Hasta La Gadget!

The Sprint Hero features a similar body to the MyTouch 3G.

(Credit: Sprint)

Now that Sprint finally has announced its first Google Android phone, we thought we’d take a closer look at how it stacks up against the competition. Sprint has chosen the HTC Hero, which is the third Android phone HTC has made. The Hero was first released overseas shortly after the HTC Magic, which T-Mobile launched in the United States as the MyTouch 3G. The Hero and MyTouch 3G are similar, but the Hero offers a few key advantages.

Memory
The Hero and MyTouch have the same processing power, but the Hero should be faster thanks to its increased memory. The Hero features 288MB of RAM compared with the 192MB RAM on the MyTouch 3G. Many current Android users have complained about speed issues, which normally are caused by background processes that slow the phone down. Having more free memory will let the Hero be more responsive, even when multiple programs are open.

Multimedia
Media fans will be pleased to find a 3.5-millimeter headset jack on the Hero. This was a major complaint of the first two Android phones, but now HTC has committed to including a 3.5-millimeter jack on all future devices. The Hero also includes a 5-megapixel camera, which is an improvement over the 3.2-megapixel shooter on the MyTouch.

Battery
The first Android phone, T-Mobile G1, suffers from battery issues that HTC addressed in the MyTouch. The Hero takes it to the next level by offering a 1,500mAh capacity battery, which is the highest capacity available on an Android phone. In contrast, the MyTouch has a 1,340mAh battery.

Software
The Hero’s software is another of its advantages. The Hero will be the first U.S. phone to feature HTC Sense, an HTC enhanced version of Android. …

Originally posted at Android Atlas

Well, here’s a bit of a curious situation. As Joystiq reports, it wasn’t long after the PS3 firmware 3.0 went live that the first reports of problems started cropping up, with one particularly nagging issue being that some controllers (specifically the CECHZC2H Ceramic White DualShock3) seemed to be locked out of the console once the update was installed. After hashing it out a bit on the official PlayStation3 forum, however, users apparently determined that the controllers in question were in fact knock-offs and not official Sony product, which raises some different but just as interesting questions. Namely, is Sony locking the knock-offs out on purpose, or is firmware 3.0 just too much for them to handle? For its part, Sony doesn’t seem to be saying anything on the matter just yet, but we’ll keep you posted.

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Gaming

PS3 firmware 3.0 locking out knock-off controllers? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s been a long haul marked by funding cuts and some important but rather unexciting tests, but it looks like Boeing’s much-ballyhooed airborne laser has now finally actually blown something up, real good. According to Boeing and the US Air Force, that happened over the White Sands Missile Range on August 30th, when an C-130H aircraft equipped with the Advanced Tactical Laser (or ATL) locked on to an unspecified ground target and fired the 12,000lb high-power chemical laser to make the target disappear from the face of the Earth. That successful test seems unlikely to change the laser’s place in the Defense Department’s arsenal, however, which has already been scaled back significantly from the earlier, more ambitious plans for a whole fleet of aircraft equipped with the weapon.

[Via Slashdot]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Boeing’s airborne laser finally blows something up originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sweat-resistant and wireless: a double whammy!

(Credit: JayBird)

There’s a reason the fitness industry is booming: there are always plenty of people eager to slim their waistlines or achieve perfectly toned arms. But being active and getting in shape isn’t just about looking good–it’s also about being …

Originally posted at MP3 Insider

It may not exactly look like much, but GuidePoint Systems is making some pretty lofty claims about its new GuidePoint Connect hands-free Bluetooth kit, which it says is nothing short of “OnStar for everyone else.” To that end, the device adds emergency dispatch and roadside assistance services to the usual Bluetooth hands-free calling, the former of which is tied into Guidepoint’s own response centers, while the latter can also be paired with GuidePoint’s optional GPS tracking device for location-based services. Like OnStar, all of that is also simplified about as much as possible, with just four buttons on the main unit used to handle calls and the two emergency services. Look for the unit itself to set you back a somewhat hefty $399, which includes the emergency dispatch service for free, along with a one-year subscription to the GuidePoint Silver service that includes roadside assistance and other services.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Transportation

GuidePoint Connect car kit promises to be “OnStar for everyone else” originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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