HTC’s flagship One X smartphone is now available for pre-order from AT&T for $199.99 on contract. The handset finds itself at the top of HTC’s new lineup of One-series smartphones, which the Taiwan-based vendor hopes will help it turn its sliding smartphone business around. The flagship smartphone features a dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a 4.6-inch 720p HD display, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 16GB of internal storage, 1GB of RAM and Sense 4 on top of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The HTC One X is available from AT&T in either gray or white, and it will launch on May 6th, three days after Samsung unveils its next-generation Galaxy S III smartphone.

Read

Adobe on Monday announced pre-order availability of its next-generation collection of design applications, Creative Suite 6, which includes Photoshop CS6, Illustrator CS6, InDesign CS6, Dreamweaver CS6, After Effects CS6, Flash Builder CS6 and more. ”Creatives get a ton of innovation across CS6, with milestone releases of all our flagship products,” Adobe’s SVP of Digital Media David Wadhwani said. “With CS6 and Creative Cloud, we’re also introducing new products, new mobile workflows and advanced publishing capabilities that show we are laser-focused on ensuring design, Web and video pros have everything they need for the delivery of high-impact content and apps.” Read on for more.

Pricing ranges from $1,299 for the “Design & Web Standard” edition of CS6 to $2,599 for the “Master Collection,” and upgrades from previous Creative Suite versions range from $300 to $550. Adobe also unveiled its Creative Cloud solution, however, which adds online storage and sharing capabilities to CS6 and offers users the opportunity to save money while taking advantage of the new service.

For a monthly subscription ranging from $49.99 to $74.99, users get access to Creative Cloud as well as all of Adobe’s new CS6 Master Collection software. Adobe Creative Cloud is also available for just $29.99 per month for the first year to Creative Suite customers upgrading from earlier versions of the software.

Creative Suite 6 is available for pre-order beginning Monday and it will launch within the next 30 days.

AT&T announced on Wednesday that the HTC One X smartphone will launch on May 6th for $199.99 on contract. Pre-orders will begin on April 22nd, in line with an earlier report from BGR. The flagship smartphone features a dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a 4.6-inch 720p HD display, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 16GB of internal storage, 1GB of RAM and Sense 4 on top of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. AT&T’s full press release follows below along with a video.

HTC One X Available Exclusively from AT&T Beginning May 6 for $199.99

4G LTE Entertainment Superphone features Amazing Camera and Beats Audio Experience, Runs on Android 4.0 and HTC Sense 4

Dallas, Texas, Bellevue, Washington, April 18, 2012

Key Facts

• The first new smartphone from AT&T to run the latest version of the Android operating system (4.0), the HTC One X, will be available from AT&T beginning May 6 for $199.99.
• HTC One X is AT&T’s first smartphone with Beats by Dr. Dre™ Audio built-in to the hardware and software.
• HTC One X is the first smartphone from AT&T to offer HTC Sense™ 4 to deliver an amazing camera with improvements to the lens, sensor and software, an authentic sound experience with Beats by Dr. Dre Audio, and long-lasting battery performance to accommodate heavy mobile use.
• Pre-orders for HTC One X will begin April 22.  Customers can visit any company-owned retail store or http://www.att.com/onex for more information.

Sound at its Finest

HTC One X is the first device from AT&T with HTC’s authentic sound experience featuring Beats by Dr. Dre Audio integration, offering rich, full sounds with professional-grade sound engineering to play the music how the artist intended.  Beats Audio provides a distortion-free sound at higher volume and rich bass at all levels for whether you are watching movies, playing games or streaming music.  HTC One X is custom tuned for the best audio performance when used with Beats by Dr. Dre accessories,** including the Beatbox (AT&T exclusive), Wireless HD Stereo Bluetooth Headphones, Beats™ Solo™ HD Headphones, and UR Beats™ In-ear Headphones.

With built-in software on the HTC One X, customers can connect it to a computer and HTC’s Sync Manager software automatically installs to your computer and once connected, makes it easy to move music and playlists to your phone from your music library.

Entertainment Everywhere

Consumers’ ability to incorporate their smartphones into every aspect of their lives continues with the HTC One X.  Watching TV shows or movies will be even more enjoyable on its 4.7-inch 720p HD screen with sharp images that appear detailed and visible from every angle – even angled up to 80 degrees.  HTC Watch gives you access to thousands of Hollywood blockbusters with minimal wait time and offers companion content to find out more about the film.  You can begin watching the movie moments after it starts downloading and wirelessly share the content on any HD TV using HTC’s wireless HDMI Media Link HD adapter.**

The laminated cover glass and touch layer eliminates light reflection for superior sharpness and clarity, and is protected with Corning® Gorilla® Glass.  HTC One X is made with a beautifully crafted polycarbonate unibody design that showcases its clean lines and seamless construction.

Superior Camera

For many consumers, their smartphone doubles as their camera.  HTC One X’s 8MP HD camera features ImageSense and rivals traditional digital cameras with improvements to every part of the camera including the lens, sensor and software, while integrating HTC’s new ImageChip to make quality picture taking a breeze.

Fumbling with the menu and settings on your smartphone is frustrating when the perfect shot is right in front of you. In less than one second, you can launch the camera from the lock screen and within another second the camera’s autofocus zeros in on your subject and zero shutter lag lets you take continuous shots simply by holding the shutter button.  HTC One X takes beautiful photos under low-light, no-light, and back-light conditions. The Video Pic feature allows the capture of still pictures while recording video in HD as well as the ability to capture a still image from previously recorded video.

The HTC One X’s next-generation 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4 dual-core processor allows customers to run heavy duty tasks such as creating and editing homemade videos smoothly without any lag, while the 1,800 mAh embedded battery, and software enhancements that improve battery performance by 50-100 percent over previous HTC phones, offers hours of uninterrupted entertainment time.

HTC Sense 4

HTC One X will be one of the first devices in the U.S. with the simple and intuitive HTC Sense 4 user experience.  It helps make the Beats Audio experience possible while listening to any audio component and features camera enhancements including a quick launch feature for the camera on the HTC One X – dramatically cutting down the time needed to move from the lock screen to snapping a picture.

Amazon’s affordable Kindle Fire tablet shook up the industry when it launched last year. Tablet vendors were already having serious difficulties competing against Apple’s iPad, and these companies would now have to find a way to cut costs as well. While Samsung announced last week that it will soon launch lower-priced Galaxy tablets, a new off-brand device has the potential to make waves if the firm behind it can manage to successfully fight for attention in an increasingly crowded market. Read on for more.

The “My Tablet 7,” a new effort from New York-based software and hardware developer Xtex, is one of the most affordable tablets available in the United States. The entry-level 7-inch slate is already available for order direct from Xtex, and it costs just $149.99 despite specs that, in some areas, compete with several devices currently available at much higher price points.

Xtex’s My Tablet 7 features a 7-inch 800 x 480-pixel display, a 1.5GHz processor, 16GB of internal storage, up to 32GB of additional SD storage, 1GB of RAM, a 2-megapixel front-facing webcam, an HDMI-out port that supports 1080p video playback, a full USB port, a miniUSB port and Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The low-resolution display is the biggest down-side here, and it remains to be seen how Ice Cream Sandwich will perform with a 1.5GHz single-core chipset running the show. At $150, however, this affordable device has the potential to appeal to a number of budget-conscious consumers on the lookout for a cheap tablet.

The company’s press release follows below.

MY TABLET, 7-INCH HIGH PERFORMANCE AND AFFORDABLE ANDROID TABLET LAUNCHES

The $150, 7-Inch My Tablet combines portability with connectivity and up to 48GB memory

NEW YORK – April 13, 2012 – XTEX announces My Tablet, a 7-inch WiFi enabled tablet device that combines affordability with connectivity, courtesy of the powerful and stable Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.3 OS…all at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $150.

“Everyone is walking around with a tablet device under their arms,” said XTEX VP Allen Kiehl. “The 10-inch tablet’s become a fashion accessory, like not so long ago when everybody wore cell phones clipped to their belt.” Eventually, the smartphone was made small enough to fit in a pocket, and it’s time we did the same for tablets. 10-inch tablets are too big, while 5-inch models are too small, like squinting at a smartphone screen. The My Tablet 7-inch is just right. Not only is it about the size of a paperback book and ultra-slim to slip easily into a jacket or back pocket, but also it’s loaded with features for convenience and on-the-go connectivity.

“But just in case fashion and accessorizing are important, My Tablet is available in three colors at the time of its launch: black, white, and pink.”

Lightweight and less than half an inch thick, the 7-inch My Tablet fits in a pocket but comes loaded with features, including a 1.5MHz Processor, 1GB of RAM, a 16GB internal hard drive, expandable to 48GB of storage with a 32GB MiniSD card, a brilliant 800X480 7-inch capacitive screen, and a front facing 2MP webcam.

My Tablet features Wi-Fi as well as USB Mini, USB Ports, a TF Card Slot (supporting up to 32GB), and HDMI 1080P output, maximizing connectivity to the internet, printers, high density TVs, or any number of external devices for easy and reliable on-the-go access to email, movies, videos, music, and photos. Surf, browse, blog, text, email, stream, download, upload or Tweet…take care of business on the fly and stay in touch with friends and family with an affordably priced tablet that fits in your pocket. Download video and musicfrom the internet or carry them separately on 32GB MiniSD cards. The choice is up to the user.

“I can attest that the My Tablet was extremely snappy and handled all the apps I threw at it,” writes Stormy Beach of the influential blog, AndroidSPIN.com. “I don’t think there is a tablet out there that can offer this much goods for such a small price tag.”

With its full list of features, including blisteringly fast 1.5GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage, AndroidSPIN also declared My Tablet “quite a powerful little device for $50 less than a Kindle Fire.”

Power. Portability. Affordability. My Tablet. The whole world in your pocket!

Key product Information:

• 7″ Capacitive screen (800X480)
• 1.5 MHz Processor
• Android 4.0 OS
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB HD (storage)
• 2.0MP Front Facing Webcam
• USB port
• Mini USB Port
• HDMI 1080P output
• TF card slot (support 32GB)
• Headset port

Apple plans to launch a new entry-level iPad tablet in the third quarter that will aim to draw attention away from the impending onslaught of Windows 8 tablets, a recent report claims. Chinese-language news site NetEase on Monday claimed that Apple’s “iPad mini” will be introduced during the third quarter this year. While details were limited, the report stated that Apple will have as many as 6 million units ready for launch, all of which it will likely need if the rumored price point of between $249 and $299 pans out, as NetEase claimed. Apple has been rumored on multiple occasions to be working on a smaller version of its wildly popular iPad tablet, and a third-quarter launch lines up with recent reports. With Apple’s rivals currently looking to compete by slashing prices, some speculate that a lower-cost iPad could be a serious blow from which their tablet efforts may not recover.

[Via Kotaku]

Read

Sprint announced last week that pre-orders for one of its first 4G LTE-enabled smartphones were going live on April 12th, and now the carrier has made launch details official. LG’s affordable Viper 4G LTE will become available in just over a week on April 22nd for $99.99 on contract. While this makes LG’s new smartphone one of the most affordable LTE-equipped smartphones on the market — in line with the Nokia Lumia 900′s retail price, though the phone is free for the time being — buyers will be hard-pressed to find LTE service for the time being. The LG Viper 4G LTE features a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, a 4-inch 800 x 480-pixel display and Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Sprint’s full press release follows below.

LG Viper 4G LTE from Sprint Launches on April 22; Pre-Order Begins Today

First 4G LTE device from Sprint with eco-friendly features, LG Viper 4G LTE available for just $99.99

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., & SAN DIEGO (BUSINESS WIRE), April 12, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE: S) and LG Mobile today announced Sunday, April 22, as the availability date for the highly anticipated LG Viper™ 4G LTE, one of the first smartphones to be available on the upcoming 4G LTE Network from Sprint. LG Viper will be available in Sprint sales channels, including www.sprint.com and 1-800-SPRINT1, for $99.99 with a new two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate via reward card1 (excludes taxes and surcharges).

New and existing customers can pre-order LG Viper 4G LTE beginning today at www.sprint.com/viper. Customers who pre-order LG Viper will begin receiving their devices as early as Friday, April 20 – two days before the device goes on sale – while supplies last.

LG Viper offers Android 2.3, Gingerbread, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 4G of ROM. It also includes a 4GB microSD™ card. The sleek, ultra-thin smartphone also boasts a 4-inch bright and clear touchscreen display for better viewing under direct sunlight. It features a Corning® Gorilla® Glass screen protector for extra display resistance. A 5MP rear-facing camera with flash and a VGA front-facing camera allow for a fun and easy face-to-face video chat experience.

Additional apps and features include:

Google Play™ offers more than 450,000 useful applications, widgets and games.

Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which allows the device to read information from everyday objects, such as stickers and posters embedded with NFC chips. Google Wallet™, another NFC component, allows the smartphone to be used like a wallet to make safe, secure purchases at NFC-enabled merchants nationwide

Sprint ID allows users to cut through the clutter of thousands of apps by selecting from a variety of mobile ID packs. Sprint ID packs include ringers, wallpapers and widgets.

Consumers can download Box on the LG Viper and receive 50GB of free cloud storage and sharing directly from LG, an estimated value of $240 per year, so users don’t have to stress about storing all of their favorite music, files, photos and other memories. The 50GB of free storage is exclusive to LG devices until July 22.

“Life’s Good Fairytales” app, a customizable storyboard that allows parents and children to bond over the creation and sharing of unique fairy tales through their device.2

Additionally, LG Viper is Sprint’s first 4G LTE device to feature eco-friendly attributes, including ULE Platinum Certification, the highest level of environmental performance recognized by sustainable requirements established by UL Environment and Sprint, a casing made of 50 percent recycled plastics, and packaging that is 100 percent recyclable.

LG Viper customers can enjoy an unlimited data experience with Sprint Everything Data plans. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones – a savings of $40 per month versus Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB Web, or $10 per month savings versus Verizon’s 450-minute plan with unlimited text and 2GB Web.

Sprint recently announced Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio are expected to have 4G LTE and enhanced 3G service in mid-year 2012. Sprint 4G LTE should enable faster speeds for data applications, and the enhanced 3G service could offer better signal strength, faster data speeds, expanded coverage and better in-building performance. The upcoming launch of these large metropolitan areas demonstrates the continued commitment by Sprint to invest in its network through Network Vision. Whether a Sprint customer is using a smartphone to share a video, checking the Web via a mobile hotspot, Sprint 4G LTE will make it easier. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint’s 4G LTE rollout, please visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE.

Samsung on Wednesday announced pricing and availability details for three upcoming Android-powered devices that will soon join the vendor’s ever expanding lineup of Galaxy-brand devices. Continuing its efforts to address a variety of price ranges and screen sizes in order to give consumers as many options as possible, Samsung will launch two new Galaxy Player devices and two new Galaxy Tab tablets between now and mid-May.

Already available nationwide at Best Buy, Samsung‘s entry-level Galaxy Player 3.6 offers a 3.65-inch HVGA display, a 1GHz Cortex A8 CPU, a 2-megapixel rear camera, a VGA front-facing camera, 8GB of internal storage expandable to 40GB, and Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The budget Wi-Fi-only player aims to take on Apple’s iPod touch at an iPod nano price point, costing just $149.99.

Samsung‘s Galaxy Player 4.2 is a new addition to the Player family, featuring a 4.2-inch WVGA display, a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, 8GB of internal storage expandable to 40GB, Samsung‘s SoundAlive audio enhancement engine, Android 2.3 Gingerbread and the TouchWiz UI. The vendor announced on Wednesday that pre-orders will be made available for the Galaxy Player 4.2 beginning May 4th, and it will launch on May 13th for $199.99.

Finally, Samsung has announced pricing and availability for two of its next-generation Galaxy tablets. The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 features a 7-inch 1,024 x 600-pixel display, 8GB of internal storage expandable to 40GB, 50GB of free Dropbox storage for a year, a dual-core 1GHz processor, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and the TouchWiz UI. It will launch on April 22nd for $249.99, and pre-orders begin on April 12th.

The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 includes a 10.1-inch 1,280 x 800-pixel display, a dual-core 1GHz processor, 16GB of internal storage, microSDHC support, 50GB of free Dropbox storage for a year, a 3-megapixel rear camera, a VGA front-facing camera, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and the TouchWiz UI. Like the 7-inch model, the tablet features a built-in IR blaster and Samsung‘s Smart Remote software capable of controlling a huge range of HDTVs and components, as well as any other device that can be controlled with a universal remote. Pre-sales kick off on May 4th and the Tab 2 10.1 will launch on May 13th for $399.99.

Apple’s often rumored “iPad mini” could feature a slim bezel display, allowing the screen to occupy a larger portion of the tablet’s face than it does on current iPad models. DigiTimes on Monday cited sources within Apple’s supply chain in claiming the new smaller iPad will utilize 7.85-inch IPS/FFS display panels built by LG Display and possibly AU Optronics as well. While the original iPad, iPad 2 and new iPad features a design that includes a fairly substantial bezel surrounding the screen, Apple’s iPad mini will reduce the size of the bezel, thus allowing Apple to create a smaller overall footprint. DigiTimes also reports that the new 7.85-inch iPad will likely be priced between $249 and $299 when it launches later this year.

Read

Apple on Wednesday unveiled its new iPad during a press conference in San Francisco. The sleek tablet features a number of upgrades compared to the previous-generation model, including a 2,049 x 1,536-pixel Retina Display, a quad-core Apple A5X processor, a new 5-megapixel camera and the option for 4G LTE connectivity. As promised, the new iPad is now available for pre-order from Apple’s online store and pricing starts at $499 for the Wi-Fi-only model with 16GB of internal storage, topping out at $829 for the 64GB version with embedded 3G and 4G LTE. Pre-orders will be delivered on Friday, March 16th when the tablet goes on sale in stores and online. Apple’s 16GB iPad 2 is now available for $399 as well, $100 off its previous price.

Read

Samsung on Tuesday announced the pricing and release dates for its 2012 lineup of LED and Plasma TVs. The company will begin shipping new HDTVs this month in the U.S., beginning with the LED 6-series and higher, and the Plasma 6-series and higher. Samsung’s fifth-generation of Smart TV’s feature improved picture quality, dual-core CPUs for faster app launching, integrated cameras and microphones, new “Smart Touch Remotes and Smart Wireless Keyboards,” a new WebKit-based browser, voice controls, gesture controls and facial recognition. “Our goal with this year’s models was to truly redefine what a TV can be while providing unprecedented choice to the consumer,” Samsung America’s Senior VP of Home Entertainment, Joe Stinziano said. “We have delivered the incredible picture quality and beautiful design that consumers have come to expect from Samsung, as well as seamless connectivity, several new ways to control the TV and exclusive services.” Read on for Samsung’s press release with launch dates and pricing.

Samsung Delivers the Future of Smart TV Now

Smart Interaction, Smart Content, Smart Performance Push the Boundaries of what a TV can do; New Smart Touch Remote Unveiled New Line of LED backlit TVs Brings Amazing Picture Quality to Any Consumer

NEW YORK, March 6, 2012 – The Future of TV is here. Samsung Electronics America Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced that its highly anticipated 2012 TVs will begin shipping this month in the U.S., beginning with the LED 6-series and higher, as well as the Plasma 6-series and higher.

The new models represent Samsung’s fifth generation of Smart TV. While features vary by model, highlights of the products include:
· Improved picture quality with Micro Dimming Ultimate and Real Black Pro
· Dual-core CPU for quick app launching and task-switching
· Integrated camera and noise-cancelling microphone
· Smart Evolution – to help your TV stay up-to-date with new features
· Voice and gesture control, as well as face recognition
· AllShare Play with seamless connectivity to other devices and to cloud storage
· New Smart Touch Remote and Smart Wireless Keyboard
· New roster of exclusive signature services
· New browser based on the powerful Webkit engine

“Our goal with this year’s models was to truly redefine what a TV can be while providing unprecedented choice to the consumer,” said Joe Stinziano, Senior Vice President, Home Entertainment, Samsung Electronics America. “We have delivered the incredible picture quality and beautiful design that consumers have come to expect from Samsung, as well as seamless connectivity, several new ways to control the TV and exclusive services.”

Samsung Smart TVs: Ultimate Connectivity, Content and Control

Samsung’s 2012 TVs offer innovative features designed to make it even easier for consumers to enjoy their entertainment experiences.

Voice Control and Gesture Control are available in the LED ES7500, LED ES8000 and Plasma E8000. For example – just say “web browser” to get online, use voice recognition to start a search, and wave a hand to control the mouse cursor and select links. Face Recognition lets each member of the family log in to their Samsung account and automatically sign into Facebook, Twitter and more.
Also new in 2012, the Smart Touch Remote – included with the LED ES7500, LED ES8000 and Plasma E8000 – makes navigating content and channels effortless. The built-in touchpad makes web-surfing a pleasure, while channel and volume buttons are on the edge for easy access. The Smart Touch Remote Control also has a built-in microphone for Smart Interaction commands when the viewer is too far from the TV’s built-in microphone.

For those looking for even greater flexibility and control of their Smart TV experience, Samsung’s new Smart Wireless Keyboard (sold separately) features a standard-sized keyboard along with touch pad. The keyboard utilizes Bluetooth to connect to the TV and also has an IR emitter to support TV functions. The Smart Wireless Keyboard can also be used with the Galaxy Tab or other mobile devices.

Dramatically Improved Picture Quality

Samsung’s 2012 line of Full HD LED and Plasma TVs continue to raise the bar in 2D and 3D picture quality. Samsung’s world-class motion clarity lets viewers read the name on the jersey of a player running at top speed, detect tiny details in a rapid-fire video game and capture every bit of the action in the most dynamic car chase.

Samsung’s Micro Dimming contrast enhancement will be extended to significantly more LED models this year, beginning with the LED ES6600. Micro Dimming Pro adds color and detail enhancements to the LED ES7500 for superior color and sharp detail. Micro Dimming Ultimate, available on the LED ES8000, analyzes the picture in hundreds of pieces to optimize the LED backlight and video signal for each piece in real time. This leads to a noticeable increase in brightness, richer colors and higher contrast ratio.

All Samsung Plasma TVs will have Samsung’s proprietary Real Black Filter, previously only available in premium models, to deliver improved black levels and color contrast. In the higher-end E6500, E7000 and E8000 models, Samsung will incorporate the new Real Black Pro to deliver even better black levels. The technology has an unprecedented ability to absorb external light reflections through an increased wedge depth, which leads to “blacker” blacks, more-realistic pictures and higher color contrast.

With the wealth of user-generated content on video streaming apps like YouTube and Vimeo, Samsung Smart TVs also offer De-Blocking and De-Mosquito picture filters that significantly improve the viewing experience for low resolution video.

Stunning Designs, a New LED Line and the best in entertainment experience

Samsung’s 2012 line of Full HD TVs continue to raise the bar in design and picture quality.

The ES8000 LED TV features the ultra-slim ONE Design bezel first introduced by Samsung in 2011; it is complemented by a new U-shape stand that makes the TV look almost weightless. The ES8000 will also be available in even more screen sizes, up to 60 inches.

Samsung’s PNE80000 Plasma TV sports a new ultra-slim Plasma+1 bezel design in brushed metal black with a crystal-like border. The gap between the bezel and the screen content is significantly reduced so consumers can get more screen real estate without increasing the size of the TV.

New in 2012, the EH line of LED TVs is ideal for consumers who value the picture performance and energy efficiency of LED technology, in Samsung’s most affordable LED TV offering yet. This line delivers richer colors and sharper images than a traditional LCD, even in fast moving scenes, yet consumes half the power. Samsung EH LED TVs also sport Samsung’s signature narrow bezel design so consumers can have a larger screen without increasing the overall size of the TV.

From the new line, Samsung’s EH5300 LED TV is a great TV for consumers looking to embrace a Smart TV experience. Thanks to the TV’s built-in WiFi, consumers can use Samsung Smart Hub to easily access a wide range of apps on Samsung Apps or browse the web; it also supports Skype and Samsung AllShare. The EH5300 offers a narrow bezel design and 1080p resolution for sharper pictures and brighter colors, a key improvement compared to traditional LCD TVs.

In 2012, Samsung will extend 3D capability to even more LED and Plasma TV models. As the volume of 3D broadcast and video content increases, consumers will be able to get closer to the action with breathtaking, immersive 3D entertainment on their Samsung LED and Plasma TVs. All Samsung 3D TVs will ship with at least 2 pairs of active 3D glasses – higher-end TVs will ship with four pairs – so it is even easier for family and friends to enjoy the ultimate in 3D viewing together.

AllShare Play – The Future of Sharing, Today

AllShare Play, premiering in 2012, lets consumers easily share their content exactly how they want through a variety of new features. In addition, consumers can browse any website from their mobile device and, with a single tap on their mobile screen, redirect and launch that site on their Samsung Smart TV.

With Remote Play, content can be seamlessly shared between supported mobile devices, PCs and a Samsung Smart TV – whether they are in the same room or on opposite sides of the world.

Consumers will also have access to 5GB of free cloud-based storage for images and videos, accessible through compatible Samsung Smart TVs, PCs and mobile devices.

Television Evolved

The need to quit each app to start a new one ends now. Thanks to the Samsung dual-core processor in the LED ES7000 series and up and the Plasma E8000 series, consumers can toggle between active apps with ease.

In addition, Samsung’s Smart Hub user interface has been redesigned for faster performance and improved convenience with a cleaner, more intuitive interface in Full HD. Users can open multiple pages at a time using the tabbed web browser built using the powerful Webkit engine, and easily track recently accessed content via the new History Bar.

Samsung is also giving consumers an easy way to keep their TV up-to-date on technology improvements with Smart Evolution. Beginning in 2013, consumers will be able to purchase evolution kits to add new hardware and software enhancements to their 2012 TV.

New Signature Services – Exclusively on Samsung TVs

Three new signature services will be available on all Samsung 2012 Smart TVs and Smart Blu-ray Players.

Family Story allows consumers to chronicle and share their lives with up to 20 family members in a private network. They can organize photos and enjoy slide shows on the big screen, and share memos, activity calendars and reminders anywhere they are via the phone, tablet, PC or TV.

Fitness gives consumers a convenient way to stay healthy. They can connect their Samsung TV to a Samsung smartphone via a mobile Fitness app, or connect to a WiFi-enabled scale to manage their weight goals. They can also use the TV’s built-in camera to create a virtual mirror to monitor their exercise routines.

Finally, Kids offers a wealth of infotainment and games in a kid-friendly interface that parents can control and monitor.

LED TVs

Series/Model	Size Class (inches)	Estimated Selling Price	Availability (Est.)
ES8000	65	$5,099.99	TBA
ES8000	60	$4,399.99	March 2012
ES8000	55	$3,749.99	March 2012
ES8000	46	$2,999.99	March 2012
ES7500	60	$3,999.99	March 2012
ES7500	55	$3,379.99	March 2012
ES7500	50	$2,929.99	March 2012
ES7500	46	$2,599.99	March 2012
ES7100	60	$3,799.99	TBA
ES7100	55	$3,149.99	May 2012
ES7100	46	$2,399.99	May 2012
ES6600	60	$3,379.99	TBA
ES6600	55	$2,719.99	March 2012
ES6600	46	$1,929.99	March 2012
ES6500	65	$3,899.99	TBA
ES6500	60	$3,179.99	March 2012
ES6500	55	$2,519.99	March 2012
ES6500	50	$2,079.99	May 2012
ES6500	46	$1,729.99	March 2012
ES6500	40	$1,499.99	March 2012
ES6500	32	$999.99	TBA
ES6100	60	$2,899.99	April 2012
ES6100	55	$2,199.99	March 2012
ES6100	50	$1,729.99	June 2012
ES6100	46	$1,399.99	March 2012
ES6100	40	$1,199.99	March 2012
EH6000	65	$2,649.99	TBA
EH6000	60	$2,099.99	February 2012
EH6000	55	$1,549.99	February 2012
EH6000	50	$1,249.99	June 2012
EH6000	46	$1,079.99	February 2012
EH6000	40	$849.99	February 2012
EH5300	50	$1,199.99	June 2012
EH5300	46	$1,019.99	March 2012
EH5300	40	$799.99	March 2012
EH5300	32	$579.99	March 2012
EH5000	50	$1,149.99	June 2012
EH5000	46	$979.99	February 2012
EH5000	40	$749.99	February 2012
EH5000	37	$649.99	February 2012
EH5000	32	$549.99	February 2012
EH4000	32	$419.99	February 2012
EH4000	26	$329.99	February 2012

Plasma TVs

Series/Model	Size Class (inches)	Estimated Selling Price	Availability (Est.)
PN64E8000	64	$3,949.99	March 2012
PN60E8000	60	$3,079.99	March 2012
PN51E8000	51	$2,199.99	March 2012
PN64E7000	64	$3,399.99	March 2012
PN60E7000	60	$2,529.99	March 2012
PN51E7000	51	$1,649.99	March 2012
PN60E6500	60	$2,199.99	March 2012
PN51E6500	51	$1,519.99	March 2012
PN64E550	64	$2,529.99	March 2012
PN60E550	60	$1,919.99	March 2012
PN51E550	51	$1,199.99	March 2012
PN60E530	60	$1,649.99	March 2012
PN51E530	51	$999.99	March 2012
PN51E490	51	$799.99	February 2012
PN51E450	51	$719.99	February 2012
PN43E450	43	$549.99	February 2012

Adobe on Monday announced the latest addition to its iOS software lineup. The company’s Photoshop Touch app for the iPad hit Apple’s iOS App Store a little early over the weekend before being pulled, but now Adobe’s highly anticipated image editing software is back for good. While the iPad version of the app isn’t nearly as robust as Photoshop for Windows and OS X, Photoshop Touch does feature a number of advanced capabilities similar to those found in Adobe’s desktop software, including layer support, a variety of editing tools and even the ability to extract objects from within an image. ”People will be amazed with what they can create on the iPad using Photoshop Touch,” David Wadhwani, SVP of Adobe’s Digital Media Business Unit, said in a statement. “Photoshop Touch combines the magic of Photoshop and its core features with the convenience of a tablet, bringing image-editing power to the fingertips of millions of people.” Photoshop Touch for the iPad is available in Apple’s App Store immediately for $9.99. Adobe’s full press release follows below.

Adobe Photoshop Touch Now Available for iPad

Highly Anticipated App Brings Image-editing Power of Photoshop to Apple iPad 2

BARCELONA, Spain — Feb. 27, 2012 — At Mobile World Congress, Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq: ADBE) today announced that Adobe® Photoshop® Touch is now available for iPad 2, via the iTunes App Store*. Adobe Photoshop Touch offers core Photoshop features, as well as new capabilities for creating and sharing in an app custom-built for tablets. The app is a central component of Adobe Touch Apps, a family of six intuitive touch screen applications, inspired by Adobe Creative Suite® software. iPad versions of the other Adobe Touch Apps are expected later this year.

Photoshop Touch gives users the ability to combine multiple photos into layered images, make essential edits and apply professional effects to create beautiful artwork, touch up photos, paint, lay out ideas, and much more. The Scribble Selection Tool allows users to easily extract objects in an image by simply scribbling on what to keep and, then, what to remove. With Refine Edge technology from Photoshop, even hard-to-select areas with soft edges are easily captured when making selections. Photoshop Touch helps users quickly find images and share creations through integration with Facebook and Google Image Search.

“People will be amazed with what they can create on the iPad using Photoshop Touch,” said David Wadhwani, senior vice president and general manager, Digital Media Business Unit, Adobe. “Photoshop Touch combines the magic of Photoshop and its core features with the convenience of a tablet, bringing image-editing power to the fingertips of millions of people.”

“Adobe Photoshop Touch offers a huge convenience factor and funnels cool Photoshop features tailored for the iPad,” said Brian Yap, creative director at Boxing Clever. “Nearly all of the features I imagined being in Photoshop Touch are there, including the depth in layers, the extraction tools, and fade tool.”

“I love the organic process of working on the tablet. With Adobe Photoshop Touch, I have a new form of image creation with familiar tools but in a more relaxed work space, allowing me to rediscover image making through play rather than production,” Dan Marcolino, owner of Marcolina Design & MarcolinaSlate.

In addition to Photoshop Touch, Adobe expect to release the following touch apps for the iPad in the coming months: Adobe Collage for moodboards; Adobe Debut for presenting and reviewing creative work; Adobe Ideas for sketching; Adobe Kuler® for exploring color themes; and Adobe Proto for website and mobile app prototyping.

Pricing and Availability

Adobe Photoshop Touch is available today in the iTunes App Store for US$9.99. Photoshop Touch is available in most geographies with English language support. The app will run on iPad 2 running on iOS5. Visit www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-touch.html for more information on Photoshop Touch. Customers may submit feedback on the community powered feedback site: http://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family. Users may also connect with the Photoshop Touch Team directly on Facebook, via Twitter or on the Photoshop blog. For Photoshop Touch how-to videos, visit http://tv.adobe.com/show/learn-photoshop-touch/.

Verizon Wireless on Tuesday finally confirmed launch details for the latest addition to its popular DROID family of Android smartphones, the Motorola DROID 4. The sleek QWERTY slider will become available later this week on February 10th for $199.99 on contract, as BGR reported earlier on Tuesday. The DROID 4 features a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and is being billed as the “thinnest and most powerful 4G QWERTY smartphone.” Other highlights include Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread, an 8-megapixel camera, a 4-inch qHD display and the promise of an upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The DROID 4 is essentially an updated version of the DROID RAZR, with its QWERTY keyboard seen as only notable difference between the two devices. This makes the DROID 4 the third iteration of the device in as many months, following the recent release of the DROID RAZR Maxx. Verizon Wireless’s press release follows below.

DROID 4 BY MOTOROLA READY TO WORK AND PLAY ON THE VERIZON WIRELESS 4G LTE NETWORK

Power, Speed and Reliability Get the Job Done

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – The award winning DROID 4 by Motorola will be available to handle even the most demanding lifestyles starting Feb. 10 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com.  Introduced at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the DROID 4 is the thinnest and most powerful 4G QWERTY smartphone measuring at less than half an inch thin.   DROID 4 not only features a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, but also a five-row QWERTY keyboard with a PC-like layout and edge-lit keys for fast, precise typing, even in the dark.  Powered by America’s fastest, most reliable 4G network, DROID 4 customers will have access to 4G LTE coverage in 195 markets covering more than 200 million people.

Additional features

• Verizon Wireless 4G LTE – Customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE Mobile Broadband coverage areas
• Android^™ 2.3.5 Gingerbread, to be upgraded to Android^™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
• 4.0-inch qHD display with scratch and scrape resistant glass
• Government-grade encryption (FIPS 140-2) for email, calendar and contacts; preloaded with Citrix^® Receiver^™ for Android (available in webtop) for desktop virtualization and access
• 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture
• Front-facing camera for video chat
• 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot supporting up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices

Business Ready

DROID 4 is designed to help customers get more done.  Business professionals can impress their audience by presenting to a conference room full of potential customers in a snap by plugging the DROID 4 into an HDTV and presenting directly from the phone.  Professionals can also combine the DROID 4 with the Lapdock 500 and its 14-inch display to create a full-featured mobile office.  They can download documents, make edits using Lapdock’s full keyboard and email the updated documents to colleagues or customers.  The Lapdock even features a built-in webcam so customers can attend virtual meetings and manage their business face-to-face.

The Smart Actions app on the DROID 4 helps automate everyday tasks and optimizes battery efficiency by letting customers create rules, such as automatically setting the phone to vibrate during work hours or dimming the display at a specific battery level.

Business professionals can leave their laptops behind and use the MotoCast^™ app to remotely stream documents, videos, music and pictures from their work or home computers to their handset.  The remote access of MotoCast eliminates the need to store documents on the handset as everything is stored on their office laptop.

Pricing and availability

·         DROID 4 by Motorola will be available on Feb. 10 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

·         The Lapdock 500 is available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online for $299.97.

·         Customers that purchase a DROID 4 will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.

For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. Follow @VZWnews on Twitter for the latest news on Verizon Wireless.

Best Buy has reportedly been testing the waters for a possible “iTV” offering from Apple. According to The Verge, the retail giant has been circulating a customer survey that provides some very specific details about an Apple HDTV to gauge consumer interest. Here are the details:

• 42-inch 1080 LED display
• Runs iOS
• App Store functionality
• iCloud for access to all your music, TV shows, movies, photos, and videos
• iPhone and iPad as a remote control with AirPlay to push content from your devices to the TV
• Built-in FaceTime camera and microphone (we’d imagine Siri, as well)
• Netflix, YouTube, Flickr support
• $1,499 price

This list, while detailed, could be easily have been put together by anyone familiar with Apple’s current Apple TV product, though the 42-inch display size and price of $1,499 could be solid indications of what we can expect from Apple. The Cupertino-based company is rumored to be preparing to launch its first HDTV featuring iOS and Siri later this year.

Read

In addition to news that AT&T is planning to launch the Nokia Lumia 900 at an earth-shattering sub-$100 price point, we have street dates for another highly anticipated smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Note, along with two unannounced Android devices AT&T is currently prepping. AT&T’s phablet is set to hit store shelves on February 18th for $299.99. The Samsung Rugby Smart, which appears to be a entry-level Android smartphone with HSPA+, and the AT&T Fusion will both launch on February 18th as well for  $99.99 and $124.99, respectively. The nation’s No.2 carrier has a big first quarter planned, and while Nokia’s Lumia 900 is shaping up to be the star of the show, Android fans will still have plenty of new options over the next few months.

We just received a portion of AT&T’s 2012 roadmap from a trusted source, and it looks like AT&T isn’t playing around this year. There are some heavy hitters lined up for the first quarter of 2012, and one of the biggest smartphone launches of the quarter is currently scheduled to take place in mid-March. According to our source, the Nokia Lumia 900 is set to launch on March 18th, which has been rumored before. The phone hasn’t yet received technical acceptance however, so that date could change. The bigger news is the phone’s price: AT&T and Nokia are planning to launch this flagship smartphone at just $99.99 on a two-year contract. That price point would make this sleek smartphone an absolute game-changer for Windows Phone, and it makes sense when you think about how much money Nokia and Microsoft are planning to spend promoting the launch. We took a hands-on look at the Lumia 900 during CES earlier this month and Nokia could easily have a hit on its hands when this handset launches later this quarter.