Hasta La Gadget!

We saw it this weekend for a fleeting moment, but thankfully one handy reader sent us copies of the product page for HP’s Photosmart eStation C510, which we can now confirm is the Zeus / Zeen printer and detachable tablet combination we caught wind of back in early August — and we’ve got some more details. Bad news first: as of a month ago, the Gmail app was missing and there was no support for Android Market, meaning the Zeen might not be an official “with Google” Android tablet like the Samsung Galaxy Tab. (The product page conspicuously lacks any mention of the OS, so we’re thinking Android might simply be the hidden-away base layer for the TouchSmart UI, making this thing super boring.) It does have the default Android browser and at least some custom apps for printing pictures from Facebook, Yahoo, and Snapfish preloaded, but we don’t know about anything else. Major bummer, but we’re told it shouldn’t be too hard for the community at large to root the sucker. Beta testing begins this month, so that all might change before the projected September 20th release. Here’s what else we know so far:

• The Zeen is a capacitive tablet running HP’s TouchSmart skin on top of Android 2.1 — it won’t get shifted to webOS, and it’s not clear if it’ll get upped to Froyo before launch given the development time required. It has capacitive touch buttons, an SD card slot, video support, and at least some prototypes have cameras with a special webcam app installed.
• We’re told TouchSmart will be locked in, but we don’t know how deep that’ll go — right now the standard Android homescreen is still accessible. That’s supposedly going away, so don’t get your hopes up for any native Gmail / Angry Birds use.
• E-reading is a major focus, and the Zeen has “significant” integration with the Barnes & Noble Nook bookstore and ecosystem. Makes sense, as the Nook itself is based on Android, and being able to print e-books from the Zeen would be a huge differentiator — and a great way for HP to sell more ink.
• The touchscreen is apparently not very accurate at all, and we’re told the overall experience is far less satisfying than a competent Android phone. Don’t expect this to replace your Droid Incredible for all at-home use.
• The Zeen will come in two configurations: a $399 bundle with a new printer called Zeus and as a standalone unit for an unknown price. The Zeus has its own “basic” control setup, but when the Zeen is docked it provides a rich interface to the printing functions — presumably a web-connected interface like the one HP’s been moving towards with other printers. (Note: the product page listed $399.99 but provided no indication what price the Zeen might go for solo.)
• Ship date is an estimated September 20th but due to some testing issues this may be pushed back.

Until HP comes clean and inks out the details for all the world to see, check out the product page in pictorial format below.

Exclusive: HP Photosmart eStation C510 is Android-powered Zeus / Zeen, may not run Gmail or Market apps originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Back in the early 90’s whilst playing our Atari Lynx — friendless and alone, of course — we couldn’t have imagined that a second-rate spinoff of the popular Gauntlet franchise would unlock the secrets behind the birth of Google’s Android OS. But, lo and behold, what has one of our faithful tipsters found down here, amongst the ruins of Gauntlet: The Third Encounter? That’s right, nearly irrefutable proof that the Android team (or at least its graphic designers) have plumbed the depths of Epyx’s not-quite-masterpiece for the iconic droid logo we’ve come to know and love. Sure, the top-down scroller provided all kinds of new character classes like the “Nerd,” “Punkrocker,” and “Pirate,” but only one of these fresh faces would provide the blueprint for Android’s public face. It’s hard to argue that there isn’t some level of appropriation here, given the multiple similarities between the two pieces of art, right down to the antennae, dotted eyes, general size and shape, and even the strip which cuts across the midsection of the bot. Oh yeah, and the character is named Android. We personally would like to hear what Google has to say for themselves in regards to this blatant theft of intellectual property, and as for the Epyx artists who slaved over a hot Amiga to bring this image to life — the taste of sweet justice is yours.

[Thanks, Davey]

Continue reading Shocker! Google’s Android logo boosted from Atari Lynx title ‘Gauntlet: The Third Encounter’

Shocker! Google’s Android logo boosted from Atari Lynx title ‘Gauntlet: The Third Encounter’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First came the onslaught of Android-based phones, and then came the rush of Android-powered tablet PCs. Now, we can all brace for the third major coming of Google’s mobile OS, as this PMP marks the second from Archos alone in the last week. Hot on the heels of the Archos 32 comes the Archos 28 Minidroid, a diminutive 2.8-inch (presumed, anyway) portable media player with inbuilt WiFi, Android onboard, a 3.5mm headphones jack, USB connectivity, an integrated microphone and a touch-sensitive array of front panel controls. Beyond that, the FCC’s database ain’t telling us much, but we suspect we’ll hear more as IFA approaches.

[Thanks, Steve]

Archos 28 Minidroid PMP surfaces at FCC: yet another Android-based PMP originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We suppose it could always be a glitch of some sort, but Argos isn’t typically the kind of retailer to add products to its library with no intention of hawking them. First spotted back in February (with a pleasing dose of steroids, might we add), Philips’ newest GoGear Connect is ditching the proprietary OS in favor of Google’s alternative, following Samsung’s Yepp-YP-MB2 into the mysterious world of Android-based PMPs. The product listing shows the 3.2-inch media player as boasting Android 2.1, 16GB of internal storage space, a battery good for 5 hours of video playback (and 25 hours of audio), FM radio tuner, a touchpanel and a microSD expansion slot. Curiously enough, GPS is also thrown in, as are a set of presumably lackluster headphones. It’s listed for a scarily inflated €264.99 ($340), but mum’s the word on an international release — ‘course, it’s not like Philips hasn’t ignored North America before, so we’d recommend not holding your breath.

[Thanks, Michael]

Continue reading Philips’ Android-powered GoGear Connect PMP seemingly on sale overseas

Philips’ Android-powered GoGear Connect PMP seemingly on sale overseas originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrome to Phone isn’t a new product — we’ve been using it since May, in fact — but Google’s second mobile announcement today (behind Voice Actions) is that its continuous client app is now “official” and available to all users (with Android 2.2 Froyo) via Android Market. As it was before, websites can be pushed from the Chrome browser to your Android device, with certain apps (Maps, YouTube) taking over for the browser when contextually appropriate. Additionally, the code is open, which we’re hoping means this Chrome extension will find its way to other browsers. The team is “looking into” bringing the capabilities to other mobile OSs (the iPhone was specifically asked), but don’t get your hopes up: nothing’s been submitted, and we didn’t get the feeling it was an active push. Incredibly useful? Yes, yes indeed.

Chrome to Phone now available in Android Market originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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