| Samsung announces EK-GC100 Galaxy Camera with Android Jelly Bean, massive 4.8-inch display, 21x zoom, WiFi and 4G connectivity (hands-on) Aug 29th 2012, 17:30  During a visit to Samsung's headquarters in Korea earlier this year, we had a chance to talk shop with company execs. The electronics maker's existing mirrorless and point-and-shoot lineups were the primary topic of discussion, but we did catch wind of a Galaxy product possibly to come, from the camera division. A Galaxy camera? That could only mean Android, and a heavy heaping of touch and connectivity. At the time, reps admitted only that they were "considering" such a device, and declined to provide any hint as to design or functionality. And we haven't heard a further peep, until today. As you may have gathered from recent rumors, Samsung's Galaxy Note II is not the only product to be Unpacked this afternoon. Sure enough, the anticipated Galaxy Camera is also on order, and we have all the juicy details just past the break. Continue reading Samsung announces EK-GC100 Galaxy Camera with Android Jelly Bean, massive 4.8-inch display, 21x zoom, WiFi and 4G connectivity (hands-on) Filed under: Cameras Samsung announces EK-GC100 Galaxy Camera with Android Jelly Bean, massive 4.8-inch display, 21x zoom, WiFi and 4G connectivity (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Samsung announces ATIV S, a 4.8-inch Windows Phone 8 device Aug 29th 2012, 17:14  Samsung took to the stage in Berlin to showcase its new product lineup, and one of the featured devices is the first confirmed Windows Phone 8 device. Dubbed the ATIV S, the new Microsoft-sanctioned smartphone offers a 4.8-inch screen with an HD Super AMOLED display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm CPU, 8MP rear camera and 1.9MP front-facing cam. Additionally, it's got a beefy 2,300mAh battery, 1GB RAM, Gorilla Glass 2 and will come in both 16 and 32GB flavors. At 8.7mm, it's also reasonably thin. We've got another pic of the ATIV S below, and we'll have a hands-on to you as soon as possible. Check out all of our IFA 2012 coverage at our event hub! Continue reading Samsung announces ATIV S, a 4.8-inch Windows Phone 8 device Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile Samsung announces ATIV S, a 4.8-inch Windows Phone 8 device originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Windows Team Blog | Email this | Comments | | Samsung Galaxy Note II coming to the US 'later in 2012' Aug 29th 2012, 17:03  If you're waiting for the US release date for Samsung's Galaxy Note II, we're sorry to say that you won't find one today. While this version of the form-defining phablet is destined for European, Asian and Middle Eastern-markets, the company promises a version of the device will hit American shores before the end of 2012, as you can see in the quote we've got from the company below. "Samsung Mobile is planning a U.S. version of Galaxy Note II, which will be available later in 2012. Building on the success of the original Galaxy Note, we're confident that the Galaxy Note II continues to redefine what consumers should expect from their smartphone and delivers a powerful, innovative and unique experience. Exact timing and retail channel availability is not being announced at this time, we will continue to share information as it becomes available." Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note II coming to the US 'later in 2012' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Samsung Series 5 Ultra Touch Ultrabook arrives October 26th, starting at $799 Aug 29th 2012, 17:00  Remember that touchscreen Series 5 Ultrabook that Samsung showed off at Computex last June? Well, it's definitely coming to the US and will be available October 26th, the same day Windows 8 formally launches. As we noted in our hands-on, this is basically the same Series 5 we reviewed earlier this year, except the touchscreen adds some heft (it now weighs 3.83 pounds, versus 3.24 for the non-touch version). As for specs, you're looking at just two configurations, both of which have 4GB of RAM, a 13-inch (1,366 x 768) display and a 500GB hard drive with 24GB of ExpressCache. The only difference is that the entry-level $799 model has a Core i3 processor, while the $899 version steps up to i5. If that all sounds rather humdrum, Samsung is attempting to spice up Windows 8 by bundling custom apps, some of which you might remember from its various Android products. Sammy's various "Hubs" (Music, Video, Media and Social) are all present and accounted for, as is the AllShare app, which uses DLNA to share content across different devices. Additionally, Samsung is including a handful of desktop applications designed to soften the learning curve for people new to Windows 8. For instance, S-Launcher is a desktop widget that replicates the now-extinct Start Menu, live search and all. eSettings, meanwhile, is a centralized options menu for folks who might not know where to find power management or display settings in Win 8. If you follow on below, you'll find a short video walk-through of some of these apps (Sammy didn't demo AllShare or the Hubs for us, sadly), and we've also got fresh hands-on shots to complement the ones we took back in June. Continue reading Samsung Series 5 Ultra Touch Ultrabook arrives October 26th, starting at $799 Filed under: Laptops Samsung Series 5 Ultra Touch Ultrabook arrives October 26th, starting at $799 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Samsung Galaxy Note II unveiled: 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display, Android Jelly Bean and more S Pen functionality Aug 29th 2012, 17:00  While we can't say it was a shock, Samsung's latest superphone has arrived -- and it's got a new stylus. The Galaxy Note II pushes the screen frontier to 5.5 inches wide, with another HD Super AMOLED display, this time at 1,280 x 720. Despite that expansion the phone is a mere 9.4mm thick, while it now houses a larger capacity (faster charging) 3,100mAh battery and a quad-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.6GHz. As the Galaxy Note was to the Galaxy S II, so the Note II takes some design riffs from the Galaxy S III, with the same rounded edges, glossy finish and extra software piled atop its Android base. There's also Samsung's reliable 8-megapixel camera sensor on the back, capable of 1080p video-recording. The great news is that the Galaxy Note II will be launching on Jelly Bean -- no laborious waiting for those over-the-air updates for Google's very latest. Software additions are understandably heavily weighted towards the phablet's S Pen advances. The stylus itself now has a rubber nib, which Samsung reckons will offer an experience closer to pen and paper. User can add "Quick Commands" to their stylus gestures, while "Air View" allows you to peruse galleries and folders by floating the stylus just above the screen. Samsung's also added an Easy Clip ability to crop and share from anything beaming out from the Note II's 16:9 screen. Stylus functionality has been gifted to the calendar (S Planner) and the native email app, while the S Pen itself will now notify your phone if it's left behind. The device will launch in Titanium Grey and Marble White, arriving internationally before the end of the year. We've just managed to handle both the Galaxy Note II and that reformed stylus -- check out our hands-on here. Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Note II unveiled: 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display, Android Jelly Bean and more S Pen functionality Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note II unveiled: 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display, Android Jelly Bean and more S Pen functionality originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Samsung announces Series 5 and Series 7 Windows 8 tablets with S Pen apps, optional keyboards Aug 29th 2012, 17:00  Samsung already showed off its Series 5 Hybrid back at Computex, but what we didn't know was that Sammy had yet another tablet / laptop mash-up in the works. The company just formally announced the Series 5 and it turns out it's going to be joined by the next-gen Series 7 Slate as well. The two 11-inch tablets more or less look alike, except the Series 5 is powered by an Atom-based Clover Trail processor, while the Series 7 packs Core i5 guts. Both support pen input, and will come with the same S Pen apps found on the Galaxy Note 10.1. As for that optional keyboard dock, Samsung previously touted its magnetic hinge, but the dock has since been retooled with a sturdier latch-based mechanism. (Check out the video below to see it in action -- the tablet really does seem incapable of falling out.) As you can imagine, that difference in processor entails more than just different clock speeds. The two-watt Atom chip inside the Series 5 is rated for about nine hours of battery life, whereas the Core i5-powered Series 7 is expected to last between four and five hours on a charge. (The Series 5 is lighter, too, at 1.65 pounds, compared with 1.89 for the Series 7.) And, being a lower-powered device, the Series 5 has no vents. Last major difference: the Series 7 has a 1080p screen, while the Series 5's resolution tops out at 1,366 x 768. On the software side, Samsung is loading all of its Win 8 systems with its various Media Hubs -- yes, just like the ones you'll find on the company's Android devices. You'll also find AllShare, a DLNA media-sharing app; S-Launcher, a widget that replicates the missing Start Menu in Windows 8; and eSettings, a centralized options menu for folks who maybe haven't learned where all the settings are in Win 8. As for those S Pen applications, you've got S Note, among other carry-overs from the Android side. As with the Note 10.1, the pen itself can recognize 1,024 degrees of pressure sensitivity. Both tablets will arrive October 26th, the day Windows 8 starts shipping. The Series 7 will be available in one $1,119 configuration with 4GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD and the keyboard. The Series 5, meanwhile, will cost $649, and will include 2GB of RAM and a 64GB solid-state drive. If you like, you can purchase the keyboard for $99, or you can buy the two as a bundle for $749. We'll be back with reviews in October but until then, check out our walk-through below. (Note: we didn't get a chance to play with AllShare, the S Pen apps or the Hubs, but hopefully we can give you a more detailed demo of the software soon.) Continue reading Samsung announces Series 5 and Series 7 Windows 8 tablets with S Pen apps, optional keyboards Filed under: Laptops, Tablets Samsung announces Series 5 and Series 7 Windows 8 tablets with S Pen apps, optional keyboards originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Samsung Galaxy Note II: hands-on with the new S Pen-toting phablet (video) Aug 29th 2012, 17:00  Samsung's got a handful of announcements to offer its mobile fans at IFA this year, and it's started big: with the Galaxy Note II. The new Android device packs a larger 5.5-inch, 1,280 x 720 16:9 screen, but still falls roughly within the same generous footprint of its predecessor. A year on, we've now got a more powerful SoC, up from a dual-core 1.4GHz processor to a new quad-core 1.6GHz Exynos chipset (yes, that's even faster than the one found in the Galaxy S III) and Android Jelly Bean right out of the box. Samsung's putting a lot of focus on making the most of all that screen space and S Pen functionality. We got our hands (both of them) on the Galaxy Note II just a few hours early, so after the gallery, skip past the break for our first impressions. Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Note II: hands-on with the new S Pen-toting phablet (video) Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note II: hands-on with the new S Pen-toting phablet (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Sony's VPL-HW50ES projector revealed at IFA, brings home 4K and 3D in October Aug 29th 2012, 16:53  Look, we loved Sony's VPL-VW1000ES when it brought home 4K capability last year, but since we don't have the $20k+ laying around to spend on one, we're especially excited to hear about the just revealed VPL-HWH50ES. Slotting in above the VPL-HW30ES, it uses a version of the same technology seen in the VW1000ES to process images for 4K and of course supports 3D as well. We're all very familiar with the company's SXRD projectors by now but if you need more information the press release is after the break. While we know these are due to ship across Europe in both black and white by the end of October, what you won't find, at least so far, is a price tag. We'll keep our eyes peeled at CEDIA next week for more information. Continue reading Sony's VPL-HW50ES projector revealed at IFA, brings home 4K and 3D in October Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD Sony's VPL-HW50ES projector revealed at IFA, brings home 4K and 3D in October originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Sony Europe | Email this | Comments | | Toshiba unveils U925t Ultrabook with slide-out touchscreen, keeps the price a secret for now Aug 29th 2012, 16:52  If Computex was a coming out party for Windows 8 Ultrabooks, Toshiba was one of the wallflowers: though the company teased some concept devices, it only let journalists photograph them from certain angles, and with their screens turned off. Now, though, we're closing the summer with yet another tradeshow, and Toshiba is using the occasion to demo its wares in more detail. The company just announced the Satellite U925t, that Windows 8 slider we showed you earlier in the summer. No word on price, except that it's expected to be "slightly north" of the Satellite U845W, which starts at $1,000. We do know that it will ship on October 26th, the day Win 8 formally launches. In the meantime, Toshiba hasn't left any specs to the imagination. What we have here is a 12.5-inch Ultrabook with a slide-out, Gorilla Glass touchscreen. Pushing the screen up reveals a built-in keyboard, and we were pleasantly surprised in our hands-on to find that it's actually quite spacious. (With this form factor, the propped up display usually cuts into the usable keyboard space.) The keys are also backlit, and have the same feel as what you'll find on Toshiba's U845 and U845W Ultrabooks. That is to say they're shallow, and very, very quiet. The whole package weighs "just over three pounds" and measures about 0.8 inches thick, making it easy enough to stuff in a carry-on. When you push up the display you'll also find another surprise: a camera and LED flash on the back side. For good measure, there's also a lower-res shooter up front. On the inside, it packs a Core i5 processor, Intel HD 4000 graphics and a 128GB SSD. Like many other Ultrabooks, it also has Intel's Wireless Display tech on board, though you'll of course have to buy the requisite set-top box separately. Taking a tour around the device, you'll find a mix of tablet- and laptop-style trappings: two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, vents, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a volume rocker and a button for turning off screen auto-rotation. Software-wise, Toshiba is bundling Desktop Assist, a utility designed to give Windows 8 newbies quick access to files, programs and the like. You'll also see Live Tiles for things like Toshiba Central (a support hub), Book Place and Toshiba App Place. That's all she wrote for now, but expect us to follow up closer to October 26th with a more specific price. Until then, we've got hands-on photos below, along with a short walk-through video. Continue reading Toshiba unveils U925t Ultrabook with slide-out touchscreen, keeps the price a secret for now Filed under: Laptops, Tablets Toshiba unveils U925t Ultrabook with slide-out touchscreen, keeps the price a secret for now originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | IBM debuts new mainframe computer as it eyes a more mobile Watson Aug 29th 2012, 16:48  Those looking for a juxtaposition of IBM's past and future needn't look much further than two bits of news out of the company this week. The first comes with IBM's announcement of its new zEnterprise EC12 25 mainframe server -- a class of computer that may be a thing of the past in some places, but which still serves a fairly broad range of companies. In addition to an appearance that lives up to the "mainframe" moniker, this one promises 25 percent more performance per core than its predecessor and 50 percent more capacity. The second bit of news involves Watson, the company's AI effort that rose to fame on Jeopardy! and has since gone on to find a number of new roles. As Bloomberg reports, one of its next steps may be to take on Siri in the smartphone space. While there's no indication of a broader consumer product, IBM sees a range of possible applications for a mobile Watson in business and enterprise -- even, for instance, giving farmers the ability to ask when they should plant their crops. Before that happens, though, IBM says it needs to give Watson more "senses" in order to respond to real-world input like image recognition -- not to mention learn all it can about any given subject. Filed under: Misc, Mobile IBM debuts new mainframe computer as it eyes a more mobile Watson originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Bloomberg, IBM | Email this | Comments | | Sony launches STR-DA5800ES home cinema AV receiver: true 4K output, 9.2 surround sound Aug 29th 2012, 16:34  Sony's just launched a high-end home cinema receiver that's finally good enough to pair up with its IFA-fresh Bravia KD-84X9005 TV or existing VPL-VW1000ES 4K projector. On top of native 4K for supported displays, the receiver will upscale standard HD movies, promising greater color, contrast and detail. For audiophiles, the system has 9.2 channels of surround sound for so-called Front High and Surround Back speakers, on top of the standard 5.1 speaker setup. A feature called "Movie Height" enables the sound to be virtually adjusted up or down to better match the screen position, and acoustics can be selected to match famous concert halls like those in Vienna or Berlin. Finally, you can take advantage of all that Hi-Fi and display tech by streaming from your laptop, smartphone or tablet through a LAN hub on the receiver. There's no availability or pricing yet, but if you're not too concerned about that money stuff, check the PR for the rest of the story. Continue reading Sony launches STR-DA5800ES home cinema AV receiver: true 4K output, 9.2 surround sound Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD Sony launches STR-DA5800ES home cinema AV receiver: true 4K output, 9.2 surround sound originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Samsung Ativ Tab and Ativ S details leak, hint at a Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 power duo Aug 29th 2012, 16:27  Remember those Ativ Tab and Ativ S trademarks we saw just a couple of days ago? They may well be more than just Samsung's daydreams. As long as details at The Verge prove true, the devices attached to those names represent a two-pronged revival of Samsung's Windows-based mobile strategy. We're most interested in the Ativ S: thanks in part to Windows Phone 8's multi-core support, it's effectively a Galaxy S III for the Microsoft crowd with a similar 4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD screen, a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, a 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.9-megapixel front shooter. Swinging attention to the Ativ Tab shows what's likely to be a commonplace list of features for a Windows RT slate. Outside of the 10.1-inch screen, it's sporting its own 1.5GHz dual-core chip and 1.9-megapixel front camera as well as a 5-megapixel rear sensor, HDMI video out and USB. We're still missing a slew of details, such as storage and launch dates, although we might not have to wait long at all to know -- if the claims are correct, one or both of the Ativ models may show their faces at Samsung's IFA 2012 events. Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile Samsung Ativ Tab and Ativ S details leak, hint at a Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 power duo originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | The Verge (1), (2) | Email this | Comments | | NVIDIA, Epic Games bringing Unreal Engine 3 to Windows 8 and Windows RT (video) Aug 29th 2012, 16:26  NVIDIA and Epic Games have successfully ported the full PC version of Unreal Engine 3 to both Windows 8 and, more importantly, Windows RT. Demonstrating the achievement on a Tegra 3-powered ASUS Vivo Tab RT, it played a buttery-smooth version of Epic Citadel, suggesting that developers of both PC and Xbox games should have no problem in bringing them over to the new operating system. It also casually mentioned that both Gears of War and Mass Effect were built on the engine, heavily implying that we could see titles of that caliber coming to Microsoft's low-power OS once it makes it debut on October 26th, but we'll let you decide for yourself after the break. Continue reading NVIDIA, Epic Games bringing Unreal Engine 3 to Windows 8 and Windows RT (video) Filed under: Gaming, Tablets NVIDIA, Epic Games bringing Unreal Engine 3 to Windows 8 and Windows RT (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | NVIDIA | Email this | Comments | | Google offering Google+ for businesses, free until the end of 2013 Aug 29th 2012, 16:14  Google is bringing the enterprise-friendly elements of its Apps platform into Google+ in order to help businesses collaborate on projects online. The company's been using the service internally, but feels it's time to launch, in Google tradition, a "full preview" with a free and open beta that'll run until the end of 2013. The feature set includes private sharing, admin tools and, most impressively, hangouts directly integrated into Calendar, Gmail and Docs -- letting you video chat with multiple colleagues while you draft that project proposal, or resignation letter. Apps chief Clay Bavor hasn't mentioned how much the service will cost when the preview period finishes, but we'd be surprised if it was much more than what it currently charges if it's trying to snare the Yammer and Salesforce crowds. Filed under: Internet Google offering Google+ for businesses, free until the end of 2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  TechCrunch | Google | Email this | Comments | | Engadget's back to school guide 2012: printers Aug 29th 2012, 16:01 Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. Today, we have printers on our minds and on our desks -- and you can head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the series we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here!  It's safe to say that, at some point, you'll need to print out a collection of assignments this fall. We're looking to save the environment just as much as the next set of folks, but physical outputs are still required for a number of things -- especially in the realm of academics. Now that WiFi has become a standard option on most ink-to-paper peripherals, the ability to print from mobile devices has become a hot commodity. A number of our selections offer just that, allowing you to get the job started without needing to be in front of a computer. Enough chatter, though... head on past the break to peruse our picks for the back to school season this year. Continue reading Engadget's back to school guide 2012: printers Filed under: Peripherals Engadget's back to school guide 2012: printers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | JayBird intros Freedom Sprint: the JF3 Bluetooth stereo fitness headset gets 40% smaller Aug 29th 2012, 16:00  It's been quite a while since we last heard from JayBird, but now it's back with another set of Bluetooth in-ear headphones for fitness activities. Unveiled and available today, the new Freedom Sprint ($130, pictured right) joins the ranks of the company's Freedom JF3 headset ($99) -- it's essentially the same Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR headset, albeit with 40-percent less of a footprint for the earpieces (33 x 16 x 8 mm vs. 44 x 19 x 9 mm). The petite size naturally means a smaller internal battery (rated for 4.5 hours, compared to the original's six), but JayBird let us know that the Sprint is acoustically identical to the JF3. While size is the main focus, there are also a few other improvements being toted in the Sprint -- it sports a micro-USB port for charging (changed from mini-USB), a softer cable between the buds, an inconspicuous notification LED, enhanced call quality and the multifunction button has been repositioned to the top of one of the earpieces (the JF3's is on the outside). Sounds like the Sprint could be the $130 ticket if Bluetooth, small size and a secure fit are your main concerns for a pair of in-ears. You'll find more images in the gallery below and further details at the source link. Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Wearables JayBird intros Freedom Sprint: the JF3 Bluetooth stereo fitness headset gets 40% smaller originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | JayBird | Email this | Comments | | Sony's Xperia J arrives in style and on budget, we go hands-on Aug 29th 2012, 15:35  The Xperia T may have been Sony's flagship phone for this year's IFA, but the company's promised some style for a tighter budget in the form of the Xperia J -- what exactly "budget" means in this case, we're not exactly sure. The style thing we get, however -- the J's a pretty nice-looking phone and clearly in the aesthetic vein of its Sony Xperia brethren. The 4-inch FWVGA display is nice and bright (we had to turn it down a bit, even with that white Sony tablecloth in the background) and fairly shiny, offset by a matte black back. At 9.2mm thick, Sony's talking up the handset's svelte design. And it's certainly slimmer than a lot of handsets we've seen -- though not even close to the slimmest. It's also not the most powerful handset we've seen by any stretch with a 1GHz single-core processor inside, but it does a zippy enough job with the Ice Cream Sandwich it's rocking. All in all, the J seems like a fairly solid choice for those who don't want to shell out an arm and a leg on its bigger brother -- although we'll hold off full judgement until we figure out exactly what "budget" means. Check out our hands-on video after the break. Continue reading Sony's Xperia J arrives in style and on budget, we go hands-on Sony's Xperia J arrives in style and on budget, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Netatmo Urban Weather Station tells iOS users when it's safe to brave the great outdoors (video) Aug 29th 2012, 15:35  We haven't seen weather stations garner the same level of clever mobile integration as other pieces of household gear -- like, say, thermostats. Netatmo wants its newly available Urban Weather Station to inject a similar dose of life into a category that some of us still associate with the thermometer by the window. The aluminum tube design certainly gives a fresh look to the WiFi-linked indoor and outdoor sensors, but the real trick is the matching iOS (and eventually Android) app. It's for more than just gauging the wisdom of biking to work: the free app tracks historical trends and shares them with fellow users in a network that Netatmo hopes will provide a better understanding of wider-scale and longer-term trends. The sensors go beyond just obvious air quality, humidity, pressure and temperature conditions as well, flagging noise levels and warning if the CO2 levels are high enough to warrant airing out the house. The $179 price for the Urban Weather Station isn't trivial, but neither is knowing just how well you can cope with your environment. Continue reading Netatmo Urban Weather Station tells iOS users when it's safe to brave the great outdoors (video) Filed under: Household, Mobile Netatmo Urban Weather Station tells iOS users when it's safe to brave the great outdoors (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Netatmo, App Store | Email this | Comments | |
