Hasta La Gadget!

HP confirmed that slick webOS keyboard we saw leaked a while back during its event today, and we got a quick chance to check it out. It’s really, really thin — and the battery compartment is tucked under the curve, so from most angles it looks like it’s not even there. Apart from that, it’s just a really nice keyboard, albeit one with a webOS function key next to the space bar. No price or availability yet, unfortunately, but we’ll keep digging.

HP’s webOS keyboard hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We just got a look at the Verizon version of the iPhone 4. Guess what? It’s just like an iPhone 4! There’s no custom pre-loaded Verizon software (like VCAST or some such bloatware), just that mobile hotspot tweak in the settings menu. There’s also no Verizon branding on the phone, though that’s hardly a surprise given Apple’s hatred of all logos that aren’t its own. The only real physical difference we can find are those tweaked CDMA-compatible antennas running around the edge — four in all, placed symmetrically and bumping down the volume / mute buttons. Interestingly, the phone is running iOS version 4.2.5, so perhaps that mobile hotspot functionality will make its way over to other iPhones when they sync up on iOS updates. We did try a speed test, clearing the cache and loading various sites simultaneously on the Verizon phone and our AT&T device, and while there were variations in the load times, there were too many external factors to really make a judgment call just yet.

Continue reading Verizon iPhone first hands-on! (update: video)

Verizon iPhone first hands-on! (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 12:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just when we thought were safe from the grasps the Breffo Spiderpodium Tablet stand, we found Breffo on the CES show floor and were forced to took a closer look at the scary yet flexible solution for all of our tablet holding needs. Priced at $35, the arachnoph-olding stand is aimed at tablets, but is certainly not limited to them. The Spiderpodium Tablet stand is built with a steel exoskeleton allowing for bendability and covered with silicon for maximum grippage of all tech toys, household objects and human faces alike. If the Spiderpodium Tablet stand isn’t your cup of tea for elevating your gadgets, you can still create some terrifying monsters.

Breffo Spiderpodium Tablet stand hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 16:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been dying to play with a third-party AirPlay speaker system ever since Apple opened the tech up, and iHome was happy to oblige here at CES with the new iW1. The wireless speaker system features two three-inch woofers and two one-inch tweeters with Bongiovi audio processing, a built-in lithium-ion battery with a grab-and-go charging base, and capacitive touch controls — and, just as we suspected, AirPlay compatibility courtesy of BridgeCo. iHome’s also developed a new iOS configuration app called iHome Connect that’ll help you get the iW1 on your WiFi network quickly, although regular WPS setup is also supported. You can also charge your iPhone or iPod by plugging into the USB port in the back — iHome is packing a cable in the box.

Streaming from iOS was just as simple as with the Apple TV or Airport Express, and we only saw minimal lag between control inputs like volume and track changes, just as with an all-Apple setup. Interestingly, iOS only supports point-to-point AirPlay streaming right now, so you can only use a single speaker at a time, but if you’re streaming from iTunes you can hit multiple speakers at once, regardless of vendor. iHome is still tuning the audio performance, so we’ll reserve judgment on that until we get a review unit — which should happen when this guy ships for $300 in March. Video after the break.

Continue reading iHome iW1 AirPlay wireless speaker hands-on

iHome iW1 AirPlay wireless speaker hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson isn’t being shy about hyping the Xperia Arc‘s new Reality Display, so we naturally had to take a head-to-head shot with the iPhone 4’s Retina Display. They actually compare quite well in person, even though the Arc actually has the same 854 x 480 resolution as the Droid X — you can definitely see some pixels up close, but since the panel is a hair smaller than the X at 4.2 inches, the pixel density is a little tighter. The real noise behind the Reality Display is Arc’s Bravia Engine, which Sony claims will enhance colors and detail just like on Bravia TVs, but we didn’t get to play with it too much beyond finding the option in settings to turn it off. We’ll obviously be diving deep on that once we score a review unit, but for now check a macro shot and a Droid X comparison after the break.

Continue reading Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc Reality Display vs. Retina Display… fight!

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc Reality Display vs. Retina Display… fight! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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