Sony quietly outs Xperia SL: dual-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3, four hues

That oft-rumored successor to the Sony Xperia S smartphone, the Xperia SL. Sony's now officially listing the 4.3-inch GSM device as "coming soon" on its website, along with full details and specs. As it turns out, the initial leaks were correct - the SL is a slight refresh of the S, differentiating itself with an additional duo of color choices (silver and pink), a faster dual-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3 CPU and Android Ice Cream Sandwich (up from a 1.5Ghz processor and Gingerbread). Aside from all that, it's the same media-focused phone, loaded with the same 720p display and 12.1-megapixel shooter, that we reviewed in March of 2011.

Engadget , Sony quietly outs Xperia SL: dual-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3, four hues, Sony quietly outs Xperia SL: dual-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3, four hues

2012 Quail Motorsports Gathering is excellent, if you have the means

It would be unfair to call the Quail Motorsports Gathering a car show. Doing so would be like saying Bruce Lee was sufficiently talented in the art of self defense. Every year the Quail Lodge in Carmel, California plays host to both manufacturers and collectors for a day, and this year saw a typically impressive range of featured models.

Autoblog , 2012 Quail Motorsports Gathering is excellent, if you have the means, 2012 Quail Motorsports Gathering is excellent, if you have the means

3D@Home Consortium and International 3D Society combine, don't make 6D

There are lots of companies behind that 3D content you ogle at the cinema or at home, and all of them are likely to be members of the International 3D Society or the 3D@Home Consortium. Both of these bodies have the same goal - growing the worldwide 3D industry - and now they've joined forces to become the creatively named "International 3D Society & 3D@Home." The name might have changed (kind of), but the aim is still to support everyone that has a hand in creating content, software, hardware or deals with the behind-the-scenes logistics to get 3D to your tellybox, school and workplace.

Engadget , 3D@Home Consortium and International 3D Society combine, don't make 6D, 3D@Home Consortium and International 3D Society combine, don't make 6D

Steam to debut Big Picture beta soon, make couch potatoes of PC gamers

Early last year, Valve mentioned it was working on something called Big Picture mode for Steam, an alternative user interface with controller support designed specifically for use on televisions. According to Gabe Newell, the distribution services' couch-ready UI is almost upon us. "We should have both Linux and 10-foot betas out there fairly quickly," he told Geoff Keighley in the latest episode of GTTV, noting that the interface would be available on both the current iteration of Steam and the upcoming Linux version.

Engadget , Steam to debut Big Picture beta soon, make couch potatoes of PC gamers, Steam to debut Big Picture beta soon, make couch potatoes of PC gamers

iPhone gambling apps: The cutting-edge way to blow all your cash

. Watch out, Las Vegas: app developers are aiming to take your most tech-savvy and/or lazy customers away from you. Bloomberg reports that mobile gambling apps, which turn iPhones into mini-slot machines that let users place bets with real money, are on the rise and will soon be in fierce competition with one another over which ones get to separate the most fools from their money. Indeed, Bloomberg notes that Juniper Research estimates that smartphone and tablet owners will use their favorite devices to place upward of $100 billion of bets by 2017.

Boy Genius Report , iPhone gambling apps: The cutting-edge way to blow all your cash, iPhone gambling apps: The cutting-edge way to blow all your cash

Motorola schedules press event for September 5th, dubs it the 'day's main event'

September 5th is going to be a pretty busy day, by the looks of it. While we'll likely get to see a few Windows Phone 8 devices in Nokia's Lumia lineup in the morning, Motorola has scheduled a Save the Date for the afternoon. We're not sure exactly what to expect, though it's certainly possible we'll see a Droid RAZR HD or XT907 to balance out whatever Stephen Elop will be showing off.

Engadget , Motorola schedules press event for September 5th, dubs it the 'day's main event', Motorola schedules press event for September 5th, dubs it the 'day's main event'

Police chiefs group says arming domestic spy drones with weapons would be bad

. Unmanned aerial drones are set to become a shiny new toy used by law enforcement officials to gather information, but that doesn't mean there won't be restrictions on how they're used. The Hill reports that the International Association of Chiefs of Police on Thursday released a set of recommendations outlining how surveillance drones should and should not be used.

Boy Genius Report , Police chiefs group says arming domestic spy drones with weapons would be bad, Police chiefs group says arming domestic spy drones with weapons would be bad

Campaign to build Nikola Tesla museum hits $500k in less than 48 hours, hopes to raise $850k

Nikola Tesla may not have gotten all the credit he was due in his lifetime, but his stature has grown considerably since, and many of the inventions he dreamed up are now finding new life in today's technology. Now, a new effort is underway to truly cement his place in history - even moreso than having David Bowie play him in a movie.

Engadget , Campaign to build Nikola Tesla museum hits $500k in less than 48 hours, hopes to raise $850k, Campaign to build Nikola Tesla museum hits $500k in less than 48 hours, hopes to raise $850k

Black Samsung Galaxy S3 to launch in October with 64GB memory in tow?

Word on the street has it that the black colored version of the Samsung Galaxy S3 is headed for the US market this coming October, and even better news is the amount of storage space that comes with this ebony colored model – we are talking about a whopping 64GB of storage space, now how about that. This bit of information came about from UK phone retailer Clove, who claims to have additional details concerning yet another hardware revision. In fact, the good people at Phandroid did check out a landing page that Clove specially created just for the spanking new black Galaxy S3.

Ubergizmo , Black Samsung Galaxy S3 to launch in October with 64GB memory in tow?, Black Samsung Galaxy S3 to launch in October with 64GB memory in tow?

Google Street View expands to cover swaths of Brazil and Mexican ruins, won't substitute for a vacation

For a country that dominates the Latin American landscape, Brazil hasn't had much of a presence in Google Street View outside of major cities like Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. A fresh update to Street View coverage has just gone live that fleshes out the the more far-flung corners of the map. It's now possible to see what it's like on the ground in much of the southern tip of the country as well as the northern coastline. Further north, Mexicans get their own treat: Google is now providing the panoramic views for ancient ruins such as Chichen Itza and Teotihuacan, just in case you'd rather not try to blend in with all the other tourists.

Engadget , Google Street View expands to cover swaths of Brazil and Mexican ruins, won't substitute for a vacation, Google Street View expands to cover swaths of Brazil and Mexican ruins, won't substitute for a vacation

T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G has its new name confirmed by leaked training docs

Yesterday we found out that T-Mobile decided to rename the upcoming Galaxy S Blaze Q to the Galaxy S Relay 4G. This device has been leaking a lot in the past few weeks, and at one point we even thought it would launch on August 15. That didn't happen, but the moment this sees the light of day can't be that far. Especially seeing as how TmoNews managed to get some leaked training documents to show off. And these confirm the name change.

Unwired View , T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G has its new name confirmed by leaked training docs, T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G has its new name confirmed by leaked training docs

Ladies rule the day and make NHRA history with double win (video)

The National Hot Rod Association is racing this weekend in Brainerd, Minnesota, but history was made two weeks ago at the Northwest Nationals in Seattle. We overlooked it at the time, but when Erica Enders won in Pro Stock and Courtney Force won in Funny Car, it was the first time two women have won in pro classes on the same day. Enders notched her second victory of the year. For Force, a rookie and the daughter of NHRA legend John Force, it was her first career win. Both women had to defeat reigning champions in their classes to pull off their victories.

Autoblog , Ladies rule the day and make NHRA history with double win (video), Ladies rule the day and make NHRA history with double win (video)

Black Samsung Galaxy S III 64GB coming to the UK in October

Not only did the rumors that Samsung cancelled the 64GB version of the Samsung Galaxy S III turn out to be false, but now we actually have a rough launch target. Clove UK blogged that the upcoming black version of the phone will be packing 64GB of storage. They don't have pricing info yet, but the phone should be available in early October. The black Galaxy S III will also be available with 16GB of storage - MobileFun already has it on preorder (£500) and so does Expansys (same price).

GSM Arena , Black Samsung Galaxy S III 64GB coming to the UK in October, Black Samsung Galaxy S III 64GB coming to the UK in October

Sony starts pushing Android 4.0 update to Xperia P owners, Xperia U and more coming soon

Sony has been steadily deploying its Android 4.0 updates, but it's been leaving some of its newest phones out of the loop. Consider the Xperia P back in the groove: its upgrade is rolling out over the course of a few weeks, starting today. As always, the exact timing will depend on the carrier and country, and some owners may have to download the update the archaic, wired way instead of through the air. Should the Xperia P deployment still leave your device out of the running, Sony keenly points out that the Xperia U, Xperia go and Xperia sola are next on deck to receive a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich.

Engadget , Sony starts pushing Android 4.0 update to Xperia P owners, Xperia U and more coming soon, Sony starts pushing Android 4.0 update to Xperia P owners, Xperia U and more coming soon

ZTE touts world's first FD-LTE and TD-LTE mobile hotspot and USB modem

You likely know the uncomfortable feeling when family members refuse to talk to each other, and such is the case with FD-LTE and TD-LTE - two similar but incompatible LTE technologies that've gained traction across the globe. Now ZTE is looking to play peacekeeper with its MF820S2 USB modem and MF91S mobile hotspot, each which speak fluently in both LTE languages. While Marvell was the first to accomplish this feat with its modem chipset, ZTE's two globetrotting products are the first we're aware of that are ready for retail shelves.

Engadget , ZTE touts world's first FD-LTE and TD-LTE mobile hotspot and USB modem, ZTE touts world's first FD-LTE and TD-LTE mobile hotspot and USB modem

Layoffs sweep RIM's Halifax office, nearly 25% of staff let go

. BGR exclusively confirmed late last week that Research In Motion (RIMM) would begin laying off 3,000 workers, and this latest round of reductions indeed began this past Monday. The Canadian Press now reports that RIM's Halifax office is the latest facility to be hit. Citing statements made by Nova Scotia's economic development minister, the news organization says that nearly a quarter of RIM's 400 staffers in Halifax have been laid off.

Boy Genius Report , Layoffs sweep RIM's Halifax office, nearly 25% of staff let go, Layoffs sweep RIM's Halifax office, nearly 25% of staff let go

Samsung Infuse 4G gets Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update

At this point in time, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is the fastest and smoothest interface amongst the Android operating system versions. Well, here is the latest bit of word concerning the Samsung Infuse 4G which is about to receive the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update – only if you know how to, of course. supernewbdev, an XDA Forum Member, has actually worked on a Jelly Bean Android 4.1 ROM that is based on the official JRO03E Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy Nexus.

Ubergizmo , Samsung Infuse 4G gets Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update, Samsung Infuse 4G gets Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update

Judge cuts international Galaxy S and S II, Galaxy Ace from Apple lawsuit against Samsung

Apple rested its side of the case in its main lawsuit against Samsung on Monday, and with the switch of focus came a small sacrifice. While Samsung failed in a Hail Mary bid to have the suit dismissed, it successfully argued that a few devices should escape the clutches of a full-fledged ban. Don't get too excited, though: the exclusion list mostly touches on phones that only reach US shores through unofficial importers, including the Galaxy Ace as well as international editions of the Galaxy S and Galaxy S II.

2DayBlog.com , Judge cuts international Galaxy S and S II, Galaxy Ace from Apple lawsuit against Samsung, Judge cuts international Galaxy S and S II, Galaxy Ace from Apple lawsuit against Samsung

Samsung Galaxy R receives Android 4.0 update

Back in May, Samsung India had confirmed on its Facebook page that the Galaxy R will be getting the Android 4.0 update "very soon". Well, it's been three months since but it seems now that the update is finally ready to roll out. One lucky user in Sweden managed to get his phone updated to the (not-so-latest) version of Android after he received it from the service station.

GSM Arena , Samsung Galaxy R receives Android 4.0 update

See also:
technoleap, Samsung Galaxy R receives Android 4.0 update

bitplay BANG! lamp “shoots” itself on and off

Now here is a lamp that you might want to consider getting to spruce up that rather drab living room of yours. Basically, this bitplay BANG. lamp  might look rather ordinary at first glance, but upon closer inspection, you would realize that it comes with a “gun”, so to speak, that you use to “shoot” at the lamp in order to turn it on and off. Sporting designer quality finishing that is complete with an innovator's twist, it will definitely be a gift unlike anyone has ever seen – unless of course, the recipient himself or herself already has one in their own home.

Ubergizmo , bitplay BANG! lamp “shoots” itself on and off, bitplay BANG! lamp “shoots” itself on and off

Google adds Smart App Updates to the Play Store

. Google has been doing a lot of maintenance to its Play App Store recently. Just this morning, we found out that Google is in the process of adding gift card and wish list support to the Android Play App Store. Today, Google has enabled Smart App updates, which was initially revealed back at Google I/O.
Usually, when one wants to update an application on their Android smartphone, the whole application is downloaded by the Google Play Store, which can take quite a while with the larger apps and if you have a slow connection.

Ubergizmo , Google adds Smart App Updates to the Play Store, Google adds Smart App Updates to the Play Store

Acer Foldable Case Stand for Iconia A500x101 Review

I was walking through  an electronics store the other day when I just happened to see the above case in a markdown bin.  It's an Acer foldable case stand for their Acer A500x101 (Barcode: 4717276489618). Now the Acer Iconias just happens to be about the same size as my Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet, so I tried it out for size and it fit. It's a pretty cool design, so I took it to the checkout and found it was even cheaper than its marked $20 when they rang it up at $15.






The Gadgeteer , Acer Foldable Case Stand for Iconia A500x101 Review, Acer Foldable Case Stand for Iconia A500x101 Review

Apple denies reports of layoffs at Apple Stores

. Apple (AAPL) on Thursday denied reports of layoffs within its retail stores, but confirmed that some staff changes were made. Dow Jones Newswires spoke to Apple, and it says the company is calling recent retail staff changes a “mistake” that will soon be reversed. The company denied reports that it is terminating recent hires, however, and it said stores are still hiring. Reports surfaced on Monday claiming that Apple was laying off a “significant” number of retail workers who had been employed for less than six months in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Boy Genius Report , Apple denies reports of layoffs at Apple Stores

See also:
wareground, Apple denies reports of layoffs at Apple Stores

Huawei Ascend P1 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 now available in the UK. Galaxy Note 10.1 gets priced

The Huawei Ascend P1 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 are now both available in the UK via well known third party retailer Clove. The tablet comes in Wi-Fi-only or Wi-Fi+3G versions, the latter of course SIM-free – as is the Ascend P1. Both of these devices have taken their sweet time arriving in the UK after their respective announcements. It took the Huawei Ascend P1 seven months to do so, and the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 five and a half. So if you've been patient this far, it's time to run over to Clove and order either one.

The Huawei Ascend P1 can be yours for £370.80.


Unwired View , Huawei Ascend P1 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 now available in the UK. Galaxy Note 10.1 gets priced, Huawei Ascend P1 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 now available in the UK. Galaxy Note 10.1 gets priced

Kisai Upload is the Latest Watch from Tokyoflash

Tokyoflash Japan has just released the Kisai Upload. This new watch design features replaceable USB Memory via a built-in microSD card slot and an always on time display. “The inventive and simple to read Kisai Upload watch from Tokyoflash Japan has an LCD display that can be read from an angle – digital time from a different perspective.

The Gadgeteer , Kisai Upload is the Latest Watch from Tokyoflash, Kisai Upload is the Latest Watch from Tokyoflash

DOJ, FCC clear Verizon buyout of cable companies' spectrum, require giving up some airwaves

Verizon has been fighting hard to get its acquisition of cable companies' wireless frequencies past legal hurdles, and it just surged over the most important of the bunch: both the Department of Justice and the FCC have signed off on the agreement. To get the $3.9 billion deal through the door, Big Red will have to offload some of its spectrum to other companies. The DOJ, meanwhile, is more concerned that Verizon is getting a little too cozy with Bright House, Comcast, Cox and Time Warner Cable in terms of marketing and reselling bundles that include cellular and cable access.

Engadget , DOJ, FCC clear Verizon buyout of cable companies' spectrum, require giving up some airwaves, DOJ, FCC clear Verizon buyout of cable companies' spectrum, require giving up some airwaves

StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm beta coming “very soon”

Blizzard's StarCraft 2 has enjoyed a huge amount of success, and if you're looking forward to the next expansion, Heart of the Swarm, Blizzard has announced that the beta for the upcoming expansion is expected to take place "very soon". The beta is expected to be sent out to a handful of players, such as those who helped test patch 1.5, pro gamers, the press (like us, hopefully!) and will basically beta test the multiplayer experience. Blizzard is also expected to add more testers to the mix over time and the good news is that you can opt in for the beta if you like.

Ubergizmo , StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm beta coming “very soon”, StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm beta coming “very soon”

Xiaomi MI-TWO makes its official debut

Earlier this month, we reported that according to the rumors, the Xiaomi Phone 2 could be making its debut on the 16th of August, today. Well it seems like the rumors were spot on as the Xiaomi Phone 2 has officially been announced in Beijing. It is expected to be released in October on Chinese carriers such as China Unicom and China Telecom and will retail at 1,999 Yuan (~$313). No word on whether it will make its way stateside or to the rest of the world, and based on its specs we suspect that many users outside of China wouldn't mind getting their hands on the device.

Ubergizmo , Xiaomi MI-TWO makes its official debut

See also:
dailygadgets, Xiaomi MI-TWO makes its official debut

Diablo 3 patch 1.0.4 class previews for Wizard and Barbarian revealed

As we get closer to the fourth week of August, Blizzard has begun to reveal more changes that they will be making to the game once patch 1.0.4 is released to the public. We have covered the changes they will be making Legendary items, and Blizzard has since released more previews of the changes they will be making for the classes. So far only the Barbarian and Wizard class has been detailed, but we expect the remaining classes to receive the same amount of attention during the course of the coming weeks (if not days).

Ubergizmo , Diablo 3 patch 1.0.4 class previews for Wizard and Barbarian revealed, Diablo 3 patch 1.0.4 class previews for Wizard and Barbarian revealed

Caption Contest: GoPro gone wrong

We've been known to strap on a few GoPro cameras in our day, but our efforts are merely amateur in comparison to this guy, who we can only presume is about to perform a stunt so extreme that no less than seven GoPro cams (and a DSLR) are required to capture it. Don: "GoPro Hero." Darren: "Amateurs gonna hate." Billy: "I see your 3D and raise you another 5D. 8D is where it's at." Jon: "I'm so liveblogging this. And Instagramming this. And..." Brian: "Someone take a picture of my weird helmet thing! What do you mean you don't have a camera?" Brad: "Hey bullies! I'm now twice the four-eyes you thought I was in high school.

Engadget , Caption Contest: GoPro gone wrong, Caption Contest: GoPro gone wrong

WSJ: Apple's TV focus changes to putting cable TV in its set-top box

Just in case you thought the often discussed / as yet unseen Apple HDTV rumor mill was dead, you were wrong. The Wall Street Journal is reigniting things this evening, with sources claiming that instead of competing with cable providers by starting up its own IPTV offering, Apple has switched to sweet talking pay-TV providers into offering their content through its box. If you're still looking for a Cupertino-embued display you may be in luck, since the anonymous parties also indicate the set-top box tech it's working on could be integrated with HDTVs.

Engadget , WSJ: Apple's TV focus changes to putting cable TV in its set-top box

See also:
trendygadgets, WSJ: Apple's TV focus changes to putting cable TV in its set-top box

U.S. Cellular Releases Alcatel OneTouch Premiere

U.S. Cellular has recently launched the Alcatel OneTouch Premiere. The new Android smartphone provides a full QWERTY keyboard, a 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen display, EV-DO Rev A connectivity, Wi-Fi, GPS,S2-megapixel rear-facing camera, an included 2GB microSD card and a 1,300 mAh battery. Priced at $29.99 on contract, the Alcatel OneTouch Premiere runs on the Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS.

TechFresh , U.S. Cellular Releases Alcatel OneTouch Premiere

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gadgetsdaily, U.S. Cellular Releases Alcatel OneTouch Premiere

Infiniti Red Bull Racing F1 car plays The Star-Spangled Banner

There have been many unique renditions of The Star-Spangled Banner throughout the years, including Whitney Houston's Super Bowl performance and Jimi Hendrix's incredible guitar solo, and now Infiniti has created its own memorable version of America's national anthem. using a Red Bull Racing F1 show car. Now don't get too excited. The feet of Sebastian Vettel or Mark Webber are not responsible for said performance as it appears that the engine revs are being controlled using a laptop computer. In no way does that make the feat any less impressive, though.



Autoblog , Infiniti Red Bull Racing F1 car plays The Star-Spangled Banner, Infiniti Red Bull Racing F1 car plays The Star-Spangled Banner

US Cellular launches the Alcatel OneTouch Premiere with Android, QWERTY keyboard

US Cellular has announced the release of its first Alcatel smartphone: the OneTouch Premiere. Resembling Virgin Mobile's Venture (launched in the US in March), the Alcatel OneTouch Premiere runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and features a full QWERTY keyboard, 2.8 inch QVGA touchscreen display, EV-DO Rev A connectivity, Wi-Fi, GPS, 2MP rear camera, a 2GB memory card pre-installed, and a 1,300 mAh battery. US Cellular is selling the new handset online (here) for $29.99 on contract.

Unwired View , US Cellular launches the Alcatel OneTouch Premiere with Android, QWERTY keyboard, US Cellular launches the Alcatel OneTouch Premiere with Android, QWERTY keyboard

Bounce WiFi Enhancer

Many homes now come with WiFi networks that helps keep those WiFi devices always connected online wirelessly. But there are times when some areas in the home can't be found within the range of the WiFi signal, making it a blind spot. If such spots are found in several areas in your home, then you might benefit from having the Bounce WiFi Enhancer. The Bounce WiFi Enhancer is a nifty device that helps extend the WiFi network's range. It helps strengthen those signals where they previously are quite weak.

Gadget.com , Bounce WiFi Enhancer, Bounce WiFi Enhancer

Windows 8 RTM rolls out to developers, IT departments with TechNet subscriptions

At this point, we're expecting very few surprises when it comes to Windows 8: Microsoft just shipped the final code to OEMs, and the company already published a list of staggered dates when developers, volume licensees and Joe Schmo consumers would be able to download the software. We already knew, then, that on August 15th developers with MSDN subscriptions would be able to get the RTM build, as would IT pros subscribed to TechNet.

Engadget , Windows 8 RTM rolls out to developers, IT departments with TechNet subscriptions, Windows 8 RTM rolls out to developers, IT departments with TechNet subscriptions

Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet launches on August 16th in the U.S. starting at $499

. We're live at Samsung's (005930) press conference in New York, where the company has just taken the wraps off of its upcoming Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. For the third time. The slate was first introduced in late February during Mobile World Congress, and we yawned a bit when we took a hands-on look at the Galaxy Note 10.1 later that day.

Boy Genius Report , Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet launches on August 16th in the U.S. starting at $499, Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet launches on August 16th in the U.S. starting at $499

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for Samsung Galaxy S3 rumored for 29th of August rollout

About a week ago, we reported that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean was being prepped for the Samsung Galaxy S3 along with other Samsung devices. Well if you own the Galaxy S3 and you're looking forward to the Android 4.1 update, it seems that a recent set of rumors has suggested that the wait might not be as long as initially thought. Rumors are now suggesting that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean could be rolling out for the Samsung by the end of the month, 29th of August to be exact which is also when Samsung is expected to unveil the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Coincidence or planned.

Ubergizmo , Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for Samsung Galaxy S3 rumored for 29th of August rollout, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for Samsung Galaxy S3 rumored for 29th of August rollout

LG sold 5 million LTE Android phones to date

A month ago, LG announced that it sold 4 million LTE smartphones around the world. Now the number has reached 5 million, the company unveiled. The original Optimus LTE has been sold in more than 2 million units, while the Optimus Vu and the new Optimus LTE II  reached 500,000 units sold each.

Unwired View , LG sold 5 million LTE Android phones to date, LG sold 5 million LTE Android phones to date

Google Patents search gets upgrade, now filled with prior art and European patent goodness

Apple and Samsung's legal tussles have previously placed a spotlight on stuff like 2011: A Space Odyssey by way of prior art. Now Google's patent search is giving prior art some love as well with the addition of the aptly named "Prior Art Finder" to its patent search tool. Marked by a patently obvious blue button, the new addition serves up relevant prior art results by using key phrases from a patent's text and putting them together in a search query. Besides drawing from Google Patents, the finder also displays results from Google Scholar, Google Books and the web's other nooks and crannies.

Engadget , Google Patents search gets upgrade, now filled with prior art and European patent goodness, Google Patents search gets upgrade, now filled with prior art and European patent goodness

Microsoft's Windows RT Surface tablet to cost just $199.99?

Microsoft announced two Surface tablets back in June - one running Windows RT, and another one running Windows 8 Pro. It was clear from the beginning that the Windows RT tablet would be the more affordable one, since it features an HD display, unlike the Windows 8 Pro version, which will come with a Full HD screen. But just how affordable could it be. Well, Engadget says "an inside source" indicated that Microsoft is currently planning to launch the Windows RT surface for $199.99.

Unwired View , Microsoft's Windows RT Surface tablet to cost just $199.99?, Microsoft's Windows RT Surface tablet to cost just $199.99?

Sony Xperia S gets a Dark Silver wardrobe, no release date

If you're the media-hungry type sold on Sony's first smartphone in the post-Ericsson era but felt the standard black or white color choices didn't quite fit your style, how about something in between. Sony's outed a new color for its Xperia S, "Dark Silver" - although we'd say it's closer to grey than the precious metal moniker suggests. There are no changes to anything but the plastic here, so you'll still be getting the same Ice Cream Sandwich device with an impressive display.

Engadget , Sony Xperia S gets a Dark Silver wardrobe, no release date, Sony Xperia S gets a Dark Silver wardrobe, no release date

Microsoft Surface Windows RT tablet reportedly priced at just $199

. Price estimates for the Windows RT version of Microsoft's (MSFT) Surface tablet have been all over the map, ranging from $600 to a highly unlikely $1,000. But now Engadget has talked with an unnamed “inside source” who attended a session at Microsoft's TechReady15 conference and claims to have learned that Microsoft would be selling the Windows RT version of its tablet for just $199. When reached for comment by BGR, a Microsoft spokesperson said the company does not comment on rumors or speculation.

Boy Genius Report , Microsoft Surface Windows RT tablet reportedly priced at just $199, Microsoft Surface Windows RT tablet reportedly priced at just $199

Lexus working on sub-RX crossover, more hybrids?

Yes, we know saying, "Lexus is considering more hybrids," is about as obvious as predicting the company's next model will have wheels, but TheDetroitBureau.com reports the automaker expects to offer buyers a total of eight hybrid models by 2015. Mark Templin, Lexus general manager, recently took the time to detail some of the more interesting projects looming in the automaker's future, and while specifics on the next batch of hybrid vehicles are still missing, Templin did say Lexus has its heart set on going after the CUV segment more aggressively.

Autoblog , Lexus working on sub-RX crossover, more hybrids?, Lexus working on sub-RX crossover, more hybrids?