Hasta La Gadget!

When we ran into the WobbleWorks team on our recent Berlin trip, they were kindly enough to show off the shipping version of their crowdoverfunded 3D Doodler handheld 3D Printer. Though, when cofounder Max Bogue hinted that the company still had some surprises up its sleeve, he wasn’t kidding. Perhaps most interesting is the inclusion of a mounting dock on the pen, which allows you to attach it a CNC machine, fulfilling the pen’s 3D printing ambitions. Once attached, you can utilize another port to control the speed buttons remotely, so you can manipulate extrusion without actually touching the device. Also of note is the addition of a silicone tip cover, which serves to protect fingers from the heated metal extruder.

Filed under: Peripherals

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As this author was fiddling with his Xiaomi Phone 2S (or MI2S) in bed ahead of Xiaomi’s big event tomorrow, he spotted something odd: a thumbnail of an unfamiliar device — next to the entry-level Red Rice aka Hongmi — in the company’s online store app. Since it’s a high-resolution image, we’re able to zoom into our screenshot (full version after the break) to see this Lumia-like design but with a flatter back. The long flash strip also suggests that this could be a beefed-up dual-LED flash module. Other than that, there’s not much else that we can pick up here.

Given the clock on this mysterious phone matches the 2pm start time of tomorrow’s event, we’re pretty certain that this is Xiaomi’s third-gen flagship device, the MI3; and it’ll likely be announced alongside the Xiaomi TV. We also recall seeing the same back cover leaked way back in February, and the side-by-side shot with the MI2 (embedded after the break) is pointing to a 5-inch screen for this new phone. Judging by the pattern so far, we bet it’ll use Qualcomm’s beastly Snapdragon 800 SoC to follow the 600 on the MI2S. Ultimately, it’ll be all about the price, which is likely to be no more than CN¥1,999 or about US$330 off contract.

While the above product thumbnail appears to be stuck in the cache on our MI2S, the same spot is occupied by the proper MI2S image in the same app on our MI2A. Talk about perfect timing, eh? Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have some sleep to catch up on — we don’t want to scare Hugo Barra with our panda eyes.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Welcome to Engadget’s back to school guide! Today, we’re taking a look at your best e-reader options. Head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as we add them throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back; in early September, we’ll be giving away a ton of gear, including some of the picks in our guides.

Schoolbooks? What is this, the late 20th century? Granted, we still have a ways to go before all the world’s textbooks go digital, but e-readers should be able to stand in for most of those paperbacks, at least. So lose a little backpack weight, save a couple of trees and take notes without ruining your copy. We have got your e-reader needs covered, no matter what your back to school budget.

Filed under: Amazon

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Welcome to Engadget’s back to school guide! Today, we’re talking tablets. Head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as we add them throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back; in early September, we’ll be giving away a ton of gear.

Like reality show contestants who reinvent themselves as America’s next top chef / model / crab fisher, tablets are entering a renaissance. In fact, while you probably couldn’t complete your high-school essays on an iPad or Nexus 7, a slew of optional keyboards are turning slates into capable productivity devices. And as they increase in processing power, tablets are ever thinner and lighter, making it a breeze to schlep ’em around campus in your book bag. So, where to start? How about below, where we’ve selected nine devices that’ll keep you busy before, during and after class.

Filed under: Tablets, Apple, Samsung, Google, Amazon, HP

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Here is it: the Galaxy S4 Mini… for Verizon? As of now, Samsung’s smaller Galaxy S4 sibling is an international-only device; in other words, no US carriers have officially signed on to offer it. That said, a Samsung SCH-i435 recently made its way into the Bluetooth SIG’s website, and those who follow VZW’s classifications of Samsung products are all-too-familiar with the “SCH” prefix. Of course, a handful of leaked photos can’t confirm a release date nor a price, but if it’s already popping up with that label on the rear, surely the wait won’t be much longer. Hop on past the break for a side-by-side shot with an iPhone 5.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, Google

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