Nokia to announce Symbian Belle update on Wednesday, crafts a countdown timer

Well, that must be embarrassing: Nokia gets a fancy countdown clock set up on its Facebook page as a teaser for something new on Symbian, and the file it set up still says “belle_fb_TeaserMain” in it. It doesn’t anymore, but the cat’s already out of the bag; on Wednesday morning Espoo will most likely unveil Belle, its forthcoming bump up from Symbian Anna. We’re unsure of the exact details that’ll be shared, though we’ve already seen enough of the new update to know what to expect: with a couple lengthy videos, multitudes of screenshots and a leaked version of Belle floating around somewhere, there isn’t much of a mystery left to shed light on. That said, we’re still hoping we’ll see some device announcements as well as dates and device compatibility. Perhaps Mr. Elop just wants us to think it’s Belle, in which case this would be the best teaser of all.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Nokia to announce Symbian Belle update on Wednesday, crafts a countdown timer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer teaser reminds us that ‘PC gaming is not dead,’ neither are viral videos

Looks like Razer’s not buying the whole “console > PC” argument. The company just went live with a new website that couldn’t possibly be more esoteric. Aside from telling us that “there’s something terribly wrong with gaming today,” we aren’t given much to go regarding its impending announcement. Apparently, something “big” is coming on the 26th of August, and whatever it is (Switchblade, perhaps?), it’ll remind the world that PC gaming is, in fact, not dead. Hit the source link to sign up for more, or head on past the break for a look at the ominous teaser vid.

Continue reading Razer teaser reminds us that ‘PC gaming is not dead,’ neither are viral videos

Razer teaser reminds us that ‘PC gaming is not dead,’ neither are viral videos originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: TabCo’s tease

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology

Tomorrow, we will find out whether TabCo is a FabCo, a DrabCo, or a skunkworks LabCo, ending the best guessing game to hit the tech industry since the identity of Fake Steve Jobs.

The significant spend on the PR campaign (to quote TabCo’s Web site, “That skywriting stuff isn’t cheap, you know. Neither are these videos.”) as well as a reference to “a large colony of nerds” have led many to believe that TabCo is a large corporation. (Its Web site says it is a global company and TabCo is planning to launch in the US in August and Europe in September.) But there are also signs to the contrary. Take, for example, TabCo’s founder and CEO — the Google-elusive Ian “IQ” Quincy (TabCo has used pseudonyms such as “Beige Foul” — a clear reference to Apple engineer Gray Powell), who has played a major part in the campaign. Let’s dive a little deeper.

Continue reading Switched On: TabCo’s tease

Switched On: TabCo’s tease originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Alpha A77 caught sunbathing on a beach, courtesy of mysterious YouTuber (video)

Look away now if you’re desperate for a beach holiday, because the above video features a Sony camera chilling out in the sand, before some lucky fella picks it up for a quick snap of the calm sea. Now, the clip doesn’t actually indicate which model this camera is, but the video uploader — with a fresh account hosting just this one video — simply wrote “Sony Alpha A77?” in the title, along with “Taiwan” in the description. Our gut feeling tells us that this leak comes straight out of Sony’s Taiwanese PR team, who’s keen to show off this mysterious camera’s quick autofocus in live view mode (presumably there’s a translucent mirror inside to enable this), as well as its sand-friendly body. That said, the folks should really get that Zeiss lens inspected — as pointed out by Sony Alpha Rumors, we seriously doubt it shares the same level of protection as the body. Poor thing.

Focusing on the camera again: we only get to see its back, but this alone is enough to prove that we’re looking at a never-before-seen model from Sony — while it sports a similar swivel screen as the A55’s (whereas the A560 and A580 only have tilting screens), it also has a different set of buttons. In fact, said button layout is identical to that on the transparent prototype manhandled by Pocket-lint back in March! Combining these factors together, we say this A77 teaser is pretty legit. Now, how about a date and some prices for this 24 megapixel beast, Sony?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sony Alpha A77 caught sunbathing on a beach, courtesy of mysterious YouTuber (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 06:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Droid Bionic teaser page goes live at Verizon Wireless, really just wants your email

Been waiting long enough for the Droid Bionic? Same here, as you can imagine. Although we’re looking to September 8th as the official launch date of the LTE-equipped wunderphone, Verizon’s teaser page just went live, reminding us of the phone’s impending arrival. Will we find 1GB of RAM and a 1GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4430 under the hood, or did the company figure out how play nicely with the Tegra 2? Verizon’s happy to take your email address and let you know the juicy details in due time, although we’re certainly hoping to beat Big Red to the punch.

[Thanks, Dan]

Droid Bionic teaser page goes live at Verizon Wireless, really just wants your email originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 22:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia N9 countdown page goes live, 49 days to launch?

Google’s powers of awkward PR translation may have been right on the MeeGo-money, judging by this countdown page for the N9. The Swedish site, which just went live today, has begun its 49 days and counting creep to the Gorilla Glass-clad handset’s eventual overseas debut. We’d previously heard whispers of an impending September 15th release pegged for the OEM’s backyard, but we’ll err on the side of Nokia’s official launch clock. Head to the source to watch this tantalizing tease of time ticking by.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Nokia N9 countdown page goes live, 49 days to launch? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony unveils its fourth tablet teaser video, Rube Goldberg aficionados rejoice

We still aren’t sure what Sony’s series of teaser videos for its forthcoming S1 and S2 tablets are really all about. What we do know is that we love the films’ cheery soundtracks and the wondrous contraptions they showcase. This fourth spot has the now-familiar pale figurines wandering though a mechanical wonderland, with marbles whizzing overhead and bubbles floating about. Alas, like those that precede it, the latest video provides no new info on the slates Sony’s shilling, but feel free to enjoy the visuals in the bit of esoteric advertising after the break.

Continue reading Sony unveils its fourth tablet teaser video, Rube Goldberg aficionados rejoice

Sony unveils its fourth tablet teaser video, Rube Goldberg aficionados rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A new BlackBerry to be unveiled tomorrow, or so Facebook would have us believe

What’s made by Research in Motion and is “shiny, new, and social all over?” No one can say for sure, but according to BlackBerry’s Facebook page, we’re going to find out tomorrow. Might it be the Torch 2 come calling, newly acquired FCC badges in tow? Perhaps Waterloo’s hinting at the Bold Touch, its phone of many flavors. Or, maybe it’s something yet unseen that will blind all who perceive it with a corona of social networking awesomeness. Whatever BlackBerry’s got in store for us, let’s hope it’s not just another phone with a Facebook button.

A new BlackBerry to be unveiled tomorrow, or so Facebook would have us believe originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s latest tablet teaser plunges deeper into the rabbit hole, still tells us nothing

Ready for yet another S1 / S2 teaser video that tells you more about the marketing team’s potential extra-curricular indulgences and absolutely nothing new about the tablets? Well, drop those tabs and strap in for some doll-voiced la la la’s as Sony leads us even deeper into the late-night realm of desktop toys and the tablets they love. Shots of the stylish slates displaying video and gaming functionality are all but hidden in a “filled with fun” maze of booby-trap triggered contraptions. It’s a romp through the sort of endearing Tim Burton-esque, high-art nightmare Sony’s dabbled in for past Playstation campaigns — so we’re not too surprised. Hit the break to hitch a ride on this video wonderland.

Continue reading Sony’s latest tablet teaser plunges deeper into the rabbit hole, still tells us nothing

Sony’s latest tablet teaser plunges deeper into the rabbit hole, still tells us nothing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone branches out from audio products, teases “Up” wristband that keeps tabs on your bad habits

According to our calendar, this is one of the least timely days of the year for us to harp on New Year’s Resolutions, but that’s no matter to Jawbone. The company, best-known for crafting those high-end headsets, is at TED talking up its first non-audio product: a wristband dubbed “Up” that tracks and analyzes your eating, sleeping, and exercise habits — kind of like a bare-bones Fitbit or Nike+. As you can see in that photo up there, it’s about the size of those ubiquitous rubber Livestrong bands and lacks a display (not to mention, wireless radios) — all concessions made in the name of keeping the cost down, says Travis Bogard, VP of product marketing and strategy. So, this is a good ‘ol wired product, with a bundled adapter connecting the band to your phone via the 3.5mm jack. Once you connect, you can view all your data on a website or through a mobile app. Or, if you thrive on public shaming, you can challenge people to fitness duels to the death (our phrasing, not Jawbone’s). All told, this falls outside the outfit’s comfort zone, but then again, it does know a thing or two about wearable tech. For now, the company’s keeping mum on pricing and availability, though it says Up will be available in the states later this year. As for compatibility, well, Bogard tells us it’s going to work with “all the relevant” mobile platforms. Make of that what you will, folks.

Continue reading Jawbone branches out from audio products, teases “Up” wristband that keeps tabs on your bad habits

Jawbone branches out from audio products, teases “Up” wristband that keeps tabs on your bad habits originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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