Tech Tuesday: The Kyocera Echo

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So is this the big secret Sprint was hiding out? I'll let you be the judge..

Computerworld - What are Sprint and Kyocera up to with the dual-touchscreen Echo smartphone?

The Android 2.2-based Kyocera Echo is a decidedly different take on smartphones, with dual 3.5-in. touchscreens that can be used independently, side-by-side or combined (with 4.7-inches total tablet size, once the two screens slide out on a pivot hinge and are fitted together).

The Echo, which was announced Monday night in New York, will sell sometime in the spring for $199.99 after rebate with a two-year plan and a data upgrade.

In an interview with Computerworld on Tuesday, executives at Sprint and Kyocera said the Echo evolved because both companies saw a big opportunity with a dual-screen device that would allow more effective multitasking for users. That way, both companies could serve a large target market of smartphone customers who make up today's "hyper-tasking culture," said David Owens, vice president of product realization for Sprint.

Also, Sprint wanted a device that cried out "innovative," as the carrier works to improve its third-place rank in the U.S. carrier market behind AT&T and Verizon Wireless, Owens said.

In anticipation of heavy usage, the device comes with a second battery and a case that can be connected to the phone via a Micro USB cable. The full-sized 1370mAH battery, which costs as much as $50, is included in the $199.99 after-rebate cost. When attached to the phone, it charges the main battery, and both can be re-charged from a wall outlet.

Owens wouldn't say whether a single battery charge will power a single feature-length movie on both screens, and said battery specs have not been released.

Well I'm not gonna pretend like i'm excited. As technology evolves so should Sprint and I'm not here for what they are trying to sell. if this is how you plan on competing with AT&T and Verizon.. then you might as well die a slow painful death like T-Mobile and the rest..

Tech Tues: The Blackberry Tablet?

So Blackberry is aiming high and looking to release it's own version of the IPAD with the The Playbook. I've had a chance to the demo video and see a few pictures and I must say the look is very sleek and polished. My B'day is coming up soon and I'm very tempted to purchase one once I find out price range not to mention what the overall review of it.. Here are some quick things the website is saying about the Blackberry Playbook:

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• deal for games, media, apps and everything the real Internet offers
• Full Adobe® Flash® 10.1 enabled
• Built-in support for HTML 5
• No-compromise, beautiful rendering of text, graphics and video

• 7" LCD display, 1024 x 600 screen resolution
• 5.1" x 7.6" x 0.4" (130mm x 194mm x 10mm)
• 0.9 lbs (400g)
• Built-in microUSB connector
• Multi-touch capacitive screen
• Wi-Fi® 802.11 a/b/g/n

• Powerful, user-friendly QNX technology - it's what the World Wide Web runs on
• On-screen keyboard
• True multi-tasking

• 3 MP high definition forward-facing camera
• 5 MP high definition rear-facing camera
• Codec support for superior media playback, creation and video calling
• 1080p HD video; H.264, MPEG4, WMV HDMI video output
• Micro USB, Micro HDMI, and DLNA media streaming

And Must More which can be found at the website...>>>>> http://na.blackberry.com/eng/?%3FCPID=OTC-SHAREFACEBOOK#

Kinda Excited... But i won't hold my breath. Blackberry has been disappointing recently especially since they haven't dropped a new phone for my cell phone provider...

Tech Tues: HP Envy....

Dr. Dre and Jimmy Lovine, Beats co-founder, have collaborated with HP to develop the HP Envy 15 Beats limited edition. I was invited by HP to listen to the audio quality using the high end Beats by Dr. Dre headphones. There was no word from HP about the built-in loudspeakers' quality, but the device comes with the Beats headphones that we reviewed. HP claims that they enhanced the audio quality working closely with Dr. Dre and Jimmy Lovine, but I could not get specific answers about what exactly has been modified in the hardware components that makes the sound delivered by the laptop so "premium": "trade secret". In my opinion, the major value added in the HP Envy 15 Beats is the audio software integrated with Dr. Dre's unique sound provided as one of the pre-defined profiles, users can create their own sound profiles as well. I listened (with the Beats Headphones) to various songs with and without Dr. Dre's sound profile and it truly adds a lot of depth and quality to the music. Mixing tools that let's anyone (with talent) become a great DJ are provided as well: Native Instruments’ Traktor LE software and Audio 2 DJ. Traktor LE software with Audio 2 DJ multi-channel splitter. Audio 2 DJ boasts two stereo outputs plus the ultra-loud output level in a compact interface.

The device has a great sleek design, branded with the Beats logo, and powerful performances for an even more powerful price: it starts at $ 2,229. It will be available on October 22nd in the US, more info on the product page. Is HP really going after Apple with this sleek design and high end audio software? Quick specs after the jump.

Quick Specs

• Intel Core i7 Quad Core Mobile
• 15.6 inch BrightView high-resolution LED backlit display
• 1-inch thick, weight starts at 5.19 pounds
• built-in Nightvision VGA webcam
• optional Slim Fit Extended-Life Battery up to 7 hours of battery life
• comes with the Beats by Dr Dre Studio High Definition headphones
• high-def video and TV tuners

I NEED THIS!

Tech Tues: The Blackberry Torch...hmmmm

Well it seems as though Blackberry has unleashed it's next new phone and some are wondering "Is It a little too late"? Below is a brief overview of what Blackberry and their RIM network have cooked up:

Among the cavalcade of mobile superstars in this summer’s smartphone extravaganza — which, so far, has boasted the likes of the HTC Evo 4G, the Motorola Droid X, a series of sleek Samsung Galaxy handsets, and (of course) the iPhone 4 — one marquee name has been noticeably absent: the BlackBerry.
Well, in the final weeks of summer, Research in Motion (along with carrier partner AT&T — and yes, we're talking another AT&T exclusive here) is looking to make a better-late-than-never splash with the BlackBerry Torch 9800, a new QWERTY slider with a redesigned touchscreen OS that the mobile giant hopes can garner the same kind of buzz that Android handsets like the Evo and the Droid X and the new iPhone have been enjoying for the past few months. (Well, Apple probably didn’t “enjoy” all the “Antennagate” buzz, but at least people were talking about it.)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_gadg/ytech_gadg_tc3322 

Well the article goes in further but from the looks of things Blackberry is rolling out some artillery to compete with the big dogs. This is a pleasant welcome as I mentioned to a friend that BB needed to step their game up.. PRONTO! Not sure how well these will sell but one thing is for sure they seem to be on the right track even though they have a ways to go if they wanna keep up with the current market...

Blanco

Tech Tuesday: Sims 3 "Ambitions"

Widen your Sim’s horizons with a bunch of killer new career opportunities. With The Sims™ 3 Ambitions, decide whether your Sim will be the brave town hero or cause loads of mischief among their neighbors. Make your Sim save the day as a brave firefighter, change the town as a leading architect, or live on the edge as a tattoo artist. Will your Sim find success as a billionaire high-tech inventor or eke out a living as a bumbling mad scientist? Will they uncover secrets as a private investigator by dusting for prints or roughing up a suspect for information? Their future is entirely in your hands!
FEATURES

• For the first time ever, you control your Sim’s actions and interactions while they’re on the job.
• Be a hero or mess with the neighbors as a firefighter, private investigator, doctor, ghost hunter, and more!
• Choose how your Sim’s career progresses—will they work for good or evil, pursue creative endeavors, rise to success as a mogul, or shirk responsibility as a slacker?
• Your Sim’s on-the-job choices now change their town and affect other Sims as well. Modify the town’s structure as an architect or set neighborhood fashions as a stylist.
• Enjoy all-new skills and activities! Master the arts of inventing, sculpting, and tattooing, and use your skills to earn Simoleons.

In Stores June 1st!!!

TECH TUES: RED DEAD REDEMPTION...

Platforms: PS3 | Xbox 360

If you haven't heard of Red Dead Redemption, you soon will, because this hard ridin' open-world Western adventure is the next big thing from Rockstar Games, makers of the Grand Theft Auto series. From what we've seen, they've brought all their expertise to bear on Red Dead Redemption - making it easily the Most Wanted game on this entire list. Careful though: its violence is likely to cause showdowns between parents and buckaroos. It rolls into town May 18.





WOW KINDA EXCITED ABOUT THE WESTERN VERSION OF "GRAND THEFT AUTO"... I LOVE GAMES LIKE THIS.. FIRST TIME HEARING ABOUT IT WAS TODAY... I'M SO ON IT..

RED DEAD REDEMPTION!!!