Ask Engadget: share a single muni-fi account with multiple devices?

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 Zoe, who needs to help out her mum (she's in the UK) with a tricky WiFi problem. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"My mum's retirement community offers a municipal WiFi service for £130 per year, but only provides a login that can be used on a single device at a time. More annoyingly, that device has to use a web browser, which means that you can't access it using an Apple TV at all. To get around that, I've leant her my Mac Mini, and then I share the WiFi connection over Ethernet to an Airport Extreme. Unfortunately, this only works for short bursts at a time before the DHCP or connection sharing goes screwy and needs to be reset. My question, therefore, is what can I buy that will connect to this crappy WiFi and share that connection to the other wireless devices around the home? Would it be possible to use Raspberry Pi or some other small device to do the job? All it has to do is be stable and have an uptime longer than 2 hours. Thanks!"

This is the sort of question that most geeks love getting their hands on, because it's a good old-fashioned problem. You'll just have to ignore all of the people who tell your mom to move house instead of coming up with a useful solution. Either way, we did think that perhaps there was a way to share this connection using a hotspot device, but they primarily use Ethernet. As such, we're going to turn this question open to our community for some sage advice. Surely there must be a simple way to do this without depriving Zoe of her Mac Mini?

LG G Pad 8.3 revealed ahead of IFA, ships globally in Q4

Following up on its initial tease from earlier this week, LG has officially revealed the G Pad 8.3 ahead of IFA. The slate's positioned as the next step from its G2 smartphone, and the company claims it's the first eight-inch tablet with a 1920 x 1200 WUXGA (Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array) full HD screen. The device features a 4,600mAh battery, and runs Jelly Bean 4.2.2 atop a 1.7 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor aided by 2GB of RAM. Despite all that, it's just 8.33m thick and weighs 338 grams. Software enhancements include QPair and QSlide -- the former lets you receive messages and calls from JB-equipped Android phones on the G Pad itself, while the latter allows for three apps to run on-screen at once. What's more, with KnockOn you simply tap the screen twice to wake it up. The G Pad 8.3 will be available globally beginning in Q4 in your choice of black or white with 16 GB of storage. No word on pricing just yet, but expect a hands-on once we catch it on the show floor.

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LG TAKES ON GLOBAL TABLET MARKET WITH 'LG G PAD 8.3'

New Tablet to Debut at IFA 2013, Worldwide Rollout to Follow

SEOUL, Sep. 1, 2013 - LG Electronics (LG) today announced the LG G Pad 8.3 tablet, the latest addition to its G Series lineup of premium mobile devices. The all-new LG G Pad 8.3 boasts the first Full HD display on an 8-inch class tablet, a unique user-experience and wide range of connectivity features. Set to officially debut next week at the IFA 2013 trade show in Berlin, the LG G Pad 8.3 builds on the recent launch of the LG G2 superphone, reinforcing LG's commitment to leadership in advanced mobile devices through its premium G Series products.

"Complementing our G Series smartphones, the introduction of the LG G Pad 8.3 further strengthens LG's premium lineup consisting of our most cutting-edge devices," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "Our G Pad is just another example of LG delivering devices with the unique selling points consumers around the world will appreciate."

Pocket-Sized Portability with Powerful Battery
Despite its large display, the LG G Pad 8.3 features a slim and sleek form factor that is comfortable enough to hold in one hand. Such compact portability is based on LG's learning from consumers regarding the optimum size of a tablet. While maintaining its portability, the LG G Pad 8.3 squeezes in a powerful 4600mAh battery for long-lasting usage time but is still as light as a newspaper at just 338g.

First Full HD Display Tablet in 8-inch Class
Incorporating a key attribute of other premium G Series devices including the G Pro and G2 smartphones, the LG G Pad 8.3 is the first 8-inch class tablet to offer a Full HD display. The G Pad is equipped with a 1920 x 1200 WUXGA (Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array) display capable of delivering picture quality with even higher resolution than a standard Full HD display. In addition, the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 Processor with 1.7GHz Quad-Core CPU enhances the viewing experience with powerful performance as users will be able to enjoy Full HD content without any compromise.

True Convergence Experience with QPair
The LG G Pad 8.3 meets the demanding requirements of the convergence age by improving connectivity between multiple devices. With the unique QPair app, every call and message received on a smartphone will appear on the G Pad for a true convergence experience. Users can then send simple replies through the LG G Pad 8.3. QPair also allows the G Pad to easily connect to other manufacturers' smartphone and tablets (Jelly Bean OS recommended). Notes created on the G Pad's QMemo can be seamlessly saved into users' smartphones and shared from either device.

User Experience Maximized for a Tablet
The LG G Pad 8.3 offers practical features that provide real-life benefits, such as enhanced multitasking. Thanks to its 8.3-inch Full HD Display, user experience (UX) features unique to the LG G Pad 8.3 are maximized for the large screen:

1. Slide Aside enables seamless multitasking by simply "sliding" currently open apps off to the side using a three-finger swipe
2. QSlide controls up to three different apps in one window with no interruption, especially convenient on a large screen
3. KnockON turns the device on and off by tapping the display twice

The LG G Pad 8.3 will be rolled out globally in key markets including North America, Europe and Asia as well as other regions starting in the fourth quarter of 2013. Prices will be announced at launch time.


Key Specifications:
- Processor: 1.7GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 Processor
- Display: 8.3-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixels / 273 ppi)
- Memory: 16GB eMMC
- RAM: 2GB LPDDR2
- Camera: Rear 5.0MP / Front 1.3MP
- Battery: 4,600mAh
- Operating System: Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2
- Size: 216.8 x 126.5 x 8.3mm
- Weight: 338g
- Colors: Black / White

Microsoft rebrands Xbox Live Marketplace to Xbox Game Store

Microsoft seems intent on sanding away the Xbox brand's rough edges before launching the One this November. Following the recent switch from its arcane points system to local currency for digital purchases, Redmond has subtly changed up where you'll spend that money. What we used to know as the Xbox Live Marketplace is now the Xbox Game Store. It's clean, simple and we're pretty sure Sean Parker would approve. Oddly, in the US the web storefront reads "Xbox Games," but it says "Xbox Game Store" in the UK. Whatever -- as long as we can buy real-world presidents for Saint's Row 4, we're not too worried about the name of the store.

Alt-week 08.31.13: We're all Martians, Mega Drive music and reinventing the ruler

Alt-week takes a look at the best science and alternative tech stories from the last seven days.

Some things become obsolete, some things rise to live again. Two of our stories over the fold demonstrate new tricks from old dogs. The third? Just, y'know, suggests that we're all actually from Mars. No biggie. This is alt-week.

"It's yet another piece of evidence which makes it more likely life came to Earth on a Martian meteorite, rather than starting on this planet." Let that sentence linger in the room for a moment. Those are the words of Prof Steven Benner, speaking at a conference in Florence this week. The question of how life was seeded on our planet is one of the biggest science has yes to fully answer, but new research suggests that martian meteorites containing vital minerals (at the time not available on Earth) may have completed the recipe needed to kickstart life: RNA, DNA and proteins. Molybdenum is crucial in the formation ribose, a precursor or RNA (ribonucleic acid,) but three billion years ago, the surface of Earth wouldn't have had enough oxygen to create the chemical in the correct form. Benner asserts that while conditions on Earth weren't suitable at the time, they were on Mars, going on to suggest this is even more evidence our true origins are, in fact, Marian.

Repurposing old hardware to make music has become something of a niche of its own. Polybius, a collaboration between artists James Houston and Julian Corrie, however, is one of the most expressive examples we've seen to date. Hardware spotters will have plenty to keep them busy when watching Corrie "play" a selection of vintage gear via his guitar. The main "instruments" include a Mega Drive, Commodore 64 and, naturally, floppy drives. Of course, it's MIDI keeping things together, but the collaboration confirms our insistence that all that gear in our loft might still be of some use. In the right hands at least.

Sometimes, the onward march of technology can leave older tools redundant. Sometimes, however, it can breathe more life into them, as is the case with "Glassified," an intelligent ruler developed by MIT's Fluid Interfaces group. The redesigned ruler houses a transparent display that can interact with lines you've drawn on the page (with the ruler, naturally). A digitizer interprets your strokes, which can then be overlaid with graphics from the screen. In the video above, we see a ball rolling down the lines as if platforms, or the angles of a triangle being shown. This fusion of paper and technology, it couldn't get out of hand, could it?

[Image credits: James Houston / Creative applications, Lightmare studio]

Seen any other far-out articles that you'd like considered for Alt-week? Working on a project or research that's too cool to keep to yourself? Drop us a line at alt [at] engadget [dot] com.

HTC's exiting designers interrogated for expense fraud and stealing trade secrets (updated)

Earlier today, several top designers at HTC were arrested in Taipei under suspicion of fraudulent expense claims, as well as stealing trade secrets ahead of leaving the company to run a new mobile design firm in both Taiwan and mainland China. Five people were interrogated, with the most notable ones being Vice President of Product Design Thomas Chien (pictured above), R&D director Wu Chien Hung and design team senior manager Justin Huang (who also personally sketched out the One's design). Chien and Wu are taken into custody, whereas the others were released on bail (see video after the break). Their offices were also raided yesterday as part of the investigation.

Reports say HTC chairwoman Cher Wang personally filed a complaint to Taiwan's Investigation Bureau, which has since learned that Chien, Wu and Huang planned to set up a new design company (which is already registered under the Chinese name "Xiaoyu") aimed at the mainland Chinese market, and that they would resign after claiming their mid-year bonuses yesterday. The real beef HTC has here is that it apparently caught Chien secretly downloading files related to the upcoming Sense 6.0 UI design, and then shared them with external contacts via e-mail. The Investigation Bureau refused to comment on whether Sense 6.0 is related to the One Max due later this year.

The trio is also accused of making false commission fee claims for the One's aluminum chassis design. While the design was done in-house, the three men used an external design firm to invoice HTC for over US$334,000 worth of commission fee between May and July, and then they split the money between themselves.

We reached out to HTC for a statement on this matter, but the spokesperson didn't have much to provide at this moment:

"The matter is under investigation by relevant authorities. We therefore refrain from further comments."

Update: HTC got in touch with us again, stating the following:

"The company expects employees to observe and practice the highest levels of integrity and ethics. Protecting the company's proprietary and intellectual properties, privacy and security is a core fundamental responsibility of every employee. The company does not condone any violation. As this matter is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities, we therefore refrain from further comments."

ASUS teases new Transformer Pad coming September 4th, confirms it definitely has bezel

As IFA starts to slowly edge its way over the horizon, the product teasers start to rain. We've already seen hints from Sony, an outright admission from Samsung, and speculation from HTC. The latest tidbit, comes via ASUS's Facebook, which suggests it plans to show a new tablet at the event. What can we say about it? Well, odds on it's another Transformer Pad, running Android, and if you're into numerology (and consistency), Tegra 4 inside. Coincidentally, an unknown ASUS tablet (pictured after the break) with model number K00C popped up at the FCC last week, revealing little more than the usual WiFi and Bluetooth radios, and a display somewhere around 10-inches. Though the description of it as a Transformer Pad could indicate that whatever its exact configuration, it's arrival in the US won't be that far out.

Alcatel quietly reveals One Touch Idol S, Idol Mini and Evo 8 HD tablet

Unlike babies that wail when they're born, the three new members of Alcatel's One Touch family have silently slipped into the company's website. The two handsets, the Idol S and the Idol Mini, follow the original trio revealed at CES this year, sharing similar elements despite the difference in size. Both run Android 4.2, can read microSD cards up to 32GB in capacity and support quad-band GSM, as well as some UMTS (3G) bands, depending on the model.

Idol S, the larger of the two weighs 110 grams, has a 4.7-inch 1,280 x 720-pixel screen and DC-HSPA data connectivity. It's powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, has 4GB of internal storage, 1GB of RAM and an 8-megapixel rear / 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. On the other hand, the Idol Mini has a smaller 4.3-inch 854 x 480-pixel display, weighs 96 grams and comes with HSPA+. It's equipped with up to 8GB of internal storage, 512MB of RAM and a 5-megapixel rear / VGA front camera.

Unlike the first two, the third new Alcatel device is a tablet -- the 9-mm-thin One Touch Evo 8 HD with 4G LTE that's powered by a 1.6GHz dual core ARM Cortex-A9 processor. It only has 4GB of internal storage, but it supports cards up to 64GB in capacity. Despite revealing detailed specs, the company has yet to announce the devices' pricing and availability, but we'll keep our eyes peeled for the news.

Nikkei: KDDI plans 220 Mbps cellular network upgrade for summer 2014

Think 150Mbps LTE-Advanced data is quick? KDDI could offer far more bandwidth next year. Nikkei claims that the Japanese carrier plans to upgrade its cellular network to 220 Mbps data as soon as summer 2014. Service would reportedly launch with an Android smartphone, and rely on new wireless technology; it's not clear whether this entails a faster LTE-A variant or something new. KDDI hasn't confirmed the rumor, so we wouldn't consider moving to Japan just yet. If there's any truth to the claims, however, even NTT DoCoMo's upgraded LTE could soon feel downright pokey.

[Image credit: TAKA@P.P.R.S, Flickr]

Moto X could have price slashed to $100 by Christmas, $50 for wooden covers

When Motorola announced it's first flagship since becoming part of Google's empire, it was to mixed response. But, if evleaks is right, as is often the case, then a forthcoming $100 price-drop could suddenly change a few minds. Currently, the customizable phone, that listens to your every word, will set you back $199 on your network of choice, so a drop to $100 on contract -- reportedly just in time for Christmas -- could see this rise up the gift lists. Oh, and those wooden covers? Our leaker claims will come with a $50 price tag, for those that want the natural look this winter.

Engadget Podcast 358 - 08.30.13

Ballmer's set to retire from Microsoft within 12 months, so naturally Brian, Peter and Terrence spent half the episode placing bets on a successor. Aside from that, the trio took some time to discuss our new Peripheral Vision series, Nintendo's 2DS, the latest e-readers from Kobo and the OLPC XO kid's tablet.

Hosts: Brian Heater, Terrence O'Brien, Peter Rojas

Producer: Joe Pollicino

Hear the podcast:

00:49 - Introducing Peripheral Vision
03:35 - Microsoft: Steve Ballmer stepping down within a year
37:22 - Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime on the Xbox One and PS4's launch lineups: 'meh'
Nintendo announces 2DS handheld gaming system, $129 on October 12 (video)
44:11 - Kobo unveils three reading-focused Arc tablets
51:07 - OLPC XO Tablet review

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Connect with the hosts on Twitter: @bheater @PeterRojas @TerrenceOBrien
E-mail us: podcast [at] engadget [dot] com
Technical inqueries: @akaTRENT

HTC's exiting designers interrogated for expense fraud and stealing trade secrets

Earlier today, several top designers at HTC were arrested in Taipei under suspicion of fraudulent expense claims, as well as stealing trade secrets ahead of leaving the company to run a new mobile design firm in both Taiwan and mainland China. Five people were interrogated, with the most notable ones being Vice President of Product Design Thomas Chien (pictured above), R&D director Wu Chien Hung and design team senior manager Justin Huang (who also personally sketched out the One's design). Chien and Wu are taken into custody, whereas the others were released on bail. Their offices were also raided yesterday for the investigation.

Reports say HTC chairwoman Cher Wang personally filed a complaint to Taiwan's Investigation Bureau, which has since learned that Chien, Wu and Huang planned to set up a new design company aimed at the mainland Chinese market, and that they would resign after claiming their mid-year bonuses yesterday. The real beef HTC has here is that it apparently caught Chien secretly downloading files related to the upcoming Sense 6.0 UI design, and then shared them with external contacts via e-mail.

The trio is also accused of making false commission fee claims for the One's aluminum chassis design. While the design was done in-house, the three men used an external design firm to invoice HTC for over US$334,000 worth of commission fee between May and July, and then split the money between themselves.

We reached out to HTC for a statement on this matter, but the spokesperson didn't have much to provide at this moment:

"The matter is under investigation by relevant authorities. We therefore refrain from further comments."

Facebook's Windows Phone beta updated to work on WP7 too

There was a time when Windows Phone 7 users could only look on as WP8-using peers Like status updates on their newer and shinier Facebook app. Not anymore. An update to the Beta version is now ready for download, bringing to the table a user interface similar to the WP8 version that meshes well with the platform's aesthetics. Those who've been waiting for the update forever can hit the source link below -- it's available for both platforms, so WP8-toting folks can also join the party.

For those asking-- #Facebook #WP beta is free, with no signup needed. App is now live at http://t.co/cp0W8cfAFO

- joebelfiore (@joebelfiore) August 31, 2013

Washington Post report details how often security agencies break into other networks

The latest national security related revelation to come from the documents leaked by Edward Snowden is an account of how offensive computer operations work, and how many there are. The Washington Post reports that in 2011, 231 took place with about three quarters of them against "top-priority" targets, which its sources indicate include Iran, Russia, China and North Korea. Also interesting are details of software and hardware implants designed to infiltrate network hardware, persist through upgrades and access other connected devices or networks. The effort to break into networks is codenamed Genie, while the "Tailored Access Operations" group custom-builds tools to execute the attacks. One document references a new system "Turbine" that automates control of "potentially millions of implants" to gather data or execute an attack. All of this access isn't possible for free however, with a total cyber operations budget of $1.02 billion which includes $25.1 million spent this year to purchase software vulnerabilities from malware vendors. Get your fill of codenames and cloak-and-dagger from the article posted tonight, or check out the "Black Budget" breakdown of overall intelligence spending.

Google quietly acquired smartwatch maker WIMM Labs

Ok, so here's the deal: WIMM Labs was one of the earliest entrants into the smartwatch space, way back in 2011. While the Android-based WIMM One failed to set the consumer market on fire, it apparently caught Google's eye. In the summer of 2012, the company put a simple message up on its site declaring that it had entered an exclusive partnership with an unnamed entity for its technology and would thus be ending sales of its devices. Now it appears that partner was Google -- a Mountain View spokesperson just confirmed the acquisition to us.

The company's immediate plans for WIMM are not yet public but, according to GigaOM, most of the staff stayed on board and are now working with the Android team. The obvious use would be in developing Google's own rumored smartwatch product, which would likely incorporate many of WIMM Lab's SDKs and existing platform tools. However, it's worth noting that the company doesn't consider itself merely a maker of app-running timepieces, but a manufacturer of wearables in general. We wouldn't be shocked if some of WIMM's tech and experience was put to good use in Glass.

Ceton Echo Windows Media Center extender won't support Android after all

Around nine months ago Ceton unexpectedly announced plans to support the Android operating system and apps on its $179 Echo Windows Media Center extender, but now that's not happening. According to the company, Android is "up and running" on Echo hardware in its labs -- we saw screenshots back in February -- but early beta tests with home users showed a problem with an internal component. That flaw apparently causes a failure to update in some cases, and since efforts to find a workaround have been so far unsuccessful Ceton is shelving the project (presumably alongside its Q DVR). There's no question this is disappointing for Echo users that expected the feature, but the possibility of a bricked box seem worth avoiding. We haven't talked about the Echo much since it came out of beta with a fix for 1080i output issues -- if you're an owner then let us know if you were (still) waiting for Android, or if you've moved onto another solution like Roku, Ouya or Chromecast. Media Center on Echo running Android See all photos

5 Photos

Transparent gel speaker plays music through the magic of ionic conduction (video)

It may be hard to believe, but that transparent disk in the photo above is actually a fully functioning speaker. A team of researchers at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have pioneered a never before seen application of ionic conductivity by creating a see-through artificial muscle that can produce sounds spanning the entire audible spectrum. While ionic conduction isn't a novel idea, it's been considered impractical due to the fact that ionic materials react poorly to high voltage. The team, which included postdoctoral research fellows Jeong-Yun Sun and Christoph Keplinger (pictured above), circumvented that obstacle by placing a layer of rubber between two sheets of transparent conductive gel, allowing the system to work with both high voltage and high actuation, two qualities necessary for sound reproduction. Theoretically, soft machine technology such as this can be used to do much more than play Grieg's Peer Gynt, particularly in the fields of robotics, mobile computing and adaptive optics. To watch it in action, check out the video after the break.

Oregon Scientific's Meep! X2 kid's tablet gets gutted at the FCC

Since it's been nearly a year since Oregon Scientific's MEEP! kiddy tablet arrived on the scene, it makes sense that we're due for a refresh. We did see a listing for the MEEP! X2 pop up earlier this month, but the device's arrival at the FCC is the first concrete sign that the slate will arrive stateside. The documents reveal that the unit packs a microSD slot, HDMI-out, Bluetooth 3.0 and 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, while French site Maginea claims that it will feature a 1.2GHz dual-core Cortex A9 CPU, a 7-inch 800 x 480 display, 1 GB RAM and 4GB of built-in storage. Naturally, we can't confirm the legitimacy of those last specs, so enjoy this gallery of teardown images instead. Oregon Scientific MEEP! X2 FCC teardown See all photos

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Let the god games begin: 22cans' Godus beta available on Steam Early Access September 13th

A collective effort pulled back Curiosity's curtain early this summer, and now it's nearly time to play god. On September 13th, 22cans and Peter Molyneux will make the beta release of Godus, the studio's latest "experiment" in god gaming, available via Steam Early Access for PC and Mac. The early release will cost eager overlords $19.99 and allow them to "sculpt every inch of a beautiful world," and, of course, destroy those worlds in multiplayer battles with other virtual gods. The Kickstarter-backed nod to Molyneux's Populous reached its funding goal in December of last year with the promise of PC, Mac and mobile compatibility and continued his focus on the video game as social experiment. Final release details are still under wraps but you can see an updated trailer after the break.

And for more Molyneux, check out our interview from E3 2013. Godus Beta Shots See all photos

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22CANS GODUS BETA LAUNCHING FOR PC AND MAC ON STEAM EARLY ACCESS 13th SEPTEMBER
The first public release of 22cans' and Peter Molyneux's reinvention of the god game genre

Guildford, 30th August 2013
Anyone can be a god starting September 13th with the Beta release of GODUS from 22cans. The game will be downloadable through Steam Early Access for PC Windows and Mac for $19.99 / £14.99 / €18.99.

GODUS empowers you in the role of a god, allowing you to sculpt every inch of a beautiful world that you look down upon, on which a population of followers settle and multiply. As you mould every aspect of your unique utopia, a civilization will blossom across your land and offer you their belief. The more followers that believe in you, the more powerful you will become.

Whilst you are free to lose yourself in this tranquil experience, other gods reign outside of the ever-expanding reach of your influence. If you so wish, you may challenge other gods and their civilizations to epic multiplayer battles that involve hundreds of followers fighting in your name whilst you cast devastating god powers from the skies above. As you conquer more lands, your powers will grow allowing you to nurture the advancement of your own followers.

In announcing the impending availability of GODUS through Steam Early Access, Peter Molyneux, 22cans Creative Director said "I am proud and delighted that the beta version GODUS will be available for download on 13th September 2013. For a long time I've been excited with how the game is evolving, I already feel there is nothing in the world like GODUS. This is the type of game I have dreamt of making since first getting into the industry; having people play the beta and give us valuable feedback while doing so, makes that dream a reality."

Nine Inch Nails puts Kinect, various other gadgets to use on festival tour

It's no secret that Nine Inch Nails' frontman Trent Reznor likes to do things a bit differently. He and long-time art director Rob Sheridan have assembled a crew to make the group's festival dates this year as visually stunning as the audio promises to be. Along with a slew of other high-tech gadgetry, there's a Kinect that handles motion tracking with captured movements projected onto a handful of mobile video screens. Alongside thermal and regular ol' video cameras, live video content is piped on-stage during specific parts of the set -- with a hand from the folks at Moment Factory, a multimedia environment studio. Reznor also notes that much of the system is "a bunch of homemade software and hardware effects that they've tied together" with the goal of creating a film-like quality to an hour and a half performance. For a 13-minute, behind the scenes look at the prep work, head on past the break.

Huawei unveils outdoor-ready Honor 3 smartphone, MediaQM310 set-top box

Huawei's first two Honor smartphones were straightforward mid-range devices; with today's unveiling of the Honor 3, the company is going the semi-rugged route. The third-generation model is IP57-rated for resistance to dust and water, and its high-sensitivity touchscreen will recognize wet hands. There's also an HTC One-like infrared blaster to control TVs and home appliances. The Honor 3 is otherwise a modest upgrade, however -- it carries a slightly larger 4.7-inch 720p in-cell touch LCD, a mildly faster 1.5GHz K3V2 quad-core chip, a higher-resolution 13-megapixel rear camera, a 1-megapixel front camera and Android 4.2. The 2GB of RAM and 8GB of expandable storage haven't changed since last year, although they're acceptable when the Honor 3 is already on sale for just ¥1,888 ($309) in China.

The smartphone will soon have company. Huawei is teasing a new TV set-top box, the MediaQM310, that should offer both cloud services and China Network Television's online video. The media hub should be uncommonly powerful for its diminutive size with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 chip, Bluetooth and dual-band WiFi. There's no mention of a price just yet, although that should come when Huawei ships the MediaQM310 to China sometime in September. Check out a photo of the device after the break.

Japan maglev train aces first test, zooms past countryside at 311 mph (video)

This maglev train's length of development sure can't a hold a candle to its speed -- it took its creators almost six years to finally give it a test run. The five Lo Series cars zipped along the 26.6-mile track in nine minutes, hitting 311 mph within the first three miles. The reporters on board the futuristic vehicle couldn't feel or hear any disturbance, except for the odd blown mind. Outside, however, watching members of the public felt a shockwave followed by a deafening roar as the duck-billed train zoomed past. Using results from this trial, the company will be assessing the platypus-like train's potential environmental impact and looking for ways to reduce its maintenance costs in the future. You won't be taking a ride on this levitating wonder during your next Japanese vacation, though -- -- CJCR's got a few more tests to run before its 2027 launch date.

HTC shows off its Mini+ and Fetch Bluetooth accessories (hands-on)

Remember HTC's Mini+ companion device that connects to your smartphone and lets you take calls without exposing your treasured handset? We got the chance to spend a few minutes playing with the gear and thought you might like to see how we feel. At the same time, the company whipped out the Fetch (pictured, after the break,) a Bluetooth tether designed to clip onto your key chain and prevent you from losing your most vital things. HTC Mini+ and Fetch hands-on See all photos

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If you're unaware, the Mini+ is, basically, a Bluetooth feature phone that you can use to save you using your smartphone while out and about. Connecting over BT 2.1+EDR, the unit is light to the point of being insubstantial (it weighs about as much as two packs of gum) and you're not likely to notice the weight of it in your pocket. In the business world, the device also doubles as a presentation remote and even comes with a laser pointer, so you can both show your colleagues who's boss and annoy the cat when you get home. Like the original Mini, which was designed to work with the Butterfly / Droid DNA, the device can also be used as a remote trigger for the smartphone's camera.

As a companion device for the One Mini, the Mini+ (we'd better be careful with names here) gains the infra-red transmitter that was lost on the smaller smartphone. All a user needs to do, therefore, is download a companion app to the One Mini and you'll be able to use the Mini+ as a remote control for your TV. While it's been designed to work with the One Mini, the Butterfly S, Desire 200 and 500 models, the Bluetooth controls are industry standard, so it's entirely possible that you'll be able to use the basic call functions with any other smartphone.

You may remember that HTC applied for the Fetch trademark back in June, and now we know what device that moniker has been attached to. The unit is an eraser-sized (and similarly light) black cube on a cord that you can clip to your keychain and pair to your smartphone over Bluetooth 4.0 (LE). It's designed that, as long as both remain within 15 meters of each other, it'll be silent -- but step beyond that distance and it'll raise hue and cry until they've been reunited. That way you'll always be alerted if you forget your keys (or smartphone, as it works both ways) or if a light-fingered person makes off with either. The unit will also geotag its location should it ever run out of charge, so you'll know its last known location and can pull double duty as a camera shutter. We don't know yet if Fetch will work with other Android smartphones, but we're finding out for you as we speak. There's no official word on pricing or availability for either unit, but Clove's got the Fetch listed for £30 ($50) and had the Mini+ listed for £55 ($80), which seems entirely plausible.