Andy Pad Pro makes film debut, shows off bird slinging skills (video)

Still waiting to get your affordable Android tablet on? You’ve got a little over a week to go, but here attempting to tide you over is a montage of the Andy Pad Pro. First made official in July (alongside a video of its lesser sibling), the Gingerbread tablet still rocks a 1.2GHz Cortex A8, a “powerful 3D GPU” and 1080p HDMI output. And at £179 (or about $290) the 7-inch capacitive slate won’t break the bank. Ready to see it and its more affordable brother shred through a bevy of Android games? You know the drill: hop on past the break, bud.

Continue reading Andy Pad Pro makes film debut, shows off bird slinging skills (video)

Andy Pad Pro makes film debut, shows off bird slinging skills (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Cool Smartphone  |  sourceAndy Pad  | Email this | Comments

Motorola’s XT531 hits the FCC, ready for its US crossover

Motorola’s XT531 has gone through more name changes than a certain rapper-cum-vodka shilling mogul, and the trend might continue as it makes its way to the US. The budget-friendly handset, known as the Fire XT in Europe and the Spice XT in Latin America, has just surfaced at the FCC toting AT&T-compatible GSM bands, UMTS / HSDPA 850MHz / 1900MHz support, WiFi and Bluetooth. Based on Moto’s official PR for the handset’s Chinese release, we know this 3.5-incher also sports a front-facing VGA / 5 megapixel rear camera, and is set to launch with Android 2.3 onboard. With Google’s newest pal clearly chasing after heat-related naming conventions, we expect to see this one launch with an equally caliente moniker.

Motorola’s XT531 hits the FCC, ready for its US crossover originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty, Snoopy lend their brand equity to the cute clamshell phone cause

In Japan, a certain hallowed distinction has been garnered by all ephemera cute and pretty. So, it goes without saying that this pair of oblong flip phones, with their familiar animated sponsors, should have the Harajuku hordes rushing in with charm straps at the ready. For its particular crack at kawaii, Panasonic’s P-06C gets an understated splash of Snoopy cool, visible only through two available built-in themes. The clamshell entry comes with a 3-inch display, 5.1 megapixel camera and retails for about 28,560 yen (or $375). But, let’s face it folks, the real stunner of the two is the Softbank-designed model Ms. Kitty-chan adorns. The Antique Berry-shaded 007SH KT packs a 3.4-inch display, 16.1 megapixel camera and Android 2.3 into a 180 degree foldable handset, and can be yours when it goes on sale next month. Be sure to jump past the break for a double dose of this wireless adorability.

Continue reading Hello Kitty, Snoopy lend their brand equity to the cute clamshell phone cause

Hello Kitty, Snoopy lend their brand equity to the cute clamshell phone cause originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TechCrunch  |  sourceSoftbank (Translated), Engadget Chinese (Translated)  | Email this | Comments

Archos A80S shows up at the FCC, keeps its specs hidden

Because good things come in pairs, yet another Archos tablet has popped up over at the FCC shrouded in mystère. Aside from the tab’s name, the A80S, and its de rigeur WiFi b / g / n capabilities, not much else can be glimpsed from the product’s filings. If the French company’s recently unveiled 80 G9 and 101 G9 offerings are any indication, we could be looking at a dual-core processor setup and some version of Android — potentially even Ice Cream Sandwich. We’ll keep an eye out for any further spec-related developments, but until then, you can satisfy your Archos sweet tooth with this Gingerbread duo.

Archos A80S shows up at the FCC, keeps its specs hidden originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Hercules gets its Telus on in leaked glamour shots

Looks like Sammy’s Android 2.3 demi-god is just about ready to touch down on this side of planet Earth. Spotted out in the wilds of Canada once again, the much anticipated Hercules handset — a confirmed Galaxy S II variant — has been captured in not-quite-Mr. Blurrycam form over on MobileSyrup. The device, shown here running on Telus’ network, is rumored to pack a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 2 megapixel front-facing camera, 42Mbps HSPA+ radio and a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor — although that Quadrant score could very well indicate an Exynos chip. While we still lack any firm release dates for the phone’s Northern American debut, we’d bet that leaked T-Mobile October launch is a good yardstick for soon.

Samsung Hercules gets its Telus on in leaked glamour shots originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Pico gets pictured, looks like a Wildfire S with a case of the blues

We’re just getting accustomed to the HTC Wildfire S in the US, but the Taiwanese company appears to be prepping another device with similar specs for other parts of the world. The HTC Pico is a newcomer to the company’s healthy lexicon of codenames, yet from the images leaked to XDA China it seems almost ready to hit the market. A full list of device specs happened to be included as well: the Pico will run on a 600MHz single-core CPU and 384MB of RAM, and will use a 3.2-inch HVGA display. It’ll come with Android 2.3 underneath “HTC Sense Zero,” which we believe may be a streamlined version of the Sense UI designed for lower-end devices — perhaps in reaction to the Desire Gingerbread debacle. Curiously, the Pico may not be destined for North American shores, as it lacks 850 / 1900 WCDMA bands. There’s no word on exactly where, when or even if this stranger will appear, though it may very well be heading to Europe and emerging markets. If the blue hue sends chills up your spine, continue below the break to see the spec list in its full (midrange) glory.

Continue reading HTC Pico gets pictured, looks like a Wildfire S with a case of the blues

HTC Pico gets pictured, looks like a Wildfire S with a case of the blues originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PocketNow  |  sourceXDA China  | Email this | Comments

HTC Vigor with 1.5GHz dual-core CPU and Beats sighted in Dutch online store

Not much is known about the HTC Vigor, but if the above image is accurate, we have more than a wagonload to look forward to. A supposed render and spec list of the new superphone showed up on The Phone House, a Dutch online retailer, and was quietly taken off the site at a later time. According to the site, the Vigor will have a 4.3-inch HD display with 1280 x 720 resolution; it’ll also offer a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, Android 2.3.4, and integrated Beats Technology — which would make the Vigor the first labor of HTC’s latest purchasing decision. There’s no word on if the device will have LTE inside, though Verizon docs indicated previously that it’s geared up to be the Thunderbolt’s replacement sometime this fall. This time, let’s get that battery life figured out, okay?

HTC Vigor with 1.5GHz dual-core CPU and Beats sighted in Dutch online store originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Bliss spotted frolicking in the blurry wild?

We haven’t heard much about the HTC Bliss since it popped up on a Verizon roadmap earlier this month, but the folks over at PocketNow have obtained photos of what could be the handset’s first public appearance. The so-called “women only” smartphone, which recently passed through the FCC, is rumored to run on a 800MHz single-core processor and will reportedly sport a new version of HTC’s Sense UI. It’s also expected to run Android 2.3 and to rock a GSM 900MHz radio, though, as you can tell, it’s a little difficult to glean any of that from the above blurry images. No word yet on whether it’ll launch in September, as expected, or whether it’ll look a bit more feminine when it does, but we’ll keep you posted.

HTC Bliss spotted frolicking in the blurry wild? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ViewSonic ViewPad 10pro: a Windows 7 tablet that also runs Android — sort of

Life would be so much easier if you could just switch operating systems depending on what you need, wouldn’t it? That’s the thinking behind ViewSonic’s ViewPad 10pro, a “dual OS” tablet that runs Windows 7 and Android 2.3. The Wi-Fi enabled device comes with Intel’s new 1.5 GHz Atom Z670 CPU, a 1024 x 600 display, 2GB of memory, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, HDMI capabilities and a microSD slot. We had a hands-on in May and found out that the 10.1-inch device runs Android with Bluestacks’ virtualization layer for Windows, though we noticed that performance left a little to be desired. The base model comes with Windows 7 Home Premium and a 16GB SSD for $599, while an extra Benjamin gets you Windows 7 Professional and a 32GB SSD. If you want one soon, best get a move on, as “limited numbers” are currently available. For more information you can sonically view ViewSonic’s press release, after the break.

Continue reading ViewSonic ViewPad 10pro: a Windows 7 tablet that also runs Android — sort of

ViewSonic ViewPad 10pro: a Windows 7 tablet that also runs Android — sort of originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Defy + Can Safely Sink

Motorola is taking the idea of “waterproof” gadgetry out for a spin.

The Defy+ — announced even as Google was acquiring Motorola — is a souped-up, super-sealed version of the Defy. It sports a faster processor (1GHz, rather than 800MHz), a longer lasting battery (1700mAh, up from 1540mAh) and the latest iteration of Android, Gingerbread 2.3. Everything else is pretty much the same, including the 5 megpixel camera with flash, the 2 gig memory and the microSD card slot.

The Motorola Defy+ is IP67 certified, which means it is hermetically sealed against dust or sand. You can even immerse it in 3 feet of water. Suddenly those late-night drunk bathroom breaks, which have taken the lives of countless phones, aren’t so risky. But perhaps the best thing about the Defy + is it doesn’t look like a rubbery waterproof toy.

It’s headed first to Germany, where customers can buy it beginning this month for 269 euros, or about $389, without a contract. Look for it in other European countries, Asia and Latin America soon. No word on when it comes to North America.

Much like other waterproof gadgets, you can’t go diving with it, but why would you want to? But if you’re thrown into the shallow end of the pool or drop it in the toilet, it should be OK.

Photo: Motorola