I have often said that it is both a gift and a curse that we as tech bloggers live so far out on the bleeding edge of the industry. Especially right now. There are mind-blowingly great phones about to come to market, yet we’re already focused on what is coming next. There’s always something better […]
So far rumors of the next Nexus phone have been mostly whispered and unverifiable, but they appeared to get a strong confirmation when confirmation and specs were spotted on the Samsung Romania Twitter account (@SamsungMobileRO). Romanian business paper ZF grabbed the tweets saying the Nexus Prime would feature a Super AMOLED HD (1280 x 720) screen and Android 4.0 when it ships later this year, however when contacted, Samsung reps deleted them and claimed the information originated from an outside source. That outside source could be a rumor posted on the Boy Genius Report the day before mentioning the same specs, as well as the possibility of “halo” Ice Cream Sandwich phones from HTC and Motorola at the same time. For now we’ll lean towards believing the company line, but if any of the Samsung social media accounts ever cough an accidental DM or two (who hasn’t done it?) we’ll consider them more carefully.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Samsung Romania’s Twitter account either leaked the next Nexus or just reposted some blog rumors originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Remember how excited we all were when we found out that Android 2.3.4 would bring video chat to Google Talk on the Nexus S? Only to have our hopes and dreams smashed when we discover that it didn’t work over 3G on T-Mobile. Well, it seems the carrier has quietly flipped a switch, and now all you Nexus owners can GChat face-to-face over HSPA+. Surely this an historic day, one that will go down in the annals of mobile history — or, you know, at least one that deserves an exasperated “finally!” Check out the video proof after the break.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Continue reading Google Talk video chat finally available over T-Mobile 3G and 4G (video)
Google Talk video chat finally available over T-Mobile 3G and 4G (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
The Nexus 4G purportedly features a dual-core 1.2 GHZ or 1.5GHz processor. The Nexus S, pictured, has a 1 GHz Hummingbird processor. Photo: Gizmodo
The details on Google’s next Nexus smartphone may have been revealed, and tipsters are saying the phone is an “absolute beast.”
Well-sourced mobile blog Boy Genius Report claims that the Nexus 4G, as it is currently being referred to, will house a faster dual-core CPU and run the next-generation Android operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich.
Tipsters also told BGR that the handset would include a 1.2-GHz or 1.5-GHz Snapdragon processor and sport a ”monster-sized” 720p high-definition touchscreen display with no buttons. A button-free display would be a major change, because most current Android handsets, including the Nexus S, have four menu buttons (menu, home, back and search) located below the screen.
If BGR’s sources are correct, the Nexus 4G would be a significant step up from Google’s current flagship phone, the Samsung-built 3G Nexus S, which sports a 1-Ghz Hummingbird processor and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread. A 4G Sprint version of the Nexus S with very similar hardware specs (1-GHz Hummingbird processor, 16 GB of internal storage and NFC capabilities) began shipping in April.
The Nexus 4G sounds right on trend: At CES this year, we saw a smorgasbord of dual-core smartphones hit the stage, and many of the devices, like Samsung’s Galaxy S II have started dropping with 1.2-GHz processor speeds. Like most Android-powered phones, the Nexus 4G appears to make a big push on the newest, muscular hardware features to compete with Apple’s iPhone, which gets upgraded only once a year.
Other purportedly leaked specs on the Nexus 4G include a 1-megapixel front camera and 5-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of 1080p HD video capture. The rear camera will utilize an advanced sensor for “class-leading image quality” and good performance in low-light scenarios, according to BGR.
The Nexus 4G looks like it could be the first smartphone to run Google’s newest OS, dubbed Ice Cream Sandwich. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich meshes a number of features from Android 2.3 Gingerbread with ones that were previously exclusive to the tablet-only Honeycomb, such as a holographic user interface, multitasking, and the ability to connect with USB devices like an Xbox controller. It’ll debut in the fourth quarter of 2011, so that’s probably the earliest we would see the Nexus 4G potentially being released.
Perhaps, as with Android 2.3 Gingerbread’s debut, both the OS and the smartphone will be officially unveiled at the same event. Reports peg the release around Thanksgiving.
No carrier information was leaked, leading to speculation that the Nexus 4G could be one of the first AT&T 4G LTE smartphones. Or maybe Google just hasn’t hammered out an exact carrier deal yet.
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The introduction of Google Wallet felt a little too good to be true, didn’t it? It’s magical, like the tech equivalent of pulling a rabbit out of a hat. In reality, the tech behind mobile payments has been around since 2003 on a much smaller scale using near-field communications, more commonly known as NFC. The idea behind Wallet (amongst other services, like ISIS) is contactless pay — using your phone as a credit card — and is just one of the many ways NFC can be useful in our everyday lives. In fact, we’re only scraping the surface of what’s theoretically possible.
Google is definitely not the first company to dabble in NFC, but it appears to be poised and ready to push the tech’s adoption forward at a rapid pace with the advent of Wallet and Offers. Until now the coals have been hot; but if a fire’s going to start, someone monolithic has to throw a few newspapers in as kindling — and Google volunteered. But what good is NFC if it’s just an acronym that causes our eyes to glaze over? Is El Goog the only instigator? After the break we’ll focus on what NFC is capable of, and why we want it on our phones as soon as yesterday.
Continue reading Engadget Primed: What is NFC, and why do we care?
Engadget Primed: What is NFC, and why do we care? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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In Engadget Investigates, we explore major issues, working with tech manufacturers and service providers to improve your experience with the gadgets we’ve all come to depend on. If you’d like us to look into an issue, please send us a tip, including “Investigate” in the subject line.
Samsung’s highly-anticipated Nexus S 4G joined the WiMAX family this month, pairing Google’s popular Nexus handset with Sprint’s 4G network. But with the honeymoon over, customers have noticed that the Gingerbread device isn’t living up to Sprint’s former flagship mates, such as the Epic 4G, with last year’s model besting the new guy on both speed and network reception tests. Customers also noticed issues with battery life, though so far we’ve found it to be consistent with other WiMAX smartphones. We took both out for a stroll around New York City, and on a quick weekend getaway to Miami Beach, and we’re sorry to report that we’ve confirmed your fears about performance. Sprint and Google have confirmed that they’re looking into the performance issues, and we hope they can patch things up with some over-the-air update therapy, but in the meantime, jump past the break to see what we found.
Continue reading Engadget Investigates: Samsung Nexus S 4G WiMAX performance issues
Engadget Investigates: Samsung Nexus S 4G WiMAX performance issues originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 May 2011 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Good news: Android 2.3.4 is en route to your Nexus One. Bad news: it lacks the Google Talk video and voice chat options that Nexus S users will get to enjoy in their slice of the same Gingerbread iteration. You might think this predictable, given that the Nexus One lacks a front-facing camera, but then it might have been nice to at least have voice calls integrated into Gtalk. Anyhow, if bug fixes are your thing, you can go grab your build number GRJ22 at the download link below or enjoy the anticipation of getting it over the air like everyone else.
[Thanks, Tom]
Nexus One gets Android 2.3.4 over the air, but no Gtalk video calling fun originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 04:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
The Nexus S is due to receive an over-the-air update to Android 2.3.4 over the coming weeks, but Google earned a +1 from eager fans and devs hoping to get the extra Google Talk functionality sooner. Instead of hopelessly checking for updates until the time is right, the Powers That Be are now offering the upgrade as a manual download to anyone who is already running 2.3.3 on the i9020T (the AWS-equipped model). We urge you to proceed with caution here and double-check that your phone is compatible, since those are the two requirements for the download to install properly. We’ve happily bumped one of our devices up to 2.3.4 this way without any sweat or tears, so we hope it will be a smooth experience for others as well. If you choose to be adventurous and update your Nexus S, click the source link below to download the necessary ZIP file.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Continue reading Nexus S 2.3.4 update now available to early adopters via manual install
Nexus S 2.3.4 update now available to early adopters via manual install originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 04:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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For an update with such a modest name, this is actually quite a major step forward. Google’s about to start delivering Android 2.3.4 to Nexus S devices out in the wild, and in among all the bug fixes and optimizations, users will find the addition of video and voice chat to Google Talk. You’ll be able to do it anywhere you can get a web connection going, whether by virtue of WiFi, 3G, 4G, or the force, and other Gingerbread handsets are expected to get the same improvements in time. For now, however, Google’s own-branded device is the only one enjoying the very freshest Gingerbread around.
Android 2.3.4 heading to Nexus S over the air, bringing video and voice chat to Gtalk originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
The 8-Bit Pocket Camera App gives your photos a nostalgic, pixelated feel
8-Bit Pocket Camera App Wastes Your Smartphone’s Megapixels for Fun Photos
5-megapixel cameras, 8-megapixel cameras? Totally unnecessary—at least that’s what the makers of the 8-Bit Pocket Camera app want you to think. This $1 iOS app lets you take 200 x 200 tiffs reminiscent of the pictures (and quality) that the Game Boy Camera used to take back in the day (which were 128 x 112). The black and white pixilated pics you snap with this app can also be stylized, distorted, or enhanced with a border or different paper color, and will export as PNG files when emailed or posted online.
Recreate the Game Boy Camera with 8-Bit Pocket Camera App [Cult of Mac]
A Mouse That Doesn’t Click? My Ears Rejoice!
Click. Click click. Clickety clickclick click. For those who find themselves eternally irritated by the noise associated with every mouse button push, Nexus has a product for you: the Silent Mouse. It’s built with a patented switch that makes no sound when it’s clicked. The Silent Mouse is wireless, connecting to your notebook or PC via a nano receiver. It’s also got a button for selecting 1000 or 1600 DPI sensitivity, which is great for those who work on a large monitor.
Nexus Silent Mouse [Nexus via Slashgear]
Samsung Ships Notebooks With Keylogger Installed
The StarLogger keylogger program has been found preinstalled and active on two new Samsung laptops. The software logs every keystroke and takes screen caps, and can regularly email the data it collects without the user ever knowing this has been done. The affected laptops were purchased by Mohamed Hassan and detected when he installed security software. The first notebook that had the keylogger installed was eventually returned due to a driver issue; its replacement had the same keylogger program installed.
Samsung Installs Keylogger on its Laptop Computers [Network World via Geek.com]
Touchscreen Interface Simulates a Stretchy, Flexible Surface
Rather than just pinching to zoom and swiping to slide your position further along a screen, researchers at Osaka University have developed a touchscreen display that appears to flex, as if it were made of elastic material. So when you drag your finger to change what part of a map you’re viewing, for instance, the screen visually resists that movement, squishing and stretching the map’s proportions to keep your original position in perspective until you release your finger, almost like the map is printed on a sheet of rubber.
New Flex Touchscreen Interface Demonstrated Using Google Maps [Diginfo.tv via Crunchgear]
The PiCycle Electric Bike is Frowning at You
The PiCycle e-bike uses a 48V brushless DC motor to help power you up steep hills, across vast distances, or just on your daily commute. It can take you up to 20 miles without a single pedal on your part and reach speeds up to 30mph. Other featuers include an internal hub transmission, a beltdrive system, shifting on-the-fly, a suspension seat post, and hydraulic brakes. Its perfectly arched frame looks like a rainbow, or a frownie face.
PiCycle LTD Electric Bike [PiCycle via Uncrate]
Creative Coffee Table Is a Four-Person Pong Game
There’s no need for a coffee table in today’s world to be simply made of wood and just sit there. The coffee table is the perfect piece of furniture to transform into something interactive, like a four person game of pong played on a 30 x 30 matrix of red LEDs. Players use one of four knobs placed along each side to slide their bat left and right. The game can support up to 5 balls for more complicated play.
Super Pong Coffee Table [Instructables via Technabob]
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