LG Spectrum 2 caught posing with docks and cases Aug 28th 2012, 15:01 At this point, there isn't much mystery left surrounding the LG VS930, aka Spectrum 2 for Verizon. Despite the onslaught of rumored specs, however, we still haven't seen much in the way of the phone's accessories. That has all changed now, as we've gotten our hands on a few smallish images of the new Spectrum residing in a car dock, home dock and a rugged-looking protective case. We're still waiting on an official announcement along with availability and pricing (though we imagine all three details will come at the same time), but we try to convince ourselves that each new leak is a step closer to reality. [Thanks, Anonymous] Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile LG Spectrum 2 caught posing with docks and cases originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | Voice signals sent to Mars and back, while telephoto images tease rich geology Aug 28th 2012, 14:38 The Martian hills are alive with the sound of music. Well, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden's voice at least, as the agency reveals that the first recorded human voice has traveled from Earth, to another planet, and back. The words might not have literally echoed in the surrounding hills, but by having been beamed to Curiosity and back again, have made a small step towards interplanetary communication. Along with the motivational words of Bolden, the rover returned some telephoto images from the onboard 100mm and 34mm lenses. The pictures show the hills toward which Curiosity is bound, and tease the scientists with their rich-looking -- and hopefully revealing -- layers of geology. Want to know what interplanetary voicemail sounds like? No need to go to Mars and back, just click on the more coverage link below. Continue reading Voice signals sent to Mars and back, while telephoto images tease rich geology Filed under: Misc, Science Voice signals sent to Mars and back, while telephoto images tease rich geology originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | Apple strikes licensing deal with Motorola in Germany, heralds more peaceful times? Aug 28th 2012, 14:17 Motorola's war with Apple has certainly been overshadowed by the showdown with Samsung. But, with the latter melodrama shifting into quiet mode, focus is coming back to the battle with Moto. That ongoing story has taken a rather unexpected turn, however. A filing on Monday revealed that the Google subsidiary has agreed to license some (if not all) of its standards-essential patents to Cupertino... in Germany, at least. When exactly the deal was struck isn't clear, and neither side has announced a royalty rate as of yet. It could be that the German courts will decide what is appropriate according to FRAND rules, but the agreement also includes an admission by Apple that it is liable for past damages relating to these patents. The terms seem to include only "cellular standard-essential" patents, which means the company's claims regarding WiFi and video codecs could still be used as an avenue of attack. But, with at least one set of FRAND patents set aside, we wouldn't be surprised if the rest followed. It may be that Moto has simply decided to pick its fights more carefully, in light Apple's recent legal victory and growing pressure from the European Commission surrounding potential abuse of standards-essential patents. Or, it could be an olive branch and a sign that the patent wars are winding down -- a possibility we'd joyously embrace. Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile Apple strikes licensing deal with Motorola in Germany, heralds more peaceful times? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | FOSS Patents | Email this | Comments | Samsung expands Galaxy S III colors: yes, you can get brown Aug 28th 2012, 14:15 Samsung just couldn't relegate itself to a two-tone, blue and white Galaxy S III universe -- the company is using the run-up to IFA 2012 to triple the size of its smartphone's palette. We've seen the Garnet Red model arrive early at AT&T, but it now looks to be spreading abroad; the previously leaked Sapphire Black is equally official for those who don't think the original blue is dark enough. We're also seeing two more colors that have been relatively undiscovered, including a Titanium Gray and an unconventional Amber Brown. No, not that kind of brown, although it may be the first time in awhile that earthy hue has claimed such a high profile. Color choices will vary depending on the carrier or store, which leaves a distinct chance that you'll be switching networks or hunting down importers if you've got to have just the right shade of Hyperglaze in your life. Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile Samsung expands Galaxy S III colors: yes, you can get brown originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Samsung Tomorrow | Email this | Comments | We're live from IFA 2012 in Berlin! Aug 28th 2012, 14:00 Have you ever visited a state fair in the US? Picture the fairgrounds -- perhaps enlarged several fold -- filled to the brim with ultra-slim televisions, giant smartphones, tablets, laptops and enough washers and dryers to keep the entire population of Germany's wardrobe squeaky clean. That's IFA. There may not be any deep-fried Oreos at this Messe (though you will find plenty of Brezels and Bier), but there's more than enough to keep us entertained for a full week, and then some. The fun kicks off tomorrow afternoon with Sony's annual press conference, followed by Samsung Unpacked where we expect to see a Galaxy S III-like successor to last year's blockbuster Note. Then chaos ensues, when the two dozen exhibition halls open to the public, and tens of thousands of curious consumers mix with industry reps and journalists, pushing and shoving their way to the hottest gadgets from every category, be it high-end home theater or personal grooming (read: electric toothbrush/water flosser duos). Rest assured that we'll focus our efforts on the former, and you can stay on top of all the news as it happens using our "ifa2012" tag. Continue reading We're live from IFA 2012 in Berlin! Filed under: Announcements We're live from IFA 2012 in Berlin! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | |