Hasta La Gadget!

We can’t imagine how this might have slipped your attention, but LG and Motorola used this year’s CES to roll out the smartphone world’s first dual-core devices in the shape of the Atrix 4G and Optimus 2X. Both are built around NVIDIA’s 1GHz Tegra 2 chip, which has been the most popular thing out here in Vegas after the free food and shuttle rides (Moto even has the Droid Bionic, a 4.3-incher bound for Verizon, using it). But what does that extra core matter to you? Well, aside from facilitating 1080p video playback on both phones, it does make them quite formidable mobile gaming stations. NVIDIA took the time to show us a couple of games being handled with ease by the 2X and Atrix before noting that it isn’t leaving it entirely up to Google to provide the compelling content for its hardware. Gaming is, after all, close to the GeForce maker’s heart, and we were told that NVIDIA is working closely with developers to help them exploit the added firepower of Tegra 2 so as to deliver prettier, shinier things on screen. We were also informed of the introduction of a Tegra Zone, an Android app designed to serve as a showcase of Tegra partners’ wares, whether they be video or gaming content, though you shouldn’t fear the specter of fragmentation here — it’s not a separate app store, any purchases will be directed through the Android Market. Anyhow, enough talking, there’s video to be watched after the break.

Continue reading NVIDIA shows us Tegra 2 gameplay on Atrix 4G and Optimus 2X (video)

NVIDIA shows us Tegra 2 gameplay on Atrix 4G and Optimus 2X (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 03:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The folks at Boy Genius Report got to spend ten minutes with RIM’s Julian Dolce, who gave them a thorough demo of the new BlackBerry PlayBook in action. It’s pretty damn sweet. Take a look:

The tablet looks very responsive, just like the iPad. The first really neat, I-love-it feature is the “docking” mode, which lets you minimize open apps into a Cover Flow-esque row of icons. This is a much nicer way to browse open apps than the tiny iOS multitasking dock at the bottom of the iPad’s screen, and video even carries on playing in the background (you can switch this off to save battery life).

Another way to switch apps is to actually swipe on the bezel around the screen. This could be neat or confusing, depending on implementation: swiping from the top bezel into the screen can bring down a menu, for example.

The PlayBook clearly takes its home-screen UI cues from iOS, but then departs, and adds in a lot of nice extras: notifications can be displayed in the menubar, for example. I’m actually pretty impressed, especially by device that is still months away from launch.

One thing, though, is conspicuously absent from the demo. Adobe® Flash®. Could it be that it doesn’t work so well, or was it just that the demo-room has no internet connection?

BlackBerry PlayBook hands-on video demo [Boy Genius]

See Also:

• RIM Unveils Tethered Tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook
• Tablet Wars: How the BlackBerry PlayBook Measures Up
• PlayBook Smokes iPad Browser in Blackberry Speed-Test Video …

This is Mass Effect 2, running on a netbook — a stock Eee PC — with a single core Atom CPU that wouldn’t dare to dream of actually processing the game. It works because the sci-fi opera’s not taxing that silicon at all, but rather a beefy server miles away, streaming processed and compressed video frames direct to the 10.1-inch screen. It’s called Gaikai, and if you’re thinking it sounds just like OnLive by a different name, you’d be half-right. However, this streaming game service has a radically different business model which doesn’t cost players a dime. Rather than provide a library of titles and charge you for on-demand, Gaikai will power game advertisements that let you actually play their games. If that sounds like an idea you’d like to hear more about, then we’ve got a treat for you. We spoke with founder David Perry about what the service can do, got an exclusive hands-on with the closed beta, and an extensive video walkthrough to boot. After the break, find the whole scoop.

Continue reading Gaikai enters closed beta, we get an exclusive first look

Gaikai enters closed beta, we get an exclusive first look originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WiMAX 2, the sequel to the movie most people haven’t watched, is back to tease and tantalize us courtesy of Samsung’s new CEATEC demo. Filling four separate HDTVs with streaming Full HD and 3D content, the Korean manufacturer of everything electronic is touting its latest advance in mobile broadband connectivity that takes the top speed up to 330Mbps. That may only be a third of the theoretical max capability of WiMAX 2, but you know, we’ll take it for now. The good news is that Samsung’s innovation brew extends only to the conduits between WiMAX devices, meaning that your current-gen transceiver will be able to join the accelerated party as and when Samsung’s ready to dish out the goods. With the 802.16m standard expected to be ratified by next month, Samsung projects its first commercial solutions will be landing in late 2011. Consider our calendars marked.

Continue reading Samsung showing off 330Mbps WiMAX 2 mobile broadband over at CEATEC 2010

Samsung showing off 330Mbps WiMAX 2 mobile broadband over at CEATEC 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 02:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What do you get when you combine the N8‘s HDMI output, its 12 megapixel camera, and your trusty old TV set? As Anssi Vanjoki might say, you get a big new smartphone. Nokia’s research labs have thrown up a neat little “prototype” app called Plug and Touch, which enhances the N8’s already famed HDTV friendliness with the ability to recognize touch input. This is done by positioning your aluminum-clad Nokia about five feet away from the display and letting its camera pick up your hand’s gestures and touches, essentially resulting in a massively enlarged Symbian^3 handset device. Naturally, it’s not terribly precise at this stage and there are no plans for an actual release, but it sure is a tantalizing glimpse of what may be coming down the pipe. Video after the break.

Continue reading Nokia’s Plug and Touch turns your HDTV into a giant N8 (video)

Nokia’s Plug and Touch turns your HDTV into a giant N8 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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