessor wasn't. So does it hold promise as a mid-range tab? It'll be impossible to say until we know the price, but watch our hands-on video after the break and decide for yourselves just how much you'd pay for this thing.

Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) hands-on (video)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 05:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Broadcom: 802.11ac chipsets already in preproduction, preparing router invasion in summer
Feb 29th 2012, 09:57

Broadcom: 802.11ac chipsets already in preproduction, preparing router invasion in summer
Broadcom might have unveiled a bevy of 802.11ac chipsets back at CES, however when it came to availability the chipmaker played more than coy as to when they'd sashay their way out of developmental labs and into the hands of actual consumers. Fast-forward to MWC and the chipmaker's isn't nearly as shy, proclaiming its future WiFi solutions were "beyond the sampling phase" and now in preproduction. Also of note, was the estimate that finished products (read: the ones you can buy) containing this tech would go on sale by mid-2012. With competitor, Qualcomm, also previewing its 802.11ac concoction, could this year possibly shape up to golden era of speedy wireless transfers? Bring it on, we say.

Broadcom: 802.11ac chipsets already in preproduction, preparing router invasion in summer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 05:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google aids accessibility with ChromeVox reader, better YouTube captions and more
Feb 29th 2012, 08:43

Google's new accessibility features
Engineers from Google have commandeered a booth at this year's CSUN accessibility conference and they're keen to talk up their latest efforts. For the visually impaired, there's now a beta version of a Chrome screen reader called ChromeVox (demo'd after the break), plus improved shortcuts and screen reader support in Google Docs, Sites and Calendar. Meanwhile, YouTube boasts expanded caption support for the hard of hearing, with automatic captions enabled for 135 million video clips -- a healthy tripling of last year's total. Check the source link for full details or, if you're anywhere near San Diego, go and hassle those engineers the old-fashioned way.

Continue reading Google aids accessibility with ChromeVox reader, better YouTube captions and more

Google aids accessibility with ChromeVox reader, better YouTube captions and more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 04:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Whole Foods experimenting with Kinect-powered shopping carts that are smarter than you (video)
Feb 29th 2012, 07:39

Kinect Shopping Cart
Here's a little secret Whole Foods doesn't like to advertise: they want, nay, demand, that a rather large percentage of residents near its highfalutin grocery stores have a college degree. Apparently you've gotta be smart to navigate its aisles crowded with over-priced organic wares and exotic condiments. Perhaps, though, the company has realized the error of its ways and wants to move in to new markets. That doesn't mean it trusts you and your high school diploma to decipher all those labels with difficult to pronounce words on them. A new experimental shopping cart is being tested by the market that puts a tablet and a Kinect in the driver's seat -- literally. Because you can't be expected to multi-task, the cart drives itself, monitors your shopping list and can even warn you if you grab the wrong item, thus protecting you from your own inability to avoid aggravating your peanut allergy. Check it out in action after the break.

Continue reading Whole Foods experimenting with Kinect-powered shopping carts that are smarter than you (video)

Whole Foods experimenting with Kinect-powered shopping carts that are smarter than you (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Envia's GM-backed battery delivers huge energy density, lower costs, headaches for competitors
Feb 29th 2012, 06:24

If you're one of those worried about the battery on your expensive EV running out, look away now. Envia has unveiled a new cell that boasts a record-breaking energy density of 400Wh/kg (most currently offer between 100 and 150). It's estimated that when commercialized, this could bring the cost of a 300-mile range EV down to as little as $20,000. The performance gains come from a special manganese-rich cathode and silicon-carbon nano-composite anode combination. The battery maker is also partly owned by GM, which unsurprisingly means we're likely to see these very cells in its EVs in the future. Perhaps with the right choice of upholstery, we might see even better savings? Want to know more? Tap the fully charged press release parked just after the break.

Continue reading Envia's GM-backed battery delivers huge energy density, lower costs, headaches for competitors

Envia's GM-backed battery delivers huge energy density, lower costs, headaches for competitors originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Autoblog Green  |  sourceEnvia Systems  | Email this | Comments

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