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Archive for February, 2012
Eric Schmidt yaks it up at MWC, talks about the future like it’s 1955
Feb 29th
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to start using Chrome, Eric Schmidt is here to remind you, “it’s free.” Well, free, fast, secure and of course, on Android. After a quick demo of new Android Chrome app, Schmidt took the stage at Mobile World Congress to dream up a future of holographic projectors, driverless cars and a (Android powered) smartphone in every pocket. In short, Google’s head honcho has technological expectations that make Back to the Future part II look modest. See the optimistic spiel for yourself up top, or hit the source link below to watch it on YouTube.
Eric Schmidt yaks it up at MWC, talks about the future like it’s 1955 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toshiba Excite 10 LE to be released in the US March 6
Feb 29th
Previously known as the Toshiba Excite X10, this super-thin tablet was unveiled last January at CES. Besides the thinness and awesome magnesium alloy casing, the tablet failed to impress us all that much. But if you’re looking for a tablet with good looks and average specs, this one can be yours in just a week (March 6).
There are two versions of the Excite 10 LE: one with 16 GB of internal storage and another with 32 GB. As we have already mentioned, the tablets will cost 9.99 and 9.99 respectively. This happens to be more expensive than tablets like the ASUS Transformer Prime, which offers a Tegra 3 quad-core processor and improved performance. Not to mention the fact that the 0 Tegra 3 MeMo is also on its way.
Toshiba Excite 10 LE Specifications
- Android 3.2 Honeycomb “upgradeable to Android 4.0″
- 10.1-inch 1280x800p IPS display, with Gorilla Glass
- 1.2 GHz OMAP 4430 dual-core processor
- 1 GB of RAM
- 16/32 GB of internal storage (with microSD slot)
- 5 MP rear-facing camera / 2 MP front-facing
- WiFi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
- Micro USB, Micro HDMI ports
At this point, we should expect tablets such as these to be more affordable. After our hands-on time at CES, we loved the build and feel of the tablet, though. If you want the thinnest and lightest, this might be a great option for you.
Check out our hands-on video below and give us your opinion. Are any of you considering this device? It sure is good-looking!
Gallery
Show Press Release
Toshiba Brings World’s Thinnest 10-Inch Tablet to U.S. Market
World’s Thinnest and Lightest 10-inch Tablet, Excite 10 LE, Available for Purchase on March 6, Starting at 9.99
IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced that the Excite™ 10 LE tablet will be available for purchase from select U.S. retailers on March 6. Previously introduced as the Excite X10, the Excite 10 LE is the world’s thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablet measuring just 0.3 inches (7.7mm) thin and weighing just 1.18 pounds (535g).
“We have engineered this tablet with premium materials and components, given it elegant yet durable styling and more connectivity options than any other tablet in its class, while fitting everything into an astonishingly thin and light design.”
The Excite 10 LE tablet, powered by Android™, carries a starting price of 9.99 MSRP2 for the 16GB model and 9.99 MSRP for the 32GB model.
“Excite 10 LE embodies what a luxury tablet should be,” said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. “We have engineered this tablet with premium materials and components, given it elegant yet durable styling and more connectivity options than any other tablet in its class, while fitting everything into an astonishingly thin and light design.”
A More Premium Design with All the Essentials
The thin and light Excite 10 LE features a vivid high-resolution 10.1-inch diagonal AutoBrite™ display3, delivering optimum browsing, reading and entertainment. Designed for durability and style, the device also features a high-quality magnesium alloy surface and scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass display with an anti-smudge coating for greater resiliency.
The tablet also comes with an array of connectivity interfaces and ports on board, including micro-USB and HDMI® ports, a micro-SD slot to share content and files with other devices, plus Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® connectivity. Stereo speakers with exclusive sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS® Labs deliver superior audio capabilities. Front and back HD cameras provide convenient photo capture, plus 1080p video recording and video chatting.
Smart Multicore Performance with Long Battery Life
Powered by the 1.2GHz Texas Instruments OMAP™ 4430 multicore mobile processor4 and dual-channel memory, the Excite 10 LE offers smooth web browsing and multitasking plus the performance for high definition video and entertainment. Extremely power efficient, the Excite 10 LE delivers up to 8 hours of battery life.
Powered by Android
The Excite 10 LE tablet features Android 3.2, Honeycomb, and will be upgraded to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich later this Spring. Also included is a full suite of familiar Google™ Mobile Service applications, including the Android Market™, YouTube™, Gmail™, Google Maps™, Music, Videos. Additionally, the tablet comes pre-loaded with a mix of Toshiba software and third-party applications including TOSHIBA App Place, TOSHIBA Book Place, TOSHIBA Media Player, TOSHIBA File Manager as well Netflix™ and Zinio™.
Docking and Accessories
Toshiba will also offer a suite of tablet accessories for the Excite 10 LE, including a docking station, multiple cases and more.
Specifications
• Android 3.2, Honeycomb (upgradeable to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich)
• 10.1-inch diagonal LED Backlit widescreen Corning Gorilla Glass display with IPS technology and 10-finger multi-touch support
• 1280 x 800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio
• Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 multicore processor; 1.2GHz with 1GB LPDDR2 RAM
• 16GB and 32GB configurations6
• 2 megapixel front-facing camera
• 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash
• Micro USB, Micro HDMI ports
• Micro SD card slot
• Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Gyroscope, Accelerometer, GPS, eCompass and Ambient Light Sensor
• Stereo speakers with sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS Labs
• Built-in 25 watt-hour rechargeable lithium ion battery
• 10.1″ (W) x 6.9″ (D) x 0.3″ (H)
• 1.18 pounds (535g)
Image Gallery: http://bit.ly/Excite10LE
Wacom announces Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video)
Feb 29th
It’s a couple of months since we spotted paperwork for a mysterious “PTK-450″ device at the FCC and now Wacom has finally revealed the gadget that goes with the label. The Intuos5 tablet is available to purchase immediately in Small (4 x 6 inches), Medium (6 x 
and Large (13 x sizes, priced at £200, £330 and £430 respectively. We’re still waiting on confirmation of US pricing, but it’ll no doubt be less than what a straight currency conversion suggests (i.e. somewhere below 0, 5 and 0). There’s actually a fourth variant to add to the trio, but it’s not an XL — Wacom is hoping to up-sell you to a Cintiq 21UX or Cintiq 24HD if you want something bigger. Instead, the fourth tablet is a version of the Medium that comes without touch sensitivity, bringing the price down to £270 if you’re able to live with pen-only input. Opting for this particular model will remove one of the biggest upgrades in this three-year product cycle: the ability of the Intuos5 to sense up to 16 finger-touches simultaneously, rather than just the nib of the pen. But there have been other revisions since the Intuos4 aside from touch, and you only have to read on to discover what those are.
Continue reading Wacom announces Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video)
Wacom announces Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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iRobot reorganizes, forms new unit focused on Ava and other emerging technologies
Feb 29th
iRobot has been branching out from its traditional household and military robots for quite a while, and it looks like it’s now officially embracing those activities as a core part of its business. The company announced a reorganization (or “strategic realignment”) today that will see it comprised of three different business units: Home Robots, Military Robots and Emerging Technologies. That last group includes things like the Ava mobile robotics platform, which iRobot hopes will eventually be used in everything from healthcare to retail to security applications. Alongside that news, the company also announced a bit of an exec shakeup, with Home Robots President Jeffrey Beck being named Chief Operating Officer, and former COO Joseph Dyer switching roles to become Chief Strategy Officer. The company’s official announcement can be found after the break.
Continue reading iRobot reorganizes, forms new unit focused on Ava and other emerging technologies
iRobot reorganizes, forms new unit focused on Ava and other emerging technologies originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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MLB at Bat 2012 app out for iDevices and Android, brings in-app monthly subscriptions to iOS
Feb 29th
It’s that time of year when the hot stove league gives way to spring training, and people start talking less about things like El Hombre’s move to LA and more about batting averages and home runs. Thus, MLB has unleashed the MLB At Bat 2012 app to keep you up to date on your favorite squads and stars, and unlike previous iOS iterations, this time it’s free. That gratis version gives users limited info (scores, standings, news, and team content), but those willing to drop .99 get full access for the year, which includes audio game casts, live game video look-ins and the game of the day. Additionally, there’s a .99 monthly subscription option if you find forking over for the full season distasteful. Unlike the iOS version, Android users currently only have the .99 option, though the same interface is present in both apps to provide a consistent UX. Subscribers of MLB.tv get all of what At Bat 2012 has to offer for free, with Android users gaining access through the existing At Bat Lite app. Sound good? Head on down to the source and get your download on.
MLB at Bat 2012 app out for iDevices and Android, brings in-app monthly subscriptions to iOS originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Central Core Studios “Zombie Virus” Live Wallpaper Will Blow Your Mind… Then Make You Hunger For More
Feb 29th
There’s a new virus inside the Android Market but before you run off to alert Google Bouncer, this is a virus you’ll actually want on your device. Central Core Studios has recently become my go-to-developers for gorgeous looking live wallpapers on my Android device, and where last time, they showed us far off planets and sci-fi worlds — this time, they’re taking things a little closer to home (inside our own bodies, close) with RadiantWalls HD: Zombie Virus live wallpapers.
“Central Core Labs” has finally given us the opportunity to see through a microscope, and observe a zombie virus as it infects the human body. Brought to life the developers’ keen attention to detail, all 3 stages of the zombification process are present:
- Stage 1: Mortuuscocci Iterumvita (B23-12) – Basic walkers are infected with a bacteria strain that modifies their cell structures and reanimates their dead bodies.
- Stage 2: Milesmortussvirdae (M3-13) – A synthetic virus developed as an antidote to the B23-12 bacterial infection. It mutated as it fed on the undead bacteria further mutating the animated corpse allowing it run at high speeds.
- Stage 3: Loquinervifectios (FC202) – Fully infected synapses. A fully formed zombie will display 100 percent infected nerve cells which still pulse in their infected state.
Each live wallpaper (paid version comes with all 3) can be fine tuned and tweaked to provide for optimal performance on your Android device. I can’t even begin to tell you how great these look on my Galaxy S II. Even with maxed out settings, everything is pumping along smooth and without a hitch. Only problem I’ve found is I’ve developed this strange rash since downloading, and have been dragging one of my legs when I walk. I’m sure it’s nothing.
I can’t wait to see the next project from Central Core Studios. According to their site, badass vehicles and cute cartoon gnomes are next. You can get infected with RadiantWalls HD – Zombie Virus right now in the Android Market.
[.50 Paid Version (All 3 Live Wallpapers) | Free Version (Single Live Wallpaper)]
