The Time Warner Cable iPad app was released just last week to overwhemingly high demand, allowing subscribers to live-stream TV for viewing on their iPads while connected to their home WiFi network. However, this week we’re hearing that the popular app is upsetting TV networks, which have begun sending cease-and-desists to the cable company.
The TV networks’ beef with the new app stems from their view of the iPad streaming as a separate service than cable TV. The networks, therefore, want to negotiate new terms and control the rights for this new avenue of content delivery. They don’t seem to take into account that the service only works when a subscriber is at home and connected to their Time Warner Cable modem, which is part of their paid-for cable and internet service.
It is unlikely that Time Warner Cable will be forced to shutdown the app. They are more likely to have to remove some channels and go through a new round of negotiations with each network. Considering that you can only view the channels on your iPad at home from the cable service you already pay for, do you think its fair that networks are asking to charge an additional fee for this?
A group of college students have designed a traffic intersection that harnesses the power of vibrations from passing cars and pedestrian's footsteps. The designers, Ian Jaye, Jovan Popovic, and Patrick Houin based the design on piezoelectricity, which converts vibrations and movement into electricity. We don't see the use of piezoelectricity very much nowadays but the technology has been around for 100 years.
The design makes for self-sustained traffic intersections complete with traffic lights, street lamps, and traffic cameras. Piezoelectric plates are layered under a hard rubber level, with reflective blue road marking tape sitting on top of it all to designate the crosswalks. The plates collect electricity produced from the vibrations of cars and pedestrians and feed it to lithium-ion batteries to power the traffic lights, lamps, and cameras.
They've even designed the traffic lights, cameras, and traffic posts as well. The posts double as street lamps with low-energy LED lights. They stay dark until the light sensors embedded trigger them to turn on. The traffic lights have low-energy LEDs as well, encased in a stamped aluminum shell and use anti-glare plexiglass. The traffic light will have redesigned symbols and four sides to regulate a four-way intersection. The camera is attached by a ring to each traffic post, allowing it a 360-degree view and a 180-degree vertical camera rotation and viewing angle. All three are powered by the battery pack stationed at the bottom of each posts.
Earlier today a U.S. District Court in New York rejected Google's book settlement with the Authors Guild and Association of American Publishers. The Amended Settlement Agreement (ASA) allowed Google to scan whatever books it wanted and index them online.
Judge Denny Chin felt that "the ASA would give Google a significant advantage over competitors, rewarding it for engaging in wholesale copying of copyrighted works without permission, while releasing claims well beyond those presented in the case." The ASA was proposed in 2005 and a settlement was first reached in 2008. However, there were plenty of objections to the settlement.
"Certain objectors oppose the ASA on antitrust grounds, arguing that (1) certain pricing mechanisms would constitute horizontal agreements that would violate the Sherman Act; (2) the ASA would effectively grant Google a monopoly over digital books, and, in particular, orphan books; and (3) such a monopoly would further entrench Google's dominant position in the online search business," wrote Judge Chin.
Naturally, some of the objectors to the ASA were Google's competitors like Microsoft and Amazon. There were a host of other problems and objections like privacy issues and violations, objections from certain authors about adequate representation, and difficulties with foreign laws.
The Motorola XOOM was just released, and there is already talk of a possible successor to come before end of the year. Motorola is reportedly reducing orders for their XOOM tablets starting in the 2nd quarter of 2011 with no orders to be scheduled past June.
Orders for the Motorola XOOM are expected to drop to 300,000 units in April and well below 300,000 by May. The uncertain market conditions in the wake of the iPad 2 launch as well as the myriad of other recent tablet launches may be behind the company’s decision to wind down its tablet orders.
The Motorola XOOM is expected to ship between 3 million to 5 million units in 2011, but those numbers are well behind Apple’s iPad 2, which is expected to ship between 10 million and 12 million units in just the 2nd quarter. Motorola may be stepping back to evaluate the situation to ready a new tablet for the second half of this year.
At Ohio State University, engineers have designed a new lens that allows microscopic objects to be viewed from nine different angles at once, creating a 3D image. There are 3D microscopes now, but they use multiple lenses or cameras to move around an object. The researchers at Ohio State claim that this new lens is the “first single, stationary lens to create microscopic 3D images by itself.” The lens looks a bit like a diamond, and is about the size of a fingernail. But unlike a diamond, its facets are slightly different sizes and different angles.
The lens is made from the thermoplastic material polymethyl methacrylate, sometimes called “acrylic glass”. The prototype lens was manufactured using a precision cutting machine, but the engineers said that it could be made much more cheaply using traditional molding techniques.
Researchers Allen Yi and Lei Li created the lens. Li first wrote a computer program to design the lens so that it could be used to image microscopic objects. Yi and Li then used a milling tool with a diamond blade to cut the shape from the thermoplastic material, shaving bits of plastic in increments of 10nm.
They installed the lens on a microscope with a camera looking down through the facets, and placed objects under the flat side. Each facet captured an image of the object from a different angle, and the images were combined on a computer to create a 3D image. The engineers recorded 3D images of the tip of a ballpoint pen (1mm), and a mini drill bit (0.2mm).
These lenses could be used in manufacturing microelectronics and medical devices, which now requires very complex machinery to view the tiny components as they are assembled. Li also sees an application for the medical testing industry, which is attempting to shrink devices that analyse fluid samples. Cutting tiny reservoirs and channels in plastic requires a clear view, and the depths must be carved with precision.
Li said, “For us, the most attractive part of this project is that we will be able to see the real shape of micro-samples instead of just a 2D projection.”
GPS units have been hit hard these couple of years since pretty much all smartphones are capable of giving you driving directions and turn-by-turn directions with apps. Garmin's nuvi 2575R has a twist to it that could give GPS devices a leg up. The new unit has an optional camera you can attach to it to record your driving.
Being able to record your driving could really help people out in those "he said, she said" situations when a car accident occurs. With video evidence of what happened it could really help, or hurt, your argument. The nuvi 2575R also comes with a TV tuner as well, which I guess is so that you can watch your favorite sports team while driving. That doesn’t make much sense, but I suppose that the resulting accident could at least be caught on the nuvi dash cam.
No price was given on how much the unit will cost you, or how much the extra camera will run you as well should you choose to attach it to the nuvi 2575R. This is definitely something a smartphone can't do as your GPS directional unit, at least until some developer makes an app for it.
This year at CTIA 2011 we’ve gotten extremely close to the EVO View 4G. Like so close that we’re basically married now. We saw this device earlier this year at Mobile World Congress 2011 as the HTC Flyer but we did not get to get nearly as close as we’d have liked, but then again, it wasn’t quite ready for the spotlight in its then-unfinished form. Here we have a device that’s much closer to what you’ll be purchasing in the store – a competitively sized and functioning tablet that’ll go in direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 we got the opportunity to check out earlier today.
It’s a tablet war! This device will definitely enter the market as a little cutie to be reckoned with, it’s Scribe Pen, otherwise known as the Scribe Digital Pen, allows you to both take notes and record audio a the same time, the application of lines syncing up perfectly with the audio if you want to go back and search visually. That means if you drew a dog when the speaker you were listening to was speaking about a particular dog, you can just click that dog you drew and the audio will play from the moment you drew the dog. Magical!
EVO View 4G Hands-On video
This device is running a recognizable Android interface at the moment, it’s still on a handset version of Android while it’s set to be upgraded to Android 3.0 Honeycomb soon after launch. This is a device that’s not just comparable to the brand new Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, it’s basically set to get in a knife fight with it. It MAY have an edge as it’s got a packaged KNIFE with it though, that pen very possibly a superstar.
Take a look at the presentation video above and the photos below, and take note that this is a device that’ll be launching without Honeycomb but will be upgraded to Honeycomb “as soon as it’s ready,” so they say. This device is one you’ll want to grab if you’re into the idea of penning the whole day through.
Once Amazon decided to let Kindle users lend out books, it was only a matter of time until services sprung up to open up lending to the wider world. Lendle was one of those services, but now Amazon has pulled the plug on them. Today, Lendle’s website states: “Amazon has revoked Lendle's API access. Unfortunately, Lendle is unavailable indefinitely. We will do everything we can to restore service soon.”
The Lendle service was free, did not feature ads, and even included a link to buy each book listed for lending on Amazon. Books lent were only available for 14 days, and you can’t read the book on your Kindle while it’s lent out. Once you signed up for a Lendle account, you could sync it with your Amazon account so that all of your Kindle books were visible. Lendle would determine which ones were lendable (the publishers determine this), and then the books were listed as available for borrowing. And if you didn’t agree to lend out your books, you couldn’t borrow books. You had to have an Amazon account, and show that you had purchased Kindle books in order to participate.
Users requested to borrow a book, and each request had to be approved by the lender. Amazon let Lendle know on Monday, via a no-reply email, that Lendle didn’t “serve the principal purpose of driving sales of products and services on the Amazon site.”
Jeff Croft, Lendle’s cofounder disagrees. “As a published author, it was very important to me personally to build the system in a way that was good for authors and publishers,” Croft said. “Our site requires that you be willing to lend books before you can borrow them. We even went so far as to allow users to sync their Lendle accounts with their Kindle accounts, so that we could ensure anyone who borrows books on Lendle has previously purchased lendable books from Amazon. Our philosophy is: You can't borrow if you don't lend, and you can't lend if you don't buy.”
Another service, BookLending, has reported to ArsTechnica that its API access has not been interrupted. But that may not last long. Amazon has been very cautious with its lending policies, no doubt motivated by publishers who don’t really want e-book files being passed around for free. Amazon only started the lending program late in 2010, and even now doesn’t widely promote it.
We will keep you informed on any further developments. We’re sure that the various book lending services will be trying their best to change Amazon’s mind.
We’ve been given the opportunity to take a hands-on look at CTIA 2011 at the HTC EVO 3D and its announcement partner, the EVO View 4G. The following is an account of what we saw in the HTC EVO 3D – a device that can not only show off all sorts of wild 3D content without the aid of glasses, it can capture content as well. This isn’t the very first device to be able to do this, and it’s not the first object to be able to do this at this size, but it IS a rather fabulous looking bit of competition for this ever-growing 3D game, whether you think it’s a real trend or not!
Take a peek at the hands-on where we got to hold the device as well as use it. Yours truly is photographed whilst taking a look at the other device announced today, the US version of the HTC Flyer, the EVO View 4G. The HTC EVO 3D captures photos in both 3D and 2D at the same time, holding them in your gallery for you, allowing you to access either with a flick.
Looking at the device dead-on, straight-on to the screen, that’s when you’re going to get the best 3D look. They say they’re “working to improve this” meaning they’ll hopefully have a better viewing radius by the time the device is released, but for now, make it your duty to look at this screen with no angle whatsoever. This device is neither heavy nor light, really weighing in at a heaviness we’ve grown to expect from EVO devices. Once this device hits is final form, we’ll get some weights out to get the number utterly correct. Thinness again is very similar to the EVO’s of late, the form factor not all that new.
HTC EVO 3D Hands-on
This phone is made to capture and display 3D content. Like we found at Mobile World Congress 2011, this is the start of what a few companies hope will be a social situation where people capture and share 3D content like they would any other unique form of media. When you’ve got an HTC EVO 3D, you’ll need an HTC EVO 3D to view the media you’ve captured with it.
That’s like a big technology hug!
Take a peek at the video we’ve got of this device being shown off, check out the closeup shots we’ve got, and prepare yourself for the review which we’ll hopefully have sooner than later!
With T-Mobile soon to be swallowed up by AT&T (probably), MetroPCS will be the most likely choice for many T-Mobile customers looking for a new carrier. That would most likely make Metro PCS the nation’s new fourth-largest wireless carrier, and that is why MetroPCS’s stock jumped up 5% upon the merger announcement. MetroPCS currently has 8.1 million subscribers, up 35% over the last two years (a time period, we should mention, in which T-Mobile lost customers).
MetroPCS targets big city markets and keeps their prices low by only using their own networks in dense urban areas that are cheap to serve. They have been adept at securing roaming agreements to use competitor’s networks in other areas, so their cost to serve 90% of the country is a fraction of what it costs the larger companies. In fact, last year it cost the company only $18.49 a month to serve the average customer. That lets MetroPCS cut its rates to just about half what AT&T and Verizon charge, only $40 per month (including taxes) for unlimited talk, text, and Web, and about $50 per month for the same plan with a 4G smartphone. That’s a pretty impressive profit margin. And since AT&T and Verizon don’t release their cost per customer, but we can bet it’s a lot higher.
MetroPCS, in its annual filing with the SEC, expressed some worry that its costs could go up if the carriers whose networks it leases decide to raise prices: “In some instances, large national wireless broadband mobile services carriers have been reluctant to enter into roaming agreements at attractive rates with smaller and mid-tier national carriers like us, which limits our ability to serve certain market segments, and recent FCC actions to promote automatic roaming do not resolve these difficulties.”
Meanwhile, MetroPCS looks like a great deal if you live in the urban areas it serves. And if you are a T-Mobile customer, you might just be looking their way. [via Fortune]
Slashgear covering live the Sprint event at CTIA, with two new devices unveiled, both powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon processors: The HTC EVO 3D, and the HTC EVO 4G Android tablet. The HTC EVO 3D features the dual-core MSM8660 Snapdragon 1.2 GHz processor, and the View 4G has a single CPU 1.5 GHz Snapdragon processor.
The EVO 3D’s dual cores are asynchronous, allowing them to run at different speeds simultaneously. This will help with battery life on the phone. This will be HTC’s first dual-core Android smartphone. The Snapdragon MSM8660 supports advanced 3D including full 1080p 30fps HD and stereoscopic 3D video capture and playback.
Be sure to stay glued to SlashGear, as we continue our CTIA 2011 coverage.
Press release below:
Inside Sprint's first 3D smartphone, Qualcomm's Snapdragon dual-core CPU processors feature the mobile industry's first asynchronous dual core CPUs with speeds of up to 1.5GHz per core. Qualcomm's Snapdragon MSM8660 processors support advanced 3D pre-engineered solutions including full 1080p 30fps HD and stereoscopic 3D video capture and playback.
The Snapdragon dual-core MSM8x60 chipsets are already being designed into more than 60 devices by our partners, including more than 20 tablets. Currently there are more than 75 announced or commercially available Snapdragon smartphones or tablets (another 150 in development) such as:
· HTC ThunderBolt: first Snapdragon LTE smartphone; now available at Verizon.
· Sony Ericson Xperia PLAY: new gaming phone that leverages the power of Qualcomm's Adreno graphics chip; now available at Verizon.
· HP Touch Pad: first dual core Web OS tablet; available this summer.
With the AT&T/T-Mobile USA acquisition still hanging in the air, and a keynote this morning attended by Sprint, Verizon and AT&T execs but punctuated with no small number of barbs, it comes as little surprise that Sprint CEO Dan Hesse took a pot-shot at rival 4G networks during the Sprint CTIA 2011 keynote today. In among announcing the HTC EVO View 4G, Hesse pointedly highlighted that the WiMAX-enabled Flyer delivers “not faux-G, 4G” on his network.
The comment is a deliberate snub against rivals like AT&T and T-Mobile, who are currently using HSPA+ to deliver higher-than-3G speeds on their networks, and branding it 4G. As we ourselves discovered in our ATRIX 4G review, however, not all 4G flavors are created equal: Sprint’s WiMAX comfortably out-performs AT&T’s HSPA+.
Still, put back to back with Verizon’s LTE, and WiMAX starts to look less impressive; currently the CDMA rival leads the pack when it comes to throughput speeds. Hesse may have coined a cute soundbite, but the proof of the pudding is in the speed tests.
How smart can a set-top box get? If EchoStar are behind it then the answer is pretty darn smart indeed; the company’s new DVR, the EchoStar SlingLoaded HDS-600RS, pulls together not only live TV recording and time-shifting but media shifting using Slingbox technology. Initially intended for the UK freesat+ system, the HDS-600RS promises to push live and recorded content to your iPad, laptop and smartphone whether you’re at home or on the move. SlashGear caught up with the EchoStar team to find out more.
Video demo after the cut
The HDS-600RS does a lot, and there’s plenty of box to accommodate all that too. Measuring in at a hefty 386 x 280 x 58 mm, it follows the usual trapezoidal Slingbox style with red highlights. Up front is a 16-character LCD display and a row of nine touch-sensitive buttons, along with a USB 2.0 port and Smart Card reader. On the back, meanwhile, there’s HDMI, two SCARTs, S/PDIF digital audio, RCA audio, another USB port, 10/100 ethernet, twin RF inputs and the power port.
Inside, meanwhile, there are two DVB-S2 freesat+ tuners – allowing the HDS-600RS to record two channels simultaneously, or show live TV while recording another program – together with a 500GB hard-drive good for up to 300hrs of SD content or 100hrs of HD. Regular 576i SD broadcasts can be upscaled in-box to 720p or 1080i.
Rather than the more common – and more easily installed – Freeview standard, EchoStop opted for freesat+, which is subscription free but still demands a satellite dish be installed (or a leftover Sky dish be used). That, the company told us, was to bypass the “unregulated free-for-all” of budget Freeview boxes and DVRs as well as give the company more scope for launching the HDS-600RS hardware across Europe. With only minor – and relatively low cost – modifications, the DVR can be adapted to suit Germany, Italy, France and Spain, following the UK debut.
Of course the most interesting aspect of the new EchoStar box is its Sling functionality. Like the Slingbox Pro-HD, it can push content from its own tuners either within the home network or over the internet, using automatic quality-scaling to suit the capacity of whatever connection you’re working with. The HDS-600RS is particularly targeted at multiroom media addicts; 55- to 60-percent of Sling users funnel their content around the home rather than outside it, and EchoStar expect the DVR to be popular with young couples and small families who want to be able to pause TV in one room and resume playback elsewhere without the traditional hassle of setting up a distributed A/V system.
EchoStar SlingLoaded HDS-600RS demo:
The Sling component works with the company’s existing iPhone, iPad and Android apps, together with the web portal for notebooks and PCs. If you’d rather watch on a regular TV, there’s the SlingCatcher; that comes with its own remote, but the software viewers show the same on-screen UI as the main HDS-600RS itself. Since that’s being rendered on the DVR and then squirted over the wireless connection it can be a little slow to respond; we asked if there were plans to make a free-to-download remote app, similar to what Logitech and Sonos offer, to run on an iOS or Android smartphone, but currently EchoStar plans to stick with just the regular place-shifting apps.
That does mean you’ll have to pay a reasonably hefty fee per mobile device. The iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows Phone 7 and other apps are $29.99/£17.99 each (though you can install the iOS versions on up to five devices, as long as they’re registered to the same iTunes account) though the regular web portal is free. EchoStar is yet to confirm pricing for the HDS-600RS itself, though the box itself is expected to go on sale – initially in John Lewis retail stores and though Amazon online – from April 1, with pre-orders from tomorrow.
After that, EchoStar told us, they’d be looking to potential bundles, pairing the HDS-600RS with other Slingbox components. A “TV Two” style package is perhaps the most likely, with the PVR and a SlingCatcher. Meanwhile, the PVR itself is likely to see regular updates thanks to its expansible design; it will ship with BBC iPlayer support, and the company tells us other IPTV services will be added shortly after launch. Future plans could include pay-per-view or subscription streaming content, something which – when paired with Sling functionality – might mean an end to digital rentals going unwatched because they’re stuck on one device in your living room. If the HDS-600RS is popular enough, a Freeview HD version could also be on the cards.
Press Release:
EchoStar Europe launches the world's first Freesat+ digital television recorder with SlingLoaded® TV anywhere
London – 22 March, 2011: EchoStar Europe (www.echostar-europe.com), a leading developer of added value, connected device solutions to the digital television industry, announce their SlingLoaded® HDS-600RS, the world's first HD digital video recorder (DVR) to combine Freesat+ features with Sling Media's (www.slingmedia.com) unique place-shifting ability, enabling TV anywhere, on all popular smartphones and tablets*. The SlingLoaded feature enables users to watch and manage their live and recorded TV remotely anytime, anywhere, via 3G or Wi-Fi, with no additional monthly fees. With Freesat+, viewers get over 150 digital channels, including HD, On Demand services and the ability to pause, rewind and record TV, all subscription free. There's seamless access to catch-up TV including BBC iPlayer, with other connected TV services including ITV Net Player to follow. Once connected to home broadband, the EchoStar HDS-600RS will Sling live or recorded TV anywhere, to your iPhone®, iPad® or Android™ smartphones or tablets, and any device supported by SlingPlayer® Mobile* (www.uk.slingbox.com/go/spm), even to your Mac® or PC via SlingPlayer® (which can be accessed for free, online at www.uk.slingbox.com). This ensures that you'll never miss a moment of your favourite show, movie or sports event ever again. Throughout your home or around the world, you can truly Sling your TV anywhere. The EchoStar HDS-600RS delivers a host of viewing options; 'live pause and rewind', simultaneously watch one show and record another, and one touch series-link via the High Definition (HD) Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) all ensure that you'll never miss a show! The 500GB hard disk drive provides huge capacity to record up to 300 hours of Standard Definition (SD) programming or up to 100 hours of HD programming. You can even connect to a compatible Dolby® Digital home cinema amplifier, using the integrated Digital Audio Port, allowing you to enjoy cinema quality sound at home. All this is packaged in a stylish unit with a touch sensitive display. "For TV lovers everywhere, this is the ultimate combination of subscription free TV anywhere meeting digital television recording and connected TV", said Rhod Williams, General Manager of Echostar Europe. "We're bringing together the strengths of EchoStar and Sling Media Inc. to create a hybrid device that will give people the ultimate TV viewing experience; what they want, when they want and where they want it. With this industry first we're making TV anywhere a reality that delivers an enhanced user experience to consumers, with no monthly fees." Freesat Managing Director Emma Scott commented "This is a great partnership for us. It's our first foray into EchoStar's 'TV anywhere', and offers even more fantastic choice for our customers. Freesat has constantly evolved since launch and this paves the way for more exciting innovations in the future." The product will be available for purchase online at Amazon.co.uk and in-store and online at John Lewis (www.johnlewis.com) from 1st April 2011. Consumers can pre-order from Amazon.co.uk from 23rd March 2011. Please see retailers' websites for the latest pricing. For all of the latest product news and purchase information, please visit the new EchoStar consumer website www.myechostar.com.
At the Sprint event on Day 1 of CTIA 2011, a lovely humid Tuesday in Orlando, Florida, the stage was a round staircase leading up to two pedestals covered with golden sheets until whammo! They were thusly revealed. This is a 3G/4G Android tablet with dual cameras, video call functionality, high definition video capture on the back, a Flash-enabled email. On this 7-inch screen you be able to use the Scribe, a pen device that’ll work out of the box with this tablet – does this seem familiar to you? It’s because this is the US version of the HTC Flyer.
We got the opportunity to see this tablet back at Mobile World Congress 2011 under the alternate branding HTC Flyer, here it’ll be called the EVO View 4G and as far as we know, it’ll essentially be the same device save for the obvious carrier gut changes, but for details you can pretty much look back to the MWC 2011 release as far as we’ve been told at this keynote.
We’re going to land cruise over to the hands-on area to grab some close looks at this and the other fabulously new hardware revealed at this fashionable event. Hopefully we’ll be able to work with the screen and hold the device this time, as the device, or the Euro version at least, wasn’t quite prepared for a hands-on. Here’s hoping!
Press Release:
Sprint Introduces America's First 4G "Glasses-Free" Device with QHD 3D Display, HTC EVO 3D, Coming This Summer
Sprint also brings the popular and powerful HTC EVO experience to a 4G tablet, HTC EVO View 4G, this summer, with new digital pen technology that makes it possible to make notes on Web pages, ebooks, PDF documents and more, in an easy and natural way
ORLANDO, Fla. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 22, 2011 – As the first national wireless carrier to launch the groundbreaking data speeds of 4G, Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced the upcoming availability of its 21st and 22nd 4G-capable devices – HTC EVO™ 3D and HTC EVO View 4G™ on America's Favorite 4G Network.1 HTC EVO 3D takes the mobile multimedia experience to a new level, providing the ability to capture and view in 3D and share at 4G speeds, offering consumers the ultimate glasses-free 3D experience. Sprint also announced HTC EVO View 4G, introducing a tablet to the award-winning EVO family.
Both devices will be available for Sprint customers this summer. Pricing will be shared closer to launch. Pre-registration for both devices begins today at www.sprint.com/evo3d and www.sprint.com/evoview.
Built with the Gingerbread (2.3) version of Android™, HTC EVO 3D features America's first QHD 3D 4.3-inch display and a powerful 1.2 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® dual-core processor. HTC EVO 3D also features dual 5 megapixel cameras, which can be used to capture both high-quality conventional and stunning 3D images and videos, opening up new frontiers for user-generated content, social networking and streaming video.
"Sprint is taking wireless innovation to the next level once again as we bring our customers the ability to experience 3D on their phone without glasses," said Steve Elfman, president – Network Operations, Product and Wholesale, Sprint. "HTC EVO 3D makes it easy to take pictures or movies in 3D when you are on vacation, and then feel like you are there again when you view it months later. This device takes full advantage of Sprint's powerful 4G network and offers the innovation one would expect as the next benchmark device in the prestigious EVO product line."
As 3D has become more sought-after in both movie theaters and family rooms, the ability to enjoy 3D on a wireless phone – 3D glasses-free – will change the way customers interact with their devices. According to The NPD Group’s 3D 360° Monitor (September 2010), consumers show a high degree of interest in working with personal media in 3D (with one-third saying they would like to take photos in 3D). For details, visit http://www.3dmarkettrends.com.
The countless ways customers benefit from HTC EVO 3D's dynamic ability to capture and playback video in 3D include:
Real estate agents can create and share 3D virtual tours of homes that let out-of-town buyers "walk through" the house and truly experience the listings before they can see them live; Dad can feel like he is in the bleachers watching the ball leave the park for a home run even if he's forced to skip a Little League game because he is stuck at the office; 3D mapping of terrain will help build new and exciting features for navigation, and hikers will be able to get aerial views of the topography of rivers and mountains while in the backcountry; and Families can "relive" the excitement of their vacation and feel like they are there again. "At HTC, we believe in offering a wide portfolio of beautifully designed, powerful and highly customizable devices for our customers, and the HTC EVO portfolio at Sprint does just that," said Jason Mackenzie, president – HTC Americas. "As HTC continues to push the limits of innovation, we are looking forward to delivering the HTC EVO 3D and our first 4G tablet, the HTC EVO View 4G, to Sprint customers this summer."
According to ABI Research (Dec. 20, 2010) mobile 3D devices will be driven by three key applications: creation of user-generated 3D content by integrated video and still cameras, playback of 3D content and 3D gaming. It also anticipates that mobile devices may turn out to be the most successful form factor towards bringing 3D technology into mainstream markets.
With integrated 3D HD (720p) video capture, 4G speeds, and the latest version of the acclaimed HTC Sense experience, HTC EVO 3D makes it possible to become part of the action and then easily and seamlessly post high-quality video to YouTube™ or Facebook, or share moments in real time over the Internet live, via Qik. Its integrated DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) capability makes it fast and easy to share stored music, pictures and user-generated HD video wirelessly with other DLNA-certified® home electronics, including HDTVs, monitors, digital cameras, printers and more. Using an HDMI cable (sold separately) makes it possible to also share user-created 3D video content via a 3D TV.
Additional key features of HTC EVO 3D include:
1.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video chat 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability, supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 useful applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience Google mobile services such as Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, Google Calendar, Voice Actions, and YouTube™ Sprint's unique implementation of Google Voice, allowing customers to keep their Sprint number and seamlessly move to Google Voice Corporate e-mail (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®), personal (POP and IMAP) e-mail and instant messaging 4GB Internal memory/1GB RAM microSD slot (supports up to 32GB memory card) Wi-Fi – 802.11 b/g/n Stereo Bluetooth® Integrated GPS 1730 mAh Lithium-ion battery Blockbuster On Demand Provides Access to the Latest Movies
HTC EVO 3D will be the first 3D handset pre-loaded with the Blockbuster On Demand® mobile application that has access to one of the largest catalogs of movies, including 3D titles. This movie store in your pocket offers video optimized for viewing on HTC EVO 3D's 4.3-inch screen.
"Consumers want to watch the latest entertainment anywhere, anytime," said Scott Levine, vice president of Digital, Blockbuster. "Sprint and Blockbuster are taking the movie watching experience to the next level with enabling 3D on a smartphone."
Blockbuster On Demand offers the hottest new releases on the same day they become available on Blu-ray and DVD. Customers can buy or rent digitally and download directly to their smartphone, along with select 3D movies.
If a video isn't available digitally, Blockbuster also gives customers access to more than 100,000 movies and TV shows, as well as games, through store inventory at any of the Blockbuster stores nationwide. Also, Blockbuster® by Mail is another option for consumers. They can manage and update their mail queues from their phone, while on-the-go.
Blockbuster On Demand purchases can also be watched on other Blockbuster On Demand-compatible devices. Rentals range from $1.99 to $3.99 each, and purchases are $5.99 and up. Rentals will be available for viewing on one screen within 30 days of rental, with a 24-hour viewing period once the title is first played.
Bringing the EVO Experience to a Tablet
Sprint and HTC's first 3G/4G Android tablet together, HTC EVO View 4G, will bring the best of the HTC EVO experience into a tablet design with a 7-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen display with pinch-to-zoom, a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® processor and the latest version of HTC Sense. As the perfect combination e-reader, media player and portable computing device, HTC EVO View 4G offers a premium entertainment experience with HD-quality video and a rich Web-browsing experience with the ability to browse the Web on Flash-enabled sites.
With dual cameras – a main 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera – HTC EVO View 4G unleashes the ability to create, stream over the lightning-fast 4G network, share via YouTube™ or Facebook® and watch video with the Qik mobile app.
Although the sleek, aluminum-encased tablet weighs less than a paperback book, it is a powerful productivity tool for business customers and consumers. With lightning-fast 4G connectivity and a large touchscreen display, HTC EVO View 4G makes it even easier to manage e-mail, and its front-facing camera makes the Qik video chat application an easy and appealing way to conduct business while on-the-go.
Additional key features of HTC EVO View 4G include:
3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability, supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously Google mobile services such as Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps with Navigation, Voice Actions, and YouTube Corporate e-mail (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync), personal (POP and IMAP) e-mail and instant messaging Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 useful applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience Blockbuster On Demand® to rent or purchase the hottest new releases on the same day they become available on Blu-ray and DVD 32GB internal memory, 1GB RAM microSD slot (supports up to 32GB memory card) Wi-Fi b/g/n Bluetooth 3.0 Integrated GPS 4000 mAh Lithium-ion battery With HTC Scribe Technology™, HTC EVO View 4G will offer a new way to interact with a tablet. HTC Scribe Technology introduces a unique digital pen to the tablet experience and unlocks new capabilities. When combined with Evernote™, a leading notes application and service, the user will have the ability to capture and make notes on Web pages, ebooks, PDF documents and more, in an easy and natural way. Additionally, HTC Scribe enables enhanced voice-synchronized note taking using a feature called Timemark, making it possible to capture the audio of a meeting at the same time as written notes.
Also improving on the tablet experience, HTC EVO View 4G allows users to draw, take notes and highlight text on documents on the tablet with the HTC Scribe™ digital pen. Sold separately and available this summer, the enhanced functionality of the HTC Scribe brings creativity to life. For example, the user can draw a sketch or add notations and highlight paragraphs, while reading an eBook, review and comment on PDF documents and add casual comment on photos.
A Sprint developer guide for HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G will be available on the Sprint Application Developer website at launch. The developer guide will provide details and information on how to take advantage of their unique hardware and software capabilities, including 3D, HDMI output, DLNA and HTC Scribe Technology on the Sprint Network.
As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Sprint currently offers 4G service in 71 markets in 28 states. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.
HTC EVO View 4G fact sheet:
Bringing the award-winning EVO experience to a tablet
HTC EVO View 4G™ brings the best of the EVO experience to a sleek, easy-to-carry tablet design. As the perfect combination e-reader, media player and portable computing device, HTC EVO View 4G offers a 7-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen display with pinch-to-zoom for a premium entertainment experience with HD-quality video and rich Web browsing experience. It features two cameras – a 5.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera. With integrated HD-video (720p) capture and the 4G speeds of HTC EVO View 4G, slow uploads and grainy video are a thing of the past. Using HTC Scribe Technology™, HTC EVO View 4G will offer a new way to interact with a tablet. HTC Scribe introduces the HTC Scribe™ digital pen (sold separately) to the tablet experience and unlocks new capabilities. When combined with Evernote™, a leading notes application and service, the user will have the ability to capture and make notes on Web pages, ebooks, PDF documents and more, in an easy and natural way.
PRODUCTIVITY · Android operating system · HTC Scribe Technology enabling enhanced voice-synchronized note taking with the HTC Scribe digital pen using Timemark to capture the audio of a meeting at the same time as written notes · Google mobile services such as Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, Voice Actions and YouTube™ · Corporate email (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync), personal (POP & IMAP) email and instant messaging · 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability, supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously · Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 useful applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience · 4G data speeds (WiMAX) – peak download speeds of more than 10 Mbps; peak upload speeds of 1 Mbps; average download speeds of 3-6 Mbps · 3G data speeds (EVDO Rev A.) – peak download speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps; peak upload speeds of 1.8 Mbps; average download speeds of 600 kbps-1.4 Mbps · Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g/n) · Integrated GPS
ENTERTAINMENT · Dual cameras – a 5.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera – HTC EVO View 4G unleashes the ability to create, stream and watch video or video chat with the Qik mobile app · Blockbuster On Demand® to rent or purchase the hottest new releases on the same day they become available on Blu-ray and DVD · Sprint Zone, Sprint Mobile Wallet, Sprint Football Live, Sprint Family Locator, Sprint Navigation and NASCAR Sprint Cup MobileSM · Media player with 3.5 mm stereo headset jack · Stereo Bluetooth 3.0
SPECIFICATIONS · 1.5GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® Processor · Dimensions: 7.7 inches (195.4 mm) x 4.4 inches (112.5 mm) x 0.5 inches (13.2 mm) · Weight: 14.88 ounces (421.84 grams) · Display: 7-inch (177.8 mm), 1024 x 600 touchscreen display with pinch-to-zoom · 32GB internal memory, 1GB RAM; microSD slot (supports up to 32GB memory card) · Battery: 4000 mAh Lithium-ion battery
At a utterly lovely Sprint media event at CTIA 2011, gold and yellow tones abound, Sprint has announced what they hope will be a heavy contender in this massively competitive 2011 season for Android. It began with a lovely floaty Andy video in full 3D, showing him float about, transforming things from flat to 3D. It was instantly apparent that the device would be the next step in the EVO line. The first announcment was the HTC EVO 3D, the first 4G device with a dual-core and 3D capability with no glasses needed.
This device, they say, will be performing like a PC with gaming, movies, and all manner of video. 3D 5-megapixel camera on the back, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, a QHD display on the front, and hotspot enabled. The hotspot will work with 8 devices, this and the tablet announced making Sprint very obviously the the group with the most devices on what they consider 4G.
We’ll be grabbing some hands-on with this and the EVO View 4G in a few minutes, hopefully they’ll both be fully functional devices unlike what we experienced at Mobile World Congress 2011. Seeya there!
Press Release:
Sprint Introduces America's First 4G "Glasses-Free" Device with QHD 3D Display, HTC EVO 3D, Coming This Summer
Sprint also brings the popular and powerful HTC EVO experience to a 4G tablet, HTC EVO View 4G, this summer, with new digital pen technology that makes it possible to make notes on Web pages, ebooks, PDF documents and more, in an easy and natural way
ORLANDO, Fla. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 22, 2011 – As the first national wireless carrier to launch the groundbreaking data speeds of 4G, Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced the upcoming availability of its 21st and 22nd 4G-capable devices – HTC EVO™ 3D and HTC EVO View 4G™ on America's Favorite 4G Network.1 HTC EVO 3D takes the mobile multimedia experience to a new level, providing the ability to capture and view in 3D and share at 4G speeds, offering consumers the ultimate glasses-free 3D experience. Sprint also announced HTC EVO View 4G, introducing a tablet to the award-winning EVO family.
Both devices will be available for Sprint customers this summer. Pricing will be shared closer to launch. Pre-registration for both devices begins today at www.sprint.com/evo3d and www.sprint.com/evoview.
Built with the Gingerbread (2.3) version of Android™, HTC EVO 3D features America's first QHD 3D 4.3-inch display and a powerful 1.2 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® dual-core processor. HTC EVO 3D also features dual 5 megapixel cameras, which can be used to capture both high-quality conventional and stunning 3D images and videos, opening up new frontiers for user-generated content, social networking and streaming video.
"Sprint is taking wireless innovation to the next level once again as we bring our customers the ability to experience 3D on their phone without glasses," said Steve Elfman, president – Network Operations, Product and Wholesale, Sprint. "HTC EVO 3D makes it easy to take pictures or movies in 3D when you are on vacation, and then feel like you are there again when you view it months later. This device takes full advantage of Sprint's powerful 4G network and offers the innovation one would expect as the next benchmark device in the prestigious EVO product line."
As 3D has become more sought-after in both movie theaters and family rooms, the ability to enjoy 3D on a wireless phone – 3D glasses-free – will change the way customers interact with their devices. According to The NPD Group’s 3D 360° Monitor (September 2010), consumers show a high degree of interest in working with personal media in 3D (with one-third saying they would like to take photos in 3D). For details, visit http://www.3dmarkettrends.com.
The countless ways customers benefit from HTC EVO 3D's dynamic ability to capture and playback video in 3D include:
Real estate agents can create and share 3D virtual tours of homes that let out-of-town buyers "walk through" the house and truly experience the listings before they can see them live; Dad can feel like he is in the bleachers watching the ball leave the park for a home run even if he's forced to skip a Little League game because he is stuck at the office; 3D mapping of terrain will help build new and exciting features for navigation, and hikers will be able to get aerial views of the topography of rivers and mountains while in the backcountry; and Families can "relive" the excitement of their vacation and feel like they are there again. "At HTC, we believe in offering a wide portfolio of beautifully designed, powerful and highly customizable devices for our customers, and the HTC EVO portfolio at Sprint does just that," said Jason Mackenzie, president – HTC Americas. "As HTC continues to push the limits of innovation, we are looking forward to delivering the HTC EVO 3D and our first 4G tablet, the HTC EVO View 4G, to Sprint customers this summer."
According to ABI Research (Dec. 20, 2010) mobile 3D devices will be driven by three key applications: creation of user-generated 3D content by integrated video and still cameras, playback of 3D content and 3D gaming. It also anticipates that mobile devices may turn out to be the most successful form factor towards bringing 3D technology into mainstream markets.
With integrated 3D HD (720p) video capture, 4G speeds, and the latest version of the acclaimed HTC Sense experience, HTC EVO 3D makes it possible to become part of the action and then easily and seamlessly post high-quality video to YouTube™ or Facebook, or share moments in real time over the Internet live, via Qik. Its integrated DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) capability makes it fast and easy to share stored music, pictures and user-generated HD video wirelessly with other DLNA-certified® home electronics, including HDTVs, monitors, digital cameras, printers and more. Using an HDMI cable (sold separately) makes it possible to also share user-created 3D video content via a 3D TV.
Additional key features of HTC EVO 3D include:
1.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video chat 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability, supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 useful applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience Google mobile services such as Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, Google Calendar, Voice Actions, and YouTube™ Sprint's unique implementation of Google Voice, allowing customers to keep their Sprint number and seamlessly move to Google Voice Corporate e-mail (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®), personal (POP and IMAP) e-mail and instant messaging 4GB Internal memory/1GB RAM microSD slot (supports up to 32GB memory card) Wi-Fi – 802.11 b/g/n Stereo Bluetooth® Integrated GPS 1730 mAh Lithium-ion battery Blockbuster On Demand Provides Access to the Latest Movies
HTC EVO 3D will be the first 3D handset pre-loaded with the Blockbuster On Demand® mobile application that has access to one of the largest catalogs of movies, including 3D titles. This movie store in your pocket offers video optimized for viewing on HTC EVO 3D's 4.3-inch screen.
"Consumers want to watch the latest entertainment anywhere, anytime," said Scott Levine, vice president of Digital, Blockbuster. "Sprint and Blockbuster are taking the movie watching experience to the next level with enabling 3D on a smartphone."
Blockbuster On Demand offers the hottest new releases on the same day they become available on Blu-ray and DVD. Customers can buy or rent digitally and download directly to their smartphone, along with select 3D movies.
If a video isn't available digitally, Blockbuster also gives customers access to more than 100,000 movies and TV shows, as well as games, through store inventory at any of the Blockbuster stores nationwide. Also, Blockbuster® by Mail is another option for consumers. They can manage and update their mail queues from their phone, while on-the-go.
Blockbuster On Demand purchases can also be watched on other Blockbuster On Demand-compatible devices. Rentals range from $1.99 to $3.99 each, and purchases are $5.99 and up. Rentals will be available for viewing on one screen within 30 days of rental, with a 24-hour viewing period once the title is first played.
Bringing the EVO Experience to a Tablet
Sprint and HTC's first 3G/4G Android tablet together, HTC EVO View 4G, will bring the best of the HTC EVO experience into a tablet design with a 7-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen display with pinch-to-zoom, a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® processor and the latest version of HTC Sense. As the perfect combination e-reader, media player and portable computing device, HTC EVO View 4G offers a premium entertainment experience with HD-quality video and a rich Web-browsing experience with the ability to browse the Web on Flash-enabled sites.
With dual cameras – a main 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera – HTC EVO View 4G unleashes the ability to create, stream over the lightning-fast 4G network, share via YouTube™ or Facebook® and watch video with the Qik mobile app.
Although the sleek, aluminum-encased tablet weighs less than a paperback book, it is a powerful productivity tool for business customers and consumers. With lightning-fast 4G connectivity and a large touchscreen display, HTC EVO View 4G makes it even easier to manage e-mail, and its front-facing camera makes the Qik video chat application an easy and appealing way to conduct business while on-the-go.
Additional key features of HTC EVO View 4G include:
3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability, supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously Google mobile services such as Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps with Navigation, Voice Actions, and YouTube Corporate e-mail (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync), personal (POP and IMAP) e-mail and instant messaging Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 useful applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience Blockbuster On Demand® to rent or purchase the hottest new releases on the same day they become available on Blu-ray and DVD 32GB internal memory, 1GB RAM microSD slot (supports up to 32GB memory card) Wi-Fi b/g/n Bluetooth 3.0 Integrated GPS 4000 mAh Lithium-ion battery With HTC Scribe Technology™, HTC EVO View 4G will offer a new way to interact with a tablet. HTC Scribe Technology introduces a unique digital pen to the tablet experience and unlocks new capabilities. When combined with Evernote™, a leading notes application and service, the user will have the ability to capture and make notes on Web pages, ebooks, PDF documents and more, in an easy and natural way. Additionally, HTC Scribe enables enhanced voice-synchronized note taking using a feature called Timemark, making it possible to capture the audio of a meeting at the same time as written notes.
Also improving on the tablet experience, HTC EVO View 4G allows users to draw, take notes and highlight text on documents on the tablet with the HTC Scribe™ digital pen. Sold separately and available this summer, the enhanced functionality of the HTC Scribe brings creativity to life. For example, the user can draw a sketch or add notations and highlight paragraphs, while reading an eBook, review and comment on PDF documents and add casual comment on photos.
A Sprint developer guide for HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G will be available on the Sprint Application Developer website at launch. The developer guide will provide details and information on how to take advantage of their unique hardware and software capabilities, including 3D, HDMI output, DLNA and HTC Scribe Technology on the Sprint Network.
As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Sprint currently offers 4G service in 71 markets in 28 states. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.
HTC EVO™ 3D fact sheet:
Enjoy 3D without glasses on the go
Exclusively from Sprint, HTC EVO 3D is America's first 4G smartphone with a 4.3 inch 3D QHD display that allows users to capture, record and playback in 3D – without having to wear 3D glasses. With the latest version of the acclaimed HTC Sense user experience and powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), HTC EVO 3D is ideal for users who want to both stream video and generate their own video experience to record life's moments, view them in 3D and share them easily. Users can quickly download movies, create user generated content and enjoy a Flash-enabled web browsing experience using the speed of the 3G/4G network and the power a 1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon® processor. HTC EVO 3D takes full advantage of Sprint's powerful 4G network and offers the innovation one would expect as the next benchmark device in the prestigious EVO product line.
PRODUCTIVITY · Industry-leading 4.3-inch 3D QHD display with pinch-to-zoom and tactile feedback · 3G/4G capability · 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core processor · World-class HTML browser – bandwidth and quality that rival that of netbooks · Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and the latest version of HTC Sense, an acclaimed user experience, which includes Friend Stream to integrate Facebook, Twitter and more into a single flow of updates · Simultaneous voice and data capability in 4G and Wi-Fi coverage areas, enabling Web surfing and more while talking · GoogleTM mobile services, including Google SearchTM, Google MapsTM, Google TalkTM, GmailTM, YouTubeTM , and syncs with Google CalendarTM, as well as access to Google Goggles™ to search with pictures instead of words · 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously · Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 useful applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience
ENTERTAINMENT · Download, edit and share HD-quality content directly from the device · Dual 5 megapixel cameras, to capture 3D video and images and a 1.3MP front-facing camera, that together open up a new frontier for user generated content, social networking and streaming video · Access to 3D version of Blockbuster OnDemand app with access to 2D and 3D movies, TV shows and games for rent or purchase and download · Video chat service available as an upgrade to the pre-loaded Qik app to enable conversational, interactive, real-time sharing between mobile devices or from mobile-to-desktop · Capture video in HD quality, 2D at 1080p and 3D at 720p · Output HD content to a compatible TV using HDMI or DLNA · Media player with 3.5mm stereo headset jack · Sprint applications including Sprint Zone, Sprint TV & Movies®, Sprint Football Live, Sprint Navigation and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile · Stereo Bluetooth® · Built-in Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n
SPECIFICATIONS · Dimensions: 5.0″ x 2.6″ x .48″ (LxWxT) · Weight: 6 ounces · Main display: 4.3-inch 3D QHD capacitive display (960 x 540) · Battery life: TBD · Standard removable 1730 mAh Lithium-ion battery · Memory: 4GB Internal memory/1GB RAM; Expandable memory: 8GB microSD card included; supports up to 32GB
It’s CTIA 2011 day one, and we’re waiting for Sprint‘s keynote to begin and the company’s latest and greatest products to take the stage. We’ve already seen Samsung’s new tablets, and we’re expecting the HTC EVO View 4G to be Sprint’s latest tablet, a version of the HTC Flyer. 3D is also on the cards, and in fact we’ve just been handed a pair of 3D glasses…
That would certainly fit in with the other device rumor of the morning, that Sprint will bring out the HTC EVO 3D, the flagship replacement to the HTC EVO 4G with a dual-core processor and a 3D display. The handset itself is expected to use an auto-stereoscopic, “glasses free” panel, but we’re assuming Sprint will be showing us some 3D footage recorded with the camera during the keynote.
We’ll be bringing you all the news as it’s announced, so stay glued to SlashGear and don’t forget to let us know what you think of the new products in the comments! Is 3D a gimmick or something you’re looking for on your next smartphone?
Update: Looks like there are only two products on the menu this morning, going by the covered stands on the podium.
Ahead of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Sprint today announced that they will be offering a new safe-driving mobile solution later this year. Dubbed “Drive First,” the program will help wireless customers more safely manage their mobile devices while behind the wheel.
So how does Sprint Drive First work to keep you safer while driving? When driving is detected, the service will automatically lock your cell phone screen and redirect calls to voicemail. It will block text-message alerts and auto-respond to the message sender that you are currently driving. The only access allowed will be to three key contacts and three mobile applications, such as GPS. Parents or business administrators will get access to a web portal that allows them to configure the Drive First for the mobile devices of their teens or employees.
Sprint will demo Drive First at CTIA Wireless 2011. The service will be available in the third quarter of 2011 for Android phones and will cost $2 per month for each device (excluding surcharges and taxes).
Press Release:
Sprint Introduces New Mobile Solution to Combat Distracted Driving
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 22, 2011 – In the lead-up to National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Sprint (NYSE:S) CEO Dan Hesse today announced to attendees at the International CTIA WIRELESS 2011 Show that Sprint later this year will offer Sprint® Drive FirstTM – the wireless carrier's first safe-driving solution to help wireless consumers safely manage their mobile devices and focus on driving while they're behind the wheel.
"As a parent, I am proud that Sprint is offering distracted driving solutions like Sprint Drive First, which effectively helps wireless customers manage their usage, stay safe behind the wheel and focus their attention on driving," Hesse said. "As mobile data usage continues to grow in popularity, Sprint wants to ensure its wireless consumers engage in safe behavior for themselves and others."
Sprint plans to make Drive First available in the third quarter of 2011 on AndroidTM mobile phones for Sprint customers and will require a $2-per-month charge (excluding surcharges and taxes) for each device that utilizes its features.
Created by Location Labs, Sprint Drive First is designed to do the following when driving is detected:
* Lock the driver's cell phone screen and redirect calls to voice mail. * Block text-message alerts and auto-respond to the message sender that the driver is currently unavailable. * Allow access to three key contacts and three mobile applications, such as GPS navigation. * Give parents and business administrators Web portal access to configure Drive First for their teens' or employees' mobile devices.
"Location Labs continues to develop best-of-breed personal and family safety services that unlock the power of smart devices for users of all ages," said Location Labs CEO Tasso Roumeliotis. "We are thrilled to partner with Sprint, which is once again showing a real commitment to family and personal safety by offering DriveFirst to Sprint customers."
Attendees at the International CTIA WIRELESS 2011 Show can demo Sprint Drive First and other distracted driving solutions at the "Sprint Innovation Station" in the exhibitor hall.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and along with Sprint Drive First, Sprint will introduce a new interactive distracted-driving pledge that Sprint customers will be able to access online.
Since 2005, Sprint has advocated on behalf of its customers and employees on the dangers of distracted driving and worked with schools, nonprofit organizations and product developers to combat texting while driving. Sprint also has been an advocate for its employee pledge to not text and drive.
Sprint recently participated in an episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover:Home Edition (Sundays, 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT) that focused on distracted driving – donating more than $100,000 in mobile devices, wireless service and a monetary contribution to the Brown family of Wellman, Texas, in connection with the Remember Alex Brown Foundation.
More information on Sprint's distracted driving efforts can be found at sprint.com/focusondriving. At this site visitors can access a database of useful distracted-driving mobile applications, and find other helpful resources on responsible driving behavior.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 49.9 million customers at the end of 2010 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
Buffalo has just launched the new piano-black MiniStation and DriveStation external hard drives. The MiniStation is USB powered, so there is no need for an additional power cable. It is available in 500GB or 1TB. The DriveStation comes in both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 versions, and offers 1, 2, or 3TBs of storage. Both are available now. Read on past the break for more details about these new drives.
The MiniStation is priced at $49.99 for 500GB, and $99.99 for 1TB. The 500GB version measures 1.8 x 5.1 x 6.7 inches and weighs 12.8 ounces. The 1TB version is only slightly larger, at 2 x 5.9 x 8.7 inches, and weighs 8.5 ounces. Either of these would be very easy to carry around to provide extra storage for music, photos, or files.
The DriveStation is available in 1TB or 2TB of storage with USB 2.0, they are $85.99 for 1TB and $107.89 for 2TB. The faster, USB 3.0 drives are $129.50 for 2TB and $94.56 for 3TB.
Prices are quoted from Amazon.com. And no product release is complete without a company quote, so here it is: "Product innovation and engineering excellence have always been at the heart of Buffalo's core values," said Paul Hudson, Sales Director Northern Europe at Buffalo Technology. "Continuing in this tradition, Buffalo is launching a new desktop and portable storage family, providing a balanced blend of reliability, performance and styling at accessible prices for today's ever growing storage needs."
Press release below, along with more photos:
Buffalo unveils sleek piano-black MiniStation and DriveStation London UK, 22 March 2011 – Buffalo Technology, a global leader in the design, development and manufacturing of storage and wireless networking solutions, has announced a stylish design for its external storage range.
Available now, the glossy, piano-black MiniStation portable device and the DriveStation desktop hard drive, will allow users to add additional external storage to any computer or laptop simply using a USB port.
MiniStation The smooth, lightweight and portable MiniStation is USB powered, meaning there is no additional power supply needed. Available in 500GB and 1.0TB, the MiniStation offers a compact, stylish solution that enables users to store, back up and transport digital images, music and other files without taking up additional storage space from your PC's hard drive.
The black glossy DriveStation comes in both USB 2.0 for the price conscious consumer and USB 3.0 for users wanting faster transfer speeds and automatic backup. The easy to use, plug-and-play device is pre-formatted meaning it is available for immediate use. Not only is it silent, the auto installation and auto power on/off means you can quickly store, access, and transfer files, digital images, documents, and perform back-ups. This single drive device can be positioned vertically or horizontally, conveniently allowing for an efficient use of space. The DriveStation can be purchased in 1TB or 2TB for the USB 2.0 version and 1TB, 2TB and 3TB for the USB 3.0 version.
"Product innovation and engineering excellence have always been at the heart of Buffalo's core values," said Paul Hudson, Sales Director Northern Europe at Buffalo Technology. "Continuing in this tradition, Buffalo is launching a new desktop and portable storage family, providing a balanced blend of reliability, performance and styling at accessible prices for today's ever growing storage needs."
Nokia looks to be hitting the ground running with up to four Windows Phone 7 handsets already in the R&D pipeline. The Phones are rumored to be based on Nokia’s “Chasis 1″ with a 1Ghz processor and capacitive touch screens. The other two mid range phones will be worked into “Chasis 2″ with a slower 800 Mhz processor and resistive screens. In addition, Nokia’s rumored Windows tablet entry won’t be out until 2012 and will feature a full version of Windows 8, rather than the lean and mean Phone mobile OS. But others think that MeeGo isn’t dead and may find a home in the tablet interface.
The rumor comes from Eldar, a noted critic of the Nokia/Microsoft deal, who has a hit and miss track record when it comes to story leakage, so it should be considered as a pure rumor, especially when dividing up the phones into touch screen and non touch categories makes little sense to Windows Phone 7 fans. It doesn’t take long looking Eldar’s hit and miss track record is likely missing on at least part of this story. Users think it would be a stupid move to fragment the Windows Phone 7 market with a design that would frustrate the core finger friendly interface of WP7 in favor of a stylus phone design. Who would really want to carry around a pen in their pocket?
It would seem that if resistant screens were doing to find their way into the mix, it would more likely be with the tablet. But with multitouch so standard on tablets now, wouldn’t that be a giant step backwards for Microsoft and Nokia trying to compete in an already hyper competitive market? That’s where the talk of maybe MeeGo staying alive gains ground, especially since it’s Reuters who’s making that assertion. As with any rumor, the answer usually poses more questions. We’ll certainly be paying close attention to what Nokia has in store as time marches on.
In an attempt to further appeal to consumers and downplay its business-only image, RIM is now offering free BlackBerry Protect service for all BlackBerry users. The service, previously only available to enterprise users, allows users to locate, back up and remotely wipe their handsets. BlackBerry Protect is now in open beta, and can be downloaded from the BlackBerry App World.
The company no doubt is trying to match Apple’s MobileMe for iPhone and iPad. The service of course isn’t the same as what is offered for companies running their own BlackBerry Enterprise Server, but it does offer convenient features, such as only backing up when Wi-Fi is available, an extra loud ring for when your handset has vanished to parts unknown in your house or car, and GPS for a mapped location of your phone. If the handset is lost in earnest, you can lock it, display return information on the screen, and remotely wipe data.
The app has been in closed beta since December, and now is available from BlackBerry App World, under the name “BlackBerry Protect”. RIM hasn’t said whether the app will remain free, though keeping it so would most likely benefit them. The app will also fit well with the RIM’s PlayBook tablet.
Verizon had promised a rapid roll-out of LTE, and the carrier is doing its level best to deliver on that. A further 59 markets have been added to the roadmap, all tipped to get 4G service by the end of the year. That will take Verizon’s coverage to 147 US cities, promised on average 5-12 Mbps downloads and 2-5 Mbps uploads.
As we saw in our HTC Thunderbolt review, those estimates aren’t over-ambitious either, and – as long as you have the power supply to back it up – right now Verizon’s LTE is perhaps the fastest way to get online when mobile. There’s a full list of the newly added markets in the press release below.
Press Release:
Verizon Wireless Brings 4G LTE To More Than 145 Markets By The End Of 2011
03/22/2011
BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Today, Verizon Wireless unveiled an additional 59 markets that will benefit from the world's first large-scale 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network by the end of this year. These newly named areas, added to the 39 initial markets launched in December 2010 and 49 markets announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, mean that consumers and businesses in at least 147 U.S. cities will have access to the fastest, most advanced 4G mobile network in America.
David Small, chief technical officer for Verizon Wireless, said, "Aggressively expanding this powerful network beyond major metro areas reflects the reality that the 4G LTE ecosystem is growing quickly. Our commitment to reach deep into medium-sized cities and smaller communities by the end of 2011 means the power of 4G LTE can be harnessed and provide advanced services to law enforcement, healthcare workers, educators, and other professionals, as well as to individual consumers, sooner than many thought possible. So whether you spend time in New York and San Francisco, or Harrisburg, Penn., Saginaw/Bay City, Mich., Huntsville, Ala. and Las Cruces, New Mexico, you can connect to the most advanced 4G network in the country."
The HTC ThunderBolt™, launched Thursday, March 17, is the first in a suite of consumer-oriented smartphones, tablets, hotspots and notebooks that will run on Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network by the middle of this year. The new consumer devices join two USB modems from Pantech and LG which have been providing laptop users with speeds up to 10 times faster than the company's 3G network. In real-world, fully-loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.
Verizon Wireless is building its 4G LTE network with the same commitment to performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized. Verizon Wireless' consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year. The company's 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.
Verizon Wireless is also working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless' core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700 MHz spectrum. Already, six rural companies have signed on to leverage Verizon Wireless' scale for infrastructure while keeping their customers on the cutting edge of technology.
Since 2007, when Verizon Wireless jump-started the global 4G LTE ecosystem with its selection of LTE for its 4G technology, the company has developed deep partnerships to spearhead a broad LTE ecosystem, including the LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., and an LTE Applications Center, slated to open in San Francisco this fall.
Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network already reaches 110 million people, more than one-third of all Americans, and is available today in the following metropolitan areas:
Phoenix, Ariz. Los Angeles, Calif. Oakland, Calif. San Diego, Calif. San Francisco, Calif. San Jose, Calif. Denver, Colo. Washington, D.C. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Miami, Fla. Orlando, Fla. Tampa, Fla. West Palm Beach, Fla. Athens, Ga. Atlanta, Ga. Chicago, Ill. West Lafayette, Ind. New Orleans, La. Baltimore, Md. Boston, Mass. Detroit, Mich. Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. St. Louis, Mo. Las Vegas, Nev. New York, N.Y. Rochester, N.Y. Charlotte, N.C. Akron, Ohio Cincinnati, Ohio Cleveland, Ohio Columbus, Ohio Oklahoma City, Okla. Philadelphia, Pa. Pittsburgh, Pa. Nashville, Tenn. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas Houston, Texas San Antonio, Texas Seattle/Tacoma, Wash. Additional areas to be covered by Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network in 2011 include:
Decatur, Ala. Huntsville, Ala.* Mobile, Ala.* Montgomery, Ala.* Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark. Fort Smith, Ark. Little Rock, Ark.* Tucson, Ariz. Bakersfield, Calif. Fresno, Calif. Modesto, Calif. Sacramento, Calif. Salinas-Monterey, Calif. San Luis Obispo, Calif. Santa Barbara, Calif. Stockton, Calif. Colorado Springs, Colo.* Fort Collins, Colo. Fairfield, Conn. Hartford, Conn. New Haven, Conn. Daytona Beach, Fla. Fort Myers, Fla. Gainesville, Fla.* Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.* Pensacola, Fla.* Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.* Tallahassee, Fla.* Augusta, Ga.* Hilo, Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii* Kahului-Wailuku, Hawaii* Lahaina, Hawaii* Davenport, Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Boise-Nampa, Idaho* Bloomington/Normal, Ill. Carbondale, Ill.* Champaign, Ill. Rockford, Ill. Springfield, Ill. Fort Wayne, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind. Lafayette, Ind. Wichita, Kan.* Louisville, Ky. Baton Rouge, La.* Hammond, La.* Springfield, Mass. Worcester, Mass. Hagerstown, Md. Flint, Mich.* Grand Rapids, Mich. Lansing, Mich. Saginaw-Bay City, Mich. Starkville, Miss. Asheville-Henderson, N.C. Fayetteville-Lumberton, N.C.* Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, N.C.* Raleigh-Durham, N.C.* Wilmington, N.C.* Fargo, N.D. Omaha, Neb. Albuquerque, N.M. Las Cruces, N.M. Santa Fe, N.M. Reno, Nev. Albany, N.Y. Ithaca, N.Y. Syracuse, N.Y. Dayton-Springfield, Ohio* Lima, Ohio Toledo, Ohio Tulsa, Okla.* Portland, Ore. Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa. Erie, Pa.* Harrisburg, Pa. Johnstown, Pa. Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Pa. State College, Pa.* Charleston, S.C.* Columbia, S.C.* Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.* Hilton Head, S.C.* Sioux Falls, S.D.* Chattanooga, Tenn.* Clarksville, Tenn.* Cleveland, Tenn.* Dyersburg-Union City, Tenn. Jackson, Tenn. Kingsport-Johnson City, Tenn.-Bristol, Va.* Knoxville, Tenn.* Memphis, Tenn.* Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas* Bryan-College Station, Texas* El Paso, Texas Temple-Killeen, Texas Provo-Orem, Utah* Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah* Olympia, Wash.* Centralia, Wash.* Spokane, Wash. Charleston, W.Va.* Madison, Wis.* Milwaukee, Wis.* * Indicates a metro area previously announced in 2011
Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network.
Mozilla has released Firefox 4, and it’s got a new streamlined designs with some pretty slick features. The new version of the popular open source browser is available for all Windows, OSX and Linux platforms in more than 80 languages. It will also be coming to Android smartphones in the near future. Let’s take a look at some of the design changes and new features …
First, Firefox has been redesigned with a new look that places web content on the center stage. App tabs are still at the heart of the interface, but Mozilla has also introduced a cool new Panorama feature which makes it easier to navigate multiple pages. It has enhanced the JavaScript engine to speed up both start up and page load times, up to six times faster than the previous version. Security wise, Firefox provides fortified security features like Do Not Track and Content Security which gives users greater control over their personal data and protect it from being used online.
Firefox also introduces the “Awesome Bar,” which is designed to make it easier to move to another webpage tab without opening duplicate tabs. Panorama takes tabs and drags and drops them into a group interface to manage them with greater ease. The new JavaScript Engine employs the JägerMonkey JIT compiler, enhancements to the existing TraceMonkey JIT and SpiderMonkey's interpreter in concert to make page for greater speed and performance of Web apps and games. HTML 5 support is native to Firefox as well, with hardware acceleration for enjoying high definition videos on the web, 3D graphics, offline data storage and incorporates touchscreen interface support.
And now, when a plugin like Adobe Flash crashes, users won’t have to restart Firefox. Users can simply reload the page to restart the plugin. There’s also improved support for CSS, Canvas and SVG for web developers who want to keep their web sites on the cutting edge. There are also over 200,000 add-ons available continuing Firefox’s tradition of making the browser fully customizable and a personal experience. Users can download Firefox 4 at GetFirefox.com.
Samsung’s announcement of a reworked Galaxy Tab 10.1 at CTIA 2011 this morning prompted no small amount of confusion, given European carrier Vodafone has already picked up the original design as shown at MWC 2011 last month. We’ve just confirmed that Vodafone’s version will launch as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1V and will have a couple of key differences to today’s new model.
For a start, it will use the older design that we looked at last month. That means it’ll be around 2.3mm thicker than the waifish 8.6mm Galaxy Tab 10.1, but therefore be able to accommodate the original 8-megapixel rear autofocus camera, rather than the new version’s 3-megapixel camera.
On the software side, the 10.1V will come without the new TouchWiz widgets and UI enhancements, instead getting a pretty much stock Android 3.0 Honeycomb build. That could mean faster access to future Gingerbread releases. Vodafone says the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is “coming soon.”
Samsung’s venture arm has invested $15m in a 3D specialist, seemingly part of an attempt to compete with LG’s Optimus 3D in the auto-stereoscopic segment. MasterImage 3D create glasses-free 3D LCD displays as well as 3D content-creation tools for mobile devices, and is responsible for the development of the cell-matrix parallax barrier which, the company claims, delivers “a higher quality 3D experience than striped and lenticular approaches.”
Now, there’s no telling what Samsung expects to come of the investment, but with LG pushing out a glasses-free 3D smartphone and equipping the T-Mobile G-Slate with a 3D camera array, it seems likely it’s looking to develop a system of its own. MasterImage 3D is also apparently working on larger autostereoscopic panels, perhaps suitable for laptops, together with 3D camera technology.
Press Release:
MasterImage 3D Announces $15M Strategic Investment by Samsung Ventures
–Investment Substantiates MasterImage 3D Leadership, Supports Companies’ Shared Vision for 3D on Every Screen–
Hollywood, CA (March 22, 2011) – 3D technology company, MasterImage 3D, Inc. announced today that it has received a $15M investment from Samsung Ventures. MasterImage 3D provides auto-stereoscopic 3D displays and 3D content creation tools for mobile devices, and 3D digital cinema solutions.
MasterImage 3D invented, patented and mass-produced the cell-matrix parallax barrier, the leading 3D technology for auto-stereoscopic mobile display, which offers a higher quality 3D experience than striped and lenticular approaches. The company enabled one of the world’s first glasses-free 3D mobile phones and is in development to deliver additional smartphones and tablets equipped with its 3D displays in 2011. MasterImage 3D digital cinema systems are installed in nearly 60 countries, following a year of over 300% growth.
“Samsung’s investment supports our strong belief that we’ve just begun to realize the impact 3D will have on consumers,” said Younghoon Lee, Chairman and CEO of MasterImage 3D. “We are committing this investment to innovation — specifically, to advancing our 3D solutions for cinema, smartphones, tablets, and larger autostereoscopic displays. We will continue to build toward our vision of 3D on every screen.”
Ilseok Yoon, Managing Director of Samsung Ventures America, said, “Our investment in MasterImage 3D is consistent with our strategy to work closely with established market leaders. The company was early to market with auto-stereoscopic 3D mobile displays and has built a significant business in 3D cinema. MasterImage 3D has demonstrated both a technical and business vision in driving adoption of 3D and we look forward to contributing to the progress MasterImage 3D has made in all facets of consumer entertainment and communication.”
About Samsung Venture Investment Corporation Samsung Venture Investment Corporation manages investment and investment-related activities for Samsung affiliate companies. The investment mandate for Samsung Venture Investment Corporation tracks closely to the strategic priorities of Samsung affiliate companies’ core operating divisions, and encompasses investments in semiconductors, displays, telecommunications, and consumer electronics.
About MasterImage 3D, Inc. MasterImage 3D, Inc. is a 3D technology company that provides pioneering solutions for theaters, mobile devices and gaming. With digital 3D cinema systems installed in 57 countries, MasterImage 3D is a fast-growing digital 3D cinema system supplier, offering audiences the clearest, sharpest 3D experience while providing exhibitors with a compelling ownership-based pricing model. The company invented, patented and mass-produced the cell-matrix parallax barrier, the leading 3D technology for auto-stereoscopic mobile display. It enabled one of the world’s first glasses-free 3D mobile phones and is in development for devices in 2011. Its 3D camera ASIC empowers users to create 3D content. Founded in 2004, the company is privately held and headquartered in Hollywood, with offices in the UK, Tokyo and Seoul. http://www.masterimage3d.com
Samsung has officially priced and dated its new Galaxy Tab models, and it seems the company may be the first Android tablet manufacturer to actually compete with the iPad/iPad 2 on sticker price. With a $499 entry-price for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi, matching the baseline for the iPad 2, and the promise of the Galaxy Tab 8.9 actually undercutting the Apple slate by $30, we may for once be looking at a more level playing field for tablet consumers.
Like the iPad 2, both the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 8.9 will come in WiFi-only versions with 16GB or 32GB of internal storage (both are also expected to have a 64GB model, according to the spec sheets). Pricing is $499 and $599 for the 10.1-incher, respectively, and $469 and $569 for the 8.9-incher; the latter also offers more pixels than the Apple tablet, at 1280 x 800 versus 1024 x 600.
Of course, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 isn’t expected to go on sale until June 8 – the prototypes we tried at CTIA 2011 were definitely in need of some significant polish – and the 8.9-inch model won’t arrive until sometime over the summer. That gives Apple several months to soak up new tablet buyers with the iPad 2, a model so popular the company can’t keep it on shelves for longer than a few minutes. Still, it lays down the gauntlet for other Honeycomb tablet manufacturers as well; the Android slate segment is predicted to grow significantly in 2011, and Samsung is making an early play to ensure it has the lion’s share of it.
As we expected, Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy Tab 8.9, its 8.9-inch Android 3.0 Honeycomb slate that slots in-between the original 7-inch Galaxy Tab and the larger Galaxy Tab 10.1 which also makes its US debut at CTIA 2011 this week. Billed as the “world’s thinnest mobile tablets” at 8.6mm thick – the iPad 2 is 8.8mm thick, for comparison – the Galaxy Tab 8.9 tips the scales at 470g but still has a 1280 x 800 touchscreen, 1GHz dual-core processor and twin cameras. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 has been back into the engineering labs since we saw it in Barcelona last month, shedding some bulk to better compete with the iPad 2.
The first iteration of Galaxy Tab 10.1 measured in at 246.2 x 170.4 x 10.9 mm and weighed 599g; this new, slimmer version is 256.6 x 172.9 x 8.6 mm and 595g. In the process the slate has gained a new back panel (to match the 8.9-inch version) and lost some megapixels. The 2-megapixel front camera remains, but the rear camera is a 3-megapixel unit with autofocus and an LED flash (down from 8-megapixels on the previous version). Battery life is up to 10hrs, Samsung claims. Apparently the original version, with the higher resolution camera and slightly thicker chassis, will be sold as a Vodafone exclusive in Europe.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 has the same cameras as its slimline 10.1-inch sibling, as well as quadband UMTS/HSPA+ (950/900/1900/2100), WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0 and the usual bevy of gyroscope, accelerometer, digital compass, ambient light sensor and GPS. There’s also 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage in the 230.9 x 157.8 x 8.6 mm frame, together with a microSD card slot and a 6,000 mAh battery.
Samsung TouchWiz for Tablets demo:
Samsung has also used CTIA 2011 to debut its new TouchWiz UI for Honeycomb, a custom overlay that sits on top of Android 3.0. It has a “Live Panel” menu for custom access to apps, photos, shortcuts and social network feeds on the homescreen, along with easy access to the task manager, calendar and media player in a new Mini Apps Tray bar.
Update: The Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi will go on sale on June 8, priced at $499 for the 16GB model and $599 for the 32GB model. The Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi will follow on in “early summer” priced at $469 for the 16GB and $569 for the 32GB.
Press Release:
Samsung Unveils GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9, World's Thinnest Mobile Tablets
Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9 to feature the first customized Android™ 3.0 experience
ORLANDO, March 22, 2011 – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., the global leader in Android™ mobile devices, announced two new additions to its family of GALAXY Tabs, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9, the world's thinnest mobile tablets, measuring just 8.6 millimeters.
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature Samsung's own TouchWiz user interface implemented on the Android™ 3.0 (Honeycomb) platform, offering superior multi-tasking and enhanced user interaction and navigation.
"The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are remarkable examples of Samsung's constant innovation and show our dedication to designing premium tablets that fit the unique needs of consumers around the world", said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung's Mobile Communications Business. "By combining Samsung's innovations in design and display with our exciting new user experience, we've created a new class of products that will lead the tablet market."
Thinner & Lighter The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are the thinnest mobile tablets available. The GALAXY Tab 10.1 weighs 595 grams and 8.9 weighs 470 grams. Combining the GALAXY Tabs' ultra-thin form factor with a lightweight design adds to the outstanding mobility of these two products.
Super Fast The new GALAXY Tabs will support HSPA+ network speeds of up to 21Mbps as well as Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity to deliver rapid mobile download speeds and reduce data transfer times. Also, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 include a 1GHz dual core application processor for a powerful multimedia and web browsing experience.
Customized User Experience "Samsung TouchWiz UX" Samsung's TouchWiz user experience is designed with a Live Panel menu users can customize to display a variety of content on the home screen including digital pictures, favorite Web sites and social network feeds. In addition, the interface includes an application tray of commonly used features such as task manager, calendar and music player which can be launched while other major applications are also in use, including large file downloads and document editing. This Mini Apps Tray provides a mixture of convenience and flexibility previously unheard of with tablet devices.
The Ultimate Entertainment Hub The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are pre-loaded with Readers Hub and Music Hub giving consumers instant access to more than 2.2 million books, 2,000 newspaper (49 languages), 2,300 magazines (22 languages), and 13 million songs. The devices are also designed with Samsung's Social Hub, which will aggregate email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into a single interface. The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature a 3 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, providing smooth transition and seamless 1080p HD video and Flash playback for a rich entertainment experience.
Ready for Business The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 will include an industry leading suite of solutions designed to give enterprise customers and IT managers more security. Developed in collaboration with industry-leading partners such as Cisco, Sybase, SAP and Citrix, Samsung’s enterprise mobility solutions will provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently on–the-move.
GALAXY Tab 10.1 GALAXY Tab 10.1, with its WXGA TFT LCD display (1280 x 800) powered by 1GHz dual core AP, is 8.6mm thin and weighs only 595g. It is the perfect device for sharing and enjoying media content with family and friends. In addition, with its surround-sound stereo speakers and support for Flash 10.2, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 will deliver premium entertainment experience whether watching videos, movies or playing games.
GALAXY Tab 8.9 At just 8.6mm thin and weighing only 470g, the GALAXY Tab 8.9 is the perfect device for today's mobile professional. Whether writing emails on a trip or reading an eBook on the couch, the GALAXY Tab 8.9 provides the ultimate tablet experience without compromising mobility.
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 now join the original 7-inch GALAXY Tab to provide consumers with an unmatched array of choices to select the mobile tablet experience that fits their needs the best.
Samsung's entire line of GALAXY Tabs will be on display at the Samsung booth (#2440) at CTIA Wireless 2011, March 22 through March 24.
It’s hard to argue with the fact that the iPad 2 sent Samsung rushing back to the lab to try to squeeze some bulk out of the Galaxy Tab 10.1, but then it’s also clear that both the 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 8.9 slates are appealing hardware in their own right. Each slimmer and lighter than the second-gen Apple, they’re as close to Star Trek style sci-fi tablets as we’ve seen so far, making Motorola’s XOOM look fat in comparison.
Unfortunately Samsung’s CTIA 2011 samples were so hot off the prototyping line that we weren’t allowed to turn them on. The company demonstrated its newly updated TouchWiz UX for Honeycomb on a hands-off prototype, and thankfully it doesn’t appear to be the wholesale reskin that we’re familiar with from Samsung smartphones – and which generally slows down core OS updates – but rather a new set of dynamic homescreen widgets and controls which slot into Honeycomb.
As Motorola did with recent versions of MOTOBLUR on Android smartphones, the TouchWiz UX widgets can be resized more flexibly, as well as intermingled with regular Google widgets and shortcuts. As long as it doesn’t impact subsequent OS upgrades, we can see it being a popular interface.
Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 Hands-on
Physically, the tablets are everything you’d want from a portable slate, with the 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab being particularly appealing for its balance of size and high resolution. At 1280 x 800 it gets the same number of pixels as its 10.1-inch brother, which will make for a rich, dense screen in a bag-friendly chassis. Samsung isn’t talking specific chips for its 1GHz dual-core processor, which leads us to assume that it could be the same mixture of homegrown Exynos and NVIDIA’s Tegra 2.
GALAXY Tab 10.1 vs GALAXY Tab 8.9 vs iPad 2 vs. XOOM
Much will rest on pricing, and that’s still left unconfirmed. If Samsung can bring the new Galaxy Tab models in at under the iPad 2, complete with higher resolution cameras front and back, and slimmer/lighter construction, that’s a fair amount of marketing value to play with. We won’t know that until later in the year when the two models go on sale, however.
If you’re a late-night gamer and love some 3D then you’ll probably want to heard over to Union Square come March 26, since Nintendo is planning a midnight launch for its new 3DS. The event – which marks the release of the 3D-capable console in the US on the following day – will be the earliest (official) opportunity to buy a 3DS.
There’ll also be freebies, including free cases for the first 300 3DS buyers, and the chance to hang out with Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime (though we doubt the first 300 buyers will be allowed to take him home as well). The 3DS itself is priced at $249.99.
Press Release:
Nintendo to Host Midnight Launch Event at Best Buy in Union Square to Celebrate U.S. Launch of Nintendo 3DS
New Yorkers to Ditch Their 3D Glasses for Good as Nintendo 3DS Brings Glasses-Free 3D to Portable Entertainment
WHAT:
New Yorkers are invited to leave their 3D glasses at home – permanently – and join Nintendo of America for a memorable midnight launch event for the new Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system. On March 26 at Best Buy's Union Square location, consumers and video game fans of all kinds will be treated to live entertainment, branded giveaway items (while supplies last) and hands-on demonstrations of the new system, which lets users enjoy 3D visuals without the need for special glasses. Food trucks will also be on-site to offer refreshments throughout the event. Starting at midnight, attendees will have a chance to be among the first U.S. consumers to purchase Nintendo 3DS. The first 300 attendees to purchase the system will receive a special carrying case.
Starting at noon, consumers can enjoy sampling opportunities, music and other fun activities in Union Square Park (across the street from Best Buy). Playable Nintendo 3DS games will include nintendogs™ + cats, Pilotwings Resort™ and Steel Diver™ from Nintendo, Super Street Fighter® IV 3D Edition from CAPCOM, Madden NFL Football from EA SPORTS, LEGO® Star Wars® III: The Clone Wars™ from LucasArts™ and Asphalt™ 3D from UBISOFT.
More information about Nintendo 3DS can be found at http://nintendo3ds.com.
WHO:
Adults, teens, tweens, parents, video game fans and consumers of all kinds
WHEN:
Saturday, March 26, 2011 Nintendo 3DS sampling: noon-8 p.m.
Launch event: 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
WHERE:
Best Buy in Union Square One Union Square South (corner of E. 14th St. and Fourth Ave.) New York, NY 10003
Sprint CEO Dan Hesse has confirmed that, by January 2012, all US phones will use microUSB chargers, hopefully putting pay to the frustration of proprietary connectors and a plug-board full of different adapters. Speaking during the CTIA 2011 opening keynote, Hesse described the various types of charger port as a long-standing “pet peeve of mine.”
It’s not the first time we’ve heard of charger ubiquity, of course. MicroUSB was adopted as the European standard late last year, with Apple, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and others all agreeing to comply.
Opera has pushed out the latest versions of its mobile browsers, Opera Mini 6 and Opera Mobile 11. The new apps support pinch-zooming together with smoother scrolling, panning and zooming, as well as a new tablet-suited UI.
There’s also a new sharing button, with options for Twitter, Facebook, vKontakte or My Opera. If you’ve always been confused about the difference between the two, Opera Mini uses the company’s compression servers to slim down data usage, while Opera Mobile gets the full-fat web with HTML5 support and the Opera Presto engine carried over from the desktop version.
Opera Mini 6 is available on J2ME, Android, BlackBerry and Symbian/S60 phones, while Opera Mobile 11 will run on Android, Symbian, Windows 7 desktop (labs release), MeeGo (labs release) and Maemo (labs release). Interestingly, there’s no Windows Mobile version, so it looks like Microsoft’s old smartphone platform has sung its last, at least according to Opera. You can download at m.opera.com.
Press Release:
Whole lotta love for the mobile Web
Debuting all new Opera Mini 6 and Opera Mobile 11 Oslo, Norway — March 22, 2011
Can't get no satisfaction from the mobile Web? Then you will fall head over heels for the new Opera Mini and Opera Mobile browsers launched today, now also available to cherish on tablets. Opera's mobile browsers are the world's most popular, the weapon of choice for 100 million people worldwide, used on more than 3000 devices. If you still haven't found what you are looking for, there is an Opera out there available for you. Download to your phone from: m.opera.com and don’t stop til you get enough.
What's new, pussycat?
Smooth operator Improved scrolling, panning and zooming make the Opera Mini and Opera Mobile browsers the sweetest thing to hit mobile devices since the Opera Mini 5 browser.
Pinch-to-zoom Feel free to twist and shout now that Opera's features include true pinch-to-zoom on devices that support pinch.
Sharing When you find something, let it be … shared. The new versions feature a share button, so you can easily post, Tweet (twiddly-diddly-deet), or just shout it out loud on Facebook, vKontakte or My Opera.
Now also optimized for tablets Is it any wonder? Opera for tablets brings smooth browsing to your tablet PC with a brand new interface that is sure to rock you like a hurricane.
What we say
"If you've lost that loving feeling for the Web on your phone or tablet, don't let it bring you down. Just try one of our browsers," said Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera Software. "The sun always shines on TV, but the Opera browser shines on more than 3000 devices."
Who are you? The difference between the Opera Mini and Opera Mobile browsers
The Opera Mini browser uses Opera's servers to shake, rattle and roll webpages down to a tenth of their original size before sending them to your phone. Because the data transferred is smaller, pages arrive faster than the speed of sound. On a pay-as-you-go plan, the Opera Mini browser dramatically cuts the price you pay, because the data you use is greatly reduced. The Opera Mini browser makes any device Internet savvy. The Opera Mobile browser gives you the whole of the moon on smartphones and tablets. The strange magic of HTML5? Check. Full, high fidelity web browsing? Check. Sharing the same Opera Presto browser engine found in Opera's desktop browser, the Opera Mobile browser is the premier option for fast, powerful browsing when on unlimited Internet data plans or Wi-Fi. Availability
The Opera Mini 6 browser brings the fireworks to J2ME, Android, BlackBerry and Symbian/S60 phones. The Opera Mobile 11 browser sings hallelujah on the Android, Symbian, Windows 7 desktop (labs release), MeeGo (labs release) and Maemo (labs release) platforms. What you waiting for? Walk this way with your mobile device: m.opera.com.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar