Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve heard rumors about the Pantech Marauder arriving on Verizon before and it looks like we finally have official confirmation about the device. Verizon today announced the launch of the Pantech Marauder on its network. The Android device will be a 4G LTE device that packs a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, a 3.8” WVGA display, 5-megapixel rear camera, microSD card slot (up to 32GB) and a slide out QWERTY keyboard for folks who are constantly messaging on their phones.

The Pantech Marauder will also feature a special “Starter Mode” that will simplify the Android user experience for folks new to the smartphone world. Once users get more comfortable they can easily switch the phone to “Standard Mode” and use regular Android. The phone will go on sale August 2nd for $49.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and with a 2-year contract with Verizon. Any takers?

[Press Release]

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Pantech Marauder rumored to arrive on Verizon, carries Ice Cream Sandwich and LTE connectivity, Pantech Star Q with QWERTY keyboard leaked, appears to be headed Verizon’s way,

After some arguments and the forced removal of a Google employee, the jury for the Apple vs. Samsung trial has been selected, with the ten people now facing opening statements when court reconvenes today. Of the 74 individuals pared down, the final list includes a mechanical engineer, an AT&T supervisor, and an unemployed would-be video came designer, Fortune reports. However, Apple had to use one of the four preemptory challenges it can make to have a Google employee removed from contention.

That decision came after the employee – an interface designer at Google – admitted to owning two Samsung phones, a pair of iPads, a Samsung Galaxy tablet and a B&N NOOK Color but otherwise satisfied Justice Lucy Koh that he was cleared for the case. Judge Koh dismissed Apple’s arguments that Google develops the Android OS running on Samsung’s tablets, leaving the Cupertino legal team with no choice but to officially veto the selection.

Meanwhile, other rejected potential jurors included the father of a man who works for Apple’s legal department and an Apple employee who said he had already decided on who the rightful winner of the case was. Another man was cited in the filing of 120 patents, while a further possibility apparently flummoxed the court by saying he saw no difference between this case and that fought between Apple and Microsoft.

All potential picks were questioned as to their computing habits, what devices they use, and how they browse online, including which search engine they relied upon primarily (generally Google, though with a little Yahoo use thrown in by one person to spice things up). They were also asked if they owned any Apple stock, and whether they had read the Walter Isaacson biography of Steve Jobs, to which several of the final jury confirmed that they had.

Apple and Samsung filed pre-trial briefs to outline their positions last week, with Apple arguing that Samsung had slavishly copied the physical design of the iPad and iPhone, and segments of the software design, to gain an unfair advantage for its Galaxy series of phones and tablets. Samsung, however, maintains that Apple’s interpretation of its design patents is far too broad; as the company’s design chief said in an interview this week, Apple is “fighting over rectangles” and seemingly lacks common sense.

The trial is expected to meet three days per week for the first two weeks, with the possibility of daily court sessions beyond that.

Apple forces Google employee off jury in Samsung case is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Google wants to relieve New Yorkers of one of the Subway’s biggest annoyances: Planned service changes you didn’t know about. Now, whenever you click on a Subway station in Google Maps, the information box that pops up will display detailed service advisories like the ones the MTA posts on its website and in stations. The new alerts will also show up when you search for transit directions in Google Maps. There’s nothing worse than realizing a train is running a weird schedule when you’re already late and can’t do anything about it. Bless you Google. Now please roll this feature out for the rest of America. More »

Japan is a place where pretty much everything goes, especially when it comes to “art” and this 3D fetus replica is no different. Brought to you be Fasotec and Parkside Hiroo Ladies Clinic, anybody who wants a 3D replica of an unborn fetus residing inside them can do so for only $1,200. All you have to do is visit the clinic for an MRI, and you’ll be given a 90 x 60 x 40mm dimension model of your unborn child.

The fetus replica created using a 3D printer that gets the model from the MRI scan. The fetus will be printed with white resin while the mother’s body will be made with clear resin. The position of the fetus in the body will depend on the MRI scan, so I doubt you can make it pose however you want it to. To top it off, the replica fetus will be presented in a posh-looking white jewelry box. I’ve no idea who would want a gift like this, but hey – it’s probably a good way to scare your kid if he/she’s been naughty.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Check out the Return of the Jedi Lego Chess Set, Interim CEO Ross Levinsohn steps down from Yahoo,

I’ve seen a couple of these earphone jack accessories pop up over time, and this one is definitely for those of you who like their smartphone accessories cute, adding tiny animal tails to your phone.

Made in Korea, the Sumneeds Line Tail earphone jack accessory was made to protect your audio jack on your phone from getting damaged when you aren’t using your headphones. The tails also act as a simple cord-management device. Simply string your earphone cord through the end of the tail, and wind it up when not in use.

Line Tails come as whale, fox, and swan ends, and there’s an accompanying set of wallpapers you can load onto your phone to give it a face to go with the tail.

[via designboom]