Announced at Computex Taipei back in June, Asus’s Transformer Book has taken a while to come to market, but the 13.3-inch version of the tablet-laptop hybrid is now available to pre-order at MacMall for $ 1,479.99. The premium price reflects a relatively impressive spec sheet, including a dual-core Intel Core i7 processor, 4GB of RAM, and storage comprising a 500GB hard drive and a 128GB SSD.
In a situation reminiscent of the company’s Taichi ultrabook, It is still not clear when the Transformer Book will actually ship to US customers. German site Conrad provides an availability date of March 5th, while other retailers, including Best Buy and Kmart, list the device as “sold out.” There has also been little information about its supposed…
We saw all the 2013 HDTVs debut last month at CES and the first few new models are starting to reach shelves. One of the more interesting sets arriving is LG’s 55-inch OLED HDTV, the first of its kind at this large size. Shipments are starting Monday for the 11 million won ($ 10k~) television, and according to a press release, LG has notched about 100 pre-orders so far in its home country. For comparison, LG announced it sold 300 of its 84-inch, $ 20k Ultra HDTV in Korea as of last month. LG also mentioned it plans to sell as many as 15 percent more HDTVs in 2013 than it did in 2012, as it continues to push its Smart and 3D features. We’re still waiting for Samsung to release its own OLED HDTVs, while this one is still slated to ship in the US in March for $ 11,999.
Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD
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Lumawake, an innovative iPhone dock designed to work with both 30-pin and lightning dock connectors, today kicks off its own pre-orders in a self-run crowdfunding attempt to bring its product to market. The team faced rejection from Kickstarter just one short week ago, after that crowdfunding platform changed its hardware project rules to minimize their role in the overall platform mix. Now it’s back, and the team tells me they’re confident that going it alone in the manner of App.net and Lockitron will help make sure that Lumawake makes it to market.
So what exactly does Lumawake do? Well it’s an iPhone dock, which means it’ll charge your device, and it’s made to be used with replaceable modules to help make sure that it’ll work with both iPhone 4/4S and the iPhone 5, using either the legacy dock connector or the new Lightning port. And, as indicated by the “luma” portion of its name, it features a soft-lighted top, which you can customize through your device. But the real magic is in the Lumawake’s more advanced, intelligent functions, including its ability to monitor your sleep patters from a bedside table via IR motion sensors, wake you when you’ll feel most rested, and work together with home automation systems to ensure that as you’re waking up, your house will be, too.
The Lumawake is no ordinary dock. It has a built-in microprocessor, the aforementioned LEDs and motion sensors designed to be as accurate as wearable monitors, but without having to stay with you in bed as you sleep. Using a free app, it can be used to schedule wake and sleep events, like turning off lights or the TV as you nod off, or starting the coffee maker when it wakes you up in the morning. And thanks to those built-in lights, it can simulate a sunrise to try and ease the transition from bed to waking life.
Click to view slideshow.Already, Lumawake has partnerships with SmartThings and Belkin’s WeMo, two home automation solutions that should help it perform a variety of wake up and bedtime tasks. Lumawake’s Scott Roehrick, the company’s Chief Outreach Officer, told me in an interview that the startup is working on a number of other partnerships, too. Lumwake also is an existing Apple MFi licensee, meaning it should have no problem getting the devices approved from the perspective of Apple sign-off on its designs.
Lumawake is looking for pre-orders from early adopters of $ 149 per unit, using the Selfstarter.us open-source crowdfunding platform created by Lockitron for its own fundraising efforts. Lockitron was also turned down by Kickstarter, but went on to raise $ 1.5 million on its own for its remote home locking system. Roehrick says that going it alone should help Lumawake gain more attention, since it’s still an exception rather than the rule, and also says it means they can set additional rules, like the one they’ve established that says they don’t collect any funds from backers until they’re actually ready to ship a physical device to their homes.
“At the end of the day, I think we’re confident enough in our product that we can just go off and do it,” he said. “It’s kind of scary… it was incredibly intimidating, but Lockitron was the first to do it and they’re Y Combinator as well, so they have that advantage. It’s a calculated risk, and we’re not 100 percent sure it’ll work… but we think there’s going to be a movement to do this, and we want to be one of the first.”
The SmartDock is definitely an impressive-looking product, and one that goes well beyond your typical, relatively inert bedside smartphone stand or even speaker dock. The company is putting a lot on the line by trying to crowdfund itself, without the benefit of a brand like Kickstarter to back it up, but the possibilities it entails are exciting, and that’s likely going to go a long way towards convincing a highly motivated group of early adopter, gadget-loving risk-takers.
AT&T announced earlier this week that it start pushing its spate of Windows Phones starting this Friday, and now rival carrier Verizon Wireless has come out with an announcement of its own.
Apparently, VZW plans to begin taking pre-orders for the HTC Windows Phone 8X and the slightly chubby Nokia Lumia 822 starting at 1AM Eastern tomorrow, but the carrier has chosen to leave out a few key details like, say, when the devices will actually launch.
Oh sure, Verizon has teased some vague timeframes in the past: it previously announced that both handsets would be in stores by Thanksgiving, but there’s never been any official word on a firm release date. Thanks to a few leaks though, we can make some educated guesses — WPCentral cited an internal roadmap and reported in late October that Verizon planned to push both devices into its sales channels starting on November 12. Also on that roadmap were purported prices for the two handsets ($ 99 for the 822 on a two-year contract, $ 199 for the 16GB 8X) as well as color choices for each device, all of which Verizon ended up confirming a few days later in an official statement.
Then again, things may have been shuffled around a bit since then — if you’ll recall, HTC and Verizon are holding a press event in New York City on the 13th where the two intend to show off their latest “collaboration.” HTC and VZW are widely expected to pull back the curtains on the oft-leaked, Android-powered Droid DNA smartphone, which seems like a curious choice of timing if the Lumia 822 and the HTC 8X are really slated to launch the day before. Stolen thunder, anyone?
Of course, that’s not to say it won’t happen, but I’d hope to see Verizon Wireless give its customers a little more time to digest the Windows Phone announcement before springing a top-tier Android device on the masses. For the time being though, we’ll just have to wait and see how Verizon’s plan unfolds, but here’s hoping they ship sooner rather than later. After all, Windows Phone devotees on Verizon are probably getting sick and tired of the single WP device in the carrier’s arsenal.
Assuming you were suitably impressed by Apple’s show earlier this week, you can now begin queuing for one of its new iPads, whether regular or mini-sized. The WiFi-only versions start shipping November 2nd, with cellular equipped models due mid-month. If you need to see all the specs lined up next to each other we have comparisons between models old and new right here. Of course, if you need an alternative, Microsoft’s Surface should start showing up on doorsteps today, and we’re expecting to see some refreshed competition at Google’s event next week. The choice is yours, hit the link below to see all of your options.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Apple starts taking pre-orders for fourth gen iPad, iPad mini with delivery as soon as 11/2 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 03:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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If you missed Best Buy’s early pre-order showing of the Lumia 920 (which soon disappeared) then you might be interested in stumping a headier amount for the same handset, off-contract. Negri Electronics is now listing the device at $ 699, but minus those monthly payments to AT&T. The online retailer has the yellow iteration, while it’s also stocking the Lumia 820 free from contract restrictions — and in red — for $ 599. The site is sticking resolutely to that pre-order label on both, however, with no mention of a possible delivery date just yet.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia
Nokia Lumia 920 pre-orders reappear: $ 699 off-contract at Negri Electronics originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Best Buy started accepting pre-orders today for the AT&T Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC 8X Windows Phone devices. Pricing details are also now available, with the Lunia 920 available for $ 149.99 on a new 2-year contract, and $ 599.99 without commitment. The 8X is $ 99.99 on contract, and $ 599.99 without, meaning those interested can get on board with Windows Phone 8 for $ 50 less with HTC, albeit with some trade-offs.
Those looking for color choice will want to opt for Nokia, however, as the HTC 8X is only available in purple through the current pre-order process, while the Nokia Lumia 920 (an AT&T exclusive for 6 months, according to reports) comes in your choice of cyan, yellow, red, white and black. Also, the 8X has only 8GB of internal storage, while the Lumia 920 offers 32GB built-in. Both devices offer an 8 MP rear camera, but the HTC’s front facing one is 2.1 MP while the Nokia’s is 1.2. The 8X has a 4.3-inch, 1280 x 720 display with pixel density of 342ppi, vs the Lumia 920′s 1280 x 768, 332ppi screen. Both use the same 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor with 1GB of internal RAM. In terms of physical dimensions, the HTC smartphone is smaller and lighter.
Ship date is still unknown, since all of the devices still say “Reserve today. Will ship when available” on Best Buy’s website.
Microsoft’s initial stock of Surface RT devices has sold out in the United States. The 32GB base model, at $ 499, sold out earlier in the week, but all stock has now been depleted with a wait time of within three weeks rather than a guaranteed October 26th delivery. Alongside the sell out, a number of UK readers are reporting that Microsoft has delayed the release of Surface by a week.
“The release date for the preorder product has changed,” reads an email sent to some buyers who pre-ordered a Surface in the UK. “The product listed below will now be available on 02 November 2012.” It’s not clear from Microsoft why the Surface is delayed in the UK, but we understand from sources that it could be due to units being held by UK customs….
Nokia and HTC’s upcoming Windows Phone 8 flagships are still on the standard release path: announcement, federal approval and now, pre-order. Keeping device availability tucked firmly under its hat, Best Buy is now offering Nokia’s Lumia 920 and the HTC 8X for pre-sale, priced at $ 149.99 and $ 99.99, respectively. Early buyers have options, too: the Lumia 920 is kitted out in red, blue, yellow, black and white shells. Fashionistas with a flair for purple, however, will need to stick to HTC’s hardware. Unfortunately, you don’t get that much choice — Bust Buy’s pre-orders don’t balk at the devices’ AT&T exclusivity. The retailer doesn’t say when devices are going to ship, but we imagine early adopters won’t have to wait too long.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Best Buy offering pre-orders for Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC 8X for $ 149.99 and $ 99.99 under contract originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Oct 2012 13:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Microsoft is reportedly letting consumers pre-order Surface RT tablets for in-store pickup on launch day. The news comes from WPCentral, where a forum member successfully pre-ordered a tablet from a Microsoft pop-up shop in Oregon. He received a ‘Surface reservation pass’ for his troubles, inviting him to return to the same store before 12pm on October 26th when his Surface tablet will be waiting for him.
It’s not immediately clear if the Surface pre-order program is available everywhere, but WPCentral reports that the pop-up shop had an employee answering Surface-related questions and handing out reservation passes to customers. With the $ 499.99 32GB Surface currently sold-out online, this could be the only way for many people to get…
