touchscreen

3D
June 2, 2011
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Sprint’s HTC EVO 3D shipping June 24th, RadioShack ad suggests

By on June 2, 2011 at 6:50 AM.

Sprint’s HTC EVO 3D shipping June 24th, RadioShack ad suggests

According to a RadioShack advertisement spotted by Phandroid, the store could begin shipping the highly anticipated HTC EVO 3D from Sprint on June 24th. The retailer began quietly taking pre-orders on May 17th, which suggests an imminent release, so June 24th certainly seems like it’s in the right ballpark. When it launches, the EVO 3D will be the first 3D smartphone to land on a carrier’s shelves in the United States. We were impressed with the glasses-free 3D display during our hands-on at CTIA earlier this year and we’re definitely excited to get our hands-on a review unit as soon as possible so we can spend more time putting it through its paces. More →

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Mobile
June 2, 2011
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Barnes & Noble shipping new NOOK now

By on June 2, 2011 at 12:00 AM.

Barnes & Noble shipping new NOOK now

On Wednesday Barnes & Noble announced that it is now shipping its brand new NOOK eReader to customers who pre-ordered the device, and that new customers will still get their devices by Father’s Day. The updated NOOK offers a 6-inch touchscreen display with new E Ink Pearl technology, access to 2 million books, and a single hardware button that should provide for a much more intuitive experience. We found the new E Ink display to be “leaps and bounds” better than the original during our hands-on with the eReader, so we’re definitely excited to see it make its debut this weekend. The NOOK will be in-stock at Barnes & Noble locations for $139.99. Hit the jump for the full press release. More →

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Apps & Software
June 1, 2011
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Windows 7 can be tablet-friendly after all [video]

By on June 1, 2011 at 7:11 AM.

Windows 7 can be tablet-friendly after all [video]

Microsoft doesn’t have plans to release its upcoming tablet-friendly Windows 8 operating system until some time next year, but that doesn’t mean Windows fans have to wait for an optimized tablet experience. Windows tablet fan Justin Campana found a series of apps and tweaks that can be combined with a few custom scripts to make the Windows 7 touch experience much more appealing. On his blog, Campana lays out a great guide that gives users all the tools they need to transform their contrived Windows 7 slates into gorgeous touch-optimized tablets. He uses a variety of software such as ObjectDock, Fences and Rainmeter along with a bunch of tweaks to make Windows 7 look like it was born for tablets. Best of all, Campana happily shares his methods with the world. Hit the break for a video of ASUS’ 12-inch Eee Slate EP121 Windows 7 tablet with touch optimizations applied, and follow the read link for a simple guide that will show you how to perform the mods yourself. More →

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Breaking
May 24, 2011
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Barnes & Noble announces the all new NOOK

By on May 24, 2011 at 10:15 AM.

Barnes & Noble announces the all new NOOK

Barnes & Noble on Tuesday unveiled its all new NOOK eBook reader, and to say it’s an improvement over the previous-generation model is an understatement. This new version replaces the older greyscale model, not the still-young NOOK color, and it features a major improvement we probably all saw coming… a touchscreen. The eReader sports an on-screen keyboard and it also allows readers to look up words or take notes with simple taps on the beautiful E Ink display. The new NOOK features just one button compared to the Kindle’s 38, which obviously simplifies the user experience significantly. More importantly, the new NOOK can last up to two months on a single charge — double the battery life of Amazon’s Kindle. Other nifty features include a new proprietary dissolve transition that takes readers from one page to the next, and social media integration that allows users to share recommendations via Twitter, Facebook and more. Of course the new eReader also features Wi-Fi connectivity and owners can enjoy free hotspot access at all Barnes & Noble stores as well as every AT&T hotspot across the country. The new NOOK will retail for $139.99 when it becomes available on June 10th from Barnes & Noble, Best Buy and more. Pre-orders are available immediately.

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Live Coverage
May 24, 2011
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Live from Barnes & Noble’s NOOK event!

By on May 24, 2011 at 9:31 AM.

Live from Barnes & Noble’s NOOK event!

While Microsoft is busy showing off the latest and greatest its Windows Phone platform has to offer, Barnes & Noble is across town getting ready to take the wraps off its brand new NOOK eReader. Tablets like the Apple iPad 2 and BlackBerry PlayBook are taking center stage right now, but these jacks of all trades have a long way to go before they can even come close to matching the reading experience afforded by dedicated eReaders. Avid readers and casual readers alike can appreciate the remarkable battery life and unique features that only a dedicated eBook reader can afford, and good luck trying to soak up the sun while reading a book on your iPad — right now, only an E Ink display can remain perfectly visible and glare-free while combating the sun’s rays. So what new features does Barnes and Noble have in store for its latest NOOK eReader? Hit the break for our live coverage of the unveiling, which will begin just before 10:00 a.m. EST, and don’t forget to refresh the page often for all the latest updates! More →

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eBooks
May 23, 2011
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Kobo launches Kobo eReader Touch Edition [video]

By on May 23, 2011 at 11:25 PM.

Kobo launches Kobo eReader Touch Edition [video]

Kobo on Monday took the wraps off its latest eBook reader, which touts one feature in particular that should be of interest to future eReader buyers: touch. The unveiling comes just one day ahead of Barnes & Nobles’s press event in New York City — which we’ll be covering live — where the company is expected to introduce its new black and white NOOK. The Kobo eReader Touch Edition, also a black and white reader, features a 6-inch “Real Touch” E Ink touchscreen display with 16 shades of grey, Wi-Fi connectivity and a library of over 2.3 million books, newspapers and magazines, including over a million free titles. Kobo’s new eReader can store up to 1,000 books locally and another 30,000 on a removable SD card, and it weighs in at a feather-light 200 grams. The Kobo eReader Touch Edition is available for pre-order immediately from Best Buy, Walmart, Borders and Indigo for $129.99, and it will begin shipping in July. Kobo’s previous-generation reader has dropped to $99.99 as of Monday. Hit the break for Kobo’s full press release and a video. More →

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Mobile
May 17, 2011
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Nokia’s N9 seen in brief teaser video

By on May 17, 2011 at 10:44 PM.

Nokia’s N9 seen in brief teaser video

Nokia’s N9 handset has made a brief cameo via a one-minute, official-looking video clip. What do we learn from said video? Not a heck of a lot. What we do see is a 12-megapixel camera complete with Carl Zeiss optics flash before our eyes, and the iconography seen suggests that the device will be a Symbian offering complete with the Anna software update. The rumor mill states the N9 will be a pentaband GSM handset that could make an appearance stateside, although… since Nokia is going all-in with Windows Phone, we’re not sure what the fate of this handset is. The video is after the break. Have a look for yourself.
More →

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Mobile
May 17, 2011
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Apple’s goal of producing 45 million iPads is ‘out of reach,’ analyst says

By on May 17, 2011 at 12:00 PM.

Apple’s goal of producing 45 million iPads is ‘out of reach,’ analyst says

According to Business Insider, a report from FBR analyst Craig Berger claims that Apple’s goal of producing 40-45 million iPads is “out of reach.” Apple’s current second-quarter production target is 6.2 million iPad units, but that may not be possible due to production issues with Hon Hai, Berger said. As a result, actual iPad production could drop to 5.2 million units during the third quarter. Similarly, Berger argues that Apple may face production issues from the March earthquake in Japan, particularly in relation to touchscreen displays. Berger’s report is on a par with a recent DigiTimes article that suggested Apple would have a hard time manufacturing enough iPhone 4 and iPad 2 units to meet demand due to material and labor shortages at Foxconn. More →

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Computers
May 10, 2011
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HP refreshes EliteBook, ENVY, Mini, Pavilion, ProBook, notebook lines

By on May 10, 2011 at 3:35 AM.

HP refreshes EliteBook, ENVY, Mini, Pavilion, ProBook, notebook lines

On Monday HP announced that it has updated its EliteBook, ENVY, Mini, Pavilion, and ProBook notebook families with some more robust models. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new:

  • HP’s ProBook 5330m, designed for business users, is less than an inch thick, weighs 3.9 pounds, and has a 13.3-inch screen. It’s powered by Intel’s Core i5 and Core i3 processors and comes with a fingerprint reader and other security options. It will debut on May 9th for $799.
  • The ultraportable EliteBook 2560p can be equipped with either an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor, has a 7,200rpm hard drive (or SSD), and sports a 12.5-inch LED-backlit HD display. Its brother, the EliteBook 2760p has a smaller 12.1-inch display and doubles as a tablet. The EliteBook 2560p will launch on May 23rd for $1,099 and the 2760p will hit the market on May 9th for $1,499.
  • HP’s updated Mini 210 netbook has been revamped with a more modern aesthetic, weighs under 3 pounds, is less than 1-inch thick, and offers up to 9.5 hours of battery life. HP also added Beats Audio for improved music playback. The Mini 210 will launch in purple, charcoal, red, rose, and blue on June 15th starting at $299.99.
  • HP’s Pavilion dv4 notebook has been updated to include CoolSense technology, which adjusts PC cooling on the fly to prevent overheating. It weighs under 5 pounds, has a 14-inch HD LED BrightView display, and will be available in espresso black and blue when it launches for $599 on May 18th.
  • HP dropped Intel’s second-generation Core processors into the HP ENVY 14, and also added USB 3.0, a new “HP imagepad” for gesture support, and a precision-etched metal alloy-case. The ENVY 14 sports a 14.5-inch HD BrightView infinity LED display, Beats Audio, and more. It will launch on June 15th for $999.99.

Hit the jump for the full release from HP. More →

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Mobile
May 5, 2011
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Samsung Galaxy S II passes FCC with AT&T 3G bands

By on May 5, 2011 at 11:55 AM.

Samsung Galaxy S II passes FCC with AT&T 3G bands

The Samsung Galaxy S II (GT-I9100T) recently passed through the FCC, and the associated paperwork hints at a possible U.S. release. The phone testing by the FCC supports AT&T’s 850/1900MHz bands, although neither AT&T nor Samsung have confirmed the phone’s launch. This is definitely something worth getting excited about: the Galaxy S II is Samsung’s current flagship device and it packs a serious hardware punch. It’s equipped with Samsung’s stunning 4.27-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen, a dual-core Orion processor, and an 8-megapixel camera capable of recording 1080p video. The European version runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) with Samsung’s custom TouchWiz 4.0 user interface, and we hope it retains that setup if it hits AT&T’s shelves. Our fingers are crossed that this is part of Samsung’s upcoming press event in New York, which we’ll be reporting from live on May 25th. More →

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Exclusive
April 29, 2011
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New BlackBerry Bold appears on BlackBerry.com, probably the only device announcement at BlackBerry World

By on April 29, 2011 at 4:24 PM.

New BlackBerry Bold appears on BlackBerry.com, probably the only device announcement at BlackBerry World

It looks like RIM’s website team jumped the gun a bit, as we have just caught the new BlackBerry Bold on RIM’s main BlackBerry site. It’s not like you haven’t seen the BlackBerry Bold before, though, as we not only broke news of the device but have also spent some one-on-one snuggle time with RIM’s flagship handset. With that said, we also exclusively reported that RIM might only launch one device at BlackBerry World, as opposed to previewing and demoing the company’s 7-device lineup for 2011. It looks like what we reported will be correct — the introduction of the new BlackBerry Bold (we’re still not positive if the final name will include Touch in it) as well as BlackBerry OS 7 (formerly known as OS 6.1). There’s one more image after the break.

Thanks, Joey S! More →

58 Comments
Rumor
April 26, 2011
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Sharp selected by Apple as LCD manufacturer for iPhone 6, report suggests

By on April 26, 2011 at 8:22 PM.

Sharp selected by Apple as LCD manufacturer for iPhone 6, report suggests

iPhone 4GS and iPhone 5 rumors are so played out. Might as well move on to the iPhone 6, right? Blog AppleInsider is reporting that Apple, Inc. has selected Sharp Electronics as the display supplier for its next, next smartphone — being called the iPhone 6. The information comes courtesy of Japanese newspaper Nikkan, who writes that the purported agreement will have Sharp producing p-Si LCD displays for the iPhone maker — not OLED as previous rumors have suggested. The benefits of p-Si LCD displays include higher aperture ratios, better durability, and fewer connecting pins — the screens are also said to be thinner and lighter than the current LCD screen employed by the iPhone 4. The report states that the new screens will be made at Sharp’s “Kameyama Plant No. 1.” No word on the size or pixel density of the new screens, but just give it time… it is iPhone rumor season after all.   More →

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Exclusive
April 20, 2011
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BlackBerry Curve Touch to be revealed at BlackBerry World; June-July launch

By on April 20, 2011 at 9:09 AM.

BlackBerry Curve Touch to be revealed at BlackBerry World; June-July launch

Here’s some interesting information for you BlackBerry lovers out there. We finally have some firm details surrounding the GSM counterpart to the Malibu, which will be a CDMA Curve Touch launching late fall. The GSM BlackBerry Curve Touch, which will feature nearly identical specs, of course, has been seen recently by a trusted source who noted that the device featured T-Mobile branding and would be unveiled at BlackBerry World next month. Compared to the rest of the 2011 Curve lineup, the device is actually a much smaller full touchscreen Curve. It’s similar to the BlackBerry Touch, with the same proportions as the BlackBerry Orlando (Curve with a touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard) and the BlackBerry Apollo that we leaked back in January. The GSM BlackBerry Curve Touch will launch around June or July, we’ve been told.

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