Razer Edge pre-orders begin March 1st, price starts at $999

If you were intrigued by the Razer Edge's impressive ability to transform from a tablet, to a laptop, to a gaming console and you have a spare $1k lying around, it might be time to reach for your wallet. Razer has just announced its versatile Windows 8 device will be available for pre-order from its online store starting March 1st at 12:01am PST, with units shipping later that month. You can opt for the base Razer Edge with its Intel i5 processor and 64GB SSD or the higher-end Edge Pro with its Intel i7 processor and the option of either a 128GB or 256GB SSD. Accessories like the gamepad controller, home console dock and extended battery packs will be available for pre-order as well. However, those yearning for the optional keyboard dock will have to wait until "later this year in Q3" according to the press release. Pricing starts at $999 for the base model and may climb upwards of $1,500 if you decide to go for a maxed out Pro. Show full PR text

Nokia Lumia 928 possibly seen in Verizon's system, spoils few surprisesMobile

We know that Verizon is adding at least one more Nokia Lumia to its stable in the near future. However, there's been little in tangible evidence to suggest just what's coming to the carrier's Windows Phone line. A purported leak to Phone Arena from Verizon's internal product listings could help fill in that picture. It mentions a Lumia 928, and not much else -- but Nokia's naming customs immediately suggest that this will be Big Red's rumored variant of the Lumia 920, which is currently limited to AT&T in the US. The device isn't necessarily connected to the RM-860 we saw at the FCC, although it does support murmurs that Verizon wants at least some kind of improvement over the strictly middling Lumia 822. If the 928 is real, we're mostly left wondering whether or not it will come quickly enough to remain relevant.

Kantar Android back on top of US smartphone share in January with Sprint's helpMobile

Most US smartphone market share estimates last fall saw Apple retake the lead as it rode a wave of iPhone 5 sales. While there was always a question as to how long that trend would last, new data from Kantar Worldpanel supports beliefs that it was really more of a momentary pop. Android reportedly took back the lead at 49.4 percent of American sales between November and January, improving its overall position versus the same month last year. Not that everyone else was necessarily hurting -- iOS still had a 45.9 percent slice of the pie, and the continued Windows Phone 8 rollout took Microsoft up to 3.2 percent. The real wounds were dealt to a pre-transition BlackBerry and Nokia's outgoing Symbian. We seldom get an explanation as to why such shifts take place, but the researchers suggest that a significant chunk of the January switch-up can be assigned to one carrier: Sprint. Its decision to cut the Galaxy S III's contract price to $99 supposedly helped Samsung's flagship climb from 14 percent of Sprint sales in October to 39 percent over the more recent 3-month span. The Galaxy S III didn't play as much of a role elsewhere, Kantar says. Sprint's average contract pricing for Android also dipped to $95 at the same time, helping Samsung alone get 60.3 percent of the network's business as customers snapped up bargains. Big Yellow only played a small part in the overall US market, as you'll see in the detailed charts after the break, but it may have been large enough to tip the balance in OS preferences at the start of 2013. Show full PR text

Verizon And Motorola Announce FiOS TV Media Server That Can Record Six Shows At Once

Remember that FiOS home Media Server Verizon was talking about a year ago? Well, the company is finally starting to make things official, with an announcement and product details revealed today at CES. Launch date and pricing info still remain elusive, however.

Verizon and Motorola have jointly developed the new Media Server platform, which doesn’t have a snazzy name like “Apple TV” or “Google TV,” but is rather called the Motorola Medios+ VMS1100 Media Server and the Motorola Mediaos+ IPC1100 IP-based set-top. (Oh, you guys and your clever names!) But the naming isn’t as important here, since the idea is that this would one day just replace your Verizon set-top box.

In any event, the solution will address several pain points for current Verizon FiOS subscribers. The server will support up to five separate TVs, meaning each TV can be tuned into different programming without any conflicts. To be clear, that’s one TV connected to the Media Server itself, then up to four other set-top boxes.

Even if you don’t have a house filled with nearly half a dozen TVs, you’ll be able to take advantage of the Media Server because it will allow you to record up to six TV shows at the same time, which can then be viewed on all the connected TVs. Seriously, this would solve a huge issue in our house where we’re constantly interrupted with “conflicts detected” messages as multiple programs kick off recording at the same time. And if you’re not around to respond, Verizon’s DVRs currently default to your Series Manager lineup rankings, which is often a poor reflection of the TV you actually care about seeing since most people don’t take the time to re-order their programming by priority.

For all those extra recordings you’ll now end up with, the Media Server offers one terabyte of internal storage, which equates to 100 hours of HD content or weeks of SD programming. The IPC1100 client set-top box accesses that content over a coax cable, similar to how Verizon FiOS’s multi-room DVRs operate today. The client, however, has a lower profile than the current DVRs, as it’s described as being “as thin as paperback novel.”

The Media Server also includes performance improvements, says Verizon, which should hopefully make browsing the on-demand library and content guide a bit speedier. And it offers a feature that will let you shop from over 15 home shopping channels and purchase items using your remote. If only this functionality worked with TV commercials. Maybe one day?

Other widgets are available, too, as always, including the YouTube widget which lets you search for and view video on the TV. Previously, this widget required users run desktop software on their PC, but the Media Server will not.

The Media Server and client devices will run Motorola’s Medios+ DreamGallery software, which supports smart searches and personalization via favorites, customizable menus and recommendations. (The DreamGallery link points to a video showing software than looks different than what Verizon shows in its own video above, thankfully).

More importantly, well, perhaps to TechCrunch readers, is that the Media Server platform works with iPads, Xboxes, and Connected TVs. Verizon FiOS, in fact, recently launched an iPad app which lets viewers watch live TV while connected to the home’s Wi-Fi network. It’s not a bad experience, either, except for the fact that DVR recordings aren’t available – although that has to do with licensing issues, as opposed to Verizon’s choice.

While the iPad app was a great addition for FiOS users, Verizon notes that 80% of its customer base prefers watching TV content on TVs. That seems to be par for the course, Nielsen also noted today in a 2012 year-end wrap up report.

The delay to launch in the previously announced 2012 time frame may have had to do with issues surrounding the FCC rule mandating a Dec. 1, 2012 deadline for working with open home-networking standards. Verizon commented on TiVo’s request for a waiver of those rules, saying that the FiOS Media Server worked with standards from the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) and the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA), but those standards were a “work in progress.” Verizon also noted that DLNA’s next standard would probably not be approved until 2013. The FCC later extended the deadline for compliance to June 2, 2014, which paved the way for the FiOS Media Server’s launch in 2013.

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Verizon Communications Inc. delivers broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s largest wireless network that serves nearly 102 million customers nationwide. Verizon’s Wireline operations include Verizon Business and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers converged communications, information and entertainment services over Verizon’s fiber-optic network.

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Engadget Eurocast 021 - 04.04.13

An American has invaded the Eurocast! Okay, not really... We asked our amazing NYC-based editor, Joseph Volpe, to grace us with his lovely voice. Topics for this edition include the likely-to-be announced HTC & Facebook phone, Michael Dell's restructuring memo, OUYA (OH, YEAH) and our -- slightly NSFW -- ideas for April Fools' pranks. Right-o, this is the Engadget Eurocast. Hosts: Dan Cooper, Jamie Rigg, Joseph Volpe Producers: James Trew, Joe Pollicino Hear the Podcast 00:28 - Rumored & leaked HTC Facebook phone 22:04 - Dell CEO memo talks of a 'significant' boost to PCs and tablets in restructuring 30:54 - OUYA (backer edition) review 44:03 - April Fools' Day Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes [RSS] Add the Engadget Eurocast to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. Contact the podcast Follow us / send questions on Twitter: @danielwcooper, @itstrew, @thatmatsmith @shotsheriff,@stevetdent, @jmerigg