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Sep 15

Nikon Coolpix S80 and P7000 hands-on

Posted in: camera, hands-on, nikon, OLED, Today's Chili, touchscreen

Sharing the limelight with the Nikon D7000 today were these two Coolpix cameras: the OLED touchscreen-donning S80 (left) and the prosumer-oriented P7000 (right). Let’s start off with the S80: this 14.1 megapixel compact turned out to be pretty sexy and solid, and we had no qualms with sliding its lens cover, either. That said, the 3.5-inch touchscreen was one helluva double-edged sword — sure, it was responsive to our touch input (for tap-to-capture or tap-to-focus), but a lot of the times we found our naughty fingers slipping onto the screen, thus accidentally triggering the camera. And just as we speculated, the lack of physical buttons (zoom control and shutter, for instance) was pretty intimidating to begin with, but as with many smartphones these days, it probably just takes time to get used to this newfangled interface. If we were to improve the camera as it is right now, we’d probably throw in a sharper alternative for the OLED display — despite its wide viewing angles and vibrant colors — for the sake of focusing and playback.

Do read on for our thoughts on the P7000 after the break.

Gallery: Nikon Coolpix S80 hands-on

Gallery: Nikon Coolpix P7000 hands-on

Continue reading Nikon Coolpix S80 and P7000 hands-on

Nikon Coolpix S80 and P7000 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 15

DeviceVM unleashing MeeGo on Splashtop PCs, flexes MeeGo netbook muscle to remote control Windows machines (video)

Posted in: hands-on, HP, meego, remote control, RemoteControl, Today's Chili, video

Got “Smart On,” “Quick Start,” “Express Gate,” “QuickWeb,” “Latitude ON” or even the plain vanilla Splashtop instant-on OS embedded in your PC? Chances are, sometime next year, you’ll be getting a MeeGo app-capable upgrade. Splashtop manufacturer DeviceVM has just promised a MeeGo-based version of Splashtop to all current OEM partners for distribution in the first half of next year, and you should be able to simply upgrade the instant-on client in your existing PC. We spoke to DeviceVM in person at IDF 2010, and were told it’s not quite as easy as it sounds — for one thing, the Splashtop MeeGo Remix, as it’s called, is still in the early stages, and it’s going to be up to the ASUS, Acers and Dells of the world to actually roll it out. HP’s committed to delivering an free, transitional version of Splashtop for its machines that will allow end-users to easily upgrade, however. What you’re looking at above on this Lenovo S10-3t is the first step in the process — MeeGo with Splashtop branding and some simple touchscreen drivers. To make up for the relative boredom, DeviceVM showed off something else moderately neat — a port of its Splashtop Remote app to MeeGo that allows a tiny HP Mini to seamlessly remote into a Windows PC. Imagine the potential for covert fun with our video after the break!

Gallery: Splashtop Remote on MeeGo eyes-on

Continue reading DeviceVM unleashing MeeGo on Splashtop PCs, flexes MeeGo netbook muscle to remote control Windows machines (video)

DeviceVM unleashing MeeGo on Splashtop PCs, flexes MeeGo netbook muscle to remote control Windows machines (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 15

Nikon D7000 DSLR hands-on

Posted in: 1080p, camera, dslr, Features, hands-on, nikon, Today's Chili, video

In case you haven’t heard this morning, Nikon’s just lifted the curtains on its 16.2 megapixel D7000 imager for the “social photographer” market, and naturally, we had to get our hands on it. This dual SDXC-wielding DSLR closely resembles the slightly lighter D90, but the little superficial tweaks didn’t escape our eyes: the first thing we noticed was that the continuous shooting option button — previously on right-hand side of the top screen — has been transformed into a secondary dial on the left. We found this to be slightly fiddly as we had to press on a tiny neighboring unlock button to rotate said dial. There’s also a new live view switch and video record button (à la D3100), which are more intuitive than the D90’s configuration. As for ergonomics, the D7000’s grip is also very comparable with the D90’s, except we prefer the latter’s for its longer piece of rubber grip to cover the full length of our right thumb. More after the break.

Gallery: Nikon D7000 DSLR hands-on

Continue reading Nikon D7000 DSLR hands-on

Nikon D7000 DSLR hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 15

Nokia Charging Plate DT-600 hands-on: ‘charge in style’ is all you need to know

Posted in: charger, charging, hands-on, nokia, Today's Chili

Nokia’s official marketing documentation for the just-announced DT-600 says that you can “charge in style” and “enjoy the life with full battery.” After checking it out here at Nokia World, we don’t think we could say it any better ourselves. The device is basically a rubber tray for setting your battery-dependent gadgets with a squid-like array of charging cables coming out of the corners; there are very similar products to this on the market already, but Nokia’s got a couple trump cards up its sleeve. Actually, one of them is less of a trump card and more of a Wild Draw Four: although one cable is micro-USB, two of the others are permanently connected 2mm Nokia jacks, an odd decision considering that modern Nokias are moving away from those to micro-USB — as are most manufacturers — so we guess they’re expecting you to keep a few antiques juiced up.

The other differentiator, though, is that you don’t need to snake your own chargers through the mess — the fourth cable is interchangeable and connects to one of two USB ports on the side, and you can use the other port for a fifth cable that isn’t routed through one of the four corners’ holes. Nokia includes mini-USB, LG, Sony Ericsson, and two flavors of Samsung connectors for this one; Apple’s noticeably missing, but we’re sure these guys had zero interest in licensing the 20-pin design — and obviously, you can just use your own cable if you like. In a nod to Mother Nature, the DT-600 burns no power when devices aren’t connected, but if you’re in the US, tough luck — there’s no plan in place for availability there. Hit up the gallery for a few in-the-wild shots (taken at Nokia’s Experience Lounge coffee bar, by the way, so the phones weren’t the only things getting juiced up).

Gallery: Nokia Charging Plate DT-600 hands-on: ‘charge in style’ is all you need to know

Nokia Charging Plate DT-600 hands-on: ‘charge in style’ is all you need to know originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 08:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 15

HTC Desire HD first hands-on!

Posted in: Android, Google, hands-on, HTC, sense, Today's Chili, video

Alright, Europeans, say it with us: “finally!” Yes, having played extensively with the EVO 4G over the last few months, we can definitely say that the Desire HD is an authentic recreation of the American blockbuster, though it lacks the kickstand around back — likely in an effort to reduce thickness, we suppose. In fact, HTC has eliminated the battery cover entirely, replacing it with a Legend-style slot (side-mounted this time) — take a look at a shot of it both open and closed after the break. The phones HTC had on display here felt extremely smooth and snappy… though, as we all know, Android tends to bog down a bit over time, so the proof will be in the pudding after these things have been in customers’ hands for a month or two.

Gallery: HTC Desire HD first hands-on

Continue reading HTC Desire HD first hands-on!

HTC Desire HD first hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 08:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 15

HTC Desire Z hands-on (update: more pics and video)

Posted in: Android, froyo, hands-on, HTC, qwerty, QwertySlider, slider, t-mobile, Today's Chili, video

We’ve just gotten to grips with HTC’s luscious new Desire Z slider (you’ll know it as the T-Mobile G2 in the US) and it is indeed a slab of finely crafted metal. That Z hinge that the company is touting feels pretty robust, requiring a reassuring amount of torque to get it to spring open. And it really is a spring, it flips from closed to open instantaneously. The QWERTY button array feels pretty terrific, giving us just the right amount of responsiveness, while separation between keys feels a lot more spacious than the images would lead you to believe. It’s also worth noting that, exactly as HTC promised in its keynote, the Desire Z has one of the most accessible top rows in the slider smartphone business. We honestly didn’t think there was a difference between typing on it versus any of the other rows. That’s quite the feat, and easily positions this as the best competitor to Nokia’s newly announced E7. Are we witnessing a QWERTY renaissance? We sure hope so. Check out the gallery below and hands-on video after the break.

Update: Added a second video to demonstrate the Z’s ridiculously fast startup and more under Android 2.2 Froyo.

Gallery: HTC Desire Z — more hands-on pics!

Gallery: HTC Desire Z hands-on

Continue reading HTC Desire Z hands-on (update: more pics and video)

HTC Desire Z hands-on (update: more pics and video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 08:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 15

Audyssey Audio Dock: South of Market Edition offers high-end Bluetooth music streaming for your phone

Posted in: hands-on, ipod dock, IpodDock, Today's Chili

It’s not every day our interest is piqued by an iPhone / iPod speaker dock, but when the folks at Audyssey told us they were entering the space with their new South of Market Edition, our ears perked up. You’re probably familiar with Audyssey if you’re into home theater at all — the company’s automatic EQ system is in all sorts of receivers — and the SOM dock promises the same sort of tuned audio performance you’d expect from the company. It also offers a little twist: you can pair your phone or computer via Bluetooth for both streaming music and making speakerphone calls with the built-in mic. Neat — although at $399 it’s definitely pricey.

We spent a few minutes playing with a review sample, and it certainly does what’s promised, although we were told our voices sounded quite muddled when we made a speakerphone call. Music-wise, the SOM gets quite loud and the two large bass drivers certainly offered plenty of punch; audio quality over Bluetooth was definitely passable, and we managed a pretty respectable 30-foot line-of-sight range when streaming music, although plugging directly in definitely improved the sound. Of course, spending $399 on a Bluetooth speaker dock for your iPhone right now when AirPlay-compatible devices are right around the corner definitely seems like a bad idea, but if you’re just looking for an attractive and great-sounding speaker dock to charge your iPhone in the office and you can swing the price, the SOM is well worth a look. More images in the gallery and PR after the break.

Gallery: Audyssey Audio Dock: South of Market Edition offers high-end Bluetooth music streaming for your phone

Continue reading Audyssey Audio Dock: South of Market Edition offers high-end Bluetooth music streaming for your phone

Audyssey Audio Dock: South of Market Edition offers high-end Bluetooth music streaming for your phone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 15

Logitech’s Wireless Trackball M570 rolls out for $60, doesn’t bow to fancy touch mice

Posted in: hands-on, logitech, mouse, Today's Chili

Oh yes, that up there is Logitech’s newest Wireless Trackball M570, which apparently caters to an “overwhelming demand of dedicated trackball users.” Well, we’ll be damned! At this point, we’d figured that trackballers would have switched over to an MX or something by now, but we do have to say the new sculpted shape is mighty comfortable, and if spinning a big blue ball to navigate the desktop is your thing it doesn’t seem like a bad deal. The $59.99 peripheral will be available immediately, and packs 2.4GHz wireless and a small USB Unifying receiver that tucks into the bottom of the mouse for safe keeping. Logitech sent us one to play around with, and though we’re not exactly the most nimble at using the trackball to jump from window to window, the scroll wheel felt calming enough and there are two back / forward buttons to get you from tab A to tab B. Guess we really have to hand it to ’em for sticking with what works. Hit the gallery below for some more eye candy, and hop on past the break for the full press release.

Gallery: Logitech Wireless Trackball M570

Continue reading Logitech’s Wireless Trackball M570 rolls out for $60, doesn’t bow to fancy touch mice

Logitech’s Wireless Trackball M570 rolls out for $60, doesn’t bow to fancy touch mice originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 14

Ocosmos OCS-1 and O-Bar eyes-on, plus a smattering of prototype sliders (video)

Posted in: gaming, handheld, hands-on, korea, qwerty, QwertySlider, South Korea, SouthKorea, Today's Chili, video, Windows, windows 7, Windows7

Though arguably the most exciting thing about Ocosmos’s five-inch Oak Trail handheld is the promise of a pocket Zerg rush, there’s a good bit more to the OCS-1 than gaming prowess — it claims to be able to replace a full mouse and keyboard with just the two “OMOS Keys” on the front. Though they look like Sidekick II-era directional pads, they’re actually stacked two levels tall, with a D-pad on top of an PlayStation Portable-style analog nub that click and slide in each of eight directions (and press in like gamepad analog sticks) for 34 functions in total. That’s before we consider there’s also a pair of shoulder buttons, a volume rocker, a sliding QWERTY keyboard and a capacitive touchscreen to boot — and did we mention that the OMOS Keys themselves have multiple user / game profiles?

Continue reading Ocosmos OCS-1 and O-Bar eyes-on, plus a smattering of prototype sliders (video)

Ocosmos OCS-1 and O-Bar eyes-on, plus a smattering of prototype sliders (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 01:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 14

Twitter unveils new website with picture and video content embedded on site (update: hands-on!)

Posted in: breaking news, BreakingNews, hands-on, Today's Chili, twitter

Twitter‘s been trending on its own social network this week over a much-hyped announcement… and now it’s been revealed. So what do we have? A relaunch of the Twitter.com, as it turns out. The format seems to follow the two-column style we saw recently in its iPad app, with the left side showing the stream and the right providing all the other content. The biggest addition here is embedded content: depending on the link, it’ll now open in-line in the right column. Sixteen media providers are on board, including YouTube, Vimeo, Ustream, and all popular picture services. The search bar and settings has been given placement at the top of the site in its own header. Rollout begins today to select members, but there’s no current announcement on when everyone will get the new experience. With any luck, it won’t be long. In the meantime, you know the drill… pics below!

Update: … and we’re in! So we’ve spent a few minutes going through the interface, and we have to say, it’s quite sleek. The in-line content makes the experience all the more enjoyable. Conversation threads are vastly improved, but it only shows one reply back at a time — you can go through an entire timeline, but it takes far too many clicks. The best thing about it? Quite snappy. It isn’t perfect, though: it seems the @mentions thread updates much more slowly — that’s particularly irksome, having to refresh for a quicker response. At the risk of sounding vain, the “My Tweets, retweeted” section could benefit from actually showing the number of retweets in the left column — we’d love to know at a glance which of our recent messages were most popular without having to click on each individually. Usual rules apply, no extension to the 140 character limit and no support for multiple accounts. No word on a new fail whale, but not to worry, we’ll let you know as soon as you see it.

We’re not quite ready to give up our dedicated Twitter clients (Tweetie, TweetDeck, and so forth), but it’s definitely up there now as one of the best-designed Twitter interfaces. Really, though: fix the @mention refresh and conversation threads, and we’re sold. Pictures below.

Gallery: New Twitter hands-on