Hasta La Gadget!

Welcome to Engadget’s back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn’t nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. Today, we have printers on our minds and on our desks — and you can head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they’re added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back — at the end of the series we’ll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides — and hit up the hub page right here!

It’s safe to say that, at some point, you’ll need to print out a collection of assignments this fall. We’re looking to save the environment just as much as the next set of folks, but physical outputs are still required for a number of things — especially in the realm of academics. Now that WiFi has become a standard option on most ink-to-paper peripherals, the ability to print from mobile devices has become a hot commodity. A number of our selections offer just that, allowing you to get the job started without needing to be in front of a computer. Enough chatter, though… head on past the break to peruse our picks for the back to school season this year.

Continue reading Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: printers

Filed under: Peripherals

Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: printers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greetings from Berlin! We’re kicking this year’s IFA off right with a liveblog of Sony’s press event. If last year’s event is any indication, we can expect to see a little bit of everything this morning: phones, tablets, TVs and HD eye goggle thingies, amongst others. The announcements are sure to be fast and furious today, so grab a comfortable seat and stay tuned!

Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Handhelds, Peripherals, Tablets

Live from Sony’s 2012 IFA press conference! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Activision never disappoints when it comes to limited edition Call of Duty release bundles, and for the upcoming Black Ops II, it actually may have outdone itself. Besting the RC-XD from its predecessor, $180 will let you snag the Care Package edition for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. This massive bundle is actually boxed as an in-gamed care package (aerial drop-off not included) that’s loaded with a remote controlled MQ-27 Dragonfire quadrocopter drone (!) — we really wish we’d picked up those Modern Warfare 2 night vision goggles now (not at all for full-fledged, after hours recon of our Aol office-mates…). Naturally, it also comes loaded with the requisite DLC goodies; namely, two extra maps (Nuketown Zombies and Nuketown 2025), exclusive weapon camo, a pair of Player Card backgrounds and copy of the soundtrack. Furthermore, PS3 owners will get a pair of dynamic themes, while those with 360s will receive an XBL Zombie avatar and Claw prop. Lastly, you’ll also receive a couple more tangible items in the way of an art book and a duo of “Challenge” coins.

Not looking to terrorize your local airspace? Shave off the $100 premium for the drone and case (not too shabby if the AR.Drone is too expensive for your budget) and you’ll be able to grab the Hardened edition packed with everything else. Last, and seemingly least in this case, Activision is putting out a Digital Deluxe for PC users — similar to the Hardened variant, but with a download code for the aging World at War in place of the physical goodies and PSN / XBL content. Wallet already prepared for the future of secret warfare? You’ll find details to place your own pre-order ahead of the November 13th launch at the source links below and trailer courtesy of Joystiq after the break.

Continue reading Call of Duty: Black Ops II limited editions unveiled, $180 ‘Care Package’ includes aerial drone

Filed under: Misc, Gaming, Peripherals

Call of Duty: Black Ops II limited editions unveiled, $180 ‘Care Package’ includes aerial drone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 22:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You remember Sphero, right? Last we checked in with its creators from Orbotix at E3, the $130 robotic ball was getting ready to act as a 3D controller and the guide point for an Augmented Reality Engine. This week, along with the release of a firmware upgrade, a few new free apps have been released, including two that’ll let you use that 3D controller functionality. Better yet, Orbotix has given us a sneak peek at the progress it’s made on the AGR since we last checked it out. Join us past the break if you’re curious to find out more.

Continue reading Sphero gets a firmware upgrade and new apps, we get another look at its Augmented Reality Engine (video)

Filed under: Misc, Gaming, Peripherals

Sphero gets a firmware upgrade and new apps, we get another look at its Augmented Reality Engine (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Arduino devices have had the option of a GSM linkup for awhile, but getting that cellular link to truly strut its stuff hasn’t always been easy, even for those of us who’d be inclined to program an Arduino in the first place. Enter Telefonica, which wants to be the backbone of your internet of things. It’s backing a new version of the GSM/GPRS Shield add-on (shown here) by offering both the expected machine-to-machine SIMs for the cellular connection as well as freshly added remote control of the board through the carrier’s BlueVia pages. The Shield itself is getting a quiet upgrade in the process — the software both takes up a smaller footprint and can now talk to the world in the background while the Arduino keeps on keepin’ on. If you happen to be in Berlin, the new Shield is making the rounds at Campus Party workshops until April 25th. Neither side has said how readily available the new part will be available after that; for now, you can familiarize yourself with the current technology at the source link.

Continue reading Arduino GSM/GPRS Shield gets helping hand from Telefonica for data, remote control

Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless

Arduino GSM/GPRS Shield gets helping hand from Telefonica for data, remote control originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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