Nokia announces Asha 210: a colorful QWERTY with a social heart, we go hands-on (video)

The last time we saw new members of the Asha family they eschewed the usual QWERTY keyboard, opting instead for a full touchscreen. The newly announced (and previously teased) Asha 210, however, returns to the more tactile input method, and brings a healthy splash of color (five different ones, to be precise) plus a dual-SIM option along for the ride. As before, social networks feature heavily, but the focus clearly remains on low-end and developing markets. We know Nokia can do budget (and do it well), but is a full keyboard, a design update, and a dedicated WhatsApp button (all costing $72 SIM-free, excluding taxes when it lands late Q2) enough to make it appeal to anyone beyond the entry-level social addicts? Nokia was kind enough to show us the devices first hand, so head on past the break to see if we thought so.

Nokia Asha 210 hands-on

The first thing you notice here is the design language. As with the budget 105 and 301 offerings from MWC, the Asha 210 owes a lot of its looks to the current flagships, with more than a whiff of Lumia about them. This influence also spills over into the color options, which include the usual cyan, magenta, yellow and black plus white. We have to say that for a phone at this price point, it really isn't bad looking. The finish is soft-touch plastic, and while it's not one piece of polycarbonate, Nokia's at least gone to some efforts to make it look slightly similar, and we're happy to play along. The casing is designed to appear as seamless as possible, and the phone looks all the better for it. As well as that dominating QWERTY, there are menu and navigation buttons above and below dedicated WhatsApp and camera keys. Nokia was very keen to play up the WhatsApp integration which not only provides quick access to chats, but includes use of the service for free, for life (i.e. no annual fee).

A slight twist here is that in some markets, the Asha 210 will actually have a dedicated Facebook button instead (as we saw with the Asha 205). We've asked for confirmation on which markets will have which, but we understand that broadly speaking the EU and USA will likely come with blue stripes, while the others should get green. We also asked if this button might be configurable, but it appears not. Whichever social network flag you fly, it still won't take you very long to get there, as the Series 40 software it runs on has been set up to put them all front and center on the homescreen anyway, with WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter coming pre-installed. While we're on software, as before there's a "premium" download pack of 15 apps and games on offer after purchase, full details of titles to follow.

As for the rest of the hardware, it's something of a mixed bag. The main thing to note is that we're still running on 2G, so no 3G / HSPA to ease the deluge of all those tweets and messages you're expecting. But, there is WiFi to ease some of that pain. The rear (and only) camera is 2-megapixels, which is quite a jump up from the 205's meagre VGA shooter, and should make good use of that dedicated button. The lack of a front-facing camera might initially turn the confirmed socialite a little sour, but don't worry, you can still take those all important "selfies" with the clever self-portrait mode that we also saw in the 301 (the one that says "left a bit, right a bit"). Nokia played down our requests about what was running under the hood, and while it's always nice to know, at this price-point RAM and processor speeds are likely not the buyer's primary concern. We do know, however, it's lingering somewhere under the 1GHz mark.

The software, it has to be said, does feel noticeably slow if you've ever played with a modern smartphone. Pressing the WhatsApp key took a second or two for the app to open, and generally navigating with the buttons (no touchscreen here) will test your patience unless this is the most premium phone you've ever had -- something that might actually be the case for much of its market. However, this may improve between now and when it finally hits the stores nearer to summer. On the upside, Nokia claims that you'll get 12 hours of talk, and over 40 in standby (under optimum, lab conditions) to give you plenty of time to do everything.

Overall though, in the hand the phone feels light, yet solid. The bright color design is attractive and the keys all have a firm, responsive action, though perhaps a little clustered for those with larger digits. Most of all, at $72 (for both the single- and dual-SIM version), it's feels mean to pick fault with some of the Asha 210's features. The design is great for this price, the social features will please many, and there's just about everything you might need for photos and sharing. The UI may feel a little sluggish, and the continued lack of 3G will write it off completely for many, but for mobile users starting at the lower rungs, who want a well built phone with core functionality, Nokia's made a very reasonable proposition.

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Nokia introduces the Nokia Asha 210, the most social Asha yet

A fast and responsive QWERTY phone with the world's first WhatsApp button

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today unveiled the latest device in its Asha family, designed to offer consumers more social experiences at an affordable price. The Nokia Asha 210, available in Single- or Easy Swap Dual-SIM variants, features a distinctly Nokia design and smart imaging that sets it apart from the crowd. It supports Wi-Fi to help people enjoy more of the Internet for less and is the world's first phone to have a dedicated WhatsApp button.

Your social life at your fingertips

The Nokia Asha 210 has a QWERTY keyboard and a dedicated WhatsApp
button for fast access to instant messaging. To celebrate the Nokia and WhatsApp partnership, WhatsApp is offering their service for free on all Nokia Asha 210 devices with the WhatsApp button for their lifespan. Combined with Facebook, Twitter and support for popular email accounts such as Gmail, the Nokia Asha 210 is designed to ensure that people are never more than a few clicks away from their friends and family.

Capture and share great images every time

The Nokia Asha 210 comes with a 2MP camera that can be accessed through a dedicated hardkey even when the keypad is locked. The smart camera also offers a choice of image capture, editing and sharing options, including:

- Self-portrait - for perfectly centred self portraits, even without a front-facing camera. The built-in voice guides the user to ensure they are in the frame, before taking the shot.
- Fast editing of images directly from the camera app and easy sharing of images to social networks.

People can also share photos and other content quickly by using Nokia's innovative Slam feature, which comes built-into the Nokia Asha 210. It works by enabling the transfer of content such as images or videos to another Bluetooth-enabled phone without the need to pair devices.

"The Nokia Asha 210 really stands out giving super-social consumers new ways to express their personalities through design, colour and innovations like the world's first WhatsApp button," explains Timo Toikkanen, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "It has been designed to allow people to easily update their social networks, stay in touch with friends and share user created content."

"We are focused on delivering the best WhatsApp experience to as many people as possible," said Brian Acton, Co-Founder of WhatsApp Inc. "We are very excited about our partnership with Nokia Asha complementing our strategy of giving people around the world an easy experience when keeping in touch with their friends."

The new device also takes full advantage of the Nokia Xpress Browser which uses Nokia's cloud technology to reduce data consumption by up to 90 percent, helping people enjoy more affordable Internet access. The Nokia Asha 210 also features Nokia Nearby, a web app that lets people discover points of interest such as restaurants, shopping and ATM machines close to their location.

Other key features for Nokia Asha 210 include:
- Social phonebook integration with the ability to launch WhatsApp direct from contact cards in the Phonebook
- Preloaded YouTube launcher for direct video streaming
- Chat screen notifications that keep users up-to-date on new conversations
- Single-SIM and Dual-SIM models featuring Nokia's exclusive EasySwap technology that enables consumers to change SIM cards without having to turn off the device
- WiFi On/Off control button
- Nokia's renowned long battery life: up to 46 days with Single-SIM and up to 24 days with Dual-SIM

The Nokia Asha 210 is available in yellow, cyan, black, magenta, and white. The estimated retail price for the Nokia Asha 210 is around 72 USD and it is expected to start shipping in the second quarter of 2013.

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By: Unknown On 10:44 PM

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Lynx A 3D point-and-shoot camera/tablet does motion capture and 3D modeling, we go hands-on

Earlier this year, a group of enterprising students from the University of Texas unveiled the Lynx A 3D camera and asked for money to fund its construction on Kickstarter. Since then, they've soared past their funding goal of $50,000, and are getting ready to ship out their first set of cameras. Today at DEMO Mobile SF, we finally got to see a prototype unit for ourselves and watch it scan someone's head in real-time. For the uninitiated, the Lynx A is billed as a point-and-shoot 3D camera that uses Kinect-esque hardware to obtain depth mapping and imaging info from your surroundings. Using GPU computing power and some custom code, it turns that data into 3D scene and object models or motion capture, and it displays the finished models on its 14-inch screen a minute or two after it's finished recording -- all for $1,799.

The Lynx A we witnessed working in person today was a prototype unit, so fit and finish were far from being retail ready, as wide gaps and exposed screws abounded. Lynx assured us that the units going out to its backers will not only have a more polished appearance, but also be six times more accurate and 30 percent smaller due to newer hardware components. Despite the prototype's rough appearance, the modeling process went off without a hitch. It was able to scan 2/3 of a human head in about a minute and within a couple minutes more it was displaying a 3D model ready to be manipulated and printed out by a Replicator or a Form 1. Don't believe us? See for yourself in the video after the break.

Lynx A 3D camera/tablet hands-on

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By: Unknown On 1:58 PM

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PanaCast brings panoramic HD video to conference calls in the palm of your hand for $599 (hands-on)

Revolutionary Panoramic HD Camera
and Cloud-Based Video Communications Service Launches at DEMO Mobile

200° Panoramic Field of View with Real-Time High-Quality Video and HD Audio;
PanaCast Apps Allow Remote Users to Pan & Zoom with a Swipe;
Market Disrupting Price of $599, Works with Skype, Google Hangouts & Enterprise Apps

April 17, 2013 – Cupertino, CA – Altia Systems™ www.altiasystems.com today announced immediate availability and the launch and immediate availability of its first product – the PanaCast™ Experience – for desktop and mobile device multi-point communications.

PanaCast delivers an immersive, real-time 200° panoramic video experience with up to 60 FPS (Frames Per Second) and HD audio to anyone, anywhere, with an Internet connection. Even at 3G wireless speeds, PanaCast enables Panoramic-HD™ video quality and always includes enterprise-level video encryption.

Each remote participant (using the free PanaCast app) can choose their own individual perspective from the stationary camera's real-time panoramic video stream. This is easily accomplished with the swipe of a finger or zooming in and out with a finger pinch/spread.

The PanaCast system is not only fully portable, but also offers unparalleled usability through its integration of both NFC and QR code technology. This makes creating and joining a videoconference session as easy as touching your smartphone to the top of the camera or scanning the QR code.

Altia Systems developed the PanaCast experience through its 3-year stealth engineering of multi-imager processing technology and novel algorithms implemented in custom silicon. The PanaCast experience is created through the integration of the panoramic–HD video camera-server, a real-time Cloud switch fabric and free apps that combine to deliver an optimized and personalized A/V experience over any connection.

The camera works with both Skype® and Google® Hangouts as well as other business applications, or it can be bundled with the cloud-based PanaCast service starting at an introductory price of $19/month per user to achieve the full immersive experience.

PanaCast is available immediately at www.altiasystems.com at an introductory price of $599 (replacing high 5-figure room-bound videoconferencing systems).

PanaCast was shown publicly for the first time at DEMO Mobile 2013 (San Francisco), the launch event exclusively focused on the best new mobile technologies based on design, innovation and market potential.

"The "bring your own device" trend is now a reality in enterprises seeking to achieve new levels of business productivity combined with state-of-the-art infrastructure," said Aurangzeb Khan, CEO and co-founder of Altia Systems. "The launch of the PanaCast experience here at DEMO Mobile proves that disruptive hardware and software combined together can bring amazing new communication capabilities for remote workers collaborating around the world in real-time."

"With PanaCast, Altia is bringing the entire human perceptual field into video conferencing," said DEMO Executive Producer Erick Schonfeld. "It really feels like you are there."

Altia Systems™ www.altiasystems.com is a venture-backed company based in Cupertino, California that has created the PanaCast™ solution. PanaCast™ is a unique experience that enables anyone on desktop or mobile to receive an interactive, real-time panoramic HD 2000 field of view video stream that replicates the human panoramic perspective. Follow @panacast1 on Twitter® for further information.

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By: Unknown On 1:53 PM

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Toshiba KIRAbook hands-on (video)

Take a stroll through the laptop section at Best Buy recently? If you have, you know Toshiba's got a firm stronghold on the cheapie notebook market. The thing is, $400 systems don't exactly offer high margins -- a problem when people aren't buying that many PCs to begin with. And besides, who wants to be known for shoddy build quality and ho-hum designs? Not Toshiba, anyway. The suits in Tokyo were so fed up with the company's low-rent reputation that they decided to launch a premium line to prove Toshiba is indeed capable of making high-end machines. That line is called KIRA, though for now there's just one product to speak of: the KIRAbook, a 13-inch ultraportable starting at $1,600.

For the money, you get a mix of modern design, top-shelf components and a whole lot of sucking-up from Toshiba's technical support. Topping the list is a 2,560 x 1,440 display, making this the first Windows Ultrabook to sport such a high-res screen. (We've already seen similar panels on the Chromebook Pixel and the Retina display MacBooks.) Additionally, users receive two years of warranty coverage and a dedicated support line, with near-instant pick-up times and a US-based staff (something customers have been asking for, says Toshiba). Also included: full versions of Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 and Premiere Elements 11, along with 25GB of online storage and a two-year Norton subscription -- something HP already bundles on select machines. The KIRAbook will be sold in the US, Japan and Australia, with prices ranging from $1,600 to $2,000. It'll ship May 12th and go up for pre-order on May 3rd, but for now, we've got a detailed walk-through video waiting after the break, along with some early impressions. So come join us -- because who doesn't enjoy laptop porn?

Toshiba Kirabook hands-on

Where else to start but with that WQHD display? The minute we saw it, we knew this wasn't your garden-variety 1,366 x 768 panel. Everything is sharper -- even the lettering on the Start Menu -- though we would have just as easily assumed this was a 1,920 x 1,080 panel. Unfortunately, though, as much care as Toshiba otherwise put into the design, it clearly skimped on the viewing angles. (It has some unspecified wide-viewing-angle technology that's different from IPS.) In fact, we had a bit of trouble photographing the laptop head-on, what with all the screen glare. And that's a shame, because Toshiba already made this mistake once before with the Satellite U845W. The entire hook was that it had a super-wide 21:9 screen you could dip far forward in tight spaces, but that ended up being a moot point thanks to all the reflections.

Our disappointment with the viewing angles aside, this is otherwise the simplest, most thoughtful design Toshiba has come out with in a very long time. The machine is made of magnesium through and through, with pressed metal on the lid and a die-cast variety on the bottom. On the inside, Toshiba went with the same honeycomb framework it's already been using on its Portege laptops. The hinge, meanwhile, is 5mm thick -- and sturdy enough to keep the display still even while you're jabbing at it with your finger. All told, the result is a laptop that's at once durable and lightweight. Impressively, the KIRAbook weighs 2.9 pounds, and that's with the touchscreen. Without, it's just 2.6. Not bad, considering the current-gen 13-inch MacBook Air weighs 2.96 pounds even without a touch panel.

Like the Air and many other Ultrabooks, the KIRAbook has a wedge shape, with the machine getting narrower and narrower as you move away from the hinge. Somehow, though, Toshiba managed to keep the edges round, similar to lots of other machines in the company's lineup. It's only around the palm rest where the edges get really sharp, but you won't notice it when the notebook is closed. In fact, something about the weight distribution makes the KIRAbook very easy to grip in one hand, though again, those contoured edges help too.

According to Toshiba, the keyboard here is an attempt to correct some of the flaws on the Portege Z835 / Z935 (we were pretty vocal in our complaints, if you recall). This time around, the company contoured the top of the keys ever so slightly, and also allowed for a bit more travel. Not that we were able to do a side-by-side comparison with the old model, but it certainly felt easier typing on the KIRAbook than on the Z835. It also helps that the keys have a soft finish, along with some crisp backlighting (there's a light underneath each key, similar to HP's Radiance setup).

Before we close out, we'd be remiss if we didn't give you a little more information about specs and performance claims. The first two configurations (the $1,600 non-touch and the $1,800 touch model) will both have Core i5 processors, whereas the highest-end, $2,000 machine will come with a Core i7 chip. Regardless of which one you choose, eight gigs of RAM and 256GB of solid-state storage are standard. Either way, the KIRAbook is launching with Ivy Bridge CPUs, though it wouldn't surprise us if a Haswell refresh came later. With last year's Ivy Bridge chips, though, the 52Wh battery is expected to last a little over six hours on a charge. In other words, a similar battery life rating as other Ivy Bridge Windows 8 Ultrabooks, except this time, there are a lot more pixels to light up.

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By: Unknown On 12:47 PM

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Samsung Galaxy Mega hands-on (video)

When Samsung said it was having a little soiree to celebrate the launch of the Galaxy S 4, we took the company on its word. At the end, when the execs present warned us of something new, we thought a Mini might be in the cards, but in fact it was the exact opposite. It turns out that Samsung brought another friend along to the party, the recently announced Galaxy Mega. The largest of the two, to be precise. So, while everyone wanted to play with the latest flagship, we thought we'd take some time to get the know the 6.3-inch Galaxy Mega a little better. Head past the break for our impressions.

Samsung Galaxy Mega hands-on

First things first: we really thought that a phone of such size would be a stretch -- both figuratively and literally. But when we picked up the device, it felt surprisingly comfortable to hold and much lighter that you might anticipate. As for the design, make no mistake, Samsung merely took the Galaxy S 4, and gave it a good zap with the enlargo-gun. The curves, the home button, the bezel are all taken from its little sibling. The color scheme, too, was lifted directly from the GS 4, with the models on display sporting the same blue chequered pattern.

What clearly isn't the same is that screen. Not just because it's so much bigger, but because (much to our chagrin) it's a lower resolution, to boot. The "HD" screen -- in the short time we spent with it -- didn't actually look bad. Of course, this was just a few moments under the bright, possibly flattering conditions of Samsung's controlled display environment. The real acid test will come when we get to put it through its paces in a proper review.

As for general performance, again, we found it nimble enough while navigating menus and TouchWiz (there's Android 4.2 underneath). The 1.7GHz processor might not have the pure might of the two Galaxy S 4 processor variants, but it handled the demo videos, browsing and other material as adequately as you might expect. Most of all, however, we come back to where we started: the sheer size of the thing. Samsung was keen to describe it as large but comfortable -- pocketable, even. And that it is. But is that enough for it to win the hearts of the masses? It's hard to tell at this stage, but stranger things have happened.

Update: As you watch the video below, note a correction a couple of the specs -- this 6.3-inch version has a 720p HD screen, not qHD like the smaller 5.8-inch phone, and while the demo unit wouldn't open up it does have a removable battery.

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By: Unknown On 11:24 AM

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Hands-on redux: Creative's Interactive Gesture Camera at IDF 2013 Beijing (video)

At IDF 2013 in Beijing, Intel is again making a big push for perceptual computing by way of voice recognition, gesture control, face recognition and more, and to complement its free SDK for these functions, Intel's been offering developers a Creative Interactive Gesture Camera for $149 on its website since November. For those who missed it last time, this time-of-flight depth camera is very much just a smaller cousin of Microsoft's Kinect sensor, but with the main difference being this one is designed for a closer proximity and can therefore also pick up the movement of each finger.

We had a go on Creative's camera with some fun demos -- including a quick level of gesture-based Portal 2 made with Intel's SDK -- and found it to be surprisingly sensitive, but we have a feeling that it would've been more fun if the camera was paired up with a larger display. Intel said Creative will be commercially launching this kit at some point in the second half of this year, and eventually the same technology may even be embedded in monitors or laptops (remember Toshiba's laptops with Cell-based gesture control?). Until then, you can entertain yourselves with our new hands-on video after the break.

Hands-on with Creative's Interactive Gesture Camera at IDF Beijing 2013 (video)

Source: Intel

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By: Unknown On 11:20 AM

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Edison2 shows off an updated Very Light Car EV by exposing its unique frame (hands-on)

We've had a few looks at Edison2's Very Light Car (VLC) project including its gasoline-powered X-Prize winning incarnation, but today's EV looked a bit different. In an event at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI, CEO and founder Oliver Kuttner showed off the latest version of the vehicle, this time unskinned -- while referencing similar body-less showcases of the Lamborghini Miura and Volkswagen Beetle -- to show off the innovative suspension that contributes greatly to the car's light weight. The in-wheel suspension units connect to single piece axles that bookend the car's chassis and feature fewer contact points than traditional car suspension designs. Kuttner claims this technique will also feed back into conventional car bodies, opening up more space and taking weight out of future vehicles. Check after the break for more details about what's changed and what's next for Edison2, or dive into the gallery to take a look for yourself.Edison2 VLC at Henry Ford Museum

While downplaying the potential of hydrogen or hybrid power solutions to drive the cars of the near future, Kuttner promoted the VLC as a solution for domestic buyers as well as in markets like India and China.The aluminum-framed vehicle has a price target of about $20,000, and is capable of being powered by either an electric engine or two-stroke gas motor. This new version of the VLC increases the aerodynamic effectiveness seen in previous units while also improving interior space and aesthetics. It's also claimed that the body height can be raised or lowered, enough so that we could see an mini-SUV concept built on the technology. Currently, the restriction in height is due to a lack of larger skinny, low profile tires which will work with its design -- it's currently fitted with the skinniest 17-inch set available. Kuttner stated a 19-inch version recently demonstrated by Bridgestone would find its way onto future concepts once it's available.

We got behind the wheel of the demo unit and found it spacious enough, if as sparsely appointed as one would expect at this stage, and the 6'4" Kuttner similarly had no problem entering and exiting. He says expanding the cabin even further, and improving the backseat is currently in the plans for future revisions, as Edison2 seeks the regulatory approval necessary to get cars like this on the road. In response to a question from the reporters in attendance, he mentioned that while Edison2 will remain a technology company developing new innovations like this, he is "100% certain" it will build cars, possibly to satisfy the safety and regulatory necessities. Despite its unconventional design and fully exposed presentation, what we saw was enough to want to test out its claimed 150mph+ top speed (depending on the engine) as soon as possible.

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Edison2 to Unveil New Very Light Car Architecture at The Henry Ford
April 11, 2013
Special Press Conference begins at 2pm inside Henry Ford Museum

(Dearborn, Mich. – April XX, 2013) –Edison2, the winners of the 2010 Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, will unveil their latest Very Light Car (VLC) architecture on Thursday, April 11, 2013 at The Henry Ford. This special press conference will begin at 2 p.m. next to the organization's original winning VLC on display inside Henry Ford Museum's Driving America exhibit.

Since winning the Automotive X Prize in 2010, Edison2 has been hard at work designing the next VLC. The new VLC prototype utilizes the lessons learned from this prestigious competition while also addressing consumers' needs.

The key to the VLC's remarkable structural, dynamic and aerodynamic effectiveness is its unique modular architecture. The architecture gave birth to the world's most efficient four passenger vehicle, one of which now resides inside Henry Ford Museum's Driving America exhibit. Its core technologies, including patented in-wheel suspension have been applied to the new VLC prototype. The improved, more aerodynamic shape offers better interior space and enhanced aesthetics. Capable of local, low investment manufacture and with applications far beyond Edison2's fabulously efficient streamliners, the new VLC architecture has a promising future in domestic and international markets

"We are proud to unveil our new VLC architecture here at The Henry Ford, directly next to our history making X Prize VLC," Edison2's CEO and founder, Oliver Kuttner remarked. "The auto industry has been refining the same architecture for more than 50 years, and Edison2 has created a new path - a new way of building a car that has many environmental and economic benefits. Much of this relies on Edison2's in-wheel suspension which can be seen on the VLC prototype we will be displaying."

Oliver Kuttner, a Charlottesville, Virginia entrepreneur and lifelong auto enthusiast, founded Edison2 LLC in 2007. He assembled a top-tier team of racing and aerospace engineers, designers and mechanics for the X Prize competition. For Hi-res photos visit the Edison2 website www.edison2.com/for-media/.

About The Henry Ford
The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan is an internationally-recognized cultural destination where stories and artifacts from 300 years of America's history bring to life the accomplishments of ordinary and extraordinary individuals alike. A national historic landmark with five unique venues, unparalleled collections and world-class expertise, The Henry Ford is a force for fueling the spirit of American innovation and inspiring a 'can-do' culture. Nearly two million visitors annually experience its attractions: Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, The Ford Rouge Factory Tour, The Benson Ford Research Center and The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre. A continually expanding array of content available online provides anytime, anywhere access. The Henry Ford is also home to Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school which educates 485 students a year on the institution's campus. For more information please visit our website thehenryford.org.

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By: Unknown On 9:08 AM

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