Hasta La Gadget!

Huawei may have its 6.1-inch Ascend Mate for the convenience of hiding your face, but ZTE’s also prepping its very own tabletphone to go head to head with its main rival. Dubbed the Grand Memo (V9815), this 5.7-inch 720p device made a surprise appearance at a ZTE event in Hong Kong today, and we got to snap some photos of it. The device looks identical to the P945 leaked earlier this month but packs some slightly different specs: 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro (same as the more premium Grand S), 13-megapixel camera, 8mm-thick body and Android 4.1.2.

While the specs aren’t too shabby, our colleague Stone Ip said the choice of finish on the body didn’t feel as nice as the Grand S’, and the silver bezel made the Grand Memo look worse, but in ZTE’s defense it was a prototype and the design may improve in the retail version. On a more positive note, the new phone does include a microSD slot despite its slimness, and it comes with a “one-hand” T9 keyboard that can stick to either side of the screen for better single-handed typing, just too bad we were asked not to take a video of the device at the time. That said, the Grand Memo will be officially unveiled at MWC next month, so stay tuned for more.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Comments

Source: Engadget Chinese

Going to be in the market for a new Direct Connect device soon, but the current offerings seem so… drab? Enter the Kyocera Torque, the latest Sprint smartphone featuring the network’s CDMA-based Push-to-Talk service. The phone, which should be available sometime in early March, brings with it LTE connectivity, (mostly) stock Android 4.0, a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus processor, HD Voice, 4-inch WVGA display, 4GB internal storage and a 2,500mAh battery. As you’d come to expect on a Direct Connect device, it’s also certified mil-spec 810G and IP67 and is water-resistant (it can be in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes). It’s also the first on this side of the Pacific to utilize Kyocera’s Smart Sonic Receiver tissue-conduction tech, a system that foregoes the traditional earpiece and transmits audio to your ear via vibration.

The Torque packs a lot of average features that would likely put it somewhere in the mid-range (we haven’t been given pricing yet), but it’s definitely not going to win any beauty awards — it’s still a Direct Connect device, after all. Its outer layer is dressed with Dura-Grip and the phone is plenty bulky as a result; however, it’s also much more durable than your standard piece of electronics. We threw the phone at the wall, slammed it repeatedly on the table, dunked it in water and even let it sit in ice for at least 20 minutes, all without incident.

On the software side, the Torque uses a version of stock Android 4.0 with only a small amount of tweaking. Essentially, the only major change added in by Sprint and Kyocera is Eco Mode, a power management system on the Torque that blocks background data connections for nonessential apps. We’ve put together a gallery of pics for you below. Follow us past the break for a full spec listing and our hands-on video.

Kyocera Torque specs:

• Military spec 810G and IP67-certified
• IPX5 / IPX7-certified “waterproof” (up to one meter for 30 minutes)
• 5.54 ounces (157g)
• 113 x 60.5 x 14.3mm (4.44 x 2.38 x 0.56 inches)
• Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
• 1.2GHz dual-core MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus
• 4-inch WVGA IPS display, Gorilla Glass 2
• 1GB RAM
• 4GB internal storage
• MicroSD (up to 32GB)
• 2,500mAh battery
• 5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front-facing
• NFC, WiFi b/g/n 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 4.0+LE/EDR
• HD Voice

Mat Smith contributed to this post.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sprint

Comments

Like buttons? Numark at NAMM evidently thinks they are this season’s DJ must have. The latest bit of kit to get the manual-input makeover? Its NS7 II Serato DJ controller. The second iteration of its motorized-platter DJ tool lands augmented with 16 “MPC-style” pads. Of course, when you are part of the same corporation that also makes the MPC, swinging these sort of add-ons must be a little easier. Those pads will be assignable to a host of features (cues, loop, roll, sampler, and slicer) in the Serato DJ software (sadly not ready for a demo with the hardware at this time). Of course, the NS7 II is all MIDI compatible, so if your software of choice is something else, then you are free to map and a buse as you wish. That’s not all, you might notice in the picture above that the pads have some jazzy colors going on. They are have RGB illumination which can be set and customized to your choice by MIDI data. It’s not all about the pads though. Numark has also added touch functionality to a lot of the rotaries. So, if you have one set to control a filter, you can just tap the tip of the control to trigger it on / off. The last of the big news is that with the NS7 II, you can also control four virtual decks. A nice addition for the fast-fingered DJs out there. We ran into the device on the show floor and spent some time with it. Head past the break for more.

If you ever got your hands on the original NS7, you’ll know that it is quite the machine. Big, heavy, covered in controls, and most famously, sporting fully motorized 7-inch platters. It’s this curious mix of new and old methodology that pretty much sums up the Serato DJ software it is designed to work with. With the NS7 II, it’s basically more of the same. The hardware is built like a tank, the platters feel authentic enough to bring back nostalgia (even if it’s in smaller, 7-inch form). The MPC buttons look and feel great too. Intense mashing and finger / thumb abuse? These look more than capable at taking it by the bucket load. The color effect is pleasing to the eye. We’re not sure how important it will be in real world application, but if you like to mark out your triggers and samples, this will let you do that. And what the heck, it just looks pretty sweet — never a bad thing. As for the touch-enabled rotaries? Well, sadly we’ll just have to imagine how they work, as there was no connected software for us to test them out. We’re imagining it to be a handy feature, none the less. The same applies to the four deck functionality. We were unable to test it, but it’s utilitarian enough that we welcome the addition. Each of the two hardware platters has a pair of buttons beneath it letting you switch between decks easily. These buttons are again, solid and firm, letting you get carried away without damaging your new pride and joy.

Prospective buyers will be pleased to know that as Numark has done before, the unit also contains a full independent mixer. This means you can plug in CDJs, turntables and more and bring them into your set without problem. That mixer is also somewhat larger this time around, thanks to the extra two channels it sports for the four decks. This also serves to enhance its chunky, no messin’ look and feel. We’d love to have spent some time actually using it, but alas it wasn’t to be. We did manage to grab some video of the hardware though, so head south to take a look of that, while we patiently wait for price and availability information.

Billy Steele contributed to this report.

Filed under: Misc

Comments

We’ll forgive the extremely nice folk behind the PDJ when they claim to have the first fully self-contained portable DJ set-up. But that’s not to say that there is nothing new here — in fact there’s plenty. The PDJ is a rectangular slab of refreshing creative optimism. On each end is a touchscreen display that shows a virtual turntable, and in the middle is a small mixing and FX section. So, already the PDJ will be familiar in set-up to any DJ who picks it up (something the Pacemaker couldn’t claim with its proprietary interface). The mixer section has rotaries for volume, FX and additional functions (more on this later). The most important thing, however, is the onboard audio interface which crucially means you can monitor in headphones before unleashing your mix onto the world. This sets it apart from pretty much every other mobile app out there that, at best, requires you to use an audio splitter (to the detriment of your sound). Of course, you’re going to need some music to play, and there’s 2GB of internal storage to let you do just that. If that’s not enough, or you want to load up your latest jams right away, there’s an SD card slot to let you do just that (up to 32GB). Beyond headphones, there’s a line out for connecting it to a sound system, and a line in and microphone jack for adding external sound to the set. The brochure claims it offers 12 hours of battery life too — rechargeable by mini USB. On the software side, the two virtual turntables respond to touch, and button controls (for cue / play / pause). In addition to the virtual turntable, there are also sample player and one-shot screens. We got out paws on the PDJ here at NAMM, so fade past the break for our impressions.

At about 286 grams, the PDJ is light to hold, but sits in the hand comfortably. Your thumbs naturally find their place hovering above the virtual decks, but the unit it plenty light enough that you can hold it with one hand, while using the other for more dexterous performance manoeuvres. The rotaries and crossfader in the middle section are plastic, but feel solid enough. This is, after all, a lightweight portable device. The LCD touchscreens let you get hands on with your music, as DJs are wont to do, and it’s responsive and intuitive enough. Thankfully, most of the key functions (cue, volume, fade, loops etc) have hardware controls too. To reach the extra functionality (more in depth EQ, sample player and so on) you swipe the screen to the left or right accordingly to bring up the relevant screen. It’s in these cases when the dual-mode (rotate and click) Function A/B rotaries come in handy, and the interface for controlling these extra tricks is surprisingly natural / responsive.

The PDJ makes the usual claims about being able to scratch and so on. And you can. But as with all these smaller, touch-digital devices, it’s more of a party trick than anything else. No biggie though, as the meatier features are the beat sequence and music-pad sections. These let you bring your own audio into your set, trigger samples and build beats and jams on the fly — much more suitable to a digital device such as this. While we only spent a short time with the PDJ, it’s easily one of the most fun devices that we’ve seen here at NAMM. Purists might malign the constant attempts to shrink and gameify DJing, but we say you’re thinking about it too much. Throw one of these in your bag, and the next time you’re on the train and want to mix in headphones, or find yourself at a party, the PDJ will suddenly make a lot more sense. How much and when you say? Well expect to pay about $600 for the privilege sometime around late spring or summer.

Billy Steele contributed to this report.

Filed under: Misc, Peripherals

Comments

Visionary instruments has been tinkering with the not-so-humble guitar for a long time now. The latest offering is the Robocaster MIDI guitar. As you can see from the picture above (or gallery below) the Robocaster offers some features you might not find on your average axe. Those arcade style buttons, the MPC style pad faders, touch-strips and digital whammy-bar send out MIDI data to the software of your choice. The set-up at NAMM had the Robocaster routing through Ableton Live, meaning that effects such as gating, filters — or essentially anything — can be lavished on your playing in real-time. The guitar is customized by hand, and make use of our good friend arduino. As Visionary Instruments has been modding guitars for a while, it’s no surprise that the finish and build quality looked and felt excellent. The additional controls sit snug in the body, and are designed to be easily accessible while playing. The Robocaster, despite being hand-made, will be ready for ordering within a week or so with an estimated price somewhere around $2,799. That said, if orders or interest are sufficient, the could be scope for a full production run, coming in at a lower price. Want to make this happen? Check out the firm’s website and get your order in. Just want to know how it sounds? Better get on the video after the break.

Billy Steele contributed to this report.

Filed under: Misc

Comments