Cisco killing Flip line of camcorders, axing 550 employees in restructuring effort

Oh Flip, how far you’ve come. And, of course, how far you’ve fallen. Once a spunky upstart with oddly shaped camcorders, you got snapped up by Cisco in Spring of 2009 for a hefty $590 million in stock. Now, according to Pocket-lint, you (and your moustaches) are done for. Cisco CEO John Chambers says the brand is being dispatched as the company refocuses, done in by the proliferation of high-definition sensors into smartphones and PMPs and the like. We had been waiting for the company’s next products (if you’ll recall, a WiFi-enabled Mino HD hit the FCC just a few months back), but at this point, it looks like those hopes and dreams will remain unfulfilled. We’re awaiting comment from the company, and will update as it flies in.

Update: Looks like the “exit of some consumer operations” will lead to 550 employees being left out of work. If you’ll recall, the outfit reported in February that sales of consumer products sank 15 percent, while profits slipped 18 percent as margins slid for a fourth consecutive quarter. Meanwhile, Umi will be integrated into the company’s TelePresence product line and operate through an enterprise and service provider go-to-market model. In other words, Skype just ate Umi’s lunch.

Continue reading Cisco killing Flip line of camcorders, axing 550 employees in restructuring effort

Cisco killing Flip line of camcorders, axing 550 employees in restructuring effort originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourcePocket-lint  | Email this | Comments

HTC Sensation 4G official: 1.2GHz dual-core, qHD display, and Sense 3.0

We’ve known about the so-called HTC Pyramid for months, long before the Vodafone leak this morning. Now the long-rumored Android phone is official and coming to T-Mobile under the moniker HTC Sensation 4G. As expected, it matches many of the EVO 3D‘s specs, including a 4.3-inch (540 x 960) Super LCD screen, dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, and Android Gingerbread (2.3) with Sense 3.0. But it one ups the 3D handset by bumping the rear lens’ resolution to 8 megapixels, throwing in a second LED flash, and speeding up the video frame rate to 30fps at max 1080p resolution. Speed-wise, this HSPA+ device promises download rates as fast as 14.4 Mbps. As for Sense, the Sensation also ushers in various tweaks to the company’s UI, including customizable lock screens, 3D transitions, an improved weather app, and HTC Watch, the service introduced with the company’s Flyer tablet that lets you download DVD-quality movies.

Before hitting the states this summer, the Sensation will launch in the UK, Germany, and the rest of HTC’s “key” European markets in mid-May, with Vodafone scoring a Europe-wide exclusive for “a couple of weeks.” We can’t wait to put the Sensation through its paces in a full review, but happily we already scored some hands-on time with a near-final unit. Continue below the break for some early thoughts, full specs, and close-up shots of this superphone in action.

Update: We scored some hands-on time with a European model over at HTC’s launch event. Check the video here!

Continue reading HTC Sensation 4G official: 1.2GHz dual-core, qHD display, and Sense 3.0

HTC Sensation 4G official: 1.2GHz dual-core, qHD display, and Sense 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

HTC Sensation leaked by Vodafone: 4.3-inch qHD SLCD and 1.2GHz dual-core processor are go (video)

Would you look at that, HTC’s latest worst kept secret is live on Vodafone UK’s website. So here’s the scoop: 4.3-inch qHD (540 x 960 pixel) SLCD display, 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera augmented by an 8 megapixel shooter with dual-LED flash around back, a 1.2GHz (dual-core) processor, and 4GB of internal flash memory with an extra 8GB supplied on memory card. Stick around, we’ll have hands-on with the latest Android Sensation from the HTC launch event later in the day.

Update: Vodafone removed the pages but we’ve got a screenshot after the break. Better yet, we’ve also got a trio of videos uncovered by our friends over at Mobile Bulgaria showing updated elements of the Sense UI.

[Thanks, Chris H.]

Continue reading HTC Sensation leaked by Vodafone: 4.3-inch qHD SLCD and 1.2GHz dual-core processor are go (video)

HTC Sensation leaked by Vodafone: 4.3-inch qHD SLCD and 1.2GHz dual-core processor are go (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 05:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceVodafone  | Email this | Comments

Nokia E6 first hands-on! (updated with video)

That crazy new 326ppi device that Nokia busted out this morning has finally made contact with our eager hands. The E6 is extremely compact, stainless steel accounts for its back cover and camera bezel, but weight is feathery and general feel in the hand is terrific. You’re limited to a 2.46-inch screen, but Nokia’s otherwise standard resolution of 640 x 480 looks pretty awesome when squeezed into such dimensions. Check out the gallery of pics below and we’ll have video for you soon as well!

Update: Video hands-on can now be found after the break. Let’s start off with the headline spec, that 326dpi pixel density. In practical use, it’s not resoundingly noticeable, as the UI icons are resized accordingly, but where we expect to really see the benefits of it will be in web browsing, where you’ll be able to fit oodles of content on your screen without losing detail. It’s not AMOLED like the rest of Nokia’s current line, but it’s a very high quality LCD, not much of a loss to our eyes. We’re still very much liking the size and curvature of the E6, although we noted a touch of UI lag with it as we did with the X7. Symbian, in spite of the update, is still not perfected. That said, you’re getting a massive 1500mAh battery, which will be used sparingly by the smaller display and 680MHz CPU. Up to nine hours of video playback are promised, while 720p recording is also available for those keen on making the most of the 8 megapixel camera on the back. Construction is solid, the keyboard feels as good as what you’ll be used to on the E72, but the OS still fails to convince. Good thing, then, that Nokia plans to keep updating the software as we move forward.

Continue reading Nokia E6 first hands-on! (updated with video)

Nokia E6 first hands-on! (updated with video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Nokia X7 first hands-on! (updated with video)

The Nokia X7, everybody! Like the E7, this is a 4-inch AMOLED handset with an 8 megapixel EDoF camera, though unlike its more buttoned-down business-oriented sibling, this is an entertainment handset through and through. Check it out in pictures below and we’ll bring you more impressions of it and the new Symbian “Anna” UI very shortly. Video forthcoming too!

Update: Video now embedded after the break. We can’t yet speak of the improvements Nokia has made on the browser front, but its long overdue inclusion of a virtual portrait QWERTY keyboard is much appreciated, as is the real-time home screen scrolling. It’s still not as smooth as you’d see on other devices that have been doing it for a while, but it’s preferable to what we had in the older Symbian iteration.

Physically, the X7 is a pleasure to hold and to handle, a hallmark of Nokia construction, but we must once again protest at the so-called nHD resolution of 640 x 360 on this device. It’s justified by the need to keep consistency with the company’s existing ecosystem, but it’s a step behind the cutting edge. At least it’s composed of the delectable AMOLED stuff that Nokia’s been using lately, and colors and images look positively delicious, if a little pixel-light. Stereo speakers at the bottom and a generally svelte profile make it an appealing little pocket rocket for multimedia, but bear in mind it comes with a 680MHz processor, so it can record and play back 720p video, but may be challenged by more intensive tasks.

Continue reading Nokia X7 first hands-on! (updated with video)

Nokia X7 first hands-on! (updated with video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Nokia announces Symbian ‘Anna’ update for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01; first of a series of updates

And now it’s completely official: the new and freshened up version of Symbian we saw leak out over the weekend is indeed coming to Nokia’s latest batch of handsets. The N8, E7, C7 and C6-01, the phones that ran what was formerly known as Symbian^3, will all be getting it “over the coming months,” while the newly announced X7 and E6 devices will ship with it preloaded. The change list includes real homescreen scrolling, an overhauled browser, and yes, even a QWERTY onscreen keyboard in portrait orientation. There’s also new iconography and heavily refreshed Ovi Maps, which now include predictive search. Nokia is resolute in its belief that Ovi Maps is the best mapping solution on the market, and Microsoft’s decision to integrate it into Bing would suggest that’s true.

The “Anna” Symbian update will be the first of a series and has been driven almost entirely by consumer feedback. Nokia also shared some Ovi Store stats with us. There are now five million downloads per day going on from the company’s app repository, which now includes more than 40,000 apps in total. 158 developers have passed a million downloads each.

Continue reading Nokia announces Symbian ‘Anna’ update for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01; first of a series of updates

Nokia announces Symbian ‘Anna’ update for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01; first of a series of updates originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Nokia E6 official: a 326ppi portrait QWERTY handset optimized for business (video)

A VGA resolution on a 2.46-inch display equals 326ppi. Talk about pixel density! Nokia’s Symbian “Anna” update has found itself a delightful little carrier to market in the new E6. This business-centric device touts awesome battery life, with up to a month of standby time, features both a touchscreen and a portrait QWERTY keyboard, and will be targetting E71 / E72 upgraders, BlackBerry lovers and, evidently, pixel density enthusiasts. Shipping in Q2. Full PR, video, and specs can be found after the break.

Continue reading Nokia E6 official: a 326ppi portrait QWERTY handset optimized for business (video)

Nokia E6 official: a 326ppi portrait QWERTY handset optimized for business (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Nokia E6 official: a 326ppi portrait QWERTY handset optimized for business

A VGA resolution on a 2.46-inch display equals 326ppi. Talk about pixel density! Nokia’s Symbian “Anna” update has found itself a delightful little carrier to market in the new E6. This business-centric device touts awesome battery life, with up to a month of standby time, features both a touchscreen and a portrait QWERTY keyboard, and will be targetting E71 / E72 upgraders, BlackBerry lovers and, evidently, pixel density enthusiasts. Shipping in Q2, full press release and some specs can be found after the break.

Continue reading Nokia E6 official: a 326ppi portrait QWERTY handset optimized for business

Nokia E6 official: a 326ppi portrait QWERTY handset optimized for business originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Nokia announces Symbian ‘Anna’ update for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01; first of a series of updates (video)

And now it’s completely official: the new and freshened up version of Symbian we saw leak out over the weekend is indeed coming to Nokia’s latest batch of handsets. The N8, E7, C7 and C6-01, the phones that ran what was formerly known as Symbian^3, will all be getting it “over the coming months,” while the newly announced X7 and E6 devices will ship with it preloaded. The change list includes real homescreen scrolling, an overhauled browser, and yes, even a QWERTY onscreen keyboard in portrait orientation. There’s also new iconography and heavily refreshed Ovi Maps, which now include predictive search. Nokia is resolute in its belief that Ovi Maps is the best mapping solution on the market, and Microsoft’s decision to integrate it into Bing would suggest that’s true.

The “Anna” Symbian update will be the first of a series and has been driven almost entirely by consumer feedback. Nokia also shared some Ovi Store stats with us. There are now five million downloads per day going on from the company’s app repository, which now includes more than 40,000 apps in total. 158 developers have passed a million downloads each. Full PR and video overview of the enhanced OS after the break.

Continue reading Nokia announces Symbian ‘Anna’ update for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01; first of a series of updates (video)

Nokia announces Symbian ‘Anna’ update for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01; first of a series of updates (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Nokia X7 with Symbian ‘Anna’ now official on Three UK (Updated)

So, it’s official. The Nokia X7, unfit for a US launch, has finally found a home with Three in the UK. The heavily leaked stainless steel handset runs an updated Symbian^3 “Anna” (aka, PR2) OS that finally introduces a vastly improved browser and portrait QWERTY with split-view data entry among its 50 new enhancements. Rounding out the specs are an 8 megapixel cam with dual-LED flash, 4-inch OLED ClearBlack display, HD video recording, and 256MB RAM / 1GB ROM with an 8GB memory card tossed in the box. You’ll find the press release, video, and more pic after the break.

Update: Nokia tells us that the X7 features 720p video recording, and a 680MHz CPU — presumably the same old (and we mean old) ARM 11 proc and found in the N8 and E7. Oh, and it’s the same Broadcom BCM2727 GPU and 8 megapixel EDoF camera we reviewed in the E7. The X7 will be available in Q2 with a price set at €380 before taxes and subsidies.

[Thanks, Will B.]

Continue reading Nokia X7 with Symbian ‘Anna’ now official on Three UK (Updated)

Nokia X7 with Symbian ‘Anna’ now official on Three UK (Updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 03:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments