Sharp's new 443 ppi 5-inch smartphone displays on show at CEATEC 2012 (eyes-on)

Sharp's new 443 ppi 5-inch smartphone displays on show at CEATEC 2012 (eyes-on):

Here at CEATEC, the Japanese display maker is showing of its latest portable screens. Although the vivid 1080p displays were scurried away in the corner of Sharp's stand, we managed to grab a few photos of its 443 ppi -- likely smartphone-bound -- tech. From these prototype samples (the screen will go into production later this month), it's looking pretty good, with Sharp's thinnest GS-Silicon technology reducing the layers between the LCD display and our eyes. Although we were told not to touch, viewing angles were also impressive -- we could see ourselves gazing at YouTube clips on this screen in whichever smartphone it ends up on. Sharp weren't talking manufacturers just yet, but you can take a closer look in our gallery below.

Gallery: Sharp's new 443 ppi 5-inch smartphone displays on show at CEATEC 2012 (eyes-on)

Filed under: Cellphones, Displays, Mobile

Sharp's new 443 ppi 5-inch smartphone displays on show at CEATEC 2012 (eyes-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KDDI's smartphone palm authentication app unveiled at CEATEC 2012 (hands-on)

KDDI's smartphone palm authentication app unveiled at CEATEC 2012 (hands-on):

Sidestepping lockscreen codes and fingerprint scanners -- and without any new hardware demands -- KDDI has unveiled a new palm authentication app that takes advantage of the high-resolution camera on its Android smartphones. Scanning in tandem with the flash, we gave it a try on a HTC J, here at CEATEC in Japan. After a brief setup, which involves positioning your hand to fit between some red markers, the phone was soon calibrated to our hands. Then, after locking the device, attempting to unlock it will send you to the palm authentication screen, seen above, where (hopefully) only your mitts will be able to gain access.
The time it takes to check your hand remains a little longer than it would take you to drum in your typical four-digit PIN, but in our brief test, it was able to discriminate between two Engadget editors' hands. Better still, you'll be able to give the app a try yourself tomorrow, when it goes on free trial on Google Play. Until it does, see how it's all meant to work in our hands-on video after the break.

Gallery: KDDI Palm recognition hands-on at CEATEC 2012

Continue reading KDDI's smartphone palm authentication app unveiled at CEATEC 2012 (hands-on)
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

KDDI's smartphone palm authentication app unveiled at CEATEC 2012 (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Judge Koh lifts Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales injunction following Court of Appeals remand

Judge Koh lifts Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales injunction following Court of Appeals remand:

A legal standoff ended today, as Judge Lucy Koh has dissolved the sales injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1 after Samsung's appeal had been remanded to her by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Judge Koh's decision is based on the jury's findings in Apple v. Samsung that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 didn't infringe on Apple's D'889 patent. If you'll recall, the judge had previously denied Samsung's motion to dissolve the injunction, having cited a lack of jurisdiction while the case was in front of the appeals court. Unsurprisingly, she decided to approve the motion once the case was kicked back to her courtroom. Whether we see the Galaxy Tab 10.1 hit the ban list again following the December 6th hearing remains to be seen, but in the meantime, perhaps you can kick back and enjoy the eye of the storm.
Filed under: Tablets, Apple, Samsung

Judge Koh lifts Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales injunction following Court of Appeals remand originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 22:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujitsu Arrows Tab shows up at CEATEC with Windows 8 in tow (video)

Fujitsu Arrows Tab shows up at CEATEC with Windows 8 in tow (video):

We got a look at Fujitsu's Arrows Tab at CEATEC last year, and the 10.1-inch tablet is making an appearance yet again -- this time running Windows 8 rather than Android Honeycomb. Exact specs were MIA, but the slate sports a front-facing camera along with a rear-facing shooter, plus a micro-USB port and a microSD card slot. Rather than the shiny plastic backing we saw last year, this device has a slightly textured, metallic finish, and it sports much sharper corners than the earlier version's more curved design.
A booth worker did confirm that the Arrows Tab is waterproof like last year's model, and while he wouldn't provide exact availability, he said the tablet will launch within the October-November time frame. Last year's Arrows Tab F-01 LTE debuted on NTT DoCoMo, and given Japan's penchant for hydrophobic gadgets, it's safe to say that the device will be targeted at this country in particular. Head past the break for a quick video hands-on.

Gallery: Fujitsu Arrows Tab with Windows 8 hands-on

Continue reading Fujitsu Arrows Tab shows up at CEATEC with Windows 8 in tow (video)
Filed under: Laptops

Fujitsu Arrows Tab shows up at CEATEC with Windows 8 in tow (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 22:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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See photos comparing the iPad Mini to the Nexus 7

See photos comparing the iPad Mini to the Nexus 7: Take a look at photographs comparing the iPad Mini to other popular 7 inch tablets like the Galaxy Nexus and the Fire HD...

Sharp starts production of 5-inch smartphone displays with 1080p resolution

Sharp starts production of 5-inch smartphone displays with 1080p resolution:
Sharp (SHCAY) announced on Monday it has begun production for the next generation of smartphone LCD panels. Measuring at 5-inch in diagonal width with a 443 pixel per inch (PPI) density, Sharp’s new LCDs will sport a whopping full-HD resolution of 1920 x 1080. Sharp says the new display uses “CG-Silicon technology” to fit “the same number of pixels in a smartphone-size screen as there are in a full-HD LCD TV.” Google (GOOG) is rumored to be partnering up with HTC (2498) to build the 5-inch Nexus smartphone with a 1080p resolution display. Aside from the Oppo Find 5 that uses a 5-inch 1080p LCD, most smartphones and “phablets” usually top out at 720p (1280 x 720 resolution). Sharp’s new LCDs will usher in a new age of visual clarity on smartphones.

Sharp Begins Production of 5-Inch Full-HD LCD Panels
Sharp Corporation has started production of 5-inch full-HD (1,080 x 1,920 pixels) LCD panels for smartphones with a pixel density among the highest in the world. Production began at the end of September at Mie Plant No. 3 and full-scale production will begin in October.
This LCD panel employs CG-Silicon technology^*2, a new pixel design, and an innovative production process to achieve the same number of pixels in a smartphone-size screen as there are in a full-HD LCD TV. The panel, which has approximately 1.3 times the pixel density of conventional LCD panels^*3, can display crisp text, super-clear maps, and amazingly real HD images.
By providing ultra-detailed LCD panels to support the growing worldwide demand for smartphones, Sharp will contribute to smartphones with increasingly higher quality images.

LCD Panel Specifications

Display size	5 inches
Number of pixels	1,080 x 1,920 (full HD)
Pixel density	443 ppi
Application	Smartphones

This product will be displayed in the Sharp booth at CEATEC Japan 2012

(Tuesday, October 2 to Saturday, October 6, 2012 at the Makuhari Messe convention center, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture).

• *1 As of October 1, 2012 (based on Sharp research).
• *2 Developed jointly by Sharp and Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
  
  (Head office: Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President: Shunpei Yamazaki).
• *3 Sharp’s 4.3-inch HD LCD (1,280 x 720 pixels, 342 ppi).

HP’s ElitePad 900 Windows 8 business tablet has accessories galore (gallery)

HP’s ElitePad 900 Windows 8 business tablet has accessories galore (gallery):

Aiming to do something different with its Windows 8 business tablet, HP today announced the ElitePad 900, a slate that features a slew of accessory “jackets” to transform its functionality.
On its own, the ElitePad 900 looks like your typical thin tablet: It features a 10.1-inch screen, weighs 1.5 pounds, and measures just 9.2 millimeters thick. But the aforementioned jackets make it truly unique. The Productivity jacket adds a keyboard and more ports, the Expansion jacket adds USB HDMI and other ports (along with an optional additional battery), and the Rugged case makes it “military-grade” reliable.
It may sound like HP is just trying incredibly hard to make this tablet matter after failing to make a splash with Windows tablets time and time again. But after seeing the tablet in action, I have a feeling that HP is on to something. Tablets have been a hard sell for many businesses, but with the full Windows ecosystem behind it and the ability to turn into a laptop or desktop replacement, the ElitePad has the potential to be the future of computing for enterprise.
The ElitePad 900 is also a reminder of what innovations Windows 8 can bring to tablets. Just like HP’s hybrid tablet/laptop, the Spectre XT, the real driving force behind the ElitePad is Windows 8′s ability to jump between tablet and traditional computing functionality with ease. With Windows 8, tablets are finally beginning to look like full-fledged computers rather than just trendy content consuming devices.

Filed under: mobile, VentureBeat