Minggu, 13 Februari 2011

What's new on SlashGear.com

What's new on SlashGear.com


USB Follow Focus makes a DSLR a serious filmmaking tool

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 03:01 PM PST

When DSLRs started offering HD Video recording, independent and guerilla filmmakers finally were able to afford to get out of the camcorder ghetto while taking advantage of techniques that utilize depth of field.  But what they’ve really missed was the capability to accomplish a smooth “follow focus,” which is the ability to focus from one part in the depth of field to another without causing camera movement.   That’s where the Okii USB Follow  Focus Knob comes in handy.

Compatible with most Canon DSLR cameras, the OkiUSB Follow Focus Knob, is a small, round device with a handful of control buttons and  uses the camera’s mini USB port to remotely manipulate the camera lens and focus it in and out.   The buttons can be pre-set for specific focal points so that the camera will rack focus from each point seemlessly every time.  Other buttons are used to start and stop recording, adjust ISO, aperture and shutter speed, as well as changing focus zones.   The only downside is that it seems the buttons aren’t labled, so the user has to memorize each function position.

To see the USB Follow Focus in action, check out this video from DSLR FilmNoob.

The USB Follow Focus Knob runs about $400, and is currently available pre-order.

[via Ubergizmo]


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Sony Ericsson Neo hands-on [Video]

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 01:49 PM PST

Sony Ericsson’s Neo feels more than a little familiar, just like the Vivaz did all the way back in January 2010, but this is really a brand new device wearing a borrowed suit. Running Android Gingerbread, it’s a fairly chunky handset which runs pretty much like the XPERIA Arc, though with a 3.7-inch display rather than the Arc’s stunning 4-inch Reality Display.

Video demo after the cut

Still, an 8.1-megapixel camera can’t really be argued with, though we’d prefer a more solid build than the somewhat cheap feeling plastic Sony Ericsson has used. The software is pre-release, too, which has left the phone prone to the occasional crash and lagginess in the widgets.

Sony Ericsson Neo hands-on:

That’s hopefully going to be ironed out before the Neo launches, and the pricing should be sufficiently low to make the point of entry suitably affordable for the budget market.


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Intel MeeGo teaser tips MWC 2011 smartphone & tablet reveal

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 01:29 PM PST

Intel may have been in the dark about Nokia’s re-evaluated plans for MeeGo, but that hasn’t stopped them planning some noise about the open-source OS in Barcelona this week. A snapshot from the MeetMeego Twitter account shows an MWC 2011 banner with a hitherto-unseen smartphone and tablet along with the suggestion that it’s “a little teaser what [sic] awaits you tomorrow” at the show.

It’s not entirely confirmed if these are just mockup images or actual hardware that will launch or at least demo the newest versions of the MeeGo smartphone and tablet builds. Still, Intel will need to do some convincing to get more companies onboard if they want to rescue MeeGo from mere lab duty.

[via Twitter - Thanks Alexis!]


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Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play hands-on [Video]

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 01:16 PM PST

Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA Play has been so well leaked already, there’s a strange sense of familiarity with the gaming smartphone despite it having only made its official debut at MWC 2011 today. Hands-on, it’s an odd combination of the familiar from Android and PSP, and during gameplay it certainly feels fast enough. We demo’d Bruce Lee: Dragon Warrior, FIFA ’10 and Asphalt 6, and all three were slick and responsive.

Video demo after the cut

The directional pad and standard PlayStation buttons all work as you’d expect, though the trackpads take some getting used to. The absence of any sort of physical feedback – as you’d normally get with the springed tension of a physical stick – makes it difficult to judge how far each has been triggered. There was also some judder at times, rather than slick movement across the pads, though that could be down to prototype error.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play hands-on:

There’s still some work to be done on the software; we saw a number of app crashes along the way, and at times there was a fair amount of lag in switching apps or, particularly, going between portrait and landscape orientation. Hardware is solid and surprisingly sturdy, particularly in the slider mechanism, given these are still prototypes, and the dock is a useful addition.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play FIFA ’10:

What will be the deciding factor is the game selection and how it differs from what’s available on other Android devices. Sony Ericsson has promised that the XPERIA Play will not only get exclusive titles through their own partnership deals, but that titles more generally available on Android phones will be able to offer additional content on the Play. The success of that will obviously depend on how keen developers are to sign up to Sony’s licensing scheme (which will also impact titles offered on the Sony NGP), and that will in turn be contingent on how the smartphone is priced.

There, then, is our biggest concern. We’ve been talking to people in the carrier industry, and they’ve been telling us that the sort of monthly agreements that could be required in order to balance the cost of the hardware itself may put the XPERIA Play into a premium category above the current top-end of Android smartphones. If that’s the case, then Sony Ericsson may have issues getting users onboard. Still, we’ll find out for sure in March 2011, when the first markets start seeing the phone, and then again in Spring when it arrives in CDMA form on Verizon in the US.


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Sony Ericsson XPERIA Pro slaps QWERTY on the Neo

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 12:18 PM PST

Sony Ericsson’s surprise smartphone for MWC 2011 was the XPERIA Pro, a business-centric handset running Android and packing a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Like the XPERIA Neo there’s a 3.7-inch 854 x 480 capacitive touchscreen, only the Pro adds a full QWERTY keyboard that uses Smart Keyboard software to automatically load up predictive messaging depending on the app you’re in when you pop the ‘board out.

There’s also HDMI, WiFi, Bluetooth and the Sony Mobile BRAVIA engine for the display, an FM radio and GPS. Powering it all is a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 processor while cellular connectivity is dual or triband UMTS and quadcore GSM. The camera is a 8-megapixel unit on the back and a 2-megapixel on the front.

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA Pro will launch in selected markets from the end of Q2 2011. Like the XPERIA Neo there will be three colors: red, black and silver.

Press Release:

Sony Ericsson expands Xperia family with two new generation Android smartphones

• Xperia™ pro combines intuitive and fast messaging with multimedia features from Sony
• Xperia™ neo gives consumers a new way to experience the best of Android and the best of Sony multimedia

February 13, 2011, Barcelona, Spain – Sony Ericsson today unveils the Xperia™ neo and Xperia™ pro, the newest additions to the new generation of Xperia™ smartphones. Closely following the launch of the Xperia™ arc smartphone earlier this year, these latest smartphones also feature cutting edge technology from Sony and an exceptional multimedia experience on the latest version of the Android™ platform – Gingerbread.

As well as best-in-class imaging and display technology from Sony, the Xperia™ pro combines an optimized slide-out keyboard with smart functions to create a fast messaging experience. Featuring an ergonomically crafted keyboard, Sony Ericsson has focused on integrating the hardware with clever messaging functions for a perfect user experience. Xperia™ pro introduces the subtle but fast Type & Send functionality eliminating the need to open a dedicated app for each type of message, and Smart Keyboard that triggers predictive messaging actions automatically when the user slides out the keyboard.

Xperia™ pro is also the ideal business phone for Android fans coming complete with a set of professional functions such as syncing your email, calendar and contacts in a secure way and the pre-loaded Office Suite Pro lets consumers view and edit office documents directly on the phone.

Steve Walker, Head of Marketing, Sony Ericsson said, "We want to be a leader in Android and with Xperia™ neo and Xperia™ pro, we are now are offering excellent, innovative Android choices for consumers. These latest devices combine stunning design with state-of-the-art Sony technology and a new faster messaging experience on the Xperia™ pro, creating an entertaining smartphone experience."

The best of Sony technology once again features in both Xperia™ pro and Xperia™ neo. The Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine delivers exceptional visual brilliance and a crystal clear image which enhances the overall entertainment experience. Sony's award-winning Exmor R™ for mobile sensor enables the capture of high quality, bright pictures and HD videos even in low light. All pictures and videos can be shared on an HD TV in your living room via the built in HDMI-connector.

Xperia™ neo builds on the stunning design language that Sony Ericsson has become known with a unique shape that not only looks good, but is ergonomically designed to fit perfectly in the user's hand, especially when taking pictures.

Both smartphones will launch on the latest version of the Android™ platform providing access to Google Mobile Services and the myriad of applications available via the Android market. Xperia™ smartphones add best in class entertainment on top of smartphone fundamentals such as apps, maps, email and fast uncompromised access to the Web with Adobe® Flash® Player to create the most entertaining smartphone experience.

Sony Ericsson Xperia™ neo – Key features
• Exmor R™. Great stills and videos even in low light
• Reality display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
• Built-in HDMI. Your stills and videos on HD TV
• More than 100,000 apps on Android Market
• Google™ services. At your service

The Sony Ericsson Xperia™ neo will be available in the following colours: Blue Gradient, Red and Silver.

Sony Ericsson Xperia™ pro – Key features
• Touch phone with perfect slide-out keyboard and smart functions for fast messaging
• Synch your email and edit office documents on the go
• Sony Mobile BRAVIA® Engine and Exmor R™ for mobile
• HDMI. Connect to an HD TV or a projector
• Google™ services and more than 100,000 apps on Android Market™

The Sony Ericsson Xperia™ pro will be available in the following colours: Black, Red, Silver

Sony Ericsson Xperia™ neo will be available globally in selected markets from end Q1 and Sony Ericsson Xperia™ pro from end Q2.


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Sony Ericsson Neo packs 8MP and Gingerbread

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 12:07 PM PST

Sony Ericsson has officially announced the Neo, its photo-centric Android Gingerbread smartphone, at MWC 2011 today. Effectively an Android update to the Sony Ericsson Vivaz, with that handset’s focus on digital photography, the Neo has an 8-megapixel camera, HDMI connector, and screen technology borrowed from Sony’s BRAVIA line.

Like the XPERIA Arc, there’s EXMOR R display technology, and Sony Ericsson have integrated the Neo with Sony’s remote control systems so that you’ll be able to navigate the phone’s menu and galleries while it’s connected via HDMI. A front-facing 2-megapixel camera rounds out the main specs.

The Sony Ericsson Neo will launch in dark blue We’ve also been told that Vodafone will be exclusively offering the Neo in red. No word on pricing at this stage.

Press Release:

Sony Ericsson expands Xperia family with two new generation Android smartphones

XperiaTM pro combines intuitive and fast messaging with multimedia features from Sony XperiaTM neo gives consumers a new way to experience the best of Android and the best of Sony multimedia

February 13, 2011, Barcelona, Spain – Sony Ericsson today unveils the XperiaTM neo and XperiaTM pro, the newest additions to the new generation of XperiaTM smartphones. Closely following the launch of the XperiaTM arc smartphone earlier this year, these latest smartphones also
feature cutting edge technology from Sony and an exceptional multimedia experience on the latest version of the AndroidTM platform – Gingerbread.
As well as best-in-class imaging and display technology from Sony, the XperiaTM pro combines an optimised slide-out keyboard with smart functions to create a fast messaging experience. Featuring an ergonomically crafted keyboard, Sony Ericsson has focused on integrating the hardware with clever messaging functions for a perfect user experience. XperiaTM pro introduces the subtle but fast Type & Send functionality eliminating the need to open a dedicated app for each type of message, and Smart Keyboard that triggers predictive messaging actions automatically when the user slides out the keyboard.
XperiaTM pro is also the ideal business phone for AndroidTM fans coming complete with a set of professional functions such as synching email, calendar and contacts in a secure way, and the pre-loaded Office Suite Pro lets consumers view and edit office documents directly on the phone.
Steve Walker, Head of Marketing, Sony Ericsson said, "We want to be a leader in Android, and with XperiaTM neo and XperiaTM pro we are now are offering excellent, innovative Android choices for consumers. These latest devices combine stunning design with state-of-the-art Sony technology and a new faster messaging experience on the XperiaTM pro, creating an entertaining smartphone experience."
The best of Sony technology once again features in both XperiaTM pro and XperiaTM neo. The Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine delivers exceptional visual brilliance and a crystal clear image which enhances the overall entertainment experience. Sony's award-winning Exmor RTM for mobile sensor enables the capture of high quality, bright pictures and HD videos, even in low light. All pictures and videos can be shared on an HD TV in your living room via the built in HDMI-connector.
XperiaTM neo builds on the stunning design language that Sony Ericsson has become known for, with a unique shape that not only looks good but is ergonomically designed to fit perfectly in the user's hand, especially when taking pictures.
Both smartphones will launch on the latest version of the AndroidTM platform providing access to GoogleTM Mobile Services and the myriad of applications available via the Android MarketTM. XperiaTM smartphones add best in class entertainment on top of smartphone fundamentals such as apps, maps, email and fast internet to create the most entertaining smartphone experience.
Sony Ericsson XperiaTM neo – Key features
Exmor RTM. Great stills and videos even in low light Reality display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine Built-in HDMI. Your stills and videos on HD TV More than 100,000 apps on Android MarketTM GoogleTM services. At your service
The Sony Ericsson XperiaTM neo will be available in the following colours: Blue Gradient, Red and Silver.
Sony Ericsson XperiaTM pro – Key features
Touch phone with perfect slide-out keyboard and smart functions for fast messaging Synch your email and edit office documents on the go Sony Mobile BRAVIA® Engine and Exmor RTM for mobile
HDMI. Connect to an HD TV or a projector GoogleTM services and more than 100,000 apps on Android MarketTM
The Sony Ericsson XperiaTM pro will be available in the following colours: Black, Red, Silver
Sony Ericsson XperiaTM neo will be available globally in selected markets from end Q1 and Sony Ericsson XperiaTM pro from end Q2.


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Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play debuts

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 11:58 AM PST

Sony Ericsson has officially launched the XPERIA Play, its PlayStation gaming phone, at MWC 2011. As we’ve already seen well previewed, the XPERIA Play has a slide-out gaming keypad behind a 4-inch 854 x 480 capacitive touchscreen, and will come loaded with Sony Ericsson’s own gaming download store. Sony Ericsson has also confirmed that the XPERIA Play will be coming to Verizon as the first US carrier, sometime this spring.

Power is courtesy of Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon QSD8255 CPU, paired with 512MB of RAM, 512MB of ROM, Adreno 205 graphics and a microSD card slot. There’s also Bluetooth, WiFi, and a battery good for up to 5hrs 35mins of battery life.

Fifty games titles will be released at launch, from a total of 20 publishers, and Sony Ericsson is promising that titles already available on other Android phones may have extra content on the XPERIA Play. It’ll launch first in March 2011, and we’ve heard Vodafone UK has already committed to carry the smartphone. No word on pricing at this stage.



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Samsung Galaxy S II official

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 11:46 AM PST

As expected, Samsung has officially announced the Samsung Galaxy S II, the replacement to the much-loved Galaxy S. Based around a 4.27-inch WVGA Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen, the Galaxy S II runs a 1GHz Samsung dual-core processor in a chassis that’s just 8.49mm at its thinnest point.

There’s also an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus and Full HD video recording, NFC support as on the Nexus S, and Android 2.4 Honeycomb with the latest iteration of Samsung’s TouchWiz UI on top. Up front is a 2-megapixel camera for video calls. Connectivity includes HSPA+ together with WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0+HS.

Pricing is yet to be confirmed, though the Galaxy S II is expected to drop in Q2 2011. We’ve heard separately that Vodafone will definitely be ranging the smartphone, and we’d guess it will quickly be picked up by most other carriers.


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I Would Never Buy an HDTV From a Brick-And-Mortar Again

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 10:45 AM PST

Each day, I'm usually presented with a very simple question that requires an extremely involved answer: "What television should I buy?"

As one might expect, I usually go through a litany of questions to determine what the person in the market for a new TV is really after. I ask them how much they want to spend, what kind of content they plan to watch, how far away they will be sitting, if they prefer any companies' products, and many more questions.

[Image credit Stephen Coles]

After I spend about 20 minutes figuring out where the person stands, I go back to the first question I asked — "what's your budget?" — and try to find something that fits what they're looking for. Only when I do so, I don't waste my time looking at prices at a local big-box retailer; I simply go to Amazon, TigerDirect, or any number of other, well-respected sites, and I quote them the price on there.

I simply can't stand the thought of anyone going to a brick-and-mortar and buying an HDTV.

Now, I realize that there are many, many people out there that would disagree with me. They reason that they need to go to the store to see how the HDTV looks, and they like knowing that they know where their new television is from the store to home.

"You don't know if the television is being thrown around in the truck before it gets to your house," they say.

The only issue is, that logic makes little sense. In order for the television to get to the store, it sits on a truck. And then, considering you throw it in the back of your pickup truck and it sways back and forth along the bumpy roads until you get it home, I think I can make the argument that your transportation is just as dangerous as relying upon a delivery service.

I'm also somewhat perplexed by the idea that a person's desire to "see" a television in the store would make them actually buy the HDTV they're interested in.

Looking at a television's video quality in a store is a waste of time. In most cases, televisions are on their "store" setting. And even if they're not, they aren't properly calibrated, which means they likely won't look anything like that when they get home and they are configured for a specific room.

The only real benefit of going to a store to look at HDTVs is to determine their total footprint and if they fit the aesthetic of the room that they will be entering. Other than that, all the important information a consumer needs is available online, including picture quality and inputs.

And all this fails to mention price. In almost every case I found, the same exact television was hundreds of dollars cheaper online than in a brick-and-mortar. And although shipping charges come into play, I've yet to find one deal on a worthwhile television where I would tell people to go for the brick-and-mortar version.

The only issue with buying a television online is that it can't be sitting in the living room that day. But maybe we all need to be a little more patient, and acknowledge that saving hundreds of dollars is worth suffering with an old set for a few days.

So, I won't be buying my next television in a brick-and-mortar. But will you?

Let us know in the comments below.


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Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Official: Tegra 2 and Honeycomb

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 10:00 AM PST

Samsung has officially announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, the company’s 10.1-inch dual-core Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet which we’ve been expecting for the past few weeks. Unlike the original, 7-inch Galaxy Tab, which used Samsung’s own single-core Hummingbird processor, the Korean company has looked to NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core chip for this larger model.

A Google Experience device, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 runs Honeycomb’s native interface rather than any sort of TouchWiz UI as on the original model. There’s also Full HD 1080p support and an HDMI output, an 8-megapixel autofocus camera that can record Full HD video, and the usual range of HSPA 3G, from 16GB of storage and a microSD card slot.

Exact release dates haven’t been confirmed, and nor has pricing, but we’ve heard separately that Samsung is aiming to beat Motorola to the punch and get the Galaxy Tab 10.1 to the European market before the XOOM. We’re also hearing that Vodafone – in the UK at least – may be offering it as an exclusive in April 2011, though the carrier is yet to confirm that.

Press Release:

NVIDIA and Samsung Partner to Deliver the Galaxy Tab 10.1 Honeycomb Tablet

GALAXY Tab's Successor Powered by Tegra 2, Featuring a Dual-Core CPU plus an NVIDIA GeForce GPU That Enable Full Use of Android 3.0

Barcelona — MWC 2011 — Feb. 13, 2011—NVIDIA and Samsung Electronics announced today the Galaxy Tab 10.1, a 10.1-inch screen tablet which uses the NVIDIA® TegraTM 2 mobile super chip to take full advantage of the Android 3.0 (also known as Honeycomb) user interface.

While the previous 7-inch GALAXY Tab introduced the Android tablet space, the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet maximizes the entertainment on-the-go experience. It features the Tegra 2 chip's dual-core CPU and GeForce GPU for faster Web browsing, snappier response time and overall better performance.

Galaxy Tab 10.1 utilizes the Tegra 2 chip to power Honeycomb, the first GPU- accelerated user interface designed for tablets and other larger-screen devices.

The new Samsung tablet with Tegra 2 enables consumers to engage in multitasking, surf the web quickly with fast-loading Web pages and Flash-based content, enjoy console- quality gaming and savor HD movies.

"Our first GALAXY Tab successfully defined a new generation of Android tablets," said Hyungmoon Noh, VP of R&D Strategy Group, at Samsung. "We've worked closely with NVIDIA to raise the stakes again. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, with Honeycomb and Tegra 2, provide the optimal entertainment and multimedia experience without compromising mobility Samsung is known for."

"Samsung's latest tablet with the Tegra 2 mobile super chip and Honeycomb is a great example of what we've come to expect from one of the world's most innovative companies," said Michael Rayfield, General Manager of the Mobile business at NVIDIA.

The companies are also partnering to bring a new Android-based super phone with a dual-core CPU to consumers, for never-before-seen experiences.


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Sonos’ Android Controller app gets hands-on demo [Video]

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 07:44 AM PST

It’s ShowStoppers, the unofficial pre-MWC event, and we’ve just caught up with the Sonos team to take a look at the latest beta of their Sonos Controller for Android app. Headed to the Android Market in March 2011 as a free download, the app allows for all the control of its iOS counterpart but also a few extra features thanks to Google’s broader hardware flexibility in Android.

That includes voice search and use of the hardware volume buttons. Head over to Android Community for all the details, or check out our video demo below.


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Nokia CEO left holding Microsoft shares

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 05:28 AM PST

Nokia CEO Stephen Elop currently holds an estimated $3.18m worth of Microsoft shares, making him the eighth largest individual shareholder in the company, and giving him a vested interest in making sure the new partnership over Windows Phone is successful. Acquired during his nearly two year tenure at Microsoft as head of the company’s business division, the 130,026 shares put him on a top ten list with Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates. Elop had begun to divulge his Microsoft shareholding after joining Nokia last year, but was forced to halt sales after the companies began negotiations lest he be accused of insider trading.

Now, it’s worth noting that it’s certainly not unusual for a high-ranking executive to hold a considerable number of shares in the company they work for, but it certainly becomes topical when that executive later goes on to help organize a partnership between his new employer and the firm in which he is a shareholder. The normal course of action is for the executive in question to sell off their shares, as Elop attempted to do so, but the fast pace of the Microsoft deal left him still holding around 40-percent and, in turn, unable to hold Nokia stock.

That may have been a blessing in disguise. Despite the hyperbole at Friday’s capital markets day, Nokia shares dived over 15-percent on the New York Stock Exchange; in comparison, Microsoft shares dipped as well but by a far lesser amount. Elop’s remaining holding is also a small stake in comparison to other investors; 130k is dwarfed by mutual fund and institutional investors, which in turn lag significantly behind Bill Gates’ $16.06bn-valued holding.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]


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SlashGear Week in Review- Week 7 2011

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 05:03 AM PST

Welcome to another edition of the SlashGear Week in Review! Before we get into the meat today, I want to note that SlashGear will be at MWC 2011 next week and you can get your MWC fix by following the “MWC 2011″ tag. Monday Canon outted a pair of new DSLR cameras for the entry-level user called the T3i and the T3. The cameras have nice features, the T3i will sell for $899.99 in kit form, and the T3 will be $599.99 in kit form.

We also went hands on with the Nokia E7 smartphone Monday. We will give the full run down on the device in the review, but so far, Chris was disappointed. The eLocity 10-inch Android tablet is set to hit pre-order on February 15. The tablet is much like the 7-inch offering with a larger screen and a 4GB version will sell for $399 with the most expensive 64GB version at $699.99.

The price for the Motorola Xoom tablet surfaced early in the week and it’s very far from cheap. The tablet will sell for about $800 and may well put the first Honeycomb tablet out of contention in the tablet market. The coolest commercial during the Super bowl last weekend was the VW one with the little Darth Vader. The kid behind the mask was unveiled early in the week as a 6-year old heart patient.

The first successful Jailbreak for the Verizon iPhone 4 was announced Monday. The jailbreak was done with Cydia on iOS 4.2.6 on the Verizon smartphone. HTC unveiled that it has purchased a $40 million stake in the streaming game service OnLive. HTC wants to stream games to smartphones, which sounds good to me.

Intel has resumed shipments of flawed 6 series chipset mainboards this week. The shipments are said to be at the request of vendors and the stipulation is that the machines be configured so that the affected SATA ports aren’t used. We went hands-on with the cool dual-screen Kyocera Echo Tuesday at the official unveil. We though the phone felt well built even if aside from the dual screens it is a bit plain and some gestures aren't supported.

The new Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has told workers bluntly that it is “standing on a burning platform” with MeeGo. Elop’s statements make it clear he doesn’t believe in MeeGo. Smartphones outsold PCs for the first time according to IDC for Q4 2010. Smartphone sales jumped 87.2% to 53.9 million shipped.

An awesome Sony DSLR camera surfaced this week with a clear housing. The camera will never see production; it’s just to show off the inner beauty of the DSLR. I would buy a clear camera like that though. AT&T announced a new change to its mobile plans that allows free unlimited calling to any mobile number in America. The plan is available for any user with a qualifying voice plan and unlimited messaging.

HP went official with the TouchPad tablet sporting webOS 3.0 mid-week. The tablet has a 9.7-inch screen, 1.2GHz processor, and more. Is it enough to battle the iPad though? We unboxed the Motorola Atrix 4G smartphone and spent some hands-on time with it. Initial impressions are that the phone is fast and we expect it to be a standout phone for the year.

Android finally beat Apple in smartphone share in the US according to IDC. In Q4 2010 Android had 28.7% of the US market and iOS had 25%. A twitter user tweeted the infamous PS3 hacking code to Sony’s Kevin Butler and he had no clue what it was. Butler replied, “Lemme guess…you sank my Battleship?”

We spent a bit more time with the HP touchpad and caught our fondling on video. Are any of you really excited about this tablet? Another swell of Apple iPad 3 rumors surfaced Thursday with calls that the new tablet would hit this Fall. The rumors started from idle musings from Daring Fireball’s John Gruber.

The Verizon iPhone 4 is in stores now and so far the response isn’t what was expected. I figured there would be shortages, but it seems not that many folks were waiting to get the iPhone 4 on Verizon. Nokia is reportedly eyeing the purchase of boutique developers for its halo apps. Nokia is also said to be in talks with Adobe to co-create dev tools.

A 7-year-old boy tried to buy a real Harrier from an eBay auction. His dad found out about the $113,000 buy and cancelled the order, crushing childhood dreams. Don posted up a column Thursday that said Google TV is dying and Apple TV running apps will finish it. I think Google TV was done for when Hulu and other networks blocked the device from accessing their shows.

Nokia has announced that it will be using the Windows Phone 7 OS on some of its smartphones. Exactly when the Nokia devices with the WinPo 7 OS will show up is unknown. Rumors have surfaced that Apple is getting a smaller iPhone ready for the market. The device is said to be about a third smaller than the current iPhone and lack a home button with a target price of $200 sans contact.

Courts have ordered GeoHot to turn over the HDD of his computer to Sony. Sony is searching for evidence of the hacking of the PS3 on the HDD. I think most of us were hoping that Nokia would turn to Android and instead it went Windows Phone 7. Stephen Elop said that there were “too many players” in the Android market for Nokia.

Nokia is shedding works in hoards right now as it tries to shore things up for the long haul. Google is reaching out to the fired engineers and offering some of them jobs. Google’s Aidan Biggins tweeted, “Any Nokia software engineers need a job?” Thanks for reading this week’s edition, see you next time!


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$1,200 Motorola XOOM listing: madness or mistake?

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 04:35 AM PST

Back when we thought the Motorola XOOM might be $800, we wondered if the company had priced the Android 3.0 Honeycomb slate out of contention. Now, with a new Best Buy listing offering the 10.1-inch Tegra 2 tablet for $1,199.99, we’re trying to figure out whether Motorola actually want to sell even a single unit.

We’re hoping this $1,200 number – twice an entry-level iPad – is a mistake, and that closer to the XOOM’s actual release it will drop down considerably. However, it’s possible that this is an unsubsidized, off-agreement figure, in which case it’s all the more reason to wait for the WiFi-only version Motorola has confirmed is likely to arrive in some markets come Q2 2011.

[via Android Community]


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AT&T Motorola ATRIX 4G pre-orders open

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 12:49 AM PST

As promised, AT&T has thrown open pre-orders for the Motorola ATRIX 4G, ahead of the dual-core smartphone’s release on or around March 6. Priced at $199.99 with an online discount, the ATRIX 4G has a 4-inch qHD 540 x 960 display, HSPA+ and can be paired with an optional keyboard dock. Details on plans after the cut.

AT&T’s usual three voice plans – between $39.99 and $69.99 per month – are mandatory, as is a data plan. Three of those are on offer, from $15 per month for 200MB of HSPA+ data, $25 per month for 2GB, or $45 for 4GB (shared between the phone and tethering).

As for the accessories, the Laptop Dock – which allows you to slot the ATRIX 4G into a notebook-style chassis with a full keyboard and 11.6-inch display – runs to $299.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate, while the HD Media Dock is $129.99. Motorola’s Bluetooth keyboard is $69.99, or for $189.99 AT&T will give you the HD Media Dock, keyboard and a wireless mouse.

There’s also the standard dock, for $49.99, and the vehicle dock, for $39.99. We’re still putting the ATRIX 4G through its paces, but until then check out our unboxing and first-impressions article and our hands-on video below.


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LG Optimus 3D dual-core 1GHz OMAP4 and GPU prowess detailed

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 12:39 AM PST

LG’s MWC 2011 press conference isn’t until Monday, but the eager Koreans obviously couldn’t wait to spill the beans on what they’re bringing to the show. We already knew that the LG Optimus 3D and LG Optimus Pad would be making their debut in Barcelona, but now we have specs and other details to go along with that.

The LG Optimus 3D packs a 1GHz OMAP4 dual-core processor and, the company claims, four times the amount of video decoders than its rivals; that adds up to double the graphics performance of its nearest, unnamed competitor. Of course there’s also the 3D camera and 4.3-inch WVGA glasses-free 3D display, along with DLNA and HDMI support for outputting to external screens.

As for the Optimus Pad (the European version of T-Mobile’s LG G-Slate), that has an 8.9-inch 15:9 1280 x 768 display and Full HD decoding, together with NVIDIA’s 1GHz Tegra 2 dual-core CPU. It also packs a 3D camera, though you’ll need glasses to see it on the tablet itself, since the Optimus Pad doesn’t have a special screen like the Optimus 3D. We’ll be checking out both devices with LG tomorrow, so stay tuned for more on SlashGear.

Press Release:

LG UNVEILS PREMIUM LINE-UP AT MWC 2011

SEOUL–(Korea Newswire) February 13, 2011 — LG Electronics (LG) returns to Barcelona this year to introduce two new flagship devices at Mobile World Congress: the LG Optimus 3D, a stunning super-smartphone with unparalleled 3D performance, and the LG Optimus Pad, a true Android tablet optimized with Honeycomb OS designed to offer the full viewing experience of a tablet while still being easy to hold with one hand.

“I`m confident that this year, LG will emerge as a leader in the next generation of smartphone and tablet devices,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “What you see here today is just the beginning — we will continue to innovate with products that address consumer needs and deliver benefits that live up to our `Life`s Good` commitment.”

Aiming to aggressively take a leadership position in the smartphone market in 2011, LG has been earnestly bolstering its premium smartphone line-up, evident by its strong showing at CES last month. There, the company introduced the world`s first dual-core smartphone (LG Optimus 2X), one of the world`s slimmest and brightest smartphones (LG Optimus Black) and the company`s first phone compatible with 4G LTE networks (LG Revolution(TM)). LG products debuting at MWC 2011 build upon this spirit of innovation. Key devices include:

LG Optimus 3D

The LG Optimus 3D packs exceptional features with performance in mind, including an advanced dual-core, dual-channel and dual-memory architecture. Equipped with a 1GHz OMAP4 dual-core processor and four times more video decoders than competing designs, the LG Optimus 3D doubles the graphics performance of its nearest competitor allowing users to enjoy superb performance while web surfing, running applications and enjoying multimedia content. In addition, the LG Optimus 3D provides the world`s first full 3D experience covering the full spectrum from recording to viewing and sharing 3D content. It features a dual-lens camera that enables users to capture any moment in true 3D which can then be viewed immediately on the 4.3-inch WVGA glasses-free display. Multiple connectivity options including HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) also make it easy for users to transfer their recorded content to other devices.

LG Optimus Pad

The LG Optimus Pad sets a new standard for tablets by utilizing an 8.9-inch display in a form factor that`s comfortable to use one-handed. With a 15:9 aspect ratio and Full HD 1080p decoding, the LG Optimus Pad offers users an immersive multimedia environment on a 1280 x 768 WXGA resolution widescreen display. The new device sports Honeycomb, Google`s latest platform optimized for tablet devices with an optimized and intuitive PC-like interface for running tablet software. LG`s tablet runs on a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor for unmatched performance and power management. In addition, the LG Optimus Pad is the world`s first tablet with a built-in 3D camera, enabling users to capture vivid image and video content to be viewed on a high definition 3D TV or shared on the web via YouTube 3D.

LG Optimus 2X

The world`s first smartphone with a dual-core processor, the LG Optimus 2X was developed in partnership with graphics processor powerhouse, NVIDIA. The dual-core Tegra 2 system-on-a-chip found in the LG Optimus 2X runs at a clock speed of 1GHz and boasts low power consumption and high performance for playing video and audio. Not only does the LG Optimus 2X mean more powerful multimedia features, the Tegra 2 processor makes for faster, smoother web browsing and multitasks with virtually no screen lag. The LG Optimus 2X offers 1080p HD video playback and recording with HDMI mirroring that expands content on external displays to Full HD quality. The LG Optimus 2X can connect wirelessly to any DLNA-compatible digital device such as HD TVs for a console-like gaming experience, taking full advantage of the phone‟s HDMI mirroring, accelerometer and gyro sensor.

LG Optimus Black

One of the world`s slimmest and lightest Android smartphones, LG Optimus Black is already a hit, having recorded more than two million pre-orders in 20 countries since its introduction at CES. At MWC, a range of special-edition LG Optimus Black handsets will be unveiled featuring designs courtesy of the Keith Haring Foundation. Besides its incredibly slim body, the LG Optimus Black features a 4-inch NOVA display for optimal brightness and readability under any lighting conditions. The crystal-clear display also provides a more natural web browsing experience by displaying truer whites while simultaneously cutting energy consumption by 50 percent compared to conventional LCDs. In addition, the LG Optimus Black includes a collection of smart features designed to improve the user experience, such as Gesture UI, Wi-Fi Direct and a 2MP front-facing camera.

For more information, visit the LG stand at 8B178 in Hall 8, Fira de Barcelona or go to the online newsroom at www.lgnewsroom.com/MWC2011.


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Samsung Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab 10.1″ officially pictured

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 12:33 AM PST

Samsung hasn’t really managed to keep a lid on either the Samsung Galaxy S II dual-core smartphone (aka the Galaxy S 2) or the new Galaxy Tab 10.1″, and now the company has pushed out official photos of the handsets. Samsung Hub and MovePlayer gathered together the shots, which show the Galaxy S II’s 4.3-inch Super AMOLED WVGA display and the Galaxy Tab 10.1″s 1280 x 800 panel and 8-megapixel rear camera.

The Galaxy S II also gets a 1GHz dual-core processor, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, HSPA+ and all in a 116g, 8.49mm-thick chassis. The 8-megapixel camera can shoot Full HD, and there’s either 16GB or 32GB of storage and the ability to stream content to a nearby HDTV via DLNA. Apps include an updated version of TouchWiz, along with a Readers Hub, Social Hub, Games Hub and Music Hub.

As for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1″, that runs Honeycomb and, since it’s a Google Experience device, Samsung’s TouchWiz UI isn’t loaded. It can also record Full HD video, and it has dual surround speakers. We’ll be checking out both devices at Samsung’s press event at MWC 2011 later today


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