Oct 01

KDDI’s smartphone palm authentication app unveiled at CEATEC 2012 (hands-on)

Posted in: Today's Chili

KDDI's smartphone palm authentication app unveiled at CEATEC 2012 handson

Sidestepping lockscreen codes and fingerprint scanners — and without any new hardware demands — KDDI has unveiled a new palm authentication app that takes advantage of the high-resolution camera on its Android smartphones. Scanning in tandem with the flash, we gave it a try on a HTC J, here at CEATEC in Japan. After a brief setup, which involves positioning your hand to fit between some red markers, the phone was soon calibrated to our hands. Then, after locking the device, attempting to unlock it will send you to the palm authentication screen, seen above, where (hopefully) only your mitts will be able to gain access.

The time it takes to check your hand remains a little longer than it would take you to drum in your typical four-digit PIN, but in our brief test, it was able to discriminate between two Engadget editors’ hands. Better still, you’ll be able to give the app a try yourself tomorrow, when it goes on free trial on Google Play. Until it does, see how it’s all meant to work in our hands-on video after the break.

Gallery: KDDI Palm recognition hands-on at CEATEC 2012

Continue reading KDDI’s smartphone palm authentication app unveiled at CEATEC 2012 (hands-on)

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KDDI’s smartphone palm authentication app unveiled at CEATEC 2012 (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 07

HTC’s waterproof, WiMAX-capable J handset now available in Hong Kong and Taiwan

Posted in: Today's Chili

HTC's waterproof J handset now available in Hong Kong and Taiwan

Not to be outdone by Motorola and Nokia, HTC’s quietly trying to steal some of the competition’s thunder by unexpectedly outing a not-for-sale, fashion-driven variant of the One X and now with the announcement that its 4.3-inch waterproof J handset will be heading to a couple more Asian markets. Of course, let’s not forget the Taiwanese outfit also has something else to show us at an upcoming special event in NYC. But, regardless of what we’ll “see next,” the J’s actually here — well, in Japan — and with eyes set on Hong Kong and Taiwan next, making this the first time that Sense 4-loaded device is headed outside the Land of the Rising Sun.

Just a quick recap: the HTC J comes with a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 MSM8660A, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, qHD PenTile OLED display, eight-megapixel camera and 1,810mAh battery. As for connectivity, you get quad-band GSM, WCDMA 2,100MHz, CDMA2000 800MHz and WiMAX 2.5-2.7GHz (for Japan and Taiwan only) radios, making it a fairly nice all-rounder albeit with limited regional compatibility for each of the faster connections. Oh, and about that waterproofing business: KDDI doesn’t actually list it as a waterproof device, but HTC informed us that while the J meets global standards for waterproofing, it is not marketed as such in Japan due to particular criteria required by said carrier. We shall add more info here if HTC has more to say about this.

At any rate, Hong Kong folks will be able to pick up this waterproof device for HK$4,498 (about $580) unsubsidized, whereas Taiwan will have to wait until the press event next Tuesday for tariff details on Taiwan Mobile. For now, we got you a video of the J going for a swim after the break. You know, just for kicks.

Richard Lai contributed to this report.

Continue reading HTC’s waterproof, WiMAX-capable J handset now available in Hong Kong and Taiwan

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HTC’s waterproof, WiMAX-capable J handset now available in Hong Kong and Taiwan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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