Android and Me » radio shack

TankBot: sub-$25 toy navigates mazes, fully controllable by your Android device

Taylor Wimberly — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:40:00 +0000

In need of a stocking stuffer for a fellow nerd? Desk Pets just announced the retail availability of their TankBot toy, which is sub-$25 micro-robotic tank that you can control with your Android phone. The device charges via a retractable USB port and connects wirelessly to your phone using the headset jack.

A full charge only nets you 15 minutes of fun, but it’s still quite a deal for only $24.99. TankBot features three interactive modes including maze navigation, free-roam and remote control. The toy is also equipped with infrared sensors that allow it to navigate “twist, turns and around obstacles with military precision.”

The device is supposed to be available online, but I haven’t found any sites with it in stock. If you want to try and pick one up today, retail stores Radio Shack and Toys “R” Us are carrying it starting this week.

For the developers out there, Desk Pets has also open-sourced their Android software if you want to take a stab at creating your own unique app.

It’s been way too long since I’ve visited Toys “R” Us, so I think a trip is in order. If we can score some devices, a giveaway might be in the works.

Highlights of the TankBot include:

Infrared sensors to navigate mazes and avoid obstacles
Free app allows for smartphone control
Free-roaming mode with interactive tank sounds
Multi-player race and battle
Retractable USB charger

Pre-order your HTC EVO 3D at RadioShack today

Edgar Cervantes — Tue, 17 May 2011 14:07:21 +0000

Since its announcement at CTIA, the HTC EVO 3D has been one of the most anticipated devices of the year. Of course, the idea of a 3D smartphone was very new when the EVO 3D was brought out of the dark, which made this smartphone highly desireable. 3D capability aside, the HTC EVO 3D still carries some stunning specs and it seems like it will create the same hype (if not more) as its predecessor, the beloved EVO 4G.

Key Features:

Dual-core 1.2GHz processor
4.3” 3D qHD (540×960) sLCD display
4G WiMAX technology
Dual 5 megapixel main 3D cameras
Android 2.3 with latest HTC Sense
Front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera
DLNA and HDMI (MHL) video output
1730mAh Li-Ion battery
Dual microphones for noise suppression
Digital compass, G-Sensor, Light sensor, GPS/AGPS

Sprint and HTC announced this groundbreaking device to become available for Sprint customers this summer. Well, guess what? RadioShack has you covered already, allowing you to pre-order this bad boy starting today.

According to Engadget’s leaked document, this device is only available for pre-order if you purchase a $50 RadioShack gift card. Though a strange way to handle a pre-order, the $50 gift card reserves your spot on the pre-order list, and acts as $50 deposit toward the price of the phone when it launches.

Another important detail is that the EVO 3D’s pre-order availability will not be advertised. It seems like RadioShack is forced to make this move “ninja style,” since information about the device can not be made public yet (Not to mention the fact that we don’t even have a specific release date yet). Basically, there will be no ads about this and no Radio Shack representative will offer it to you unless you ask them first.

What do you guys say? Are you planning on signing up for this? Let us where you stand in the comments below, and stay tuned for more updates on the EVO 3D as well as all your Android related news.

The Shack makes ready for Sprint EVO 4G push

Taylor Wimberly — Fri, 07 May 2010 05:39:01 +0000

Have you been in Radio Shack recently? Yesterday we learned “The Shack” is taking pre-orders for the Sprint EVO 4G later this month and today we discovered they are planning a four-week campaign to promote the phone in stores. Our friends over at Android Central received the four page flyer and uploaded some high-res scans.

No new information was revealed, but I’m getting excited for this big Android launch. We are still waiting for an official release date and pricing options, so the rumors are flying like crazy. Some are speculating that Sprint will release the EVO 4G on June 6th, the day before Apple is expected to announce the iPhone HD at WWDC. Many are suggesting the EVO will retail for $199 with 2yr contract, which is in line with current high-end smartphones.

Hopefully, all the launch details will be unveiled May 12th when Sprint hosts a press event in New York.

Suspiciously absent from the flyers is the version of Android that will ship on the device. Sprint unveiled the EVO running Android 2.1, but it looks like Android 2.2 could appear this month. Sprint still claims the EVO will support Flash 10.1, which is tied to FroYo (Android 2.2), so I guess anything is possible. Keep in mind that Adobe also told us Flash 10.1 was schedule for a June release.

Browsing the comments from our last post, it looks like many are willing to leave their current carrier just to purchase the EVO. A business rep from Sprint shared with us that Sprint is offering a $100 credit to users who switch carriers and port their number. If you are one of the lucky people in the expanding 4G coverage area, then check out our 7 reasons to choose the HTC EVO 4G.

You gotta know the E-V-O.

Sprint EVO 4G pre-orders this month, launch in June

Taylor Wimberly — Thu, 06 May 2010 01:12:54 +0000

The Sprint EVO will be the first Android-powered smartphone to support 4G, so it’s understandable why it has become one of the most-hyped devices this summer. Our friends from Phandroid have obtained a leaked document from Radio Shack which claims customers will be able to pre-order the HTC EVO 4G at The Shack “later this month”. This latest information matches up with earlier reports which placed the Evo launching in early June (6th or 13th).

Questions that remain include the retail price, data plan options, and final shipping firmware.

When Sprint unveiled the EVO at CTIA it was running Android 2.1, but some are beginning to speculate it could be one of the first devices to launch with Android 2.2. Hopefully more will be revealed at this month’s Google I/O developer conference, where we expect to get the first look at FroYo (Android 2.2).

Sprint currently offers some awesome deals ($69 for Everything Data with Any Mobile, Anytime) and I live in a 4G WiMAX city, so the EVO is starting to look mighty tempting. What does the group think? Do we have any takers planning a switch to Sprint for 4G glory?

Radio Shack to offer Cliq for $79

Taylor Wimberly — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:48:32 +0000

Black Friday is the busiest retail shopping day of the year. I’ve had the joy (haha) of working several of these days when I managed a CompUSA (R.I.P.). If you wake up at the crack of dawn, avoid being trampled to death, and are willing to wait in super long lines, you can find some awesome deals.

Radio Shack (aka The Shack) has really been pushing their cell phone business with TV spots and is planning a big sale on Black Friday. They will have the Motorola Cliq for $79.99 with a 2 year contract agreement. We are not really huge fans of the Cliq (full review coming this week), but it is still a pretty sweet deal for all the teenyboppers out there.

For a full list of cell phone deals on Black Friday, keep an eye on BlackFriday.info.

What the Cliq should have been sold for.

Thank you John Carli for the tip.