Hasta La Gadget!

Developers have their work cut out. Even if we (impolitely) sidestep the likes of Windows Phone, BlackBerry and the rest, those coders often have to pitch their work across web, iOS and Android. Google’s trying to make that job a little easier, introducing a new tool that automatically converts Java source code into Objective-C, which is used in iPad and iPhone apps. While the J2ObjC tool can’t tackle the UI for these, it does allow developers to craft other parts (including data access and nuts-and-bolts programming) into an easily shareable code without editing. Some existing Google projects already utilize the new translator, but its results remains a little temperamental — the tool hasn’t translated all possible paths just yet, and many Java devs have, according to the project page, “a slightly different way of using Java.”

Google releases new Java to iOS source code translator originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not completely sold on Canon’s large sensor-packing PowerShot G1 X? The company’s latest jumbo compact offers a comparable smooth focus effect, thanks to its super-wide f/1.8-2.8, 28-140mm optical zoom lens, with image stabilization that boosts your shooting capability by up to four stops. The camera, which is designed to replace the G12, features a 12.1-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor paired with a DIGIC 5 processor, enabling RAW shooting, 1080p video and a top sensitivity of ISO 12,800 all in a body that’s significant smaller and lighter than its predecessor. There’s also a super-sharp 922k-dot 3-inch LCD (no touchscreen here, not that we miss it) and a built-in optical viewfinder.

The $500 G15 isn’t set to hit stores until October, but we caught an early peek at Photokina today. A Canon representative also clued us in on the camera’s naming scheme — that jump from 12 right to 15. As we know, 13 is an unlucky number in North America and Europe, but the 14 was also avoided because the number four “sounds like an unlucky word” in Japanese. So, there you have it. Regardless of what it’s called, though, the G15 is one powerful shooter, with a very solid design to boot. Though it is smaller than the G12, it’s still far too large to fit in a pocket — you’ll likely walk around with this guy dangling from your neck. There’s a mode dial up top, along with a dedicated exposure compensation dial, enabling more precise EV control. We weren’t able to examine samples in order to evaluate the camera’s bokeh capabilities, but Canon reps said that the effect is on par with the G1 X. You’ll be able to get your own mitts on the G15 beginning next month, and you can catch our hands-on photos just below, along with a video walkthrough after the break.

Continue reading Canon PowerShot G15 features f/1.8-2.8 lens and DSLR-like controls, we go hands-on (video)

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Canon PowerShot G15 features f/1.8-2.8 lens and DSLR-like controls, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7 – that being the 7-inch display toting version of the tablet experience – has received its first official teardown, straight from the folks at iFixit. This teardown shows a rather clean looking construction complete with the Texas Instruments OMAP 4460 dual-core processor powering the whole beast – the first big note here is the fact that the machine has a 1.2Ghz processor though TI claims it’ll operate at up to 1.5Ghz. Also under the hood you’ll find a Texas Instruments TWL6032 Fully Integrated Power Management IC and Samsung KLMAG2GE4A eMMC 16 GB Flash Memory and Flash Memory Controller as well.

This Kindle Fire HD 7 machine works with Elpida B8164B3PF-1D-F 8 Gb (1 GB) DDR2 RAM for your high-power needs and does indeed bring Bluetooth 4.0 and an PF radio as well- tune in! It’s discovered in this teardown that the display is made by LG and that the LCD and front glass panel are fused together. This means that replacing one means replacing the other – not an easy thing to deal with even if you’re a regular repairer.

The good news for repairers out there is that the back panel is relatively easy to remove, the battery isn’t held with adhesive, and the simplicity of the entire machine means you’ll be able to take it apart with ease. Most of the screws inside the machine are the same and only a bit of copper tape over the processor was difficult for the iFixit team to work with. The headphone jack is separate from the rest of the motherboard, this allowing easy replacement, and the screws only range between Philips #00 screws and a single T5 Torx screw.

Have a peek at our hands-on and featured posts from the past week in the timeline below, and stay tuned for our full review of the Kindle Fire HD 7 soon. Don’t scrimp on the questions, also – let us know what else you want to know!

Kindle Fire HD 7 gets teardown and components detail is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Mobile payments provider Square will roll out international service by the end of 2012, with the company confirming the roadmap while also announcing a new round of funding. The Series S funding – of which Starbucks is an investor, as previously announced – sees Citi Ventures and Rizvi Traverse Management inject cash into square, which uses simple credit card scanners that plug into the headphone jack of iOS and Android devices.

Square won’t say exactly how much it has raised in this round, though a spokesperson told AllThingsD that it exceeds $200m. $25m of that is from Starbucks, in a deal which will see the coffee chain switch its payment processing to Square’s system, and eventually allow customers to buy their coffee with apps on their smartphones and tablets.

According to ATD’s source, the final investment valued Square at $3.25bn. The company says it processes $8bn in payments annually.

Details on which will be the first country outside of the US to get the Square system have not been revealed, though the European Chip & PIN approach to payments may well cause some headaches along the way. Rather than a regular swipe-and-sign approach, as in the US, European payment terminals scan an integrated chip in the credit card, and then rely on PIN number authentication. That will require a new design of Square scanner at the very least.

Square international roll out in 2012 as $200m funding round closes is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Since its announcement, the iPhone 5 has been going over like gangbusters, but samsung’s counterpunch might not be far behind. According to a report by The Korea Times, Samsung’s new S IV flagship will be coming out March 2013, and could have an even bigger screen. More »