Google Maps receives major update for Android and iOS, gains discovery feature (video)

Posted on 10/07/2013 by Myriam Joire

Ever since Google Maps returned to iOS with a completely new UI last December, we knew it was only a matter of time until the Android app followed suit. The search giant even said this much when it launched a revamped web edition of Google Maps at I/O. Earlier today, version 7 of Google Maps popped up in the Play store boasting a new discovery feature, enhanced navigation and more. It's now official -- a major update is currently rolling out for the Android version of Google Maps, with an iOS build to follow. Beyond normalizing the UI across platforms, this update brings significant new functionality to the table. We took the revised Android app for a brief spin, so hit the break for our first impressions.

Gallery: Google Maps 7 for Android

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Apple, Google

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Source: Google Official Blog

Sony Tablet S gets chunky update: better multi-tasking and IR, ‘guest mode’, new media apps (correction)

Posted on 28/09/2012 by Sharif Sakr

The original Tablet S has already absorbed a few interesting updates and now it's getting one more: devices are waking up to an Android 4.0.3 update that brings significant additions like a Guest Mode for creating restricted user accounts, revamped media and social aggregation apps, and six assignable macro buttons on the IR Remote Control app. Sony has also bolstered its Small Apps function, allowing you to overlay a browser, IR remote and other utilities in a window on top of another app. What this update isn't is Jelly Bean, which is headed to the Tablet S's similarly-named replacement, the Xperia Tablet S.

Correction: We originally confused the Tablet S with the newer Xperia-branded model. Thanks to all who spotted the error.

Filed under: Tablets

Sony Tablet S gets chunky update: better multi-tasking and IR, 'guest mode', new media apps (correction) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 05:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xperia Tablet S now shipping on Sony’s UK site

Posted on 06/09/2012 by Joseph Volpe

Did you like the Xperiance Sony was selling at IFA 2012? If you answered yes, are in need of a new Android tablet and happen to live across the pond, the time has come to place your orders. Available now on the Japanese electronics giant's UK site (sorry, statesiders), the newly outed Tablet S is ready to ship in three configurations: 16GB / 32GB WiFi-only models that'll set you back £329 and £379 (about $523 and $602), respectively and a lone 16GB 3G variant that goes for £429 (about $682). For the money, you're getting a quad-core Tegra 3 slate clocked at 1.3GHz, a 1280 x 800 WXGA display, Ice Cream Sandwich and the company's signature hardware styling. Of course, if you're outside of the Euro zone and can't wait for pre-orders to be fulfilled, there's no harm in making this your next import. Hit up the source below to check out the goods for yourself.

Filed under: Tablets

Xperia Tablet S now shipping on Sony's UK site originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tonino Lamborghini L2800 tablet and TL700 phone rumble in Hong Kong, we go hands-on (video)

Posted on 05/09/2012 by Richard Lai

Looks like Russia isn't the only place with an appetite for overly expensive gadgets. Following the original launch last month, two of the four latest Tonino Lamborghini devices have made their way over to Hong Kong. Pictured above is the L2800 tablet which has since been upgraded from Android 2.3 to 4.0.3, but the hardware remains the same: a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm chip, 9.7-inch 1,024 x 768 display, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and microSD expansion, along with 3G connectivity, two- and five-megapixel cameras front and back, four obviously redundant capacitive buttons, 7,500mAh battery and, sadly, a proprietary dock connector. All of this plus the nicely crafted titanium chassis weigh 850g, and it'll cost you just HK$13,800 or about US$1,780. Hey, quit moaning -- it's a massive reduction from the US$2,320 price tag in Russia.

Gallery: Tonino Lamborghini L2800 tablet and TL700 phone hands-on

Continue reading Tonino Lamborghini L2800 tablet and TL700 phone rumble in Hong Kong, we go hands-on (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile

Tonino Lamborghini L2800 tablet and TL700 phone rumble in Hong Kong, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elgato outs smaller EyeTV Mobile for iPhones and iPads, EyeTV Micro for Android

Posted on 31/08/2012 by Jamie Rigg

It was at the last IFA we got some time with Elgato's EyeTV Mobile for the iPad, and this year they're at it again with a redesigned iDongle and a brand new model for Android gear. The smaller EyeTV Mobile will have you watching DVB-T broadcasts on your iPhone 4S or iPad (2 or new), while the EyeTV Micro swaps Apple's dock connector for, you guessed it, microUSB. Not all Android devices support the Micro -- you'll need a dual-core CPU, Neon support and at least the 4.0.3 build of ICS. That said, the Micro's a generous little chap, as you can use the included USB cable to hook it up to your PC or Mac and get your TV fix on bigger screens, too. Both peripherals can be used with myriad aerials to meet your reception needs, provided you're in Europe, of course. The Mobile and Micro will be available in September for £89.95 and £54.95 (around $143 and $87), respectively, and we hope to see one on the show floor before IFA 2012 is done, so stay tuned.

Continue reading Elgato outs smaller EyeTV Mobile for iPhones and iPads, EyeTV Micro for Android

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Peripherals, Tablets, HD, Mobile

Elgato outs smaller EyeTV Mobile for iPhones and iPads, EyeTV Micro for Android originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 05:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Optimus 4X HD review: runner-up to the quad-core throne

Posted on 09/07/2012 by Myriam Joire

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LG has an ongoing smartphone problem: despite a few valiant efforts (the G2x comes to mind) the company continues to live in the shadow of rival Samsung. Most of this malaise can be attributed to hit-and-miss hardware combined with lackluster software (we're looking at you, Spectrum). Last February, at Mobile World Congress, LG spiced things up with an attractive collection of devices including the Optimus L7, Optimus Vu and Optimus 4X HD -- the latter being one of the first quad-core handsets announced. Now, six months later, we live in a world where the global versions of HTC's One X and Samsung's Galaxy S III dominate the superphone market and share the quad-core crown. With me-too features like a Tegra 3 processor, 4.7-inch HD display, 8-megapixel camera and Ice Cream Sandwich on board, the Optimus 4X HD appears ready to play in the big leagues. Does it succeed or is it just a flash in the pan? Is it all style over substance or does it bring something unique and meaningful to the table? Hit the break for our full review.

Gallery: LG Optimus 4X HD review

Continue reading LG Optimus 4X HD review: runner-up to the quad-core throne

Filed under: Cellphones

LG Optimus 4X HD review: runner-up to the quad-core throne originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Matrix One is a $99 ICS tablet that could ship to retailers next month… but probably won’t (hands-on)

Posted on 26/06/2012 by Zach Honig

From Barcelona to Hanover to Vegas and Taipei, we've seen our fair share of low-end Android tablets, some of which actually offer a bit of promise, and get it done for under 200 bucks. And while even a few sub-$100 models have littered the exhibition hall floors, they're most often mere vaporware, never actually making their way to US and European retailers and online shops. The Matrix One, for its part, could actually get the nod of approval from big box execs, however -- according to company reps, at least. And it wouldn't be a half-bad option at $99, shipping with Android 4.0.3, a 2-megapixel webcam, 1.5GHz Cortex A8 processor and an 800 x 480-pixel 7-inch capacitive display. Those specs also make their way to a nearly identical $149 flavor, which ups its budget counterpart's 512MB RAM and 4 gigs of storage to 1GB and 16GB, respectively, while keeping the other components intact.

While that display won't best any brand-name slab on the market, it's certainly usable, even in bright sunlight, as we experienced today at CE Week in New York City. The tablet performed just fine during our quick demo, which included navigating through some menus and watching a few HD video clips. The built-in speaker on the rear won't come close to filling a room (or even a noisy car, perhaps), but a headphone jack will let movie fans and youngsters alike appreciate content a bit more, especially if traditional tablets are priced out of reach. There's also an HDMI port for outputting 1080p video to a TV, along with one full-size USB port, a mini-USB connector for syncing and updates, a power port and a micro-SD card slot, for adding up to 32 gigs of extra storage.

You'll also find a built-in mic and a two-megapixel webcam (no rear-facing shooter, however). All in all, the 11.1-ounce package is quite polished, especially given the price. We won't likely be adding the Matrix One to our personal collection, but if a $99 tablet is on your must-have list, this wouldn't be a bad choice -- let's just hope it does indeed pop up in stores, perhaps as soon as the tablet's ready to ship at the end of next month. There's a gallery below if you'd care to take a closer look, and do jump past the break as well -- that's where you'll find our hands-on video, with a lively Manhattan soundscape to boot.

Gallery: Matrix One 7-inch ICS tablet hands-on

Continue reading Matrix One is a $99 ICS tablet that could ship to retailers next month... but probably won't (hands-on)

Matrix One is a $99 ICS tablet that could ship to retailers next month... but probably won't (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS PadFone gets its first firmware update, minor bugs removed

Posted on 14/06/2012 by Richard Lai

We've been regularly poking the "Check Update" button on our PadFone since the release of our epic review, and just as promised, today ASUS has finally delivered the hybrid device's first OTA update. While the release notes have yet to pop up, we can see that the system firmware on our Taiwanese model's been upgraded to IML74K.CHT_PadFone-9.18.8.41_CHT_9.1.15-0, which has eliminated some of the bugs that we had reported to ASUS. For instance, the missing change-keyboard button in ASUS' Chinese handwriting input method has been reinstated, and trace input in ASUS' English keyboard is now working properly. Sadly, the "A" and "L" keys are still easy to miss -- we're accustomed to their larger sensitive areas on the native Android keyboard, so we shall stick to that for the time being.

Also sent along is the camera firmware's update which brings the version number up to f09951, and consequently we're no longer getting an erroneous "no GPS signal" message in the camera app. Last but not least, the PadFone Station's firmware is now at version p40, but we've yet to notice any difference. Until we get the update log, don't be afraid to drop us a note in the comments if you spot anything else new.

Update: We almost forgot to mention that the PadFone's already out in Singapore, and our pals over at Engadget Spanish reported earlier today that it's also heading to tiendas españolas next month. Likewise for Italy, according to Notebook Italia.

ASUS PadFone gets its first firmware update, minor bugs removed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS PadFone, Transformer and Transformer Prime hang out under the sun

Posted on 12/06/2012 by Richard Lai

While cooking up our ASUS PadFone review, we decided to bring its Android tablet cousins together for a family portrait, because why not? Sadly, at the time of shooting these photos the Transformer Pad TF300 wasn't yet available in Hong Kong, so the original Transformer TF101 and the Transformer Prime TF201 will do for now. While you enjoy our gallery below, take a close look at how strikingly similar the keyboard docks for the TF101 and the PadFone are. Enjoy!

Update: Regarding readability under the sun (which is a fair question), the PadFone Station was almost just as good as that on the Transformer Prime -- both have an optional outdoor mode that boosts the screen brightness for this purpose, which is why they perform much better than the original Transformer.

Gallery: ASUS PadFone, Transformer and Transformer Prime hang out under the sun

ASUS PadFone, Transformer and Transformer Prime hang out under the sun originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS PadFone review

Posted on 12/06/2012 by Richard Lai

It's been a long ride for the PadFone. ASUS' last smartphone was the Android 2.1-powered A10 from two years ago, then five months later the company ended its smartphone partnership with Garmin (though they're still friends). The next thing we knew, the outfit was openly considering Windows Phone, but obviously nothing came to fruition despite its E600 engineering units floating about in the wild. Meanwhile, a bunch of Android Eee Pads started entering the market to get a slice of that hot tablet pie.

Eventually, the PadFone shocked the industry at last year's Computex (remember our brilliant mockup based on the teaser pics?), but ASUS went on to miss its Christmas launch target, allowing it extra time to rejig the phone's software and design. Then CES and MWC went by, with the latter hosting the official launch event to unveil the PadFone's final design and availability date. This time, the new April target was missed by only three weeks, and shortly afterwards we got hold of our retail unit from Taiwan, which is still the only place where you can get hold of the product.

But enough with the story. What we want to know is whether ASUS' courageous and unique project has all the right ingredients to squeeze itself into a market now dominated by the likes of Apple, Samsung and HTC. Most importantly, will the company set a new trend with this two- or three-in-one form factor -- in the same way it did with netbooks -- thus taking the Android ecosystem to the next level? Let's see.

Gallery: ASUS PadFone review