We had a few Nexus-related stories hit this afternoon, with a new Nexus 4 leak giving us some details on the phone’s specs, and an internal Staples document telling us that the 32GB Nexus 7 model right be replacing the 8GB variant. The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga will be launching in Japan as the NEC LaVie Y, and one expert is telling us today that there aren’t many visual differences between smartphone displays in 720p and 1080p.

Stanford Ovshinsky, who created the NiMH battery and helped developed many other products, passed away earlier this week, and YouTube launched Campaigns today, a feature that’s being called a “digital thermometer” for non-profits. Pricing for the rumored 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display could top $1,700, while the Skifta app for Android has been updated with support for Instagram and Dropbox. Moog unveiled its new LEV-96 “sensoriactuator” today, and we got word that T-Mobile is now requiring users to sign up for at least a 2GB data plan when taking home a new smartphone.

Microsoft unleashed the launch trailer for Halo 4 today, while EA CEO John Riccitiello was seen saying that social gaming isn’t dying. One unlucky Nintendo counterfeiter is likely headed to the slammer, Motorola has delivered a list of phones that won’t be getting an upgrade to Jelly Bean, and Rovio released a new teaser trailer for Angry Birds Star Wars today. Finally tonight, we have a new column from Don Reisinger for you to read through, in which he asks “How many tablets do you really need?” That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, we hope you have an excellent weekend!

The LEV-96 places two pickups under each string, which totals 12 pickups. The company says that each “pickup channel is capable of controlling any combination of 8 harmonics within each string simultaneously.” So, in this case, there are a total of 96 individual control systems handling up to 96 harmonics.

The whole system is powered by a processor and is controlled through touch-based sliders by the guitar player. This allows adjustments of intensity, harmonics, and note duration. There’s also other settings that allow you to change the arpeggio, tremolo, and other random harmonics. During playing, the system constantly evaluates “each string’s harmonic content and vibrational behavior.”

Sadly, Moog has only released photos of the device, so we don’t know what this thing sounds like, nor do we get to see it in action. However, the company’s annual Moogfest is coming up, so we’ll possibly be able to finally the see thing work its magic. However, Moog says that it’s only a rough concept so far and that there will be a lot more to come in the future.

[via Engadget]

The doodle features a keyboard, mixer, oscillators, filters, and envelope adjustment options. Once you’ve tweaked out your own funky tune, you can record it for sharing on Google+ or sending a link to it to your friends. If you’re curious to give it a try early, you can check out Google’s homepage for Australia, where the doodle is already up.

As for Moog, he was born on May 23, 1934 and created the synthesizer in 1964. His synthesizer was developed using transistors, something still quite new during that era. It has since had a tremendous impact on modern music and has been used by numerous musicians.

This device has no mass of odd controls, no confusing set of clicks and switches to speak of, instead only the basics and a set of value-added controls that are ultra easy to work with are included. You’ll be getting all the “growl, snarl, and low end” you’d be getting with any device from the Taurus family of bass synthesizers, only here in a small package that’s rugged enough to work with you anywhere! Have a peek at a highlight video to get you salivating:

Then get a load of these specifications, each of them better than the last and all included in the out-of-box experience you get with this 2012 model that’ll ring in at $679. This little beast will be coming out in the spring and will have you dialing in in no time flat.

• One knob per function interface for tweaking and creating new sounds on the fly. It also makes live performance a blast.
• Two oscillators with Sawtooth (Original Taurus) and Square wave-shapes for each VCO. Recreate sounds of the original Taurus with sawtooth waves, or create new sounds with square waves or a combination of both.
• 2 Mixer VCAs for VCO levels control of Oscillators 1 and 2.
• Moog Ladder Filter with adjustable resonance delivers classic Taurus 1 and 3 bass and boom.
•Two Minimoog style ADSR Envelope Generators for modulating VCF and VCA. The Decay and Release segments are controlled by the Decay knob, while the Release segment is enabled or disabled via Release On/Off switch.
• Midi-syncable LFO with Controls for Rate, VCO LFO Amount, and VCF LFO Amount
• DIN MIDI and MIDI over USB offer complete control of the Minitaur’s sound engine.
• Analog Control inputs for Pitch, Filter, Volume and Gate. Use an EP2 or CV to connect and control MInitaur with everything from Modulars to Moogerfoogers.
• External audio input for processing external audio through the Mixer and Filter section of Minitaur.
• Headphone output with 1/8″ connection.
• Compact rugged steel chassis that is built like a tank.

Then have a bonus in-depth look at the device as presented by Moog, the name you trust in modifying your sounds until they sound like they’re from a different dimension:

[via Moog Music]