Hasta La Gadget!

Motorola’s teasing that it’s “still on track for a summer launch of Android 2.2 for Droid X,” and considering that tomorrow is the last day of summer (sadly), that lines up nicely with new information on Droid Life today that Moto’s beast for Verizon will get blessed with the update starting tomorrow at noon Eastern Time. Verizon’s actually already posted the update document, and it’s a doozy: besides 2.2, you get improves visual voicemail with Bluetooth support, a refreshed mobile hotspot app, and a fix to prevent data connections from dropping as you move between WiFi and 3G coverage. Looks like you’ll be able to grab this of your own accord rather than having to wait for Verizon to bless you with the OTA, so gear up and enjoy one last evening with your Eclair-based Droid X. Go ahead, take it out somewhere nice, it’s treated you well.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: Verizon has independently confirmed that the update is indeed available tomorrow. Good way to start your Wednesday, we’d say.

Motorola Droid X getting Android 2.2 update starting tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You might remember some discussion of the Lexikon about this time last month, a rumored Android piece from HTC sporting an 800MHz MSM7630 core, a 5 megapixel camera, 3.8-inch WVGA display, 4GB of onboard storage, Froyo with Sense, and a QWERTY keyboard. Sounds a little bit like the G2 / Desire Z, doesn’t it? Indeed, those other models use Qualcomm’s MSM7230 processor, the GSM version of the 7630 that’d be required for action on Verizon. Well, fast forward to a new ROM update leak, showing a rendered device with Verizon branding up top and a face that looks suspiciously similar to that dual-mode GSM / CDMA slider we’ve been tracking for a couple months (pay particular attention to the creases below the touch buttons). Separately, one of our time-tested tipsters has let us know that the Lexikon is the same phone as the so-called Merge; we hope you haven’t grown attached to the flaming red keyboard, because more recent hardware revisions don’t have it. Hey, maybe you’ll be able to accessorize like you can with the Droid Incredible, eh?

[Thanks, HTC Kid and patlex]

HTC Lexikon shows up in leaked ROM update: is it the Merge for Verizon? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So here it is, after months of details coming to light an inkdrop at a time, the HP eStation all-in-one printing solution. But we’re not gonna dwell but on half of that: the 7-inch tablet skinned out by Yahoo and powered by Android 2.1. As we expected, though, the Google experience is decidedly less that you’re accustomed to: search is Yahoo only, and our attempt to find an alternate method was met with a barebones settings menu. Additionally, there is no access to Android Market, relegating your customization instead to HP’s print-heavy app store — sorry, no games, as that’s not what the company wants to focus on here, according to the rep. That also means no Gmail, much to our dismay. What Yahoo has provided is a suite of apps and widgets that actually work well in their simplicity, from weather to stocks and search.

We were reminded at numerous points that this is a prototype build, and for good reason — the responsiveness was questionably slow, especially in the browser. That said, the Nook store and e-reading app was as fluid as you’d ever need. WiFi is equipped on both the tablet and the printer for cloud-based connectivity on the go. Battery life is measured at four to six hours, and Android 2.2 is expected by holiday still sans Market, but beyond Flash (and at this point we question its performance on this hardware), there’s probably not a lot of value-add in the update. Expect this AIO to be shipping the in the next few weeks.

Continue reading HP’s Photosmart eStation Android tablet hands-on (update: video!)

Filed under: Tablet PCs

HP’s Photosmart eStation Android tablet hands-on (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re not sure where CNET‘s getting its information, but we’re liking what we see — a streamlined HP Envy-branded printer with a 3.45-inch touchscreen for apps, games, scanning docs, and yes indeed, occasionally affixing dye to pressed wood pulp at 30 pages per minute. It reportedly has a pair of mechanical paper trays that open and close like a CD drive, and CNET says it’ll ship October 4th for $249. Before you take those figures verbatim though, know that they might not be quite right, as the publication also says the $399 Android-powered HP Photosmart eStation C510 (aka Zeus with 7-inch Zeen tablet) is coming September 13th — a day when, we’re sure you’ll agree, the printer failed to arrive.

Also apparently slated for September 13th is the HP Officejet Pro 8500A Plus, a full-size all-in-one inkjet model with a 4.3-inch touchscreen, now imbued with HP ePrintCenter apps. Why sit and talk to co-workers around that boring water-cooler, when you can play with your office’s printer instead? Two more pictures of the Envy 100 after the break, which is apparently badass enough to come with its own tote bag and 802.11n WiFi.

Update: We’re waiting for the HP IPG summit news conference to begin and, well, three guesses what that is hanging out on stage (pictured above). There’s a second shot after the break, with a Yahoo search widget clearly on display.

Update 2: Now official, dubbed the Photosmart eStation AIO, and unless our eyes deceive us, we definitely spotted an Android lock screen and status bar. All for $399. There’s a partnership in place with Yahoo, including numerous widgets (we’ve spotted search and weather so far). Something tells us there won’t be another search option, but we’ll find out for sure and let ya know. It’s currently being demoed live on stage. Google Calendar is there, as is a web browser.

Update 3: Hands-on!

Continue reading HP intros Envy 100, Android-powered Photosmart eStation AIO with Yahoo widgets (update)

HP intros Envy 100, Android-powered Photosmart eStation AIO with Yahoo widgets (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 09:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony tried to convince us that its VAIO P was a pocketable computer, so we quite naturally pointed, laughed and mocked. It seems only fair, therefore, to give Samsung the same treatment when it tries to sell us on the idea that we’d be perfectly comfortable stashing its Galaxy Tab slate in the back pocket of our denims. Listen, the only way we’re ever going to put hundreds of dollars’ worth of money into our rear pocket is in note form, protected by our Jules Winnfield-endorsed faux leather wallet. But then again, if you actually like your gadgets to protrude a little bit, maybe this is just the Tab for you. Follow the break for the full video tour.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab feature tour reminds of just how pocketable it isn’t (video)

Samsung Galaxy Tab feature tour reminds of just how pocketable it isn’t (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 06:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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