Well, our liveblog of Microsoft’s pre-show event is about to kick off, but we’re sure you’d like to hear what our (and Joystiq‘s) crystal balls have foretold. We discuss our thoughts on what Microsoft’s likely to offer after the break and once you’ve finished watching, swing across to the liveblog — we’ve already started.

Continue reading Engadget and Joystiq’s pre-event broadcast from E3 – Microsoft

Engadget and Joystiq’s pre-event broadcast from E3 – Microsoft originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, our liveblog of Microsoft’s pre-show event is about to kick off, but we’re sure you’d like to hear what our (and Joystiq‘s) crystal balls have foretold. We discuss our thoughts on what Microsoft’s likely to offer after the break and once you’ve finished watching, swing across to the liveblog — we’ve already started.

Continue reading Engadget and Joystiq’s pre-event broadcast from E3 – Microsoft

Engadget and Joystiq’s pre-event broadcast from E3 – Microsoft originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While Europeans earnestly wait for their pre-ordered pebble blue superphones to appear, a hands-on video from Germany is purportedly showing us a darker, grayer version of Samsung’s Galaxy S III. While the skeptic in us would say it’s just a lighting issue, the back cover looks perceptibly different to the blue-hued slab we spent time with during its big reveal. It looks almost monochromatic — and even shinier, if that’s possible. The color borders on gun-metal gray and we have to admit, we’re already a little smitten. Samsung’s had issues bringing the blueish hue to the masses, so this could turn out to be the new non-white color option. Black and white is a bit played out, so our fingers are crossed that we’ll get to have our pebble-colored cake and eat it. Check out the possible new look in a hands-on video after the break — and bring on the hot pink option.

Continue reading A different shade of Galaxy S III spotted in Germany (video)

A different shade of Galaxy S III spotted in Germany (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The hubbub of carriers eager to sell Samsung’s latest beauty ain’t stopping. This time, it’s Sprint’s turn, announcing that its version of the NFC-capable, 4G-connectable Galaxy S III will arrive Google Wallet-friendly and ready for your retail therapy starting June 21st. Two-year contracts are priced at $200 for the 16GB version and $250 for the 32GB option, although the latter will be web-exclusive. Pre-orders will start from June 5th — in both Pebble Blue and Marble White options. Sprint gives you the hard sell right after the break.

Continue reading Sprint Galaxy S III arrives with Google Wallet on June 21

Sprint Galaxy S III arrives with Google Wallet on June 21 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The hubbub of carriers eager to sell Samsung’s quad-core beauty ain’t stopping. This time, it’s Sprint’s turn, announcing that its version of the NFC-capable, 4G-connectable Galaxy S III will arrive Google Wallet-friendly and ready for your retail therapy starting June 21st. Two-year contracts are priced at $200 for the 16GB version and $250 for the 32GB option, although the latter will be web-exclusive. Pre-orders will start from June 5th — in both Pebble Blue and Marble White options. Sprint gives you the hard sell right after the break.

Continue reading Sprint Galaxy S III arrives with Google Wallet on June 21

Sprint Galaxy S III arrives with Google Wallet on June 21 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Less is more, right? Marvell has announced a new 802.11ac-enabled chip that includes NFC and Bluetooth, all in one. The Avastar 88W8897 is geared at mobile devices and aims to compete with Broadcom’s own chipsets, wich are already being sold inside “5G Wi-Fi” routers. Marvell’s attempts to cram in those extra connectivity options does, however, make it a more attractive option for phone manufacturers. The dual-stream config will mean its bandwidth peaks at around 900Mbps — Broadcom‘s offerings can reach up to 1.3Gps. Marvell humbly suggests that its own chip would also be at home in larger devices, including ultrabooks and tablets. The company also claims that it’s up 50 percent smaller than rival chip combinations that offer similar functionality and — perhaps crucially — costs 75 percent less. The chip also throws in Location Engine, a WiFi-based feature that works to augment indoor positioning. Consumer products are promised to arrive sometime next year, which should mean plenty of time to map out your home and office in preparation.

Marvell unveils all-in-one 802.11ac WiFi chip for mobile devices: throws in Bluetooth and NFC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Less is more, right? Marvell has announced a new 802.11ac-enabled chip that includes NFC and Bluetooth, all in one. The Avastar 88W8897 is geared at mobile devices and aims to compete with Broadcom’s own chipsets, wich are already being sold inside “5G Wi-Fi” routers. Marvell’s attempts to cram in those extra connectivity options does, however, make it a more attractive option for phone manufacturers. The dual-stream config will mean its bandwidth peaks at around 900Mbps — Broadcom‘s offerings can reach up to 1.3Gps. Marvell humbly suggests that its own chip would also be at home in larger devices, including ultrabooks and tablets. The company also claims that it’s up 50 percent smaller than rival chip combinations that offer similar functionality and — perhaps crucially — costs 75 percent less. The chip also throws in Location Engine, a WiFi-based feature that works to augment indoor positioning. Consumer products are promised to arrive sometime next year, which should mean plenty of time to map out your home and office in preparation.

Marvell unveils all-in-one 802.11ac WiFi chip for mobile devices: throws in Bluetooth and NFC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s been a long time coming, but Panasonic’s hardy, Honeycomb-decked ICS-toting tablet looks like it might be ready for butter-fingered customers. The FCC’s stable of tests aren’t revealing much we didn’t already know about the Toughpad, but be assured that its WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities are both fit for use. The full radio reports are up now, so hit the source for over 86 pages of detail — if you’re feeling tough enough.

Update: Panasonic’s got in touch to tell us that the Toughpad will now arrive with Android 4.0.

Panasonic Toughpad A1 clashes with FCC, goes the distance originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 07:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Instapaper creator Marco Arment has been kept so busy with the iOS version that he decided to contract out the Android iteration to Mobelux. Fortunately, this is the same developer that crafted Tumblr apps for both the iPhone and Android, so we can breathe a collective sigh of relief. Available today, priced just shy of $3, Instapaper ties together one of iOS’ favorites with Android’s capacity for sharing across multiple apps. It arrives cocooned in a decidedly classy UI, even on our Gingerbread devices — although it does get a little squashed in some sub-menus. As long as you’re running an Android version higher than 2.2, hit up the source below to give it a try.

Instapaper launches on Android devices originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 06:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Instapaper creator Marco Arment has been kept so busy with the iOS version that he decided to contract out the Android iteration to Mobelux. Fortunately, this is the same developer that crafted Tumblr apps for both the iPhone and Android, so we can breathe a collective sigh of relief. Available today, priced just shy of $3, Instapaper ties together one of iOS’ favorites with Android’s capacity for sharing across multiple apps. It arrives cocooned in a decidedly classy UI, even on our Gingerbread devices — although it does get a little squashed in some sub-menus. As long as you’re running an Android version higher than 2.2, hit up the source below to give it a try.

Instapaper launches on Android devices originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 06:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook is exploring options to connect kids to its social network, while ensuring it obeys federal laws. According to the Wall Street Journal, the social network is pushing for a more formalized structure for under-13s in an effort to curb users registering under a false age. Consumer Reports currently pegs the number of under-age users at around 7.5 million. Despite other privacy concerns, Facebook is reportedly looking to add buffers and parental controls to any kid-friendly version that might result from its current experiments. It could also tie parents’ accounts to their little tykes’ pages, allowing game purchases to be made through their bank details. Well, that new HQ isn’t going to pay for itself.

Facebook to experiment with access for under-13s originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 04:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As the middle child from Sony Mobile’s NXT family, the Xperia P steps out from behind the Xperia S’ shadow with its own 4-inch screen — and a touch of WhiteMagic. Screen technology aside, the phone’s design follows a path very similar to Sony’s latest flagship and picks up a few quirks of its own on the way. The see-through button strip is actually touch-sensitive on Sony’s 2012 middle-weight — a curious oversight on the bigger model.

It packs Sony’s 8-megapixel Exmor R camera sensor (likely to be the same one found in the Xperia Arc S), a dual-core 1GHz processor and just under 13GB of user-accessible storage. But there’s one unfortunate Xperia trait here — we’re still playing with Android Gingerbread, even while its ancestors begin to dip their toes into Ice Cream Sandwich. Does anyone want an incrementally smaller Android phone from Sony? And what exactly is WhiteMagic and what does it mean for the battery life?

Continue reading Sony Xperia P review: a solid, middle-sized smartphone waiting for Android 4.0

Sony Xperia P review: a solid, middle-sized smartphone waiting for Android 4.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Jun 2012 12:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ETSI has given the nod to a new SIM format standard, which will be 40 percent smaller than the existing micro-SIM design. Agreeing to the design in Osaka, Japan, the shape will be 12.3mm by 8.8mm and will measure the same thickness as existing SIMs at 0.67mm thick. The design promises to work with existing hardware and appears to fly closer to Apple’s suggested size, following plenty of crossed words between manufacturers over the next iteration of the card.

Update: Nokia has since put out a statement saying it will honor ETSI’s decision and license out the needed patents on fair terms after the standards group made sure the vote was fair. We detect more than a small number of sour grapes from Espoo over having its own design rejected, though: it still sees Apple’s nano-SIM as “technically inferior” and thinks the existing micro-SIM will still be the “preferred option.” We can think of a couple of reasons why Nokia might not be so keen to switch.

[Thanks Prodan]

Jon Fingas contributed to this report.

New smaller SIM format gets standardized, shrinks 40 percent (update: Nokia gives bitter OK) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrome’s share of internet use just inched past Microsoft’s Internet Explorer last month, laying claim to king of the web browsers. Statcounter’s analytics measured that 32.43 percent of its 15 billion page-views were done on Google’s browser, while Internet Explore took 32.12 percent and Firefox 25.55 percent. According to StatCounter, an upswing of over 0.6 percent to Firefox (from Internet Explorer) helped Chrome claim the top spot. The month rounds off some impressive growth for Chrome in 2012, which claimed second place in Statcounter’s results at the start of the year. Now, if Google could just get that mobile version out to more handsets, we could see how it fares against small-screen competition.

Statcounter: Chrome overtakes Internet Explorer in global browser share for the first time originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It looks like webOS isn’t going quietly into the mobile OS retirement home. While its journey to open-source continues, an eager cabal of developers, fans and designers have decided to reignite the ill-fated operating system under the banner of Phoenix International Communications. Focusing its efforts on transporting open webOS to existing devices, both HP-made and otherwise, Phoenix also wants throw in some new features and fixes — presumably throwing in some extra software gems and UI tweaks. If it all goes to plan, the organization even wants to bring new webOS devices to market — a heady dream, but you’ve got to admire their pluck. Any webOS devotees out there can pledge their allegiance (and assistance) to the cause at the source below.

Phoenix project wants to rise from the ashes of webOS with open source wings originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 17:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK carriers often like to elbow their way into the limelight when a rival’s getting some attention. This time, Vodafone‘s cutting into Orange’s Intel excitement with the Smart II; an update to its wallet-happy Android device from 2011. The UK carrier even let us get some hands-on time with the pebble-sized phone. While the specifications (800MHz processor, 3.2-inch screen) aren’t going to wow, at £70 (around $109) it could reel in plenty of feature phone graduates. Check out a brief hands-on video and our own impressions right after the break.

Continue reading Vodafone UK launches Smart II: Android Gingerbread for £70 (hands-on)

Vodafone UK launches Smart II: Android Gingerbread for £70 (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 11:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While we’ve been pleasantly surprised by some favorable browser scores, we couldn’t help sneaking another peek at the phone’s (second) launch — this time right in the center of London. We took the Orange Santa Clara San Diego for a spin on our latest benchmarks. See how Intel’s new mobile processor fares against much pricier competition right after the break.

Continue reading Orange San Diego: Intel’s Medfield phone gets benchmarked

Orange San Diego: Intel’s Medfield phone gets benchmarked originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 06:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Orange took its time to decide, but now it’s settled. The first European Intel-equipped smartphone is the San Diego, replacing the Santa Clara codename assigned to it since February’s Mobile World Congress. It will launch on pay-as-you-go at £200, including £10 of credit — although Orange tell us this will be an introductory price. On contract, prices will start at £15.50 per month for two years and Brits will be able to pick one up from June 6th. We’re getting the full run-through from Orange UK and Intel, but we’re itching to run our new benchmarks on the Medfield phone as soon as they let us at it. And that pesky Gingerbread OS? We’ve been told to expect Ice Cream Sandwich closer to the end of Q3. But with just the single carrier, we’re hoping testing time could be shaved off significantly.

Continue reading Orange San Diego revealed: Intel-powered phone to reach UK on June 6th for £200

Orange San Diego revealed: Intel-powered phone to reach UK on June 6th for £200 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 04:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia’s latest Windows Phone addition might not stack up to the polycarbonate glory of its forebears, but at this price, it’s hard to complain that much. While the reduced RAM specification is proving tricky with some apps, the Lumia 610 has some strong points, arriving with WiFi tethering out of the box and a raft of Nokia’s impressive home-made apps. We’re putting the phone through its paces for review now, so you can expect our verdict pretty soon. The Lumia 610 will be available across Vodafone, Orange, O2, T-Mobile and Three, in a choice of white, cyan, magenta and black finishes. Phone sellers Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4u will also be more than willing to take your money and if you’d like to hear Nokia wax lyrical on its tiniest leading light, take a look right after the break.

Continue reading Nokia Lumia 610 launches in the UK, starts on £15 per month contracts

Nokia Lumia 610 launches in the UK, starts on £15 per month contracts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 08:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple liked it so much, it’s decided to let the Nest Thermostat share shelf-space in its bricks-and-mortar stores and online. Following rumors that Tony Fadell’s latest project would appear at his former employer’s store, it’s now been confirmed with an online listing. Following some brief downtime on the Cupertino corp’s retail site, the unit is set to retail for $250. Aside from sharing some design DNA, the thermostat unit can also be controlled from iPhones, iPads, iPods and Macs — we presume that Android functionality is still there. Those that like their summers extra comfortable can hit the store link below.

Apple Store now selling Nest Thermostat: automated toastiness to cost $250 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 06:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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