Hasta La Gadget!

Motorola were quick to tell us that we’re testing on pre-release RAZR i here — software updates may arrive before the device does, but these figures below should give you a good estimate at what the 2GHz Intel processor can do. We’ve pitched it against the US-bound Droid RAZR M, with a capable dual-core Snapdragon S4 clocked at 1.5GHz, and ZTE’s Grand X IN, which houses Intel’s 1.6MHz Medfield Z2460 and Android ICS.

So what do all these numbers mean? Well, Intel’s 2GHz processor is pretty capable. Although the RAZR i only bests the RAZR M on SunSpider browser performance (something that Intel’s been focusing on with its mobile hardware), it’s a substantial score difference. Otherwise, the Europe-bound RAZR skates pretty close, if behind the RAZR M’s benchmarks. There’s a hiccup on the CF-Bench score, something that we also noted on the Grand X IN. While both the ZTE and Motorola devices are running Android 4.0, there’s still a tangible difference in these early benchmarks — perhaps testament to both Motorola and Google’s proximity and the debut of Intel’s faster 2GHz Medfield processor. We’ll be testing out those power-saving promises from the chipmaker over the next few days.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Motorola’s RAZR i: benchmarking Intel’s first 2GHz Medfield smartphone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There has been a fair amount of disappointment going around regarding Apple’s iPhone 5. Perhaps you can blame it on the leaks for ruining the surprise, or perhaps people had super high expectations after the iPhone 4S, but either way not everyone is too happy with how the phone has turned out (in terms of features and design; performance appears to be pretty good). However despite many expressing their disappointment, the phone has gone and outsold its predecessor and set new records so we guess despite all the griping, people still went out and bought it.

That being said, a parody video has been released online which basically pokes fun at the iPhone 5. It has been created in the same way that Apple usually makes its commercials which makes it even funnier. In any case whether you’re a fan or a hater, check out the video above for a good laugh.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Apple’s stock continues to rise, passes $700, iPhone 5 benchmark: narrowly beats Galaxy S3 [geekbench],

Yesterday we reported that according to the rumor mill, it seems that Samsung could be set on unveiling the Galaxy S4 at MWC 2013 which is certainly pretty exciting news for fans. However it turns out that perhaps this particular Galaxy S4 might not be on the money as Samsung has taken to Twitter to clarify the issue. Posted in Korean, it roughly translates to, “Please note that some media reported speculation that the Galaxy S Ⅲ subsequent models will be released in a simple rumor is not true. … why spread these rumors?” Given that we’re still pretty far off from the Galaxy S4’s alleged release, we’re not that surprised to learn that this rumor was a dud which is why we usually caution against buying into them and taking them with a grain of salt. So it looks like this particular Galaxy S4’s rumor is dead, but we expect more will pop up in the future which are hopefully more accurate, so be sure to check back with us at a later date for the updates!

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Samsung Galaxy S4 rumored for MWC 2013 debut, US ITC judge rules that Apple did not violate four of Samsung’s patents,

The Leica deluge continues here at Photokina in Cologne. We played around with two new point-and-shoots from the company, starting with the D-Lux 6, the larger and pricier of the pair. The camera features an all black body, with a red Leica logo on the front. It’s got a 1.7-inch CMOS image sensor, a processor capable of ISO 80 to 12800 and adjustable aperture on the lens that can be changed with a twist. It’s also got a large three-inch display on the rear and is capable of full HD video.

The cheaper V-Lux 40 features a similar all-black build with red logo in a smaller form, with a 1/2.33-inch CMOS sensor. On the rear of the camera, you’ll find a three-inch touch display with the same bright resolution as the D-Lux 6. The camera, which bears a striking resemblance to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20, can also do 1080p video. The V-Lux is available now here in Europe for €590 and the D-Lux is coming soon, priced at €699.

Continue reading Leica D-Lux 6 and V-Lux 40 hands-on (video)

Filed under: Cameras

Leica D-Lux 6 and V-Lux 40 hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SquareTrade, a company that provides warranty repairs for consumer electronics, revealed in a report today that Americans have spent an approximate cumulative total of $5.9 billion on damaged iPhones since the device’s introduction in 2007. That includes the cost of repairs, replacement iPhones, and insurance deductibles for plans like the warranties SquareTrade offers, and in large part, costs incurred are a result of accidental damage, more so than loss or theft.

The survey claims that just during the past year, more than 30 percent of iPhone owners have damaged their device, and repeat occurrences are fairly common: 17 percent have damaged their devices more than once. Younger iPhone owners tend to be the most accident-prone, according to the results, with one in two iPhone users 35 or under experiencing some kind of accident with their devices.

The major culprits when it comes to what events cause problems? Mostly drops from a decent height, via either just losing grip on the phone (30%), having it fall from someone’s lap (13%), or it getting knocked off a table (11%). Water damage is also a notable iPhone killer, via either complete immersion (18%) or having something spilled on it (9%).

SquareTrade put together the report using a survey of more than 2,000 iPhone owners, as well as market size data from comScore current as of May 2012. The company has access to a huge pool of damage data around consumer devices because of its trade as a warranty provider, but it’s also worth noting that that line of business means SquareTrade could be a bit biased in this matter. I’ll also point out that there’s no comparative data as to how the iPhone’s repair costs stack up against other devices, but it is an interesting snapshot of just how immensely popular the iPhone has been, and how even its service market alone represents a massive, multi-billion dollar industry.

Apple’s next iPhone makes its way to consumers and store shelves on Friday, and actually looks to be a little less susceptible to accidental damage than its predecessors, with a primarily aluminum back that should better handle drops without taking significant damage. It’ll be interesting to see if that has a significant effect on iPhone repair and service frequency and overall cost.