Hasta La Gadget!

Giving MIDs a hard time is like gadget sport around here. The idea of a device that doesn’t fit in the pocket but costs more than twice the price of a netbook is just too much to stomach as a general use device. But look at that MID up there… just look at it. That’s the LG GW990 running Intel’s future Moorestown CPU. Granted, the pics were grabbed in a rush (of a device behind glass) while dodging security batons (the CES showfloor hasn’t opened). But where the images fall short the specs amply pick up the slack: Moorestown CPU, 4.8-inch panoramic widescreen display, HD Video, 3D gaming, aGPS, WiFi, 1850mAh battery, digital compass, HSPA radio, and 5 megapixel camera. And if we’re not mistaken, that’s an earpiece at the top of the front face that should allow this to be used as a telephone (VoIP presumably). There’s also an interesting 3-panel view when held in landscape mode giving you independent access to 3 segmented displays (like calendar, media player, and GPS maps) all at the same time. Man, this could be the MID we’ve been waiting for ever since we first saw that sexy Silverthorne prototype. But lets wait for the price and availability before getting too excited, eh?

Continue reading LG GW990 phone busted running Moorestown with heaps of want

LG GW990 phone busted running Moorestown with heaps of want originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

It’s totally understandable that we couldn’t figure out what this LTE / EV-DO dual-mode thingy from LG was when it cleared the FCC; they had the choicest documentation under lockdown and we couldn’t make heads or tails of what we were reading apart from a cryptic line-art diagram of the bottom and a few RF tests. What’s odd, though, is that we still can’t figure out what it is — and this time, we’re looking right at the blasted thing. It supports Band XIII LTE, which would be Verizon’s 700MHz spectrum (wink, wink), but seriously, we have no idea what it’s supposed to do. It looks kind of like a tiny netbook with a Viewty embedded in the top, but it doesn’t look like the phone pops out; we suppose it could be the fanciest external modem ever made, and the 3.5mm jack suggests that it’d probably have some media functionality when it’s disconnected from your PC. Any other guesses?

LG’s LTE-packing M13 spied in the flesh, we still can’t tell what it is originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Had enough of the CES barrage? Nah. Panasonic just cut loose a few new releases of its own, with the highlight of the bunch being the planet’s first integrated Full HD 3D camcorder. Dubbed a “professional” device, the camcorder won’t be available to order until April, and it’s expected to make the filming of 3D content easier due to having the camcorder itself, the lenses, camera head and a twin memory card recorder smashed together in a single body. Users will also find stereoscopic adjustment controls on the twin-lens, solid state-based system, and we’re told that it’ll automatically recalibrate itself sans the need for any external equipment. ‘Course, the $21,000 MSRP is apt to turn away most everyone not being financed by a movie house, but hey, at least we’re fairly certain it’ll be reduced to a few bills by 2012. In related news, Panny is also partnering with DirecTV to launch a trio of dedicated 3D channels starting in June, and the two are already in talked with AEG, CBS, Fox Sports, HDNet, MTV, NBC Universal and TBS to develop additional 3D programming that’ll debut between 2010 to 2011.

Oh, and you’ll obviously need a new setup to view said content, and that’s where Panny comes in (again). The outfit unleashed a new range of 3D-capable (thanks, RealD!) Viera plasma HDTVs and Blu-ray 3D players, and all it takes to enjoy mind-melting 3D content in the comfort of your abode is “a stylish and lightweight pair of active-shutter glasses.” Oh, joy. The complete line will be fleshed out later this Spring, with screen sizes ranging from 50- to 65-inches. In one of the most brilliant moves of the show, Panny’s also including just a single set of 3D glasses with its multi-thousand dollar televisions, which is sure to leave a bitter taste in the mouth of Sir Buyer who has to plop down an extra hundie or two to get specs for the whole family. At any rate, the DMP-BDT350 Blu-ray player will handle 1080p content in both the second and third dimension. The last bit is new partnerships with Netflix, Skype, Twitter and Pandora (among other outlets), all of which are being added to the Viera Cast library that’s accessible on select Blu-ray players and HDTVs. Catch the full rundown after the break… if you dare.

Continue reading Panasonic blows it out with 3D Blu-ray deck, HDTVs, channels and $21k camcorder

Panasonic blows it out with 3D Blu-ray deck, HDTVs, channels and $21k camcorder originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Samsung has unveiled its latest family of Blu-ray players for 2010 topped by the BD-C6900 (above), compatible with both the 3D Blu-ray standard and the company’s existing 3D displays. If your guests aren’t thrilled by Full HD 3D and funky glasses they can always peek through the transparent cover and watch the disc spin. Also coming this year are the BD-C6500 with a promised 15-second boot time and disc load time, a new slim blu-ray champ with the BD-C7500 (after the break) and the low end BD-C5500. No word on prices or dates, but we’re sure these should be appearing on shelves around the time the weather warms up.

Continue reading Samsung’s 2010 Blu-ray players bring 3D, transparency & thinness

Samsung’s 2010 Blu-ray players bring 3D, transparency & thinness originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

We’re here in the middle of Samsung’s CES press conference, and the company’s just revealed its first e-book reader. We don’t have many details yet — we know there will be a 10- and 6-inch model, both with touchscreens, that Google is the content partner, and that it’s got a soft QWERTY keyboard and wireless but no 3G (a bit of a downer). The two readers — dubbed the E6 and E101 — will feature on-screen handwriting capabilities, Bluetooth 2.0, and 802.11b/g WiFi. The 6-incher will clock in at $399, while the bigger version will sell for $699, and both will be available in “early 2010.”

Update: We just nabbed a quick hands-on. It’s pretty thin, and it’s hiding a secret: it’s a slider with hidden controls! The touch sensitivity seemed pretty okay, but we’ll have to spend some non-rushed time with it to get a true feel for things. Check out more in the gallery, and see the full press release after the break.

Continue reading Samsung announces E6 and E10 e-book readers at CES

Samsung announces E6 and E10 e-book readers at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments