We said it was coming soon, and the Dark Knight-themed WinPho hasn’t disappointed. Phones 4u has just announced that pre-ordered laser-etched Lumia 900s will be delivered on June 1st; that’s this Friday. Off-contract pricing is pegged at £600, although multiple contracts are also available from the UK retailer. There doesn’t appear to be any extra functionality on the special edition, although bragging rights do count for a lot. The phone will arrive in limited numbers, but neither Nokia nor Phones 4u is spilling the beans on precise unit numbers. The retailer is also throwing in free tickets to see the Dark Knight Rises at UK cinemas (or theaters) this summer, plus the chance to hit up the premiere. Pre-ordering heroes can zip-wire their way to the source link below.

Update: SlashGear‘s been told by Phones 4u that there will be 900 of the special edition phones.

Batman Nokia Lumia 900 priced at £600, throws in some free movie tickets originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 05:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS’s seven-inch MeMo tablet has just ducked under the FCC’s gates, but some benchmark results for a purported Google and ASUS team-up could tally with the same device. According to the listing, the Google Asus Nexus 7 will arrive with NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 CPU, clocked at 1.3 GHz, while that (presumably) 7-inch screen packs a 768 x 1280 resolution. The hardware specs end there, but thanks to some investigation by Android Police and Rightware, it appears that this mystery tablet is running Android 4.1 — possibly the version number for Android’s next iteration, Jelly Bean. There are several more hints adding credence to these benchmark results, including the fish-based “grouper” codename, which follows the Stingray moniker that was handed to the Motorola Xoom ahead of its reveal. We’re just itching to know whether it’ll still manage a sub-$300 price-tag.

Google Nexus tablet appears in benchmarks, appears to run on quad-core Tegra 3 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 04:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you were underwhelmed by the middling specs of Sony’s past toughphones, you might want to take a look at the latest pair to join the 2012 Xperia family. First up, the Xperia go houses a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 display with a dual-core 1GHz processor, powering the (unfortunately still) Gingerbread interface. Sony has reiterated that Android 4.0 will find its way to both new devices. The Xperia go also throws in a 5-megapixel camera and the same wet finger tracking seen on the Xperia Active, which will mean the phone can be steered during underwater adventures. You be able to pick from white, black and yellow color options when the phone arrives in Q3 this year.

The Xperia acro S bumps the screen resolution up to 720p, slathered across a 4.3-inch surface, alongside a 12-megapixel camera and dedicated shutter button. It appears to be the global version of the Japan-only Xperia acro HD and arrives PlayStation-certified. Like the Xperia go, it totes IP55 and IP57 ratings for dust and water resistance, plus NFC capability of Sony’s SmartTags. The Xperia acro S will land in black, white and pink color options — but we’re still waiting to hear more precise availability details. Video tours for both handsets are right after the break.

Update: We’ve been told that the Xperia go will launch as the Xperia advance in the US — but dates and prices remain a mystery.

Continue reading Sony announces Xperia Go and Xperia acro S: waterproof and dual-core (video)

Sony announces Xperia Go and Xperia acro S: waterproof and dual-core (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 04:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple has revealed a little bit more on what’s going down in San Francisco next month. The big keynote has been penned for June 11th, at 10am PT (1pm ET), but if you’re likely to forget that, Apple’s already prepared an app to keep you clued in. Too busy for these midday conferences? Then be assured that we’ll be there to unfurl everything Mr. Cook has to offer next month. For now, you can download the app and consult the full schedule at the source links below.

WWDC 2012 schedule confirmed, adds keynote details and companion app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 10:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google continues to keep our friends down at the US Patents and Trademark Office busy with its latest filing, involving augmented reality and a pair of relatively staid (at least by these sketches) pair of glasses. The patent outlines a system where a view-finder could identify what we’re gawking at, adding in extra factual details and also outlining new points of interest — including those that aren’t necessarily within the view of our own eyes. The glasses would then be able to notify us with a medley of visual indicators and cues (including the slightly awkward notion of light-up frames), guiding our gaze to something we’d hopefully want to take a look at.

There’s more to Google’s latest idea than simple tourist-centric finger-pointing though, also looking to augment how we read. The device would detect when someone is reading from a digital display and even feel out the rest of the information currently out of view. It would then direct readers to points of interest; possibly pictures, possibly those important factual nuggets — the patent still plays loose with the specifics. But if you’re into such vague and fanciful product description, you can take a look at the full filing at the source below.

Google patents view augmentation method and glasses, sees what you cannot originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 09:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If your PC / media-hub combination is starting to strain the structural integrity of your desk, you might be interested in the latest TV sets from LG. Offering picture-in-picture functionality, both the 24-inch DM2752 and M2752 can embed one visual input from the HDMI ports on top of another, like your favorite episodes of your TV show of choice windowed as you gun your way through Max Payne 3. The IPS-screened DM model throws in some 3D capability (with glasses) and will arrive in July, while its dimensionally-challenged brother is already available now in several countries in Europe. The press release for the pair is right after the break.

Continue reading LG launches new pair of TVs: DM2752 and M2752 can both double-up as your PC monitor

LG launches new pair of TVs: DM2752 and M2752 can both double-up as your PC monitor originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 03:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Taking full advantage of the Lumix FX90‘s WiFi capability, Panasonic has unveiled its companion apps for both iOS and Android devices. Throwing in shutter functionality and zoom control alongside a larger viewfinder, it’s pretty much a glossy dumb remote; there’s no further features to make the most of your precious smartphone, although the camera itself is already capable of linking up your camera shots with your major social network of choice. The app requires a firmware update on the camera, but it should ensure all those self-portraits really pop in the future. Download links for the wannabe self-obsessed are waiting below.

Panasonic Lumix FX90 gets remote app for iOS and Android originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 14:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There’s really not much to go on, but ASUS has thrown its own brief snippet into the Computex teaser hat. It mentions that “the shape of the cloud is ever changing” — and, er, not much else. Puzzle away this sunny public holiday by checking out the brief teaser after the break.

[Thanks Sal]

Continue reading ASUS teases its ‘next transformations,’ will probably have screens (video)

ASUS teases its ‘next transformations,’ will probably have screens (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 08:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Putting the squeeze on those hardware specifications has lead to several more app casualties on Microsoft’s ever-growing mobile platform. Unfortunately, it includes one of mobile gaming’s biggest hitters: Angry Birds. We gave installation a go on our own Lumia 610 and were met with the unfortunate message seen above. According to WindowsPhoneApps Spanish, it’s not the only one affected by the reduction in RAM on these lower-priced smartphones. PES 2012 won’t run on the lower-specced smartphone, while videocall app Tango also joins its rival Skype on the no-go list.

Update: Nokia’s confirmed that Rovio is, indeed, working on an optimized version of Angry Birds for the Lumia 610, though an exact release date is still up in the air.

Angry Birds and PES 2012 join Skype: won’t work on Windows Phones with 256MB RAM (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 06:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kyocera’s innovative Urbano Progresso is set to launch in Japanese stores before the end of the week. The result of a team-up between the handset manufacturer and carrier KDDI, it uses a new vibrational technology that forgoes the more typical earpiece, delivering sound throughout the whole handset. We’ve toyed with the technology already and it’s good to see Kyocera delivering on its promise of a real world application of its smart sonic receiver in the same year. Aside from its audio chops, the phone houses some less ground-breaking, but still respectable, features like a dual-core 1.4GHz Snapdragon S2 processor, Android 4.0, an 8.1-megapixel camera, waterproof casing and a 4.1-inch screen. It’ll be out in shops starting May 30th and tempted Japan residents can check out the hard sell — condensed into a two-minute video — after the break.

Continue reading Kyocera’s Urbano Progresso to bring tissue-conductive sounds to Japan on May 30th

Kyocera’s Urbano Progresso to bring tissue-conductive sounds to Japan on May 30th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 05:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia invited us to take a tour of the Carl Zeiss HQ in Germany, all in the name of getting some time to shoot with the pair’s latest project, the 808 PureView. Sure, you’ve heard the specs: a 41-megapixel sensor, f/2.4 Carl Zeiss lens and a focal length of 8.02mm. That hulking sensor dominates the body, but how do those photographic results turn out? We spent a few hours shooting with Symbian’s (possibly) last hurrah and found that — unsurprisingly — this looks to be the new benchmark for mobile imaging. The top-heavy body fits in with the focus on mobile photography epitomized in this phone and there’s a tangible quality to the photos even on the 808 PureView’s 640 x 360 display, alongside a noticeable decrease in noise. Check out our gallery and grab more impressions and comparison images with the iPhone 4S and One S after the break.

Continue reading Nokia 808 PureView impressions, camera showdown with the iPhone 4S and HTC One S

Nokia 808 PureView impressions, camera showdown with the iPhone 4S and HTC One S originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia’s 808 PureView may not even be blasting retinas in stores just yet, but that doesn’t mean those Finnish cameraphone obsessives aren’t already cooking up a buffet of high-megapixel ideas for the future. Vesa Jutila, Head of Product Marketing for the incoming 808 PureView, said that there was plenty more high-spec digital imaging products in the pipeline. While he wasn’t about to be drawn on specifics for any future Lumia-Pureview unions just yet, there were “multiple ways” that Nokia could run with its new imaging jewel. Slimmer models are a possibility, still containing high-end Zeiss optics and Nokia’s oversampling techniques avoiding the need for optical zoom. He added that the next generation of Nokia camera sensors are already being worked on — the 808 PureView was borne from an idea back in 2007. Jutila included one more soupçon of information: future PureView products “would not necessarily have the same 41-megapixel sensor” that we’ve been playing with recently.

The future for Nokia PureView: Possible slimmer models and ‘not necessarily a 41MP sensor’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 02:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What exactly can Nokia’s new wunderphone do? The proof is in the pudding… er, pictures below. Enjoy. Resolution junkies can get a full-size, unadulterated version of the picture above just past the break.

Continue reading Nokia 808 PureView sample images: a moveable feast in 41 megapixels

Nokia 808 PureView sample images: a moveable feast in 41 megapixels originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 May 2012 17:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rounding off a busy day of shooting with Nokia’s new imaging mistress, the company’s Vesa Jutila, Head of Symbian Product Marketing, hooked us up with some more developments for the 808 PureView, specifically to do with NFC. He told us that picture sharing would be possible across devices — not limiting itself to fellow PureView smartphones, and differentiating it from another hotly anticipated future smartphone. We’d err against using it on those full 38- or 34-megapixel images though, as they will often measure over 10MB and it could take some time. Further, Nokia’s already applied for Mastercard and Visa accreditation to get those mobile wallets up and working. We’re curating our own exclusive image gallery as we speak and they’re likely to whet your appetite for more oversampling goodness. Expect a fully-fledged review with a final model in the not-too-distant future.

Nokia 808 PureView enables NFC image share, mobile payment apps to come originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 May 2012 15:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to Panasonic’s first attempt to crack the increasingly competitive world of Android phones outside of Japan. Its efforts have crystallized into a plastic slab that had a curious appeal when we first handled it at Mobile World Congress a few months ago. We were surprised at how comfortable it felt in the hand and while its spec sheet won’t cause any jaws to drop, there’s plenty of respectable features — a 4.3-inch AMOLED display, dual-core processor and a very solid, soft-finish shell that protects that delicate Android hardware against dust and water.

Panasonic’s not the only Japanese manufacturer looking to branch out from a contracting domestic market, however, and we have a few concerns with whether the Eluga (£370 / $583) can make a dent in European countries dominated by Apple, Samsung and HTC. Will it bring the same awkward Android skins found on several Japan-only Android phones? Is it really all that waterproof? Dive in after the break to see.

Continue reading Panasonic Eluga review

Panasonic Eluga review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You wait for one Thunderbolt-compatible motherboard and then two decide to arrive on the same day. Going alphabetically, ASUS‘ P8Z77-V Premium is its first Intel-certified board to pack Thunderbolt and it’s followed immediately by the P8Z77-V Pro / Thunderbolt. The connection will hook up to multiple storage drives or any Thunderbolt-friendly display — it can be daisy-chained to up to six different devices. MSI‘s Z77A-GD80 packs a similarly complicated naming convention (although it’s not yet certified by Intel) and like ASUS’ offerings, will arrive with Intel’s Z77 chipset ready to play nice with those new 22nm processors. Alongside storage and monitor support, MSI also throws in the extra nugget that it’ll connect to a graphics card, if you’re so inclined. The full technical breakdown on both motherboards is housed after the break.

Continue reading ASUS and MSI launch Thunderbolt motherboards, tie for first place

ASUS and MSI launch Thunderbolt motherboards, tie for first place originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 17:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Never one to focus exclusively on the very latest hardware, a new mod has brought an 6502 microprocessor to a Minecraft world near you. The system is made from three separate cubes, representing the CPU, monitor and disk drive, respectively, all connected by ribbon cables. Part of pre-release 5 of the RedPower 2 mod, programmer Eloraam has also thrown in pumps and solar panels to keep crafters busy — you’re no longer limited to light switches. The emulated 8-bit processor can interact with other Minecraft blocks and while the computer can be programmed alone, its creator has been kind enough to include a Forth interpreter alongside the hardware, for those looking to get a little more involved. Such types can also skip over the break for an intense 23-minute tutorial on the mod.

Continue reading Minecraft mod adds programmable 8-bit computer, lacks cassette deck (video)

Minecraft mod adds programmable 8-bit computer, lacks cassette deck (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 17:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ah, YouTube. It wasn’t long ago that it was pumping out around 60 hours of content every 60 seconds, but nothing can stop the video juggernaut. Celebrating its seven years of existence with a video charting its rise, rise and rise, YouTube‘s official blog has also announced that it’s now dealing with an eye-bleeding 72 hours of video every minute. We’re still finding all this content as pervasive as ever though, with over 3 billion hours now watched every month. Catch the site blowing its own trumpet in the tribute vid right after the break — which is all well and good, but where’s the free game?

Continue reading YouTube blows out seven candles, cuts birthday party short to log 72 hours of video per minute

YouTube blows out seven candles, cuts birthday party short to log 72 hours of video per minute originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 11:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Did you get a chance to download Samsung’s voice assistant APK over the weekend? Don’t bother trying now, as Samsung (or Vlingo, which is behind the app) has locked down access for unauthorized devices — namely anything that isn’t a Galaxy S III. According to xda-developers, S-Voice‘s command requests are being rebuffed once Vlingo’s servers detect any phone that’s presumably not inspired by nature. There’s just over a week to go, however, and soon you’ll be able to shoot the breeze with your new smartphone love all you want.

Unofficial S-Voice app gets gagged, Samsung waits for its flagship hero originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 06:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The UK’s biggest bookstore chain has announced that it will start selling Kindles alongside other digital services from Amazon. Waterstones stores will let Kindle owners digitally browse books in-store and link up with special offers, tying into the chain’s plans for substantial renovations that would also include dedicated digital book areas and free WiFi. The move follows on flies in the opposite direction of Target, who has started phasing out its Kindle sales in the US. We assume any plans for the bookseller’s very own e-reader will remain the back-burner for now.

UK bookseller Waterstones to start selling Kindles originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 04:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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