Hasta La Gadget!

You saw the specs confirmed a little earlier today and you even got to glimpse HTC’s new Sensation in the flesh. Now it’s time to watch this 4.3-inch Android device strut its stuff on video. We’ve gotten our mitts on the Euro model and you can check out all the delicious visuals after the break.

As we mentioned in our preview of this handset, the new lock screen is perhaps the biggest (it’s certainly the most immediately apparent) change in the Sense UI that comes with the Sensation. HTC describes now describes it as “smart,” because it can both serve you with live information, like weather and those all-important stock prices, and also lets you unlock straight into an app by dragging its link into an unlocking circle. Frankly, we used the functionality so much that we almost forgot how to unlock the phone “normally.” It’s something the Inq Cloud Touch and other lower-end Android devices have previously exhibited, and a feature we really, truly appreciate.

Performance was, as you’d expect from a 1.2GHz dual-core machine, snappy all around, though we still caught some slight lag and insufficient frame rates when the Sensation was dealing with some of those yummy new 3D animations. The higher resolution (960 x 540) screen is a definite upgrade over the 800 x 480 standard that Android devices have been coalescing around and the 4.3-inch size seems like a perfect fit for it. Both the camera app and video playback in the HTC Watch app showed great speed and responsiveness to our input. Those are the things that will really harness the processing power of the Sensation.

Physically, the Sensation somehow manages to feel more compact than its predecessor atop the European jumbo phone throne, the Desire HD. The two phones both have 4.3-inch screens, but the 16:9 screen ratio of the Sensation makes it narrower, while HTC’s ingenuity has managed to make the new device marginally thinner too. All in all, a definite upgrade in ergonomics. Aluminum construction is present here as well, however the entire aluminum chunk — which spans the middle portion of the back, separating two plastic parts (each of which has its own color, giving you a tri-color rear) — is in the removable cover. This is unlike most of HTC’s aluminum “unibody” phones, which make the aluminum piece part of the phone’s framework. Hey, at least you get much easier access to what’s under the back cover. Delve into the gallery below for more!

Continue reading HTC Sensation first video hands-on!

HTC Sensation first video hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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Continue reading 3LiveShop woos you into phone contracts by touching your screen from the other side (video)

3LiveShop woos you into phone contracts by touching your screen from the other side (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 05:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We knew Panasonic was going to unleash a slew of new apps for its Viera Connect televisions, and now it looks like they’re finally ready to hit the ground running — for its 2011 models, anyway. Back in January the company released its Viera SDK to developers, and now it has a smattering of games and sports apps to show for it, including the long-promised NBA Game Time, which includes standings and highlights from recent games. In case you’re curious, there’s no sign yet of Asphalt 5 HD, also announced at CES, though Panasonic says the title should be launching in the near future. Also on tap are MLS and NHL applications, each of which let you watch live games — provided you subscribe to these leagues’ live game packages. Panasonic says the NHL app is slated for the middle of this month, and you can expect MLS in early May. What we’re most excited about, though, is an app that syncs with select NordicTrack treadmills (due out “later this year”), pairing your run with a first-person view in Google Earth. We can’t wait to embark on a simulated run through the streets of Paris (versus, you know, actually going there), but alas, Panasonic wasn’t ready to demo the app quite yet.

As always, Viera’s apps are arranged in a grid of large squares, right down to the standings and recorded matches in MLS, all of which makes these sets easy to navigate using a remote control. (We’ll be curious to see what it’s like playing Asphalt 5 with the remote, which you’ll have to do if you don’t want to spring for an optional wireless gaming controller.) The interface adds the occasional visual flourish, too, including a carousel of NHL standings and fly-in news categories in the AP’s news app. The software is generally responsive, although you might find yourself waiting a few extra seconds for news blurbs and other information-heavy tidbits to load. Want a sneak peak at these apps before they roll out this spring? Hit the link and check out the gallery and hands-on video.

Continue reading Panasonic rolls out new apps for its 2011 Viera Connect TVs, we go hands-on (video)

Panasonic rolls out new apps for its 2011 Viera Connect TVs, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Okay, so Nikon kind of spoiled the surprise with this one, but we can now enlighten you with the full details of its upcoming midrange (or “advanced beginner” as Nikon calls it) DSLR refresh. The D5100 takes the spot of the venerable D5000, but follows the previous generation’s recipe for success pretty closely. The D5000 was a stripped-down D90 in a simpler, smaller package that came with an articulating LCD, and the D5100 just so happens to feature the same mighty 16.2 megapixel sensor as the D7000 (Nikon’s current high-end consumer DSLR) augmented with a flipout screen. Having the D7000’s internals helps the new shooter churn out 1080p video at 24fps, 25fps, or 30fps, depending on your preference for up to a maximum of 20 minutes. The D5000 is only capable of five-minute bursts of 720/24p video and isn’t able to continually autofocus, which the D5100 can. The D5100 also betters its predecessor in terms of physical fitness, coming in at a healthy 10 percent lighter and smaller, while a good number of the physical controls have been repositioned in order to allow for a new horizontal opening mechanism. That’ll be a well appreciated tweak for tripod users. The new screen’s also 17 percent thinner, we’re told, and steps up to a 3-inch diagonal with a 920k-dot resolution. Solid stuff. After the break you’ll find a full spec sheet along with some video action with the D5100. Pricing for this camera is set at $800 / €777 / £670 for the body only or $900 / €904 / £780 for the body plus an 18-55mm VR kit lens. The ME-1 external mic introduced alongside it — did we not mention the D5100 has an external mic input — will cost $180 / €139 / £120 and both are expected in stores on April 21st.

Continue reading Nikon D5100 and ME-1 external mic coming April 21st, we go hands-on (video)

Nikon D5100 and ME-1 external mic coming April 21st, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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