Hasta La Gadget!

In the dead of night … pre-orders happen. RIM has snuck out the first official pricing for its 7-inch BlackBerry PlayBook tablet and, true to its promise, it costs less than $500. A cent less than $500. The 16GB WiFi-only PlayBook is now up for pre-order at Best Buy and is coming to a vast list of other retailers soon. Staples, Office Depot and RadioShack are among the popular US store chains, while AT&T, Sprint and Verizon will also carry the tablet. No T-Mobile on that list. Canadian pre-orders for the same model are now live as well, also at $499.99, albeit in the local dollar currency. A 32GB WiFi model will set Canucks back C$600 and the 64GB model is C$700, which might be indicative of US pricing too if price parity is maintained throughout the range. The almost full press release (still no release date) follows after the break.

Update: A second press release has confirmed full US pricing for the WiFi versions: 16GB is $500, 32GB is $600 and 64GB is $700. Scheduled to be available on April 19th!

Continue reading BlackBerry PlayBook priced at $500 for 16GB WiFi model, pre-orders begin today (update: available April 19th)

BlackBerry PlayBook priced at $500 for 16GB WiFi model, pre-orders begin today (update: available April 19th) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 04:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, here ya go! T-Mobile has finally decided to come clean with the pricing on its 8.9-inch, 3D-capable LG G-Slate, and well, it isn’t cheap. The Honeycomb, Tegra 2-powered tablet will set you back $529.99 after a $100 mail-in-rebate and that’s only if you agree to a two-year contract. Of course, this thing can record 3D video, connect to T-Mobile’s “4G” HSPA+ network, and output 1080p video, but that still seems like quite a bit of money when you consider you’re also locked into paying at least $20 in data every month. Ready to grace us with the WiFi version, LG? Hit the break for the short press statement.

Continue reading T-Mobile’s LG G-Slate priced at $529.99 with a two-year contract

T-Mobile’s LG G-Slate priced at $529.99 with a two-year contract originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We knew good and well that the 4G version of RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook was on track for a summertime release on Sprint, and here at CTIA 2011, the carrier has launched a newfangled product portal confirming that things are still on lock. For those in need of a refresher, this guy will boast a 1GHz dual-core CPU, Adobe Flash / HTML 5 support, “true” multitasking, rear- and front-facing HD video cameras and a price that’s still to be determined. What’s most interesting here, however, is the dearth of information about a WiFi-only version — we’re hoping that it’ll slip out a bit earlier than the WiMAX variant, but we’re intentionally keeping our expectations on the low side. No one enjoys a bursting bubble, you know?

[Thanks, Christopher]

Sprint’s BlackBerry 4G PlayBook portal goes live, still on track for a summer release originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Word on the street was Archos planned to give us a couple of new tablets at IFA this year, but it turns out the upscale Gen 9 hardware is coming a couple months prior to the September trade show. The new Honeycomb slates are set for a June 2011 release and pack a 1.6GHz ARM A9 dual-core chip (the prospect of which should get you spec-heads drooling), up to a 250GB HDD / 32GB SSD, and a patent-pending “disruptive 3G modem” — all for €400 (about $566). Archos’ fiendish plan is to steal some of the iPad 2’s thunder with its speedy processor and competitive price, but history tells us it’ll need more than “competitive” to truly yank any marketshare. Too bad the post-PC world can’t be bothered to care, right Steve?

Sneak peek at Archos Gen 9 tablets: 1.6 GHz dual-core A9 processor, 250GB HDD for €400 in June originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 09:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An iPhone 4 with a third-party metal back sticker — not an iPhone 5. Photo: 9to5 Mac

Gadget Lab Notes is an eclectic roundup of gadget news briefs and intriguing products that catch our eye.

Foxconn Source Says iPhone 5 Will Have a Flat Metal Back
According to a source at Foxconn, the iPhone 5 is already in production, and it sports a flat metal back (as opposed to the iPhone 4’s glass back or a curved metal back like the original iPhone). It’s also expected to have a dual-core chip like the iPad 2. An image of the charging cable has surfaced, but not a finished product.

iPhone 5 Prototypes Spotted [9to5 Mac]

Details Announced for Toshiba’s 10.1-Inch Android Tablet
Toshiba’s second Android tablet, which is powered by a Tegra 2 processor, will include WiFi and Bluetooth, HDMI, and dual cameras—a 2-megapixel webcam on the front, and a 5-megapixel camera on the back. It’s got a USB 2.0 port, mini USB, SD card reader, and 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as a digital compass, GPS, and an accelerometer. The tablet, which may be released in June, also has a user-interchangeable battery and rubberized back covers.

Toshiba 10.1-Inch Android Tablet Gets Detailed [Android Community via Slashgear]

Verizon iPhone Takes Up 4.5% of Total iPhone Traffic Since its Debut
The iPhone 4 has been with Verizon a scant two weeks, and now makes up 4.5% of total iPhone related traffic, according to a study by Millennial Media. It doesn’t sound like much, but that’s almost 5% of an area AT&T has had exclusive rights to for over 3 years. Additionally, Apple continues to lead mobile device sales this month, with Samsung and HTC in a close second and more distant third.

Verizon Grabs 4.5% of iPhone Traffic [Mobile Burn via MobileCrunch]

Clever Home Mod Sends the Kitchen Island Out of Sight Using iPhone
Using an iPhone app and a lift that rises from a utility room below, this forward-thinking homeowner can lower his kitchen island level with the floor, or raise it to full height when cooking needs to be done. I would imagine the stove eyes are located on one of the surrounding countertops, as opposed to the island. This seems like a fantastic way to save space, and could possibly make cleaning more efficient. Flor unitscover the island’s surface when it’s level with the floor, so you’re not dicing tomatoes where someone tracked their muddy boots across the floor an hour before.

Retractable Kitchen Island [NotCot via Crunchgear]

Steampunk Cufflinks Hide 8GB of Flash Storage
So the steampunk thing has been done to death, but that doesn’t stop Etsy makers from continuing to create intricate, unique pieces in the style. These USB cufflinks can store 8GB of data and appear to be decorated with darkly-stained wood and metallic interlocking gears. I wonder if anyone wore these to San Francisco’s Edwardian Ball?

Steampunk USB Cufflinks Are As Awesome As They Are Pricey [Engadget]