The Electronic Entertainment Expo's pre-show press day is almost over, but there's still one more thing we have to do: put Sony's E3 presentation into context. Take a moment to let Joystiq and Engadget bend your ear about Sony's announcements, the bombs it dropped on Microsoft, and what it all means for this console generation and the rest of E3. Hit the break to join our intrepid livebloggers in action.
Update: The stream is over -- but stay tuned, we'll be uploading an archived version of the wrap-up for your viewing pleasure later tonight.
It's our second week of being on a regular schedule and we're so excited we rejoiced with Joseph Volpe as our guest. We'll talk about the worst phone name we've ever heard, WWDC pre-event rumors and some rumblings from Computex. Stream this episode below and download Brad's "Ahh" ringtone from last week if you haven't yet.
It's been three long weeks since you last heard us, but the news cycle has been far from quiet -- we hope you'll forgive our absence. In this episode we'll focus on Google I/O and catch up on the latest in mobile from BBM to HTC. To apologize for being away, we're also including an awesome downloadable ringtone for the noise of horror Brad makes whenever the word phablet is muttered. Get to streaming below and subscribe after the break.
It's Monday, and you know what that means; another Engadget HD Podcast. We hope you will join us live when the Engadget HD podcast starts recording at 8:30PM. If you'll be joining us, be sure to go ahead and get ready by reviewing the list of topics after the break, then you'll be ready to participate in the live chat.
Last week at CTIA, we sat down with Lixin Cheng -- CEO of ZTE USA -- for a candid discussion about the company's future in the US. The conversation started with ZTE's current portfolio in the US, which consists of 18 SKUs -- primarily inexpensive Android smartphones (most with LTE) for the prepaid market. Mr. Cheng mentioned that the company's doing quite well in the US thanks to an 85.7 percent year-to-year growth in market share. ZTE is now in third place among prepaid handset manufacturers with a market share of 17 percent. He explained that carriers are seeing revenue growth from prepaid services which now account for 22.5 to 29 percent of revenue. This puts the company in a strong position for the future, despite last year's investigation by Congress. So we asked Mr. Cheng if and when ZTE would bring flagship phones like the Grand S or Grand Memo to the US in partnership with the four major carriers. His reply:
I have promised you at CES that we're going to bring the Grand S or Memo series into [the] US, and we are working on that, and I think that very soon we will announce some good news.
That's good news indeed. Hit the break for more, including our video interview and full transcript.
Xbox, Xbox, Xbox. There can be only one. The Xbox One, of course. Not the first Xbox, but the oneist, certainly. Join us remotely, won't you, as we discuss the one Xbox One to rule them all (and some other stuff, probably). All one of them.
At long last, Microsoft unveiled its next-generation gaming console today, the Xbox One. As expected, its hardware stacks up well with the Wii U and PlayStation 4, and the launch event showcased some slick new software, too. With tight fantasy sports integration, Windows 8 and Skype support and cooperation with live TV, the One looks to have taken the next step in transforming the Xbox from a gaming rig into a true home entertainment console. It's a rare thing to get to opine on a new game console, so head on past the break and allow us to indulge this opportunity.
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Xan, who wants Cintiq functionality without paying Cintiq prices. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"I'm a student and I'm considering staying on to do graphic design, and I really like the look of Wacom's Cintiq devices. Unfortunately I couldn't afford one even if I sold a kidney, so I was wondering if I could turn an Android tablet into a cheaper version? I figure a device like the Galaxy Note 10.1 with its Wacom digitizer would be a good fit, so is there a way to do it? Thanks!"
We're sucking in air through our teeth, as we're sorry to say, we can't think of a way this could be done successfully. There's a few problems like no software, a lack of bandwidth and doubts over the accuracy of a tablet to replicate such a sophisticated piece of hardware. That said, perhaps the forthcoming Surface Pro software update might solve this problem altogether, but an Android tablet? We're not so sure. But if there's anyone out there who has made it happen and wants to share their revelation, why not leave a note below?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Meredith, who needs a new Ultrabook so she can go to law school. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"I'm going to law school and I'll need a new laptop. Since I'll be commuting with a long train ride each way, I'm looking for a sub-$1000 device with Windows, a long battery life, SSD and it has to be lightweight. I don't need anything too powerful as I'm not doing any gaming, but something that'll work reliably for the next three years would be ideal for lecturers, web browsing and word processing. Is there a bargain to be had now, or should I wait for back-to-school Ultrabooks to come out? Thanks!"
In your humble narrator's position, waiting a few months for a Haswell device, which promises significantly increased battery life might be a wise choice. However, if you're not too fussed about a touchscreen device, then our laptop expert feels that Samsung's Series 9 might be the way forward. Of course, this isn't just a private enquiry, so let's share this out with the wider community and see what they can come up with. It's Ask Engadget, folks, you know the drill.
It's another beautiful spring Thursday here in New York City -- okay, it's actually gray and rainy, but all the more reason to curl up in front of your computer with another edition of the Engadget Podcast. Tim, Brian and Peter will be your hosts for this week's journey through the world of technology.
Hulu, Blockbuster, Kaleidescape and Amazon form an odd group of digital video distributors, but they're joined together to open this week's podcast. While Amazon's Lovefilm is HD ready on the PS3 for the first time, Kaleidescape is bringing Blu-ray quality downloads to owners of its high end hardware, Hulu is thriving under unlikely circumstances and Blockbuster... what is Blockbuster doing? Paid subscription rumors for YouTube, news about Comcast's X1 DVR platform are also on deck, press play for the full run down.
Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@rjcc)
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from James, who wants to break into audio mixing, but needs some noisyboxes for his desk. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
I'm no audiophile, but I would like some decent quality sound for my desktop. I've tried 4.1, 2.1, 2.0 setups but none of them made me very happy, which isn't helping my attempts to get into professional audio work. Is there a lower-end line of speakers that the pros use that I'd be able to afford?
Fortunately for you, James, we can turn this question over to our podcast producer, who suggested that you could do worse than a pair of KRK RP6G2 Rockit speakers, which come in at $400 for a pair. They're studio monitors rather than purely desktop speakers, but if you want to start working in audio then you're probably better off with these. Of course, it wouldn't be Ask Engadget unless we turned this question over to our clever crew of commenters, so if you know of anything that's better (or cheaper) then fire your answer into the comments below.
This week we have a review of the ASUS Cube Google TV, rumors of an Amazon set-top box and Microsoft announcing when it will announce the next Xbox. LG has put its 55-inch curved OLED HDTV up for pre-orders in Korea with a price of about $13K, we'll take a look at the tech before diving into Netflix's "long term view" of the future. Finally, in a blend of traditional TV and modern second screen integration, NBC has announced a new game show with "unprecedented" viewer interaction -- consider us intrigued.
Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@rjcc)
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Travis from Provo, who is a jammy individual, wants to replace his router. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"I'm currently living in Provo UT, and my wireless router just died. I want to replace it with something that's going to handle Google Fiber as that's on its way. What do you recommend?"
Given the number of places that are now getting super-speed fiber, we're very interested in the results of this one. We ask a similar question each year, and in 2012 you were all voicing your support for Cisco/Linksys hardware, ASUS' RT-N66U and D-Link's DIR-655. The only question is what'll come out on top in 2013, so get commenting, friends.
It's Monday, and you know what that means; another Engadget HD Podcast. We hope you will join us live when the Engadget HD podcast starts recording at 8:30PM. If you'll be joining us, be sure to go ahead and get ready by reviewing the list of topics after the break, then you'll be ready to participate in the live chat.
Do you live and breathe social media tools and have a passion for metrics? Engadget is looking for you!
We're searching for a very special social- and community-savvy individual to lead the charge setting social strategy for the top consumer tech blog on the planet. Your role would focus on bringing the Engadget voice to life on new channels, leveraging an arsenal of measurement and analysis tools to identify best practices and broadly develop new audiences while interacting more directly with our existing fanbase.
You will need to be highly detail-oriented, unflaggingly personable, have a passion for technology and a deep understanding of how to leverage learnings from metrics to drive brand growth. Preference will be given to candidates in the San Francisco Bay area, but location is not a strict requirement and we are willing to work with the right person anywhere you live.
If life were a pop quiz, our mobile editors would surely ace the cellphone round. However, Myriam might do well to consider ditching Brad when it comes to the Star Trek section. Those who want to take his place, tune in for the question to see if you know better. Post your answers directly to Brad.
4K TVs for less than $1,500? That's the new world we live in, as we dive into Ultra HD, next Xbox rumors and more on this week's podcast. Meanwhile, news of the death of Panasonic plasma R&D program was apparently greatly exaggerated, so we'll figure out what to expect from the manufacturer in the future. Finally, we've got a fresh update in the always interesting news category of Dish Network Does Things.
Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@rjcc)
It's a full house today. With Brian and Peter out, Tim will be joined by Dana, Ben, Joseph and, no doubt, various technologically-themed stuffed animals. You can squeeze in too, just after the break.
Sony kicked of NAB 2013 with some closer-to-mainstream-than-expected 4K pricing announcements, so that's where we'll begin. Is it time to consider buying an Ultra HDTV, and is it worth even thinking about at the 65- and 55-inch sizes? We've also got our review of the Roku 3 to discuss, Netflix's House of Cards on Blu-ray this summer, plus our plans to abandon everything and move to Austin, Texas.
Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@rjcc)
