CTIA 2012: a look back at our favorite devices

Posted on 10/05/2012 by Sean Cooper

CTIA 2012 is wrapping up and we thought we'd spend a few minutes reminiscing about some of the more interesting devices we had a chance to see for the first time or that were launched here. Unfortunately for us -- and thereby for you, too -- the show lacked the bite we've seen at previous events, in fact it barely registered a nibble. We did catch up with five products we'd like to highlight so follow on after the break for our recap.

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CTIA 2012: a look back at our favorite devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 15:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iCache Geode digital wallet hands-on (video)

Posted on 10/05/2012 by Sean Cooper

The iCache Geode was easily the most impressive use of technology that we saw during CTIA 2012. It's the epitome of how a fantastic tech idea can be translated to real world use in a very classy and clever way. At its heart it is extremely simple: take all your existing credit, debit, and loyalty cards, save them in a secure way and be able to use any of them without actually having the original cards handy. The system is comprised of a housing for the iPhone coupled with an app, an E Ink display on the rear, a fingerprint scanner, the GeoCard, and a magnetic stripe reader that is capable of quickly reading in your card details and saving them. Using the Geode is a two-step process, scan all your cards into the device with an included scanner attachment, then using the iPhone app select your method of payment and the GeoCard in the housing is instantly programmed. Pop the card out, tap it on a solid surface to activate it and spend your money. Loyalty cards are equally easy to use: select one of them in the app and its barcode is written to the E Ink display on the Geode's rear surface.

Of course iCache has considered the security implications and has addressed them a few different ways. The iPhone doesn't store any of your card details as they're kept in the housing itself, on launch the app does a hardware check to be sure nothing's been tampered with, asks for a fingerprint scan, and the card programming only lasts for a user-defined period of time after you've tapped it on the table. Click on through for a video demo of the whole ride.

Gallery: iCache Geode digital wallet hands-on (video)

Terrence O'Brien contributed to this report.

Continue reading iCache Geode digital wallet hands-on (video)

iCache Geode digital wallet hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 13:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rhode & Schwarz anechoic test chamber waves-on

Posted on 09/05/2012 by Sean Cooper

We're oft treated to fantastic news by the FCC while devices are tested in its immense labyrinth of labs but what we've not seen much of is the type of equipment contained within them. While the smaller Rhode & Schwarz TS8991 that we had a peek at today is used more for antenna design purposes and not by the FCC, it still offers some interesting -- and frighteningly complicated -- insight into the world of those who make your handsets work. The MIMO test we watched involved two theta positioners (which can be seen in the picture above) that rotate about the handset on the pedestal which also turns to add the azimuth in the test run. Each theta positioner has a quad ridged horn antenna, which -- aside from likely being the greatest sounding antenna name ever -- capture the signal from the handset and eventually allows the AMS32 management system to generate a 3D pattern of the radio emissions. The system will test 2G, 3G, 4G, WiFi, and Bluetooth sets and rings in somewhere above $1,000,000. Follow on for a video and a pretty detailed explanation that is mostly pretty user friendly.

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Rhode & Schwarz anechoic test chamber waves-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 16:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plum Mobile lineup at CTIA 2012 hands-on

Posted on 08/05/2012 by Sean Cooper

Little-known Plum Mobile appeared at CTIA with the four dual SIM Android sets pictured above and the Might, a Galaxy Note twin we had a peek at a little earlier today. From the top left we have the Debut, which is a 7-in WVGA tablet -- that can be used as a phone -- with Android 2.2 powered by an 800MHz CPU, a 5-megapixel camera and a 4250mAh battery. Pricing for the Plum Debut is somewhere in the neighborhood of $180. The $90 Plum Capacity runs Android 2.2 with a 650MHz CPU, it also offers a 3.2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, WiFi, a 3.5-inch HVGA display, and comes in "several" color options. The Wicked 3G is a quadband GSM dualband 3G set with a 3 megapixel camera around back, personal hotspot, and a 2.8-inch resistive display. Rounding out the set is the Android 2.3 Plum Orbit, this $50 dollar set lacks 3G but does have a quadband GSM radio, a 2 megapixel camera and a 3.2-inch display.

All of Plum Mobile's sets are fairly low cost but the materials and build quality were decent. The Wicked 3G -- aside from having the best name of the group -- was somehow our favorite of the bunch. Sure it is pretty shiny plastic but the shape was just great to hang onto which is something of a rarity in our world of giant slabs. We doubt that we'll be seeing these phones in any brick and mortar stores on these shores, so we thought we'd treat you to some glossies of them all. Check the gallery just below.

Gallery: Plum Mobile lineup at CTIA hands-on

Zachary Lutz contributed to this report

Plum Mobile lineup at CTIA 2012 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 19:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC One S unibody housing micro arc oxidation process eyes-on

Posted on 08/05/2012 by Sean Cooper

HTC's One S -- launched earlier this year at Mobile World Congress -- features a nifty ceramic-like finish that is achieved using micro arc oxidation. We've of course heard about the process and been treated to the details of the treatment but had yet to see it translated for our eyes to behold. HTC has a stand set up at CTIA detailing the steps from blank lump of aluminum to the finished HTC One S product with its lovely smooth black shell. Have a quick peek at the gallery below and then on to the video tour of the process steps from stamping to grinding to 10,000 volt shock. Plasma!

Gallery: HTC One S unibody housing micro arc oxidation process eyes-on

Zachary Lutz contributed to this report.

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HTC One S unibody housing micro arc oxidation process eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 19:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plum Mobile nicely KIRFs the Galaxy Note: hands-on with the Might

Posted on 08/05/2012 by Zachary Lutz

You've likely never heard of Plum Mobile before, and to be honest, neither had we before CTIA. Nonetheless, the smartphone creator is here to make a name for itself in New Orleans, even if it needs to ride on the coattails of other manufacturers. It goes without saying that of all the smartphones on display, it was the Might that immediately caught our eye. From a distance, it appeared to be a rebranded Galaxy Note. We then turned it on and discovered a clock widget that's undeniably reminiscent of HTC. The phone features Android 2.3.6 with an unusual UI that combines features of Sense, TouchWiz and stock Gingerbread, and while it's a bit of a mishmash, it's reasonably intuitive.

Plum Mobile stopped short of cloning the Galaxy Note, but the resemblance is uncanny. Sadly, there's no stylus to speak of. The Might features a 650MHz CPU, a 5-inch display and a beefy 2,800mAh battery. Unlike the previous KIRF of the Note that we'd seen, this one features only a 5 megapixel camera, which is accompanied by an LED flash and a front-facing VGA. While none of the specs stand out as amazing -- including the display, which was a bit blurry -- we're told the phone will sell for approximately $180. Most fascinating about the Might, however, is its dual-SIM capabilities. Unfortunately, when we tried to play around with this functionality in the phone's settings, it locked up the phablet and we were unable to proceed. We know you're curious to see more, so be sure to check the gallery below.

Sean Cooper contributed to this report

Gallery: Plum Mobile nicely KIRFs the Galaxy Note: hands-on with the Might