Hasta La Gadget!

HTC has given a behind-the-scenes look at the design process of the new Windows Phone 8X and Windows Phone 8S smartphones, detailing just how it came up with the pillowy slabs of unibody polycarbonate. According to HTC, the inspiration wasn’t just Nokia’s Lumias – despite the obvious resemblance – but a physical embodiment of the Live Tiles of the Windows Phone homescreen.

“HTC designed the Windows Phone 8X and 8S to blend the virtual and the physical utilizing a three dimensional, unibody-style based on the Windows Phone Live Tiles” the company said today. “These smartphones are perfectly sculpted with a dramatic taper making them feel thin in your hand.”

Inside, HTC’s engineers stacked up the various circuit boards and components in a multi-layered pyramid. It means there’s no camera bump around the lens on the back, for a start, while the Gorilla glass curves neatly into the plastic casing.

Iconic design behind the Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC:

We’ve got more on both phones in our 8X hands-on and our 8S hands-on, and buyers will be able to check the two handsets out for themselves when they hit shelves across the US, Europe and Asia in November.

HTC 8X and 8S hands-on:

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HTC details Windows Phone 8X and 8S design journey is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We just had a chance to see and handle the colorful Windows Phone 8X by HTC, but where will we find it in the US? On stage, the company told us that the new device will be heading to three major carriers: AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. All three operators should be pushing the device out sometime in November, though we’re still waiting to hear specifics on pricing — and we also haven’t been told details on the availability of the lower-end Windows Phone 8S.

Note: We’re hearing whispers that the 8X will be $199 on AT&T and T-Mobile, but both carriers have responded to our request for more information, stating that no pricing has been released yet. The press releases can be found below.

Check out our liveblog coverage of HTC’s Windows Phone 8 launch event!

Continue reading Windows Phone 8X coming to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in November

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Windows Phone 8X coming to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in November originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pitching itself as the first trade alliance to represent the concerns of the online economy, the Internet Association lobbying group has just confirmed its member companies and policy platform. As suspected Amazon, Facebook, eBay, and Google are joined by other large tech firms, under the leadership of Capitol Hill advisor Michael Beckerman, to form the umbrella public policy organization. Citing its three main areas of focus as protecting internet freedom, fostering innovation and economic growth, and empowering users, the Internet Association will represent regulatory and political interests of its member companies, and their employees. There is no word on what the first freedom or innovation to benefit from the associations collaborative-clout will be, but while we wait to find out, you can lobby on the source link for the Mission- and Purpose-statement containing press release.

Continue reading Google, Amazon, Facebook and more confirmed as members of the Internet Association

Filed under: Internet, Alt

Google, Amazon, Facebook and more confirmed as members of the Internet Association originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s hard to find an outdoor bench that’s as versatile as the Bend Bench. I think you can gather that much, even from its name alone. It’s described as ‘part kinetic sculpture’ and ‘part functional public seating.’

What makes the Bend Bench so unique is that its framework allows it to be rotated both horizontally and vertically. The whole design is pretty confusing but just think of it as a combination of merry-go-round and umbrella.

The bench provides back-to-back seating, but one of the seats can also be flipped over to serve as a sort of cover to protect the people seated on the other side from the elements. Pretty neat, eh?

The Bend Bench was designed by Attila Jonas.

[via Yanko Design]

Micron Technology is adding Mike Rayfield as the brains to its newly-doubled manufacturing brawn. NVIDIA’s departing mobile chief was instrumental in producing Tegra 3, the hardware behind flagship devices like HTC’s One X and Google’s Nexus 7. He’s been given the slightly misleading job title as VP of the company’s Wireless Solutions Group, which, despite the name, produces DRAM, NAND and NOR Flash memory for the global smartphone market — and given his track record, it’s likely that we’ll be seeing much more of Micron’s memory in the years to come

Continue reading Former NVIDIA mobile chief Mike Rayfield lands at Micron Technology

Filed under: Cellphones

Former NVIDIA mobile chief Mike Rayfield lands at Micron Technology originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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