Staples leak reveals April / June ship dates for Acer Iconia Tab, Toshiba tablet

Not to say Staples’ release schedule is the be-all-end-all resource when it comes to US availability, but we’ll take any guidance we can get when it comes to the two mystery products tucked beside Dell’s Streak and Apple’s iPad 2. According to this tablet lineup, Acer’s Iconia Tab will be hitting shelves for an undisclosed rate at the end of April, while the still unnamed Toshiba tablet gets loosed in mid-June. We’ll feel a lot better about the wait once these things are priced, but for now, you’ve got two more reasons to rush the rest of winter away — assuming you’re north of the Mason-Dixon, of course.

Staples leak reveals April / June ship dates for Acer Iconia Tab, Toshiba tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Mr. Blurrycam bags a silvery striped smartphone — is this the HTC Pyramid?

Looks like our favorite anonymous globetrotting photographer’s spotted something sweet — it’s that alleged HTC Pyramid, comfortably chilling with the 4.3-inch HTC Desire HD. Unfortunately, Mr. Blurrycam only had time to snap this single shot before vanishing to parts unknown, so all we can tell is that that it’s sporting a flush, off-center camera with a twin-LED flash, a headset jack up top, and that it’s a fairly large, curvy phone. Don’t be disappointed, though — we imagine we’ll see a good bit more of the handset this week at a little Florida show.

Mr. Blurrycam bags a silvery striped smartphone — is this the HTC Pyramid? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 18:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTechblog.gr  | Email this | Comments

Sony crafting VAIOs with Chrome OS, external GPUs and Thunderbolt tech?

Sony’s top-secret prototype labs must be clocking hours like mad, as Sony Insider reports that the company has two more surprises in store — in addition to a PlayStation tablet, dual-screen clamshell and sliding PC, the skunk works has cooked up a Chrome OS notebook, as well as a “VAIO Hybrid PC” that defies any sort of meaningful explanation in just three words. The Chrome OS device is reportedly modeled after Google’s own Cr-48 reference design with roughly the same dimensions and keyboard but an oh-so-slightly smaller 11.6-inch screen, and NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 running the show alongside 1GB of RAM and 16GB of flash storage. Sony’s also shooting for eight hours of battery life, and a weight of just 2.2 pounds.

All of that pales in comparison to what Sony’s plotting for this “Hybrid PC,” though. The publication says we’re looking at a thin-and-light Core i7 notebook with an incredible 8 to 16.5 hours of battery life, Intel Thunderbolt and an internal SSD, all of which plugs into a dock of some sort that adds a Blu-ray burner and external graphics (by AMD) for gaming and multimedia. We don’t have any pictures or proof at this point, but it sounds like a whopper of a tale, and just the sort of thing that Intel was talking about making possible with the 10Gbps of bandwidth that Thunderbolt brings.

Sony crafting VAIOs with Chrome OS, external GPUs and Thunderbolt tech? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 19:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceSony Insider  | Email this | Comments

HTC EVO 3D, EVO View 4G specs revealed ahead of Sprint’s CTIA announce?

All signs are pointing to a Sprint blowout at CTIA next week — and we’ll be there, of course! But ahead of that, BGR’s claiming a few additional details on the headline devices we scooped not long ago that Sprint should be showing for the first time at the show — namely, the EVO 3D and EVO View 4G tablet. On the EVO 3D side, this bad boy is shaping up to be a proper EVO 4G successor with a newer 1.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8660 processor, 4.3-inch glasses-free 3D 960 x 540 display (which, like the rumored Pyramid, suggests HTC is following the qHD trend set by Motorola), a whopping 1GB of RAM, 1080p video out, 1.3 megapixel camera up front, and — of course — dual 5 megapixel cameras around back for stereoscopic capture. The rumor also pegs Gingerbread at launch along with 3D versions of the Blockbuster and YouTube apps to make sure users have plenty of 3D content out of the gate; that tidbit seems particularly believable considering that YouTube introduced high-quality mobile playback on the EVO 4G last year.

As for the EVO View 4G, it’s shaping up to be a CDMA / WiMAX remix of the Flyer — as expected — complete with pen input. They’re also expected to confirm that the Xoom will be coming in a Sprint flavor (with WiMAX in place of Verizon’s LTE, of course) and will be launching “in the coming weeks or months.” Looking like it’s going to be tough for any other carrier to go this deep at the show — but hey, we invite ’em to give it a shot.

HTC EVO 3D, EVO View 4G specs revealed ahead of Sprint’s CTIA announce? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 01:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBGR  | Email this | Comments

Motorola Xoom with Sprint insignia, Nexus S 4G logo leak out

If you’ve been following these here pages closely, you’ll know that a little device named the Nexus S 4G is coming to Sprint’s network, with the expectation being that it’ll be announced at CTIA early next week. Fueling our previous info on the matter, we’ve now gotten ahold of an image purporting to be the logo that Sprint and Google will be using to represent their new WiMAX-equipped collaboration. That can be found after the break, but what you’re really eager to learn more about is that image of a Motorola Xoom with a Now Network logo on it, right? Well, it comes from the same source, whose record of revealing Sprint pre-release hardware (and not getting fired) is quite exemplary, so we’re willing to credit it as the real deal. We’ve no launch dates or pricing details to share as yet, but it’s not unreasonable to expect Sprint will be disclosing all that juicy info during its extra-long CTIA presser. And if not, we’ll keep tracking down these leaks and get it to you anyway!

[Thanks, r0fl]

Continue reading Motorola Xoom with Sprint insignia, Nexus S 4G logo leak out

Motorola Xoom with Sprint insignia, Nexus S 4G logo leak out originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

AMD’s quad-core Llano APUs pegged for Q3 2011 release, Computex unveiling

X-bit labs has a (pretty massive) scoop of AMD info to share with us this week, as it has put together the above chart detailing what it expects the company’s APU roadmap will look like for the remainder of the year. Published a couple of days ago, this data has now been partially corroborated by the snoops over at DigiTimes, who confirm a couple of the model names and agree that AMD is planning an initial Q3 rollout of five Llano chips, to be followed by even more processors coming in Q4 of 2011. Llano represents AMD’s play for the performance crown, coming as it does with dual- or quad-core processing units, DirectX 11-capable Radeon HD 6000-series graphics, and a dual-channel DDR3 memory controller, all bundled up inside the same warm and toasty package. More E-series APUs for power-conscious users are also said to be on the cards, and AMD itself should be making these plans official at Computex in Taipei come early June. It’s a bit of a wait, but we’ve got a feeling it’ll be worth it.

Continue reading AMD’s quad-core Llano APUs pegged for Q3 2011 release, Computex unveiling

AMD’s quad-core Llano APUs pegged for Q3 2011 release, Computex unveiling originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 07:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceX-bit labs, DigiTimes  | Email this | Comments

T-Mobile G-Slate and G2X dual-core smartphone coming on April 20th?

LG, you big tease! T-Mobile must be feeling a tinge of regret for hooking up with the Korean hardware manufacturer lately, as TmoNews reports both the G-Slate tablet and a new G2X smartphone (believed to be the US moniker for the Optimus 2X) won’t be coming Stateside for at least another month. Neither will be exactly late, mind you, since both feature dual-core Tegra 2 chips and the G-Slate runs Google’s freshest Honeycomb software, however a launch date of April 20th does put LG a step behind its direct competitors. Motorola has already rolled out its own Xoom and Atrix alternatives, while Samsung is making noise about its new Galaxy devices, which might well beat LG’s wares to the market. Rumor is we’ll get an official date out of T-Mobile at CTIA next week, so keep your eyes peeled for that one.

T-Mobile G-Slate and G2X dual-core smartphone coming on April 20th? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 05:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTmoNews  | Email this | Comments

Nokia C7 rumored for T-Mobile launch under Astound moniker, to cost $80 on April 6th

If you’ve been listening to the Engadget Mobile podcast lately, you’ll know that we don’t much like this trend of using verbs as phone names, but T-Mobile clearly hasn’t gotten the message, as one of its upcoming handsets is rumored to be called the Astound. What exactly this rebadged Nokia C7 is supposed to astound us with, we’re not really sure. We’ve seen its Clear Black Display already, which is very nice, but we’ve also seen the dead OS walking that is its Symbian installation. Still, for $80 on contract, it doesn’t necessarily have to compete with the crème de la Gingerbread to be an appealing option. Look out for it early next month, waving the Magenta flag with pride.

Nokia C7 rumored for T-Mobile launch under Astound moniker, to cost $80 on April 6th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 09:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTmoNews  | Email this | Comments

Will a $200 ASUS Eee PC finally ship with Google’s help?

As hard as it tried, ASUS never could get its Eee PC prices down to $200 MSRP as promised way back in 2007 — a time when Intel-based netbooks still shipped with Linux distros and “tablet PCs” ran a Microsoft OS. Fast forward to today and netbooks are being kicked to the curb for ARM-based tablets running smartphone operating systems. To compete, ASUS, a company that’s become synonymous with netbooks, is planning to ship an unsubsidized $200 to $250 netbook running Android 3.0 or Chrome OS in June. According to DigiTimes sources, anyway, who tend to be pretty accurate with regard to Taiwanese companies. If true then expect to see it announced at Computex which kicks off in Taiwan on May 31st.

Will a $200 ASUS Eee PC finally ship with Google’s help? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceDigiTimes  | Email this | Comments

Gadget Lab Notes: An iPad 2 Accessory Only a Flava-Flav Fan Could Love

The Clik Clok lets you wear an iPad 2 around the neck

Clik Clok, the Worst iPad 2 Accessory I’ve Ever Seen
Clik Clok is an iPad 2 accessory only Flava Flav—and diehard fans—could love. It is a big gold (or silver or red) chain necklace that attaches to the new iPad through its magnetic points. As soon as it’s clicked in, the clock app automatically launches, so you can… look like Flava Flav. Except with a $500 tablet around your neck instead of a large plastic clock. With all of the potential, practical uses for a high quality tablet, this is what you come up with?

Clik Clok [Pensa via Core77]

Samsung Reveals Series 2, 4, 6, and 9 Laptops
The 13.3-inch Core i5 Series 9 laptop will be available tomorrow for $1,649, providing some competition for the MacBook Air in the ultra portable market. A 128GB SSD and 4GB of RAM come standard, and a scaled down 11-inch model will be available in April. If you’re on a tighter budget, the Series 2 could be up your alley, with 12.5 and 14-inch screen models and a Sandy Bridge Core i3 CPU. The Series 4 and Series 6 notebooks feature additional security features (such as a fingerprint sensor) aimed at business and IT managers and options of Core i3, i5, or i7 processors.

Samsung Series 2, Series 4, and Series 6 Laptops and Samsung Series 9 Laptop [Engadget]

iPad 2 Gets… Blended
While many are still waiting to get a hold of the new iPad 2, the folks at Blendtec got their destructive little hands on one and videoed the response to their eternal question: “Will it blend?” Yes, yes it does. Le sigh.

Video: iPad 2 Gets “Will It Blend” Treatment [Tom’s Guide]

iPhone 5 Cases Pop Up Online, Adding Heft to Larger Display Rumors
iPhone 5 cases have started showing up on online marketplace Alibaba, which previously listed accurate iPad 2 cases prior to its reveal. The cases show the iPhone 5 following the same form factor as the iPhone 4 (as the engineer drawings seen last week also showed), but with edge-to-edge glass and a larger screen.

Purported iPhone 5 Cases Point to iPhone 4 Design, Possibly Larger Screen [9to5 Mac]

“Tweener” Tablet Hinted At By Nokia Executive
Nokia EVP Tero Ojanperä believes in a smaller form factor for tablets, an in-between smartphone/tablet size, that will be “a big driver in mobile games.” The company recently received a patent for a 10-inch tablet design, but may be rethinking their strategy after getting a generally negative response from European carriers.

Nokia to create new form factor tablet [My Nokia Blog via Slashgear]