What's new on SlashGear.com |
- INQ Cloud Touch Could be the Facebook Phone
- iPad With Cell Access Built-In Coming in the Future to Verizon
- CES 2011 is Over and I’m Still Alive
- NextComputing Radius PC Puts a Display Into the Tower
- Trypoxy Phone Concept Makes Holding Your Phone Easy
- Bungie Files Copyright Claims & Web Domains for Four Mysterious Projects?
- Verizon Employees Not Allowed to Get iPhone 4
- White iPhone 4 Appears on Verizon Product Page [Update]
- Verizon iPhone 4 Doesn’t Suffer from Death Grip
- XGear first Verizon iPhone 4 case hands-on
- Verizon iPhone 4 vs HTC ThunderBolt vs Motorola Bionic
- Verizon iPhone 4 moved buttons means AT&T bumpers won’t fit
- Sprint iPhone 4 Now Possible?
- Verizon iPhone 4 hands-on
- Verizon iPhone 4 vs AT&T iPhone 4
- Verizon iPhone 4 Event Q and A [Why no LTE?]
- Verizon iPhone 4 Prices and Specs Listed [NOT LTE!]
- Verizon iPhone 4 Announced
- Verizon LTE exec spotted at iPhone launch: 4G inside?
- Verizon iPhone Event Liveblog starting now!
- AT&T has 15:1 iPhone to Android users; will Verizon iPhone eat DROIDs?
- Nintendo 3DS to be region-locked?
- Liquid Pistons promise tiny cellphone autofocus & more
- Libratone Beat Review
- Tesla delivers over 1500 Roadsters globally
- Sony PlayStation app for iOS arrives in App Store
- PocketPro for iPhone analyzes your golf swing
- LG Optimus 2X pre-orders taken for Feb 21 release
- Tokyoflash Kinsai Console welcomes 2011 with indecipherable time
- Dell Streak 7 gets video teardown treatment
| INQ Cloud Touch Could be the Facebook Phone Posted: 11 Jan 2011 01:43 PM PST The Facebook phone has kind of dropped off the radar recently, especially with Facebook having a pair of announcements not too long ago, and none of them revealing a phone that integrates Facebook in a new and bold way. According to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)’s recently filing, dating back to December 23rd, 2010, it looks like the rumors about the Facebook phone are going to pick up speed again, as a new device from INQ has popped up.
The INQ Cloud Touch is notable for being rumored as the Facebook phone, because it’s not the first time the company has been tagged as the manufacturer of the device. In fact, INQ is marked as bringing two Facebook phones into the market in the year 2011. But, since about September, it’s been pretty quiet on the FB phone front. The new filing from the Bluetooth SIG suggests that INQ is indeed working on an Android-powered handset, and Facebook is “built into its core.” “INQ Cloud Touch is an Android smartphone built to make messaging faster and smarter. It's designed around the way people naturally communicate and has Facebook built into its core. The homescreen features multiple entry points to different Facebook functions, while a dynamic widget displays a feed of status updates, albums, videos and photos.” There’s certainly no confirmation at this point that this device really is the Facebook phone, or if INQ has just made an Android smartphone that has Facebook as one of its main features. There’s no telling when the manufacturer, or Facebook, will unveil any news regarding the device, so we’ll just have to sit tight and wait. [via Android Community]   
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| iPad With Cell Access Built-In Coming in the Future to Verizon Posted: 11 Jan 2011 01:19 PM PST With the iPhone officially landing on Verizon’s network, there’s already talk about what will happen to the iPad. Or, more accurately, what’s to be added to the second generation iPad that’s rumored to be announced soon. According to Verizon’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Francis Shammo, who was talking with Bloomberg, an iPad with cellular access built-in is indeed coming to Verizon.
However, details about the tablet device are still up in the air. Shammo was unable to give definite plans, or dates, but he did say that the device will be coming. He could also not clarify whether or not the tablet will access Verizon’s 4G LTE network, or if it will be a 3G-enabled device only. Speculation about the release of this new tablet are already picking up speed, but it would seem that the missing tablet with built-in CDMA from today’s iPhone 4 announcement would suggest the device won’t be coming until the second version of the iPad is announced, some time later this year. Rumors about a Verizon-specific iPad aren’t new, and it would indeed make sense for Apple to have a version of their tablet device that has CDMA, and one that has GSM built-in. A sign of the iPad’s future could be that the CDMA iPhone isn’t specific to Verizon, and so releasing a CDMA variant of the iPad may mean that even Sprint would be along for the ride. And of course, with the new 3G mobile hotspot feature being part of the latest version of iOS, customers wouldn’t need a MiFi to share their 3G connection any longer. [via Bloomberg]
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| CES 2011 is Over and I’m Still Alive Posted: 11 Jan 2011 01:04 PM PST Before the Consumer Electronics Show kicked off in Las Vegas, I wrote up a piece about how I was excited, and equally uneasy, about the trip to Vegas and the impending show. It’s the biggest tech show around, and while it may not seem like it, there really is a lot to do. But, time marches on, and here we are a couple days after the show has officially wrapped up. So, I figured I’d tell you how it all went, and whether or not I’m looking forward to next year’s extravaganza.
This year’s CES was one of the best. That’s what Ben Bajarin had to say about the show, and I think I’d have to agree with him. The truth is, seeing it from down on the showroom floor, or inside the press conferences, is completely different than reading about it, or even writing about it from a remote location. I’ve covered CES before, but not from the thick of it. It was a new experience, and it was one that I’ll always remember, for sure. But, before I got there, I had heard the horror stories, and took them to heart: limited or no WiFi access at all, bad food, too many people, and horrific traffic. I accepted it as a truth, but let me be honest: I wasn’t expecting what I found. First and foremost, the traffic and Las Vegas is absurd. I’m not sure what’s happening there, but the drivers are simply insane. Either that, or they just like living life on the edge so much, that they push that way of life to its limits while on the road. I’ve been in a taxi in New York City, Los Angeles, and in Chicago — nothing compares to the crazy things I saw in Vegas. I wouldn’t even get in one of them, had I been given the opportunity. I’ll just go ahead and say this: if you’ve never been to Vegas and you don’t drink or gamble, then you should still go just to watch the traffic. It’s a show in of itself. And let’s not forget about the pedestrians. They don’t seem to much care about traffic signals, or signs. I can’t even tell you how many times I watched a pack of people just go ahead and cross a busy street, despite the fact that it said no crossing. They just came in droves. And the bigger the initial pack, the longer the trailing line of people was. And, it didn’t matter that the vehicles had the right of way — it’s not like they were just going to run them all down, right there in the crosswalk. So, I watched as traffic got backed up a countless number of times, all because people were brave enough to just do what they wanted. As for the show itself, it really is huge. Spanning two buildings, with one central hall in between them with even more gagets and devices, and booths, the entire event is one that you can probably see from space. And there are so many people. Trying to catch a break is impossible, because no matter where you are, there’s going to be someone else there. Or someone else walking by. There were plenty of times where I found myself on the fourth our fifth floor of the Venetian hotel, trying to find a WiFi connection that wasn’t being hampered by thousands of other computers. Even if it was quiet for the most part, there was always someone close by. And there is a lot of walking to be done. While on the showroom floor, you have to move from one booth to another. Constantly on your feet, even for product demonstrations and hands-on, you’re never sitting for long. If you do find a seat in the press room, you’ll find yourself hoarding it like it was food, and you haven’t eaten in days. Especially if you manage to connect to the Internet for longer than five minutes with a quick connection. And then there’s the food. It’s really hit or miss. Most conferences ended with a table next to the exit with plenty of food in boxes, waiting for the attendees to scramble out and grab one. Soda was certainly on hand in abundance. For me, it wasn’t necessarily about finding food, but finding food I wanted to eat. I found some of the craziest sandwich combinations, most of which I couldn’t even imagine eating on any given day. But, considering how busy I was, getting time to eat was pretty thin, so I managed to eat whatever they put in front of me. Except seafood. In the end, a lot of the horror stories are true. There isn’t a constant, reliable WiFi connection anywhere near people; the food is usually terrible; and there certainly is a lot of walking to do. But, was it worth it? Without a doubt. Will I do it again? Without hesitation. Seeing and meeting so many people, all of which are great and integral parts of an industry I love so much is something I would never pass up. Seeing old friends, making new ones, all while getting to play, see, and talk about the latest and greatest in gadgets, phones, and the tech industry in general is something that, for me, I would never think twice about. So, CES 2012, let’s get this over with, shall we?
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| NextComputing Radius PC Puts a Display Into the Tower Posted: 11 Jan 2011 12:27 PM PST As far as modifications go, it’s usually the most unique, shiny, and ridiculous of the bunch that get the most attention. And while the Radius PC may not look like it’s all that much in the shininess department, it’s certainly unique enough to be a casemod that someone out there would probably enjoy. After all, sometimes you want to have that tower of yesteryear, so why not update it with a display?
The Radius PC is meant to be a desktop workstation. Instead of putting your tower on the floor near your feet, instead you’ll put it up on your desk, where a traditional monitor would go. Turn it to the side, and you’ll see a 17-inch display with a resolution of 1900 x 1200. The Radius is apparently great for processing videos while you’re at a live event. And thanks to the padded handle, you’ll be able to lug the tower everywhere you want to go. If you’re interested, you can set up your Radius with either an AMD Phenom II processor, Intel’s Core i7 or Xeon. You can choose to have up to 24GB of DDR3 RAM, a DVD drive, and up to nine 2.5-inch SATA hard drives. Graphics can be chosen from either AMD or NVIDIA. [via UberGizmo]
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| Trypoxy Phone Concept Makes Holding Your Phone Easy Posted: 11 Jan 2011 12:07 PM PST So while one phone one one particular network is finally the real deal, we’ve still got plenty of concept designs out there, showing off what the future of cellphones might look like. This design, called the Trypoxy Phone from designers Miyazawa Tetsu and Ichimura Shigenori, combines the look of a pebble, an intuitive touchscreen, and a hand-hold that actually extends from the back of the device.
If you’ve ever used an all-touchscreen device, then you’ve probably said at least once that holding the phone and finding your way through the Internet may not be all that comfortable over long periods of time. The Trypoxy Phone is meant to cure that, thanks to the soft-gel extension that can actually be pulled out from the back of the phone. It’s soft enough that you can hold it, and contoured to fit into the palm of your hand for ultimate comfort over long periods of time. The other side of the device is an all-touchscreen surface, with an intuitive overlay. The device would also feature built-in controls for navigating the Internet and general User Interface. [via Yanko Design]   
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| Bungie Files Copyright Claims & Web Domains for Four Mysterious Projects? Posted: 11 Jan 2011 11:32 AM PST We know that Bungie Studios, the developer behind the mega-hit Halo franchise, is hard at work on another intellectual property (IP), which will be published by Activision and head to major consoles and PCs alike. However, details about what that project is are non-existent outside of the Bungie compound. However, thanks to some new copyright claims, as well as some web domains associated with those claims, we may have a small glimpse as to what is coming down the pipe.
And by glimpse, we mean something barely more than a margin-full of information. It seems that Bungie has hired a third-party company to handle the grunt work for these copyright claims and web domain associations. This was probably meant to prevent anyone finding out that these names had anything to do with Bungie, but obviously that didn’t work out too well. In any event, the names are “Dead Orbit,” “Osiris,” “New Monarchy,” and “Seven Seraphs.” It’s interesting to think how these names could come into play for a new project from Bungie, especially when “Orbit” and “Seraphs” could easily be seen, or used, in their current franchise hit, Halo. However, “Osiris” can’t be left out of the mix, either, as that title is indeed tied into the Halo universe. The information was found by Supererogatory, and notes that the descriptions of the copyright claims say that these are all pieces of artwork. However, this could mean that these are going to be used in some kind of promotional material for something down the line, perhaps another project that Bungie is working on. With information about the Activision published title missing, there’s no telling what these words, pieces of artwork, or potential project names could be. The speculation train can freely leave the station at this point. [via CVG]
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| Verizon Employees Not Allowed to Get iPhone 4 Posted: 11 Jan 2011 10:45 AM PST The iPhone 4 on Verizon is a pretty big deal, especially for Verizon. The carrier has more than likely done everything they can think of to prepare for the masses that will jump onto the network to get the device. But, what you won’t find are Verizon employees with the device in their own hand, ready to show off. We’ve been informed that the iPhone 4 will not be carried by Verizon employees, because the carrier is preventing the phone from being added to employee accounts.
According to an unnamed source, Verizon will not allow employees to carry the iPhone 4 on their employee accounts. Furthermore, Verizon is actually taking the extra step and informing employees that if they do get an iPhone 4 and add it to their employee account, the number will be blacklisted from the account altogether. When asked for more details, the source was unable to provide any more, as they were not told much more. The employees were also not given a date as to when they would be able to add the flagship device for Verizon’s network to their employee accounts. It seems odd that Verizon wouldn’t want the handset to be in employee’s hands, so that they could talk to customers about it. It would not be hard to imagine that some Verizon employees have never used the device, and having only one or two, maybe three demo models floating around a store wouldn’t seem good enough preparation for a major launch like this. [thanks, anonymous!]
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| White iPhone 4 Appears on Verizon Product Page [Update] Posted: 11 Jan 2011 10:13 AM PST In most cases, when Apple launches a device, the rumors generally fade away. However, despite the fact that Apple’s Tim Cook went on stage to help announce the official unveiling of the Verizon iPhone 4, there’s still one rumor that just won’t die. And, it doesn’t make it any easier for it to disappear when images like the one below appear online. Verizon’s product page for the iPhone 4 are online right now, and here we are looking at a white iPhone 4 again.
Verizon, nor Apple, have confirmed that a white version of the iPhone 4 is coming any time soon, and there was certainly no white iPhone 4 on hand to look at and touch at the Verizon announcement earlier today. And, these renders are missing some indicators that these are indeed the CDMA-variants that were just announced. More than likely, it’s just another mistake, but it’s one that could easily cause some to believe it’s coming sooner than later. [Update]: As one commenter below pointed out, Verizon has indeed fixed the “mistake,” and the white version of the device is no longer seen on the product page. A short-lived dream. [via MacStories]
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| Verizon iPhone 4 Doesn’t Suffer from Death Grip Posted: 11 Jan 2011 09:59 AM PST Now that the device is real, and we’ve managed to get some hands-on time with it, we were curious to see if Verizon’s and Apple’s claims that the only-slightly altered antenna version for the CDMA-based variant of the iPhone 4 (in the United States) wouldn’t suffer from the same problems as its GSM cousin were true. We took the device in our hand, and we began to put our hand, and fingers, in all of the spots that the antenna usually suffered from. We managed to get some interesting results.
We put our hand in the standard “death grip” location, making sure that we covered up all of the right spots, and held onto the device for up to a minute. When we started the test, the device was at four bars. It should be noted that full service is represented on the iPhone 4 with 5 bars. So, the test started with only four bars being shown. As we held the device, and we timed it at a minute, we watched as only one bar disappeared. We then put our fingers over certain points on the device. Making sure to cover up the “new” top portion of the antenna, and we still couldn’t reproduce the “death grip” symptoms that plagued the initial launch of the iPhone 4. You can check out the images from our test below, but it looks like Verizon’s confidence in the iPhone 4 on their network seem to be pretty sound.           
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| XGear first Verizon iPhone 4 case hands-on Posted: 11 Jan 2011 09:43 AM PST Apple has moved the Verizon iPhone 4′s ringer mute switch and volume controls around, and that means new cases, and thanks to XGear we’ve been able to give the first Verizon iPhone 4 case a test run. Lining up perfectly with the shifted controls, the case is so new it doesn’t have a name or a model number yet, but we were still able to slap it on the new CDMA iPhone 4 to see how it fits.
The good news is that it fits perfectly, the buttons now lining up with the tweaked volume controls, and the hole for the ringer mute switch in the correct place. There are the usual cut-outs for the top microphone and the camera and LED flash, too.
Of course, the flip side is that the new XGear case won’t fit the AT&T version of the iPhone 4, but we can’t see manufacturers being too disappointed: after all, they’ll be able to sell a whole new batch of accessories to those who previously thought they could keep their cases while jumping network. We’ll let you know how much the XGear case will be as soon as the company lets us know.            
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| Verizon iPhone 4 vs HTC ThunderBolt vs Motorola Bionic Posted: 11 Jan 2011 09:38 AM PST We’ve already compared the original AT&T iPhone 4 to the newly announced Verizon iPhone 4, but that’s not the whole story. If you’ll recall, Verizon had a press conference last week during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where the wireless carrier unveiled a plethora of new devices. Two of the bigger names were from HTC and Motorola, which unveiled the ThunderBolt and Bionic, respectively. But, how do they compare to the iPhone 4?
We already know the iPhone 4′s feature set: a 3.5-inch display, with Apple’s Retina Display. It has Apple’s A4 processor inside, clocked at 1GHz. And it’s running Apple’s latest version of iOS, which now includes multitasking in Apple’s creative fashion. However, the device does not feature 4G LTE, as many had imagined it would. There is a section in the settings of the device that will let you turn on a 3G mobile hotspot feature. The Verizon iPhone 4 will have 16GB or 32GB of memory for apps, videos, games, and music. On the back, a 5MP camera will let you take high resolution images and video. On the front, a VGA camera.
So, what about the HTC ThunderBolt? HTC announced the device, saying that it will indeed connect to Verizon’s 4G LTE network. It has a 4.3-inch display. And there’s a 1GHz processor under the hood that’s not dual-core. There’s an 8MP camera on the back, and a 1.3MP on the front. And as far as memory goes, HTC’s included 8GB of internal storage, with the option of adding more via a microSD card up to 32GB.
And then there’s the Bionic from Motorola. It, too, has a 4.3-inch display, but with a higher resolution thanks to the qHD display. Under the hood, we’ll find a dual-core processor clocked at 1GHz. There is 512MB of RAM, and 16GB of on board storage. On the back, there’s an 8MP camera, and on the front a VGA variation. There are a lot of deciding factors when it comes to any device. More than that, it will always come down to personal preference. Apple’s iOS mobile Operating System will appeal more to some customers, less to others. While Android may attract a flock, and push away a crowd. But, what’s for certain, is that Verizon obviously has a huge push in the handset market right now, and they’re attacking it with vigor. With the three devices listed above, and including the Samsung 4G LTE-enabled device also coming soon, Verizon is staking their claim. So, let us know what you want. Is your next phone going to be the iPhone 4? Or will either of these other recently announced devices steal your attention from it?   
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| Verizon iPhone 4 moved buttons means AT&T bumpers won’t fit Posted: 11 Jan 2011 09:22 AM PST According to Verizon the physical changes between their new CDMA iPhone 4 and the original AT&T iPhone 4 basically amount to the new CDMA radio. However, we’ve spotted another potential headache for those looking to switch between the AT&T handset and the new Verizon version: the ringer mute switch and volume buttons have been moved, meaning AT&T iPhone 4 bumpers won’t fit on the Verizon handset.
The change in layout is to accomodate the new antenna design, which has seen a new notch appear just above the side controls for ringer and volume up/down. Apple’s official Bumper case – which the company gave out free to iPhone 4 users complaining about the so-called antennagate issue – has a hole cut out for the switch, but that doesn’t line up properly with the new Verizon model. What that means is that, despite the two new phones being almost identical outwardly, users crossing over from AT&T to Verizon will not only have to pick up a new handset but new bumper cases and skins. That’s going to frustrate a lot of people, certainly, and potentially cause an accessory bottleneck in the early days of the Verizon iPhone 4′s availability from February. More on the Verizon iPhone 4 in our hands-on.    
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| Posted: 11 Jan 2011 08:53 AM PST We’re here at the Verizon event in New York city and whilst pondering the decisions made for the iPhone 4 being on Verizon with no 4G LTE connectedness, we are also setting our minds to another point — there was a question about the CDMA being exclusive to Verizon and the answer was no! The agreement between Verizon and Apple on this phone is a multi-year non-exclusive agreement. What does that mean? We’ve got a bit of a hunch – six letters and another big company away, what do you think about a Sprint iPhone 4? And what does that mean for the exclusiveness of Apple?
As you might already be aware, Apple has basically blasted off into space over the past few years with production and cashing in on their closed model brand and stores. Does this non-exclusive deal portend the future of a larger range and openness of both brand and network? Or is it just a bigger spread for the sales of the closed set of products? Also keep in mind that the only reason this Verizon iPhone 4 doesn’t have 4G LTE speeds running on it is the fact that Apple refused to move in any direction on the design of the phone’s hardware, giving Verizon no choice but to release the phone on their already-fully-functional 3G network. Check out the rest of our Verizon event coverage by hitting up the other posts:
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| Posted: 11 Jan 2011 08:50 AM PST The Verizon iPhone 4 is official, and while it lacks the 4G LTE many of us were hoping for, it’s still a long-anticipated device. We’ve just grabbed some hands-on time with the smartphone after the conclusion of Verizon’s launch event; check out our full report after the cut.
Hardware differences are, as Verizon admitted, minimal. There’s a new antenna to handle the CDMA/EVDO Rev.A network, which has required a change in the number of gaps in the metal band that spans the edge of the smartphone, now four instead of three, and the top gap has slipped down to the side. Otherwise it’s the same glass sliver we know and love, with the 3.5-inch Retina Display up front and a single Home button underneath.
CDMA technology means that only voice or data can be active at any one time, not simultaneously as on the GSM/UMTS AT&T iPhone 4, but Verizon is counting on their strong network to make up for it. We obviously can’t say how well that network will shape up from just an early hands-on, but Verizon was very clear that it had been investing heavily in 3G alongside its LTE roll-out.
The only software change is mobile hotspot functionality, which works pretty much as you’d expect from other smartphones. You can share the Verizon iPhone 4′s EVDO Rev.A connection with up to five WiFi-connected clients, turning it into a MiFi of sorts; it’s been added into the iOS settings menu, not as a separate app. We’ll have to wait and see how much of an impact that has on battery life, as well as what sort of pricing Verizon has in mind.
So, basically the same handset with a new choice of network. That’ll please a lot of people, and also make the new question no longer “When is the iPhone coming to Verizon?” but “When is the 4G LTE iPhone coming to Verizon?” The Verizon iPhone 4 goes on general sale from February 10, priced at $199.99 for the 16GB and $299.99 for the 32GB, with a new, two-year agreement.                   
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| Verizon iPhone 4 vs AT&T iPhone 4 Posted: 11 Jan 2011 08:45 AM PST Now that the iPhone 4 has been officially announced for Verizon’s network, many potential customers are going to be asking an obvious question: what’s different? While all of the details regarding the phone are still a mystery, more or less, we do know that, for the most part, the iPhone 4 on Verizon is pretty much the same exact phone that’s currently available, and has been available on AT&T’s network for some time now. However, there are some changes, so let’s go ahead and run through them.
First and foremost, and the one feature that was pointed out the most, is the new 3G Mobile Hotspot that’s coming pre-loaded on all Verizon iPhone 4 devices. It will work as a standard mobile hotspot feature, just as we’ve seen in other devices — especially on Verizon’s network. It will allow you to connect up to 5 other devices, and then use Verizon’s network to access data. As for the physical design of the device, it looks like the iPhone 4 on AT&T’s network. Same industrial design, and most importantly, the same antenna. However, there were two points made on stage regarding the antenna. First, that Verizon’s CDMA-based network is strong enough that customers won’t have to worry about dropped calls, or degrading signal. And lastly, without out-right saying it, that the device features a slightly altered top antenna bar. No details were given, but it seems that at least a small amount of changes were indeed made to the antenna (outside of the obvious, CDMA-related alterations), and both Verizon and Apple are confident in the results. And that seems to be it. We’re getting our hands-on time with the device right now at Verizon’s announcement event, so if we see or notice anything different, we’ll be sure to add it to this list.     
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| Verizon iPhone 4 Event Q and A [Why no LTE?] Posted: 11 Jan 2011 08:30 AM PST The first question the folks at the Verizon event were asked was of course: Why no LTE? The answer – change in design. Tim’s* answer is that the first gen LTE chips forced some design compromises that Apple refused to make. [This is similar to Sony Ericsson not wanting to put HSPA+ in the ARC due to design changes.] They note that this project was more about timing and waiting for LTE integration in the iPhone would have delayed it. Our Verizon rep here says that this is the right time for Verizon customers. They note that this is non-exclusive CDMA – and note – the iPhone doesn’t appear to say Verizon in the status bar.
Q. CDMA – is is it exclusive to Verison? Q. Anything new about the antenna design?
Q. What happens when you're using data and you get a call? Q. Any extra charges for tethering? Q. When will there be an LTE iPhone? Check out the rest of our Verizon event coverage by hitting up the other posts:
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| Verizon iPhone 4 Prices and Specs Listed [NOT LTE!] Posted: 11 Jan 2011 08:20 AM PST We’re live at the Verizon event today and we’ve got the prices now: $199 for 16GB model; $299 for 32GB model. This phone is due in stores February 10th – this is because they say they’re trying to assure consumers their network capacity will deliver in the quality VZ consumers expect. Will we get to try out a review model today? Maybe – maybe not. That date might be too far out into outer space to have a review model on hand now.
It appears that this phone will be essentially the same as the current model iPhone on the market today, same antenna and everything. Even down to the press photos, this phone seems to be the same deal, only running on Verizon’s network – but not LTE, just 3G! Still excited? Check out the full press release below as well:
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| Posted: 11 Jan 2011 08:08 AM PST We’re sitting inside (well, a couple of us are inside,) and we’re waiting for the event to begin – this should happen momentarily. For not though, have a look at the few pics we’ve already snapped up and note that our main man Lowell C. McAdam is announcing the show. He says that Verizon is to bring their broadband power to all kinds of screens on all kinds of devices – that LTE will blanket the US in the next three years – that LTE amps up the speed by 10 and cuts latency in half. He notes that LTE is capable of meeting the needs of the most demanding media customers that that it puts Verison at the hub of the wheel of what is driving the industry.
He notes that they’re today the bringing the fruit of the high tech market – and that giant is industry leader Apple. They note that they’re excited about their collaboration with Apple and that the Verison iPhone 4 launches early next month! He then asks Apple COO Tim Cook to the stage, and calls him “a friend and a colleage.” Tim begins: The iPhone has changed the expectations of what you can carry in your pocket. (the image on the screen, we note, looks exactly like the AT&T version.) Also check out our liveblog! http://live.slashgear.com/       
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| Verizon LTE exec spotted at iPhone launch: 4G inside? Posted: 11 Jan 2011 07:38 AM PST SlashGear is in the line waiting to head in for Verizon’s press event this morning in NYC, but we’ve already been spotting the carrier’s execs arriving for what’s expected to be the Verizon iPhone launch. Perhaps a telling attendee is Verizon’s Jeffrey Nelson, who’s been responsible for 4G LTE outreach with the carrier.
Does Nelson’s presence mean LTE support is likely in the Verizon iPhone 4? It’s certainly a well-rumored possibility, though pundits differ in their opinion as to whether the smartphone will simply be an EVDO Rev.A version of the AT&T UMTS iPhone 4, or if Verizon will have leap-frogged their rival and become the first to offer 4G speeds on Apple’s handset. That might explain this post-CES 2011 reveal, rather than launching the Verizon iPhone before the holiday sales period started. We’ll know for sure in less than an hour, so join us over at http://live.slashgear.com/ for all the details as they happen!
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| Verizon iPhone Event Liveblog starting now! Posted: 11 Jan 2011 07:30 AM PST We’re in line at Verizon’s January 11 event this morning, and the SlashGear liveblog is getting ready to cover all the news about what’s tipped to be a new Apple iPhone for the Verizon network. Join us over at http://live.slashgear.com for all the details as they happen!
There are still plenty of unanswered questions which we’re hoping Verizon will address today. Ben Bajarin’s analysis earlier this week covered the main points, but if you want some background information on why the idea of a Verizon iPhone is so important, check out our full run-down editorial. Verizon’s event starts at 11am Eastern, so join us at http://live.slashgear.com/ for all the news!
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| AT&T has 15:1 iPhone to Android users; will Verizon iPhone eat DROIDs? Posted: 11 Jan 2011 07:07 AM PST With rumors suggesting that the Verizon iPhone is just hours away from getting official – don’t forget to join us at the SlashGear liveblog! - a new batch of stats suggests that iOS could well dominate Verizon’s smartphone line-up if sales patterns follow those at AT&T. Market intelligence firm asymco crunched the numbers and found that iPhone users outnumber Android users on AT&T 15 to 1; meanwhile, AT&T has twice as many iOS users as Verizon has Android users.
The figures are based on comScore and Silicon Alley Insider stats, and have led to predictions from the company that Android growth on Verizon may well flatline or even drop when an iOS device becomes available on the network. Still to be seen is whether Verizon adds new subscribers – either switching from AT&T in search of better coverage, or new to the iPhone altogether – or eats into its existing Android or BlackBerry userbase. Still, while AT&T may have launched an impressive Android range at CES 2011 last week, the carrier’s Android options have historically been underwhelming. In contrast Verizon has offered a relatively strong Android portfolio; one which eclipsed T-Mobile’s within four months.
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| Nintendo 3DS to be region-locked? Posted: 11 Jan 2011 06:53 AM PST Reports are claiming that Nintendo will be region-locking the Nintendo 3DS, meaning that imported consoles won’t play domestic titles. According to a support email supposedly sent from from Nintendo Japan to a would-be 3DS buyer on Ruliweb, region codes will be embedded in both the console and the games.
The DSi and DSi XL were region-locked, but the system was only used for DSiWare and DSi-Enhanced titles. From the (translated) support email, it seems Nintendo will be more stringent with their locking system on the 3DS. There’s no official word from Nintendo on the subject at present, and so this could all turn out to be a misunderstanding. Still, it potentially puts a dampener on anybody outside of Japan hoping to jump the queue and import a Japanese 3DS when it launches on February 26 2011. [via Tiny Cartridge]
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| Liquid Pistons promise tiny cellphone autofocus & more Posted: 11 Jan 2011 06:27 AM PST Cellphone cameras are packing more and more megapixels, but unless you want a DSLR that can make calls we also need all the other elements – autofocus mechanisms, lenses, etc. – to slim down as well. A team of engineers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute reckon they’re on the way to that, with an autofocus system that can focus without traditional moving parts. They’re calling the tech “liquid pistons“, which use droplets of ferrofluid that deform liquid-based lenses.
Rather than the mechanical components of current lenses, the “liquid pistons” are saturated with metal nanoparticles which move when electrically charged. For compact cameras, the pistons themselves – which can be transparent – work as the lenses, tweaking the path of light through to the camera sensor depending on the charge applied.
It’s not just lenses, however; the movement of the liquid pistons can also be used for mechanical pumps small enough to fit a whole “lab” on a chip. The researchers have produced a chewing-gum stick sized pump consisting of two bubbles of ferrofluid that pulse in opposition: when submerged in water, they can use capillary force to move the liquid around. The study was partially funded by DARPA. [via IntoMobile]
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| Posted: 11 Jan 2011 06:00 AM PST Scandinavian design has built a reputation for its sleek simplicity, with Bang & Olufsen leading a decades-long heritage in appealing home entertainment kit. It’s a legacy speaker start-up Libratone would like a part of, and the Beat is the company’s first step. A monolithic wireless speaker with a premium finish and premium price-tag to match, Libratone promises something that’s both easy on the eye and easy to use. Check out how it fares in the full SlashGear review.
HardwareThe Beat is certainly distinctive: a 47cm high tower, triangular in cross-section, predominantly clad in slate grey Italian wool. On the back there’s a slice of satin chrome which arches out into a handle for easier transportation. Build quality is very high, but our review unit was already showing some fluffiness around the edges of the wool where it had obviously been rubbed. Nothing some pruning with nail-scissors wouldn’t take care of, but we’re not really used to having to trim our home audio equipment. Ports on the Beat are minimal, with a 3.5mm stereo input intended for legacy use, but Libratone expecting users to opt for one of the two bundled wireless adapters. There’s a USB adapter – a tiny, angled USB dongle that shows up in Windows or OS X as another sound output – together with an Apple-friendly transmitter that plugs into the dock connector of your iPhone, iPod or iPad. As a rather slick consideration, Libratone also throw in a custom USB cable which can dock with the iPod adapter, allowing you to recharge and sync the iOS device while also streaming wirelessly. The only thing you don’t get is a 3.5mm audio cable for use with a non-Apple PMP.
The streaming part of the Libratone Beat may be wireless, but the speaker itself doesn’t cut all of the cords. Despite the weight, there’s no internal battery for standalone use, and so you’ll need to find a plug to power the Beat up. A dedicated power switch on the back is one of two physical controls; the other is an illuminated multifunction button in the top right hand corner of the speaker’s fascia. It’s a single less-than-solid point on the Beat, being a little wobbly to the touch. Pressing the button once switches between the wireless transmitters – that way you can leave the USB and iPod dongles plugged in, and switch between them from the speaker itself – while pressing twice triggers a scan for any new nearby transmitters. Three times mutes the speaker – actual volume control is via the transmitting device itself – and six times clears everything. The button’s backlighting switches from red when in standby, to yellow when searching/connecting, and then to white while it’s playing. PerformanceLibratone is particularly proud of the audio tech slotted inside the Beat, with a 50W bass amplifier and 2x25W tweeter/midrange amps driving a 5-inch bass speaker, two 3-inch midrange and two 1-inch ribbon-based tweeters. Rather than all pointing out the front of the Beat, they’re spread around the three edges; Libratone calls this FullRoom, and suggests the speaker sounds best if you position it 20cm away from a wall so that the rear-facing cones can reflect sound off of it. Corners, apparently, aren’t so helpful to the stereo effect.
The promise is 360-degree audio from a single source, something plenty of other companies have offered before, and as is usually the case it’s a mixed bag in practice. The Beat certainly doesn’t lack bass – in fact at times we wished we could tweak the low-end down somewhat, something you have to do via whatever EQ options are on your audio source, since there’s no way of doing it on the Libratone speaker itself – with the weighty unit getting the floor shivering with the amount of sound it can pump out, while the trebles are bright and clear. The mid-range gets somewhat lost in the process, however, taking its toll on guitars and acoustic music especially. It’s also hard to identify the promised stereo effect, and while we tried the Beat in various different positions in different rooms, there’s really no way it can live up to a proper set of stereo speakers. That might not be an issue if your wireless speaker requirements run to a simple way to take music around the house with you, or out into the garden, but then the Beat’s high price tag and AC demands rear their heads.
What you do get is convenience. Libratone promise that those with more than one Beat unit can have them all active and paired simultaneously, with the speakers automatically starting playback when you come into range. If you’ve ever wanted a bubble of whole-house audio that follows you around, the Beat can deliver that, assuming you’ve the depth of wallet to accommodate. Unfortunately Libratone only supplied a single unit, so we were unable to test the multi-speaker functionality. Still, it’s worth noting that, even if you have two units set up, there’s no way to assign one to the left stereo channel and the other to the right. You merely get a louder version of the proprietary FullRoom effect. Wireless range is quoted at up to 10m for the iPod adapter and up to 30m for the USB adapter. In practice, we had no trouble roaming throughout the apartment while maintaining a connection, with walls in-between. Wrap-UpThere’s a lot to like about the Libratone Beat. The styling has the minimalist sparkle we’ve grown to expect from the Danes, and the focus on high-quality materials – multifunction button wobbles aside – adds up to a speaker that’s distinctive even when it’s turned off. If Italian wool isn’t luxe enough for you, Libratone will sell you a Beat clad in Italian cashmere instead; this is a speaker that dresses better than we do. The wireless setup is super-simple as well; Windows and the iOS devices we tested automatically switched over to the Libratone adapters, while a quick click in the OS X settings page had our MacBook singing through the Beat. Subsequent plug-ins of the transmitters triggered an automatic switchover, the Beat automatically pairing and hardly a skipped note in the transition between onboard speakers and the Libratone monolith.
Unfortunately, that convenience and quality comes at a price, and it’s both on your wallet and your ears. At £549 for the wool and £599 for the cashmere versions, the Beat is tremendously expensive for an iPod speaker, and the audio output simply isn’t as precise as a traditional stereo speaker pair. In its favor there’s the convenience of its portability, but the absence of a battery option – and the sheer weight of the unit itself – somewhat undermines the flexibility on offer. Nonetheless, there’s something appealing about the Beat. The ease of use and obvious consideration behind the design decisions are excellent, and we love the styling. If it were cheaper, we could probably describe the sound as playful and be thankful for the lashings of bass from a relatively small cabinet. At its current pricing, however, it’s hard to recommend the Libratone Beat to those who prioritize audio quality.           
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| Tesla delivers over 1500 Roadsters globally Posted: 11 Jan 2011 05:59 AM PST One of the coolest EVs on the road is the Tesla Roadster. The little roadster has impressive driving range and performance while still being green and producing no emissions. The only real downside to the little EV is that the thing is expensive.
Tesla has announced that I has now delivered 1500 Roadsters globally and the vehicles in total have driven 8.5 million miles in the real world. The fleet is in owner hands across 30 different countries and have saves 415,000 gallons of fuel and 22,000 barrels of oil so car. Tesla announced back at CES that it would be working with NVIDIA to get GPUs and other tech to support the infotainment system in its new Model S. "The Roadster has earned global appeal. Our latest delivery milestone proves the Tesla is raising the bar for EVs," said Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk. "The Roadster's advanced electric powertrain is the foundation of Tesla's success."
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| Sony PlayStation app for iOS arrives in App Store Posted: 11 Jan 2011 05:53 AM PST The official PlayStation application has arrived in the Apple App Store [iTunes link], though if you’re expecting actual gaming on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad then you’ll be sorely disappointed. The PlayStation Official App for iOS instead offers a way to monitor your trophies, online status and friends’ gaming activities.
There’s also integration with the Sony PlayStation blog, giving you easier access to the news and release date information Sony publicizes there. A similar application hit the Android Market back in mid-December, with similar functionality.      
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| PocketPro for iPhone analyzes your golf swing Posted: 11 Jan 2011 05:49 AM PST If you are a golfer that uses the iPhone, you may be interested in a new gadget for the iPhone that will analyze your swing. The device is called PocketPro and it has a clip on speed radar system that sticks to your club and measures your swing.
The small nylon clip hangs from the club just below the grip and promises to not interfere at all with your swing. The software portion runs on the iPhone 4 and records your swing data as you play. The app can reconstruct the entire swing using OpenGL 3D. The clip that hangs from the club has a 3-axis digital gyroscope inside and accelerometer sensors that measure acceleration and rotation rate using MEMS. The device has 15Mbit of onboard flash storage so you can play all day and then transfer the swings to the iPhone over Bluetooth. The device isn't for sale yet, but you can register to be notified when it launches here.
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| LG Optimus 2X pre-orders taken for Feb 21 release Posted: 11 Jan 2011 05:28 AM PST LG’s Optimus 2X Android 2.2 smartphone has gone up for pre-order via UK retailer Expansys, which is promising that the Tegra 2 powered superphone is expected to arrive on February 21 2011. Priced at £499.99 ($779) unlocked and SIM-free, the Optimus 2X has a 4-inch display and an 8-megapixel camera capable of 1080p HD video recording.
There’s also an HDMI port for playing back 1080p HD video, together with 3G and a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera. Internal storage is 8GB, but there’s a microSDHC card slot to augment that. No word from LG on when the Froyo OS will be updated to Android 2.3 Gingerbread, though the company has said that an update is planned. More on the LG Optimus 2X in our hands-on report from CES 2011 last week. LG Optimus 2X hands-on: [via Android Community]
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| Tokyoflash Kinsai Console welcomes 2011 with indecipherable time Posted: 11 Jan 2011 05:16 AM PST New year, new bizarre Tokyoflash watch. The Kinsai Console is the latest special edition from the Japanese company, and this time around it’s based on a fan-voted concept called Bright Time. A full three separate screens are squeezed into the stainless steel casing, taking on hours and different portions of minutes.
Interestingly, the Kinsai Console’s battery is recharged via USB; a full charge takes around 3.5 hours and Tokyoflash reckons each charge should last 1 month. There are 300 charges in one battery and the battery is replaceable. Some readers may get a faint whiff of Blockbusters – the old gameshow, not the DVD rental company – about the Kisai Console, which we think only adds to the retro charm. It’s available now, priced at $200.
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| Dell Streak 7 gets video teardown treatment Posted: 11 Jan 2011 05:14 AM PST When the Streak 7 surfaced at CES, it looked really cool and had some nice hardware inside. The thing that most of us wondered was why Dell opted for older Android 2.2 rather than Android 3.0 like most of the other Tegra-powered tablets was using. We still don't know why the OS is not version 3.0, but we can now see all the hardware inside the little tablet.
Tinhte.vn has taken a Dell Streak 7 and torn the thing down on video. If you missed the official launch of the Streak 7, it has a 1GHz Tegra 2 processor, WiFi, HSPA+ 4G, Bluetooth, and a 1.3MP webcam. The screen is 7-inches wide. You can check out the video teardown below to see what is inside the thing. I am always impressed by how well packaged gadgets are today.
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