Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.
Desperate times call for desperate measures — namely, new gadgets. Disappointed with his Droid Charge’s ever-depleting battery capacity, Tim took a $100 portable charger for a spin to see if he could eke out a little extra runtime before racing for an outlet. Meanwhile, Dan agreed to wear his first E-Ink watch after his analog Fossil timepiece outlived all compatible wristbands. Rounding things out, we have a more traditional account of gadget nostalgia from Don Melanson, who explains why he won’t be replacing his aging D90 anytime soon.
Continue reading IRL: Nikon D90, myCharge Portable Power Bank 6000 and Phosphor’s World Time Sport
IRL: Nikon D90, myCharge Portable Power Bank 6000 and Phosphor’s World Time Sport originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Let’s face it, walkie-talkies are far from glamorous, but for large and small enterprises that rely on real-time communication, the WWII artifact remains an integral part of the workday. Now, AT&T has set forth on a journey to give its push-to-talk services a modern makeover, and it’s recruiting a few partners to join the quest. In addition to providing PTT-enabled smartphones, the carrier will be testing IP-based technologies that offer workflow automation for tasks such as fleet management and dispatch. Additionally, the system will also offer integration with traditional radio systems such as PMR and LMR, which means an organization won’t need to transition its entire crew at once. You can find more about AT&T’s hybrid communications system in the PR after the break.
Continue reading AT&T launches pilot program for expanded push-to-talk services
AT&T launches pilot program for expanded push-to-talk services originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It’s not the first time that rumors have surfaced of Google working on some heads-up display glasses (9 to 5 Google first raised the possibility late last year), but The New York Times is now reporting that the company is not only working on them, but that it’s set to release them by the end of this year. Citing “several Google employees familiar with the project,” the paper’s Nick Bilton reports that the glasses will be based on Android, pack 3G or 4G connectivity, plus GPS and a range of sensors, and cost “around the price of current smartphones,” or somewhere between $250 and $600. They’re also said to include a low-resolution camera that can monitor your surroundings in real time and overlay relevant information, although Google is said to be paying attention to potential privacy concerns, and “wants to ensure that people know if they are being recorded by someone wearing a pair of glasses with a built-in camera.”
What’s more, the Times says that none other than Sergey Brin is a “key leader” on the project, with another being Google engineer Steve Lee, the creator of Latitude. Notably, Bilton also says that Google sees the project as an “experiment that anyone will be able to join,” and that the company is not currently thinking about potential business models for the glasses, which could suggest that they may be more of a small-scale hobby than part of a major push into consumer hardware.
NYT: Google to sell Android-based heads-up display glasses this year originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The Daily got a lot of folks hopes up earlier today with a
rumor that Office would soon be making an appearance on the iPad, but Microsoft is now throwing a bit of cold water on that news. While it’s not exactly an outright denial that such an app is coming, a Microsoft spokesperson has now told
The New York Times’ Bits website that “The Daily story is based on inaccurate rumors and speculation,” adding only that it has “no further comment” at this time.
Microsoft says Office for iPad story is based on ‘inaccurate rumors and speculation’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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LG’s gotten all excited and spilled even more beans ahead of MWC as to what offerings we’ll see at the big Iberian shindig. The L-Series is a trio of phones we’re already part-way familiar with, given that the budget L3 was leaked back in January. The L5 and L7 are aimed at the mid-range and premium ends of the market, running ICS and packing 4-inch and 4.3-inch displays respectively. Whilst there’s no further detail about specs, we know that the L-series shares the same DNA as the Prada Phone 3, so we’d imagine that as a good benchmark. The PR boasts of “five aesthetic elements,” all of which seem to emphasize that the phone’s going to be quite thin. After the break we’ve got that brief statement in full and the nagging sense that there’s no surprise forthcoming when LG takes to the stage next week.
Continue reading LG busts out a trio of L-series phones in the run up to MWC
LG busts out a trio of L-series phones in the run up to MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The Kisai Stencil is the latest fan-submitted design to make it through to Tokyo Flash‘s online shelves. It brandishes the same always-on LCD display of its stablemates, with the time displayed through a combination of lines and dots, with the digits taking up the full width of the watch’s display. The Stencil arrives in five different display colors, alongside both white or black leather strap options and arrives on Tokyo Flash’s trademark early-bird discount; buy in the first 48 hours and you’ll net a $40 discount, dropping the price down to $99. Obtuse timepiece fans can take a closer look in a video right after the break.
Continue reading Kisai Stencil LCD watch keeps it vague, outlines the time (video)
Kisai Stencil LCD watch keeps it vague, outlines the time (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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