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Polaris posts

Video: KDDI Polaris Robot concept -- it's like Rolly, but with a purpose

by Darren Murph posted Oct 6th 2009 @ 7:32AM

Being a Japanese carrier and all, it's no shock to see KDDI with a large presence at CEATEC. What was surprising, however, was the cute little device you see pictured above. Showcased in an "early prototype" form, the recently introduced Polaris Robot looks eerily similar to Sony's befuddling Rolly. Thankfully for KDDI (and all of humanity, really), this creature actually has a purpose. Packed with speakers, an array of wireless sensors and the ability to send video signals to your TV sans cables, the concept docking station is meant to stylishly hold your KDDI handset (lots of 'em will be compatible in due time) and beam a blown-up version of your phone's UI onto your television or LCD monitor. The good news here is that the system actually displays a far more intuitive menu layout on the screen than what's available on your dumbphone, enabling users to flip through schedules, photos, videos and playlists with ease. Technological details -- as well as information surrounding price and release -- were scant, but you can whet your appetite by peeking the video just past the break.

Gallery: KDDI Polaris Robot concept -- it's like Rolly, but with a purpose

Continue reading Video: KDDI Polaris Robot concept -- it's like Rolly, but with a purpose

iida Polaris: Phone meets robot, robot meets Japan (video!)

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 9th 2009 @ 3:26AM

While Sony's Rolly is about as useful as, well, a tiny dancing robot, at least iida's Polaris concept doubles as a cellphone plus dock. Beneath the enormity of the flowery product page rests little in the way of specs -- it is just a concept after all, developed in partnership with Flower Robotics. The robot features "learning functions" to monitor your physical condition and suggest recipes and exercise. Failing that, it can also suggest possible medical intervention. The longer he's with you the more attune he is to your well-being. Perfect -- when we're old and infirmed at the end of days, our personal Polaris can represent us at the government mandated death panel. Take a peak at your doomsayer in the videos after the break.

[Via Akihabara News]

Continue reading iida Polaris: Phone meets robot, robot meets Japan (video!)

FCC approves an HTC Touch Cruise with North American 3G -- but why?

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 29th 2008 @ 12:18PM

With the dull roar of frenzied anticipation (okay, that might be over the top, but you know what we mean) surrounding the launch of the Touch Diamond in all its variants around the globe, why would HTC take a step back in time to get one of its older models approved in a new flavor? Don't get us wrong -- for its day, the Touch Cruise was one of the hottest Windows Mobile devices going -- but the Touch Diamond has seriously muted an overwhelming majority of the WinMo kit out there, including much of HTC's older lineup. Put head to head, the VGA display and TouchFLO 3D alone are enough to make sure the newer handset spanks the Polaris, but for whatever reason, Mr. Chou and his gang saw fit to repurpose it with HSDPA 850 / 1900 and send it through an FCC lab. We're not sure whether this will end up on a carrier anywhere, but with the front-facing cam, we'd probably rule out AT&T off the bat.

Update: Touche, there's a Touch Cruise already in circulation with 850 / 1900 3G -- but the question remains, why was this just approved? Thanks, everybody!

Touch Cruise latest HTC device to fall to Android

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 30th 2008 @ 10:47PM

With all these HTC models getting their brains rearranged to run Android, we're starting to wonder: just how necessary is the Dream? Don't get us wrong, we're pretty amped to see what kind of amazing hardware HTC's crafting to officially debut the consumer-ready cut of Android to the world, but there are plenty of very capable handsets already in the field -- and the Touch Diamond and Touch Pro should both be more than willing to donate their bodies in the name of science when the time comes, too. The latest model to get an Android port is the Polaris, also known as the Touch Cruise in production trim. At this point, the ports are still pretty raw and the level of functionality or spit and polish probably isn't what you're used to with the native WinMo installation, but they're getting there -- and considering that Android itself still has plenty of work remaining, it's an impressive feat and a promising sign of things to come for owners of older devices. Let us know how it goes if you're brave enough to give it a shot, y'hear?

[Thanks, smith]

HTC Android port round-up

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 20th 2008 @ 8:10PM

Why wait for the Dream when you can get Android all up in your HTC piece today? Numerous efforts over on xda-developers have yielded a high success rate in getting Google's still-young platform working (although the definition of "working" can vary from device to device) on a variety of recent and popular HTC models, so if you dig your hardware but you're ready to give Windows Mobile the boot -- and you like to live on the bleeding edge between functionality and brickage -- give it a shot. Drop us a line if you have a port to add to the list!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - Kaiser
Read - Vogue, Neon
Read - Polaris

HTC's Touch Cruise caught on video

by Joshua Topolsky posted Nov 12th 2007 @ 9:47AM

Hot on the heels of the official announcement of HTC's Touch Cruise -- the company's new, touch-sensitive, GPS equipped wonder-device -- come these "in the wild" pictures and video from CoolSmartPhone. As you can see, the Touch Cruise is sporting the now-familiar HTC TouchFLO interface, though apparently the handset-maker has updated the picture and video album UI. The site also hosts some shots of the GPS navigation in action, and examples of the updated onscreen keyboard. Check the video after the break, then point your browser towards the read link and see all the shots.

O2 announces O2 Xda orbit 2, aka HTC Polaris and HTC Touch Cruise

by Sean Cooper posted Nov 7th 2007 @ 11:17AM

The O2 Xda orbit 2 enters officialdom and adds yet another name to an already confused HTC device. The TouchFLO-enabled replacement for the 2006-ish Xda orbit brings a pile of new niceties to the line and a pretty slick new look to boot. Featuring 128 MB / 256 MB of RAM and ROM, a 400 MHz Qualcomm CPU, GPS, quad-band GSM, HSDPA (we've heard tri-band and also only 2100), and a 3 megapixel camera with typical Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity thrown in for good measure. Availability is slated for early December from a rock bottom €99 (roughly $140) on contract. If you're in the know and can provide frequency clarity for us, please do.

[Via the::unwired]

HTC Polaris gets specs leaked, renamed the Touch Cruise

by Joshua Topolsky posted Oct 19th 2007 @ 9:58AM

The next step in the HTC Touch line -- the GPS-equipped Polaris -- has been re-christened the Touch Cruise, and has gone and gotten its juicy specs all leaked out to the internet. In addition to having improved TouchFlo capabilities, like rotation and zoom, the new model will sport a quad-band GSM radio (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900), tri-band UMTS (850 / 1900 / 2100), HSDPA and HSUPA data connectivity, a 400MHz MSM7200 Qualcomm CPU, 128MB of RAM and 256MB of ROM, a 2.8-inch, 320 x 240 QVGA display, 3-megapixel camera (plus secondary, 0.3-megapixel camera), WiFi, Bluetooth, and a microSD slot. Apparently, the design of the device hasn't been finalized, though it will likely feature four buttons and a navigation wheel ~~(similar to the pics up above)~~. Mouth watering? Eyes tearing up? We understand. The Cruise is expected by the end of November, so go easy on your credit cards till then.

Update: Thanks to CoolSmartPhone and Smart Mobile Gadgets, we've gotten a proper view of the Touch Cruise, and it's sweet!

HTC Polaris in the wild

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 8th 2007 @ 3:01PM

We haven't seen much of the HTC Artemis 'round here -- a crying shame, really, considering its slick body (Palm V-esque, dare we say?), integrated GPS, and totally nifty trackball / ring combo for navigation. Maybe if we're all really good, though, the HTC Fairy will be better to us the second time around when the Polaris gets put out to retail. Billed as the Artemis' heir apparent, the new device is finally starting to get pictured in the wild, bearing most of the physical traits that made the original so unique (although that might not be a trackball there, kinda hard to tell). UMTS / HSDPA is the big new feature here, though we've heard we should also expect a faster processor under the hood along with Windows Mobile 6 (of course) out of the gate. Oh, and check out the TouchFLO action, too! Any love for the US this time around, HTC (and no, T-Mobile Germany doesn't count)?

[Via the::unwired]

HTC to unveil Windows Mobile lineup at upcoming press event?

by Darren Murph posted Sep 25th 2007 @ 4:24PM

While Apple chose London to inform the world of the iPhone's international agenda, HTC is reportedly looking to make a few announcements of its own on that side of the pond. According to TheUnwired, HTC will hold two press events on the first two days in October, the first of which will be in the UK and the second in Germany. Best guesses suggest that we'll be learning a bit more about the firm's forthcoming Windows Mobile-based lineup, and we can only hope that the Kii, Omni and / or Polaris are part of the show -- but considering the location and all, we wouldn't bet the farm on hearing too much about the likely US-bound Juno. Hold tight kids, the events get going in under a week.

HTC "Polaris" live pic?

by Sean Cooper posted Aug 7th 2007 @ 10:13AM

It's about time that HTC's Artemis gets kicked to the curb and its replacement may well be the hot little set pictured above. Dubbed the Polaris -- we've heard rumblings and rumors since way back -- it stands out with Windows Mobile 6 Pro, a 3.5 inch VGA screen -- VGA, those three letters are music to our ears -- 256 / 128 MB ROM and RAM, GPS, 3 megapixel camera with autofocus, and quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE. HSDPA also figures here -- but will only be beaming to this set in the 2100MHz range -- with the rumored specs rounding out with a mention of a "digital compass" and FM radio. Release date seems pegged at October this year, let's hope that the deluge is set to start, we need some QWERTY sets with similar specs, like, yesterday.

[Via MoDaCo]

HTC preps a few more models (hint: CDMA Touch!)

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 21st 2007 @ 2:56PM

HTC's model naming convention has always been just a little tricky to commit to memory, and with this latest batch, it certainly ain't getting any easier. A couple of these we've heard about before -- namely the Nike, Kaiser, and Shangri-La -- but the rest are brand new to us and very exciting. First up, the S640 "Iris" is a CDMA rendition of the Excalibur and Cavalier, tossing in EV-DO rev. A and WiFi atop Windows Mobile 6 Standard. The "Vogue" is essentially a Touch (TouchFLO UI and all) with the same EV-DO rev. A guts as the Iris -- good news for Verizon and Sprint customers, we'd imagine. GSM users have reason to celebrate here too, though, in the form of the "Volans" and "Polaris." These two are upgrades to the Vox and Artemis, respectively, adding in much-needed 3G radios and faster processors. Finally, the P6550 "Sedna" appears to be some sort of industrial device with support for a credit card reader -- though with a 3 megapixel cam and 3G data, we wouldn't mind having one ourselves. Release dates are up in the air on most of these, but our money is on late '07.

[Via The Boy Genius Report]

Update: Crikey, the Shangri-La's slide reveals that the device -- HTC's entry into the UMPC fray -- runs both Vista and Windows Mobile 6. Sound vaguely familiar? [Thanks, Kevin]