Hands On Video: ASUS Padfone – Is It a Phone? Tablet? Or BOTH?

Hands On Video: ASUS Padfone – Is It a Phone? Tablet? Or BOTH?:

We haven’t heard much from the ASUS Padfone since it was teased then eventually revealed last year. Arguably one of the greatest ideas ever to hit Android, I was hoping we’d see a lot more from the device. Well, on my trip to ASUS’s CES showing, I was not only able to snag some pics of the device behind its plexiglass enclosure — but after a little sweet talking (I’ve heard my voice could be rather soothing), ASUS was kind enough to enough to give Phandroid some hands-on time with the hybrid device.

Part smartphone and part tablet, the ASUS Padfone allows for seamless transition between your smartphone and tablet by docking the phone portion inside the tablet and moving from a phone user interface, to a tablet interface with no fuss. To show off how seamless the Padfone handles this, ASUS had a video running on the smartphone while docking the device inside the tablet and although there was a slight delay (this is still very early software and very early hardware), the video picked up on the tablet exactly where it left off on the phone. Impressive to say the least.

Details on both portions of the Padfone were scarce thanks to a language barrier and given the prototype we got our hands on is still very much in the early stages of development. The smartphone — or “brains” of the Padfone — is a 4.3-inch device with an IPS display, 8MP shooter and runs on Ice Cream Sandwich. To be expected, all the usual ports made an appearance on both the tablet and smartphone. You have micro USB, HDMI and 3.5mm jacks. Not the thinnest smartphone or tablets on the market but they are definitely not the thickest either. The quality of both devices felt solid with a great build quality and even a little premium thanks to aluminum accents throughout.

While I’m sure you can already think up a few benefits of having a smartphone that transforms into a tablet, there are a few we’d like to emphasize. Gone are the days of having a separate data plan for both your smartphone and tablet. The Padfone makes it easy to use only 1 SIM and data plan that’s good for both devices.

The Padfone also virtually eliminates the hassle of having to constantly transfer (or sync) your media from one device to another, just to access your content on both devices. Another thing, the smartphone actually charges while it’s docked adding extra battery life to the smartphone when you finally need to undock it.

Obviously, being able to convert whatever you’re working on to a larger display, while still having all the functionality of a smartphone on a tablet. SMS phone calls, wireless data — the future is here. Well, coming soon anyway. ASUS mentioned that they are currently shopping around for US carriers to pick up the device but that’s easier said than done. I would imagine a carrier like Verizon Wireless wouldn’t take so well to a smartphone that could transform into a tablet, circumventing the need for a separate tablet data plan. Guess we’ll have to see.

So what do you guys think about the Padfone? Success or flop? For the main attraction, you can check out our full hands-on video down below. Enjoy.

Angry Birds Stereo Speakers Are Too Cute To Resist

Angry Birds Stereo Speakers Are Too Cute To Resist:

Looks like the Angry Birds craze isn’t about to let up anytime soon if this new merchandise is any indication. Adding to the Angry Birds phenomena are these adorable speakers shown off at IFA this year. I’ll admit, I’m not an Angry Birds junkie but even then, it’s hard to deny the appeal of these cute stereo critters from Gear4.

The stereo speakers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, allowing you to pick your favorite fowl and plug-in using the inluded 3.5mm headphone jack. They even come with an included remote for adjusting volume from a distance and offer docking options for your iPod device. These guys are set to soar through Europe and the US in the coming weeks and should retail for around €69.

Must. Resist.

[Via Engadget]

Samsung Galaxy S II Gets Official Teardown

Samsung Galaxy S II Gets Official Teardown: "

With teardowns becoming all the rage these days, Samsung thought it would be quite fun to do one of their own for their official flagship Android handset. Samsung gives us a look at the Galaxy S II’s guts. It’s quite detailed as they give us a close up of everything inside the Galaxy S II, from the front-facing camera right down to the HSPA+ modems delivering those awesome 3G speeds. A quick overview photo is above, but head to Samsung’s official blog for more photos and full explanations. [Samsung Hub]

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Lighting Science demos Android @ Home bulbs, promises dead-simple home automation (hands-on)

Lighting Science demos Android @ Home bulbs, promises dead-simple home automation (hands-on): "

'Tis amazing what a partnership with Google can do. Unless you're a frequent patron of Home Depot, there's a slim chance you'd ever heard of Lighting Science prior to this week's opening I/O keynote. Now, said company is leading the Android @ Home charge, and based on what we learned yesterday at its booth, we're feeling better than ever about home automation's chances in the mainstream market. Company representatives noted that this Google-led mesh networking solution -- which beams out commands on the 900MHz frequency band -- is the first HA solution that's truly designed to be ultra-low-cost and easy to implement. Compared to Z-Wave and Zigbee, there's far less technical expertise needed to start automating things in your home, and there's no need to take out a second mortgage to open your garage door with your handset. Oh, and there's zero chance anything fails due to congestion on the 2.4GHz band.



We pressed the company on pricing details, and it stated that the wirelessly enabled light shown above would be priced 'at parity' with the non-wireless counterpart available today. At last check, that puts a single bulb at around $30. In order to make these kinds of devices compatible with existing Android phones and tablets, a couple of WiFi-to-900MHz adapters will be available. From Lighting Science alone, you'll soon see a light switch, security lamp and a regular wall wart on sale to handle the transfers. In other words, you can pick up a dirt-cheap plug, toss it in your guest room, and immediately give your Nexus One the ability to dictate Android @ Home products. Not too shabby, but what does this mean for the broader industry?

Gallery: Lighting Science demos Android @ Home bulbs: hands-on at Google I/O

Continue reading Lighting Science demos Android @ Home bulbs, promises dead-simple home automation (hands-on)

Lighting Science demos Android @ Home bulbs, promises dead-simple home automation (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 06:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutchman integrates a 4.5GHz water-cooled rig into his d3sk

Dutchman integrates a 4.5GHz water-cooled rig into his d3sk: "

Cooler Master's 2011 Case Mod Competition looks to be the gift that keeps on giving. After serving up a Tron lightcycle and an architectural marvel, it's now playing host to a mod that redefines the idea of an all-in-one PC. Peter from the Netherlands has managed to fit a pretty bombastic set of components -- 4.5GHz Core i7-980X, two ASUS GeForce GTX 580 graphics cards in SLI, over 12TB of storage with an SSD boot disk, and two PSUs providing 1,500W of power in total -- together with a water-cooling setup and the inevitable glowing lights inside one enclosure, which just so happens to also serve as his desk. The three-piece monitor setup is also a custom arrangement, with a 27-inch U2711 IPS panel being flanked by two 17-inchers. Admittedly, this isn't the first water-cooled and over-powered desk we've laid eyes on, but that shouldn't prevent you from giving the links below a bash and checking out the amazingly neat design of Peter's l3p d3sk.

Continue reading Dutchman integrates a 4.5GHz water-cooled rig into his d3sk

Dutchman integrates a 4.5GHz water-cooled rig into his d3sk originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 May 2011 08:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Martin Jetpack hits the 5,000 feet milestone, could come to market within 18 months (video)

Martin Jetpack hits the 5,000 feet milestone, could come to market within 18 months (video): "

OK, so the Martin Jetpack may not have gone into commercial production quite as soon as we'd anticipated, but there's still hope on the horizon. Over the weekend, Glenn Martin's flying machine successfully climbed some 5,000 feet above sea level, marking a new milestone in the 30-year, $12 million project. Remotely controlled by a tailing helicopter, the 250-pound craft used its two 'superfans' to power itself skyward at about 800 feet per second minute, before safely parachuting back to Earth from a height of about 3,000 feet. As with its last test run, however, the Martin Jetpack was equipped not with a human being, but with a crash dummy. It may have been for the best, though, considering that the machine sustained some damage upon concluding the ten-minute flight. Nevertheless, Martin seems confident that yesterday's test 'brings the future another step closer,' and is hoping to deliver his brainchild to customers within the next 18 months -- plenty of time for us to hawk enough family heirlooms to afford that $86,000 price tag. Soar past the break for a video of the jetpack's big launch, or check out the source link for a more extensive interview with Martin and some background footage of his invention.



[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Martin Jetpack hits the 5,000 feet milestone, could come to market within 18 months (video)

Martin Jetpack hits the 5,000 feet milestone, could come to market within 18 months (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 May 2011 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFC-enabled Angry Birds Magic gets demoed, dares you to find another C7 owner

NFC-enabled Angry Birds Magic gets demoed, dares you to find another C7 owner: "

Okay, so maybe it's not that hard to find another Earthling with a C7, but let's be honest -- finding someone with a Nexus S is entirely more likely. For now, however, it seems as if Angry Birds Magic will be reserved for the aforementioned Nokia handset, and while we already heard of its NFC-enabled tricks, seeing it in action is another thing entirely. Our pals over at Netbook News were able to snag a quick demonstration at the MeeGo Conference, and it seemed to work exactly as advertised: tap two phones together, and five new levels are gained. Do it with another C7, and you'll score another batch of never-before-seen trials and tribulations. Have a look for yourself above, won't you?

NFC-enabled Angry Birds Magic gets demoed, dares you to find another C7 owner originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 08:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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