Hasta La Gadget!

Oh boy — here we go. HP has just issued an invitation to the press for a webOS event in San Francisco on February 9th. The minimal email asks attendees to ‘Think Big. Think Small. Think Beyond.’ — and that definitely sounds like a multi-product launch to us. If we were betting types, we’d put money on a phone (perhaps rumors we’ve been hearing about the ‘world’s smallest’ smartphone will turn out to be true), a tablet, and lots of talk about the future of webOS. One thing missing? The name Palm. Looks like that brand could be on the way out. Regardless, we’ll be there live delivering the news in true Engadget fashion… so get ready!

HP invites press to an ‘exciting webOS announcement’ on February 9th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 15:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

You can read your Amazon-bought ebooks on your Kindle, your PC, your Mac, your mobile, and even on your iPad. Now, it’s time to have them, contained in a tailor-made application, on your Android and Windows tablets as well. Amazon has just announced its intention to introduce a free app for reading Kindlebooks on devices running Google and Microsoft’s operating systems, which will expand its device compatibility list as the year goes on. Amazon specifically notes that these apps are intended for upcoming devices, which probably foreshadows the sort of tablet-heavy year we’re going to be having. Skip past the break for the full announcement.

Continue reading Amazon promises tablet-specific Kindle app for Android and Windows slates

Amazon promises tablet-specific Kindle app for Android and Windows slates originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

We got a hint of this when Boxee announced one, but it’s clear now that Netflix’s plans are much larger as many of its hardware partners including Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, Dynex, Haier, Memorex, Iomega and Roku will also offer one-touch Netflix buttons on remotes for TVs, Blu-ray players and media streamers. It’s pretty obvious, Netflix Watch Instantly is a killer app for any connected TV platform at this point and one of the most used features, making access quicker and easier is a no-brainer.

Continue reading Netflix ‘one click’ remote button coming to nearly every device it streams to

Netflix ‘one click’ remote button coming to nearly every device it streams to originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Netflix  | Email this | Comments

It’s been leaked all over the place, but Sprint has just confirmed its second EVO: the EVO Shift 4G. The big new addition is obviously the slide-out keyboard, but otherwise, while specs are solid, there’s nothing as revolutionary as the original EVO. The Shift has a 3.6-inch 800 x 480 LCD, Android 2.2 (with HTC Sense), and the same great 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7630 processor that’s in the G2 and myTouch 4G. Naturally there’s WiMAX 4g, in addition to EVDO Rev A., and HTC hopes to keep those radios alive with a 1500mAh battery. There’s a 5 megapixel camera around back, capable of 720p video, but oddly no front-facing camera — something we assumed was part of the definition of EVO. The phone will be available on the 9th for $150.

Meanwhile, Novatel Wireless is cooking up its own WiMAX goodness, putting 3G and 4G in a brand new MiFi device, the MiFi 3G / 4G Mobile Hotspot. It includes a display for tracking status of the device, unlike Novatel’s 3G MiFis, claims 4 hours of active use and 60 hours of standby, and can share storage from its microSD slot with connected devices. It should be out on February 27th for $50 with a two-year contract.

Continue reading Sprint trots out HTC EVO Shift 4G and new 3G / 4G MiFi from Novatel

Sprint trots out HTC EVO Shift 4G and new 3G / 4G MiFi from Novatel originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Sprint  | Email this | Comments

The WiFi-enabled SD card wizards at Eye-Fi already have a mobile app kicking around that lets you upload shots from your phone to the cloud, but their relationship with mobile is about to get a whole lot cozier with the introduction of Direct Mode. Basically, Direct Mode lets the Eye-Fi card in your camera communicate directly with your tablet or phone — with Eye-Fi software installed, of course — giving you direct and immediate access to the photos that are on your camera without the need to either cable up or first allow the card to upload the images to a photo sharing service before they can be pulled back down on the mobile device. Granted, the cameras inside phones are getting better by the day, but most of them still don’t come anywhere near serious point-and-shoot quality — and that seems to be the angle Eye-Fi’s trying to attack here, making it dead simple to share your “real” camera photos just as quickly as you would had you taken them with your phone itself. Look for it as a free upgrade for Eye-Fi’s existing line of X2 cards “later in 2011.” Free’s nice, eh? Follow the break for the press release.

Continue reading Eye-Fi’s Direct Mode unites phone and camera in holy matrimony

Eye-Fi’s Direct Mode unites phone and camera in holy matrimony originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments