Callaway Upro mx offers touchscreen GPS to golfers

The folks at Callaway just announced the Upro mx, a followup to the device they so humbly referred to as the "iPhone of golf GPS technology." PNDs for golfers aren't exactly rare, but the new Upro claims to be the only one packing "hi-resolution actual aerial photography" of 25,000 different courses. It also boasts a multi-gesture touchscreen and optical finger navigation, as well a slew of viewing modes: Virtual Green offers exact putting distances, Smart View displays the best angle for each shot, and ProMode features video flyovers. Who knows, if they could land a Bill Murray tie-in we might actually be enticed to pick up a club and ... Oh, who are we kidding? The Upro mx hits stores in May at $199, and you can check out a video of the device in action after the jump -- that is, if you swing that way.

Via : engadget

LG Optimus 2X and Optimus Black priced at €499 by Amazon Germany

Amazon's German outlet has started listing LG's two latest and undoubtedly greatest phones: the Optimus 2X (seemingly renamed the Optimus Speed here) and the Optimus Black. Both run Android 2.2 on 4-inch screens, with the former offering a dual-core Tegra 2 processor capable of 1080p video recording and HDMI output, and the latter cranking up the display brightness to a quite unreasonable 700 nits. The Optimus Black also has one of the thinnest profiles on a smartphone of its class at 9.2mm, and will be one of the first phones to offer WiFi Direct connectivity.

Via : engadget

Layar Player lets AR loose on iPhone apps

Layar's been the go-to platform for augmented reality on Android since 2009, bringing you the useful, the creepy, and the just plain weird -- and now it's unleashing the beast on iOS, again (it's already available as a dedicated app). The Netherlands-based company just launched Layar Player, a free tool that allows anyone -- with a little developer know-how -- to create their very own AR iPhone app. Accompanying the announcement are three brand new Layar Player-enabled apps: the Bing-sponsored Snowboard Hero, which incorporates a special AR mode for collecting points; a contractor locator called Layer Trade; and VerbeterdeBuurt, an app that acts as an AR community bulletin board. The company's press release touts the "democratization of augmented reality," and while we can get behind their AR-for-alll message, we've already seen Layar used in ways that give us the willies.

Via : engadget

Intel SSD 310 Series 80GB Review

At the end of last year Intel announced a new SSD product, diminutive in size but not performance, the Intel SSD 310. Available in 40GB and 80GB capacities, the mSATA SSD promises to deliver mainstream SSD speeds in a form factor an eighth of the standard 2.5" SSD size. The SSD 310 is finding its way into a variety of products - serving as the main drive in ruggedized tablets to duty as a dedicated boot drive in standard notebook PCs. No matter how it's used though, the Intel SSD 310 may be a glimpse into the future as SSD form factors shrink and shift away from typical 2.5" drive bay constraints.

Via : storagereview

Intel SSD 310 Series 80GB Review

At the end of last year Intel announced a new SSD product, diminutive in size but not performance, the Intel SSD 310. Available in 40GB and 80GB capacities, the mSATA SSD promises to deliver mainstream SSD speeds in a form factor an eighth of the standard 2.5" SSD size. The SSD 310 is finding its way into a variety of products - serving as the main drive in ruggedized tablets to duty as a dedicated boot drive in standard notebook PCs. No matter how it's used though, the Intel SSD 310 may be a glimpse into the future as SSD form factors shrink and shift away from typical 2.5" drive bay constraints.

Via : storagereview

Intel 310 Series 80GB SSD Review – A New Way To Look at Notebooks!

Our featured picture does a great job of portraying how truly small Intels new 310 Series 80GB SSD really is.

It offers the punch of the X-25m in 1/8th of the size and Intel is gambling that this is going to add a whole new dimension to notebook configurations. First up to bat with the 310 will be new Lenovo Thinkpads destined for market in 2011 but don’t think other oems aren’t far behind.

The 310 series SSD started shipping in units of 1000 to oems in December with prices at $99 (40GB) and $179 (80GB) per and don’t be surprised to see a healthy premium on these new notebooks when combined with a hard drive. Its a combination that may be the best push forward in bringing the SSD into mainstream sales as now anyone can have the power of the SSD with the storage of a hard drive in a factory purchased laptop.

Via : thessdreview

Intel's mSATA SSD 310 reviewed

The forecast for speedy, razor-thin laptops is looking pretty sunny right about now, because it seems Intel's SSD 310 truly does bring the power of a full-sized solid state drive on a tiny little board. Storage Review and The SSD Review thoroughly benchmarked the tiny 80GB mSATA module this week, and found it performs even better than advertised -- easily tearing through 200MB / sec reads and 70 MB / sec writes -- which put it slightly behind Intel's legendary X25-M series but well ahead of the company's X25-V boot drives. While we're still not seeing Sandforce speeds from Intel's tried-and-true controller and 34nm silicon and they might not make Toshiba's Blade run for the hills, we can't wait to test it out in some new Lenovo ThinkPads when they integrate the SSD 310 later this year. Oh, by the way, that big green board up above isn't the drive. It's actually the tiny one on top.

Via : engadget

Toshiba intros laptop that CHANGES COLOUR

Toshiba has come up with a laptop, the Dynabook Qosmio T750, which has a lid which changes colour - the first of its kind, the Japanese giant claimed.

Well, sort of. The blue-lidded box – the colour is called "shiny ocean" – sports "shimmering" metallic colours that run from turquoise through to deep blue and purple depending on the angle at which you're looking at it.

The trick lies in Toshiba's use of several polyester laminate films, each comprising thousands "nano-technology" layers, and which together give a metallic look without actually using any metal – so it's good for the environment, Toshiba claimed.

Via : reghardware

Toshiba Dynabook Qosmio T750 laptop

It's been a long time since we used a laptop that had a monochromatic display -- it was a giant white block of a thing that is not missed -- but flip around just about every laptop we use today and you find a backside that stubbornly refuses to change color no matter the light that hits it. Is that a problem? Not really, we think it's quite fine since we're not often staring at that bit, but for Toshiba such tedium simply won't do, so it's introducing the Dynabook Qosmio T750 with a color-shifting lid.

Via : engadget

BlackBerry Curve Touch Revealed, Could Lack Physical Keyboard

Research in Motion could be planning to make a radical change to its long-running Curve series -- an upcoming model will reportedly forgo a keyboard and instead be designed around a touchscreen.

An image and some of the specifications for the BlackBerry Curve Touch have appeared on the Web. If these are not a hoax, they give the world its first glimpse of a new strategy from RIM to produce consumer-oriented touchscreen-only models.

The long-running Curve series has sold by the million, and over the years has been through a number of redesigns. But whatever the details, every Curve model has a physical keyboard.

This won't be true if the Curve Touch is released, as it's reportedly going to happen late this year or early next year.

Via : brighthand

Blackberry Curve Touch Gets Leaked

The Blackberry Curve Touch wants users to think of the Blackberry line as more than a great messaging or business device, they want us to think of it as a sleek smartphone that’s capable of competing with the big boys (Apple and Google) and looking at the device, codenamed “Malibu” it sure looks like they are at least off to a good start in terms of design.

The phone, leaked by the team at CrackBerry is said to feature a touchscreen with an 800Mhz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor, hardly good enough to compete with the likes of most Google and all iPhone based devices, while offering a 3.25-inch HVGA display.

Via : inquisitr

BlackBerry Curve Touch and Montana leak,BlackBerry Curve Touch and Montana leak

A couple of weeks ago, four new BlackBerrys leaked out and got us seriously excited about RIM's 2011 lineup. Today we've reached maximum 'Berry overload, though, as more unannounced devices have made their way onto the Internet.

First up is a device that CrackBerry is referring to as the Curve Touch. As you can see above, it looks a lot like the Storm 3 that was leaked earlier this month, although its specs are slightly more low-end.

Set for launch some time in late 2011 or early 2012, the alleged specs for the Curve Touch are:

* 3.25-inch, 480x360 display
* 800MHz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor
* 5 megapixel camera with HD video capture
* 1GB Flash storage with microSD slot
* 512MB RAM
* NFC, microUSB, Bluetooth 2.1

Via : phonedog

BlackBerry Curve Touch picture and specs leaked

Phone companies just can't keep their documents from falling into internet-friendly hands, and RIM has been particularly clumsy this year.

After a host of handset leaks earlier in the month, the company's product roadmap has now made its way to BlackBerry blog Crackberry.

Some of the products are old news – the Playbook, for example – and some are merely the CDMA versions of the leaks we've already seen (the Sedona is the Curve Apollo, the Montana is the Dakota and the Storm 3 is the Monaco).


Via : techradar

Samsung Galaxy Fit specs

The Samsung Galaxy Fit is one of Samsung’s 2011 budget phones. We’ll get a closer look at this year’s Mobile World Congress, but want to know a little more about this budget beaut? Read on…

We’ve spent the last few weeks talking a lot about dual-core phones and what they’ll do for Android, but the Samsung Galaxy Fit uses a low-powered 600MHz processor. Before you chuck it into the nearest muddy puddle, consider a few things though.

Via : fonehome

Samsung Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Fit, Galaxy Gio and Galaxy Mini

The most advanced phone in the group of four, the Samsung Galaxy Ace is a black slabby device with a fairly modest specification compared to top-of-the-range Android handsets.

The Galaxy Ace comes with a 3.5" 320 x 480 pixel display, an 800 MHz processor with 158Mb of RAM and Android 2.2. On the back is a 5 megapixel camera with what appears to be very basic video capture capabilities. The Galaxy Ace also comes with WiFi (including 802.11n support), 3.5G and GPS plus a microSD slot and a 2GB memory card.

Although the Galaxy Ace lacks the screen resolution of many more expensive rivals, the display is large enough to be useful and the overall specifications make this a handy smartphone for most consumers. Samsung give a recommended retail price of about €360, which does seem expensive to us. The Galaxy Ace should be available in some markets from February onwards.

Via : mobilegazette

Samsung Galaxy portfolio adds four handsets as Ace, Mini, Fit and Gio

Galaxies tend to be large and full of stars, planets, miscellaneous bits of rock, spaceships and aliens. So Samsung’s Galaxy series is looking a bit thin, with only the Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab shining bright enough to see with a gadget telescope. Until now, because Samsung’s just expanded its universe by four Galaxy products – the Ace, Mini, Fit and Gio.

Via : stuff.tv

PlayStation phone named Xperia Play

Engadget has published an exclusive preview of Sony's upcoming PlayStation Phone, which is due to appear at next month's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Reportedly named "Xperia Play", the device features a four-inch 854x480 multitouch screen that slides up to reveal PlayStation-esque controls. Gaming buttons include a D-pad, four action buttons (triangle, circle, square and x), two shoulder buttons, and two circular touchpads that serve as analog sticks.

Overall, Engadget says the device is comfortable to use and has a better build quality than the PSP Go. The site has posted a demo video of the Xperia Play running a few emulated games, including Ridge Racer Revolution, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, Gundam Battle Assault 2, and Super Mario Bros. 4. Sony hasn't been clear about what games will be supported at launch, nor has it mentioned pricing or a delivery method, but we imagine that will be covered at MWC.

Via : techspot

PlayStation Phone unofficially unveiled to the world

Considering Engadget was the website that kicked off this latest, lengthy bout of PlayStation Phone rumours back in October, it's only fitting that the tech blog should also be the one to close it.

Just weeks before the device is expected to be unveiled to the world at Mobile World Congress in February, Engadget has gotten hold of what looks to be a finalised PlayStation Phone, otherwise known as Xperia Play.

Via : pocketgamer

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

Last week we asked you to tell us your most desired Android phone of 2011 so far. Hundreds of votes later, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc has come out on top, just ahead of the Motorola Atrix.

Yes, it’s true. Our readers’ most-wanted phone of 2011 so far is the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, the 8.7mm slim Android 2.3 phone revealed in January at the CES tech show. It doesn’t have a dual-core processor and can’t crank out 1080p video like some rivals, but it eventually raced to the top of the poll — which has become our most popular poll ever — with 21.64 per cent of the vote.

Just behind it was the most powerful Android that’s been officially unveiled in 2011, the Motorola Atrix. It has the dual-core processor, a higher-resolution screen and the Motoblur UI — enough to win the Atrix a commendable 20.44 per cent of the vote.

Via : fonehome

Leaked Facebook v1.9.0.26 From BlackBerry Bold 9700 OS

Just a quick one before I sign off for the night. We were sent an OTA link for the Facebook v1.9.0.26 that was spotted in the latest OS 6.0.0.448. I have no idea if these are just for the 9700 series devices though I am pretty sure it will only work on OS 6.0 plus devices.

Via : berryreview

Verizon Bold 9650, Curve 3G getting BlackBerry 6 OS update today

Owners of the BlackBerry Bold 9650 and Curve 3G 9330 on Sprint have been enjoying the shiny new BlackBerry 6 OS for almost a month now, but today Verizon's customers can get in on the fun, too. RIM just issued a press release stating that both the Bold 9650 and Curve 3G will be receiving BB 6 starting today. The update will be available as an over the air download beginning at 8:00 PM EST. Customers can also install the upgrade using the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software. Check out RIM's statement below.

Even if Verizon is about a month behind their biggest CDMA competitor when it comes to the BlackBerry 6 upgrade, I'm sure the owners of those handsets are just excited to finally be upgraded to the latest version of RIM's OS. Bold 9650 and Curve 3G owners, be sure to come back and let us know when you install the update. We want to hear your experiences!

Via : phonedog

China Gets BlackBerry Curve 8980, TD-SCDMA Bold 9788

BlackBerry phones are still quite popular in the Eastern part of the world, mainly due to its BlackBerry Messenger feature. People there seem like to chat away like there’s no tomorrow on their BBM, but ironically ignoring the one sitting close to them. The latest BlackBerry phone to hit the Chinese market is the Curve 8980, which has been spotted last year.

The BlackBerry Curve 8980 will soon be made available for China Mobile’s network — and the phone was just officially confirmed by the two companies. The 8980 improves upon its 8910 predecessor by adding Wi-Fi connectivity, but the rest of the specs remain the same. This means the BlackBerry 8980 will still sport a HVGA display with 3.2-megapixel camera.

Via :techd.in

Blackberry Bold 9780

When the Bold 9700 was launched in October 2009, little did RIM (Research In Motion), or anyone else for that matter, know, how much the smartphone market would change in the space of a year. Change it did, and RIM faced a lot of competition from the likes of Apple iPhones and Android-based smartphones. There was an urgent need change the operating system and the interface in particular. The OS5 looked dated and dull in comparison to the highly customisable Android OS and even the good looking Apple iOS4. Those who wanted a hardcore business phone still went for a Blackberry, but the rest of the consumers found the Blackberry phones dull and boring - not because of the any hardware deficiencies, but because the OS and the interface was boring.

Via : thinkdigit

Portable 3G/4G router offers iPhone hotspot

Built-in iPhone hotspots? Bah! Who needs one? Not with AXIM Communications’ handy little MR-102N 3G/4G Travel Mobile Router in your pocket.

This little portable gadget works with iPhones and select Android devices to turn a 3G or 4G data connection into an 802.11n Wifi hotspot. Typically smartphone hotspots are a colossal battery drain to the handset, but the MR-102N comes with its own 1700 mAh battery that even charges your phone while connected. As for cellular connections, the networks it supports are diverse — including HSDPA, HSUPA, EV-DO, UMTS, and GPRS. That means you’re not stuck using only one type of network; you’ll be able to continue using this even if you change carriers.

Best part? It’s compatible with almost every iPhone — the 3G, 3GS and the 4!

BoyGenius Report took this for a spin recently with an iPhone 3GS and got up to 4-5 Mbps speeds! That’s just on a 3G smartphone. Since the router also supports 4G, the theoretical maximum speed is actually as much as 42 Mbps — a limit that no current 3G device can even come close to smoking.

Via : todaysiphone

IT chiefs urged to nail enterprise app strategy

IT leaders have been urged to put scepticism about mobile apps aside and start making strategic decisions about their app strategies, before they get left behind.

While many emerging technologies are overhyped, the buzz around mobile apps is justified, according to Stephanie Baghdassarian, research director at Gartner.

“Many are wondering if the app frenzy we have been witnessing is just a fashion, and, like many others, will pass. We do not think so,” she said.

Gartner is predicting that the number of apps being downloaded for all platforms in 2011 will more than double, compared with 2010.

And emergence of apps is indicative of how mobile technology has become a “game-changer” for the IT leader, according to Jonathan Reichental, CIO at O’Reilly Media.


Via : computing

Play.fm’s mobile app puts 30,000 DJ mixes

Music service Play.fm is launching its mobile app, bringing its vast collection of live recordings and DJ sets to the palm of your hand. The application is launched for three platforms — iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 7 — and is available for free from Apple’s AppStore, Google’s Android Market and Microsoft’s Zune Marketplace, respectively.

Along with the app download, you get 90 days of unrestricted access to the audio streams of roughly 30,000 DJ sets on Play.fm. After that period ends, you can continue to enjoy electronic club music for five hours per month for free. The Premium access is also available, giving you continuous unlimited use of Play.fm’s entire catalog.

Via : intomobile

HP Envy 14 Radiance displays sold out

Yep, it's a sad tale, but HP's run out of those glorious 1600 x 900-resolution, 350nit Radiance displays for its Envy 14 once and for all. As you may recall, they did come back in stock for a short time, but HP tells us that limited supply has dried up and that there are no plans right now to restock the inventory. In fact, a HP representative was pretty explicit in saying that the high-resolution panel won't be returning to the 14.5-inch Envy. We're sorry we don't have better news for you or a fresh pack of tissues to help dry your tears, but hey, we guess there's always the larger 17-inch model with its full 1080p panel.

Via : engadget

Ricoh unveils CX5 compact superzoom

Ricoh has unveiled the CX5 compact superzoom with Hybrid AF. It represents the re-introduction of an AF system that combines a distance sensor with more conventional contrast detection method to offer focus times of as little as 0.2sec regardless of focal length. Beyond this, it offers the same 10MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor, 10.7x (28-300mm equiv.) zoom lens, 920k dot 3 inch LCD and 720p HD video recording as the CX4. It's not clear how the AF system differs from the one the company used up until 2007, but it is claimed to almost double the speed of the CX4. Other new features include 'Super-Resolution' context-sensitive image processing and three additional scene modes.

Via : dpreview

Sony's next PSP

Betcha didn't think this day would come, but it finally has. Sony has just come clean with its next-generation PlayStation Portable. It's actually codenamed NGP and will revolve around five key concepts: Revolutionary User Interface, Social Connectivity, Location-based Entertainment, Converging Real and Virtual (augmented) Reality. It will be compatible with the PlayStation Suite and is backwards-compatible with downloadable PSP games and content from Sony's PlayStation Store.


Via : engadget

Sony's next PSP (codename NGP)

Following the unveil of its bodacious next generation portable (NGP) PlayStation device, Sony let a swarm of journalists (including us) on stage to get a closer look at the PSP's dual-stick, quad-core successor. No touching, but we were able to direct our lens mighty close and compare the NXP with a PSP and PSP Go before the on-hand staff shooed us away. Enjoy the pictures!

Via : engadget

The Acer Liquid Mini and BeTouch Smartphones on Show

A couple of really nice looking smartphones which have got people talking at the CES 2011 are from Acer.

The one which is attracting most attention is the Acer Liquid Mini phone. It is a compact little phone at 11 cm x 6 cm and has a 3.2 inch display touchscreen.

A camera on board gives you 5 megapixels, there is Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, 512 MB of memory and a 600MHZ processor from Qualcomm. It is going to be available in a range of 5 interesting colours. Silver, blue, yellow, white and pink have been mentioned but the one on display in Las Vegas this week is a standard glossy black design. The curved case is sure to attract admiring glances and there is a feeling that this model is more aesthetically pleasing than ground breaking in its features.

Via : gadgetsandgizmos

Acer Liquid Metal gets a little brother

Acer has taken the opportunity to reveal two new phones at CES this week, the Liquid Mini and the beTouch E210.

In October last year Acer announced the Liquid Metal, the latest version of its smartphone line, which became available in the UK in December. A reasonably spec'd device it failed to cause much of a stir and can still only be purchased through a limited number of outlets. At around £300, the price wasn't extortionate and now it seems that Acer are changing their tack. Judging by the specs it looks like both the Liquid Mini and beTouch E210 will fall firmly into the budget category.

Via : rethink-wireless

Acer liquidmini hits UK from April 11 2011

Acer has announced the liquidmini, its latest Android smartphone. Running Android 2.2 on a 3.2-inch HVGA touchscreen, the liquidmini has a 5-megapixel camera capable of 480p video recording, WiFi b/g, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and an FM radio.

Power is from a 600MHz Qualcomm 7227 processor paired with 512MB of ROM and RAM. Storage is courtesy of a bundled 2GB microSD card, though the liquidmini will accept up to 32GB. It has dualband (900/2100) 3G and quadband GSM/EDGE. It’ll go on sale in the UK on April 11, price tba

Via : androidcommunity

Acer to launch QWERTY beTouch E210 in the UK this March

As well as the Acer Liquid Mini we mentioned yesterday, Acer has revealed another Android phone that’ll launch soon – the beTouch E210. It’s an interesting take on the famous Blackberry format, combining both QWERTY keypad and touchscreen into a silvery portrait candybar layout.

The Android 2.2 OS will look a little odd squeezed into a landscape oriented 2.6″ screen, but if you’re a fan of the RIM way of doing things and not yet ready to give up on a physical keyboard, this might be the phone for you. Certainly looks a bit “boutique” and “interesting.”

The Acer beTouch 210 is scheduled to launch in the UK this March.

Via : eurodroid

4.3-Inch Android 2.2 Handset Hitting Verizon 4G LTE

LG President and CEO Dr. Jong-seok Park stepped onto the stage at Verizon's 4G LTE press event this afternoon to show off the company's LG Revolution Android phone.

We caught a look at the Revolution earlier today, which sports a 4.3-inch screen and will ship running Android 2.2. With all the super-slim phones coming out of the woodwork, we noticed that LG's is looking a bit fat by comparison. Could be that there's a big battery under the hood that's providing the juice for the LTE modem, but we'll need to see more complete specifications to know for sure.

From what LG and Verizon have revealed, we know that the Revolution will be able to share its 4G connection with up to eight other devices over WiFi. Unfortunately, Verizon wasn't ready to disclose the details of the LTE data plans fueling that function.

If video calls are to be the killer app for 4G, the Revolution is ready to go, with a front-facing camera and the needed software.

Based on Verizon's statements regarding the LTE smartphone roll-out, you can expect the LG Revolution to be available in March at the earliest, and certainly here by mid-year.

Via : pocketnow

Gallery of Verizon’s Entire 4G LTE Device Lineup

The Verizon 4G LTE event is over and here is the entire lineup of devices. Two tablets, 4 smartphones, 2 netbooks and a couple of modems all make up this impressive set. All of the smartphones have 4.3″ screens, will have Skype video chatting and will be available throughout the first half of this year. We kept thinking that the Thunderbolt would be a late January device, but there was no mention of that this afternoon.

Motorola will release the DROID BIONIC, LG has the Revolution, HTC has the Thunderbolt and Samsung can’t seem to figure out a name for theirs, but we know it’s the SCH-I520.

Via : droid-life

The LG Revolution is Verizon's first 4G phone from LG

The HTC Thunderbolt may be the first 4G Verizon phone, but not to be outdone, LG has unveiled its own debut 4G handset for the Verizon network: the LG Revolution. And "revolution" might not be too strong of a moniker for it, either.

The phone sports a 4.3" touchscreen, 5.0-megapixel camera / camcorder with flash, a front-facing camera for video chat, and an on-the-go wifi hotspot feature that allows its 4G speed to be shared with up to 8 other devices. It includes 16GB of internal memory, which is expandable to 32GB via the built-in microSD card slot. And it runs on the Android 2.2 platform (also known as Froyo), meaning full access to the Android Market as well as Google Voice.

Via : tecca

Is the HTC ThunderBolt less impressive than anticipated?

Day one of CES will soon be coming to a close and we've already been introduced to countless Android phones and tablets, some of which were a complete surprise. We knew the big ticket item of this year's show would be Android and 4G, but we also expected it to mainly be a handful of tablets making debuts, not many phones.

One device that wasn't a surprise though, was the HTC ThunderBolt. We weren't exactly sure of the official name and many of its specifications, but we knew it would be announced at some point, thanks to HTC's hints and tips. Earlier today, those specifications were given to us at the massive, Verizon LTE event. There was a lot of hype about the ThunderBolt and what it would mean for Android prior to this week, but now that it has been announced, I would have to say that it's quite a letdown.

We've been introduced to nearly 15 phones thus far, and of those phones – in terms of specs alone – the ThunderBolt is one of the least impressive devices yet. The rumors had us thinking that it would have a Tegra 2 dual-core processor, but just a few hours ago, we learned that it actually just has a 1 GHz Snapdragon. While a Snapdragon processor isn't bad at all, the competition is bringing the heat with dual-core processors, leaving this baby in the dust.

Via : phonedog

HTC Thunderbolt 4G: Can the EVO's powerhouse design strike twice?

The HTC Thunderbolt, a chunky smartphone powered by Verizon's new 4G network, doesn't have a price or a concrete release date, but it is already soaking up a good deal of the buzz at the CES show in Vegas.

And for good reason: the thing is packed with features, from a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, pre-loaded Skype video chat, a 32GB MicroSD card for storage, HTC Sense interface, and a big old speaker on the back for playing video and music.

But can the HTC Thunderbolt stand up to its competitors, or the near identical Sprint EVO 4G?

Via : csmonitor

HTC launches first LTE smartphone with U.S.-based telecom operator

Taiwan-based HTC Corp. and U.S. telecom operator Verizon Wireless formalized on Thursday their partnership to sell the world's first smartphone using the high-speed long-term evolution (LTE) network in the United States.

The two companies signed a contract finalizing the deal for Verizon, the biggest telecom operator in the U.S. with one-third of the country's wireless subscribers, to sell the "HTC Thunderbolt" to complement the LTE network it launched in December.

The deal was clinched at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where HTC also unveiled two other partnerships for new smartphones catering to other networks.

Via : focustaiwan

LG Revolution Latest Verizon 4G LTE based smartphone

LG Revolution Latest Verizon 4G LTE based smartphone: LG is one of the major company in the mobile market. LG Revolution has facets like 4.3 inch capacitive touchscreen, 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, 800×480 pixels resolution, 5 megapixel camera on back side, 1.3 megapixel camera on front side which is used for video chatting, NFL mobile streaming video, WiFi connectivity, DLNA support, DIVX, HDMI, 16 GB internal memory storage capacity which can be expandable upto 32 GB, Bluetooth 2.1 support, 3G connectivity.

Via : technotrick

A Peek at the LG Revolution [CES 2011]

CES 2011 saw the launch of the LG Revolution at a press conference announced by Verizon. The LG Revolution, one of the top 10 wireless devices, had most of its specifications announced publicly; however, there was one feature that stood out among the rest – the Netflix application. Yes, an Android with a Netflix application.

The 4.3 inch screen of LG revolution looks like a slimmer, smaller version of the EVO 4G, also released by LG. It is much more compact and very convenient to use and handle. This is owing to the concave-shaped backside of the sturdy hardware of the Android, that helps it sit perfectly on the inside your hand.

Via : walyou

HTC Evo Shift 4G Benchmarks – Better Than Evo 4G ?

After the official HTC Evo Shift 4G Specs have been revealed a few days ago at CES 2011, a lot of people wondered if this phone is as powerful as it is cool.

Fortunately for us the guys at Android Central have managed to get their hands on a HTC Evo Shift 4G. Of course, one of the first thing they did was to run some benchmarks ( Neocore, Quadrant…that kind of stuff ) and see just how HTC Evo 4G’s little brother carries itself. The results and the general feeling were quite good.

Just like Phil says, even if HTC Evo Shift 4G’s processor runs at “only” 800MHz, being a new and improved generation, it manages to outrun some of the phones powered by 1GHz CPUs.

VIDEO @ gforgames

HTC EVO Shift is Another Great Smartphone

There’s a new smartphone from Sprint that you might want to get a hold of! An advanced-looking phone, the HTC EVO Shift boasts Android 2.2 operating system matched with a fast Qualcomm 800 MHz processor. Typing in this smartphone is made easy with the sliding QWERTY keyboard. Talk time using this phone is up to 6 hours.

But unlike its predecessor, the HTC EVO 4G, Shift has a smaller screen. From a 4.3-inch screen, HTC downsized it to 3.6 inches. The new Shift weighs 5.9 ounces, which is quite light. The old model has a 1.3-front facing camera but that’s no longer present in the EVO Shift. It only has a 5MP autofocus camera.

Via : waleg

Official HTC Thunderbolt Specs Revealed

After the HTC Thunderbolt specs so called “leak” from the beginning of the year, a lot of people began to anxiously wait for the device to get released.

Now that the official specs have been revealed by HTC and Verizon, some of you who believed the previous rumor will probably be a bit disappointed but, believe us, there is no reason to lose your interest and anticipate the HTC Thunderbolt release date less than before. Why? Read on to find out.

Via : gforgames

We go games on with PrimeSense's Kinect for PCs

Microsoft's Kinect system is great for gaming, but the fact that it's (mostly) restricted to being used with an Xbox really sucks. Last night we got our first look at an unchained Kinect-type sensor controlling games on a PC, and it'll likely be coming to a computer near you.

PrimeSense, the people originally behind the system that Microsoft turned into Kinect, have just released their own version of the Kinect sensor designed for PCs. It's apparently called the "WAVI Xtion," and no, I can't pronounce it either. The hardware is pretty much exactly the same as the Kinect, so you won't be shocked to hear that the PrimeSense gaming experience is basically identical to the Kinect gaming experience.

When we tested it out, the system was having some issues with the excessively dark and dramatic lighting in the demo room, but we played through a game involving leaning and jumping to control a futuristic surfboard type thing, and it was effective and fun. To navigate the game menus we just had to wave a hand at the screen, and the sensor would interpret the gesture as a mouse movement. Making a pushing motion with an open palm turned into a click.

Via : dvice

Kinect Still Hard to Find in 2011

Microsoft has sold 8 million of the Kinect motion controller devices in just 60 days. Because of this huge demand for the device, shortages may perpetuate into 2011. Jose Pinero, a Senior Director of PR for Microsoft, spoke with Destructoid about the repercussions of the demand and what it means to the consumer. "There was so much demand that we had to pull some production from January and February, so I think we're going to be hard-pressed to be able to fulfill demand."

"A lot of retailers will be out of stock, or will have challenges making sure that their shelves are filled," Pinero continued. "I don't think we'll be able to fulfill the demand in January and February. It's a nice problem to have."

Via : attackofthefanboy

Got Move or Kinect? Then Check Out Our Other Sites!

2010 was a fantastic year for Nintendo Life, and as we head into 2011 we'll continue to bring you 100% review coverage of WiiWare, Virtual Console and DSiWare games, as well as all the Nintendo news and features you could ask for.

If you also own a 360 or PlayStation 3 and own Kinect or PlayStation Move, you might also be interested in our other sites, run by the same team behind Nintendo Life.

At Movemodo for PlayStation Move and KINECTaku for Kinect you'll find 100% review coverage of every game for Move and Kinect,

You can also follow Movemodo or KINECTaku on Twitter to keep up with the latest news, shoot the breeze in our PlayStation Move forums and Kinect forums. More of a Facebook fan? Give us a thumbs up by liking Movemodo on Facebook and KINECTaku on Facebook.

Via : nintendolife

Links Between Kinect & Red Ring of Death?

Kinect might be the Xbox 360′s future but it appears an all too familar face from its past has been causing users trouble. According to numerous sources, users of the Xbox 360 have been suffering failures that are being linked to the revolutionary motion sensor peripheral.

One such claim comes from the BBC who report that users of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console have experienced instances of the infamous Red Ring of Death when attaching the Kinect peripheral. Console owners have been telling the BBC that these breakdowns are occuring in consoles that previously showcased no issue but that are reaching the end of their warranty period. One such user was 10-year old Adam Winnifrith, a young boy who told BBC Radio 4′s “You and Yours” about his sad Kinect experience.

Via : gamerant

Apple Phone Problem: iPhone alarm not working

For us busy people, an alarm is a must specially when we are on a busy and tight schedule. Businessmen are bound to always be on time may it be a meeting or just a regular day, this implies for everyone including normal people but just recently, many proud consumers of the famous Apple’s iPhone who’ve put their trust on the device’s alarm was disappointed as they found out that the phone’s alarm is not working.

The iPhone’s alarm bug occurred when the clock hit new year’s eve at 2011, consumers said that it just suddenly stopped working. Apple issued a statement about this problem, they said that the iPhone’s alarm will probably would not work at the beginning of 2011 but just like some of the angry consumers said, they have missed or never heard this statement. This bugged targeted most of the devices that are running on iOS 4.02, iOS 4.1, and iOS 4.2.1.

Via : informixx