Hasta La Gadget!

Recent rumors have suggested that Samsung will release its Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy S III on August 29th alongside the introduction of the Galaxy Note II, and just yesterday we saw a video appear on the internet with a user showing off the Jelly Bean firmware. Now the full ROM has leaked out for all to try: if you’re feeling brave, then SamMobile has the ROM available for download, but you’ll have to be comfortable with flashing it to your device manually.

According to SamMobile, the Jelly Bean update hasn’t quite been finalized, with the leaked firmware build a pre-release version built on July 31st. The site says that the final update is still on track for the end of the month, and that it will be delivered to Galaxy S III owners both over-the-air and via KIES. They’ve also compiled a list of new features that the Jelly Bean update brings.

Samsung will apparently be offering a new clock in the notification bar which matches the one found on stock Jelly Bean, and Google Now is accessed by touching the Google search widget bar instead of long-pressing the home button. Some new live wallpapers have been added, and a new “dormant mode” has been added to the phone, but it’s not clear exactly what that entails.

It sounds like there’s a couple of bugs to go along with the ROM too, with SamMobile reporting that SD cards are formatted after installing Jelly Bean, and that certain apps fail to install. They recommend that users wait for the official update that should be coming at the end of the month, but the pre-release version is there for those who know what they’re doing. If you want a taste of the future, head over and read the instructions very carefully.

[via Sammy Hub]

Samsung Galaxy S III Jelly Bean firmware leaks is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Phablets seem to be the in thing these days, and if you’re wondering what that is, it’s basically a phone + tablet, i.e. a device that blurs the line between smartphone and tablet. The Samsung Galaxy Note is a perfect example of such a device. However if you’re the sort that believes that 5.3”-5.5” is still too small for a tablet, then this concept design by Patrik Eriksson might be worth checking out. Pictured above is a folding device that when folded together resembles a smartphone. However when unfolded, it becomes a tablet thanks to its flexible OLED display that hides the hinge in the middle. This allows users to slip the device into their pockets and transform it into a full sized tablet when needed. We’re not sure why the designer chose Sony as the brand, perhaps he was inspired by the Tablet P, who knows? In any case foldable devices have been done before, like the Sony Tablet P and the Kyocera Echo, but we admit that we like Eriksson’s design and the use of a flexible OLED. What do you guys think? Would you be interested in such a device, or would you rather keep your smartphone and tablet separate?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Jolla concept device whets your appetite, Batman’s Tumbler vehicle gets reimagined as an F1 racing car,

Razer has been producing gaming accessories for a long time including some of the best mice, keyboards, and headsets on the market. The company has unveiled its latest gaming headset called the Kraken Pro. Razer says that the Kraken Pro is focused on ergonomics for the head with weight, functionality, and performance being the key attributes targeted in the design.

Razer says that it optimized the weight of the headset specifically targeting the ability for the gamer to wear the headset comfortably for an extended period. The headset has a retractable microphone on the left ear cup that pulls out when you need it and tucks away when you don’t. The goal was to allow the user to take advantage of the Kraken Pro at home for gaming and on the go for listening to music.

The headset uses 40 mm neodymium magnet drivers to deliver clear high and mid range sounds as well as deep bass. The headset design has closed ear cups and has plush padding to help isolate the user from external sounds. The Kraken Pro weighs 293 g, which is slightly more than half a pound. The cable that connects to the computer is 4.27 feet long and it ships with a 6.6-foot extension cable.

The headset is designed to fold for storage. The headset connects to any 3.5 mm audio device and has a separate mic connector as well. The Kraken Pro sells for $79.99 and a standard Kraken headset lacking the microphone is available for $59.99. Both versions of the headset will ship in September.

Razer unveils Kraken Pro gaming headset is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

After delivering an overachieving laptop, Lenovo has delivered financial results that also exceeded expectations, producing $8 billion in revenue and $141 million net profit. Those figures are up 35 and 30 percent respectively over last year, which the company has chalked up to a higher than ever market share of 15 percent. That growth came in part from a 59 percent sales bump in emerging markets like India and Brazil, on top of a 9 percent spurt in its home market — lifting the company 24 percent in world-wide PC shipments for the quarter. Lenovo has also become the second largest player in China’s smartphone market, after Samsung, now up to a 13 percent market share. CEO Yang Yuanqing also proclaimed that, unlike other Redmond partners, he wasn’t stressed about Microsoft’s Surface tablet — and that his company had “much better hardware” than the software giant.

Continue reading Lenovo’s Q1 shows ‘record high’ market share, profits up 30 percent to $141 million

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

Lenovo’s Q1 shows ‘record high’ market share, profits up 30 percent to $141 million originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 06:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Back in November of 2011, a Kickstarter project for a speaker called HiddenRadio was launched. The good news is that the project has become a reality and the first 10,000 units have begun to ship to its Kickstarter supporters. The good news is that if you did not get in on the Kickstarter action back in 2011, you can still pre-order yourself a unit via its website where it is currently being priced at $149.95 ($189.95 after 30^th September), and is also available in three colors – metallic silver, graphite black and pure white.

For those wondering what the HiddenRadio speaker is about, it’s basically a wireless speaker that will pair to any device with Bluetooth connectivity, i.e. smartphones, tablets, laptops. What makes it unique from other wireless speakers is its design where to turn it on, all you’d have to do is twist the top. Adjusting the volume is also a matter of twisting the top higher for louder sound, or lower it for a softer sound. It also comes with a 3.5mm audio jack, a rechargeable battery and built-in AM/FM radio capabilities. So, any takers?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: ChargeCard launches micro USB version Kickstarter project, The Mobi Lens is a clip-on lens for the iPhone,