Mobile Miscellany: week of June 11th, 2012

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Cricket found a new retail channel at Kmart and we received news that the HTC One S will soon arrive at Cincinnati Bell. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of June 11th, 2012.
Kmart welcomes Cricket with open arms Blue light special on aisle four.




Engadget , Mobile Miscellany: week of June 11th, 2012, Mobile Miscellany: week of June 11th, 2012

[Video] See the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 in action

After Amazon unwittingly outed some details of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 yesterday, we now have a video showing the tablet in action. A big thank you to All About Samsung for discovering it, and then to GigaOm for passing it along. The tablet seems to be running really smooth, but I wish the stylus had been given a better test than simply being used for navigational purposes.

Android Phone , [Video] See the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 in action, [Video] See the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 in action

PSA: Dropbox scraps Public folders July 31st, your sharing stays intact

Would-be Dropbox users who want to lean on the cloud storage service's Public folder, heads-up: when July comes to a close, new accounts won't get that common storage pool. That's not to say it's the end of sharing, however. The company's recent sharing link support is still very much in effect to let groups share files or whole folders between each other.

Engadget , PSA: Dropbox scraps Public folders July 31st, your sharing stays intact, PSA: Dropbox scraps Public folders July 31st, your sharing stays intact

Sebastian Loeb to compete in X Games RallyCross (video)

Things just got a lot more interesting for this year's X Games RallyCross event, with eight-time WRC champion Sebastien Loeb announcing his entry into the competition. The French driver's participation in X Games comes thanks to Travis Pastrana, who sent out a personal invitation to Loeb via their shared connection with Red Bull. Loeb readily accepted Pastrana's challenge/invitation, and is set to make his North American racing debut later this month. Loeb will come fully prepared for the race with a specially built rally car developed by Citroën Racing.

Autoblog , Sebastian Loeb to compete in X Games RallyCross (video), Sebastian Loeb to compete in X Games RallyCross (video)

Samsung's next-gen stylus could double as a headset

A recently uncovered patent filing from Samsung could give us a clue as to where the company wants to take their recent stylus obsession in the future. Thanks to devices like the Galaxy Note, the digital pen as an input device is making a bit of a comeback, and Samsung's patent portrays a capacitive stylus with quite a few tricks up its sleeve. The first is an embedded NFC chip that would make pairing with a device as easy as touching the two together. The second is a built-in headset.
We've seen the stylus as a headset concept previously with ASUS' three-in-one Padfone.

Android Phone , Samsung's next-gen stylus could double as a headset, Samsung's next-gen stylus could double as a headset

Make a Splash with Pyle's New Waterproof MP3 Player

If you swim, Pyle has a new Waterproof MP3 Player (PSHWPMP3) you'll be interested in.  The MP3 player is waterproof up to 3 meters and comes with waterproof earbuds that are “made of an ergonomic soft silicone material and wrap comfortably around the ear to keep them secure during vigorous activities like swimming, hiking, jogging, and more.”  It has a USB cable for charging the internal battery; you can expect up to 7 hours of playing time from a charge.  It has 4GB of memory to hold up to 1000 songs, and it plays MP3 and WMA formats.  The Waterproof MP3 Player has soft-touch buttons for volume, skip, and play/pause; a clip o

The Gadgeteer , Make a Splash with Pyle's New Waterproof MP3 Player

See also:
dailygadgets, Make a Splash with Pyle's New Waterproof MP3 Player

Samsung files a patent for a capacitive stylus with NFC and headset, your next C-Pen may get talkative

Samsung is clearly big on pens. It's no shock, then, that we now know the company applied for a patent on a new stylus while the original Galaxy Note was still fresh out of the box. The capacitive pen of Samsung's dreams includes its own wireless headset in the clip to make voice calls without having to buy a separate earpiece - something that we've only seen recently in the real world. It would even find room for NFC to pair the pen up with a host device using a minimum of fuss. The most appealing part of the patent may be its pragmatism.

Engadget , Samsung files a patent for a capacitive stylus with NFC and headset, your next C-Pen may get talkative, Samsung files a patent for a capacitive stylus with NFC and headset, your next C-Pen may get talkative

BodyMedia FIT LINK Armband Review

The fitness/exercise equipment I typically use measures heart rate, speed, distance, cadence, etc. With this data, either the device, sync software, or website can approximate the calories burned during the periods of exertion. Measuring and tracking the data points is a great training tool but does not necessarily facilitate overall weight loss. The designers and engineers at BodyMedia have created the Bluetooth-enabled FIT LINK system that measures your actual calorie burn and relative effort levels throughout the entire day to assist you to better manage your fitness and weight loss goals.








The Gadgeteer , BodyMedia FIT LINK Armband Review, BodyMedia FIT LINK Armband Review

Windows Phone 8 seen on Vertu handset?

Yes, we do know that Nokia intends to dispose of their luxury handset division that is known to the world as Vertu, but while the business world digests that bit of information, how about those of us who care more for the kind of hardware that a company makes instead of its bottom line.

Ubergizmo , Windows Phone 8 seen on Vertu handset?, Windows Phone 8 seen on Vertu handset?

Apple's new patent suggests swappable iPhone camera lenses

A new patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday revealed that Cupertino-based Apple is working on an improved camera system that will reportedly allow users to reconfigure and replace the lens of the iPhone. The patent application, entitled “Back Panel for a Portable Electronic Device with Different Camera Lens Options”, highlights an iPhone-like smartphone with a camera situated at the top-left corner of the device.

Ubergizmo , Apple's new patent suggests swappable iPhone camera lenses, Apple's new patent suggests swappable iPhone camera lenses

Acer Introduces the U.S. Availability of the World's Thinnest Ultrabook, the Razor-Thin 2.65-pound Aspire S5 & S3

Acer America today announced the availability of the Acer Aspire S5 in the U.S. The world's thinnest Ultrabook, it measures only .044 inches at its thinnest point and weighs just 2.65 lbs - about as thin and light as a pad of paper. In addition, the company's first Ultrabook, the Aspire S3, has been refreshed with a 3rd Generation Intel Processor, solid state drives and an elegant champagne color. The S5's delicately curved chassis is Onyx Black, and the cover rim wraps around the system body like a protective shell.










Akihabara News , Acer Introduces the U.S. Availability of the World's Thinnest Ultrabook, the Razor-Thin 2.65-pound Aspire S5 & S3, Acer Introduces the U.S. Availability of the World's Thinnest Ultrabook, the Razor-Thin 2.65-pound Aspire S5 & S3

Sony Releases Xperia miro Ahead of Time

The release of Sony's Xperia miro was moved up by nine days courtesy of Sony Mobile's Facebook campaign. This Ice Cream Sandwich-loaded smartphone features a 3.5-inch display, 5-megapixel camera at the back, a front-facing video chat camera, and comes in four color choices: black, silver, pink, and gold. Facebook is also integrated into the smartphone, as well as “customizable illuminations.” Apart from that, no further specs were listed.
This social-minded device is only being shipped to Europe.

Gadget.com , Sony Releases Xperia miro Ahead of Time, Sony Releases Xperia miro Ahead of Time

Nokia ships Lumia 900 and Reaction Bluetooth Headset in China

Based on the amount of effort poured into iOS 6 in order to tailor it for users in China, one thing's obvious: it's a nation grasping for smartphones. Apple's seeing huge, huge upticks in spending from Chinese customers, and Nokia's sure hoping it sees similar. In the midst of untold turmoil, Nokia is sprinkling in a bit of positive news this morning - news that the Lumia 900 is now shipping in China. The 900 marks the fifth Lumia smartphone to ship in the nation of 900 million mobile phone users, with white, black and cyan versions to choose from.

Engadget , Nokia ships Lumia 900 and Reaction Bluetooth Headset in China, Nokia ships Lumia 900 and Reaction Bluetooth Headset in China

Dell Latitude 10 has more information detailed

Right now, the tablet scene is more or less dominated by just two players where the operating system is concerned – and we are talking about the iOS platform as well as Google's Android operating system. Well, Windows 8 is said to be able to run on tablets as well, but information concerning Windows 8 tablets are pretty scant so far. Good to know that a slide which details the Windows 8-powered Dell Latitude 10 popped up recently, showing off a shipping timeframe of mid-November to mid-January – meaning it will make it in time for the mad holiday season. Apart from that, Dell does seem likely to offer a docking station accessory.

Ubergizmo , Dell Latitude 10 has more information detailed, Dell Latitude 10 has more information detailed

Hexy: hands-on with the adorable, affordable hexapod (video)

The Artisan's Asylum has a few guiding principles, one of which is anyone can "make." We assume one of the others is "you can never have too many hexapods." If Stompy, the giant rideable bot, is a bit much for you to handle (or store), then maybe Hexy is more your speed. He's got six legs and 20 servos, but at only $200, he's much cheaper than similar hexapod kits and, most importantly, more adorable. The bot is the brain child of Joseph Schlesinger, a resident at the Somerville hacker space who saw a need for a low-cost but serious robotics kit.










Engadget | , Hexy: hands-on with the adorable, affordable hexapod (video)

Pair of rare Ford GT40s up for grabs in RM's Monterey auction

The list of classic cars slated to go up for auction during the Monterey car week in August continues to grow, with the latest being a pair of two Ford GT40 coupes that will be up for grabs at RM's sale. "To have the honor of offering one GT40 is a great privilege, but to present two, spanning both sides of GT40 production, is extremely exciting," said Shelby Myers, Managing Director of RM California, regarding the sale. "We are truly honored to have been entrusted by the respective owners of these two cars to present them at our Monterey sale.".

Autoblog, Pair of rare Ford GT40s up for grabs in RM's Monterey auction

Minor OTA update to software version 5.9.905 rolling out to all Motorola Droid Bionic owners

After testing the waters by pushing the update early to about 20,000 users last week, Motorola and Verizon have commenced the rollout of software version 5.9.905 to all Droid Bionic owners. The minor update won’t bring the Bionic to Android 4.0, but it does address stability issues and improves the Bluetooth experience during phone calls as well as tweaks VZW’s Visual VoiceMail app. Most Bionic owners, however, will want the update for the 4G LTE connectivity issues it addresses, though early reports have some users still experiencing problems with 3G/4G data switching.

Android Phone, Minor OTA update to software version 5.9.905 rolling out to all Motorola Droid Bionic owners

Average 50-Year-Old ‘Needs To Double Pension Pot’ By Retirement

MetLife analysis shows the Uncertain Generation - U-Gen - is £68,600 short of achieving minimum retirement incomePaying off mortgage and helping children are bigger priorities than retirement savingThe average British 50-year-old has less than half of the retirement savings they will need to guarantee a minimum standard of income when they stop work, new research from MetLife* shows.Its unique study of the finances of 50-year-olds shows they have an average of £54,300 saved in pension funds – but in order to meet pensioners’ minimum annual income standards** of £14,400 including State Pension

Press Release Distribution, Average 50-Year-Old ‘Needs To Double Pension Pot’ By Retirement

Debriefing Software Launches WSP Lite, a Free Version of Wizards Storage Portal for IBM Tivoli Storage Manager

Debriefing Software’s WSP Lite provides easy-to-use graphic monitoring analysis of TSM installations and is the only existing free TSM monitoring and analysis application. Register now at www.debriefingsoftware.com/wspliteJune 14 2012 – Viby J, Denmark – Debriefing Software, experts in cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) for IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM), Storwize and SVC solutions, today launched WSP Lite, a free basic version of the Wizards Storage Portal that can be used for an unlimited time period by one user on up to two servers.

Press Release Distribution, Debriefing Software Launches WSP Lite, a Free Version of Wizards Storage Portal for IBM Tivoli Storage Manager

Apple denied Galaxy S III sales ban in US

. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California on Monday ended Apple's hopes of stopping the upcoming launch of Samsung's flagship Galaxy S III smartphone. The Cupertino-based company had pushed to get a court order blocking the June 21st launch, however Koh denied the injunction, Reuters reported. The judge claimed the case would overload her calendar, as she is overseeing Apple's high-stakes trial against Samsung that is schedule to begin in July.

Boy Genius Report, Apple denied Galaxy S III sales ban in US

HTC Withdraws Federal Appeal Over Dismissed Apple Complaint – Lives To Fight Another Day

It's been a rough year for HTC. Late last year, the Taiwanese manufacturer filed a complaint against Apple over infringement over 5 of their patents and in February, it International Trade Commission officially ruled in favor of Apple, clearing them of any wrong doing. HTC immediately filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, but now it looks like they're tucking tale and running home, dropping that appeal altogether. But there's plenty more where that came from.

Android Phone, HTC Withdraws Federal Appeal Over Dismissed Apple Complaint â€" Lives To Fight Another Day

Samsung plans to launch Facebook competitor

. Samsung is planning to enter the social network market early next year by introducing a Facebook competitor, The Korea Times reported. The service, which the company hopes will eventually compete with Facebook, will be available on a variety of Internet-enabled devices. "The eventual goal is to expand our social media service across different devices from different companies across different mobile platforms. That includes cameras, televisions and blue-ray players," a Samsung official reportedly said.

Boy Genius Report, Samsung plans to launch Facebook competitor

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive pre-orders expected to begin 21st July along with an open beta

If you're looking forward to getting your hands on Valve's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), you might recall that the game will be launched on the 21st of August 2012. Just how much will you have to pay for the privilege of playing this game. According to Valve, you can expect to fork out $14.99 for it. Valve has also announced that they are planning to start allowing customers to pre-order the game a good one month before its release, so if you can't wait to play the game and assuming that all goes according to plan, the 21st of July will be a date you'll want to mark down on your calendar.

Ubergizmo, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive pre-orders expected to begin 21st July along with an open beta

Nintendo already considering their next-gen handheld console

The Nintendo 3DS handheld gaming console was launched not too long ago, at least as far as handheld lifespans are concerned. However we're sure that there are probably gamers out there who are always on the lookout for next-gen hardware and are probably wondering if maybe Nintendo could be releasing a 3DS Lite, much like they did with the Nintendo DSL. If a Lite version of the 3DS is what you're after, you might be disappointed to learn that Nintendo has no plans for such a device which is actually a good thing.

Ubergizmo, Nintendo already considering their next-gen handheld console