Orange hopes to drive smartphone sales with three Facebook phones, two seem kinda dumb
Orange is unhappy. The company cites that of its new phone sales, nearly half are feature phones. While the statistic isn’t exactly a shocker, the French telecom believes it can do better. In an effort to drive the adoption of smartphones, Orange has chosen to jump on the Facebook bandwagon with three new options that offer immediate access to the iconic social network. Perhaps the carrier’s efforts are a bit misguided, however, because of this trio, only one handset is actually a smartphone. (As such, it’s the only one we care about.) Known as the Alcatel One Touch 908F, it’s a re-configured 908 with the same 2.8-inch display, 600MHz Qualcomm CPU and Froyo — yeah, you read that correctly. Could it be that the two feature phones are so unpalatable that they’ll also drive smartphone adoption? Whatever the case may be, each device is squarely aimed (and priced) at teens and emerging markets. For example, the 908F will debut south of €100 off-contract, accompanied by plans that start at €9 per month. Before year’s end, Poland and Romania will be among the first victims to receive the bunch, followed by countries such as Armenia, Botswana, Cameroon and France. Speaking of misguided, perhaps Orange should have asked AT&T how the Status is selling.
Orange hopes to drive smartphone sales with three Facebook phones, two seem kinda dumb originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung Captivate Glide, Doubletime and Pantech Pocket join AT&T’s Android brigade on November 20th
Two flavors of TouchWiz and an oddly-dimensioned handset are making their way to AT&T’s lineup come next week. Sammy’s QWERTY duo, the Tegra 2-powered Captivate Glide and Froyo-based Doubletime, along with Pantech’s uniquely formed Pocket will make their US carrier debut on November 20th, offering a little bit of everything for Joe Consumer. There’s no official word on the contracted pricing for this Android trio, but you shouldn’t have to wait much longer for that essential bit of info.
Update: And just like that, official pricing for AT&T’s latest trio has arrived. If you’re curious, both the Pocket and Doubletime will retail for $50, while Sammy’s Captivate Glide will set you back a solid $150. Naturally, each of these figures assume you’ll sign a new contract. If you’re of the skeptical type, just hop the break for confirmation.
Samsung Captivate Glide, Doubletime and Pantech Pocket join AT&T’s Android brigade on November 20th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung Captivate Glide, Doubletime and Pantech Pocket join AT&T’s Android brigade on November 20th
Two flavors of TouchWiz and an oddly-dimensioned handset are making their way to AT&T’s lineup come next week. Sammy’s QWERTY duo, the Tegra 2-powered Captivate Glide and Froyo-based Doubletime, along with Pantech’s uniquely formed Pocket will make their US carrier debut on November 20th, offering a little bit of everything for Joe Consumer. There’s no official word on the contracted pricing for this Android trio, but you shouldn’t have to wait much longer for that essential bit of info.
Update: And just like that, official pricing for AT&T’s latest trio has arrived. If you’re curious, both the Pocket and Doubletime will retail for $50, while Sammy’s Captivate Glide will set you back a solid $150. Naturally, each of these figures assume you’ll sign a new contract. If you’re of the skeptical type, just hop the break for confirmation.
Samsung Captivate Glide, Doubletime and Pantech Pocket join AT&T’s Android brigade on November 20th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung Captivate Glide and DoubleTime hands-on
Samsung’s got a pair of QWERTY-sporting Android handsets heading to AT&T, targeting distinctly different different ends of the smartphone spectrum. Sure, both the Captivate Glide and the DoubleTime attempt to woo messaging addicts with their physical keyboards, but that’s about where the similarities end. The Glide is packing a full gig of RAM, a 1GHz Tegra 2 processor, 8GB of internal storage, an 8 megapixel camera (plus a 1.3MP front-facing cam), Gingerbread slathered with TouchWiz and a 4-inch Super AMOLED display. The 800 x 480 panel isn’t the best we’ve ever seen, but it’s brightness and superb contrast certainly don’t disappoint. Like many Samsung handsets, the Glide is surprisingly light thanks to its all plastic construction, but the textured battery plate and satisfyingly firm sliding mechanism keep it from feeling cheap. The landscape keyboard is quite pleasant. The keys don’t have much travel, but they’re well spaced and we had no trouble quickly banging out a bunch of texts right away.
Continue reading Samsung Captivate Glide and DoubleTime hands-on
Samsung Captivate Glide and DoubleTime hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Verzo launches Kinzo Android smartphone, on sale today for $459
Remember the Kinzo, that mysterious Android smartphone from Verzo we teased you with this past summer? Well it looks like the Americano Czech company just launched its stylish, custom-skinned, FroYo-powered (?) device. Originally slated for a late-September release, the 12.3mm-thick handset — designed by Novague — goes on sale today on Verzo’s website for $459 (€420) contract-free. This buys you a 4.3-inch WVGA glass-capacitive TFT display, a 1GHz TI OMAP 3630 processor, 512MB of RAM, a five megapixel AF camera (with LED flash), a VGA front-facing camera, tri-band UMTS support (AT&T-compatible), quad-band GSM support, WiFi b/g, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR plus the usual array of sensors. Power comes from a 1590mAh battery, and a microSD slot provides storage (an 8GB card is included). No word yet on essential features such as a compass, HSPA, or support for the Android Market.
The manufacturer plans to differentiate itself with free shipping, refined packaging and a full set of bundled accessories, including a leather case, quality headphones, a car charger and a car holder. While details about the Verzo GUI remain vague (tweaks appear to be primarily cosmetic), each Kinzo will include offline navigation software by Sygic. An app called TellME will provide “the basic means of communication between the users and the Verzo brand”. The company wants to establish a strong relationship with its customers by letting the community of owners suggest and vote on improvements to its product. Winning features will be incorporated into the next software update. Curious about this elegant mid-range Android smartphone? Check out the picture gallery below, and hit the break for the full specs, a promo video, and the obligatory PR.
Gallery: Verzo Kinzo Android smartphone
Continue reading Verzo launches Kinzo Android smartphone, on sale today for $459
Verzo launches Kinzo Android smartphone, on sale today for $459 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Epson’s Moverio BT-100 brings some transparency and 3D to head-mounted displays
Head-mounted displays come in all kinds of flavors, from Dragonball Z-style scouters with transparent displays, to those that bring personal 3D viewing in a package that fits right in on the Game Grid. Epson, however, has combined those to features for the first time with its Moverio BT-100. Sporting classic blue-blocker looks, these shades have dual transparent lenses with 960 × 540 qHD resolution bringing you video in three dee, while audio is doled out by built-in earbuds with Dolby Mobile technology. Content is accessed via a Froyo-powered control unit equipped with 802.11b/g/n WiFi and 1GB of internal memory, plus there’s an SD card slot (4GB card included) for storing media. Navigation and control comes courtesy of the controller’s touch-sensitive trackpad and dedicated Android buttons, a 2D/3D toggle switch, and d-pad. The BT-100 will be available in Japan come November 25th for ¥59,980 ($771 US), but those interested in importing one can get all the device’s juicy details at the Source links below.
Epson’s Moverio BT-100 brings some transparency and 3D to head-mounted displays originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Epson’s Moverio BT-100 brings some transparency and 3D to head-mounted displays
Head-mounted displays come in all kinds of flavors, from Dragonball Z-style scouters with transparent displays, to those that bring personal 3D viewing in a package that fits right in on the Game Grid. Epson, however, has combined those to features for the first time with its Moverio BT-100. Sporting classic blue-blocker looks, these shades have dual transparent lenses with 960 × 540 qHD resolution bringing you video in three dee, while audio is doled out by built-in earbuds with Dolby Mobile technology. Content is accessed via a Froyo-powered control unit equipped with 802.11b/g/n WiFi and 1GB of internal memory, plus there’s an SD card slot (4GB card included) for storing media. Navigation and control comes courtesy of the controller’s touch-sensitive trackpad and dedicated Android buttons, a 2D/3D toggle switch, and d-pad. The BT-100 will be available in Japan come November 25th for ¥59,980 ($771 US), but those interested in importing one can get all the device’s juicy details at the Source links below.
Epson’s Moverio BT-100 brings some transparency and 3D to head-mounted displays originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S review
It seems like nearly all the phone makers are doing it. Take the latest flagship release, add some welcome (but relatively minor) technical tweaks, slap an extra S on it and release to an adoring public not much more than six months after the original hit stores. Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Arc is the latest (but certainly not the last) to undergo said refresh. The new Arc S appears identical on the surface, still carrying the stylish curvature that wooed us the first time round. Internally, most of the parts remain the same as its predecessor, aside from a bump to a new CPU, a 1.4GHz Qualcomm chip. Alongside the minor hardware change, this is the first Xperia handset arriving with Sony’s 3D sweep panorama feature, capable of creating 3D stills for consumption on your compatible TV back home. Does the extra 400MHz make enough of a difference? Are sweeping panoramas enough to warrant a phone refresh at a time when dual-core, big-screened Android phones are the high-end standard? Read on to get the full picture.
Gallery: Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S review
Continue reading Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S review
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S review originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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$35 Aakash Android tablet gets the hands-on treatment
While everyone was in a tizzy about Amazon’s $199 Kindle Fire price point, the Indian government was busily working to help bring out the $35 Aakash Android tablet. The tablet was developed with similarly good intentions as OLPC’s XO laptop before it — an attempt to get low-cost computing devices into the hands of students. One of the tablets landed in the VentureBeat offices this week. The site spent some hands-on time with the Froyo slate, and mostly liked what it saw, noting that seeming compromises made for price and a speedy release date ultimately benefit the whole of the device. The tablet will start hitting India next month, at the $35 government-subsidized pricepoint (actual retail price is a still mega-cheap $60).
$35 Aakash Android tablet gets the hands-on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Mosoro Bluetooth LE iOS accessories improve your golf, if the weather’s right
So far the appcessories — yeah we said it, APPcessories — we’ve seen include some good ideas, and some less so. The Bluetooth LE 3D-Sport and Weather offerings from Mosoro fall into the former category (if they make their way into a shipping product that is). The 3D-Sport is a motion capture device you attach to sports equipment. The on-board accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer beam motion data to your iOS device, where it can be analyzed by Rocky-style Russian coaches to see where your throw or golf swing is going wrong. The latter is a mini weather station that reads temperature, humidity, elevation, and barometric pressure to tell you the conditions where you are right now. More usefully, it nabs your GPS location and uploads it all to Mosoro’s aptly named “Cloud” Server that presumably maps out some crazy real-time crowdsourced weather report. Both also use Bluetooth 4.0′s low energy technology so they won’t need to see a charger for a long time. Now we just need a company that likes collating personal data, perhaps with a weather service, to snap this one up… any takers?
Continue reading Mosoro Bluetooth LE iOS accessories improve your golf, if the weather’s right
Mosoro Bluetooth LE iOS accessories improve your golf, if the weather’s right originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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