HTC Wildfire review

If phones could make babies, then this HTC Wildfire would indubitably be the love child of the Desire and Nexus One. But of course, the humdrum reality is that ’tis just an Android 2.1 replacement for the entry-level Tattoo — same 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7225 processor, 3.2-inch 320 x 240 capacitive LCD touchscreen instead of 2.8-inch resistive, 384MB RAM instead of 256MB, and a 5-megapixel camera instead of 3.2 (although quality matters more, obviously). So can this affordable handset provide enough bang for the buck to satisfy Europeans and Asians? Can the aging processor keep Sense UI well oiled? All will be revealed after the break.

Continue reading HTC Wildfire review

HTC Wildfire review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HD webcam 3-way shootout: SkypeHD’s best take on Logitech

HD webcam 3-way shootout: SkypeHD's best take on Logitech

As we mused when we recently got a chance to try out the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910, it wasn’t long ago that VGA was good enough for online chatting. No more, and with the release of SkypeHD going high-def is easier than ever. To find out which multi-megapixel movie maker you want to clip onto your display, and to see how the SkypeHD-compatible offerings stack up against Logitech’s latest HD shooter, we gathered three cameras at a range of prices. Two will work with some particularly advanced TVs, while the third cam shuns Skype, offsetting that shortcoming with a middle-ground price and superior video quality. Which is your ticket to HD chat bliss, and how do they all compare to plain ‘ol VGA? Find out after the break.

Gallery: HD Webcams

Continue reading HD webcam 3-way shootout: SkypeHD’s best take on Logitech

HD webcam 3-way shootout: SkypeHD’s best take on Logitech originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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White iPhone 4: early DIY edition, with a touch of black

Sorry, we couldn’t wait — having spent 11 hours on the streets waiting for the iPhone 4, it’s only natural to give our precious new toy some extra special care. With the help of iFixit’s teardown guide, we decided to take the plunge with our steaming hot Chinese delivery — a white front cover (with a shiny proximity sensor area above the earpiece), a white back cover (with “XXXXX” marked as the model number, ergo a prototype), and a Retina Display unit. Alas, there weren’t any white buttons in stock at the time, but let’s pretend this black-and-white combo is the new cool. Read on to find out how the surgery went.

P.S. — We’ve had many readers asking where we got the parts, but the link’s already in the post. Knowing some Chinese helps, too.

Continue reading White iPhone 4: early DIY edition, with a touch of black

White iPhone 4: early DIY edition, with a touch of black originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3G video call on Fring for Android: bringing HTC EVO 4G and Dell Streak together (hands-on)

Consider this: you may have an Android phone with a front-facing camera, and so do your distant loved ones (yes, friends count too). Now slap that free IM app Fring onto your phone, and the once-dormant chat camera shall finally come to life — right now only the Streak and EVO 4G are supported, whereas the others (like the X10) will have to rely on their main cameras. Still, Fring also supports dual-camera Symbian devices plus Skype video calls to and from computers, and since it isn’t locked down to any particular connection method, users with unlimited data allowance get to make free 3G video calls! Take that, FaceTime. Read on to watch our very own transatlantic banter.

Continue reading 3G video call on Fring for Android: bringing HTC EVO 4G and Dell Streak together (hands-on)

3G video call on Fring for Android: bringing HTC EVO 4G and Dell Streak together (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 16:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turtle Beach Ear Force Z2 ears-on

With its Ear Force line, Turtle Beach has turned the gaming headset from niche product into must-have accessory for many serious gamers — particularly those engaging in some warfare of a modern variety. The wireless, 7.1-channel X41 model sits on the high end, but Turtle Beach is now offering those on a bit of a budget a new option: the Ear Force Z2. At $69.95 it isn’t exactly cheap, but compared to the other products on the segment it is something of a bargain. Click on through for our impressions.

Continue reading Turtle Beach Ear Force Z2 ears-on

Turtle Beach Ear Force Z2 ears-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer Starcraft II and Xbox 360 peripherals hands-on

Razer Starcraft II and Xbox 360 peripherals hands-on

Razer‘s meteoric rise from second-tier mouse maker to top-shelf peripheral guru has been nothing short of incredible, and its success has enabled it to start to focus a little more on the niche groups. Such is its latest addition: a keyboard, mouse, and headset designed just for RTS gamers, and specifically for Starcraft II. We spent some time sampling their APM-enhancing abilities, and checked out the latest revision of the company’s upcoming Xbox 360 Onza controller too. It’s all after the break.

Continue reading Razer Starcraft II and Xbox 360 peripherals hands-on

Razer Starcraft II and Xbox 360 peripherals hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thrustmaster unveils its perfect replica HOTAS Warthog flight controller, we go hands-on (video)

Thrustmaster unveils its perfect replica HOTAS Warthog flight controller, we go hands-on (video)

Flight sim aficionados tend to be a fanatical bunch. It isn’t good enough if it isn’t as realistic as humanly possible, and as technology improves more and more things get more and more possible. It’s now been 10 years since Thrustmaster released its iconic HOTAS Cougar, a near-perfect replica of the F-16’s Hands On Throttle and Stick, and now the company is following up with an even more realistic version for a very different sort of aircraft: the ground-pounding A-10C Warthog. It’s as close as you can get to the real thing without getting commissioned, and we took it for a test-flight. Click on through for our impressions and some impressive footage of the thing in action.

Continue reading Thrustmaster unveils its perfect replica HOTAS Warthog flight controller, we go hands-on (video)

Thrustmaster unveils its perfect replica HOTAS Warthog flight controller, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony PlayStation Move hands on at E3: these lollypops don’t lie

Sony’s PlayStation Move was hardly the surprise of the show, after all we’ve been seeing it waved around in various forms for years. Likewise the price ($99 for a bundle with an Eye Toy camera and a game) wasn’t exactly a shocker. Still, the release date of September 19th is earlier than anticipated, and the wealth of titles supporting the gadgets was a little unexpected too. We had a chance to sit down (and stand up) with a few of the best, and we’re generally pleased. Move on after the break for our full impressions.

Continue reading Sony PlayStation Move hands on at E3: these lollypops don’t lie

Sony PlayStation Move hands on at E3: these lollypops don’t lie originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garmin nuvi 3790T review

For the most part, standalone navigators have retained their same form factor for the better part of the last five years. Each one looked like the other, with the main differentiators being a fold-out or integrated antenna and a big or small display. With intense competition coming from the smartphone space (yeah, we’re looking at you, Google), the bigwigs at TomTom and Garmin are obviously thinking of ways to innovate and keep their consumer PNDs relevant. We aren’t exactly convinced that shaping said navigators like said smartphones is the best answer, but you won’t find us kvetching about the sleek lines and slim nature of the nüvi 3790T. Announced back in April alongside the 3760T and 3750 models, the king of the 3700 series packs a 4.3-inch WVGA multitouch display and a frame that’s just 9mm thick; what you’re left with is the most stunning personal NAV system on the planet, and we’ve had the opportunity to test one out before it hits US shelves in July. Care to see if this beaut is worth $449? Head on past the break for our two pennies (and a video overview, too!).

Continue reading Garmin nuvi 3790T review

Garmin nuvi 3790T review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Parrot AR.Drone hits the US this September for $299, we go hands-on with video!

Parrot promised to reveal the launch details for its AR.Drone at E3 this week, and it’s now delivered — the remote-controlled quadricopter will be available in the U.S. this September for $299. Of course, this is hardly your ordinary remote-controlled quadricopter, as it’s not only controlled via WiFi, but via an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch — something we got well acquainted with both at CES and on the Engadget Show back in January. Incidentally, an Android app for the device was also recently demoed by the company, but it’s apparently still not quite official. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and hit up the gallery below for a closer look at the Drone itself in some of its various configurations.

Update: We swung by the company’s demo station outside the show floors here at E3, spoke with the company CEO, got a little more information about the post-release plans for this thing, and dive-bombed a few PR reps before running for the hills. All those details and a funky fresh new video are waiting for you after the break.

Continue reading Parrot AR.Drone hits the US this September for $299, we go hands-on with video!

Parrot AR.Drone hits the US this September for $299, we go hands-on with video! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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