The HTC Sensation XL has landed, leaving a sizable footprint behind. While it picks up the naming convention from HTC's previously dual-core flagship series and some Beats audio accreditation on the way, it looks pretty damn familiar to another member of the family. Yes, the family's Windows Phone flagship, the Titan certainly tickled our fancy -- no other phone had landed on that nascent OS with such a screen. But the Sensation XL faces phones both bigger (and only slightly smaller) in the increasingly crowded world of Android. At around $723 (£450), is the XL's single-core processor enough? Is that glossy WVGA screen still sharp enough at this size? How does this one compare to previous Sensations, and perhaps more importantly, Samsung's even bigger not-so-heavyweight? Keep reading after the break to find out.

Continue reading HTC Sensation XL review

HTC Sensation XL review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Like 3D on high-end HDTVs, NFC-based payment systems seem set to invade our mobile lives whether we like them or not. Isis, a collaborative venture between AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and a bunch of banking big timers, has today announced the first market for its rollout of a contactless payment scheme, and it's none other than Salt Lake City, Utah. That'll surely raise eyebrows in locales that may consider themselves more tech-savvy, but we reckon starting off with a city of a smaller scale might be good for getting this "mobile wallet" system off the ground. And then there's the added benefit of Isis snagging a deal to enable compatibility with the entire Utah Transit Authority footprint. If all plans are executed properly, that should mean that by summer 2012 the good people of SLC will be able to NFC their way around town with just their smartphone in hand, while also swiping it through checkouts like some form of highly advanced techno-humans.

Continue reading Isis NFC payment system gets its first market in Salt Lake City, Utah, launches in 2012

Isis NFC payment system gets its first market in Salt Lake City, Utah, launches in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 04:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If there's one thing we appreciate more than pixel density, it's slim bezels. LG, a traditional enemy of unsightly frames, is today staking its claim for having the world's thinnest bezel on a laptop with the new Xnote P210. This 12.5-inch machine is said to fit within the footprint of an 11.6-incher, but before you start throwing insults like "netbook" around the place, do take note it has a dual-core Core i5-470UM processor inside -- capable of running between 1.33GHz and 1.86GHz -- 4GB of RAM, and a 320GB HDD. The LED-backlit display's resolution isn't specified beyond a note saying it's "HD," while Windows 7 Home Premium is the predictable OS of choice. Look for the P210 to hit Korea in February for around 1.3 million won (about $1,135), but don't hold your breath on it coming Stateside for anything other than a flying trade show visit.

Continue reading LG Xnote P210 claims 'world's thinnest bezel' title, our undying appreciation

LG Xnote P210 claims 'world's thinnest bezel' title, our undying appreciation originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 03:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How many dedicated LTE-capable USB modems does Verizon need? At least three, apparently, because we've just been sent shots of Novatel's upcoming USB551L that looks perhaps a tad glossier and sleeker than the Pantech and LG models that have preceded it. Hard to say from the spec sheet here, but it looks like there's at least a chance this is LTE-only without CDMA / EV-DO fallback since there's no explicit mention of it; unlikely considering how small Verizon's LTE footprint is for the time being, but you never know. More importantly, there is explicit mention of Mac support, something the carrier's current options lack. No word on a release date or pricing, but we imagine it won't be long now that these dummy units -- which you can see in the gallery below -- are floating around.

Novatel's USB551L LTE modem for Verizon in the wild, does Mac support out of the box originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

The last Switched On introduced the opportunity of the Kno tablet, which is in transiton from having a large hardware footprint to having a large customer footprint. Without question, the Kno hardware is an outlier, but could be simply a first salvo in a battle for digital textbooks that will take years to play out.

Look at the ironic development of e-readers. Today's LCD-based Nook Color would not exist if Sony and Amazon had not opened (and soothed) consumers' eyes with e-paper-based readers that were themselves an answer to an early generation of LCD-based products like the Rocket e-Book. The outlier shows the potential.

Continue reading Switched On: Getting from Kno to yes, part 2

Switched On: Getting from Kno to yes, part 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We already got an early glimpse at what ASUS is bringing to Intel's upcoming Sandy Bridge party, now how about some glamor shots of the actual hardware? The Taiwanese company has taken the shroud of mystery away from its latest range of motherboards and the first thing that stood out to us was the TUF-looking Sabertooth P67 above. It comes with an extended five-year warranty, "military-grade" electrical components, a litany of thermal sensors, and of course that Tactical Jacket up top. Beyond its obvious visual appeal, the Jacket serves to channel airflow throughout the board, aiding the cooling of more peripheral components. We'd love to see more of its kind of design purely to reduce the dust that gets in amongst our precious circuit boards. On the more diminutive front, ASUS is shown off a Mini-ITX board, the P8P67-I, that fits everything but full-sized RAM slots within a minuscule footprint. Check it out after the break. Oh, and yes, ASUS is sticking USB 3.0 ports and Bluetooth connectivity on almost all its forthcoming motherboards. Yay!

Continue reading ASUS' Sandy Bridge motherboards are pretty, come with Bluetooth and USB 3.0 as standard

ASUS' Sandy Bridge motherboards are pretty, come with Bluetooth and USB 3.0 as standard originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 04:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today, chip maker ARM announced the Cortex-A15 MPCore processor; a processor that “delivers a 5x performance improvement over today’s advanced smartphone processors, within a comparable energy footprint.” The A15 is available for licensing today and is targeting devices with 32nm and 28nm platforms; a 20nm A15 offering will be available in the future. The processor is capable of speeds up to 2.5 GHz, can support up to 4 MB of L2 cache, and can address up to 1 terabyte of memory. The company has said its smartphone A15 line will run between 1 GHz and 1.5 GHz in both single and dual-core configurations. As the press release states, the newest Cortex will support: Android, Adobe Flash Player, Java Platform Standard Edition (Java SE), JavaFX, Linux, Microsoft Windows Embedded Compact 7, Symbian, and Ubuntu. Bring on. The hardware.

Read [Press Release, More Info]

Continue reading The Sharper Image announces Literati color e-reader

The Sharper Image announces Literati color e-reader originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG announced on Monday that it plans to roll out ten new Android devices, including an Android tablet, under the new “Optimus” brand. The Optimus series will feature Android 2.2 and will include both high-end and entry-level Android devices. The Optimus One “with Google” will be one of the first Optimus handsets to hit the market and will include: an OMAP3630 processor, 3.8-inch display, HD camera, HDMI/DNLA support, and Android 2.2. Also in the works is the new Optimus Chic, an entry level Android 2.2 handset that features a smooth and stylish design. Last but not least, LG confirmed that it has an Optimus Android 2.2 tablet that will be thin and light in design and will offer vastly superior performance over existing products. All the aforementioned Optimus devices and more are slated for release in second half of 2010. Hit the jump for the full press release and a closer look at the Optimus One and Optimus Chic.

OPTIMUS SERIES: LG’S MOST ADVANCED SMART DEVICES

Line-up of Smartphones and Tablet Devices Integrate the Latest in Mobile Technology

SEOUL, JULY 5, 2010 — LG Electronics (LG) today unveiled its upcoming LG Optimus Series, a line-up of innovative smart devices featuring the latest in mobile technology that will spearhead the company’s newest campaign to highlight LG’s ability to tame consumers’ information-dominated lives.

LG Optimus, meaning ‘best’ in Latin, will be comprised of devices running on a range of popular operating systems and Android Tablet PC. By utilizing various operating systems and incorporating smart technologies, LG prioritizes consumer choice as a key strategy for expanding its footprint in the mobile industry. The line-up’s smartphones and tablet devices, range from entry to premium level with various form factors to meet the diverse needs of all customers. As part of its aggressive strategy to grow its share of the global smartphone market, LG will be introducing approximately 10 new smart devices worldwide in the second half of this year under the LG Optimus label.

“LG Optimus is just the first of many devices that we’ll be offering to challenge the notion that one device can meet the needs of many,� said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “At LG, we believe in providing the public with many different choices because unlike the users of some of our competitors’ phones, our customers are not all alike.�

LG Optimus Series is the result of extensive consumer research and development that delved into the way average people gather information in today’s digital age. Ease of finding information is the top motivator in considering a smartphone purchase, according to a consumer survey conducted by LG. The research also looked into what consumers liked and disliked about some of today’s most popular communications devices. Not surprisingly, user friendliness and fast response time were high on consumers’ lists.

The two android-powered smartphones in the pipeline — LG Optimus One with Googleâ„¢ and LG Optimus Chic — incorporate the speedy Android Platform 2.2 (Froyo).

LG Optimus One with Google™ offers the latest in Google™ mobile features and connects seamlessly to the world according to Google™. Its ability to connect effortlessly to Google’s Android Market™ delivers an unfiltered and genuine smartphone user experience. Also, a convenient user interface and diverse multimedia options ensure a mobile environment that makes this device one of the easiest to use on the market.

The LG Optimus Chic caters to fashion aficionados with its tasteful design incorporating soft and smooth lines. The handset’s sleek curves set a new standard for smartphone design, challenging the perception that advanced Android devices need to appeal to a hardcore tech crowd to gain widespread acceptance.

Beyond smartphones, LG will be introducing its first tablet device later this year. Running on the Android Platform, LG’s tablet will deliver vastly superior performance than other similar devices currently on the market while still managing to be thinner and lighter than competing devices.

In a public plaza in Oosterdokskade, Amsterdam, DUS Architects installed the Unlimited Urban Woods. On the outside: a non-descript white box with a few square meter footprint. On the inside: a forest as far as the eye can see. More »

Amsterdam - Netherlands - North Holland - Shopping - Travel and Tourism

HP CEO Mark Hurd certainly stirred the pot yesterday when he said that “we didn’t buy Palm to be in the smartphone business” and that puring money into developing webOS smartphones “doesn’t in any way make any sense.” Well just like we predicted, HP’s PR machine went into damage control mode this evening. Here’s the statement they just sent out “clarifying” what it is Hurd meant.

When we look at the market, we see an array of interconnected devices, including tablets, printers, and of course, smartphones. We believe webOS can become the backbone for many of HP’s small form factor devices, and we expect to expand webOS’s footprint beyond just the smartphone market, all while leveraging our financial strength, scale, and global reach to grow in smartphones.

We’re certainly glad that’s settled.Read

The worst of Palm's fears may be over now that HP has played the knight-in-shining-armor role, but Sprint -- the States' number three carrier -- still has a ways to go before it can claim it's out of the woods, having gone a solid string of fiscal quarters now without posting a profit or a net gain in subscribers. Of course, this is the kind of situation that puts dudes with the word "financial" in their titles on the hot seat, and sure enough, Sprint CFO Robert Brust came out swinging at an investor conference this week. Brust points to narrowing losses and an expanding prepaid presence as reasons he thinks the company can grow revenue by year-end, not to mention an expanding 4G footprint and -- on a closely related note -- the imminent release of the EVO 4G. Showing a bit of humility, he also said that the company has "learned a lot" since the launch of the Pre, acknowledging that the phone "didn't work out as well as [they] hoped." In other words: we wouldn't expect any more crazy two-phone exclusive deals with Palm lasting the better part of a year any time soon.

Sprint CFO: 'Pre didn't work out as well as we hoped' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Before we begin let’s just get this out of the way: if you are a customer of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon it is most likely because that particular company provides a service you want, need, and/or like. The following article is based on tests done by PCWorld in December of 2009 and January of 2010 and may not necessarily reflect your experience with, or preference of, mobile providers. Now, let’s continue…

The PCWorld tests, from December 2009 and January 2010, were done as a follow up to tests done last spring in an attempt to see if the major U.S. mobile networks had made any improvements to their wireless data infrastructure. The speed tests were conducted in: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle on both mobile phones and laptop data cards. We’ve linked to PCWorld’s thorough article for your scrutiny, however, here is the high level overview.

In the Spring 2009 tests the companies results were as follows:

• AT&T: average download speed 812 Kbps, average upload speed 660 Kbps
• Sprint: average download speed 808 Kbps, average upload not listed in article
• T-Mobile: not tested, no significant 3G footprint at time of testing
• Verizon: average download speed 951 Kbps, average upload speed 426 Kbps

In the Winter of 2009/2010 tests the companies results were as follows:

• AT&T: average download speed 1410 Kbps, average upload speed 773 Kbps
• Sprint: average download speed 795 Kbps, average upload speed 396 Kbps
• T-Mobile: average download speed 868 Kbps, average upload speed 311 Kbps
• Verizon: average download speed 877 Kbps, average upload speed 434 Kbps

As you can see, AT&T’s network, in PC World’s pretty rigorous tests, has improved tremendously and is over 67% faster. Not bad for less than a year, no?

Read [Spring '09 tests] Read [Winter '09/'10 tests]

Looks like Google's investigation into the crappy 3G claims on the Nexus One are winding down, and it's a one-two combo of good news and bad news. First, the bad: preliminary findings suggest that poor 3G coverage factors into it, at least in part -- a believable story considering that T-Mobile has the smallest 3G footprint of the four US nationals. Now, the good: there's a software component to the problem, too, and the company says that it's already testing a fix. So far, testing is looking good -- so good, in fact, that an over-the-air update could be available "in the next week or so." It sucks that this partly boils down to crappy coverage, but we'll have to see where things stand after the patch gets rolled out -- and hopefully this'll serve as a high-profile reminder to T-Mobile that it needs to step on the gas (and to Google that it might want to expand its horizons).

[Thanks, Wesley]

Google: Nexus One 3G issues result of poor coverage, bugs; patch possibly within a week originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LTE developers and aficionados alike can point their web browser to Verizon Wireless’ webpage to pre-register for a webcast starting 11 AM ET on Wednesday, January 20, 2010. The webcast will review the updated specifications for 4G wireless devices that will run on Verizon’s 700MHZ LTE network. Updates include but are not limited to information on address network access, SMS requirements, data retry tests, lab and signaling conformance, and details on the device approval and introduction process. If the terms “Radio Access Network” and “Retail Product Compliance” strikes a chord with your super-technical side, then you can sign up for and login to Verizon’s open development website to preview the updated specifications in PDF format right now. For those that just want to know when our mobile phones can pull down 12Mbps, Verizon is still planning to launch LTE in 25 to 30 markets in 2010 and cover most of its current 3G footprint with LTE by the end of 2013. We’re sure there will be a map for that when Verizon’s 4G finally launches.

Read

We've all seen long exposure photography, allowing you to create shapes with light. But I don't think any of us has seen anything quite like the work of Barry Underwood, a landscape photographer for our connected, electric world. (More photos:)

His landscapes, while painstakingly staged, incorporate man-made light with an almost eerie naturalness. The glowing elements that should jar our eyes as electrical protrusions actually serve to capture nature with a new thesis: as a planet intrinsically altered by our footprint, though, not in that we've destroyed our Earth and things are too late kind of way.

Or another interpretation of the art might be, nature has a hidden power that we fail to acknowledge without shiny lights.

At least, those are my reads on his work (please share yours in the comments). You can see the collection with your own eyes as it's on display from November 21st 2009 - January 9th 2010 at Johansson Projects in Oakland, CA. [Johansson Projects and Barry Underwood via BLDBLOG]

T-Mobile might have been last in launching a 3G network in the U.S., but that hasn’t stopped it from moving right along. We had already known that T-Mobile was planning on lighting up its 7.2Mbps speeds in some cities by the end of 2009, but it looks like HSPA+ is kicking in just months later. Slated for mid-2010, a number of U.S. markets will have data speeds of up to 21Mbps on T-Mobile’s network. There are also a decent amount of handsets that will be able to take advantage of the 7.2Mbps kick, like the G1, CLIQ and the myTouch 3G, but we’re really looking for what T-Mobile has in store for the masses once HSPA+ hits. In addition to the speed upgrades, the company is also continuing to spread its 3G footprint across the country. Now where are those Nokia N900s with AWS 3G support?

Read