In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

Inventive scribbler Steve King -- no, not that one -- is working his fingers raw trying to raise $25,000 on Kickstarter. His project, the colorfully-named Hand Stylus, works with all your capacitive touchscreens, sports a retractable nib that rotates to avoid uneven wear, and even sticks to the magnet on an iPad. While it can't replace the need for natural digits, it could potentially come in handy while taking notes, sketching, cooking, or experiencing frostbite. Skip down below the break for a video if you need more convincing, or you already lost the one that came with your Galaxy Note.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Hand Stylus for touch devices

Insert Coin: Hand Stylus for touch devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 17:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It seems the home team might have a bit of an advantage at this Summer's Olympic games. British athletes have been training with what's called the MotivePro Suit, an awkward-looking getup that tracks their movements and provides vibrating feedback when they've nailed a routine. More »

Last week, a Motorola engineer's Picasa album all but confirmed the existence of the Motorola Droid RAZR HD. And while we can't say his job has a future, it looks like this handset does. The latest leak includes some newly discovered blurry cam photos from China showing Motorola model MT887 running ICS. This matches the EXIF data posted by that errant engineer, which listed the RAZR HD's build as 4.0.3. According to the latest images, the RAZR HD sports a 4.3-inch display -- with an upgraded resolution of 720p -- though the other specs appear to match the current batch of RAZRs. As Android Community points out, that relatively bulky body could mean there's a 3,300mAH battery inside. That's all well and good -- unless Motorola also has a Droid HD RAZR Maxx set to launch a month after this guy. Then again, who would be so cruel as to pit your hopes for a higher-res RAZR against your dreams of an even longer-lasting smartphone?

Motorola RAZR HD running ICS spotted in the wild, 720p display in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everyone knows they should warm up prior to exercise, but very few people actually bother. Turns out, that could be a real mistake: a new study suggests that warming up actually increases the maximum power a muscle can provide during exercise, as opposed to just shortening the time required to reach maximum output. More »

The FCC comes across many smartphones in its daily routine, but it's hardly an everyday occurrence for one of those handsets to rock a miniature projector. That's the claim to fame of the Samsung Galaxy Beam, which just made its way through the regulatory body with full 3G support for AT&T's 1900MHz and 850MHz bands. We were first introduced to this updated version of the original Galaxy Beam at Mobile World Congress, and for a quick refresher, the Android 2.3 device packs a dual-core 1GHz CPU, 768MB of RAM, a 4-inch WVGA display and a projector that'll toss 50-inch imagery onto the wall. Naturally, whether AT&T chooses to sell the smartphone is another consideration entirely, but this certification will keep users in proper standing with the feds, and that's a good thing.

Samsung Galaxy Beam crosses paths with FCC, sports 3G connectivity for AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading LG opens up 3D World video store for 2011, 2012 Cinema 3D Smart TVs

LG opens up 3D World video store for 2011, 2012 Cinema 3D Smart TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plantronics has made a name for itself in the wireless headset space, but there's plenty of room to grow when it comes to premium stereo offerings. BackBeat Go is the company's smallest and lightest wireless earbud set to date, tipping the scale at 13 grams, or "about the weight of three nickels." The cordless rig includes a pair of earbuds linked with a flat tangle-free cord, with inline controls to adjust volume and an integrated mic for calls. The Bluetooth-enabled Go can sync up with one device at a time, so you'll need to repeat the pairing process if switching between phones or to a tablet -- and you should be able to snag 4.5 hours of listening and talk time or 10 hours of standby with a single charge. Digital noise reduction and echo canceling play into the call experience, while the "deep, rich, stereo sound" means the earbuds are equally suited for leisure. Sound good to you? You can snag your own set for a cool $100 by clicking through to the source link below.

Continue reading Plantronics BackBeat Go headset sports tangle-free cord, 'rich' stereo sound

Plantronics BackBeat Go headset sports tangle-free cord, 'rich' stereo sound originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It turns out the same material that makes college dorm furniture cheap and comfortable also works quite well when it comes to protecting your head. So Vaco12 has turned simple bean bags into an innovative padding technology. More »

I always wondered if there was an alternate reality where I didn't love and breathe sports. Who would I be like? Where would I waste my time? Would my life be okay? Is there a person who's exactly like me in every way but just doesn't like sports? WHAT DOES THAT PERSON DO. And I know, sports are silly. Watching grown men play a child's game for millions of dollars and hope that they care about the ball going into the hole as much as you do is laughable. But WHATEVER. Laugh it up you sports haters, laugh it up. Sports serves as a simplifier. As much as technology improves our lives and as much as I enjoy that, sports cuts the noise and keeps it simple. Ball. Hole. Game. If you don't love sports as much as I do, it's okay. The ESPN 30 for 30 Collector's Set Blu-Ray for $50 is 30 excellent sports documentaries that tell the stories of sports. -CC More »

Images and specs of a new LG phone codenamed the “CX2″ were recently leaked. The phone is thought to possibly be the successor to the Optimus 3D and may be unveiled during the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona next month. Pocketnow, which leaked the image and specs, says the CX2 sports a dual-core Texas Instruments processor clocked at 1.2GHz, a NOVA display capable of displaying 3D content, a 5-megapixel camera capable of snapping 3D photos, 8GB of storage, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC and support for 21Mbps HSPA+ networks. The phone could launch as soon as this spring, but unfortunately the phone is said to run on Google’s older Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) operating system rather than Ice Cream Sandwich. A second image of the CX2 follows after the break.

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Still carry around thumb drives? No worries, we do too from time to time. If you're in the market for a new compact, portable storage device, Verbatim has just revealed their Store 'n' Go Plus. With capacities ranging from 4GB on up to 32 GB, you're sure to find a suitable USB 2.0 option for your workload. The System in Package design doesn't force you keep up with an end cap and sports a ruggedized design that should withstand lengthy stays in your messenger bag. Available later in Q1, the family starts at $19.99 and heads north. We have to admit, though, these aren't nearly as awesome as the Swiss Army variety.

Continue reading Verbatim's Store 'n Go Plus thumbdrives get rugged, sport a one-piece suit

Verbatim's Store 'n Go Plus thumbdrives get rugged, sport a one-piece suit originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last summer, LG and Verizon Wireless released the Revolution, but the phone did little to revolutionize smartphones and after seven months it was chopped from the carrier’s lineup. According to Droid-Life, the follow-up to the Revolution is the LG Spectrum and it is heading to Verizon on January 19th. The Spectrum features superb specs with a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor, 1GB RAM, 4G LTE connectivity and a massive 4.5-inch HD display at 329ppi. Additionally, the device sports an 8-megapixel rear camera, a microSD slot, a 1.3-megapixel front facing camera and a 1,830 mAh battery. The Spectrum will launch with an exclusive HD ESPN ScoreCenter app and the HD Netflix app that is currently only found on the DROID RAZR. With the Consumer Electronics Show beginning next week, we fully expect to see the Spectrum unveiled within the next few days.

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LG has updated its website to include the follow up to last year’s Optimus smartphone, simply named the Optimus 2. The device features a 3.2-inch display with Android 2.3 and an 800Mhz processor. Additionally, the Optimus 2 sports GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, a microSD slot, a 3.2MP camera and a 1,500 mAh battery. Interestingly enough, it looks like the device will run a stock version of Gingerbread. There has been no word on a release date, but the Optimus 2 will most likely be marketed as a budget-friendly entry-level smartphone that may make an appearance at next week’s Consumer Electronics Show.

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Earlier this month, Acer announced its Iconia Tab A200 tablet, a 10.1-inch device running Ice Cream Sandwich and NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 processor clocked at 1GHz. The slate is supposed to land sometime in January and should make its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show. It is also suggested that Acer will be releasing a robust Tegra 3-powered device dubbed the Iconia Tab A700, as reported by NoMobile. The Russian site says the tablet features a 10.1-inch display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. Additionally, the device sports a dedicated rotation lock switch, a micro-HDMI port, and both a SIM and micro-USB slot. On the back of the tablet is a textured design with a five megapixel camera and built-in flash. The A700 weighs 650 grams (1.43 pounds) and boasts 10 hours of battery life according to the report. Much like its less powerful brother, the A700 will debut at CES in January, however it reportedly won’t arrive in stores until March.

[Via Engadget]

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Last year, when RockMelt picked up where Flock left off, deeply tying social services into the browser interface, we were understandably a bit skeptical. But, just over 13 months later the tricked out Chrome variant is still kicking and tacking on new features. The latest beta, version five, turns the Omnibox into a full-fledged Facebook portal, allowing you to upload photos, initiate chats and load profiles without first having to launch the site. The update also sports a spruced up new tab page. We won't spoil all the surprises though, hit up the source link to download it for yourself.

RockMelt hits beta 5, makes Chome's Omnibox a gateway to Facebook originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tired of running and sweating with nothing to show for it but improved stamina and a svelte physique? Well, the stats tracking app that's turned fitness buffs into numbers geeks has now arrived for Windows Phone, which joins its siblings for Android, iOS and Symbian. A free application, Sports Tracker allows runners and bicyclists to track their distance, speed, caloric burn and more. From there, users may upload their workout info to Sports Tracker's website or their favorite social network -- although, the latter seems likely to bring the ire of couch-prone friends. But don't worry, we still support your efforts. So, push harder. Go faster. Reach over the top. Master that ass. And, so forth...

Sports Tracker arrives for Windows Phone, motivates runners with statistics originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Dec 2011 02:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another day, another selection of pocket change-priced apps. Highlights from today's offering include the return of Endomondo Sports Tracker to the sale shelves, swashbuckling adventure BackStab HD and SimCity Deluxe. It's a game-centric selection for this lazy Sunday, rounded out by Backbreaker Football, Captain America and Jenga. You can fill up your pretend basket at the Android Market link below. Four more days to go.

Android Market's sixth sale day wants to fill your phone with games -- and a bedtime story originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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