Hasta La Gadget!

If you haven’t heard about the Samsung Galaxy S II by now, you’re definitely tardy to the party. But as the proverbial saying goes, it’s better late than never, right? The Galaxy S, its predecessor with myriad chassis selections and carrier variants, is still selling like hotcakes all over the world, and the sequel is no lightweight (figuratively) either — selling three million units in 55 days only seems to be rivaled by a company based out of Cupertino — and for good reason. We gave the unlocked version high marks for its excellent performance, gorgeous display and top-of-the-line camera, so it was only natural that we’d spend the next four months wondering when we’d see the powerhouse make it Stateside.

Don’t get us wrong — we’ve seen our fair share of unlocked Galaxy S II devices proudly shown off in the US (most of them from our own editors, admittedly) because it’s already available at full retail (roughly $650-700) from multiple vendors. However, the Samsung Epic 4G Touch is the first to be offered at a subsidized cost in return for a two-year commitment, and it won’t be the last as AT&T and T-Mobile pull up the rear with their own styles of the same handset. So how does the landmark phone stand up to not only the test of time but several carrier-specific design changes? Are Sprint customers getting a “tainted” version of Sammy’s flagship Android device? These questions have been pondered for months, and we finally have the answers if you keep on reading.

Continue reading Samsung Epic 4G Touch review

Samsung Epic 4G Touch review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Much in the same vein as the smartphone showed off this morning, Intel also teased a Medfield-based Android tablet. But unlike the prototype Andy Rubin whisked with him off stage, we were able to at least get up close and personal with its Intel inside sibling. Unfortunately we weren’t able to actually touch it, but here’s to hoping we can track one down and do a proper hands-on at some point today.

Update: Our eagle-eyed friends at CarryPad have spotted an NFC marking on the tablet’s back.

Intel shows off Medfield-based Android tablet at IDF 2011, we (briefly) go eyes-on (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No surprises here. GameStop, which announced its intentions to become a technology company earlier this spring, has officially selected Google’s Android OS for its upcoming tablet-based “certified gaming platform.” The video game retailer’s prexy Tony Bartel relayed the news to GamesIndustry.biz, and plans to sell the slate alongside offerings from industry heavyweights. The news comes on the heels of the company’s spring acquisition of developer Spawn Labs and Impulse, with a pre-production model design already selected for the tab. Expect the hardware to come pre-loaded with a handful of games, and to have a focus on an OnLive-like, cloud-based gaming platform. Consumers in Dallas were the first to get a hands-on with the beta device that should sport a custom designed inbuilt controller at launch. According to Bartel, “It’s hard to imagine how to stream a game – let’ say Modern Warfare 3 – onto a tablet and then play it with your finger.” The GameStop-made tab could also see third-party exclusives head to the platform, crafted with its controller interface in mind. Bartel made no mention of a release window, but it’s clear the company’s adapting to the industry’s digital download future. Hit up the source below for the full interview.

GameStop to bring Android-based gaming tablet to market originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of the biggest knocks against the HTC Flyer when it launched (besides the extra $80 the stylus would cost you) was that it shipped with a Sensed-up version of Gingerbread, instead of the more tablet-appropriate Honeycomb. But, with the Android 3.1-packing Puccini now official, the Taiwanese manufacturer is working to bring the rest of its inbetweeners up to speed and, as usual, the devs appear to have sprung a leak. There’s not much information about the early Flyer Honeycomb beta that just dropped on MoDaCo, courtesy of Paul O’Brien, but it’s already packaged up in RUU form and ready for flashing. It goes without saying, this is not for the faint of heart. If you cherish things like stability and reliability (you know, if you’re a wimp) it’s probably best to hold out for an official release. The bold can download it now at the source link.

HTC Flyer Honeycomb ROM leaks, not for the timid tableter originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re about a week away from this year’s IFA, but that’s no reason for the tech teases to dry up. According to a report on This Is My Next, a bevy of product logos from Sammy’s Android trade show app were unearthed by a tipster searching for clues in the APK. Among the soon-to-be unveiled products are the new Galaxy Tab 7.7, Wave 3 and Galaxy Note. While we’ve haven’t heard much about the Note, we aren’t really surprised to see a 7.7-inch (we assume) iteration of the OEM’s popular Honeycomb tablet and an update to its Bada OS-running Wave smartphone line. Not to worry folks, you won’t have to live with the suspense for long — we’ll be reporting live from Berlin before you know it.

Samsung’s IFA app unveils Galaxy Tab 7.7, Wave 3 and Galaxy Note originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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