Hasta La Gadget!

FCC appearances are usually a good indication of a product’s imminent arrival. And with Chumby’s NeTV already headed to developers’ hands later this month, this Commission filing isn’t exactly catching us off guard. Now, a firm retail date is all that’s missing to complete the once huggable platform’s official outing. Those unfamiliar with the Flash-based, WiFi-enabled device can look forward to a webified HDTV experience that’ll stream online content, as well as texts and photos from your Android phone, to a flat panel display. Sure, there are plenty of other options to bring the net to your livingroom, but how many of them can claim an octopus as their mascot? Check out the source link below if emissions testing and user manuals tickle your fancy.

Chumby NeTV unfurls its web-connected tentacles for the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 21:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  FCC  | Email this | Comments

Are you a T-Mobile subscriber itching for more “Wonder?” You might be in luck, as Cell Phone Signal notes that the T679’s FCC schematic lines up perfectly with the previously announced Galaxy W — you know, Sammy’s midrange 3.7-inch, 1.4GHz Gingerbread smartphone that we briefly coddled at IFA. Of course, there’s no word on when it’ll land on our shores, but here’s to hoping Deutsche Telekom delights us with its white tuxedo variant.

Is Samsung’s T679 a T-Mobile bound Galaxy W? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PocketNow, Phandroid  |  Cell Phone Signal  | Email this | Comments

Sony’s wedge-shaped Tablet S is a PlayStation-Certified device. Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired

Android fans who like to get their game on will be pleased to know GameStop is getting into the tablet scene with its own Android tablet.

GameStop president Tony Bartel told GamesIndustry.biz the company will launch a GameStop-branded tablet with several games pre-installed and game updates offered over the air.

“We’re in test phase right now. But we’re excited at the prospect of coming out with this tablet. I would call it a ‘GameStop certified gaming platform,’” Bartel said. “We looked at all the tablets and these are the ones that really worked for gaming and we’re going to give you a few benefits that you’re not going to get elsewhere.”

Sony, maker of the PlayStation and PSP, also recently debuted a pair of Android tablets, including the “PlayStation-Certified” Tablet S, above, which comes preloaded with Crash Bandicoot. Tablet gaming has been a hot commodity on both the iOS and Android platforms. And although hardcore gamers tend to stick with consoles, the casual gaming industry is booming.

According to data from Resolve Market Research, 46 percent of tablet owners who also have a gaming console or portable gaming device report playing games much more often than they did before owning a tablet. By providing traditional gamers with a primarily game-oriented tablet, GameStop and Sony may be tapping into a burgeoning niche market that could possibly chip into the iPad’s dominance in the tablet space.

“Consumers are making room for multiple gaming platforms, and casual gaming on a tablet is an integral part of the consumers’ daily gaming activities,” says Randy Hellman, a senior analyst with Resolve MR. “What we are seeing is that tablets are carving out their own gaming niche.”

Details on GameStop’s upcoming Android tab are scant, but Bartel did reveal a few things.

“There’s not a lot of tablet/android based games for the consumer that are designed to use an external controller. There are a few games out there and more that are coming, but our thought is that the tablet is a great immersive gaming device so it’s hard for us to envision how that tablet will really function as such without some sort of controller… So we’ve created a controller…”

This seems in line with what game designer Graeme Devine said at this year’s Game Developers Conference.

“Touch is the best game interface we have available today,” he said, continuing that when a game puts a virtual joystick or traditional controller on the screen, it defeats the purpose of the platform.

But a mix of touch play and a dedicated controller, as Bartel’s quote suggests, sounds like it could provide a variety of gaming options, and possibly some new ones we haven’t really seen before, especially on Android.

For the iPad, old school gaming aficionados can get their fix with retro arcade-style gaming accessories from ThinkGeek or Atari. It seems, unfortunately, that accessories for the Android tablet gaming market have been largely ignored.

But are avid gamers even ready to jump onto the tablet gaming bandwagon?

“The tablet will have difficulty evolving into a dedicated, hardcore gaming platform. The simple nature of a tablet experience as an instant-on, multi-tasking device just does not complement the hardcore, deeply immersive gaming experience console gamers will appreciate,” Hellman says.

Gamers and tablet users — does the prospect of a GameStop-branded tablet whet your appetite? Sound off in the comments.

Still no official launch date for Asus’s funny-looking 10.1-inch hybrid, but we’ve already seen evidence of a September release and now there’s a whole drum-roll of pre-order pages up at Amazon. You’re looking at $580 for the 32GB model in white or mocha, or $100 less if you settle for the 16GB variant and cram the rest of your digital possessions onto microSD or — yes indeedy — some USB 2.0 external storage. Needless to say, all shades come with the same Tegra 2 processor, Honeycomb 3.2, 1GB of RAM, Mini HDMI out, a 5MP rear camera and 1.2MP front-facer. At this point, all these sliders need to do is turn up.

[Thanks, Peter]

Asus Eee Pad Slider up for pre-order at Amazon, starting at $480 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Amazon [1], Amazon [2], Amazon [3], Amazon [4]  | Email this | Comments

Shopping for a new smartphone is an exciting and arduous experience. It holds the promise of something better and the fear of a two-year commitment. For gadget enthusiasts, it also involves pouring over specs and reviews, and fretting over what’s coming out in the near-term. As we publish this buyer’s guide, we face potential upheavals in the mobile space. Samsung’s Galaxy S II lineup will arrive at three major US carriers, the next iPhone perpetually looms in the distance, and a new generation of Windows Phone handsets is close upon us. You might ask, “Why would anyone buy a smartphone today, when something better is coming tomorrow?” Friends, that’s the blessing and curse of the mobile world — there’s always something better coming. You can’t wait forever, though, and if you want to purchase a smartphone today, we’re here to make the process easier and help you make an informed decision.

While our choices are sometimes contentious, they’re backed with experience that you can rely upon. If you’re looking to make a quick decision without much effort, you can rest assured that our selections won’t steer you wrong. Still, we encourage you to educate yourself before you decide on a smartphone that best fits your needs. Our Primed series is an excellent place to start, where you can learn about dual-core processors and mobile displays. As always, you’re encouraged to share your own experience in the comments, and we hope you have fun listing your own favorites, too. Just remember that we have an $80 ceiling for our budget selections. Compared to our previous buyer’s guide, Samsung has begun to lose ground, and while Android maintains dominance, it’s found some unexpected competition. Curious to see how it played out? Read on, as we round up the best smartphones of the day.

Continue reading Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide: fall 2011 edition

Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide: fall 2011 edition originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments