DROID Incredible 4G LTE unboxing and hands-on

Today we’ve got our hands on the HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE from Verizon, a device that’ll be out in stores on the fifth of this month. This device represents HTC’s efforts to bring most of the greatness from the HTC One series over to Verizon for their 4G LTE excellence in a relatively small form factor. You’ve got a 4-inch LCD qHD display – the same one as exists on the HTC One S, coupled with a 1.2 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor from Qualcomm and a price of $149.99 after $50 mail-in rebate – have a peek at it up close below.

This device works with Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich and has HTC’s own newest user interface on top, that being Sense 4.0 as well. This device looks and feels rather similar to the HTC Rezound, aka the highest definition smartphone on the market, and comes with its own lovely egg-like shape as well. Have a peek at our full review of the HTC Rezound and come back for a much more compact version of said device here.

Above you’ll see our newest hands-on with the device, our first look having been back earlier this year at CTIA 2012 in New Orleans. Things having changed much since then, this device still looking the same on the inside and outside, with what appears to be no significant software modifications inside either. On another note, the only difference between this and an HTC One device – HTC One S, HTC EVO 4G LTE, HTC One X, is the HTC ImageSense chip.

What you’ve got here is the next in a line of rather successful “Incredible” devices from Verizon’s DROID lineup. With HTC’s addition of the fantastic Snapdragon S4 – the same processor also sitting in the rest of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S III line, mind you, HTC and Verizon likely have another winner on their hands. Have a peek at the hands-on photos above and below and prepare for a full review this week!

IMG_5812
IMG_5814
IMG_5809
IMG_5810
IMG_5811
IMG_5807
IMG_5808
IMG_5803
IMG_5805
IMG_5806


DROID Incredible 4G LTE unboxing and hands-on is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Recon goggles gain Facebook integration and augmented reality at Google I/O (hands-on video)

Recon goggles gain Facebook integration and augmented reality at Google I/O (hands-on video)

Remember that Android SDK Recon Instruments finally unveiled for its heads-up display goggles? Well the company was showing off the fruits of its labor here at Google I/O 2012 with two demos — specifically two-way Facebook integration and augmented reality using a Contour camera. In the first demo, the goggles are paired over Bluetooth with an app running on an Android phone. Each time you jump while snowboarding or skying, the accelerometer data from the goggles is sent to the handset which posts a graphic to Facebook showing the distance, height and duration of your flight. Any comments made to the post are then immediately relayed back to the heads-up display. The second demo uses a Contour camera attached to the goggles and paired via Bluetooth. As you look around, the output from the camera appears on the heads-up display augmented with labels showing the location and distance of the nearby train stations based on the compass and GPS data from the goggles. Pretty cool, eh? Check out the gallery below and hit the break for our two hands-on videos.

Continue reading Recon goggles gain Facebook integration and augmented reality at Google I/O (hands-on video)

Recon goggles gain Facebook integration and augmented reality at Google I/O (hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Distro Issue 47: Made in the USA edition

Distro Issue 47 Made in the USA edition

It’s that time of the year when folks in the US of A tend to get a tad bit patriotic. Pretty soon, those of us in the States will be all about grilling and putting back a few hot dogs and / or hamburgers before rushing off to catch some fireworks. We’re looking to keep the spirit alive in our weekly, too. This time around, we offer up a Made in the USA edition with editorials that tackle Nevada’s solar-geothermal hybrid power plant and just how much coin it takes to offer internet in American Samoa — along with a few more stops in between. The Nexus 7 and Nexus Q were revealed at Google I/O and we offer some initial thoughts on the pair of gadgets from the folks in Mountain View. Find yourself jonesin’ for a closer look at that fancy Tesla S? You’re in luck. You’ll find some detail shots of the new $50,000 EV in “Eyes-On” this week. So what are you waiting for? There’s a monster truck on the cover for crying out loud! Dive right in to the latest issue via your download method of choice.

Distro Issue 47 PDF
Distro in the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Google Play Store
Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter

Distro Issue 47: Made in the USA edition originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceiTunes, Google Play  | Email this | Comments

Inside Google’s amazing Accessory Development Kit demo hardware (video)

DNP Handson with Google's amazing Accessory Development Kit demo hardware

The coolest thing at Google I/O this year isn’t a cheap tablet or a pair of overpriced glasses or even a killer keyboard. It is, believe it or not, an alarm clock. But not just any alarm clock — this is an alarm clock with potential. What you see above, and demonstrated in the video after the break, is the gadget that was handed out to attendees who went to learn about the Android Accessory Development Kit. It has an array of RGB LEDs on the front which it can use to display simple numerals and digits, but thanks to a bevy of sensors — and plenty of connectivity options — that’s just the beginning. USB? Check. NFC? Definitely. Accelerometer, colorimeter, magnetometer, barometer, hygrometer, thermometer? Yes, all that and more.

What starts out as an oddly shaped clock held together only with magnets has the potential to be hacked into something truly amazing — and that’s the point. With this, developers have what they need to try out all sorts of crazy ideas relying on a wide assortment of sensors. It’s an empowering collection of abilities and, when a dev finds some combination that works, they can turn around and spin that into something new. We’re very eager to see what eager engineers do with their ADK demo units, but for now you can see what it can do right out of the box in the video below.

Continue reading Inside Google’s amazing Accessory Development Kit demo hardware (video)

Inside Google’s amazing Accessory Development Kit demo hardware (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 09:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Yamaha Vocaloid on Miselu Neiro synth: exclusive hands-on at Google I/O 2012 (video)

Yamaha Vocaloid on Miselu Neiro synth: exclusive hands-on at Google I/O 2012

Did you enjoy our first look at the latest apps being showcased on Miselu‘s Neiro Android-powered synth here at Google I/O 2012? Want more? You’ve come to the right place. As promised here’s an exclusive hands-on with Yamaha’s Vocaloid app demoed by the man behind the technology himself — video game designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi. We got the chance to play with an early build of the software running on the same 3-octave prototype version of the synth that we last saw at SXSW. The verdict? It works pretty well considering the pre-alpha status of the code. The app features two modes of operation — edit and play — the former letting you type or speak text and map it to an existing melody and the latter allowing you to chose preset sentences and “sing” them with the keyboard. Pictures are worth a thousand words, so take a look at our gallery below and watch our hands-on video after the break.

Continue reading Yamaha Vocaloid on Miselu Neiro synth: exclusive hands-on at Google I/O 2012 (video)

Yamaha Vocaloid on Miselu Neiro synth: exclusive hands-on at Google I/O 2012 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Google Chrome for iPhone hands-on

DNP Chrome for iOS preview

Today’s Google I/O keynote was, as expected, all about the Chrome. Easily one of the biggest among the company’s laundry list of announcements surrounding the browser-turned-operating-system has to be its arrival on iOS, bringing the functionality that an ever-growing number of users have come to know and love to the iPhone and iPad. The list includes, perhaps most notably, its cross-device syncing, ensuring that you can pick up where you left off on the desktop version of the program, taking your pages and tabs with you on the go. So, is Google’s fancy mobile browser enough to get us off mobile Safari altogether? Check out some impressions of the iPhone version of the app after the break.

Continue reading Google Chrome for iPhone hands-on

Google Chrome for iPhone hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Google Drive for iOS hands-on

Google Drive for iOS handson

It’s an exciting time when two worlds collide, especially for iOS users that have an affection for Google services. The head honchos in Mountain View took to the stage at Moscone West today and announced two programs were going to be made available in the App Store by the end of day: Chrome and Drive. The latter pushed out first, so we decided to give the free app a closer look. Head below for some screenshots and our impressions of the service.

Continue reading Google Drive for iOS hands-on

Google Drive for iOS hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Hands On With Chrome for iOS [Video]

At day two of I/O, Google repeated pretty much the same keynote, but it also finally announced Chrome for iOS. After a tortuous wait, it’s landed in the App Store this afternoon, and I spent some time using it. And it’s not quite what you’d hope. More »

Control4 delivers home automation Starter Kit for under $1,000 including installation, we go hands-on

Control4 delivers home automation Starter Kit for under $1,000 including installation, we go handson video

Replacing a house full of switches and dials with a single remote seems a desirable proposition, but less-than-intuitive setup processes and fees that run far into the thousands make a disconnected home the only option for some. Like other home automation system manufacturers, Control4 has a bounty of offerings that can run up pricing into that out-of-reach range, but if you’re looking to adjust audio and video in a single room, the new Starter Kit should get you going for just shy of a grand, including installation. That price includes a HC-250 Controller, which delivers IR control for up to eight components (via splitters connected to the four IR ports on the rear), serial control for up to two receivers or other systems and IP control for an unlimited number of devices. There’s also an SR-250 ZigBee remote in the box, which offers full control through a television interface (HDMI and component outputs can be found on the HC-250’s rear). You can also have full access through a variety of add-ons, including a $999 7-inch in-wall touchscreen with camera, a portable version for the same price, or any Android, iOS or Mac device — access licenses for smartphones, tablets and computers run $199 each, or $499 to cover the entire home.

The Starter Kit can enable control of a single room, which may be fine for some users — to add additional home theater setups you can bring on more HC-250s at $599 a pop. There’s also an option to add ZigBee lighting controls ($129 per switch), ZigBee door locks ($150 to $350) or a door intercom unit with camera ($799). All-in, outfitting a large home can be quite pricey, and the Starter Kit is designed to get folks in the door, rather than to deliver a complete solution. We tested the controller with a TV, audio system, a pair of lights on two zones, the door intercom and a deadbolt, and all performed seamlessly without an hiccups. We also took a look at the intuitive drag-and-drop PC-based interface, which owners can use to change macros and add media. Introducing new components to the rig will require a dealer service call (or remote access, if you’re just trying to loop in something like a NAS to serve up content). The Control4 Starter Kit is available through third-party dealers beginning today, including Magnolia Home Theater in select Best Buy stores (in that case, Geek Squad will handle the install). That sub-$1,000 figure factors in two hours of labor, and may climb a bit higher depending on dealer rates. Still, if you’re just looking to get your feet wet, this seems to be a solid solution. Thumb through the gallery below for a closer look at the components and interface.

Continue reading Control4 delivers home automation Starter Kit for under $1,000 including installation, we go hands-on

Control4 delivers home automation Starter Kit for under $1,000 including installation, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Plastic Logic flexible smartphone epaper companion hands-on

The must-have smartphone accessory of tomorrow might just be an unbreakable touchscreen epaper tablet, saving your eyes from squinting at a mobile display. Plastic Logic revealed its work-in-progress slate to us today, as SlashGear browsed the goodies in the company’s UK R&D center, confirming that talks with several manufacturers and carriers are ongoing to bring the companion device to market. Potentially bundled with your next smartphone could be a 10.7-inch super-light touchscreen pane for easier viewing of webpages, documents and more.

The concept behind the idea is straightforward: smartphones are incredibly capable, powerful devices, but in being portable they also demand a huge compromise on screen size. Even the Galaxy Note, with its 5.3-inch display, is considerably smaller than the average tablet, and that can make reading news, ebooks, presentations and other content frustratingly uncomfortable.

Plastic Logic’s idea is an ultra-thin companion device using one of its plastic-transistor based displays, paired with a wireless technology such as WiFi or Bluetooth, a battery, touchscreen, and a smartphone app – currently a hastily-cobbled-together Android app – that exchanges data between the two devices. With that app, users could squirt over emailed documents or webpages to the epaper, paging through using the onscreen controls. Alternatively, you can do the same thing with photos taken with the phone, which could be useful for those with partial-sight wanting to enlarge pages.

Although Plastic Logic bills its displays as flexible, in this context the company says its potential carrier partners are more focused on a rugged device: something that can be dropped into a bag or briefcase without concerns that the screen might crack. Rather than the Heath Robinson prototype, the final design is envisaged as a slim frame with a carry-handle on the top that would contain the electronics, battery and other components.

Battery life could be a real advantage over existing tablets. Since the Plastic Logic display only uses power when it changes the on-screen image, it’s far more frugal than a traditional LCD or OLED. That could mean 2-4 weeks use on a single charge, potentially, though final runtimes haven’t been confirmed.

In practice, use is a simple affair. The rudimentary app allows you to pick a file and share it to the display – in this prototype’s case, using a WiFi connection – and, after a couple of seconds, it blinks into life. Photos are shown full-screen and, while it’s currently monochrome and obviously lower resolution than a new iPad, it’s still easier to look at than a compact phone screen. As for multi-page documents, like PDFs, they can be paged through with a few stabs at the on-screen buttons, though there’s the usual blink-refresh we’re familiar with from other e-paper products. That should change if Plastic Logic uses one of its video-capable panels, which has a higher refresh rate.

The deciding factor is likely to be price: Plastic Logic and its partners would need to bring this in significantly lower than regular tablets, which could be a challenge given the $199 Nexus 7 announced yesterday. The company wouldn’t give us an estimate – it depends on who supplies the rest of the components and builds the slate, as well as how carriers decide to market it – but the idea of it being supplied as a freebie with a new phone was vaunted.

plastic_logic_smartphone_companion_display_1
plastic_logic_smartphone_companion_display_2
plastic_logic_smartphone_companion_display_3
plastic_logic_smartphone_companion_display_0


Plastic Logic flexible smartphone epaper companion hands-on is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.