| Novero's Solana is an $800 netbook running Windows 7 and Android, we go hands-on Mar 1st 2012, 12:50 The last time we saw the Novero Solana, we were prowling Intel's booth at CES in search of prototypes. Because it was Intel, not Novero, showing the device, the emphasis was on that Cedar Trail processor inside, as well as that kooky form factor -- a netbook with a titling, easel-like touchscreen. What we didn't know then was that the Solana also runs Android, and that it's almost ready for prime time: it's expected to hit Europe and North America within the next two to three months, priced at about €699 or $799, respectively. We had a chance to play with some more polished hardware here at Mobile World Congress, and also see the machine running Gingerbread. Follow past the break for some early impressions or, if it's too early in the US to stomach reading, have a gander at our quickie demo video. Continue reading Novero's Solana is an $800 netbook running Windows 7 and Android, we go hands-on Novero's Solana is an $800 netbook running Windows 7 and Android, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Hands-on with wireless, ultrasonic stylus and touchless gestures at MWC (video) Mar 1st 2012, 12:28 This isn't the first time you've heard of EPOS or XTR, but it's been quite some time since we've checked in with either of the outfits. So, imagine our surprise as we stumbled on new developments from each company as we perused the Texas Instruments booth at MWC. In the case of EPOS, we're shown a stylus that, in addition to offering traditional physical touch input, also allows users to interact with a device via ultrasound. The system is built upon TI's OMAP4 platform and requires that four microphones be placed at the corners of the screen. In this demonstration, we're shown how users can manipulate objects on a 3D plane via the Z-axis by pulling the pen away from the display. Next, we're shown a new application for the touchless gesturing system that XTR first debuted back in 2010. In this scenario, it's demonstrated how tablet owners could use the front-facing camera (at merely QVGA resolution) to flip through pages of a cookbook without worry of getting ingredients on the device. The concept software was developed by a French outfit known as Stonetrip, and also allows users to zoom and pan through the pages. You'll find demonstrations of each technology in a video after the break. Continue reading Hands-on with wireless, ultrasonic stylus and touchless gestures at MWC (video) Hands-on with wireless, ultrasonic stylus and touchless gestures at MWC (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Konka Falcon 3G hands-on Mar 1st 2012, 12:14 It wouldn't be MWC without us spotting a phone manufacturer that's blatantly channeling the design spirit of another. You may remember Konka's appearances at trade shows past, but this year its new (but not completely finished) Falcon device was on the showfloor in Froyo and Gingerbread forms. Both white and black color options were on hand for us, packing the same GSM (850/900/1800/1900) and WCDMA (900/2100) radios and a 3.75-inch 480 x 360 display. With a three-megapixel camera on the back, paired with a VGA shooter on the front, Konka caught our attention with promotional posters using a font that's more than a little similar to Nokia's own, regardless of the fact that the name itself is just one letter change and reshuffle away from the Espoo-based phone titan. Fortunately, the phone's sharp styling betrayed those middling specs, with a sturdy build and a screen that performed pretty well on the show floor. There's no Android capacitive buttons -- you'll have to use the physical buttons beneath those staple symbols. Take a look for yourself in the gallery below, which also includes Konka homages to both HTC and Samsung. Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.Konka Falcon 3G hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Polaroid's Pro smartphone series hands-on Mar 1st 2012, 11:57 It wasn't just Polaroid's tablets getting showing at MWC. The former photographic powerhouse has been readying a selection of Android-powered handsets that it's trying not to get confused with its HD camera seen at CES. Polaroid's Pro phone range seem to be pitched at the Alcatel side of the smartphone spectrum and ironically, given its heritage, the models on show brandished slightly lower-specced camera modules than the final versions. The Pro X11B's 1.3-megapixel camera will increase to two, while the 3-megapixel Pro A12 steps up to a 5-megapixel sensor. Unfortunately, the series' flagship 4.3-inch model displayed in Polaroid's smartphone brochure missed its flight to Barcelona, while, bizarrely, the working mid-range model was running HTC Sense. However, we were told that this software build was apparently there to demonstrate the (poor) screen technology. Build quality is similarly depressing and felt plasticky and out-of-date already. We were told that final models would arrive a little skinnier, but that's only the start of a whole raft of improvements needed here. Polaroid's distribution plans and pricing are still a little blurry, but until we hear more, you can check out our gallery for some close-up details. Polaroid's Pro smartphone series hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Polaroid Spectrum tablet family hands-on Mar 1st 2012, 11:51 Polaroid hasn't got much more than Lady Gaga going for it at the moment and even that partnership is questionably fruitful at best. So, when we stopped by the company's booth here at MWC to check out its Spectrum line of Android tablets, our bar was already set quite low. Turns out, there's room for it to drop even lower as that family of 7-, 8- and 9.7-inch slates seems more of a KIRF attempt than true product line from a former imaging heavyweight. Which brings us to a very curious spec given the company's mission statement: the rear camera on what we presume is its 10-inch flagship is capable of a measly VGA resolution, despite indicating 2 megapixels. It's a baffling hardware miss and could've been the one bright spot amongst the cheap plastic build and software experience saddling these tabs. On a minor upswing, the OS across the capacitive tabs is stock ICS, with Froyo relegated to the resistive ones. Performance is sluggish and uneven at best considering the array of processors and clock speeds employed: from a 1.5GHz CPU in the auto-stereoscopic 7-incher to an 800MHz processor for the lower-end units to a 1GHz ARM11 in the 9.7-inch, TouchPad-like slab. It's a wonder the outfit even bothered with category, as the entirety of this lineup smacks of a half-hearted stab. You can check out the full array of lackluster tabs in our gallery below. Mat Smith contributed to this report.Polaroid Spectrum tablet family hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Hands-on with Nokia Asha 202, 203 and 302 at MWC (video) Mar 1st 2012, 11:33 There's no doubt that the smartphone is a truly empowering device, but for individuals unable to afford such high-end gear, Nokia believes it has the solution with its latest line of Series 40 handsets -- the Asha 202, 203 and 302. Like the previously-released Asha 200, the Asha 202 features dual-SIM functionality and the ability to hot-swap the secondary SIM card. Sadly, its connectivity is limited to 1800MHz / 900MHz GSM. The Asha 203 is similar in every way to the 202, save for its single SIM design, better battery life and quadband GSM support. Both feature rather unresponsive 2.4-inch QVGA touchscreens, 2 megapixel cameras and up to 32GB storage expansion via microSD. Meanwhile, the Asha 302 is a non-touchscreen device that offers a physical keyboard, 1GHz processor, 2.4-inch QVGA display, 3.2 megapixel camera, quadband GSM and pentaband WCDMA support with 14.4Mbps HSPA connectivity. Even as feature phones, none of the offerings are terribly impressive. Still, Nokia hopes the internet capabilities of each handset will be instrumental to help connect the "next billion consumers" to the world at large. So join us as we delve into an extended video tour of the Asha 202 and 302, where we'll explore the features and functionality of each device. Continue reading Hands-on with Nokia Asha 202, 203 and 302 at MWC (video) Hands-on with Nokia Asha 202, 203 and 302 at MWC (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | |
