Hasta La Gadget!

It’s the only Galaxy S variant to offer 4G connectivity, but it’s also the only one that requires a $10/month data surcharge to use. That boost in cost will undoubtedly bring higher expectations, and we’re eager to hear from early adopters on how their Epic 4G experience has been. For those who skipped over the EVO 4G in order to get this, we’re keenly interested to find out if you’ve been satisfied with the decision. How’s that slide-out QWERTY keyboard treating you? Would you have changed up the UI any? Would you have added any of the quirks from those other Galaxy S versions to this guy? Speak loudly in comments below. But not too loudly. More like a stern whisper.

How would you change Sprint’s Epic 4G? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 22:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

This, friends, is what happens when convergence is approached correctly. Rather than asking you to keep yet another remote in the hopper, one Phil Irey has crafted DVPRemote — a lovely iOS app that enables your iPhone or iPod touch to act as your main control mechanism for any Roku set-top box. The app itself has been floating around in the App Store for a tick, but its the newly released version 2.0 that’s really of interest. This build ushers in a completely overhauled user interface, and aside from providing the standard Roku shuffle controls, it actually goes above and beyond to make your night easier. There’s full integration with Netflix to support automated Instant Queue navigation, full keyboard support for any screen that requires text entry, direct navigation to user-organizable Channels, toolbars for added channel functionality within Netflix and support for the new “Instant Replay”, “Info”, and “Back” buttons. Heck, it’s even compatible with iOS 4’s background operation protocol. Head on past the break for a hearty demonstration, and tap that iTunes link when you’re ready to ditch Apple’s own Remote App and part ways with $2.99.

Update: Hey Android users — looks like someone’s lookin’ out for you, too. Check out Roku Remote over on your side.

Continue reading DVPRemote iOS app easily replaces your factory Roku remote (video)

DVPRemote iOS app easily replaces your factory Roku remote (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  iTunes  | Email this | Comments

From the Department of Plastic Crap, we bring you the Tactile+Plus, a pleonastically-named set of widgets that stick onto your smartphone’s screen and mimic the feel of a real game control-pad.

The little nubbins solve the big problem of touch-screen gaming: you have to keep looking down to see where your fingers should be. By putting an nine-dot circle (one centre spot and eight directions) over the virtual D-pad, and up to four other plastic warts over any on-screen buttons, you can make sure you’re always touching the right spot.

Presumably (it’s hard to tell, as the site follows Japanese tradition by putting all the specs into an untranslatable JPG), the conductive goodness of your fingers is, well, conducted to the capacitive screen below. This means that, although this is seen on an iPhone in the picture, it should work with any modern smartphone.

Ironically, the product shot shows Streetfighter IV. This game is clearly desperate for some tactile feedback, but it also has a lot of special moves which need you to slide your finger around the D-pad. Easy on a moving, rocking switch, but less so on top of unmoving nubbins.

The Tactile+Plus can be ordered now, from Japan, for ¥630, or around $7.80. Hopefully some enterprising Westerner will import them.

Tactile+Plus product page [Nosho-An via Oh Gizmo]

See Also:

• Joypad Turns iPhone into Game Controller
• GPad: Another iPhone Gamepad Case
• iPhone 3.0 Wish List: Accessory-Powered Apps We Want

We’d heard Google Instant was quietly popping up in mobile form for a lucky few, but it’s officially widespread now — the query-while-you-type search technology’s just hit open beta on Android 2.2 and iOS 4. Just go to Google in your favorite mobile browser and press the “Turn on” link, and you’ll be able to rush into the arms of your favorite technology blog with four fewer clicks. We maintain that it’s nigh-useless on most standard-sized mobile devices, as you can only ever see the top result without scrolling up and down, but it won’t cost you a penny to pick up your handset and form an opinion for yourself. Video demo after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Google Instant for Mobile goes live on Android and iPhone (video)

Google Instant for Mobile goes live on Android and iPhone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 22:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  The Official Google Blog  | Email this | Comments

Verizon has just announced that its lovely HTC Droid Incredible will be getting a fresh software update pushed over-the-air starting next week, and among the “software enhancements” will be the automatic installation of the carrier’s V CAST Apps app store. Since this doesn’t mean the Android Market is going away, we suppose it’s not the end of the world — and Verizon is quick to note that V CAST Apps supports carrier billing — but the benefit of having two app stores on a phone is still anyone’s guess. Here’s Verizon’s full statement:

“Verizon Wireless will begin pushing a software update to the DROID Incredible next week. The update includes software enhancements that will pre-install V CAST Apps on the phone. We said earlier this year that we’d be expanding V CAST Apps to the Android platform, and the DROID Incredible is the first Android phone with the store. Developers continue to submit apps, and as a reminder, V CAST Apps allows carrier billing, so customers who purchase applications through our store will see those charges on their monthly bill. For more information about the update customers can go to www.verizonwireless.com/droidincrediblesupport.”

Droid Incredible getting V CAST Apps next week, whether you like it or not originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Verizon  | Email this | Comments