iPhone N94 prototype’s front assembly leaked, set to be an iPhone 4S?

As we approach the rumored September or October launch date for the next batch of iPhones, the web’s been spiced up with photos of alleged parts for an “N94” iPhone prototype. We’ve been rather skeptical about them until the above photos landed in our inbox, courtesy of our friends from uBreakiFix. A little while back we’d already heard from our other sources that the N94 is set to be a cheaper version of the current iPhone 4 (probably the 8GB iPhone 4 mentioned by Reuters last week), which would explain why all these components and cables look super familiar. The only notable difference here is the funny dot right next to the sensor location above the earpiece — the dotted pattern is very much like that used by the microphone and the webcam LED indicator on Mac computers, but obviously the latter is more likely the case here.

That said, do bear in mind that according to the mark along the bottom of this part, we’re apparently looking at an “EVT1” (Engineering Verification Test) piece from March 3rd 2011 (making it about three months older than the white N94 back covers that made the rounds last week, assuming they’re legit). Additionally, when our sources last checked around June and July, the N94 had yet to hit the DVT stage, so it’s hard to determine whether these parts will remain the same in the final design, or whether the N94 will even make it to the production line at all.

On the other hand, our sources pointed out that an elusive N97 device — previously reported by the Wall Street Journal as a tiny iPhone — had already reached “DVT” (Design Verification Test) stage back in June, though there’s little information about it other than that it’s been tested with various cellular technologies (though plagued by some bugs related to switching between specific frequencies back then), plus it may sport a camera module supplied by Sony, which was semi-confirmed by Howard Stringer himself back in April. Whatever the N97 ends up being, hopefully we’ll have something at least as slim as our little souvenir from Beijing.

Continue reading iPhone N94 prototype’s front assembly leaked, set to be an iPhone 4S?

iPhone N94 prototype’s front assembly leaked, set to be an iPhone 4S? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stem’s iZON Remote Room Monitor lets you spy on the babysitter from your iOS device

Stem iZON
Stem has just come out with a new, wireless camera that could help put parents’ minds at rest, while striking fear into the heart of virtually every teenager. Known as the iZON, this room monitor allows concerned and / or paranoid users to remotely watch and listen in on sensitive spaces, from the comfort of their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. All you have to do is download the free Stem:Connect App from iTunes and configure the device to alert you whenever it detects any motion or sound in within its vicinity. All content can be streamed across Edge, 3G, or wireless connections and will be safely encrypted, though if you feel like sharing your flatmate’s daytime antics with the rest of the world, you could easily record video of him directly to YouTube. Check out the gallery below and the video after the break.

Gallery: Stem iZON

Continue reading Stem’s iZON Remote Room Monitor lets you spy on the babysitter from your iOS device

Stem’s iZON Remote Room Monitor lets you spy on the babysitter from your iOS device originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG 3D Game Converter adds depth to regular 2D games

Spoiler alert! Instead of waiting to surprise people at IFA this week, LG has released details of its new 3D Game Converter for the Optimus 3D early. The software arrives as part of the October maintenance release, promising to take any OpenGL game that runs in landscape and convert it to 3D. Around 50 games will come with pre-optimized settings — the rest you tweak yourself. Open any game up in the app and it will try to split the foreground and background and recombine both in 3D. Feel your eyes crossing and a headache setting in just by thinking about playing this way? No worries, they’re all still playable in 2D as well. Mouse on past the break to find the press release, which LG rather thoughtlessly only released in 2D.

[Thanks, Eddie]

Continue reading LG 3D Game Converter adds depth to regular 2D games

LG 3D Game Converter adds depth to regular 2D games originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung’s ChatON messaging service brings free texting to Android, iOS and BlackBerry (video)

It looks like Samsung is about to dip its toes in the mobile messaging market, with a new service called ChatON. Slated to debut at this week’s IFA, the app brings texting, group chat and image / video sharing to not only Samsung’s Bada OS, but to iOS, Android and BlackBerry platforms, as well. According to the Korean manufacturer, the new client will be available in two versions: a basic one for feature phones and another, more complex variation that allows smartphone users to comment on other profiles, send animated messages and visualize their most frequently contacted friends, as displayed above. The company is also planning to release a web-based version that would bring similar functionality to PCs. ChatON is slated to go live next month (in more than 120 countries and 62 languages), but you can find more information in the demo video and translated PR, after the break.

Continue reading Samsung’s ChatON messaging service brings free texting to Android, iOS and BlackBerry (video)

Samsung’s ChatON messaging service brings free texting to Android, iOS and BlackBerry (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 06:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Omega spotted in the wild on Algerian auction site?

Just a few days after its renders first leaked, the HTC Omega has apparently been spotted in the wild, on an Algerian auction site, of all places. French blog Mon Windows Phone claims that the rumored Mango device may sport a Snapdragon MSM8255 1.5Ghz processor, 512MB of RAM and a 3.8-inch LCD, though it’s hard to glean too many specifics from the blurry images featured on the auction site. The blog also spotted an eight megapixel camera around back, along with that front-facing shooter that Microsoft’s been touting, while the listing claims that the phone boasts up to 8GB of storage capacity. The white-and-gray Omega is rumored to debut at this week’s HTC event in London, though details on price and availability remain unclear (the highest online bid, for what it’s worth, is currently at around $540). Hit up the links below to see the full array of images.

[Thanks, Gilles]

HTC Omega spotted in the wild on Algerian auction site? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Mon Windows Phone (Translated)  |  sourceOuedKniss  | Email this | Comments

Xiaomi Phone gets dissected, phone status confirmed

The Xiaomi Phone managed to pique our interest by packing a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor into a fairly sleek, inexpensive package — and, like all interesting new devices, it’s now been torn completely apart. You can thank the folks at LeiPhone for doing the hard work in this case, the results of which can be found at the source link below. We’ll soon also have some more impressions of the (intact) phone ourselves, and it looks like Xiaomi will be giving its own forum members the first crack at pre-orders for the device. Those start at 10PM Eastern tonight for those with the requisite number of points, and we’re told that the first 600 orders (200 each day from the 29th to the 31st) will receive an “engineering special edition” version of the phone — not to mention a slight discount off the list price.

[Thanks, Adam]

Xiaomi Phone gets dissected, phone status confirmed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Samsung’s Droid Charge?

Skipped over the Thunderbolt, did you? If you were waiting for that other LTE phone to come your way, Samsung’s Droid Charge may have been the one that caught your eye. For those who settled on it, we’re interested in knowing how things have been going. How’s that Super AMOLED Plus panel treating you… outdoors? Is the LTE radio smashing your battery life? Are the Android tweaks to your liking? Still feel it was worth the price premium at launch? There’s no doubt that the Charge is one of favorites on Big Red right now, but that’s not to say it doesn’t have its quirks. Speaking of which — it’s about high time you tossed in a few opinions of your own in comments below.

How would you change Samsung’s Droid Charge? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 22:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: The accidental handset company, Part 1

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Tech company acquisitions often seek to reshape a company or even the entire industry. Buying Applied Semantics catalyzed Google’s rise to online advertising dominance. Apple’s purchase of NeXT transformed the former’s operating system’s roadmap. And HP’s merger with Compaq created a $40 billion powerhouse vendor of Windows PCs.

That’s not the case for “Googorola,” a portmanteau that the world formerly knew only as an Italian blue cheese often crumbled into steak salads. Indeed, Google’s recent announcement of its intent to acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion may turn out to be the highest profile acquisition ever aimed at maintaining the status quo. Presaged by a blog post from Google’s chief legal officer and punctuated by lockstep statements by Motorola’s rival Android licensees praising legal protection, the blog post announcing the acquisition promised to “supercharge” Android. But the subsequent Google conference call regarding the merger reinforced that the “IP” Google seeks to acquire does not stand for “Incredible Phones.” Google seeks to invigorate Android simply by having the freedom to progress unencumbered along the successful path it already has largely staked out.

Continue reading Switched On: The accidental handset company, Part 1

Switched On: The accidental handset company, Part 1 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Galaxy S II LTE and Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE announced, set to debut at IFA

Galaxy S II LTE and Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE

Well, if you thought Samsung was done tweaking the Galaxy S II, you were very mistaken. The Korean company is getting ready to unveil the Galaxy S II LTE at IFA in Berlin this week, alongside an LTE version of its still elusive Galaxy Tab 8.9 — and we’ll be there to get some hands on time. Both devices are sporting an updated dual-core processor running at 1.5GHz, while the S II is also getting a size bump and moving up to a 4.5-inch screen. The Tab remains otherwise unchanged, rocking the same 1200 x 800 screen and super-svelte (8.6mm thick) design. Honestly, we’re not sure what else you need to know — 4G LTE and an over-the-top processor? OK, maybe price and availability would be nice, but you’ll just have to make do with some PR for now. Check it out after the break.

Continue reading Galaxy S II LTE and Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE announced, set to debut at IFA

Galaxy S II LTE and Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE announced, set to debut at IFA originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 12:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Droid Bionic pops up on Motorola site, looks set for September 8 release

Between the leaked ads, blurry photos and walkthrough videos, it seems that we’ve seen Motorola’s reworked Droid Bionic pretty much everywhere but in the hands of consumers. Looks like the company is ready to take one more baby step toward that eventuality, with what appears to be an official Bionic Twitter account (we’re working to get confirmation) indicating a September 8th release date, while a product page with some new shots of the device has also gone live. The page is still sadly lacking in-depth specs, but the handful of photos should keep eager customers happy at least until our friend in the leather blouse slices the head off another robot.

Droid Bionic pops up on Motorola site, looks set for September 8 release originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 07:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Droid Life, AnandTech  |  sourceMotorola, DroidBionic (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments