Hasta La Gadget!

Samsung to sell limited edition, crystal-studded Series 9 laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The last time Google’s jet-setting smartphone took to space, it wasn’t exactly flying in style. Well, the Nexus S has ditched its styrofoam trappings for more respectable digs — specifically, NASA’s last manned space shuttle, Atlantis. Its mission: “explore how robots can help humans experiment and live in space more efficiently.” Affixed to a series of three robotic satellites, known as SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites) the phones engaged in tasks usually done by their human travel companions, like recording sensor data and capturing video. A special sensor-logging app was customized by NASA to capture sensor data and is now available for download in the Android Market. To see the space traveling smartphone at work, hop on past the break, or hit up NASA’s project page at the coverage link below.

Continue reading Nexus S takes to space aboard Atlantis, does astronauts’ dirty work

Nexus S takes to space aboard Atlantis, does astronauts’ dirty work originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung’s NX200 is no prettier than the year-old NX100

Samsung has announced an update to its NX100 mirrorless camera. The NX200 improves on the original in almost every way, whilst managing to maintain the boxy, utilitarian looks of its predecessor.

First, the numbers: The APS-C sensor jumps from 14.6MP to 20.3MP, the camera now shoots at 7fps in RAW mode compared to 3fps, the maximum ISO is now 12,800 not 6,400, and video is captured at 1080p, up from last year’s 720p. You can also now shoot video in manual and shutter-priority exposure modes. Finally, the body is now magnesium instead of plastic.

Other than that, not much has changed. If you already have the NX100, and don’t feel the need to fill up your memory cards quicker with the bigger image and video files, then don’t upgrade. And if you don’t already own a Samsung NX and the accompanying lenses, there seems little to recommend this over the Sony NEX range or Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras.

Samsung hasn’t yet announced price or availability.

Samsung NX200 press release [DP Review]

See Also:

• Five New Lenses Show Samsung Is Serious About Mirrorless …
• Samsung NX100, Slimline Mirrorless Camera with Smart Lenses …
• Sony NEX7: 24 Megapixels, 2.4 Million-Dot Viewfinder

Had enough Samsung this morning? Well, how about a little more Samsung, then. Also on the company’s laundry list of new devices is the Wave, which was announced earlier this week. The Wave 3 is the highest end of the three new devices carrying that name, packing a zippy 1.4GHz processor, which seems to handle tasks with ease. Like most of the rest of the products introduced here at IFA, the screen is the centerpiece of the device, a brilliant 4-inch WVGA unit. Also like the rest of Samsung’s handsets, the hardware is really terrific on the Wave, glossy screen complimenting a brushed aluminum back.

The handset runs Bada 2.0, which means that we’re not likely to be seeing the thing in the US any time in the near future — Samsung has largely backed away from US support for the mobile operating system, though it promises to expand its selection of applications from third-party app developers. Also new on the software front is ChatON, a mobile messaging service which we were unfortunately unable to give a spin here in Berlin.

Click on past the break for a hands-on video.

Continue reading Samsung Wave 3 hands-on (video)

Samsung Wave 3 hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung may have been talking up the Galaxy Note as the hottest new piece of hardware for this year’s IFA, but it’s the Galaxy Tab 7.7 that’s got us really excited. The device is the latest entry in Samsung’s popular Android-based Galaxy Tab line, and the thing is pretty darn slick. The 7.7-inch screen is in keeping with the company’s push toward devices that straddle the line between the tablet and smartphone spaces (see also: the Note), and it is indeed a terrific form factor. This isn’t going to replace your laptop or iPad (or Galaxy Tab 10.1) for lengthy multimedia marathons, but it’s a great size for watching quick videos and basic computer like checking your email. It’s also exceedingly portable at 0.74 pounds.

Like so many other devices launched by Samsung this year, the screen is the thing, and indeed, that 7.7-inch 1280 x 800 Super AMOLED Plus display is quite sharp and extremely bright — in fact, we had to turn the thing down while doing the below hands-on video. Also new with the device is the addition of Android 3.2 — we didn’t notice all that much different on that front, however, seeing as how the tablet is still skinned with the familiar TouchWiz UX UI. There weren’t really any noticeable changes from the newly updated version for the 10.1.

Check out our hands-on video after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 hands-on (video)

Filed under: Tablet PCs

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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