KDDI shows off sensory enhancements for smartphone users, throws a free-viewpoint virtual concert

KDDI shows off sensory enhancements for smartphone users, throws a free-viewpoint virtual concert

Japanese carrier KDDI’s never been shy about showing off its latest and greatest from its lab, and here at CEATEC 2011 we got to lay our fingers on a couple of its in-development smartphone sensory enhancements, along with a free-viewpoint concert concept that’s being researched on. The first demo we saw was actually the same haptic smartphone prototype that was unveiled back in May, but we thought it’d be nice to give it a go with our very own hands — read on to find out how well it performed.

Continue reading KDDI shows off sensory enhancements for smartphone users, throws a free-viewpoint virtual concert

KDDI shows off sensory enhancements for smartphone users, throws a free-viewpoint virtual concert originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 06:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Optimus LTE now official: High-speed data alongside a high-definition IPS display

It may not be the biggest phone reveal coming in the next 24 hours, but leaked details had already piqued our interest in LG’s next big thing. The Optimus LTE’s screen rivals Apple’s Retina Display at 326ppi and that high-definition sharpness is slathered on a 4.5-inch AH-IPS display. The sizable 1830mAh battery should be enough to keep the phone ticking over despite these high-end specs, which include a confirmed 1.5GHz dual-core CPU and eight megapixel camera. Will we get to see it on these shores? We’re not sure of its travel itinerary after it reaches Korea, but we’d love to see this and Samsung’s latest LTE wares tussle for our affections.

Continue reading LG Optimus LTE now official: High-speed data alongside a high-definition IPS display

LG Optimus LTE now official: High-speed data alongside a high-definition IPS display originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 06:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget will be broadcasting live outside of Apple’s ‘Let’s Talk iPhone’ event!

It’s all going down tomorrow, and you can bet your bottom dollar (or last prepaid SIM, whichever you prefer) that we’ll be liveblogging it all on these pages right here. But prior to Apple’s “Let’s Talk iPhone” event, we’ll be set up outside of the company’s Cupertino headquarters in order to bring live pre-show analysis, including the very latest rumblings from the Apple mecca and any top-secret tips on ditching work in order to follow along. Just so we’re clear, Apple doesn’t allow live video streaming during the keynote, but our usual liveblog can be followed October 4th starting at 1:00PM ET (10:00am local time) right here. It might get a wee bit insane.

Engadget will be broadcasting live outside of Apple’s ‘Let’s Talk iPhone’ event! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LightSquared teams up with Sharp to begin production of LTE phones and tablets

Irksome GPS interference issues now somewhat safely behind it, LightSquared’s plowing forward into OEM waters. The LTE wholesaler has just struck up an agreement with Sharp that’ll see the electronics company creating the first line of devices specifically tailored for the nascent 4G network. Of course, these smartphones and tablets won’t be sold by the Falcone-backed company, and will instead make their way to its carrier partners — like Sprint, C Spire and Best Buy. If the already inked collaboration means we’ll be seeing this beastie on North American air waves, then we predict the heavily beset wireless outfit’s rocky road to launch will give way to smooth sailing. Official presser after the break.

Continue reading LightSquared teams up with Sharp to begin production of LTE phones and tablets

LightSquared teams up with Sharp to begin production of LTE phones and tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WSJ: Sprint places $20 billion order for next iPhone, hinges company future on Apple’s handset?

Oh, iFaithful, your newest Apple phone(s) are only a day away. Which is even more reason to hunker down into this latest chunk of pre-announcement gossip. According to information obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Sprint’s betting the farm on a 30 million-plus order of next-generation iPhones to put it on an even battle ground with heavyweight rivals AT&T and Verizon. The cost of this loss-absorbing gamble? That would be about $20 billion, with the Hesse-led co. subsidizing the $500 cost of each handset. For the third place operator it’s matter of do-or-die, as there really isn’t an alternative to the critically-praised, Jony Ive-designed handset that set off this smartphone race. Hesse’s purported admission to the company’s board that customer churn is directly linked to its iPhone omission only serves to underscore the uncomfortable plight his company faces. It remains to be seen if Sprint can convert its base of 52 million subscribers (mostly pre-paid) into the contracted customers it needs to stay financially afloat. While an iPhone on Sprint certainly seems a given, it’s unclear whether this next device will opt for a WiMAX or LTE radio.

WSJ: Sprint places $20 billion order for next iPhone, hinges company future on Apple’s handset? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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White Galaxy S II gets not-so-festive October launch in Canada

Smartphone obsessives in Canada will be getting their hands on some snowy Galaxy S II goodness sooner rather than later. Yes, Samsung’s dual-core bestseller has been leaked with an October 7th launch date on Bell, with prices matching the dark original: CAD$599.95 off-contract or CAD$149.95 for three years. And we know all phones look better in white, right?

White Galaxy S II gets not-so-festive October launch in Canada originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple’s ‘Let’s Talk iPhone’ event is tomorrow — get your liveblog right here!

Apple pulled a fast one by leaving the iPhone 5 in its back pocket during WWDC, and little did we know that it’d be Tim Cook — not Steve Jobs — revealing the company’s next-gen handset. ‘Course, Tim already had a bit of experience by doing the honors alongside Lowell McAdam for the Verizon iPhone 4, but this is another beast entirely. Will the “Let’s Talk iPhone” keynote bring about a cheaper, perhaps prepaid iPhone 4s? Will Sprint finally get an iPhone to call its own? Will the iPhone 5 read our minds? Will this change everything, despite everything already being changed? Bookmark this page here and return at the times below for our blow-by-blow coverage live from Cupertino!

Psst… and toss your own time zone / day in comments below!

07:00AM – Hawaii
10:00AM – Pacific
11:00AM – Mountain
12:00PM – Central
01:00PM – Eastern
06:00PM – London
07:00PM – Paris
09:00PM – Moscow
02:00AM – Tokyo (October 5th)

Apple’s ‘Let’s Talk iPhone’ event is tomorrow — get your liveblog right here! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NTT Docomo battery claims 10-minute charge time, we go hands-on (video)

It’s not uncommon for our batteries to need the occasional boost while we’re running around a trade show, but spending more than a couple minutes tethered to a power outlet can be seriously detrimental to our productivity. And we’re definitely not alone. NTT Docomo, one of Japan’s largest carriers, has developed a prototype battery that’s capable of achieving a complete charge in just ten minutes. NTT reps weren’t willing to get into much detail about the new technology, which currently employs an external lithium-ion battery sleeve and is only designed to support NEC’s super-slim Medias Android (Japan only) smartphone. They did let us take a look at the battery sleeve’s AC adapter, which supports output of up to 6.0 amps, but otherwise appeared to be fairly generic.

A pair of amp meters compared the power draw of a standard battery with that of the ultra high speed charger, which pulled 0.55 amps and 5.86 amps, respectively — at least according to the demo equipment on hand at NTT’s CEATEC booth. The model we saw definitely looked very much like an early prototype at this point, and the carrier didn’t seem to have any idea of when it may begin to be implemented in handsets and other devices, only committing to a release “as soon as possible.” Still, we’re pretty excited about the potential here (imagine being able to charge your phone completely with only a quick stop at an airport kiosk), and wouldn’t hesitate to pick a battery up — assuming of course that the final version is a bit more refined. Click on through the gallery shots below, or jump past the break for our hands-on video to get a closer look.

Continue reading NTT Docomo battery claims 10-minute charge time, we go hands-on (video)

NTT Docomo battery claims 10-minute charge time, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xperia Ray makes US debut, goes unlocked for $425

Giving you a new opportunity to tell your favorite carrier exactly where it can stick that nasty two-year agreement, the unlocked Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray has made its official debut in the United States. In partnership with NewEgg, the handset carries an MSRP of $425 (although it currently sells for $380), where shoppers may choose between gold, black, white and pink varieties. As carrier compatibility goes, the phone features quad-band GSM support, along with 3G capability over the 2100 / 1900 / 850MHz airwaves, which makes it best suited for AT&T in the US, or Bell, Rogers and Telus up north. The Xperia Ray packs an MSM8255 SoC — which features a 1GHz CPU and an Adreno 205 GPU — along with a 3.3-inch FWVGA display and Android 2.3. Of particular note, it also sports an 8.1 megapixel lens with an Exmor R sensor that’s well-suited for low-light situations, along with an LED flash and the ability to record video at 720p. So, if you’re mad as hell at two-year ordeals, here’s a reason to not take it anymore. Howard Beale would be so very proud.

Xperia Ray makes US debut, goes unlocked for $425 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Stratosphere lays it all out with spec sheet treatment

The upcoming Samsung Stratosphere for Verizon Wireless is hardly a secret, but other than a few rumored details, the specs for this LTE-equipped QWERTY slider have remained a bit of a mystery. Now, all that has changed, thanks in large part to its leaked spec sheet from Big Red — just take a peek after the break. It’ll be packing a 4-inch Super AMOLED display with WVGA resolution, a (presumably) single-core 1GHz processor, along with 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and a 4GB microSD card that’s pre-installed. Curiously, it’ll be the first of Verizon’s LTE phones to incorporate a Micro SIM in place of the larger, traditional offering. Other than that, it looks as if the speculation of Android 2.3, along with its 5MP rear / 1.3MP front cams were dead on. There will also be an LED flash in tow, although video capture will be limited to a rather mundane 480p. That said, if you’re thirsting for speed but are needing a keyboard, the Stratosphere is looking like your obvious (albeit only) choice.

Continue reading Samsung Stratosphere lays it all out with spec sheet treatment

Samsung Stratosphere lays it all out with spec sheet treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Oct 2011 15:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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