A surprise Ice Cream Sandwich handset this is not — for that news, you’ll have to wait until later tonight. No, RIM’s portrait QWERTY slider may not be the freshest bit of kit in the smartphone arena, but for those dedicated CrackBerry few on T-Mobile, it’s 14.4Mbps speeds just might be enough. A leaked screenshot over on TmoNews shows the Torch 9810, currently available on AT&T, alongside a list of its well-known specs. Apart from the addition of WiFi calling and the new Magenta digs, not much here has changed. The capacitive touchscreen still measures in at 3.2-inches, and RIM hasn’t bumped the quality of its 5 megapixel rear camera nor the phone’s 8GB of storage. While this internal pic doesn’t tip us off to an upcoming release window, we’re pretty sure this is the same 4G “Dumoine” handset from that leaked fall roadmap, indicating a potential November 9th launch. So, will this tide you over until RIM gets BBX out into the wireless wild or are you in the market for something a little sharper?

T-Mobile internal doc leaks, BlackBerry Torch 9810 to bow this November? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ready to play PC with your smartphone? If you aren’t picking up a Lapdock 100 from AT&T on the 17th, you won’t have to wait very long — Motorola’s faux-laptop phone dock has been outed for a October 21st launch date for Sprint via an employee rewards email. Passing the Lapdock 100 Sprint Rewards Me training quiz nets employees $10 in Sprint scratch and the opportunity to sell you a rig that lets a handful of devices play netbook. The laptop shell gives users a full Firefox browser, Quick Office, Google Docs, Adobe Flash, a PC-like File Manager and a luxurious 10.1-inch screen. Still no word yet on just how much this ultra-portable peripheral will set us back, but we’ll keep hoping that it’s cheaper than the Atrix 4G’s axed lapdock.

[Thanks, David]

Motorola Lapdock 100 hits Sprint October 21st, earns employees extra scratch originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ready to play PC with your smartphone? If you aren’t picking up a Lapdock 100 from AT&T on the 17th, you won’t have to wait very long — Motorola’s faux-laptop phone dock has been outed for a October 21st launch date for Sprint via an employee rewards email. Passing the Lapdock 100 Sprint Rewards Me training quiz nets employees $10 in Sprint scratch and the opportunity to sell you a rig that lets a handful of devices play netbook. The laptop shell gives users a full Firefox browser, Quick Office, Google Docs, Adobe Flash, a PC-like File Manager and a luxurious 10.1-inch screen. Still no word yet on just how much this ultra-portable peripheral will set us back, but we’ll keep hoping that it’s cheaper than the Atrix 4G’s axed lapdock.

[Thanks, David]

Motorola Lapdock 100 hits Sprint October 21st, earns employees extra scratch originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It looks like Touch Bionics is bringing the classic “try before you buy” racket to the world of bionic hands. Say hello to the Virtu-LIMB, a simulation and training setup for myoelectric upper limb prostheses. This little yellow dome tethers to a patient’s arm and transmits their myoelectric signals to a nearby computer via Bluetooth — the data is then used to either control an i-LIMB Ultra prosthetic hand or, failing that, a PC simulation of one. The rig was shown at the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association National Assembly this week, and can be used to help clinicians fine-tune prostheses for their patients, train patients to manipulate their bionic digits, or even demonstrate the Touch Bionics’ i-LIMB to a potential user. The i-LIMB Ultra itself is an upgraded replacement for the outfit’s i-LIMB Pulse, featuring a new variable digit-by-digit grip mode, increased flexibility, extended battery life (and low battery audio warning), and the ability to create custom gestures. The new unit even returns to a natural resting state after a period of inactivity, keeping the devil out of your idle hands.

Virtu-LIMB lets prospective patients take upgraded Touch Bionics hand for a spin originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Like a giant warlock guarding the gates of the interwebs, financial barriers all too often block our young people from accessing the plethora of awesomeness found in front of those iconic triple-Ws-and-a-dot. In a bid to spread the love more evenly, the FCC and Comcast’s promised Internet Essentials platform is going live — giving low-income families $9.99 / month web access and “discounted” (read: $149.99) computers. The platform that we first heard about in August will also include a Norton Security Suite and computer training for youngsters and their parents alike. The cable provider is accepting participants until 2014, honoring the contract dependent on the child’s status and family income. Like other heavy hitters involved in similar initiatives, the goal is to bridge the education gap and to provide a more level playing field for kids. To get more details on the program, direct your attention to the source link.

Continue reading Comcast and FCC partner to give low-income families access to internet, Nyan Cats

Comcast and FCC partner to give low-income families access to internet, Nyan Cats originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You don’t need a PhD in economics to realize that times are pretty tough right now — especially for those at the lower end of the income ladder. Fortunately, though, Microsoft has announced a new initiative aimed at providing one million students from low-income families with discounted hardware, software and broadband service. This three-year digital inclusion program is an extension of Redmond’s Shape the Future campaign, which, over the course of five years, has already put computers in the hands of more than 10 million underprivileged children around the globe. Under this public-private partnership, Microsoft will work with a variety of nonprofit, corporate and governmental organizations to provide low-cost PCs, educational software, job skills training and high-speed internet to those who need it most. The ultimate goal, of course, is to bridge the achievement gap dividing students with at-home internet from their less digitally-equipped peers. According to the Federal Reserve, children who don’t have online access at home graduate high school at a rate that’s six to eight percentage points lower than those who do. Inflating national poverty rates and widening income gaps probably won’t do much to remedy that discrepancy, but we’re certainly hoping that Microsoft can make a difference. Find out more in the full PR after the break, or at the source link below.

Continue reading Microsoft to offer discounted hardware, software to students from low-income families

Microsoft to offer discounted hardware, software to students from low-income families originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sure, that TwitPic you posted was dope, but could it ever be as snazzy as a photo taken from space? Although doubtful, now at least there’s the NASA Photography Training Program handbook to help you achieve such levels of awesomeness. The guide provides tips on operating the official camera of the space agency, the Hasselblad 500 EL/M, responsible for some of the most extraterrestrial shots this side of Pluto. Pointers on how to best operate the electric film lunar surface data camera include what type of lens to use and how to best use available light. Study up at the source — after all, privatized space travel is just around the bend.

Visualized: NASA’s Hasselblad photography manual originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 06:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s been a very, very long time since Verizon and Motorola together announced the Droid Bionic — the better part of a year, in fact. Since then the phone’s gone into hiding, perhaps hitting the gym and training for this moment, it’s final and formal unveiling. The frequently-spied device finally ships tomorrow, and we have the full details plus early impressions right here, after the break.

Continue reading Droid Bionic arrives at Verizon tomorrow, we go hands-on today (video)

Droid Bionic arrives at Verizon tomorrow, we go hands-on today (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What’s the point of investing $100 million in a mobile payment system if you don’t have the goods to back it up? AT&T may be adopting this philosophy, beginning with the Galaxy S II. With the aid of eagle-eyed Android dev Fran

Continue reading Growing Up Geek: Richard Lawler

Growing Up Geek: Richard Lawler originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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