Motorola’s Atrix Android Phone: Twin CPU Cores And a Laptop Dock! [Motorola]

It runs Android 2.2, with HTML5 support, and is AT&T’s first dual-core processor in an Android phone. And it docks into a laptop. They’re calling it the world’s most powerful smartphone. ORLY? More »

LG Intros “World’s Slimmest” Phone

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Is this the world’s slimmest phone? At an admittedly svelte 9.2 millimeters (the iPhone 4 is 9.3mm, for the record), LG says yes. It’s the new LG Optimus Black, announced today, during the company’s CES keynote. The device has a 4-inch NOVA screen, which means it should actually be okay to look at, even when standing in bright sunlight–the company calls it “the brightest, clearest, and most readable among mobile screens.”

The phone also has a front-facing 2MP video camera for making those video calls that everyone seems so darn keen on, these days. It also features Wi-iFi direct data transfer between handsets. The Optimus Black is going to run Android 2.2 Froyo and will be released at some point during the first half of this year. You’ll be able to upgrade it to Gingerbread, too, however, when the time comes.

Samsung’s Infuse 4G: A Spectacular Google Android Phone [Android]

“Holy shit.” It’s not what usually comes to mind when I touch a new phone. But Samsung’s Infuse 4G is spectacular. Ridiculously good 4.5-inch screen. 1.2GHz processor. 4G on AT&T. Why, exactly, wasn’t this the new Nexus phone? More »

Ludacris Gets His Own Headphone Line

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Ludacris certainly isn’t the first musical artist to get his own headphone line–in recent years, we’ve seen models from Dr. Dre, Puffy, Justin Bieber, and Lady Gaga. Heck, he’s not even the first artist of the year to snag the honor–that likely belongs to the late Bob Marley, whose kids introduced a line of headphones and other iPod accessories featuring the reggae pioneer.


That said, the rapper’s headphone are, in fact, pretty sweet looking. Ludacris has teamed up with Signeo to offer up five different models, which will be branded “Soul by Ludacris.” The line includes the High Definition Professional SL300 Powered Noise Cancelling headphone, High Definition On-Ear models SL150 and SL100, and the SE99 and SE49 High Definition In-Ear headphones.

All models include “world class” noise cancellation and audio mixing. Also, these things: “professionally voiced sound technology with advanced circuitry and drivers designed by a team of engineers who have developed some of the most notable acoustic breakthroughs in the audio industry.”

The headphones are set to hit the market early this year. We’ll be getting some more information — as well as a chat with the man himself — later in the show.

Custom Earphones for the Masses

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Speaking of CES Unveiled (as we will most likely for a little bit longer), the oddest sight of the show (we’re pretty used to Interactive Toy’s duck and shotgun thing by now) might well have been SonoMax’s table. The company was showing off its new Sculpted Eers customized earbuds.

The product comes with what looks like some manner of medical gear. Pop them over your ears, and they will custom fit silicon earbuds for your ears only–the sort of high end treatment you suspect only people like Lady Gaga and Bono get. The whole process takes about four minutes, according to the company. Gearlog was looking into the possibility of getting our own, but the line was too damn long–maybe next year…

According to Sonomax, the custom earbuds offer such advantages as crisper sound, more frequency (including improved bass), a secure fit on your ears, and hearing protection. Perhaps we’ll be able to get our hands on the things when the show floor opens up on Thursday.

No official word yet on when the headphones will be available to the unwashed, non-Gaga masses.

Monitor Your Blood Pressure With Your iPhone

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Last night at CES Unveiled (a kickoff show of sorts), a company called Withings was showcasing all manner of health gadgets, including a Wifi scale and an iPhone-based baby monitor. The centerpiece of the company’s booth, however, had to be the company’s Smart Blood Pressure Monitor.

Wrap the band around your arm, like a traditional blood pressure monitor, connect it to your iPhone or iPod touch (actually, the company just says “iOS device,” so I suppose the thing will work with the iPad, as well), and then, with the click of a button, it will send the relevant information to your mobile device.

The company uploads the information and give you your information and where you should be. It will also chart trends in your blood pressure, over time, including time of day trends.

The health gadget is launching this month, for $129.

LG’s CES 2011 HD lineup: SmartTV platform, network Blu-ray players and HDTVs

Thanks to a couple of carefully planned slips over in South Korea, hardly anything about LG’s CES 2011 is apt to take you fully by surprise. But if you just so happened to disconnect over the holidays, we’ll break it all down below to ensure you remain firmly in the loop.

  • For starters, the outfit seems pretty darn proud of its new SmartTV platform. Hinted at last month, this system enables HDTVs, Blu-ray players and other sources to access all sorts of streaming media, apps and even provides users with a way to surf the web. Four main sections are given — TV Live, Premium Content, TV Apps and a Launch Bar — and for TV models, owners will control things with a wave of the hand (read: Magic Remote). SmartTV picks up where NetCast left off, offering access to Vudu, Netflix, YouTube, CinemaNow, Hulu Plus, Amazon Video on Demand, NHL Gamecenter, NBA Game Live and MLB.tv. This here functionality is baked into quite a few of the outfit’s 2011 HDTVs, but should own an older model…
  • Then there’s the all-new SmartTV upgrader! The ST600 is a minuscule set-top box that aims to transform any TV into a SmartTV. So long as your set has an HDMI input, you’ll be able to access the content mentioned above. But, of course, it’s on you to source your own Magic Remote.
  • If it’s an all-new TV you’re after, the company is also revealing its 2011 LED and LCD HDTV line. Nary a one is different than those we heard about last week, but at least you can now rest easy knowing that the LW9500 and LW7700 Nano Full HD 3D models will indeed see a stateside release this month. The best news here is the use of polarizing glasses — none of that headache-inducing active shutter mess. There are 13 new LED LCD models in all, with nine of ’em shipping with the SmartTV platform embedded. Unfortunately, LG’s not dishing out pricing information on these bad boys just yet.
  • Not so keen on picking up an LCD? Plasma still lives, you know! LG’s rolling out its 1080p Infinia PZ950 and PZ750 lines here at CES, with both available in 50-inch and 60-inch class sizes. Both lines come equipped with the SmartTV platform, a gesture-based Magic Motion remote andl as a free Android / iPhone app if you’d rather use your phone as a remote. The 50- / 60-inch PZ550 is saddling with NetCast 1.0, but it — along with the PW350, PZ950 and PZ750 lines — can handle 3D imagery. Sadly, LG’s also straying from providing pricing details on these.
  • Wrapping things up, the company is debuting its 2011 line of networked Blu-ray players and home theater systems. The BD690 supports 3D BD playback and ships with an inbuilt 250GB HDD and the SmartTV platform. The majority of LG’s line also includes WiFi, DLNA streaming support and a MusicID feature by Gracenote that enables consumers to play a song from a movie of TV show by mashing a single button on the remote. The BD670, BD650, BD640, BD630 and BD650 are also seeing the light of day, with the latter being LG’s first portable BD deck.
  • Finally, LG snuck in an image (seen above) of a 3D mobile TV prototype. We’ve no details whatsoever to go on, but you can rest assured we’ll be scouring the show floor in search of just that.

For more information on all of the goods here, head on past the break for the full releases. Don’t expect to find any pricing information, though.

Continue reading LG’s CES 2011 HD lineup: SmartTV platform, network Blu-ray players and HDTVs

LG’s CES 2011 HD lineup: SmartTV platform, network Blu-ray players and HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Signeo reveals ‘Soul by Ludacris’ headphone series at CES

Here’s an idea: start a headphone company, and then consult any ‘ole musician for sponsorship. It’s bound to work out well for you. HP has locked arms with Dr. Dre (and The Biebs!), Sleek Audio has done likewise with 50 Cent, Harman AKG has teamed with Quincy Jones, and now, Signeo is looking to Ludacris for a boost in the marketing department. Here at CES, the aforesaid outfit has just launched the cans you see above, aptly titled Soul by Ludacris. As you’d expect, they look mildly similar to the Beats headphone range that has seemingly taken the world by storm, and according to the release after the break, Luda was tightly involved in the construction of them. The Soul brand is debuting with five models in the line: the SL300 noise-cancelling headphones, on-ear SL150 / SL100 models and the SE99 / SE48 earbuds. The whole crew is tweaked to emit fairly intense bass (“without sacrificing the clarity of mids and highs,” mind you), and while no pricing details are being shared just yet, we are told that you can find your own Soul when they hit shelves in “early 2011.” One more look and the full release are after the break.

Continue reading Signeo reveals ‘Soul by Ludacris’ headphone series at CES

Signeo reveals ‘Soul by Ludacris’ headphone series at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live from LG’s CES 2011 press event

We’re entering the day of the liveblog here at CES with all the major electronics manufacturers finally ready to make their big splash announcements for 2011. LG is almost certain to drop some knowledge on us about its new triumvirate of Android smartphones, while 3DTVs, of both the mobile and supersized variety, are expected to feature strongly as well. Let’s not waste time prognosticating, however — there’s a set of well groomed Korean gentlemen ready to do right by us with a surely awesome presentation. Why keep them waiting? Jump past the break for all the steaming-hot liveblog action.

Continue reading Live from LG’s CES 2011 press event

Live from LG’s CES 2011 press event originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc breaks cover, announced at CES this week?

Russian site Gagadget seems to have scored pictures of a phone that matches up perfectly with the teasers Sony Ericsson has placed strategically around the CES show grounds this week — which, in turn, look a whole lot like the Anzu we’ve been seeing leaked for a few months. The site’s saying this bad boy will come to market as the Xperia Arc, so called thanks to a concave backside. The specs, if legit, are decent: 1GHz Qualcomm processor (single-core, it seems), 4.2-inch 854 x 480 display, Gingerbread, 8 megapixel back-illuminated Sony sensor with HD video capture, and a body that measures just 8.7mm at the thinnest point. Sony’s CES press conference is later today, so we might not have long to wait to get all the details on this one; in the meantime, follow the break for a quick promotional video Gagadget seems to have turned up.

[Thanks, SillentTroll]

Continue reading Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc breaks cover, announced at CES this week?

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc breaks cover, announced at CES this week? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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