App review: kijjaa! (video)

We’re used to seeing all sorts of funky motion-based games on smartphones, but here’s something a little bit different: a retro-themed desktop 3D flash game that utilises your iOS device as an accelerometer and gyroscope-based wireless controller. The objective of kijjaa! is simple: just fly your vessel around, shoot down or avoid the enemies, and pick up extra lives. Don’t worry, there’s no jailbreaking involved here — all we had to do was visit kijjaa.com/air, and then copy the code onto our iOS app to establish the link via WiFi or 3G.

There’s no serious challenge in kijjaa! — based on the app’s description on iTunes, the game’s designed with students and office workers in mind, so it’s ideal for those seeking a fun quickie during their short breaks. We’d say the hardest part is trying to dodge the ghosts that show up randomly in short notice, but what really annoyed us were the occasional control lags that popped up even over WiFi. Still, for a promotional $0.99 pricing (the 70 percent price drop ends on January 17th), this game has gone much further than most other games have, and it’ll only get better — already in the pipeline are Game Center support, new enemies, new bonuses, and achievements. Hopefully the developer will also throw in some more chiptune soundtracks as well. Demo video after the break — it kinda makes you want this on the Apple TV too, doesn’t it?

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App review: kijjaa! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung WiFi-enabled RF4289 fridge cools, eats and tweets; we go hands-on

Other brands may view networked fridges as the key to going green, but it seems Samsung is more interested in letting users access Pandora or tweet while grabbing a snack. At least that’s the impression we got from its staff while playing with the RF3289 fridge at CES, which the brand touts is the first of its kind to feature integrated WiFi. To be fair the unit provides a few pragmatic features too like the ability to view Google calendars, check the weather, download recipes from Epicurious, or leave digital notes — though we’d have been more impressed by functions such as remote temperature adjustment or food spoilage alerts. We also found that the stainless steel exterior made reading the 8-inch LCD touchscreen screen difficult from more than a few feet away. Otherwise, further details on the software and definite pricing are nonexistent at this point, but we do know the appliance will be available to cutting-edge Canadians sometime in May. For more details check out shots of the UI in the gallery below, and hit up Samsung’s vague press release after the break.

Continue reading Samsung WiFi-enabled RF4289 fridge cools, eats and tweets; we go hands-on

Samsung WiFi-enabled RF4289 fridge cools, eats and tweets; we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 22:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon iPhone 4 will have 3G mobile hotspot (update)

It’ll probably be subject to an additional fee as usual, but Verizon and Apple have just revealed that the new CDMA iPhone 4 will act as a mobile WiFi connection for up to five devices. It’ll come with an iOS-specific version of the Verizon 3G Mobile Hotspot that folks have been enjoying on their Droids for many moons now. That should allowing for laptops, tablets and the like to get online via iPhone without a pesky cord, and almost certainly make the long-verboten iPhone – iPad tethering connection finally attainable. Joy to the world!

Update: Verizon called it an app, but getting hands-on we can see that’s not the case at all — Personal Hotspot is built right into the CDMA iPhone 4’s build of iOS 4.2.5. Perhaps we’ll see it migrate to other devices as well?

Verizon iPhone 4 will have 3G mobile hotspot (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Phone 7 can now act as a WiFi remote control for iTunes

Got iTunes? Got a Windows Phone 7 device? Then you’ll probably want to check out the new Remote app in the Marketplace. It promises to make the two sing in perfect harmony by making them talk over a WiFi connection. There’s a basic set of iTunes controls at your WP7 phone’s disposal, including volume, starting /stopping music, and searching by album, artist, and song, and a corresponding piece of desktop software you need to install to make the magic happen. It’s compatible with both Windows (XP and above) and Mac OS (10.5.8 and above), so all you really need now are $1.99 for the mobile app and the overwhelming desire to control your playlists remotely.

Windows Phone 7 can now act as a WiFi remote control for iTunes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enspert Identity Tab E301 and E201 hands-on preview

Android tablets aren’t exactly in short supply at CES 2011, but the Enspert Identity Tab stands out — despite hailing from a manufacturer we’d never heard of before the show. Enspert’s got two slick 7-inch slates on the floor, and while the E201 mostly cribs from Samsung’s WiFi-only Galaxy Tab — right down to a 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird chip — the flagship Enspert E301 pumps up the pixel density with a 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen, adds an all-metal case, a mobile DTV antenna, and 3G connectivity. We poked and prodded these tablets all over and got a peek at the full spec sheets, so after you peruse our gallery below, hit the break for details!

Continue reading Enspert Identity Tab E301 and E201 hands-on preview

Enspert Identity Tab E301 and E201 hands-on preview originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Espert Identity Tab E301 and E201 hands-on preview

Android tablets aren’t exactly in short supply at CES 2011, but the Espert Identity Tab stands out — despite hailing from a manufacturer we’d never heard of before the show. Espert’s got two slick 7-inch slates on the floor, and while the E201 mostly cribs from Samsung’s WiFi-only Galaxy Tab — right down to 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird chip — the flagship Espert E301 pumps up the pixel density with a 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen, adds an all-metal case, a mobile DTV antenna, and 3G connectivity. We poked and prodded these tablets all over and got a peek at the full spec sheets, so after you peruse our gallery below, hit the break for details!

Continue reading Espert Identity Tab E301 and E201 hands-on preview

Espert Identity Tab E301 and E201 hands-on preview originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG’s CES 2011 booth tour

If there is one booth at CES this year that is going all out, it’s arguably LG’s. The massive, supermarket-sized chunk of show floor real estate showcases everything from the manufacturer’s latest phones — like the Revolution, Optimus Black and Optimus 2X — to SmartTV devices, network Blu-ray players and HDTVs. You’ll also find smart appliances linked with WiFi and smartphone apps using LG Thinq, and even a scanner mouse — not to mention a mesmerizing display wall. Sample the insanity in the gallery below, and in the video after the break.

Continue reading LG’s CES 2011 booth tour

LG’s CES 2011 booth tour originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 18:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NetTalk TV to deliver à la carte HD television programming?

NetTalk hasn’t exactly made it easy for the world to believe in all of its claims, but things are just getting loco at this point. The NetTalk TV has been introduced here at CES, touted as a companion device to the Duo that provides ultra-low cost digital TV service. Reportedly, the bantam box offers HDMI / S-Video / composite outputs, Ethernet and WiFi, and it’ll enable consumers to receive only the standard- and high-definition content that they want. According to the company, this allows individuals to detach themselves from the high-priced cable packages that force you to pay for 50 channels (when you only need three), but here’s the kicker: there are no details whatsoever provided in the press release after the break. Not even a price. We’re told to expect shipments in Q3 of this year, followed by undoubted disappointment as you begin to understand that it won’t be NetTalk to finally convert the à la carte dream into reality.

Continue reading NetTalk TV to deliver à la carte HD television programming?

NetTalk TV to deliver à la carte HD television programming? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Xoom WiFi-only version confirmed by Motorola Latin American exec

It’s not that we expected the Motorola Xoom to forever be tethered to a carrier, but it sounds like we won’t be waiting nearly as long as we did for Samsung’s WiFi-only Galaxy Tab. Latin America GM Maurizio Angelone has told Infobae that a WiFi-only version does indeed exist and will first arrive in April — one month before the 3G version will hit the market. The article doesn’t specify if those months are specifically for Argentina or if they apply elsewhere as well, but it does sound like it’ll be available sooner rather than later.

Motorola Xoom WiFi-only version confirmed by Motorola Latin American exec originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 19:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony HomeShare RMN-U1 universal remote hands-on

Trade shows obviously aren’t the best environment for evaluating a universal remote, but we couldn’t resist taking Sony’s RMN-U1 HomeShare IR / WiFi controller for a quick test drive here at the CES. Physically the device is surprisingly light and has a decent screen resolution. Clicking the home menu displays icons for every system component as well as an activities button for accessing online music services like Slacker, playing tracks from a networked Blu-ray player / iPhone / iPod, or even sending media files between DLNA-networked devices. If a BRAVIA TV is connected to the system, users can select the particular input they’d like to hear audio from or cue a movie. Once a track is playing, the screen will display the song’s album art and metadata along with playlists. Overall the RMN-U1 looks pretty capable at managing music — though it’s a bit menu heavy. It also seems fairly expensive considering what else is available at its $300 price point, but then again, we’re not aware of another IR universal remote that’s compatible with Sony’s WiFi HomeSharing. Check out our gallery below for more shots of the interface and you may even spy photos of the rest of the new HomeShare line too.

Sony HomeShare RMN-U1 universal remote hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 18:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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