| ViewSonic announces a duo of budget-friendly LED monitors Jul 27th 2012, 21:33  As gorgeous as huge, expensive monitors are, most situations just don't call for the inches or wallet-dents associated with today's luxury screens. With this in mind, and barely a breath after outing its $299, 27-inch LED offering, ViewSonic is back with two budget displays from the VA12 series. First up is the VA2212m-LED, which rocks a 1080p widescreen, 21.5-inch panel, 10,000,000:1 contrast Ratio, DVI and VGA inputs, as well as a pair of 2W integrated speakers. Its little brother the VA1912m-LED shares most of the same genes, but with an 18.5-inch, 1,366 x 768 resolution screen. Running with ViewSonic's eco-friendly theme, both mercury-free LED monitors also boast the eco-mode feature for low power consumption and a longer life. If either of the new displays are grabbing your attention, you'll be able to pick up the $149 VA2212m-LED imminently, with the $125 VA1912m-LED hitting North American retailers in mid-August. Continue reading ViewSonic announces a duo of budget-friendly LED monitors Filed under: Displays ViewSonic announces a duo of budget-friendly LED monitors originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  TechPowerUp | Email this | Comments |   | ZTE Grand X reaches UK shops a tad early through Phones4U Jul 27th 2012, 21:04  Virgin Mobile had originally promised the UK version of the ZTE Grand X for early August. The carrier just can't contain its enthusiasm: it's letting retail partner Phones4U sell the budget smartphone as of today. While you're busy skipping the start of the Olympics, the store will give you a Grand X for free if you're willing to spend at least £20.50 ($32) per month on a tariff instead of opting for the £190 ($299) pay-as-you-go hardware price. As we saw in China, the appeal of the Grand X is in those numbers -- it's more the temptation of stock Android 4.0 in a low-priced (if capable) suit than the hardware. Phones4U does hope to sweeten the pot through a contest. We hope you like the musical styles of Professor Green, as the British retailer is giving early Grand X adopters a chance to win both a custom Professor Green case as well as tickets to a private concert. Filed under: Cellphones ZTE Grand X reaches UK shops a tad early through Phones4U originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Phones4U | Email this | Comments |  | 3D printer cuts vinyl, mills, draws, fits comfortably inside a briefcase, is generally fab Jul 27th 2012, 20:46  Is there anything this tool from MIT's Ilan Moyer and collaborator Nadya Peek can't do? Probably, but that list seems likely to be shorter than the list of those it can. So far, Popfab has been shown doing a little printing during a brief video, but Moyer has promised a lot more to come, telling Core 77, "we also have toolheads working for vinyl cutting, milling and drawing," all of which promise to show up in subsequent episodes. The tool (which has other fans) has apparently already made its way around the world in the form of carry-on luggage, helping fulfill its creators desire to support "the nomadic designer" -- just a briefcase, a power source and a dream. Continue reading 3D printer cuts vinyl, mills, draws, fits comfortably inside a briefcase, is generally fab Filed under: Misc. Gadgets 3D printer cuts vinyl, mills, draws, fits comfortably inside a briefcase, is generally fab originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  The Verge, Core 77 | Vimeo | Email this | Comments |  | Samsung ChatON for Android gets Olympic Buddy feature, also sports a new logo Jul 27th 2012, 20:18  Ever since its debut late last year, Samsung's ChatON application has been a moderate hit amongst folks using iOS, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Android devices. Now, along with outing a slightly redesigned logo (pictured above), the Korean outfit's also updated its app in Google's sweet OS to version 1.9.5 on handsets, or 1.7.3 if you're handling one of those larger slabs. Most notably, the ChatON refresh brings the London 2012 spirit with a timely "Olympic Buddy" feature, which keeps you in the loop by pushing out breaking news, daily schedules and, of course, medal tables. Additionally, there's now a walkie-talkie service within the phone application, while the tablet variant gained the ability to send documents to your friends -- not to mention it finally lets you use fancy emoticons. Feeling pretty antsy to give it a try? That Google Play link below will take you there. Filed under: Cellphones, Software Samsung ChatON for Android gets Olympic Buddy feature, also sports a new logo originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Sammy Hub | Google Play | Email this | Comments |  | GM testing pedestrian detection system powered by WiFi Direct (video) Jul 27th 2012, 19:54  Car makers have been peddling wireless pedestrian avoidance systems almost as long as there have been automobiles. (We believe one of the earliest was called the "side view mirror.") GM's new experiment though, differs from other implementations by skipping out on the 3G, cameras and radar -- instead going for a model built around WiFi Direct. The peer-to-peer 802.11 standard hasn't exactly set the world on fire, but the WiFi Alliance is diligently tweaking the platform and apparently GM thinks its a perfect match for connecting cars, cyclists and pedestrians to each other. Unlike 3G-based systems, there's little lag between locating and identifying bikes or people crossing the street since the signal doesn't have to be bounced off a satellite. It also has a leg up on radar detection since WiFi can be a two way pipeline -- alerting someone out for a stroll of an oncoming vehicle. Of course, it will be some time before anything like this actually makes it into a production vehicle. But, in the meantime, you can check out the PR and video after the break. Continue reading GM testing pedestrian detection system powered by WiFi Direct (video) Filed under: Transportation, Wireless GM testing pedestrian detection system powered by WiFi Direct (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments |  |
