Indigo is a cloud-based, cross-platform personal assistant for Android and Windows Phone 8 (hands-on)

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><hr dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" /><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Indigo is a cloud-based, cross-platform personal assistant for Android and Windows Phone 8 (hands-on)" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/indigo-lead-2.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The idea of a personal assistant needs no introduction: you already know Siri, and those of you fortunate to own a Jelly Bean handset (or at least a hacked ICS one) have the privilege of using Google Now. So there's very little we haven't seen here. And yet, we were inclined to take a look at Indigo, a new personal assistant for Android and Windows Phone 8 that launched yesterday, and will be available as a free download in the coming weeks. Meet us past the break to find out why.</div><div class="post-gallery" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><h3 class="title"><b>Indigo personal assistant hands-on</b></h3><ul class="thumbs"><li class="thumb" data-count="16"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dsc05324-1361891660_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="16"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dsc05325-1361891661_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="16"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dsc05326-1361891659_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="16"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dsc05327-1361891660_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="16"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dsc05329-1361891658_95x95.jpg" /> </li><li class="thumb" data-count="16"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dsc05330-1361891659_95x95.jpg" /> </li>See all photos</ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The app comes courtesy of Artificial Solutions, a company that specializes in natural language. As you'd expect, then, you can expect answers to questions like "What's the weather like in Prague?" (To be fair, this is true of Siri, too.) Also like other assistants, you can ask follow-up questions like "Find me a movie theater there" and Indigo will know you meant Prague because that's what you were just asking about. We also noticed that it completes searches successfully even if you misspell a word ("find mean" instead of "find me," for example).</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Some other similarities to existing services: it sources data from places like Yelp and Wolfram Alpha, and can mine your email and calendar appointments, as well as maps and search engines. In addition to voice input, it responds to text queries, which you can't do on Siri, and can only do for search with Google Now. As we found in the noisy Fira Gran Via convention center, it's a useful feature when your surroundings have the potential to drown out voice searches.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">What makes Indigo especially unique (aside from the fact that it's WP8-compatible) is that it works across different platforms and different devices. Granted, Nuance is working on something similar, but as of last month it was still in the very early stages, while Indigo is on the cusp of becoming available. In any case, what all this means is that because search is tied to a profile stored in the cloud (as opposed to a particular device), you can start a search thread on your phone and pick it up on a tablet.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Your personal settings will also follow you from one device to another, even if you use a mix of Android and Windows Phone. Oh, and last thing: you can save favorite searches -- not a bad thing if you begin each day asking about the weather. Again, the app will be available to download for free within the next two weeks or so. In the case of Android, specifically, you'll need Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean, according to the Indigo website, linked at the bottom of this post. For now, check out some hands-on photos and a quick demo video below. (<i>Psst</i>: we apologize that our video doesn't show the cross-device bit; the faltering internet inside the convention center couldn't handle it. Sorry!)</div></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cY1vVk3mg_Q?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>

Indigo is a cloud-based, cross-platform personal assistant for Android and Windows Phone 8 (hands-on)

The idea of a personal assistant needs no introduction: you already know Siri, and those of you fortunate to own a Jelly Bean handset (or a...

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ASUS FonePad official: 7-inch tablet with phone functionality, priced at $249 (hands-on)

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><hr dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" /><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="ASUS FonePad official 7inch tablet with phone functionality, priced at $249 for 16GB handson" data-src-height="533" data-src-width="800" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/img9041800-1361800437.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">We already knew ASUS was prepping a product called the FonePad, a 7-inch tablet with built-in phone functionality (yes, just like the new Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0). Well, ASUS just formally unveiled it here at Mobile World Congress, which means we've got a few more details to share than we did previously. First off, the speculation about its specs was all true: this does indeed have an Intel processor -- a 1.2GHz Atom Z2420, to be exact -- along with 1GB of RAM, a PowerVR SGX540 GPU, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and an HSPA+ radio. What's more, the 4,270mAH battery is said to get up to nine hours of runtime, which would put this in the same league as other Atom tablets we've tested recently.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">In terms of hardware features, the FonePad has a smooth metal back (available in gray and gold), making it drastically different in appearance from the similarly sized Nexus 7. 'Round back you'll find a panel where all the usual antennae are, and hidden underneath are both the micro-SIM slot and the microSD reader. That microSD slot, by the way, supports 32GB cards, which should come in handy considering this has just 16GB of built-in storage. Additionally, the tablet has a 1.2-megapixel front camera, attached to a 7-inch, 1,280 x 800 IPS display. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The FonePad will be available in Europe for £179 / €219. Here at MWC, ASUS also confirmed a US dollar price of $249, though we had heard rumblings it wouldn't actually be sold there. It arrives in March, but the specific on-sale date hasn't been revealed yet. We're hoping to test one ourselves soon enough, but until then, stay tuned for the usual round of hands-on shots.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b>Update: </b>Our hands-on photos and video are in! Enjoy!</div></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="349" id="viddler-d1c01ab7" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="//www.viddler.com/embed/d1c01ab7/?f=1&offset=0&autoplay=0&secret=16094601&disablebranding=0&view_secret=16094601" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="545"></iframe></div>

ASUS FonePad official: 7-inch tablet with phone functionality, priced at $249 (hands-on)

We already knew ASUS was prepping a product called the FonePad, a 7-inch tablet with built-in phone functionality (yes, just like the new Sa...

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ASUS PadFone Infinity announced: 5-inch, 1080p screen, Snapdragon 600 CPU and full HD tablet display (hands-on)

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><hr dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" /> <div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="ASUS PadFone Infinity announced 5inch, 1080p display, Snapdragon 600 CPU and full HD tablet display handson" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/lead2.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> You may have heard a new PadFone was on the way -- it's not like ASUS has been dropping obvious hints or anything. In any case, surprise! ASUS just unveiled a new model, the PadFone Infinity. Like other PadFones, this is a handset that slips into a tablet-like dock, allowing you to make use of a bigger screen. This time, though, it ships with Android 4.2, and the display has grown from 4.7 inches to 5. The resolution is now 1080p (up from 720p), which comes out to 441 pixels per inch. Additionally, the <span>tablet's 10.1-inch screen has a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200, up from 1,280 x 800 in the last-gen model. It's plenty bright, too, at 400 nits, but that's a slight step down from the last-gen model, which lit up to 500 nits. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <span>What's more, the phone's gotten an upgrade on the inside: it now packs a quad-core, 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 chip with an Adreno 320 GPU, some of the freshest components Qualcomm has to offer at the moment. Also on-board, you get 2GB of RAM to help boost performance, with your choice of either 32GB or 64GB of built-in storage. As far as connectivity, you're looking at </span><span>EDGE, GPRS, GSM, </span><span>WCDMA, </span><span>LTE and </span><span>DC-HSPA+, along with all the usual radios: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, A-GPS and even GLONASS. According to an ASUS rep, the device uses a nano-SIM rather than micro-SIM. Around back, ASUS has added a 13-megapixel autofocusing camera with an LED flash, five-element, f/2.0 lens and burst shooting at eight fps. There's a front camera too, capped at 2MP, in case you want to do the occasional video chat. Meanwhile, the 2,400mAh battery promises up to 19 hours of 3G talk time, and up to 40 with the dock attached. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <span>Like every other PadFone that's been released, this won't be available in the US, but the phone-and-dock combo will cost £799 / </span><span>€999</span><span> when it goes on sale in Europe this April. </span><span>The phone is also headed to Asia, though we don't have any more details.</span><span> You'll also have your choice of colors, we hear: gray, gold and hot pink, if that's what you're into. Check out our hands-on gallery for a closer look. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <strong>Update: </strong>Hands-on photos and video now added. You're welcome.</div></div>

ASUS PadFone Infinity announced: 5-inch, 1080p screen, Snapdragon 600 CPU and full HD tablet display (hands-on)

You may have heard a new PadFone was on the way -- it's not like ASUS has been dropping obvious h...

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PowerbyProxi debuts wireless charging solution, aims to fully integrate it into future smartphones (video)

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><hr dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" /> <div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="PowerbyProxi debuts wireless charging solution, aims to fully integrate it into future smartphones video" data-src-height="408" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/powerbyproxilead.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> The pathway to innovation is paved with failed attempts to produce wireless charging solutions that a) actually work and b) people genuinely want to use, but we've got yet another upstart here at Mobile World Congress willing to give it a go. PowerbyProxi's solution looks pretty similar to renditions we've seen from Fulton Innovation, but it's quick to point out the differences. The loosely-coupled method uses a bantam receiver that's "efficient enough to be integrated into the processor board of a smartphone without causing over-heating."</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> While previous industry designs have resulted in longer charging times than if the device were plugged into a wall socket, PowerbyProxi's solution reportedly "provides charging at the same speed as wired charging." In fact, it claims to offer the only system that can rejuvenate up to three devices at the same time at full power. If you're wondering what working group these guys are going to side with, that much is still up in the air -- it's remaining "agnostic towards the selection of an ultimate standard" for now.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> We spoke with the company here at Mobile World Congress, and it confirmed to us that it's working with the top five major battery manufacturers, and we should see wireless AA and AAA cells "within 12 months." It wouldn't confirm how soon we'd see it in phones, tablets or laptops (yeah, it'll work in all of 'em), but it's clearly working with some of the top OEMs and hoping for the best. In the demo we witnessed, specially equipped Galaxy S III handsets charged alongside one another, even when barely clinging to the charging pad. Despite a bunch of metallic objects being heaped on the pad, it was intelligent enough to only send power to the phones, keeping gum boxes and coins cool, calm and collected. Head on past the break for quick video tour as well as a press release.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <em>Dana Murph contributed to this report. </em></div></div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NuLuAVJXJfc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

PowerbyProxi debuts wireless charging solution, aims to fully integrate it into future smartphones (video)

The pathway to innovation is paved with failed attempts to produce wireless charging solutions that...

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HP Slate 7 hands-on (update: video)

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><hr dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" /><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/livedsc043602.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Well, this might just be the biggest news to come out of Mobile World Congress. Long after discontinuing the TouchPad (and the rest of its mobile devices, for that matter) HP is back with a new tablet. This time, though, it runs not webOS, but an old safety: Android. Interestingly, though, HP is returning to the tablet space not with a high-end flagship, but a lower-end device priced to sell. The Slate 7 is priced at $169, with modest specs that include a dual-core A9 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in storage, a 7-inch, 1,024 x 600 display and dual 3MP / VGA cameras. All that said, it could be worth a second look when it goes on sale in April. Meet us past the break to see what we mean.<br /><br />For a tablet priced at $169, the Slate 7 feels decently well-made, and pleasant to hold. A stainless steel frame lends the whole thing some much-needed rigidity, while the matte, soft-touch finish on the back gives the fingers a comfortable resting place. It'll be sold in silver and red, though we're partial to the Beats Red (that obvious Beats Audio branding aside). And yep, this does have Beats in tow, like almost every HP laptop and Ultrabook already on the market. We didn't get to sample that here at Mobile World Congress, but you know how we feel about Beats anyway. In any case, we like the design. We think we like the Nexus 7 a little more -- it feels more substantial, and the screen is sharper -- but it's close.<br />To answer a question most of you probably have about the display, it's not an IPS panel. Instead, it makes use of FFS technology, which HP claims will create a good viewing experience in low-light conditions as well as harshly lit ones. Alas, it's really, really bright on the show floor here, but we can say that the screen holds up well underneath these fluorescent lights. We'd say if you were to put the tablet on a table with the screen face up, you'd still be able to follow along with a movie. All that said, the screen looks a tad washed-out. That's not to say the colors lose their potency when you view the display at off angles; it's just that the tones aren't that vibrant to begin with.</div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Finishing our tour around the device, you'll find a micro-USB port at the bottom for charging, along with those twin speakers. On the right side is your all-important volume rocker, while the top edge is home to a headphone jack, power / lock button and a microSD slot -- something the Nexus 7 is missing. The buttons are made of chrome and seem easy to press, so kudos to HP for using premium materials where it can. As for performance, Android lags slightly on that dual-core CPU, but we wouldn't say it's any worse than what you'll experience on other budget tablets. We'd have to live with this thing for a few days to really say for sure. In the meantime, we'd like to say thank you to HP for using stock Android -- the world really doesn't need another custom skin, don'tcha think? We'll obviously be reviewing this when it comes out in April but for now, we'd say the Slate 7 has a shot at this low price, though it's going to have some handsome company down in the bargain-basement price range. Michael Gorman contributed to this report. </div></div>

HP Slate 7 hands-on (update: video)

Well, this might just be the biggest news to come out of Mobile World Congress. Long after discontinuing the TouchPad (and the rest of its ...

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