Tag Archives: release date & price

Barnes & Noble announces new Nook, “the simple touch reader”

May 24, 2011News, TechnologyB&N, Barnes & Noble, Barnes & Noble Nook, e-ink, E-ink screen, e-reader, Nook, Nook the simple touch reader, price, release date, release date & priceScott Meisner

Today Barnes & Noble unveiled a new addition to their e-reader family. The all-new Nook “the simple touch reader” is noticeably small and ultra-light. It packs a 6-inch E Ink Pearl touch display and weighs only 7.48 ounces. Its package is 35 percent lighter and 15 percent thinner than the original Nook (WiFi), and its no-glare display offers 50 percent more contrast. It features a soft-touch rubber back that B&N says makes the reading experience all the better. The battery life is phenomenal; with WiFi turned off the new Nook will last for up to 2 months on a single charge. Equally impressive is that the new Nook offers 80 percent less flashing than other e-readers; page turning on an e-ink screen is normally a headache-inducing activity, so we should all be happy that B&N is doing all they can to combat the “flashing” issue. The company also outlined the new Fast Page feature which allows readers to jump to various sections of a book at ease. Readers will also be privy to the number of pages left to go in a book. The new Nook runs Android 2.1, boasts 2GB of storage that can be expanded with use of the microSD slot, and is WiFi-capable. A 3G model is not being offered at this time. The tiny Nook goes on sale June 10 for an acceptable $139 at B&N, Best Buy, Walmart, Staples, and Books-A-Million. It is up for preorder today. Full PR after the break. Head over to the source link to see the new Nook in action.

[Via Engadget] Continue reading Barnes & Noble announces new Nook, “the simple touch reader” →

Verizon picks up Droid X2, Xperia Play, and first Windows Phone 7 handset

May 23, 2011News, Technologycell phones, Droid, Droid X2, Droid X2 by Motorola, HTC, HTC Trophy, Motorola, price, release date, release date & price, Sony Ericsson, Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, specifications, specs, Trophy, Verizon, Verizon Wireless, VZW, Windows Phone 7, WP7, Xperia PlayScott Meisner

The month of May is a big one for Big Red. Shortly after introducing the 4G-powered Droid Charge in late April, Verizon Wireless is adding three more intriguing smartphones to its arsenal. First up is the long-awaited successor to the Droid X, the appropriately titled Droid X2. This Droid packs a giant 4.3-inch scratch-resistant and anti-reflective qHD display and a speedy dual-core 1GHz processor–this is the first VZW phone to carry such a chip. Other specs include an eight megapixel camera with autofocus and HD video capture (a front-facing cam is noticeably absent here), HDMI output, and mobile hotspot capabilities with up to five WiFi-enabled devices. The X2 will come preloaded with Android 2.2, and the carrier promises an upgrade to 2.3 is coming soon. It lands on Verizon this Thursday the 26th of May at the usual $199.99 price point under a new two-year contract.

Let’s breeze through handset #2. We already know all about the Xperia Play, aka the “PlayStation Phone.” The phone released earlier this spring internationally, and come May 26 the PlayStation Certified Android 2.3-powered device will be available for US consumers for $199.99. It will come preloaded with seven game titles including Madden NFL 11, Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, The Sims 3, Star Battalion, Crash Bandicoot, and Tetris. Available for preorder today. Read all about Sony Ericsson’s gaming-oriented phone right here.

So many firsts for Verizon, let’s recap: The Charge became the inaugural device to bring 4G speeds to the Droid brand, the Droid X2 is the carrier’s first dual-core phone, and Verizon is the first US carrier to offer the Xperia Play. And now there’s this: later this month HTC’s Trophy drops on Big Red to become the first Windows Phone 7 device to run on the nation’s largest network. Want specs? Got ’em. The ruggedly designed Trophy features a 3.8-inch screen, 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, five megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash that captures 720p HD video, 16 GB onboard storage, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, and SRS WOW HD surround sound built in. The world phone’s loaded with Microsoft’s Metro-infused OS and HTC’s customizable Hub. On sale May 26 for $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and if you climb aboard Verizon’s ‘waves for 2 years, of course.

[Via Engadget 1, 2, 3]

HP Veer 4G comes to AT&T May 15 for $100

May 5, 2011News, TechnologyAT&T, cell phones, HP, HP Veer, HP Veer 4G, price, release date, release date & price, specifications, specs, VeerScott Meisner

Back in February, HP formally introduced three new WebOS-enabled devices imagined by the Palm godfather Job Rubinstein. The HP Veer, the smallest of the bunch, is hitting the market first and it’s coming to AT&T. Described to be the size of a credit card and no thicker than a deck of cards, the newly branded HP Veer 4G goes a little something like this: 2.6-inch (320×400) glass touch display, an 800MHz Snapdragon processor, 5 megapixel camera, full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, built-in GPS, WiFi 802.11b/g, and Bluetooth, 8GB of storage, accelerometer, proximity, and light sensors, Adobe Flash Player support, it can act as a mobile hotspot supporting up to 5 WiFi-capable devices, HSPA+, one USB port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It runs WebOS version 2.1 and comes in black and white variants. When it drops May 15 the palm-sized handset will set you back an affordable $99.99, two-year contract with AT&T required. Full PR after the break, as is an image that shows you just how pint-sized this thing really is.

[Via Palm] Continue reading HP Veer 4G comes to AT&T May 15 for $100 →

HTC’s Droid Incredible 2 hits Verizon April 28 for $200

April 27, 2011News, TechnologyAndroid, Android phone, cell phones, Droid, Droid Incredible, Droid Incredible 2, Droid Incredible 2 by HTC, Droid Incredible by HTC, HTC, price, release date, release date & price, specifications, specs, Verizon, Verizon Wireless, VZWScott Meisner

A new day, a new Droid. A little over a year after its original incarnation, the Incredible gets an upgrade. So what does the sequel bring to the table? It packs Qualcomm’s latest 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a 4-inch super LCD display (the original featured a 3.7-inch screen), eight megapixel with dual LED flash capable of 720p HD video capture, 1.3-megapixel front facing camera (a new addition!), and it runs Android 2.2 with the latest version of HTC Sense. The world phone can act as a 3G Mobile Hotspot that can connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Unfortunately the Incredible 2 does not support Verizon’s new 4G LTE network. 3G’ll have to do. 200 bucks is the fee (with a new 2-year contract, of course), and it goes on sale the 28th of this month–that’s tomorrow! Full PR after the break.

[Via Engadget] Continue reading HTC’s Droid Incredible 2 hits Verizon April 28 for $200 →

Droid Charge by Samsung comes to Verizon April 21 for $300

April 23, 2011Images, News, TechnologyAndroid phone, cell phones, Droid, Droid Charge, Droid phone, price, release date, release date & price, Samsung, Samsung Droid Charge, Verizon, Verizon Wireless, VZWScott Meisner

The Charge is the first Droid-branded phone from Samsung. Unlike like its family members, however, it’ll cost you a whopping $299.99 after rebate. But then again, it is also the first Droid to boast 4G speeds. Let’s talk specs. The Charge packs a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display (Samsung touts its “brightness, clarity and outdoor visibility”), 1GHz processor (no dual-core action here, unfortunately), a rear-facing 8 megapixel camera with LED flash, a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera that can be used for taking stills and video chatting, and it’s powered by Android 2.2 with Flash support and mobile hotspot capability. And of course it’s preloaded with Sammy’s Media Hub that “offer[s] a vast lineup of critically acclaimed films and TV programs for rent or purchase.” But let’s take a step back to mobile hotspot capability; the Charge can share its 4G connection with up to 10 WiFi-enabled devices or a 3G connection with up to 5 devices and get this–according to the press release the “feature will be included for a limited time at no additional charge.” Sweet! The latest Droid handset lands on Verizon Wireless April 21. Sneak a peek below. PR after the break.

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading Droid Charge by Samsung comes to Verizon April 21 for $300 →

The Sidekick returns April 20 at a low $99.99

April 9, 2011News, Technology, Videocell phones, price, release date, release date & price, Sidekick, Sidekick 4G, T-Mobile, T-Mobile Sidekick 4GScott Meisner

The Sidekick returns from the dead on April 20. The ultimate tween messaging device will be made available through T-Mobile and it’ll cost an acceptable $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and new two-year contract with unlimited data. If you decide to go ahead with a low-cost data plan you’ll be forced to shell out $149.99 for the Android 2.2-powered, 4G capable device. More deets on the specs can be found right here. Hop after the break to watch some videos that demonstrate the handset’s super sleek capabilities.

[Via T-Mobile; Engadget] Continue reading The Sidekick returns April 20 at a low $99.99 →

Super hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder gets priced and production start date

March 24, 2011Cars, Images, News, Technologycar, car facts, hybrid, hybrid vehicle, Porsche, Porsche 918 Spyder, price, release date, release date & price, vehicleScott Meisner

The Porsche 918 Spyder. We’ve been following this hybrid beast for quite some time now. What started out as a concept vehicle eventually got the green light for production, and now it’s actually up for preorder. The sports car company says that it “marries unique plug-in hybrid technology and outstanding performance in a visually stunning and purely Porsche package.” And that it is. At the heart of the 918 Spyder lies a 500-plus horsepower V8 engine assisted by two electric motors with a total of at least 218 horsepower. Electric energy is stored in a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery that can be recharged from a standard household outlet. Juicing up the vehicle is expected to take about seven hours. Oh, and it’s fast. It zips from zero to 60 MPH in about 3.1 seconds and can reach a top track speed of about 199 MPH. And according to Porsche, “under the right conditions” it will be able to drive on electric power alone at speeds up to 94 MPH. Even more impressive? The plug-in hybrid delivers 78MPG.

Do you have loads of money? Then keep reading. The 918 Spyder has been given a $845,000 price tag. And now you might grown when I tell you the release window: late 2013. Porsche plans to begin production on September 18, 2013 and ship ’em out later that year in the US. The carbon fiber-reinforced Carrera GT-inspired sports car is going to cost you a pretty penny when it ships in the distant future. But that’s expected when you mash together green with luxury. Full PR after the break, images below.

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading →

BlackBerry PlayBook comes out April 19, starting at $499

March 23, 2011News, TechnologyAndroid, Android apps, BlackBerry PlayBook, BlackBerry tablet, price, release date, release date & price, RIM, tabletScott Meisner

RIM’s ready to enter the heated tablet market with their BlackBerry PlayBook. The device, exhaustively detailed here, releases April 19 and will come in three storage capacities: 16GB ($499), 32GB ($599), and 64GB ($799). These prices line up nicely to Apple’s iPad offerings. AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint are the wireless carriers planning to carry the PlayBook. Note the models listed here are WiFi-only. These are up for preorder today through Best Buy, and RIM says that once the release date rolls around it’ll be available to pick up at many retailers including RadioShack, Office Depot, and Staples. Official PR’s sitting after the break.

Update: Though it’s not powered by Google’s Android OS, the BlackBerry PlayBook (and any QNX-based BlackBerry smartphone, for the matter) will support both BlackBerry Java and Android apps. BlackBerry users will not have access to the Android Market, however; the apps will be sold in BlackBerry App World. Before the transition to the other app store can happen, Android developers must port their apps to have them run properly on these new foreign devices.

[Via Engadget; BlackBerry; BGR] Continue reading BlackBerry PlayBook comes out April 19, starting at $499 →

Samsung details its first foray into the Honeycomb tablet market with 10.1″ & 8.9″ Galaxy Tabs

March 23, 2011News, TechnologyHoneycomb, Honeycomb tablet, price, release date, release date & price, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 8.9, specifications, specs, tabletScott Meisner

In mid-February Samsung teased the followup to its first major tablet the Galaxy Tab. The 7-incher is loaded with Android 2.2 and honestly it just doesn’t compete with the king (Apple’s iPad, duh). So Samsung went back to the drawing board to come up with a new version of the Tab, designing it around Google’s made entirely for tablets OS called Honeycomb. The result is the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Since February, however, Sammy has retooled the slate making it thinner, sleeker, and adding a customized software layer to it. Also, they’ve introduced a slightly smaller version dubbed the Galaxy Tab 8.9 (yep, it’s got an 8.9-inch display).

Instead of running through all of the specifications here (most of them remain the same since the February tease), I will list the changes that have been made. First and foremost, the Tabs have been redesigned and made incredibly thin. They both measure 8.6mm (or .33-inches) thick. Sammy touts them as “the world’s thinnest mobile tablets.” And it’s true; comparatively the iPad 2 is 8.8mm thick. They are also extremely light; the 10.1 and 8.9 weigh just 595 grams and 470 grams, respectively. Because of the thinner design the Tabs have been forced to ditch the 8 megapixel rear camera for a slightly lesser 3 megapixel variant; the front-facing 2MP camera remains in tact, as does the ability to shoot 1080p HD video. Another change lies in the software. Previously Samsung was contemplating shipping the Tab with plain ol’ Honeycomb. This time around they’ve decided to incorporate a new version of their customized skin called TouchWiz UX. The software layer brings a Live Panel menu and Mini Apps Tray to let users browse and manage apps in new ways.

Competitive pricing and availability have been spilled, too. The one with the bigger display will hit the market first on June 8; the 8.9-incher will arrive shortly thereafter in “early summer.” Strictly WiFi-enabled models have been detailed. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will go for $499 (16GB) and $599 (32GB) and the Galaxy Tab 8.9 will also come in 16GB and 32GB SKUs at $469 and $569, respectively. For those of you in the market for a tablet, the Galaxy Tab just became a hot item worth anticipating. Jump after the break for the official PR.

Update: According to Pocket-lint, the original (thicker) Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will ship afterall in the UK only on Vodafone. It will be known as the Galaxy Tab 10.1V.

[Via Gizmodo] Continue reading Samsung details its first foray into the Honeycomb tablet market with 10.1″ & 8.9″ Galaxy Tabs →

WiFi-only Moto Xoom releases March 27 at $599

March 16, 2011News, TechnologyAndroid Honeycomb, Honeycomb, Honeycomb tablet, Motorola, Motorola Xoom, price, release date, release date & price, tablet, WiFi-only, XoomScott Meisner

The post title says it all, really. Come Sunday, March 27 you’ll be able to buy a 3G/4G-less Motorola Xoom that solely relies on a nearby WiFi signal to connect to the Internet. Everything else remains the same: 10.1-inch display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of memory, Honeycomb, etc. The MSRP is set at $599 and it’ll be available for purchase at the following stores: Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, RadioShack, Sam’s Club, Staples, and Walmart. Full PR after the break.

[Via Engadget] Continue reading WiFi-only Moto Xoom releases March 27 at $599 →

HTC Thunderbolt, Verizon’s first 4G LTE smartphone, on sale March 17 for $249.99

March 15, 2011Images, News, Technology, Video4G, 4G LTE, Android, Android 2.2, Android phone, cell phones, HTC, HTC Sense, HTC Thunderbolt, price, release date, release date & price, Sense, Verizon, Verizon 4G LTE, Verizon Wireless, VZWScott Meisner

HTC manufactures dozens of aesthetically-charged handsets powered by Android and their acceptable skin HTC Sense. The Thunderbolt, however, is a standout. In just two days it will officially release and become Verizon Wireless’ first 4G LTE device on the market. VZW says that customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in the 4G Mobile Broadband coverage area (check to see if you’re covered here). So if you’re not near a WiFi signal data speeds will be blistering fast (when compared to current 3G speeds, that is). Other specs include: 4.3″ WVGA display, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 8 megapixel rear facing camera with HD (720p) video recording, 1.3 megapixel front facing camera with video chat capability, 8GB of onboard memory and a pre-installed 32 GB microSD card, and around the back there’s a built-in kickstand. Additionally, the device can act as a Mobile Hotspot and can share its 4G connection with up to eight WiFi-enabled devices (a 2GB monthly cap is in effect). Note that after Verizon’s grace period ends on May 15 you’re required to pay an additional $20/month on top of your current phone bill to enable hotspot functionality. The handset is preloaded with Android 2.2 (Froyo) and HTC’s latest version of Sense (v2.0).

The HTC Thunderbolt lands on Verizon Wireless on March 17 and will cost $249.99 after signing a new two-year contract. Order from Verizon or Best Buy. According to the official press release (which is sitting after the break), the phone will launch with an unlimited 4G LTE data plan costing the standard $29.99/month. Like the other wireless carriers, Verizon will eventually transition its 4G data plan into tiered (read: data capped) options but for now it looks like Thunderbolt owners will have the freedom to go wild with their crazy fast speeds.

Update: HTC has put together a promo video featuring the Thunderbolt and its bold design. Check it after the break.

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading HTC Thunderbolt, Verizon’s first 4G LTE smartphone, on sale March 17 for $249.99 →

iPad 2 coming March 11: faster, lighter, thinner w/ iOS 4.3 & cameras

March 5, 2011Images, News, Technology, VideoApp Store, Apple, Apple iOS, Apple iPad 2, apps, iOS, iOS4, iPad, iPad 2, price, release date, release date & price, specifications, specs, tabletScott Meisner

On Wednesday Apple revealed the next generation iPad. The iPad 2 is very much an evolutionary iterative device. It is faster, lighter, and thinner than its predecessor, packs back and front-facing cameras, and comes preloaded with a new version of iOS. Take my hand and let’s discover everything that makes iPad 2 the next extraordinary tablet, or as Steve Jobs calls it the “third blockbuster post-PC product” joining the iPod and iPhone.

Specs are important to you, hm? Then let’s start there. iPad 2 is faster. It features Apple’s new 1GHz dual-core A5 processor that is up to 2X faster than the A4; it boasts up to 9X faster graphics and somehow still maintains the same low power as the A4. Battery life remains the same at 10 hours with over a month of standby. iPad 2 is lighter and thinner. It is a mere 8.8mm thick, that’s 33% thinner than the original iPad (13.4mm). In fact, it is even thinner than iPhone 4 (9.3mm). It also lost some weight dropping from 1.5 to 1.3 pounds. On the front you’ll find a VGA camera that takes pictures and records video at 30fps; the camera around back shoots video in 720p HD also at 30fps and can do 5x digital zoom. The built-in gyroscope will assist the device in locating itself in space and orientation; higher precision in gaming will result. Last, Apple has hooked up with AT&T and Verizon to bring 3G data to the tablet.

iPad 2 is coming sooner than you think. It will be made available for purchasing March 11 in two color options: black and white (thankfully the latter ships “from day one”, teehee). Pricing remains the same, too; iPad 2 will come in various capacities (16, 32, 64GB) and models (WiFi, WiFi + 3G) starting at $499. After releasing on the 11th in the U.S., the new iPad will make its way to an additional 26 countries (including Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, and the UK) on March 25.

Learn all about iPad 2’s accessories, iOS 4.3, and new apps after the break. Continue reading iPad 2 coming March 11: faster, lighter, thinner w/ iOS 4.3 & cameras →