32GB Nexus 7 surfaces on Staples' business portal, roughly matches 16GB model's price

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/16/32gb-nexus-7-staples-advantage/

What appears to be a 32GB Nexus 7 has already been spotted in Japan, and now a screenshot reveals that the slate has been listed on Staples' business-centric storefront. Staples Advantage pegs the tablet at $248.37, placing it on par with the current 16GB model. If a Nexus 7 with beefed-up storage and a price tag similar to the one above does materialize, Google could put one of the current models on the chopping block to maintain its two SKU offering. The retailer also lists an October 18th availability date, but we're not holding our breath for such a quick reveal.

Filed under: Tablets, Google

32GB Nexus 7 surfaces on Staples' business portal, roughly matches 16GB model's price originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 22:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scoopinion Recommends Articles Based on Your Reading Habits and Browser History [Chrome Extensions]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/vip/~3/wJRiTYsroCI/scoopinion-recommends-articles-based-on-your-reading-habits-and-browser-history

Chrome/Firefox: Finding new stories online in the sea of options can be a bit difficult. Scoopinion is a browser extension and webapp that analyzes your reading history, and recommends new articles based on what you read.

Scoopinion works behind the scenes, and analyzes where you spend the most time reading. It then takes that data, looks at other users with similar tastes, and recommends new stories to you. The longer you use it, the more applicable your recommendations should get. If you prefer, you can also remove stories from the recommendations to improve what you see in the future. Scoopinions does track everything you do, so it's not the most private extension around, but if you're looking for some new reading material it's worth taking a look at.

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Inside the Chip Apple Uses to Stop You Buying Cheap Cables [Apple]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/vip/~3/IHs-ml45T20/inside-the-chip-apple-uses-to-stop-you-buying-cheap-cables

People looking for cheap, third-party lightning adapters and cables for their new iPhone 5 are out of luck because of an authenticator device hidden in the official products. Here's what's lurking within that infuriating piece of technology.

Chipworks has torn right into a Lightning-to-USB cable, and found a total of four chips lurking within the cable: two of them simple, just a couple of transistors apiece, and two more complex. But one of them, made by Texas Instruments, has really caught its eye.

The chip in question is a TI BQ2025, and it's not documented on a single Texas Instruments data sheet. No worries, though, because Chipworks knows its stuff and has taken a very close look indeed at the silicon. The findings? It's consistent with a communication chip employing some "simple security features". Chipworks explains:

The security does not come close to the herculean approaches that are used in (for example) today's printer cartridges, but resembles the level of effort that cartridge manufacturers used to implement in the olden days. This is likely a calculated decision by Apple to keep costs to a minimum knowing that their core customer base prefers to shop in Apple stores or for brand name peripherals. In these places, piracy is not a concern. In other words, at this time the security is "just enough."

In other words, the technology will only serve to delay third-party cable manufacturers, rather than stopping them from making replacements altogether. That's good new for cash-strapped iPhone 5 users everywhere—you just need to be patient. [Chipworks via Apple Insider]

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ASUS PadFone 2 hands-on in Taipei (updated with video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/16/asus-padfone-2-hands-on/

Well look at this! Our lucky buddies over at Engadget Chinese managed to get an early hands-on with the brand-spanking new PadFone 2 from ASUS. As we mentioned earlier, the bulkiness of the original model is totally gone and we're still blown away by the combo's new weight. But first, the phone: in our hands, it really just feels like an enlarged version of the original PadFone, especially with the ripple pattern on the back, as well as the plastic chin at the bottom along with the slightly tapered aluminum bezel. We do love the new and larger Super IPS+ screen, which is much sharper than the old PenTile Super AMOLED display, and it no doubt has better outdoor performance as well. Additionally, the Android soft keys are no longer virtual -- you can access them below the screen at any time, and we dig that.

While docking the phone into or pulling it out of the PadFone Station is hardly a challenge, there's some sort of magic that keeps the phone tucked into the bay no matter how hard our pals shook the tablet upside down (please don't try this at home) -- the geared rubber grip along the two sides of the bay are somehow responsible for this. The back of the PadFone Station has a rubbery texture that's essentially identical to its predecessor's, making it just as comfortable to hold, but only time will tell how durable the coating is. Software-wise it's just as snappy on the tablet as it is on the phone, and we noticed the switch between phone mode and tablet mode is now a tad quicker as well. It'll probably be easier to see once we have our English hands-on video, so stay tuned.

Update: We've finally m! anaged t o upload our hands-on video -- it's right after the break. Watch how we kept shaking the PadFone Station upside down and the phone still stayed inside its bay (again, don't do this at home, kids!). Also, we have a demo of the phone's Instant Dictionary feature. It's very handy.

Update 2: We've just been informed that the magical grip mechanism in the docking bay took over two years to develop. Nice one, ASUS!

Gallery: ASUS PadFone 2 hands-on

Continue reading ASUS PadFone 2 hands-on in Taipei (updated with video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, ASUS

ASUS PadFone 2 hands-on in Taipei (updated with video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 04:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Optimus G brings 13-megapixels of shooting prowess to Sprint on November 11th for $200

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/15/lg-optimus-g-arrives-at-sprint-on-november-11th-for-200/

Following in AT&T's wake, Sprint has chosen to provide the world with the launch details for the LG Optimus G. Brace yourselves, folks, because the smartphone that wields a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 and a 13-megapixel camera will arrive at the Now Network on November 11th for $200. Naturally, this is certainly one to get excited about, as the phone also boasts a 4.7-inch HD (1,280 x 720) IPS LCD display, 32GB of internal storage and a beefy 2,100mAh battery. While the phone will ship with Ice Cream Sandwich, LG has already promised to deliver Jelly Bean in short order. If you happened to miss our recent hands-on with the Optimus G for Sprint, now would be a good time to get acquainted with the device as you count away the days until November 11th.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG

LG Optimus G brings 13-megapixels of shooting prowess to Sprint on November 11th for $200 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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