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Ask Engadget: Best digiframe / alarm clock combo?

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 11:30pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Ask Engadget, Digital Cameras, Displays, Misc. Gadgets

Frightening though it may be, the fall semester is just around the corner. You know what that means? You'll actually have to get up at -- wait for it -- an appointed time. Carissa, being the proactive student she is, posed this question:

"Going to school in the fall, I'm looking for the ideal alarm clock to beat the late nights and what not and noticed a few digital photo frames / alarm clocks. I want a decent alarm clock that has battery backup and good resolution on the screen for viewing photos. An auxiliary audio jack would be a major plus. Which one do you guys recommend that falls under the 200 dollar mark? Thanks a million!"

Look at that -- you all even received a thank you in advance! For those who've mastered the art of waking up on time and pretending to be a real live adult, which alarm clock / digiframe hybrid have you found to be supreme? Oh, and you know that question you've been hitting the snooze on? Yeah, send it on over to ask at engadget dawt com.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tether your iPhone, wirelessly. Maybe. (updated with video)

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 10:02pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Cellphones

We're not sure how this one got past Apple's App Store censors, but the clever kids at Nullriver have released what appears to be the first tethering solution for the iPhone. The $10 NetShare app is just a SOCKS proxy that links an ad-hoc WiFi network to the iPhone's 3G or EDGE connection -- and if we could get it to work, we'd probably think it was a fine, if hacky, solution to a major limitation of Steve's baby. As it stands, though, the instructions are pretty sparse, and while we can get the app to recognize a connection, we're not able to actually load anything. We're not sure how long this one's going to last -- anyone else willing to give it a shot before it gets yanked?

[Thanks, Zoli; Warning, link opens iTunes]

Update: Aaaaand it's offline. Shocking.

Update 2: We've added our own video hands-on after the break.

Continue reading Tether your iPhone, wirelessly. Maybe. (updated with video)

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Logitech to produce "premium" Guitar Hero: World Tour instruments

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 8:36pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Logitech_s_premium_Guitar_Hero_World_Tour_instruments'; If you didn't think every single third-party peripheral provider would try to snag a piece of the band game pie, we guess you thought wrong, huh? With outfits like Mad Catz and Ion already jumping in, it was only a matter of time before Logitech threw on its tightest jeans, blacked out its blond hair and threw up some horns. Details are admittedly scarce, but the company has promised to provide "premium instruments" for Guitar Hero: World Tour on PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and the Wii. Rockers can expect the new gear to start shipping "later this year," though prices, designs and pretty much anything else of importance remains a mystery.

[Via NintendoWiiFanboy]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA says Phoenix lander is sampling water on Mars

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 7:39pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Yep, just like we'd heard, the Phoenix lander has identified water in a soil sample it collected in Mars earlier, and NASA's extended the mission for another 90 days to go look for more. There's no analysis of the ice yet, but it doesn't look like there's any organic materials in the sample, and it'll take another three to four weeks before there's any more data to reveal. Hopefully that means we'll be packing up our silver go-go boots and taking off for our fabulous future lives on Mars in a month, but we'll see how things go.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Figuring out which NVIDIA GPUs are defective -- it's a lot

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 7:13pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Laptops

So now that HP's joined Dell in releasing information on which laptops have those defective NVIDIA GPUs, we can sort of piece together which chips are faulty -- and just as had been rumored, it looks like basically every Geforce 8600M and 8400M chip is affected. That's not good news for NVIDIA, which has been saying that only "previous-generation" chips were problematic -- unless the chipmaker is planning on updating the hugely popular 8x00 series sometime, say, now, that's not exactly true, now is it? Other affected chips appear to be in the GeForce Go 7000 and 6000 lines, as well as the Quadro NVS 135M and the Quadro FX 360M, but that's just looking at model numbers, and we can't be exactly sure. We'd say that if you've got a machine with any one of these GPUs, it might be wise to call in and see what your laptop maker is going to do -- and it would be smart for NVIDIA to come right out and say exactly how big and how bad this problem really is.

Read - Dell list of machines and patch
Read - HP list of machines, extended warranty infoPermalink | Email this | Comments

Dell Vostro 2510 now configurable online

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 6:34pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Laptops

It looks like those already sold on Dell's slightly less business-like Vostro 2510 laptop don't have to wait too long to get their hands on one, as the just-leaked laptop is now configurable on Dell's website with an estimated ship time of 3 to 5 days. As we had heard, the base price starts at a reasonable $899, which includes a 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo T5670 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and a better than usual 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS graphics card. If that's not enough, you can push things up past the $2,000 mark pretty easily with a faster processor, a max 4GB of RAM, an Blu-ray drive, and other premium add-ons. Hit up the link below to get started.

[Via Electronista] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Team overclocks Core 2 Quad to 5.1GHz, claims world record -- too bad it's not

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 6:02pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Desktops

So we hate to break it to the good guys at Tom's Hardware, but while we're impressed that they managed to overclock a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Quad 6600 to 5.1GHz using a cryogenic cooling system, it's not nearly close to the world record they're claiming -- we've seen P4's at up to 8.18GHz, and just a couple months ago someone jacked a Core 2 Extreme QX9775 on a Skulltrail board to 6GHz. Still, it's always fun to watch people pour liquid nitrogen over a mobo -- video after the break.

[Via PC World]

Continue reading Team overclocks Core 2 Quad to 5.1GHz, claims world record -- too bad it's not

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Casio gets fancy with LED-infused Tough Movement

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 5:16pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Wearables

Automatic movement? Sweeping hands? Pish posh. Casio's looking to impress a few watch aficionados itself with the all new Tough Movement. Designed to slip inside its Oceanus and G-Shock series of timepieces, the new movement "features a high shock resistance and a hand position correction function using LED." During the 55th minute of each hour, the movement receives time calibration signals from six bases located throughout the world; if the hands are off at all, it automatically corrects things to ensure that you're never a moment off. Reportedly, the first wristwatch to utilize the technology will be the GS-1200, which is currently slated to hit Japan this September for a stiff ¥42,000 ($390).

[Via OhGizmo]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AOKI's deodorizing suits keep you so fresh, so clean (clean)

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 4:43pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Wearables

We're not even going to front -- some seriously bizarre air conditioning-related gizmos have emerged from the great nation of Japan. The latest concoction to deal with heat wave side effects actually has nothing to do with keeping folks cool; rather, AOKI's deodorant suits are designed to keep businessmen suffering from Hyperhidrosis adequately fresh. Most of the details are lost in (machine) translation, but all you need to know is that these outfits "suck out the smell of sweat using a silver ion." Yeah, that's totally worth the ¥61,950 ($575) asking price.

[Via CrunchGear, image courtesy of ListVerse]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Researchers find ways to squeeze light into spaces never thought possible

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 4:11pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

It looks like a team of UC Berkeley researchers led by mechanical engineering professor Xiang Zhang (pictured) have found a way to squeeze light into tighter spaces than ever though possible, which they say could lead to breakthroughs in the fields of optical communications, miniature lasers, and optical computers. The key to this new technique, it seems, is the use of a "hybrid" optical fiber consisting of a very thin semiconductor wire placed close to a smooth sheet of silver, which effectively acts as a capacitor that traps the light waves in the gap between the wire and the metal sheet and lets it slip though spaces as tiny as 10 nanometers (or more than 100 times thinner than current optical fibers). That's apparently as opposed to previous attempts that relied on surface plasmonics, in which light binds to electrons and allows it to travel along the surface of metal, which only proved effective over short distances. While all of this is still in the theoretical stage, the researchers seem to think they're on to something big, with research associate Rupert Olten saying that this new development "means we can potentially do some things we have never done before. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

KNGT offers up Windows XP-powered icom MK1 carputer

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 3:40pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops, Transportation

We genuinely hope you don't value your dash very much, because a great deal of it will vanish if you opt to install KNGT's icom MK1.The full-fledged car computer wows passengers and drivers alike with its 6.95-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, on-screen QWERTY keyboard, wireless connectivity and mobile TV (T-DMB) tuner. Furthermore, you'll find a 40GB / 80GB hard drive, upwards of 2GB of RAM, a few USB 2.0 ports, a 1.6GHz Intel CPU and Windows XP running the show. You know all those threats you made when you were younger about heading out and just living in your '79 Riviera? Following through just got a whole lot easier.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hacker stuffs a wired 360 controller in a DualShock 3 shell

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 3:18pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Gaming

Console modders out there have been doing crazy things with controllers for a while now, and while this latest piece isn't as crazy as the one-handed Access Controller, it's still good for a double-take -- check out this wired 360 controller shoehorned into a DualShock3 shell, complete with green LEDs. THe modder, RDC, says it works great, rumble included, but that there's no headset connector and the L2 and R2 triggers aren't analog -- both things he's hoping to fix in the next version. We'd suggest keeping the DS3 buttons as well -- while the colorful 360 buttons look pretty hot against that black case, we'd rather break this thing out and blow minds stealth-style.

[Thanks, Aguiluz]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tesla's in-car charging computer gets touched on video

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 2:41pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

Your retinas have been treated to plenty of external shots of Tesla's Roadster, but have you ever stopped to wonder what kind of excitement sat just southwest of the steering wheel? CNET's UK branch managed to get their camcorder within a Roadster parked on display over in Britain, and what they found was a rather robust interface that enables owners to get all sorts of involved with how and when the car charges. The representative did note that typical navigation functions were controlled via the JVC head unit, but the small panel just under the gauges enables motorists to control a number of aspects in relation to charging. There's even a guide that explains which choices are cheaper and more beneficial for the long-term life of the battery. Have a look at the video in the read link.

[Via Digg]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sylvania's G netbook gets some specs

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 2:09pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Laptops

We weren't expecting much out of Sylvania's followup to its random Cloudbook rebrand, but some specs on the new netbook just hit the wires, and they're pretty respectable -- especially if this thing comes in at the $299 price target. Sure, it's still ugly, but you'll be getting a 1.6GHz Intel Atom, 1GB of RAM, an 80GB disk, and an 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 screen with an integrated webcam with either XP or Ubuntu Netbook Remix, which is a pretty hot deal -- you listening, ASUS?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nokia dropping phone prices, going in for the kill

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 1:35pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia's doing far better than rivals like Sony Ericsson and Motorola, but it's not going to let up while it's ahead -- the cellphone maker is reportedly cutting prices across the board in order to increase pressure on the competition. The biggest cuts are on the 5310/ 5610 music phones and the 8GB N81, but most other handsets have seen price decreases of up to 10 percent as well. The move is something of a surprise, with one analyst calling it a "Crazy Ivan," which is probably the first time The Hunt For Red October has ever been employed to describe the actions of a multinational corporation. So, Espoo -- does this mean the Tube is going to be crazy cheap, or what?

[Via Phone Scoop]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

60GB Xbox 360 now shipping from Amazon

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 1:10pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Gaming

A few 60GB Xbox 360s may have already slipped out to retailers (as evidenced above), but if you're not interested in running around trying to track one down, you can now snag one from Amazon and rest assured that it'll ship out post haste. If you've been following this SKU's every move, you'll notice that's a few days ahead of the August 4th date that Amazon once listed, and the August 6th date that Circuit City still does -- but hey, we're not complaining.

[Thanks, Michael]

Update: Microsoft's Major Nelson has now confirmed that there is no official street date for the new 60GB model, "they'll just appear in the retail channels." Is this what happens when Bill G is out of the picture? Next thing we know Microsoft will start showing up late for parties and asking to sleep on our couch. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

FujiFilm FinePix Z200fd gets stateside release and price, couples beware

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 12:48pm EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Digital Cameras

The 10-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch CCD, 5x image stabilized optical-zoom lensed FinePix Z200fd is finally coming to the states in September for a price of $299.95. Fuji has kept all the consumer-friendly features like dual image stabilization, dual shot mode, and a novel group timer mode that only takes the picture once it sees four faces in the frame. For you budding journos, a potentially handy blog mode automatically resizes images to 640x480 for all your important updates. And let's not forget about the couple timer, which waits to take a shot until the lovebirds are deemed close enough.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Creative rolls out (working) driver update for X-Fi cards

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 12:26pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

While at least one enterprising individual did his best to get Creative's X-Fi sound cards to play nice with Vista, Creative wasn't exactly keen on that idea and apparently decided to have a go at updating its drivers itself instead (go figure). Among other things, the new, long overdue drivers supposedly fix the problematic Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, and they add DVD Audio playback, which previously worked under Windows XP but not in Vista -- you know, the little things. Hit up the link below to find the link to the drivers themselves, which work with all X-Fi cards except the X-Fi Extreme Audio, which is clearly so "Extreme" it doesn't need driver updates.

[Thanks, Bamboo]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony introduces another hot China-only PMP, the PMX-M80

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 12:01pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Sony's China-only PMPs have always been a little more interesting than the gear we see Stateside, and the new PMX-M80 is no exception. The 4.3-inch touchscreen player packs 16GB of storage and decent codec support into a sleek white box, as well as a new mapping application that's apparently a novelty in China. Too bad this thing won't ever make it over here -- although at 2,260 yuan ($331), it probably wouldn't shake things up too much.

[Via PMP Today]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dell Vostro 2510 laptop pops up in flier, $899 for Core 2 Duo and 256MB GPU

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 11:17am EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Laptops

The Inspiron-like Dell Vostro laptops have been haunting us for weeks now, but the mystery deepens with this Vostro 2510 that was spotted in a flier. The August 2008 Dell Business flier reads as such: "Coming this month: New! Dell Vostro 2510. Style meets performance." As far as listed specs, we've got an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160GB hdd, 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GPU, and integrated webcam. Pretty decent specs for the $899 price tag, we gotta say. The URL listed in the photo is indeed for the Vostro lappies, but the 2510 is, as of right now, mysteriously absent.

UPDATE: The Canadian Dell site has some official Vostro 2510 information and specs. [Thanks, jorvay!]

[Thanks, Dirk]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sega adds Dream Hamster to its Dream Pets collection, girls say "kawaiiii!"

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 10:35am EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Robots

Sega Toys has been up to all sorts of shenanigans lately, what with its rolling speaker robots, kissing bots, and workout headsets. Now the Japanese toy maker has drummed up a new addition to its Dream Pets collection. The Dream Hamster, a tiny furry thing that moves when you hold it, will be available in Japan on August 8th for around $11, and Sega fully expects to win the hearts of lonely women everywhere with these balls of puffy love. We mean, c'mon: it's a furry cute thing that wiggles. What's not to like? [Warning: read link is a PDF]

[Via Akihabara News]
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Yahoo! offers up coupons and refunds to DRM server-shutdown victims

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 9:45am EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Portable Audio

If you woke up this morning worried about what Yahoo! is planning to do for its Music Store customers who are about to be left in the lurch with its DRM server shut-down, have no fear. Yahoo! has announced that it will offer customers coupons or refunds for those songs you bought. Basically, you'll get a coupon that you can use at RealNetworks Inc.'s Rhapsody download service. Their songs, of course, are DRM-free. For those of you who have "serious problems with this arrangement" (their words, not ours), refunds will be available. The servers go down on September 30, so start combing your collections, kids.

[Thanks, JC]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iTunes 7.7.1 is out... and then nothing

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 9:14am EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

That's right chicks and dudes, iTunes 7.7.1 is now available for your downloading pleasure. Does it snap the App Store liberties you've been taking? Will it enhance your audio? Is it spying on you and your loved ones? Only Apple knows for sure.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lenovo's X200 pictured, compared, measured, feels inadequately small

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 8:28am EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Laptops

If you've been looking for more information about -- and pictures of -- Lenovo's diminutive X200, you've come to the right place. Crave got their hands on the laptop, compared it with its bigger brothers, and even supplied some measuring tape for the size-conscious like some poor, chopping-block-destined farm animal. For review, the 3.5-pound machine sports the Centrino 2 platform, measures just 0.8-inches thick, runs around $1,200, and early reviews are positive.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Camera-based concept turns any surface into a DJ deck

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 7:14am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

DJ MoCAP, master of time and white space, has developed a camera-based controller for the TRAKTOR Scratch DJ System. Just sketch the deck onto a piece of white paper and turn any high contrast surface into a mixing table. There seems to be a bit of latency but overall the system looks fairly responsive. Why? Why not, we say. Video demonstration after the break.

[Thanks, Brian]

Continue reading Video: Camera-based concept turns any surface into a DJ deck

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TARDIS MAME cabinet makes even Daleks swoon

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 6:31am EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

There are all sorts of things into which one can stuff a MAME machine, but why not build one into a TARDIS? The Dr. Who blue police box is surely the stuff of TV nerds, but when one combines that with emulated arcade games, well, geekvana surely swirls and creates a vortex of pure bliss for all to enjoy. Or maybe it creates uncomfortable silences. Or whatever. What's really important is that the machine's construction is detailed step-by-step in what is easily one of the most impressive cabinets we've seen since that one with the keg. Or that one build into an oscilloscope. Wait... was is the one in the dinner table? Ah, we give up.

[Via Joystiq]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony begins accepting PlayStation Home beta applications

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 5:51am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

After a long long delay from that March 2007 announcement, Sony Japan just opened its doors to applications for the closed beta testing of PlayStation Home. Sony expects to drop 10,000 gamers (18 years old and up) into the virtual world when it launches in beta sometime in late August. Closed beta tests are due in other markets (er hem, the US) at about the same time with an open beta coming sometime later in the year. Lucky beta testers will be able to explore the 3D world and play games like PacMan in the Namco Museum, both of which are pictured after the break.

[Via Impress]

Continue reading Sony begins accepting PlayStation Home beta applications

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NASA to hold Phoenix press conference tomorrow, water on the brain?

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 4:28am EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Robots

It's been a while since we've reported about the doings of our robotic friend on Mars, but a press conference tomorrow (Thursday) could uncover Phoenix's first positive report of water on the red planet. NASA's conference will be held at 2 p.m. Eastern Thursday and we're hearing that Phoenix Mission is ready to report that water ice is not only confirmed, but the research robot has dug some ice out of a trench, heated it, and confirmed that it is, in fact water. If this all holds true, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory will be able to determine whether or not the atmosphere could sustain life and lead to manned missions to Mars. We call shotgun.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

FireWire 1600 and 3200 approved by IEEE

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 3:32am EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Peripherals

While FireWire 800 gear is still pretty rare and we've only seen one piece of FireWire 1600 kit, the IEEE is still pushing the standard forward -- it's just approved the 1394-2008 spec, which includes both FireWire 1600 and 3200. Interestingly, the spec is fully backwards compatible with both 400 and 800 ports, but it remains to be seen which connector gets used more prevalently. We'll find out in October, when the spec is made available to manufacturers -- looks like that controversial 2010 launch of USB 3.0 just got upstaged a little, huh?

[Via CrunchGear]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

ASUS prepping "high-end" Eee PC S-series for September

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 3:04am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Laptops

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/tech_news/ASUS_prepping_high_end_Eee_PC_S_series_for_September'; Remember the ASUS Eee PC roadmap we peeped a few days back? Right, the one that lists the new Ultimate S-series and Pro Fashion Eee PCs amongst the 23 models. Turns out both categories are planned for a 2008 launch with specs like dual-core Atom processors, 120GBs of hard disk, and 32GB SSDs. This according to ASUS president, Jerry Shen. The first Eee PC with a 32GB SSD (wink wink Buffalo) will launch in late September and feature a 10-inch, 16:9 aspect LED backlit display and battery life of about 4-5 hours. As members of the Exquisite and Extremely slim and light S-series, these Eee(ee) PCs will cost between $700 to $900 with the "high-end market" in mind. Funny, we didn't know there was a high-end to the race to the bottom.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

LG's BD300 Network Blu-ray player to stream Netflix in September

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 1:35am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Portable Video

var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/LG_s_New_Blu_ray_Player_to_Stream_Netflix'; We've been following the rumor since January, today it's official: LG's BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player will begin streaming Netflix movies in the US this September. The player will cost "well under $500" and allow Netflix members to stream more than 12,000 standard definition TV and films through the device at no additional increase to their monthly paid subscriptions. Members will use the Netflix website to add movies or TV to their individual instant queues. Movies will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds when selected from the TV where users can browse, make selections, read synopses, rate movies, and fast-forward / rewind video streams using the BD300's remote control. While specs on the player itself are scarce, we do know that it supports BD Live and LG's SimpLink technology to integrate easily with LG TVs and AV products. One thing's for sure, with this deal announced and those with Roku and the Xbox 360 in the bag, it looks like Netflix is grown-up and ready for the digital age.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Portugal signs up for 500,000 Intel Classmate laptops

Posted: July 31st, 2008, 12:37am EDT by Nilay Patel

Looks like Intel's clearing out all its Classmate inventory in preparation for that new model -- it just inked a deal with Portugal for 500,000 of the chubby gray laptops. The Classmates will be manufactured in Portugal as part of the deal, and the final subsidized cost to students will vary based on each family's income, with a max of €50 ($78). Kids should be getting their new machines at the start of the new school year, so it looks like things should be moving along quickly here.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ridax first company to overprice iPhone 3G charging adapter

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 10:40pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Cellphones

Although the 30-pin Dock connector in the iPhone 3G looks the same as it has since it was introduced in the 2G iPod, it's different in one important (and maddening) way -- it doesn't support charging the older FireWire charging pins, only the newer USB method. That means a whole host of older chargers and docks don't work with the iPhone 3G -- and it also means that we'll be seeing a lot of adapters like this one from Ridax make the scene. Hopefully other manufacturers won't see fit to charge a whopping $40 for two connectors and a resistor like Ridax, but if you're desperate enough to drop two Jacksons on this thing, you'll also be able to charge through the built-in mini-USB connector on the side. We'll wait, though -- we expect to see some cheaper, smaller options on the table by the time this thing ships in September.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft's Midori -- a future without Windows

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 10:16pm EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Networking

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/microsoft/Microsoft_s_Midori_a_future_without_Windows'; According to a report, Microsoft isn't just looking at the next version of Windows (no, not Mojave) for future OS possibilities, but is looking beyond the Windows architecture altogether with a project known as Midori. The new OS is still in the "incubation" phase (which puts it slightly closer to market than R&D projects), but Microsoft has admitted to its existence, and the Software Daily Times says at least one team in Redmond is actively working on the new architecture.

The basis for the platform centers around research related to Microsoft's Singularity project, and envisions a distributed environment where applications, documents, and connectivity are blurred in a cloud-computing phantasmagoria which can be run natively or hosted across multiple systems. The researchers are working to create a concurrent / parallel distribution of resources, as well as a method of handling applications across separate machines -- religiously-dubbed the Asynchronous Promise Architecture -- which will set the stage for a backwards-compatible operating system built from the ground up, with networks of varying size in mind. Says the SD Times, "The Midori documents foresee applications running across a multitude of topologies, ranging from client-server and multi-tier deployments to peer-to-peer at the edge, and in the cloud data center. Those topologies form a heterogeneous mesh where capabilities can exist at separate places." Like it technical? Hit the read link for an in-depth look at the possible shape of Microsoft's future.

[Via Yahoo!]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

plankton's nailed USB drive: perfect for handymen, frustrated computer owners

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 8:53pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

Be honest with yourself: has there ever been a time when you felt like taking a hammer to a computer of yours? Yes, of course. Apparently some of the clever minds at plankton figured out a way to let people live out that fantasy without totally destroying their partially functional machine. The "nailed" USB flash drive features 2GB of internal storage, an unmistakable design and a rather huge head to ensure that even novice nailers don't miss the target. Of course, it doesn't take any responsibility for damage incurred by inserting said drive in the previously referenced manner, but a few light taps should suffice in most instances. Pick one up now in galvanized or blued (okay, not really) for €29.50 ($46).

[Via technabob]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microwave process could cut cost of lithium-ion batteries

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 7:47pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/general_sciences/Microwave_Process_Could_Cut_Cost_Of_Lithium_ion_Batteries'; While there's plenty of folks out there focused on making lithium-ion batteries safer and longer-lasting, there's also thankfully some dedicated to making 'em cheaper, which is especially welcome when we're talking about the expensive batteries powering cars. Among those in the latter camp is University of Texas at Austin professor Arumugam Manthiram, who has devised a method of using microwaves to heat a concoction of commercially available chemicals, which ultimately results in the Rorschach test of rod-shaped particles of lithium iron phosphate pictured above. While the use of lithium iron phosphate instead of the more commonly used lithium cobalt oxide apparently cuts back on the total amount of energy the batteries can store, it is apparently particularly well-suited to delivering large bursts of power, which should make the batteries ideal for use in hybrid vehicles. What's more, while the actual cost of the materials may not be much cheaper than other solutions, the sheer speed at which Manthiram's process works could allow for higher production rates from the same amount of equipment, which should result in cheaper batteries by the time they roll off the assembly line.

[Via Daily Tech]
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Every Neonode N2 recalled due to reception problems

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 7:05pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Cellphones

Hey, you remember the Neonode N2? The OG full-face touchscreen phone? Well, better cherish those memories, since every N2 is being recalled due to "reception problems." A fix is apparently ready to go, but seeing as we haven't heard a peep from Neonode since it promised us a totally new OS and handsets back at CES, we've got a feeling you might be better off swapping out handsets for a while -- besides, who still uses EDGE?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

More netbooks on the way from Lenovo, Sylvania and Intel

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 6:52pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Laptops

It looks like the number of netbook hold-outs just keeps on dwindling, with Lenovo and Sylvania now entering the fray, and Intel coming back for another kick at the can. While details are light on Lenovo's offering, the company is reportedly looking at launching it as soon of September of this year, and it'll apparently be targeting both consumer and enterprise markets with it. Sylvania, on the other hand, is going squarely after the average user with its new "g netbook MESO" (pictured above), which it'll apparently be offering in addition to its recently announced Cloudbook iteration. This one is said to boast an 8.9-inch display, along with the usual 1.6GHz Atom processor, an 80GB hard drive, a built-in card reader, a webcam, and your choice of Windows XP or Ubuntu Netbook Remix for an OS. No word on a price just yet, but the lack of SSD would seem to suggest it'll be on the lower end of things. Lastly, we have word that Intel is already hard at work on the third version of its Classmate PC, although the company apparently isn't going any farther than to say that it'll have a "new look and feel," and that it'll get both hardware and software upgrades. And really, is there anything more you need to know than that?

Read - Out of the Box, "Sylvania to enter expanding netbook market"
Read - DigiTimes, "Lenovo to launch netbook by the end of September" [Via Electronista]
Read - Crave, "Third-generation Classmate PC on its way" Permalink | Email this | Comments

T-Mobile 3G service coming October 1 to 27 markets

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 6:23pm EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Cellphones

We were already pretty sure this would be happening, but it's looking real now, if 8.5 x 11-inch pieces of paper taped to a window is any indication: T-Mobile is rolling out its 3G service on October 1 to 27 select cities. The above poster was spotted by TmoNews "outside a meeting" and, as you can see, it says, "10.1.08 3G is Coming." As far as those launch cities, we have a handy little list for you after the break. By the way, it's entirely possible T-Mobile 3G is already live in your market, though, so don't let this confuse you too much. It could just mean you're next, or, at least by October 1.

Continue reading T-Mobile 3G service coming October 1 to 27 markets

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$10 Indian laptop to actually cost $100, anyone surprised?

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 6:10pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Laptops

Come on, you didn't really believe that a $10 laptop was even remotely possible, did you? Yeah, didn't think so -- and unsurprisingly, that project sponsored by the Indian government to develop a low-cost laptop actually has a price target of $100, not $10. Chalk another one up to bad transcription, we suppose, although getting the price of a reasonable machine down to $100 won't be all that easy, either -- any bets on where the final price of this thing ends up?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Penguin United offers its own quad Wiimote charging station

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 5:36pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Two 4x Wiimote charging stations in a week? Um, okay. If, for whatever reason, the Nintendo-licensed charger we saw just days ago wasn't right for you (read: too expensive to import), we've got yet another option for you to consider. Penguin United -- which gets brownie points on name alone -- has just unveiled the Quad Charge Station for Wii, which utilizes Li-ion batteries that promise 13 full hours of playtime from each Wiimote. Additionally, it can juice up your controllers in just 4 hours, and there's even LEDs to inform you of how close to full each one is. The real kicker? The colored Wiimote straps that PU tosses in -- huzzah! Include one in your next party for $44.99.

[Via IGN]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hitachi Starboard FX 77 Duo white board gets demoed on video

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 5:02pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets

Hitachi's StarBoard FX 77 Duo multi-touch white board seemed impressive enough when the company announced it late last year, but if you've been waiting to see one in action before you transported your classroom into the future, Hitachi has now got you covered with a couple of demonstration videos. In this case, Hitachi has paired the rig up with its CP-A100 short-throw projector for maximum showoffiness, although it seems you can use it with any projector of your choosing. That, of course, also means that there's no electronics in the board itself, with the necessary cameras and other electronics contained in the sensor bar at the top -- which, as our presenter helpfully informs us, could come in handy if you want to drill a hole through it. Head on past the break for the full show.

Continue reading Hitachi Starboard FX 77 Duo white board gets demoed on video

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Olympus' 10MP EVOLT E-520 DSLR gets reviewed

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 4:39pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Although we were able to take an all-too-brief peek at Olympus' EVOLT E-520 late last month, the results weren't exactly indicative of what this thing is capable of -- you know, considering the unit in question was defective. The cats over at PhotographyBLOG managed to secure a fully functional unit, and results were much, much improved. Although reviewers didn't go quite so far as to call it the perfect camera, it sure came close in their eyes. Aside from the depressingly small viewfinder and the low quantity of AF sensors, critics found the unit quite hard to bash. Overall, it managed to snag a stellar 4.5 out of 5 rating, and better still, it was said to be just the thing for "beginners and enthusiasts alike." Taking Olympus more seriously in your search for a suitable DSLR just might be in order.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report claims iPod, MacBook, and MacBook Pro shortages coming... along with new gear

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 4:15pm EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Laptops, Portable Audio, Portable Video

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/Apple_Hints_Of_iPod_MacBook_MacBook_Pro_Shortages_Coming'; According to a report from AppleInsider, the Cupertino giant is issuing "advisement bulletins" to some of its channel partners suggesting they get their hands on iPods and MacBooks / MacBook Pros while the gettin's good. It seems that Apple is telling resellers to place orders for a four-week block's worth of top-selling iPods, saying that within the next seven days supplies will become extremely limited, while recommending a three-week supply of MacBooks and MacBook Pros. The article claims that this practice is familiar to third-party sellers, and indicates Apple is ramping up for its holiday season (and new iPods and MacBooks / Pros, presumably). Of course, right now this is just whispers in high school hallways, but we can promise you this: Apple will be selling something this holiday season. You have our word.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pure debuts ONE Elite DAB / FM radio

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 4:02pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

There are few more prolific DAB proponents out there than the folks at Pure, and it looks like the company isn't showing any signs of letting up, with it now introducing the ONE Elite radio to fill in its lower-end offerings. True to that status, this one keeps its features as basic as its appearance, with just DAB and FM radio and none of that fancy internet radio on offer, but you will get a line-in jack to accommodate the audio device of your choice, and even a USB port, although that's apparently only used to provide updates to the radio itself. Like its other recent radios, this one is also manufactured to Pure's own EcoPlus standards, and it's available in your choice of black or white, each of which will set you back £70 (or $140).

[Via Tech Digest]
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Samsung Instinct gets its first firmware update: too little, too late

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 3:30pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

Quite a few Instinct owners were giving Samsung / Sprint one option: crank out a firmware update to show that they cared before the 30-day test period expired, or deal with all that messy RMA paperwork. Unfortunately for the aforesaid firms, the handset's first update is coming ten days after that date (at least for the earliest of adopters), and initial reports suggest that glaring problems still exist. Some users are suggesting that Sprint TV is less pixelated than before and that overall snappiness is improved, but the patently awful browser still remains at 1.0 (and thus just as awful). Look, when the change that gets most people jazzed is the battery meter's newfound ability to hit 100% (and not just 90% as in the past), something is seriously wrong. Anyone else find any nuggets of goodness in the new update?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: A bigger, more life-changing update looks to be planned -- hang tight, Instinct owners!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Heart Robot loves to be hugged, express emotions

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 3:03pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Robots

Here's your afternoon dose of cuteness, ready or not. David McGoran's Heart Robot has made its way into London's Science Museum, and for good reason. This intelligent robot not only possesses a face with moving eyes and an external heart that blinks depending on what's happening, but it actually encourages people to hug and cuddle it like a real human. Seen as being "among the first robots to signify a new era of emotional machines used for medical treatment and enjoyment," this creature could one day become a mainstay in nursing homes where the elderly could interact with it and hopefully benefit in some metaphysical manner. Check out the read link for a video oozing with adorableness.

[Via TimesOnline]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Netgear rolls out Wireless-N Upgrade Kit

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 2:37pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Wireless

Netgear looks to be doing its part to bring every last home network into the Wireless-N fold, with the company now rolling out its appropriately-named Wireless-N Upgrade Kit, which includes a 5GHz Wireless-N HD Access Point (WNHDE111) and that RangeMax Dual-Band Wireless-N USB adapter (WNDA3100) that made an appearance at the FCC earlier this year. Like most such kits, the included Access Point can function either as a standalone bridge (including with a game console or media receiver) or as a full-fledged 5GHz Wireless-N access point when it's connected to an existing router or gateway. There's also not many surprises with the USB adapter, although it does boast some "patented metamaterial micro-antennas," which promise to out-do other non-metamaterial 802.11n adapters. If that's got you sold, you can pick up the kit right now for $149.

[Via BIOS]
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Northrop Grumman's aircraft-mounted laser moves forward in testing

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 2:10pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

We're beginning to think the US government is playing tricks with our head. Let's see, in late 2004, a Boeing anti-missile airborne laser achieved first light; in October of 2006, a laser-equipped 747-400F was deemed ready for testing; in January of 2007, an MD-10 with Northrop Grumman's Guardian anti-missile system took off; now, we're back to the testing stage? Something doesn't add up. Whatever the case, we're being fed information that leads us to think that the US Air Force's Airborne Laser has moved on to some "other" stage of testing. More specifically, engineers are making sure its "sequencing and control" functions are operating normally. Unsurprisingly, we're left in the dark as to when this thing will see action (again?), but consider our interest piqued for a reason The Man didn't intend.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Permalink for 'Engadget/2008/07/30/AT_amp_T_tells_the_FCC_it_ll_cut_off_wireless_P2P_users'

AT&T tells the FCC it'll cut off wireless P2P users

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 1:39pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Cellphones

It looks like the FCC's investigation into Comcast's questionable traffic management is turning up a number of interesting details, the latest of which comes from AT&T's Robert Quinn, who told FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell that, "use of a P2P file sharing application would constitute a material breach of contract for which the user's service could be terminated." Quinn was apparently quick to add, however, that AT&T hasn't yet kicked anyone off the network for using P2P. Still, Commissioner McDowell apparently intends to use AT&T's statement to argue against the FCC's forthcoming order that contends Comcast secretly downgraded P2P traffic, saying that Comcast's throttling of traffic isn't as bad as AT&T blocking it all together. The merits of that argument aside, as TechDirt points out, given that AT&T's beef with P2P is that it makes use of "continuous (rather than bursty) transmissions at high data rates," their position does open up a number of interesting questions about streaming apps like Pandora, which are similarly data-intensive but, last we checked, still working just fine on AT&T's network.

[Via Tech Dirt]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

GamePark's GP3X leaked in spy shots, called the 'Wiz'

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 1:08pm EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Gaming

Apparently, a leaked shot of GamePark's next iteration of the GP2X -- the GP3X (not to be confused with the Pandora project) -- has gone and gotten itself leaked onto the interblogs. According to a post on GP2X News, the new system (which is being called the "Wiz") isn't set in stone, but will contain some form of a system-on-a-chip, and apparently will allow GP2X emulators to run after a bit of recompiling. There's not a whole lot of information available right now, but we'll keep you posted -- in the meantime, enjoy the photo.

[Via GP2X News]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

WowWee's Femisapien gets reviewed, does want to play forever and ever

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 12:46pm EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Robots

If you've been on the fence about whether or not you want to spring for a WowWee Femisapien, perhaps a thorough, multi-page review would help. If you truck on over to robotsrule, you'll find an ultra-in-depth look at the female automaton, with explorations into the bot's interface, modes and behaviors, and a variety of other Femisapien idiosyncrasies. The conclusion? We'd have to say the reviewer is pretty much in full gush-mode over the new toy, calling it a "blockbuster hit" that's "destined to take over the world." We assume by "take over the world" they mean "obliterate humanity."Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

ASUS USB-N11 Wireless N USB adapter ships with EZLink

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 12:21pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, Peripherals, Wireless

We'll admit, ASUS has us scratching our noggins on this one. Just last month, the outfit coaxed us into believing that EZLink was simply its way of saying DisplayLink. Now, however, it seems that it's a blanket term being used anytime ASUS "simplifies" something. Whatever the case may be, the outfit has introduced its newest Wireless N USB adapter, the USB-N11. Sporting integrated support for Mac, Windows and Linux-based computers, this draft-N compliant device also features a WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) button -- this is where the EZLink comes in -- that "allows users to setup a protected networking environment with ease." Per usual, there's no mention of a price or release date, so it's on you to keep an eye out for it to land anytime, anywhere.

[Via I4U News]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dell Studio 17 quickly hacked to run OSx86

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 11:56am EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Laptops

Usually it's "only a matter of time" before some new-fangled laptop destined for a Windows kind of life up and gets OSx86 installed on it, but for the Dell Studio, that matter of time was extremely short. Witness a Studio 17 running Leopard out of the box, save for a few minor problems like lack of full video support, sound, WiFi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet. Still, it's pretty encouraging to see the system working at all with such little time and effort put into it. Kind of makes you wish we lived in a super-magical fantasy world where you could run whatever OS you wanted on your laptop, doesn't it?

Update: We had to pull the read link here due to the "Engadget Effect" -- sorry Ken!Permalink | Email this | Comments

MSI Wind with 6-cell battery to sell for $50 more

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 11:23am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

MSI told us that a 6-cell version of its briskly-moving Wind was on the way. What it failed to mention, however, was the $50 premium that would be tacked on. The units including a 6-cell battery have been popping up in a few e-tailers here recently, with prices ranging from $559 to $599. According to an MSI representative, however, the official MSRP for the 6-cell units is $549.99 (versus $499.99 for the 3-cell edition). As you can tell, it seems that some places are taking the liberty of bundling in a little profit while demand is high. Worse still, users who managed to get their orders in at Buy.com for a $499.99 6-cell unit are now receiving cancellation notices. So, is the more capacious battery worth an extra 50 bones (or more) to you?

[Via jkOnTheRun]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony Ericsson's G705 slider leaks onto internet, shows hope for the future

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 10:59am EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Cellphones

An undeterred Sony Ericsson appears to have a handsome new slider on its way out in the near future -- according to a slew of pictures leaked to the se4m forums -- meant to sit beside the previously spied (and supposedly forthcoming) Remi. The device -- dubbed the G705 -- will feature GPS, WiFi, a 2.4-inch display, a 3.2 megapixel camera with flash, 128MB of internal memory, and will run atop the A2 software platform. There's not a ton of info to go around right now, but if you hit the read link you can feast your eyes on a wide array of succulent photos. We're including another shot after the break, just in case you don't like traveling.

[Via Navigadget]

Continue reading Sony Ericsson's G705 slider leaks onto internet, shows hope for the future

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TiVo quietly removes Series3 from its webstore

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 10:35am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Break out the tissues -- the rumors were true. Or, at least it sure looks that way. As of right now, the only two TiVo units available on the outfit's webstore are the TiVo HD and the Series2, and even if you do a bit of digging and find the still-active Series3 page, you'll notice a glaring Out of Stock notification. Of course, you can still find leftover inventory hanging around at various resellers, but all signs are pointing to this being the final hurrah for the S3. Any touching moments you'd like to share in comments as we all bid the device a fond farewell?

[Thanks, Tim]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

ASUS moving forward on ZX1 cancellation, adding two other phones?

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 10:14am EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Cellphones

CNET Asia has apparently received word that not only will ASUS' Lamborghini-branded ZX1 smartphone be canceled (as we mentioned earlier this month), but the company will also be putting the brakes on its forthcoming P560 and M536 phones as well. In a statement issued presumably to CNET, the company claims that the project has been postponed due to the "technical immaturity of a key component from one of our suppliers," though they seem to have left the door open for a reboot. We know one thing for sure -- it's clear that the P560 and M536 weren't those "more important devices" the company made reference to previously. They probably need the resources for another 25 versions of the Eee PC.

[Thanks, chauco]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Targus introduces checkpoint-friendly Zip-Thru laptop case

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 9:53am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops, Peripherals

As we surmised earlier this month with the formal introduction of Mobile Edge's trio of TSA-approved laptop bags, the flood of competitors are now rushing out. One of the first out of the gate is Targus, delivering its Zip-Thru 15.4-inch Corporate Traveler Laptop Case. Just the first in the outfit's sure-to-be-long line of checkpoint-friendly bags, this one measures in at 16.93- x 6.5- x 13.98-inches, weighs 3.74-pounds, is constructed from durable black ballistic 1680 denier nylon and can -- of course -- slip under those airport scanning machines with your precious machine still tucked inside. Unfortunately, it won't be available for summertime travel (look for it to land in October), but you can go ahead and budget in $99.99 well before Q3 gets sticky.

[Via CrunchGear]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Garmin's Nuvifone delayed until early 2009

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 9:34am EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

Somehow this doesn't surprise us. According to a statement released ahead of Garmin's Q2 earnings call, the company says it will be delaying the release of its Nuvifone from late 2008 until the first half of 2009. In the press release, the satnav-maker says it has "found that meeting some of the carrier specific requirements will take longer than anticipated," and claims it is "working toward making necessary design changes to meet their requirements." Here's hoping the bump stems from these minor niggles with carriers, versus trouble with the phone itself, which was running only a partially operational OS last time we saw it.

[Via GPS Tracklog]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Thermaltake's V1 CPU cooler sure is real purty

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 9:05am EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Desktops, Misc. Gadgets

Usually the terms "enthusiast cooling equipment" and "sexy, sexy" don't go hand in hand, but Thermaltake has here an exception that proves the rule. This here V1 CPU, which retails for $60, can handle a nice assortment of Core 2 and Athlon processors, but we'd rather just set it up on a table somewhere and stare at the pretty lights. That's a red dot design award well earned.

[Via Boing Boing Gadgets]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nine in ten dentists recommend carving up that iPhone dock your own dang self

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 8:33am EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Cellphones

But not this guy. Seriously, he's gonna stick drill that in somebody's mouth after this? Not ours, no thank you. Tipster Adam Marcus wanted to make some room for his iPhone 3G in his old iPhone dock, and got a teeth fixin' out of the whole deal, but we'd say somebody should call the dentist police on the both of them.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Brando's SATA HDD Multimedia Dock includes video-out, media player

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 8:02am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage

Brando's SATA HDD Stage Rack doesn't stay the same for very long, as it seems a new iteration keeps popping up every month or so. The latest (and greatest, might we add) is the SATA HDD Multimedia Dock, which enables users to slap in any ole 2.5- / 3.5-inch SATA hard drive and access it via USB. That's not all, though. This one also provides an SD card slot, S-Video / composite / component outputs and a bundled remote -- what for, you ask? So you can play back MPEG1/2/4, XviD and DivX (among others) files, of course. This takes multifaceted to an entirely different platform, huh?

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Anton the robotic tongue has saved you from electrode doom

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 7:20am EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Robots

So we had a choice: either we let scientists at the University of Sheffield attach electrodes to our tongues, or they were going to go and build their own artificial mouth. Because we're not so into the whole electrode thing, they built "Anton," an animatronic tongue made of soft silicone to help them understand speech and subsequently improve speech-recognition software. This isn't the first of its kind, believe it or not -- there's much competition in the robotic mouth world. Because speech recognition systems aren't really benefiting from simply crowding them full of recorded speech, researchers want to better understand how the mouth produces sound and then create algorithms that can simply recognize speech patterns rather than try to match recordings to recordings. Sounds about right to us. Peep the creepy video after the break.

Continue reading Anton the robotic tongue has saved you from electrode doom

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Dell's Pocket Projector is easy to overlook

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 6:49am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Displays

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/hardware/Dell_s_new_pocket_projector_leaked'; We can't blame you if you missed it, but Dell's latest leaked PowerPoint had one little gem tucked away near the end of the 31 slide deck. No, not the Coolslice homeslice, rather the Pocket Projector. Weighing just 1.1 pounds, this LED projector is either incredibly small, or that's a Texas-sized coffee mug... either of which could be true in Dell country. No word on release date though we expect it to pop with the rest of the Latitude E-series in Q4.

[Thanks, William]
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Video: Blackberry KickStart 8220 flip

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 6:05am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Cellphones

Sure, you've read the KickStart 8220 preview and seen plenty of snaps, but video is still the only way to demonstrate some features of a device. Especially when it's not yet available in shops. Fortunately, Kevin Michaluk over at CrackBerry put together almost 9-minutes of moving pictures demonstrating two-handed Suretype thumbing, the 8220's more deeply inset trackball, and slick OS 4.6 action. He even went head-to-head with the iPhone 3G to demonstrate the KickStart's Internet browser. But enough with the words eh, video after the break.

Continue reading Video: Blackberry KickStart 8220 flip

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Are iPhone 3Gs developing cracks?

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 4:34am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

In what appears to be an increasingly common problem, hairline cracks are beginning to form on Apple's new iPhone 3G. While most of the cracks are reportedly affecting the white model, this is likely due to the increased visibility of the dark fracture on the white case as opposed to any differences in materials between the white and black units. At the moment, the issue seems largely cosmetic and doesn't appear to interfere with the operation of the phone. Now bust out the magnifying glass and let us know if you're seeing the same.

Update: Reader Darius shows off a whisker crack on his kid-glove handled black iPhone 3G with the help of some blue lighting -- meow. See it after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read -- MacRumors forum
Read -- Apple Discussions

Continue reading Are iPhone 3Gs developing cracks?

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Microscopic microscope could fit on cellphones, cost just $10

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 4:25am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Make no mistake, microscopes have been getting increasingly smaller for years, but a team of CalTech researchers have leapfrogged previous efforts by creating one minuscule enough to fit on a cellphone. The microscopic optofluidic microscope could one day be used in third-world nations to "analyze blood samples for malaria or check water supplies for giardia and other pathogens," and given that it could theoretically be mass produced for around $10, cost shouldn't be too much of a hindrance. Changhuei Yang, credited for developing the chip, is currently chatting it up with biotech companies in order to get this to the market, but there's no word yet on any takers.

[Via Physorg]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sanyo's XACTI DMX-HD800: the best gets better

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 3:35am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Portable Video

Step aside HD700, Sanyo just replaced you with its DMX-HD800 720p camcorder. According to Akihabara News who is attending the launch event, the HD800 features a "HUGE step forward in video quality" coupled with reduced noise thanks to Sanyo's 3DDNR filter. Spec-wize, we're looking at an 8.0 megapixel 1/2.5-inch CMOS sensor, SD/SDHC support, 5x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD, face tracking, and easier to use drag-and-drop to pull AVC/H.264 video from the camera to your PC. We'll have to wait for the reviews to know for sure but it looks like Sanyo just made one of the best 720p camcorders even better. On sale in Japan on August 22nd for ¥50,000 (about $463).

[Via Impress]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Oh gawd, Dell releasing Zing-based DJ Ditty in September?

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 3:00am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Portable Audio

Ready for the DJ Ditty 2? You'd better be because the Wall Street Journal says that "several Dell officials" have confirmed in-house testing of a new sub-$100 digital music player that could go on sale as early as September. Dell also plans to launch a download service and software to "organize music and movies from various online sources" in order to properly seed the product ecosystem. The new player features a small navigation screen and basic button controls and will connect to online music services over WiFi. Unfortunately, there's no mention of DRM, only that downloaded music can be shared with PCs and cellphones. So... if you're wondering how Dell's acquisition of Zing might play into this then go get yourself a cookie, Dell's device is based on Zing's software (that's a pre-Dell era Zing prototype pictured). In fact, Zing will come pre-installed on a series of Dell laptops and "other devices" (like a Dell smartphone, maybe?) and will likely connect to "Zingspot" if Dell puts its trademark to use.

Funny, this all sounds very 2006 to us as we struggle to see how Dell's player / service will compete in a market already shaking itself out -- right Sony, Yahoo, and Microsoft? In fact, the whole WSJ piece seems like an attempt for Dell to gauge public reaction without suffering the indignity of a failed product announcement. Michael Tatelman, Dell's VP of Consumer Sales, says he'll decide "in a few weeks" how to proceed with the player and may decide not to sell it at all. So go ahead folks, now's your chance to tell Dell how you feel with all the anonymous key slapping you can muster in the comments.

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SplashTop instant-on OS hacked to run other programs, boot off flash drives

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 2:17am EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

DeviceVM's SplashTop "instant-on" OS is based on Linux, even though it's locked down to only run IM, Skype, media software, and Firefox, and you know what that means -- it's already been hacked wide open. Yep, the clever kids at the Phoronix forums have managed to open up the BIOS-based OS and make it do all kinds of tricks, including run other programs and boot other machines off a flash drive. The hacks are still a little complex, but with ASUS shipping tons of ExpressGate-enabled mobos and laptops and HP's support in the Voodoo Envy 133, we'd there's a one-click unlocker in the wild fairly soon. Anyone brave enough to install it on their machines?

[Thanks, george85]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The T-Mobile Sidekick -- yep, just Sidekick

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 1:01am EDT by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Cellphones

After all the buffoonery over what exactly T-Mobile intended to call its newest entry-level Danger device, they've ultimately decided to just go back to basics, drop the acronyms, and christen it simply "Sidekick." Make no mistake, though -- this little puppy is a far cry from your daddy's Hiptop launched way back in 2002, thanks to a 400 x 240 WQVGA display, 2 megapixel camera with video recording capability, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, and a microSD slot. Though it's being billed as the iD's spiritual successor, the Sidekick comes dangerously close to LX territory, so it should see some solid movement at the $149.99 asking price on a two-year contract. What's more, the Sidekick becomes Danger's first device with user-customizable shells, available directly from sidekickshells.com for $14.99 a pop (we've got both a really bad and a really frickin' great feeling about the ridiculous sorts of designs people are going to be coming up with there). The whole shebang goes on sale starting today. 'Course, if you can't get out to a well-stocked T-Mobile store for the next few hours, be sure to check out our quick impressions and gallery on Engadget Mobile, yeah?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iPhone 2.1 beta firmware hints at new iPod touch?

Posted: July 30th, 2008, 12:57am EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Who knows how much this is worth, but there's a lot of chatter flying around today about some text strings in the beta release of iPhone OS 2.1 that make reference to an "iPod2,1." Seeing as the current iPod touch is designated "iPod1,1," that's a pretty strong hint that a new model is coming -- but hey, guess what? Of course a new model is eventually coming. What's more, we'd bet it's going to be almost exactly the same as the current iPod touch, with maybe the addition of GPS -- it's not like Apple is going to position this thing above the iPhone. Wake us up when tapping in Steve's birthday backwards spits out a ship date, pricing, and specs, and maybe then we'll be more excited.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nintendo actually not resting on its laurels, already working on the Wii's successor

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 11:43pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming

No need to phone in the shock police -- you had to know this was coming. After all, what kind of stockholder-pleasing company would Nintendo be if it wasn't already thinking about how to top the Wii? According to information in a recent Forbes piece surveying the field of gaming consoles, Nintendo is "already working on the Wii's successor." President Satoru Iwata shared that the Big N was "always preparing for the next hardware," though it would be unwise to expect said hardware anytime soon. With Wii consoles still hard (or at least not "easy") to come by in some locales, we'd say Nintendo is in no hurry to move beyond its current cash cow. Still, even Iwata admits that it "will be difficult" to exceed expectations now that the Wii has proven so successful. Not really, though -- throw in high-def support and you've got an entirely more lovable machine.

[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

5.5 designers put eyeball details on lamps, weird us out

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 10:09pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

It's hard to say what kind of individual seeks out lighting instruments that even look like eyes, let alone lighting instruments with cloned details of their own eyes, but just in case you know one such person, here's the perfect FYI for 'em. Paris-based 5.5 designers are offering a service that enables you to send in images of your eyes (along with a very large sum of money, we presume) in order for the craftspeople to construct eyeball lamps with hints of you splashed all over. Sure gives Rockwell's one and only jam a whole new meaning, yeah?

[Via ShinyShiny]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Alienware slaps NVIDIA's Quadro FX 3600M into Area-51 m15x

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 8:48pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

Some five months after NVIDIA took the Saran Wrap off of its professional-oriented Quadro FX 3600M, along comes Alienware patting itself on the back. Why? Because its Area-51 m15x is the first 15.4-inch laptop on planet Earth to offer said card, giving users who practically live in CAD, DCC or other visualization applications an option to still look 1337 (and tap into the occasional 3D game) on their lappie. Unfortunately, such graphical prowess will add $600 to the cost of your rig over the standard 256MB GeForce 8600M GT, but no one ever said that dancing on the cutting edge was cheap.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Walkers swallow RFID pills for science

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 7:44pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/general_sciences/Walkers_Swallow_RFID_Pills_For_Science'; It seems like some researchers from Radbound University in The Netherlands took advantage of the recent Four Days Marches of Nijmegen walking race for a little experiment earlier this month, where they convinced ten volunteers to swallow an RFID pill as part of a study to monitor body temperature. Apparently, the pills recorded and transmitted the walkers' core temperature to a receiver in their backpack every ten seconds, which in turn sent the data via Bluetooth to a GPS-enabled phone that then relayed it to the operations center at Radbound. With all that info at their disposal, the researchers were able to monitor each walker and alert them if their temperature was reaching a dangerous level, or even alert others nearby if they weren't responding (which apparently wasn't necessary). As you might have guessed, the researchers are already hard at work planning an even larger test for next year's event, which they hope could eventually lead to the system being used at marathons and other sports events.

[Via picturephoning.com]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung unveils latest Series 6 Touch of Color LCD HDTVs

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 7:09pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Samsung treated us to a few new HDTV lineups just last week, but apparently one of the fresh families managed to slip through the cracks. The all new Series 6 -- not to be confused with the widely available 650 Series -- consists of the 40-inch LN40A630, 46-inch LN46A630, and the 52-inch LN52A630. Each set provides a 1080p panel, 120Hz technology, the outfit's Touch of Color bezel design, three HDMI 1.3 ports and a USB socket for accessing digital photos and the like. Expect the trifecta to ship sometime next month for $1,699.99, $2,099.99, and $2,699.99, respectively.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Freecom rolls out Mobile Drive XXS, new "world's smallest" 2.5-incher

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 6:32pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Storage

While it seems inevitable that external 2.5-inch hard drives can only get so small, right now manufacturers look to be intent on doing their best to shave off every last excess millimeter to lay claim to the elusive title of world's smallest. That designation now appears to have fallen on Freecom's new Mobile Drive XXS which, according to the company, is not only 27% smaller than its nearest competitor but, at just 155 grams, the lightest drive of its kind around as well. You'll still get the usual choices of 160GB, 250GB, or 320GB sizes though, along with the requisite bus-powered connectivity, and a handy form-fitting rubber sleeve to ensure the thing stays where you want it. Look for this one to hit the UK any day now for £45, £60, or £80 (or $90 to $160), depending on the capacity. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Art Lebedev lets loose Plastinkus scratch pad

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 6:04pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Sure, you could whip out your iPhone or Nintendo DS and your app of choice for a little impromptu DJ session before dinner, or you could get yourself one (or two) of Art Lebedev's new Plastinkus scratch pads, which supposedly sound just like you're scratching the real thing. While that claim may be somewhat dubious, at about four bucks apiece they're certainly at least worth taking a chance on, and you can even get 'em in no less than forty different color combinations. Now, if we could only get our business cards printed on them.

[Via Pocket-lint] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dell's new Latitude E series for suits detailed by elaborate PowerPoint presentation

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 5:40pm EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Laptops

Having been privy to a few leaked Dell PowerPoint presentations in our day, we can say without reservation that they know how to blow that stuff out. Roadmaps? Charts? Bullet points? They've got it all, and this new Latitude E series presentation is no different. Sure, the subject matter is a little dry: reliable, boringbooks for businesses, but there are a few gems in here. The basic thing to get down is that Dell is kicking the D series to the curb, and is going E with its professional laptop line. Improvements include the perks of Centrino 2, more WWAN and other wireless chips, eSATA and Display Port plugs, thinner dockable laptops and huge ass batteries for all-day usage. The E6400, for instance, boasts 19 hours of battery with a 9-cell. On the teensy end, the E 4200 offers a 12.1-inch WXGA screen in a 2.2 pound form factor, with 32GB and 64GB SSD options. The E4300 bumps that up to 13.3-inches and 3.4 pounds. At the other end of the spectrum, the E 6400 ATG is a 5.6 pound beast designed to withstand drops, dust and moisture. The E 5400, 5500 and 6400 are the mainstreamers, with 14.1-inch and 15.4-inch screens, disc drives and all the other trappings you'd expect. Dell's roadmap has the larger laptops hitting in August, with the 12 and 13-inchers showing up in September. Unfortunately, it looks like the XT2 is getting pushed out to January of next year, but it can't all be roses. Check out the gallery for all the sordid details.

Gallery: Dell's new Latitude E series for suits detailed by elaborate PowerPoint presentation

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Intel, HP, and Yahoo to build joint cloud-computing research labs

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 5:30pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Sure, it's all well and cute to think of "cloud computing" as being a magical data-fairy, but storing and processing all your fancy new CalDAV-enabled Google Calendar entries and MobileMe emails costs money, kid -- and that means it's hard for researchers to accurately simulate and build cloud research projects, since they don't have the resources to build large enough data centers. HP, Intel, and Yahoo are teaming up to alleviate that problem, though -- the three behemoths are going to build six cloud-computer research data centers around the world, stocked with anywhere from 1,000 to 4,000 nodes each, with the goal of bringing them online later this year for pre-selected researchers to work on scaling, security, management, and new applications for the cloud. Three of the data centers will be hosted at HP, Intel, and Yahoo, and the other three will be at the University of Illinois, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, and the Steinbuch Centre for Computing in Germany.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fabled Opus motherboard appears in Xbox 360

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 4:59pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming

Well, what have we here? One of those unicorn-like Opus motherboards? According to an image put forth by one Electric Tuner, that's exactly what we have. If you'll recall, we heard back in February that Microsoft may be utilizing the Opus mobos in order to fit the newer 65 / 90-nanometer CPU / GPU combo into RRoDed Xbox 360s that are just collecting dust in warehouses. Thus, you'll find no dedicated HDMI port here, but it should operate much cooler and in a more reliable fashion than the pre-Falcon rigs. There's no word on how exactly this unit was acquired (a replacement, perhaps?), but you can head on down to the read link for one more picture and a little discussion.

[Via Xbox-Scene, thanks Leonardo]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

HP responds to MediaSmart Server issues, offers no real solution at all

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 4:43pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage, Networking

It's no secret that HP MediaSmart Server owners have been having an awful time getting their device to operate correctly, er, at all since HP loosed its most recent software update on July 21st. In order to make sure owners have a solution implement its best damage control tactics, HP's own Director of Marketing for the Connected Entertainment group has put out a statement informing users that the problems (slow console shown above) are more than a figment of their imagination. Furthermore, the so-called solution is to simply "install each update one at a time, independently," because clearly HP cannot be bothered to fix a problem it helped create. Oh, it gets better. HP is also aware that PacketVideo (bundled with the update) "no longer supports media streaming to Sony's PlayStation 3," so it simply encourages owners to surf on over to a third-party website and hack up the PV database in order to get things back to normal. Jump on past the break for the patently ridiculous letter in its entirety.

[Image courtesy of Within Windows]

Continue reading HP responds to MediaSmart Server issues, offers no real solution at all

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Mobotix Q22 security camera offers 360-degrees of vision

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 4:26pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Digital Cameras

It looks like Mobotix has a solution for those wishing their security cameras were a bit more all-seeing, with its new Q22 model promising to deliver a full 360-degrees of vision. That's done with the use of a hemispheric lens, which eliminates the need for any moving parts and lets the Big Brother in question digitally flatten, pan, tilt or zoom any image. As if that wasn't enough, the Q22 can also be run entirely over Power over Ethernet (or PoE), and it boasts a built-in speaker and microphone to allow for some two-way communication. Otherwise, you can expect a decent enough 3.1-megapixel resolution, along with SIP support, accommodations for various CCTV management platforms, and Mobotix's own MxControlCenter video management software. As you might expect, however, all that doesn't exactly come cheap, with the basic model running you €498 (or $776), and the premium version demanding €648 (or just over $1,000).

[Via BIOS]
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Sirius acquires XM, forms Sirius XM Radio, pop the cork: it's done

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 4:07pm EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

So, it's done: Sirius has completed its acquisition of XM, forming Sirius XM Radio with more than 18.5 million subscribers, making it the second-largest radio business in the US. The new company, headquartered in New York, expects to save about $400 million in 2009 while earning $300 million. If you're a drooling investor, don't go charging up to the champagne room just yet -- analysts are pointing out that neither company has ever posted a profit, and losses are in the billions. Anyway, can we move on to all the new, shiny Sirius XM receivers now, please?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wii nunchuck braves the outdoors to steer electric canoe

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 3:58pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Transportation

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Wii_Nunchuck_Steers_A_Electric_Canoe'; While it's not quite the feat that an actual Wiimote-paddled canoe would be (or nearly as silly), this nunchuck-steered contraption is still pretty impressive in its own right, and quite the change in pace from the usual Wiimote-controlled robots. At the heart of the rig is the always-useful Arduino platform, which employs some custom software to control the two electric motors powered by a pair of golf cart batteries, along with some robot servos and a battle bot motor driver. That apparently all adds up to about 6 to 8 hours of cruising time and a leisurely top speed of four miles per hour, not to mention some apparently spot on controls, which you can see in action for yourself in the video after the break.

[Thanks, Yash]

Continue reading Wii nunchuck braves the outdoors to steer electric canoe

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Limited edition 90210 iPod nano surfaces, we hardly believe it's real

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 3:33pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Man, it has been quite awhile since we've seen an iPod of any sort get dressed up in limited edition attire. Thinking back to those Harry Potter, Madonna and Tony Hawk editions, we can't help but wonder how this one missed the boat. Coincidentally (or not) enough, the CBS Store has decided to offer up a special run of 8GB Beverly Hills, 90210 iPod nanos just as The CW pushes the all new rendition of the show. Buyers can add up to 30 characters of text and choose black, pink, green, blue or silver hues, but you better hurry -- who knows how fast raving fans will be handing over their $269 in hopes of securing one.

[Via ChipChick]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sprint loses early termination lawsuit, ordered to pay $73M -- but it's not over yet

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 3:16pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Cellphones

Man, Sprint just can't catch a break lately -- the beleaguered wireless carrier was just told that it would have to pay some $73M in refunds to customers for improperly charging early-termination fees. The ruling, from a California state court, will basically set off a flood of similar cases if it stands -- but Sprint still has two weeks to respond to the ruling before Judge Bonnie Sabraw, and you can bet Yellow Swoosh will appeal if it loses in the end. Interestingly, Verizon was facing a similar lawsuit earlier this year and chose to quickly settle -- a lesson Sprint, with far less revenue and shrinking profits, might do well to learn from.

[Thanks, Roger A]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toshiba intros 'stylish' line of hard drives to match your purse, coke habit

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 3:08pm EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Storage

Toshiba -- clearly feeling the heat from other fashionable external hard drive makers -- has introduced a new line of disks guaranteed to bring on a neon flashback from your disco days (or Eurotrash nightmares). The three new models come decked out in the 160GB "Gecko Green," 250GB "Hot Rod Red," and 320GB "Carbon Grey" variations, with USB 2.0 ports and 8MB buffers on-board. The drives are Mac and PC compatible, and are available now for $89.99, $179.99, and $199.99, respectively.

Update: Apparently these drives have been out for a little while (thanks commenters!), so feel free to quiet any alarms that may have been sounded.

[Via Pocket Lint]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pentax rolls out another yawner: the 10MP M60 point-and-shoot

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 2:45pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Digital Cameras

If the E60 had you dozing last night, you'll be conked out in no time by the time you finish reading this. Pentax is at it again, proving that point-and-shoot cameras can still be boring this day and age. The M60 tries to be fancy with a 10-megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD monitor, "approximately 36.5MB of built-in memory," movie / panorama modes, a variety of scene modes and smile detection capabilities to boot. Expect this one to arrive late next month in blue, pink and silver for around £90 ($179).

[Via PhotographyPress]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIA Nano and Intel's Atom benchmarked head-to-head

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 2:32pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Laptops

Netbooks based on VIA's Nano mobile processor aren't nearly as common as those based on Intel's Atom, but based on the benchmarking that's been going on recently, that's a shame, since the Nano appears to be much faster than the Atom 230. PC Perspective, Eee PC News, and Hot Hardware all ran some tests recently, and a 1.8GHz Nano L2100 with Chrome9 graphics was usually able to outperform a 1.6GHz Atom 230 with GMA950 graphics at everything from MP3 ripping to 3D benchmarking. Of course, that's not without a tradeoff -- the Nano was a bit more power-hungry, and the Atom's memory and graphics systems were occasionally faster than the Nano's. Still, it seems like the Nano has more raw horsepower than the Atom -- and it's pin-compatible with VIA's popular C7M, so hopefully we'll be seeing machines like HP's Mini-Note make the jump relatively soon.

Read - PC Perspective results
Read - Hot Hardware results
Read - Eee PC News resultsPermalink | Email this | Comments

Martin Jetpack officially unveiled, lifts off on video

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 2:20pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

One of mankind's most adored gadgets (yes, the jetpack) is moving one step closer to mainstream today with the unveiling of the Martin Jetpack. Revealed in front of a crowd in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this human transporter is technically defined by the FAA as an "experimental ultralight airplane, equipped with a gas-powered, V-4 piston engine and two ducted fans that provide the lift." Currently, the $100,000 machine can only hover for around 30 minutes and rise to 8,000 feet, and those who sign up to purchase one will first have to complete 15 hours of flight training as well as a "safety screening." Check out an all-too-short video after the jump to see the device lift off, float around and land -- totally underwhelming, but the optimistic few will surely see promise.

Read - Martin Jetpack unveiling, video
Read - Details on Martin Jetpack
Read - More photos from EAA AirVenture

Continue reading Martin Jetpack officially unveiled, lifts off on video

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Nintendo files suit against five DS hacking firms

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 1:53pm EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Gaming

"Touching is good," but hacking? Not so much. Nintendo has gone on the war path against five Japanese companies that make their living helping users rip off DS games. Of course, a primary use for such hardware -- such as the R4 Revolution, pictured -- is homebrew and emulation, but good luck convincing Nintendo (or any large console manufacturer) of that. Details of the actual lawsuit are slim, but Nintendo has brought along with it 54 Japanese software makers to lend a bit of gravitas to the suit. If you haven't managed to hack your DS yet, now might be a good time to score the requisite hardware -- we might be facing a scarcity before too long.

[Thanks, Michael]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sprint's Airave signal booster goes on sale nationwide

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 1:21pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Just as July began, we heard that Sprint would finally begin shipping its Airave signal booster nationwide before the month ended. It cut things close, but we can't deny that the rumor proved true. Starting right now, Sprint users with horrendous service in their own homes can begrudgingly cough up $99.99 to have the base station sent directly to you. From there, you'll have to throw down $4.99 per month for extending your coverage but still using your plan minutes, $10 per month if you're looking to make unlimited calls (through the Airave) with a single Sprint phone or $20 per month for unlimited calling for multiple lines. Critics have already harshed on the $50 increase in price from when it launched in Denver and Indy last year, not to mention the relatively high monthly fees, but we suppose you can take it or leave it depending on how regularly you drop calls from your couch. Oh, and don't even think of using this overseas -- the required GPS module makes sure you're in the US before enabling calls.

[Via PhoneScoop]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

ASUS R50A UMPC lands in FCC, is promptly torn apart

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 12:50pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Handhelds

ASUS' R50A has been hanging around in "almost here" land for, like, ever. Over six months after we laid hands on it at CES, it seems the release is all but imminent as evidenced by its recent showing in the sprawling FCC database. Per usual, the agency did its best with that 1.3-megapixel point-and-shoot that it just can't secure funds to replace, and while we've certainly seen more invigorating dissections, this one isn't half bad considering the dearth of enthusiasm expressed by those doing the splaying. Wander on down to the read link for more dark, dingy shots of the internals.

[Via jkkmobile]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nokia's US E71 now on sale to the general public

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 12:31pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

For those invited to private launch parties in New York and Chicago last Thursday, you've probably been playing with your shiny new US E71 all weekend. For everyone else, today's the day. The Americas version of the handset -- which includes GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and HSDPA 850/1900 support -- is finally on sale to the general public through a variety of retailers. Now, the only problems are sneaking out of the office early, finding a store with stock and coming up with approximately $500.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

FCC gets first dibs on HTC Touch Diamond with North American HSDPA

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 12:18pm EDT by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Want downloads on your Touch Diamond to exceed the pace of a molasses-covered snail when on North American soil? Well, if you already have a Touch Diamond, you're outta luck -- but future buyers have another version to look forward to that packs HSDPA on the all-important 850 and 1900MHz bands. We don't have any word on when this is coming, where it's going, or how much it'll run, but hey, it exists. That's a solid start.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NVIDIA's sub-$100 GeForce 9500 GT gets introduced and reviewed

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 12:10pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, Peripherals

Should the GTX 280 be a bit too rich for your blood, NVIDIA's lookin' out. Introduced (and reviewed) today, the PCIe 2.0-compatible GeForce 9500 GT checks in a few bucks south of $100 depending on where you go and provides a 550MHz core clock, 1,400MHz shader clock, 32 stream processors, 800MHz memory clock, 256MB / 512MB of RAM and twin dual-link DVI ports. Assuming the specifications meet your standards, you're probably curious about performance. Based on the first reviews, it was found to be "measurably faster than the Radeon HD 3650, and pretty much on par with the GeForce 8600 GTS." For under a C-note, it's a solid buy for those okay with being a few steps behind, and HTPC builders will find the low power consumption, quiet operation and small size to be quite appealing. Check out the links below for pages upon pages of in-depth coverage.

Read - Introduction, benchmarks and review
Read - Benchmarks, images and another reviewPermalink | Email this | Comments

Dell Studio Hybrid gets reviewed, does alright

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 11:49am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops

Now that Dell's Studio Hybrid has gone on sale for the adoring public, you're probably trying to talk yourself into buying one. Not so fast, buckaroo. According to a review just posted by PC Magazine, this mini PC is probably only right for a certain sect of folks. On the upside, the unit arrives practically devoid of bloatware, which is astonishing and wonderful in its own right. Still, the Penryn T8100 CPU jammed within wasn't a top performer, so those looking for lighting fast performance will likely be disappointed. Furthermore, the lack of expansion options and weak integrated graphics were also frowned upon, but we wouldn't expect anything different given the design. In the end, critics deemed it a great buy for style-conscience consumers, but it couldn't help but mention that there "are more-powerful and more-expandable choices out there if you're less concerned about design."Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony's profits drop drastically this quarter, 'Spider-Man 4' needed badly

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 11:29am EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

According to Sony's latest earnings report, the company's profits have dipped to almost half of what they were at this time last year. Analysts are citing a strengthened yen, the lack of a major Hollywood blockbuster like Spider-Man 3, and continuing issues with its mobile phone arm as core reasons for the slide. It's no surprise that the company is taking a hit, especially after the outrageously poor performance of Sony Ericsson, though the numbers reveal that even improved sales of the PS3 this quarter can't sustain losses from core businesses like Sony BMG and fluctuating currency rates. Looks like the champagne will have to stay in the fridge this quarter.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

India developing $10 laptop, Gartner says $100 laptop "at least three years away." We're confused.

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 11:08am EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Laptops

A pair of Indian universities -- the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Institute of Technology -- have teamed up to produce a $10 laptop for "higher education applications." The Indian government is clearly involved in the project, and there's no telling if that price involves subsidies, but however and whenever they pull it off, a $10 laptop would certainly be landmark event for all parties involved. To supplement the project, the government is also working on a low-power, low-priced access device to help with internet proliferation. On the other side of the world, the folks at Gartner have tacked on an extra zero, and are saying that a $100 laptop "will not be a realistic target for the next three years," and that the pursuit of such a pricepoint could be detrimental to companies chasing the mini laptop market. While Sony's Mike Abary might agree with the conclusion, one little fact disagrees with the premise: Jointech's $99 laptop (pictured). We know, the truth hurts.

Read - India's $10 laptop
Read - Gartner says $100 laptop is three years awayPermalink | Email this | Comments

Datto's Z Series: world's first on / off-site backup solution to use ZFS

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 10:48am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

Datto earned a round of golf claps with its Backup NAS by bringing comparatively affordable off-site storage to the small businesses of the world, but it's giving itself a round of applause with the Z Series. Hailed as the "planet's first on and off-site backup solution to use ZFS," these units provide up to 1TB of local and off-site storage, optional RAID 1 local redundancy, twin gigabit Ethernet ports, OS X / Windows / Linux compatibility and the obligatory rock-solid stability that ZFS is known for. You'll also get a rapid recovery promise, which enables you to sleep easy knowing that your data can be restored within 24 hours should disaster strike. The units range in capacity from 250GB ($499) to 1TB ($1,149), while the required service packages demand anywhere between $35 per month to $1,000 a year.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dell's Studio Hybrid product page goes live: Gotta Spec 'Em All!

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 10:29am EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Desktops

Cat's out of the bag: we're nerds, and can't think of a better way to spend a Tuesday morning than to shuffle through endless configuration pages, trying to build the best bang-for-buck Studio Hybrid on the internet. Dell's product page for the new mini desktop -- which was released last night -- is now online, and offers up that fabled $499 configuration, in addition to some rather spendy siblings. For instance, if you want to go bamboo that's an extra $130 right out of the gate, a display will cost you $200 minimum, it's $50 to bump the Hybrid up to 2GB of RAM, that Blu-ray drive is a hefty $250 add-on, and WiFi will cost you $70. There's no option for discreet graphics -- that's no surprise -- and the TV tuner option is of the USB dongle variety. Luckily some of Dell's pre-configured versions come with decent "Instant Savings," but it's clear Dell is going for a slightly premium, design-conscious consumer here, not the spendthrift.

[Thanks, Nathan]

Gallery: Dell's Studio Hybrid product page goes live: Gotta Spec 'Em All!

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Mojave Experiment goes live, doesn't fail to annoy

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 10:08am EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Alright, as much as we prefer blind conjecture, we've seen it for ourselves now and Microsoft's "Mojave Experiment" is pretty much everything we expected it to be. To Microsoft's credit, they've managed to get the nicest collection of statements ever made about Windows Vista condensed into cute little candid sound bytes from that really honest person next door. It's just too bad they had to use base trickery to do it. Oh, and in case you're into trumped up numbers: average rating of Windows Vista was 4.5, average rating of Mojave was 8.5. What are you trying to say, Microsoft? That people heard really bad things from their friends and co-workers, but a slick 10 minute sales presentation showed them the light?

Update: We're hearing you guys loud and clear in comments. We'll admit, we hate senseless Microsoft / Vista bashing just as much as the next guy, and that's not what this is about. The problem here is Microsoft basically filmed itself an infomercial (or "pulled a Pizza Hut," as pointed out in comments) and is passing it off as some interesting experiment into FUD. If these users had been sent home for a week or so with a Vista machine -- or better yet, a copy of Vista to install themselves -- that'd be a whole different story, but they weren't. There was no scientific method in play, no control experiment, nothing. They were shown a 10 minute demo. That's it.

Read - The "Mojave Experiment"
Read - Windows Vista Team BlogPermalink | Email this | Comments

WiBrain to offer Atom / SSD / HSDPA-packin' I1 UMPC

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 9:48am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Handhelds

Say what you will about the attractiveness (or lack thereof) of WiBrain's line of -- shall we say, unique -- UMPCs, but hardware wise, they're hard to bang on. The B1 just recently saw an update that added in a succulent SSD, and the all new I1 looks to share in that joyousness while also including two more tidbits we've been longing for. According to early reports, the I1 will feature a tweaked B1 design with a mildly updated casing, but the real fun is within; we're talking a 1.1GHz / 1.3GHz Intel Atom CPU, SSD options as roomy as 64GB, Windows XP or Linux running the show, 6-hours of battery life when browsing and a drool-worthy HSDPA module. Pricing has yet to be disclosed, but we are told to expect a worldwide launch (yes, including North America) in October.

[Via Pocketables, thanks Jenn]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dell slots in 24-inch widescreen S2409W LCD monitor

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 9:22am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays

Just over a month after Dell added in a new 27-incher to its (admittedly unwieldy) LCD monitor family, along comes a sibling with a few less pixels and a much smaller price tag. The 24-inch widescreen S2409W checks in with a 1,920 x 1,080 panel, 300 cd/m2 brightness, 5-millisecond response time, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, VGA / DVI / HDMI sockets, and 160- / 170-degree viewing angles. The best part(s)? It's available for just $379, and it's shipping within one to two days. Hooray!

[Via Electronista]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Matsushita sets goals for itself: 40-inch OLED TV by 2011

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 8:55am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

A bit earlier this year we heard that Panasonic (Matsushita's red-headed stepchild) was vying for a little recognition in the OLED TV game, but outside of that, details were scarce. Now, however, we're being told that the outfit is planning to start selling 40-inch OEL (organic electroluminescent, better known as OLED 'round these parts) televisions "as early as 2011." Reportedly, it will be investing "several billion yen" to construct a prototype production line for OEL panels "20-inches and larger" that will go into service next spring. We'd be pretty stoked if the final product were within sight, but make sure to ring us early on next decade to make sure we haven't completely forgotten about this here promise.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iriver's touchscreen Spinn gets priced for pre-order

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 3:05am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

You read that title correctly, iriver's Spinn is apparently touchscreen (not D-Click as mentioned in the FCC leaked user manual) and features haptic feedback to boot. Now that it's officially spec'd on iriver's Korean site, we're also seeing a slightly degraded audio lifespan of 24-hours (not 27) and the apparent removal of the mini SD slot -- it's no longer mentioned in the specs and we don't see a suitable slot on any of the pictures. Otherwise, it's the same sleek slab of 10.7-mm thick metal and plastic sporting a 3.3-inch, 480 x 272 pixel AMOLED display, T-DMB TV, Bluetooth, and new analog SPINN Wheel we've seen kicking around since CES. Currently on pre-order for South Korea with the 4GB model fetching 259,000KRW (about $259) or 8GB for 299,000KRW (about $299). That's right, it maxes out with just 8GB of flash. Check the gallery while we all anxiously await iriver's international launch plans including the rumored August UK release.

Gallery: iriver's touchscreen Spinn gets priced for pre-order

[Via DAP Review, thanks Al]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft multi-touch Sphere surfaces in Redmond

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 1:54am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Displays

There it is, right on cue Microsoft's Surface has gone spherical over at Microsoft Research. Rumored since March, the prototype relies upon an infrared system to detect hands, fingers, and objects as well as an internal (not external like Surface) projection system developed by Global Imagination (and customized by Microsoft) to deliver its multi-touch UI. At the moment, Microsoft is demonstrating photo manipulation, a spinning globe, 360-degree video, and a simple Pong-like game, the latter giving us a taste of future gaming possibilities. Sphere is expected to make its first public appearance Tuesday at Microsoft's Faculty Summit in Redmond. Ultimately, it will appear in public spaces like lobbies as part of a larger ecosystem of Surface gear. The prototype UI looks a bit jumpy compared to its tabletop cousin -- hit the read link to see for yourself.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dell's new Inspiron 13 and Inspiron 518 are after your back to school dollar

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 1:08am EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Dell has never failed to provide compelling reasons -- particularly pricetags -- for students and / or their cash-strapped parents to pick up a Dell desktop or laptop on the way back to school. This year seems no exception, with Dell adding some special Inspiron configurations to its already beefy budget lineups. The Inspiron 13 laptop (pictured) is pretty much laptop 101, with a 13-inch screen, 8-in-1 media card reader and slot-loading DVD drive in the base model -- you'll have to fork over extra for WiFi, a webcam or Bluetooth. Wal-mart will be carrying a $699 version starting August 3rd, with full configuration coming to Dell.com later that month. The Inspiron 518 desktop (after the break) is similarly straightforward, with DirectX 10 integrated graphics, gigabit Ethernet and a pair of easy-access USB ports on top of the case, in addition to options for a 500GB hard drive and quad core processors. The starting price is $349, and the systems should be available today.

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Dell debuts Studio Hybrid line of "petite" desktop PCs

Posted: July 29th, 2008, 1:01am EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Desktops

Like most product from Dell these days, there's little surprise left in Dell's Studio Hybrid desktop lineup of eco-friendly little PCs. First unveiled as a bamboo-clad concept in April, the computer is finally being released by the hardware giant with a starting price of $499, with interchangeable sleeves of Bamboo, Emerald, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, Slate and Topaz -- the latter six being of the shiny plastic ilk. Dell isn't slouching on specs though, and seems to realize the potential of the Studio Hybrid -- which can be stood vertically or horizontally -- in the living room. There's an HDMI port standard, along with options for WiFi, a wireless keyboard and mouse, Blu-ray and a TV tuner. Dell doesn't ignore the "green" roots of this project, either, and is including a system recycling kit, along with the natural reduction in packing and manufacturing materials. The Studio Hybrid should be available today.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Scent-emitting advertising trial sniffs out suckers in Japan

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 11:52pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets

Apparently July is a hot month for ad trials in Japan, as just weeks after a number of 65-inch digital posters were installed in a Tokyo train station, in flies word that yet another consumer-luring installation is being tested. Recruit and NTT Communications are delivering Scent-emitting LCD Display Systems to an underground mall in the heart of Japan, each of which rely on a 42-inch LCD and a scent-sprayer that emits delightful odors to correspond with the on-screen imagery. The goal is to attract onlookers and get them to grab a nearby coupon book, but considering that the experiment shuts down on August 1st, you should probably get your nose down there in a hurry if you're looking to score some savings.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Robo-Garage recreates Murasaki Shikibu in robot form

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 10:41pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Robots

Murasaki Shikibu, famously known for penning The Tale of Genji, practically has goddess status in Japan. For those who scoff at such a statement, just take a look at the robot above. The MURASAKI stands in at 31-centimeters tall and weighs 1.5-kilograms (3.3-pounds), and while the design is subtle, this gal still demands respect. Reportedly, the bot is powered by NiMH batteries, waltzes about on two wheels and sports an 8-axis system for moving her neck and arms. We're hearing conflicting reports about it actually being on sale or simply being a prototype, but we're sure the misdirection is all part of the allure that makes her so irresistible.

[Via CrunchGear]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

MacBook rumors swirling: glass trackpads, custom chipsets, ponies, ice cream

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 9:44pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Laptops

An interesting wave of MacBook rumors hit today, for some reason, following up on these weird case images we saw a while back. First up, Seth Weintraub at Computerworld says the new machines will be manufactured in an all-new process out of one sheet of aluminum and feature glass multi-touch trackpads -- which seems entirely unnecessary, since there's no reason for the trackpads to be clear if there's no screen underneath them. (No, there's not going to be a screen underneath them. Stop it.) Second, AppleInsider says that the inherent suck of Intel's integrated graphics solutions is pushing Apple away from using the Centrino 2 / Montevina platform in the MacBook, and that the company's planning on doing its own custom chipset instead. That'd be a big step for Apple, since it's basically used Intel reference designs ever since it went x86 -- but given how useless Intel's integrated graphics are when really pushed, we can see why Apple's ready to walk away. Of course, this is all nothing more than rumor and speculation, so we wouldn't expect any of this to actually come to pass, but hey, it's fun to dream, right?

Read - Computerworld
Read - AppleInsiderPermalink | Email this | Comments

Buffalo solders up 32GB and 64GB SSDs for Eee PC

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 9:37pm EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Laptops, Storage

Those fine folks at Buffalo are working on 32GB and 64GB PCI-E SSDs for the Eee PC 901 (and others, we're guessing), to be released in September. That's all well and good, but what's even more exciting are the price points: 32GB will be retailing for around 16,800 yen (about $157 US) while the 64GB will go for 33,600 yen ($313 US). Sure, a storage device the same price as your computer is never ideal, but with SSD prices continuing to plummet -- as evidenced by this nearly-wallet-friendly pair -- they should be in striking distance before long.

[Via jkkmobile]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Navigon 2150 Max now shipping in the UK

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 8:44pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: GPS

Navigon's 2150 Max isn't revolutionary in terms of design nor specifications, but it does feature a rather delicious list of features for just £229.99 ($458). All-too-trusting UK motorists can look forward to a 4.3-inch display, pre-loaded maps of 39 countries, built-in Bluetooth, text-to-speech and support for live traffic information. Oh, and in case our header was unclear, it's shipping this very moment in time.

[Via BIOS Magazine]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pentax Optio E60's 10 megapixels are easy on the wallet

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 8:10pm EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Digital Cameras

In strict megapixel to dollar terms, the new Optio E60 from Pentax is a real steal, at a mere $140 for its absurd 10 megapixels. Of course, there's more to the story. The 3x zoom and lack of optical image stabilization -- "High Sensitivity Digital Shake Reduction" is little comfort -- won't be winning you any "best candid shot of whatever we did last night" awards, but there are some decent automatic perks like face recognition and a "Green" settings mode for absolute novices that should keep you from getting booted out of your Flickr pool. The E60, which is powered by AA batteries, will be available in October.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iPhone 3G accidentally snaps photo in factory, reveals long lost siblings

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 7:41pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

Unless you hit the jackpot at an Apple Store, you aren't apt to see this many iPhone 3Gs in one place without planning a meetup. As the story goes, one particular lady picked up one of Apple's latest handsets, took it home and began checking things out. Curiously, a trio of images were already on the Camera Roll. Upon viewing them, she noticed two snaps overcome with blur and the one you see above -- likely a rare look into an iPhone 3G factory. Not that we haven't see Apple products give away their place of origin before, but still interesting nonetheless. Now, scurry along and check out your own roll to see if any hidden treasures are waiting.

[Via TUAW]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

RAmos iTV PMP is first to handle China's CMMB mobile TV standard

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 7:10pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

If you haven't noticed, China's going all out to improve itself before the world fixes its eyes upon Beijing in just over a week. Rather than plunking down license fees to use a protocol that's widely accepted, China has chosen to create its own digital TV standard: CMMB. Amazingly, RAmos has actually churned out a PMP to take advantage of said standard, and just in time for the 2008 Olympics. Unfortunately, we really know nothing about the iTV except that it can understand CMMB, so screen size, internal storage and everything else remains unknown. Heck, we don't even know how expensive it is -- but hey, it supports CMMB (for the three weeks you're in China, after which it's partially worthless)!

[Via iTech News Net]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

60GB Xbox 360 pops up in Target -- where else?

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 6:31pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Gaming

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/60GB_Xbox_360_pops_up_in_Target_where_else'; Amazon and Circuit City might have that new 60GB Xbox 360 SKU up for pre-order with delivery in August, but Microsoft's game console has always tended to pop up in Targets first, and this time out's no exception -- yep, there it is, hanging out in NYC. Anyone seen one poking around the dish towels and cheap-chic furniture at their local? Let us know in comments!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft's Mojave Experiment "promotes" Vista -- Ashton Kutcher-style

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 6:09pm EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

You may have heard that Microsoft is "like, totally serious, guys" about patching up Vista's good name, and, well, so far they're off to a rocky start. After pushing up a few lackluster web ads, they've decided to trick users en masse to prove a point. They've termed the Punk'ing the "Mojave Experiment," which placed 120 regular computer users of all different OS persuasions in front of a Vista box, except they were told they were getting to look at the next Microsoft OS, codenamed "Mojave." Results of the test will be unveiled tomorrow in what are sure to be glowing customer reports. Scientific validity of this test aside, we're not exactly sure testimonials from a blind taste test are going to turn the tide of Vista ill-will, but now we're starting to sound like Demi Moore our parents.

[Via Techdirt]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toshiba rolls out budget-priced Camileo H10 HD camcorder

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 5:37pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Digital Cameras

It looks like those wanting to get some HD recoding done on the cheap but not willing to venture into some less familiar territory now have a new option to consider from Toshiba, which is set to release its new Camileo H10 camcorder. It'll give you the usual 720p recording, along with a 5x optical zoom, a 10-megapixel sensor, 64MB of memory, an SDHC card slot for expansion, image stabilization, motion detection and, of course, an HDMI output to let you view your low-budget masterpieces. No word on a release 'round these parts, unfortunately, but those in the UK can apparently get their hands on one at the end of the month for £180 ($360, or less once the VAT and whatnot are taken out of the equation).

[Via Tech Digest]
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iPhone apps pirated, shared -- but not GPL'd

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 5:04pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Cellphones

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/iPhone_apps_pirated_shared_but_not_GPL_d'; Seeing as Apple's FairPlay DRM has already been cracked for music and movies, it's not at all surprising that people are starting to poke holes in the FairPlay-based iPhone App Store. The first loophole is pretty simple, since it doesn't appear that FairPlay links the iPhone hardware to specific Apple IDs: just log into iTunes from any of the machines authorized to use your account, and every app you've purchased will be available for free re-downloading to any attached phone. Since music and movies wrapped in FairPlay can be transferred to unlimited iPods and iPhones, we're guessing this little trick will work indefinitely, but we wouldn't depend on it.

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Monolab Design Trunk spares no expense to accomodate expensive gear

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 4:38pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Desktops, Misc. Gadgets

While most of us can get by with a laptop bag on our travels, if you really need to have your primo gear with you at all times, you may want to take some cues from this one-of-a-kind trunk from the folks at Monolab Design. Apparently, this project began years ago when its creator was living from hotel to hotel, and it has now wound up as a fixture in the first Monolab|Workspace in Palo Alto, California. Not exactly fulfilling its purpose, to be sure, but it is undeniably a pretty impressive piece of work, with the entire 300-pound rid constructed out of anodized aluminum, and it boasting custom-built accommodations for a Mac Pro, a 23-inch Apple Cinema Display 23″, a Music Hall Mambo amplifier, and a pair of aluminum-enclosed Webern loudspeakers. No plans for building your own, unfortunately, but you can get a better look at it by hitting up the read link below.
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SimpleTech hops on eco-friendly bandwagon with [re]drive HDD

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 4:11pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

Not that we haven't seen bamboo-based gizmos before, but there's something about SimpleTech's [re]drive that just screams upscale. This elegant, smooth looking external HDD was crafted to be easy on the eyes and Mother Earth alike, with the outfit utilizing "renewable, naturally grown bamboo and recyclable aluminum" along with an Energy Star power adapter and eco-friendly packaging. You'll also find a USB 2.0 jack, automatic power up / down and 500GB of internal storage space. Not too shabby for an estimated $150.

[Via Wired]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fujitsu Siemens' Amilo Mini caught with interchangeable lids

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 3:40pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

IFA's coming up soon, and that means Fujitsu Siemens will officially unveil the Amilo Mini. Yeah, you've already heard about some preliminary specifications and witnessed the unit itself on video, but did you know about the interchangeable lids? In a ploy a siphon away even more cash from netbook buyers, the firm is very, very intelligently looking to offer at least a couple of accessories to distinguish your unit from everyone else's. It makes sense, really -- cute little notebooks deserve cute little trinkets to jazz them up. Pure brilliance, we say. See the lids on video after the break.

Continue reading Fujitsu Siemens' Amilo Mini caught with interchangeable lids

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Michael Dell hints at smartphone plans in recent interview

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 3:08pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

Rumors of Dell playing a role in the smartphone industry have been around for what seems like ages, but each time the fire dies down, another can of lighter fluid emerges to get us all wondering again. In a recent interview with Om Malik, the bigwig had more than a few interesting things to say on the computing industry as a whole. Still, what intrigued us wasn't the talk about being a founder or changing up Dell's game in order to rebound -- no, it was Michael's remarks on the handset sector. When asked if there was a "desire" on its part to work with Android or Symbian, Mr. Dell stated that the company "is kind of working on that," although it wasn't ready to "publicly disclose" plans. Granted, he also asked us "not to expect anything anytime soon" when referring to a phone, but would you really expect any CEO with a trick up his / her sleeve to say anything different?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Comcast offering a free Wii to new 'Triple Play' subscribers

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 2:44pm EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

We've seen our fair share of subscription-dependent giveaways in the past in the form of Eee PC's and even the rare PS3 offer -- but handing out a Wii with cable service strikes us as somewhat notable. According to an offer from Comcast, newcomers to the company's "Triple Play" of digital cable, VOIP service, and high-speed internet will also be able to bag an honest-to-goodness Nintendo Wii on their way out the door. Sure, you've got to sign a two-year contract (à la mobile telco policy), but you'll also walk away with a console that still can't be found on a lot of store shelves. Does this signal the ultimate dilution of the Wii into a ubiquitous and truly casual mainstay, or does it simply suggest Comcast and the big N had a sweet -- and likely limited -- deal? Only the suits know for sure.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vizio readies 26-inch VMM monitor: its first LCD aimed at dedicated PC users

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 2:12pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Vizio made some waves recently with the introduction of two bargain-priced plasmas, but it could garner attention from a whole new sect of individuals next month. Reportedly, the outfit is gearing up to launch "its first monitor tailored for dedicated PC users" in late August, the 26-inch widescreen VMM monitor. We are told that it'll boast HDMI inputs, reduced brightness and higher resolution "than typical IT displays," but aside from that (and the $449 price tag), the rest remains a mystery. Also of note, the company is expected to debut an "eco-friendly" line of TVs this October, which are said to "operate with 35- to 45-percent less power than traditional LCD TVs of comparable size." Way to keep us on the edge of our seats, Vizio.

[Via Electronista]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony CECHL01 PlayStation 3 wanders aimlessly into FCC database

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 1:41pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming

Call it a remarkably strong hunch, but we've got a feeling that the detail-less console that just popped up in the FCC's database is the 80GB "Core" PlayStation 3 we heard about at E3. The FCC filing is exceptionally devoid of juicy nuggets, with just a pair of ID labels to swoon over. We can see that the new model will be dubbed CECHL01, but outside of that, it's a total crapshoot as to what's going on here. Okay, maybe not, but it's fun to pretend.

[Via PC World]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo spaceship carrier gets unveiled

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 1:10pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Transportation

It looks like the Mojave Desert is once again the center of the private space industry, with Richard Branson and crew on hand to unveil Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo spaceship carrier as promised. This craft (only the first of more that are promised) has been named EVE (after Branson's mother) and, with a 140-foot wingspan, it's apparently now officially the largest all carbon-composite aircraft ever made. Eventually, it'll be used to help carry the yet-to-be-completed SpaceShipTwo craft in orbit although, as Burt Rutan himself tells Space.com, that's still a little ways off, with him saying that while could be ready to go after just 40 tests flights, they'll likely do a few more than that for good measure. Head on past the break for a few more pics.

Read - Space.com, "Virgin Galactic Unveils Space Liner Mothership "
Read - Wired Science, "First Look at Virgin Galactic's New Mothership, WhiteKnightTwo"

Continue reading Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo spaceship carrier gets unveiled

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Details surface on Lenovo's IdeaPad G430

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 12:37pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

We've been hearing the faintest of whispers that Lenovo had a new IdeaPad on tap, and while we haven't received any official confirmation just yet, we figured it prudent to pass along the latest. According to an anonymous tipster, the G430 will boast a 14.1-inch WXGA display, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Vista Home Basic, a DVD burner, NVIDIA's 256MB GeForce 9300M GS and a 6-cell battery. Furthermore, you'll find 802.11a/b/g WiFi, no webcam and an undisclosed array of ports. Your guess is as good as ours when it comes to pricing / availability, but surely we'll know something more soon. Surely.

[Thanks, anonymous]Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Xbox 360 Dashboard update gets leaked, shown off

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 12:11pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Gaming

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/Video_of_new_XBOX_360_Dashboard_leaked'; Sure, we've seen the Xbox 360's forthcoming Dashboard update demoed in a polished presentation and detailed in high res press pics, but if you're like us, you don't really get exciting about something until it's leaked out into the wild and shown off blurry cam-style. The particularly adventurous can apparently even take their chances and install this new "Xbox Experience" update themselves, but the exact details about where to get it and how to install it are understandably a bit hard to come by. If you do go that route, however, you'll need to make sure you have a modded console with an Infectus 2 Chip in the system and, most likely, a second 360 to fall back on in the event the first bursts into flames. The rest of us will just have to make do with the video after the break.

[Via Xbox-Scene News]

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Brando's 4-in-1 desk lamp completes your workstation

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 11:47am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals

Oftentimes, Brando's assortment of "must-have" doohickeys don't actually do much for your productivity level. This particular gizmo, however, bucks that trend in glorious fashion. The $23 USB 4-in-1 Web Cam is a fairly standard desk lamp with built-in LEDs that also acts as a webcam, voice input device and fan. Best of all, this one's USB-powered, though that could spell disaster (or "USB hub") if your sockets are already occupied with other Brando gear.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Permalink for 'Engadget/2008/07/28/Nokia_to_pay_German_state_%e2%82%ac1.3_million_to_settle_Bochum_dispute'

Nokia to pay German state €1.3 million to settle Bochum dispute

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 11:24am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

Germany wanted $6.2 million in research subsidies back from Nokia, and in addition to the "tens of millions" that the company has already relinquished after the highly-disputed Bochum plant closing, it'll be coughing up another €1.3 million ($2.04 million) to hopefully close the door on the matter. Said payment will be addressed to North Rhine-Westphalia, which was quite angry after the handset maker decided to hack 2,300 jobs from Germany and relocate operations to Romania for "lower labor costs." The sum here is in addition to the €20 million "Growth for Bochum" foundation that the outfit started, but apparently that show of goodwill didn't really change the hearts of those already bitter.

[Via PhoneScoop, image courtesy of Reuters]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung intros two new Q1 Ultra UMPCs: one with Vista Business, one with HSDPA

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 10:59am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Handhelds, Wireless

The next-generation Q1 Ultra may be due next year, but Sammy's trying to squeeze every bit of life it can out of the current iteration with two new flavors. Announced today, the Q1U-CMXP boasts an integrated HSDPA 3G cellular modem, while the Q1UP-V is a Q1 Ultra Premium featuring Vista Business. As for the former, it includes just about every connectivity option you could wish for: 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, Ethernet and a WWAN modem that connects to the AT&T Broadband Connect network; outside of the one new feature, however, the specifications are the same as the standard Q1 Ultra XP model that was launched in May of 2007. Both newcomers (if you can call 'em that) are available as we speak for $1,499 and $1,449 in order of mention.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

China's Blu-ray competitor CBHD brings HD DVD back from the dead

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 10:35am EDT by Richard Lawler

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

CBHD, née CH-DVD -- the Chinese version of the now-deceased HD DVD format -- is in production, gearing up for a fourth quarter launch. DigiTimes cites reports from enorth.com.cn that Shanghai United Optical Disc has laid out the first production line, although Taiwanese disc makers (already burned by HD DVD) aren't as confident it can take on Blu-ray, even with considerably lower royalty fees and hardware costs for disc replicators. Coming alongside news that Chinese-built Blu-ray players based on increasingly affordable hardware is on the way, plus a decided lack of studio support, it's not hard to see how this one will turn out (again.) Not to underrate China's national pride, but unless it can gain an unexpected foothold among DVD pirates, CBHD will probably be on the high definition scrap heap alongside HD DVD, EVD and the rest before long.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Plexidor's RFID-activated sliding doggie door: it's about time

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 10:14am EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Household

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pets_animals/Automatic_Sliding_Door_For_Dogs';Frankly, we're disappointed. It's 2008, the veritable future, and you still don't have an RFID-based automatic sliding doggie door? For shame! The Plexidor Electronic Doggie Door allows for all that nice canine coming and going with none of the less-nice house robbing a regular flap door enables. Your dog gets to wear an RFID chip on his collar, which lets the door know to automatically slide up when he shows up -- hopefully with a sort of squeegee sound to complete the sci-fi effect. Prices range from $700 to $800 depending on configuration.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dell Studio Hybrid mini pc shows up in hidden Dell customer service page

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 9:54am EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Desktops

If you've been paying attention, you remember all those blurry-vision pictures of an upcoming Dell mini desktop called the Studio Hybrid. As it turns out, those spy images were more than speculation, as an anonymous reader tipped us off to one of Dell's internal customer service session pages that guides the rep through some wireless keyboard and mouse resynchronization steps. The Dell Studio Hybrid appears to be codenamed "Nausicaa" (if image filenames are to be believed) and will ship with a wireless mouse and keyboard. It seems Dell believes that customers will need some help setting up these potentially finicky peripherals. As for when this new mini-desktop will be available, we're still in the dark on that, but a back-to-school number this like wouldn't be such a bad idea. We're not sure how long the page will remain up once our readers have poked at it, but we captured the images in a handy gallery for that inevitable moment.

UPDATE: Looks like the Studio Hybrid will also be available with a Blu-Ray drive and user-changeable color panels to match your design scheme. It will also launch within the next two weeks, if our other anonymous tipster is to be believed.

Gallery: Dell Studio Hybrid

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WiiBrew's Wii Pack Generator takes the "messy" out of homebrew

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 9:17am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming

Not that getting some hand-crafted 'brew on the Wii was any great feat to begin with, but the kindhearted individuals over at WiiBrew have decided to make things even easier. The newly released Wii Pack Generator is, in its own words, a "web-based utility that allows you to select from the most recent, up to date, and high quality homebrew for your Nintendo Wii and create a custom pack." Everything you select will be beautifully organized into a .zip or .exe file with the correct structure for easy extraction onto your SD card. Any remaining doubts you had about giving this a go just flew out the window (really, we saw it go down), so check the read link to conquer your fears and start really living.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Palm's 10-K filing reveals smaller acquisitions, reads like a mystery novel

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 8:27am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

So Palm, what exactly have you been up to lately? Besides pumping out that tired, ho hum 800w, of course. The snoopers over at monoNews went and dug through your latest 10-K filing, and it seems as if that noteworthy Elevation Partners deal wasn't the only agreement you were wrapped up in during the past little while. As a matter of fact, we're seeing that during February of 2007, you "acquired the assets of two sole proprietorships [at a cost of $19.2 million] focused on mobile computing and media devices, one a developer of user interface environments and the other a developer of email software applications." Oh, and in October of last year, you "acquired substantially all of the assets [for $500,000] of a corporation focused on developing solutions to enhance the performance of web applications." Curiously, you nonchalantly failed to mention any names, but it's pretty clear that those new pick-ups weren't utilized in the last 16 months or so.

[Via mocoNews, image courtesy of DayLife]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony's 16.4-inch VAIO FW laptop gets previewed

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 7:25am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

Maybe it's the 16.4-inch panel, or maybe it's the built-in Blu-ray drive. Whatever it is, Sony's VAIO FW has garnered quite a bit of attention. Just a fortnight after getting (extra) official, this nimble monster made its way into the loving arms of NotebookReview, where critics couldn't resist giving us a sneak peek before penning the fleshed-out review. We'll just get it out there -- initial impressions are really positive. Fit, finish and build quality were all deemed "excellent," and the overall design was dubbed "beautiful." Performance seemed to be above par during limited testing, though the screen is apt to be one of those love it or hate it ordeals. Check out the read link if for nothing more than a couple more shots.

Update: CNET has a full review of the unit.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Robo-One carnage shot at 300fps

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 5:55am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Robots

Japan's Impress Watch had the good fortune to attend this year's Robo-one tournament with a Casio EX-F1 in hand. The result is vise-to-vise combat captured at 300 frames per second. See a perfectly executed German suplex performed after the break. Makes us almost feel sorry for the little guy... almost.

Continue reading Video: Robo-One carnage shot at 300fps

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Power Pack 1 and HP's add-ons make Windows Home Server a real grouch

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 4:04am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage

If you've experienced some shockingly slow results from your Windows Home Server-based unit, we've one question for you: do you have Power Pack 1 and the HP add-ons installed? If so, you may not be alone in your frustrations. Apparently a number of users have seen dramatic slowdowns that have rendered their WHS devices nearly unusable. It seems that all the "bloatware" really takes a toll, as the hard drives are constantly pounded and console menus take ages (minutes, to be more precise) to appear. According to Within Windows, the only real solutions are to install more RAM and / or tweak your pagefile configurations afterwards. Anyone else raging mad about the performance issues? What are you going to do about it?

[Thanks, Bryant]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Motorola to reorganize home and networks mobility business

Posted: July 28th, 2008, 1:26am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Wireless, Networking

So we waffled on whether to go with a sad Moto or happy Moto face, but as we've stated in the past, we suppose we'll keep on keepin' on with the former until something marvelous happens. Nearly four months to the day after Motorola split in two, along comes word that the separated home and networks division will now be segmented into three distinct units: broadband home solutions, broadband access solutions and cellular networks. According to a statement put out by the firm, the "organizational change will ensure that home and networks mobility remains agile, focused and ideally aligned to realize its growth potential," which is about as canned a statement as you could ever hope for. We've heard that three's company, but who knows how it'll play out here.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fujifilm, Nintendo bring photo printing service to Japanese Wiis

Posted: July 27th, 2008, 10:40pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Gaming

Not that the Big N hasn't snubbed the vast majority of the world before with these channel releases, but folks holed up everywhere save for Japan have yet another one they can only look longingly at from afar. Thanks to a new partnership between Nintendo and Fujifilm, the Wii Digicam Print Channel is immediately available for Japanese Wii consoles to access, which essentially gives owners the ability to upload images from SD cards and receive customized prints, photo books, business cards, etc. in the mail. We're not totally at all sure why someone would choose to handle this on a gaming console rather than, say, an actual computer, but hey -- who are we to judge? Oh, and for you folks in North America, Europe and beyond, expect the service to roll your way sometime in the future.

[Via DigitalCameraInfo]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intelligent space robots to dig around, throw raves on their own by 2020

Posted: July 27th, 2008, 7:38pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Robots

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/space/Intelligent_space_robots_to_dig_around_on_their_own_by_2020';Let's face it -- we owe a great deal of gratitude to the robots that get up each and every morning to explore far reaches of the universe that we humans are just incapable of landing on. But there's still the problem of we humans having to tell these things what to do from our humble laboratories here on Earth. The brilliantly named Wolfgang Fink, a physicist and senior researcher at the California Institute of Technology, has plans to remedy said quandary by creating autonomous spacecrafts "that will be able to analyze data about points of interest as it passes and then make quick decisions about what needs to be investigated." In essence, he's looking to remove the Earthlings from the equation, which would enable smart robots to explore on their own and possibly discover new pools of purified water, REEM-B's long lost siblings or the real most innovative NES-in-a-whatever mod. 2020 folks, mark it down.

[Image courtesy of NASA]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Keepin' it real fake, part CXXVI: Jointech's $99 JL7100 rips Eee PC in spectacular fashion

Posted: July 27th, 2008, 4:46pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

The Kira 100 was a decent Eee PC knockoff, but at just north of $475, there was literally no purpose in picking it over the genuine product. The Jointech JL7100, however, really makes ASUS' darling look mighty unnecessary. Okay, so maybe the fact that this thing relies on WinCE 5.0 rather than, you know, a bona fide laptop operating system is a bit disappointing, but there are sacrifices to be expected here. As for other specifications, you'll supposedly find a 7-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, Samsung chipset, 64MB (yes, megabytes) of internal storage, 64MB (yes, megabytes) of RAM, a VGA output and three USB ports. We can hear your stifled laughter from here, but your tune may change upon hearing the $99 (USD?) price tag. Told you so.

[Thanks, Sean]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

PS3 homebrew capabilities inevitably leads to Pong

Posted: July 27th, 2008, 2:51pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming

If you'll recall, the evolution of homebrew on the Wii started out quite similar to this. First comes the Hello World proof of concept, then comes Pong. It would just be wrong to unfold otherwise, right? Dragula96, the same guru who whipped up the original homebrew hack, has now introduced 2 Player Pong 1.0 -- the first notable game to take advantage of the Java devkit (at least, that's how it looks from here). Currently, the collisions are "very basic" and further tweaks are necessary before it's perfect, but it should be stable enough to take you to some sort of blissful state for now.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Infineon CEO wants to sell flagging Qimonda unit... badly

Posted: July 27th, 2008, 12:31pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

Little known tidbit for those not keenly watching the happenings at Infineon: the firm was forced to write down the value of its Qimonda stake by €1 billion ($1.57 billion) in April. Not surprisingly, Infineon's head honcho is about ready to rid the company of the flagging unit, making quite a few direct statements in a Germany daily saying as much. For starters, CEO Peter Bauer stated that "a complete sale is possible as is a sale of a minority stake," and he continued by affirming that it was already "speaking to financial investors and other companies in the industry." Just in case you had any doubts whatsoever that this cat was serious, he proclaimed that "[the firm] was working with utmost urgency on the question how to close the chapter on Qimonda as quickly as possible." Unrequited love at its finest.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

IOCELL contents phone logs conversations, sends 'em around the web

Posted: July 27th, 2008, 9:49am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Not quite sure why, but we get this whole Get Smart vibe from this thing. IOCELL's contents phone would probably be more suited for a highly covert spy agency rather than your grandmother's home, but we suppose even granny could appreciate the built-in hard drive that logs conversations, plays 'em back and makes remembering things that much easier. Furthermore, the firm asserts that this thing can send completed calls out on the internet should you want to pass along the audio to someone else, and there also appears to be a USB port for possibly offloading those onto flash drives. Heck, it even syncs caller ID information with calls and provides background music during conversations (uh, okay?). Take a wild guess on the price, chances are you'll be fairly close.

[Via The Red Ferret Journal]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung Costume hard drive concept appeals to the ladies

Posted: July 27th, 2008, 6:41am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

Not that Samsung is actually looking to pump this out into beauty salons worldwide, but there stands at least a mild chance that sophisticated females shopping for new compacts would also spring for some storage. Joongoo Lee's Costume is a sleek, deliberately styled 2.5-inch external hard drive that looks entirely at home mixed in with various makeup components. Additionally, the bundled dock is equally sexy, though we can only hope there's a USB 2.0 port somewhere on this thing. Though this is just a concept, we wouldn't put it past Samsung to turn into a reality -- after all, it did just produce pink and blue BlackJack IIs. Your soft side is showing, Sammy.

[Via PCLaunches]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nikon D700 full-frame DSLR gets unboxed on video

Posted: July 27th, 2008, 1:46am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Digital Cameras

It's easy enough to drool over the press shots of Nikon's luscious D700. Seeing someone unbox this full-frame beast on video is another experience entirely (bordering on spiritual, really). Unfortunately, the vid waiting after the break is just two minutes long and doesn't show any clicks being depressed, but those looking to get a better idea of the size and build have plenty of reason to click through.

[Thanks, Jon]

Continue reading Nikon D700 full-frame DSLR gets unboxed on video

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E-Lead's Noahpad UMPC gets trunk lid unboxing

Posted: July 26th, 2008, 10:36pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

We've been seeing in the wild shots of E-Lead's Noahpad for months on end, but on some fateful trunk lid likely to be halfway across the planet, this undeniably peculiar UMPC has finally arrived to an end user. Oddly enough, said user couldn't even wait to get the thing inside, and as you can clearly above, this unboxing took place entirely on the trunk of a car. We can't determine what's more interesting here -- the unit itself, or the totally cute Baby In Car sticker just up there on the right.

[Via Pocketables, thanks JB]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Zune Guy calls Microsoft 'liars,' says Zune situation is 'f*ing bullst'

Posted: July 26th, 2008, 8:31pm EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/microsoft/Zune_Guy_calls_Microsoft_liars_Zune_situation_is_shit'; You've probably heard by now that the infamous Zune Guy ("Microsoft Zune") was so disappointed with Microsoft that he's elected to have his ink removed in place of something more in line with his shifted priorities. In addition to the reconstructive work he's going to have, ZG claims that Microsoft actually lied to him about his free trip to the Redmond campus, which (as you might imagine) further tarnishes his image of the company. Unfortunately, according to reps from Microsoft we spoke with, the trip was never confirmed -- only discussed -- and ultimately canceled due to the very reasonable fear that it might lead a lot of "hyper-engaged users" to expect a trip of their own (though they did hook our man up with a free Zune and some related swag). What you probably haven't heard (or seen) is his sprawling video rant, in which he accuses the big M of dropping the ball on his favorite PMP before going on a general rage-bender. We've included the video after the break (careful moms, it's full of expletives), as well as link to a zunescene forum where the Zune Guy reveals he's just purchased a new PMP... an iPod.

[Thanks to everyone who sent these in]

Read - Something else I have been hiding....
Read - Bought my new PMP today....

Continue reading Zune Guy calls Microsoft 'liars,' says Zune situation is 'f***ing bulls**t'

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Yahoo! to compensate DRM-protected Music Store customers

Posted: July 26th, 2008, 5:58pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Portable Audio

Hey, both of you Yahoo! Music Store customers, listen up. Just hours after Yahoo! affirmed that it would be powering down its DRM servers, along comes a spokesperson to alleviate any worries that you two will get screwed in all of this. According to Carrie Davis, customers "will be compensated for whatever they paid for the music," and she continued on to state that Yahoo "had not yet decided what exactly it would do, but it would take care of its customers." Some of the possible options include getting cash back for the money spent on tracks or receiving MP3 versions of the jams sans DRM (we'd take the former, thanks). Depressingly, there doesn't seem to be a definitive time table laid out just yet for the restitution process.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

WhiteKnightTwo to be unveiled on Monday, space to seem less far away

Posted: July 26th, 2008, 2:23pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

Hold onto your dollar bills, y'all -- the WhiteKnightTwo is set to be unveiled (and swooned over) on Monday. We knew the fabled space tourism vehicle was set to be unwrapped this month, but knowing that said event is merely hours away just gets our juices flowin'. Richard Branson and "other dignitaries" are preparing to officially launch the ship at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California (a short drive from Zzyzx, we hear), and we're still being led to believe that test flights should begin as early as this fall. Hey, at least you know what you're doing next year if your ship comes in.

[Via The Register]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nokia 5800 gets touched in the wild -- again

Posted: July 26th, 2008, 1:15pm EDT by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

At this point, we've seen the Tube from everyone but Nokia -- heck, even Morgan Freeman got a chance to show it off -- and it looks like that trend isn't going to abate any time soon. Another round of in-the-wild shots of the supposed XpressMusic 5800 have popped up (yes, the latest prototype seems to have dropped the "XpressMedia" badge), showing off a pretty uninspiring keyboard that we can only hope has no bearing on the final product. Guess that's why they haven't announced this sucker yet, eh? We hope?

[Via The Nokia Blog]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apple admits to lost MobileMe messages, bad karma

Posted: July 26th, 2008, 12:44pm EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/Apple_admits_to_lost_MobileMe_messages_bad_karma'; Apple's Push-like MobileMe launch has been such a debacle that they're now in damage control mode. As a result, some poor soul has been tasked by Steve Jobs to post status updates "every other day or so." The first update is already revealing:

Last Friday, 1% of MobileMe subscribers were affected by a "serious problem" with one of Apple's mail server.
Limited web access has been restored to those accounts but full access won't be sorted until next week.
Of these 1%, Apple admits to losing "approximately 10%" of the messages received between July 16 and July 18.

For the rest of you MobileMe subscribers, Apple has added server capacity, tuned the software to scale better, and fixed over 70 bugs to date. So the question is, how's MobileMe working for you?

View Poll

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Pantel readies trio of weatherproof Mirror TVs

Posted: July 26th, 2008, 10:41am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Just because you haven't been remotely interested in seen a mirror TV in, oh, years, doesn't mean that companies aren't still interested in exploiting the niche. Take Pantel, for instance, who is totally stoked about debuting a trio of 'em at CEDIA 2008. Set to launch in 20-, 32- and 42-inch flavors, the Mirror TV line is aimed at folks looking to add a multipurpose display in their bathroom, shower or sauna. The 20- and 32-inch editions arrive with a 720p panel, while the 42-incher checks in with a full 1080p resolution. Price wise, you're looking at $1,200 for the little guy, $2,755 for the 32-inch sibling and $5,800 for the mack daddy.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dell explains NVIDIA GPU issues, throws out BIOS updates to help

Posted: July 26th, 2008, 8:12am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops

So yeah, quite a few NVIDIA GPUs have been acting up. Nothing new there. However, Dell's attempting to help its laptop owners out by making a few notable BIOS updates readily available for download. Apparently the issue "is a weak die / packaging material set, which may fail with GPU temperature fluctuations." In order to combat the problem, Dell's BIOS flashes "modify the fan profile to help regulate GPU temperature fluctuations," though the Round Rock powerhouse only promises that the updates will "help reduce the likelihood of GPU issues." Hit the read link and give it a go -- it can't hurt... we hope.

[Via Electronista]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

El Tunes gives Linux users iTMS playback capabilities

Posted: July 26th, 2008, 5:51am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

It has been a solid tick since we've seen a good FairPlay hack, so it's with great pleasure that we pass along El Tunes for Ubuntu 8.04 users everywhere. Tested to work on Hardy Heron using RhythmBox (but assumed to work on any modern Linux Distro with GStreamer and a media player that utilizes GStreamer), said plug-in enables open-source aficionados to play songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store. As for limitations, the current version has no Pause / Seek support and cannot de-authorize a machine for playback, but a future version should hopefully cure those two quirks and add support for purchased video content and audio streaming to an AirTunes device. Give it a shot and let us know how it treats ya.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Brando's Solar Mini Clip Fan ruins your shot at picking up friends

Posted: July 26th, 2008, 4:36am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Wearables

Unless you're strolling through Disneyland (or Dollywood, we suppose), we can't imagine anyone not giving you an awkward stare when you approach them with this on. Brando has triumphed once more by offering up the Solar Mini Clip Fan, which does a remarkable job of explaining itself. For those who can't understand what's going on here, it goes like this: clip on the fan, get out in the sun, experience a mild breeze on your brow and enjoy the solitariness. Obliterate your shot at being the life of the party for just a Hamilton.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fujitsu's Lifebook U2010 gets new pics, specs

Posted: July 26th, 2008, 2:33am EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Laptops

We've caught a few glimpses of Fujitsu's Lifebook U2010 in the past, but now we've got a whole handful of new shots of the crazy-versatile device, plus some fresh video and actual, honest-to-goodness specs. According to a Vietnamese forum, the miniature laptop / tablet will feature an Intel Atom CPU (at 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz), a 5.6-inch 1024 x 768 display, an 80GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, a 3G radio, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and will weigh 680 grams (about 1.5 lbs). No word on a street date or regions for the device right now, but the price is said to clock in around a hefty $1300.

[Thanks, Aki]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Revo's Blik RadioStation gets iPod dock, becomes iBlik RadioStation

Posted: July 26th, 2008, 12:51am EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Apparently looking to give Bose a run for its money when it comes to long overdue product upgrades, Revo has now finally seen fit to gift its Blik RadioStation with an iPod dock, a move that follows its similarly risky forays into the rarely explored fields of WiFi and DAB radio. Apart from that welcome addition, however, this newly-dubbed iBlik RadioStation looks to be identical to its most recent predecessor, with it packing the same WiFi and DAB as before and, of course, the same love-it-or-hate-it styling. If that's a bit too much for you to handle, Revo has also kindly introduced the DAB-less iBlik WiFi, which will set you back £130 (or about $260), as opposed to the £180 (or $360) the full blown iBlik RadioStation will run you. Look for both of 'em to hit Europe next month.

[Via Slash Gear]
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Sirius and XM merger approved by FCC, extreme partying commences

Posted: July 26th, 2008, 12:30am EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/music/Sirius_XM_merger_approved_by_FCC_extreme_partying_commences'; In a somewhat unsurprising move, the FCC has approved the merger of Sirius and XM after protracted -- and incredibly boring -- multi-year negotiations. The Federal Communication Commission decided tonight to allow a deal that will bring the two satellite radio providers together, creating a combined subscriber base of roughly 18 million users. The deal isn't without catches, however, with the Commission stating that the companies must cap prices for three years following the merger, allow subscriber choice on content, and lower fees for channel packages. FCC head Kevin Martin seemed pleased with the final outcome, stating, "Consumers will get to enjoy the best of the programming on both services." You know who wasn't so stoked? Clear Channel.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sandberg intros wireless keyboard / touchpad combo for HTPCs

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 11:36pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Media PCs, Peripherals

Wireless keyboards with built-in pointing devices are usually pretty ugly, and Sandberg's new HTPC-oriented keyboard is no exception: sure, the dedicated Media Center Keys and 32-foot range are nice, but that two-tone color scheme is straight out of 1987. Plus, check the placement of the Media Center button -- yeah, that'll never get accidentally pressed. On the plus side, it's just £49 ($97), so you'll have plenty of scratch left over for fiber-optic lights and white shag rugs.

[Via Bios]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fujitsu Siemens' Amilo Mini gets spied on video

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 10:11pm EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Laptops

Hey, remember that teeny-tiny Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Mini we spied a few weeks ago? You do? Good, because we've just discovered video of the as-yet-unreleased device in action. According to the source, the device will be officially revealed at IFA this year, and will be priced around €300 to €400 ($475 to $634). It won't blow your mind, but if you've been hoping to see a short, quickly moving fly-by of an extremely diminutive laptop, here's your chance. Enjoy!

Continue reading Fujitsu Siemens' Amilo Mini gets spied on video

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Gateway ditches direct sales model, goes purely indirect

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 8:54pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Gateway, long known for its (once) very active direct sales model, is continuing to morph as it attempts to revitalize itself. The most recent strategic change is pretty remarkable -- the outfit is completely and thoroughly ditching the aforesaid direct sales model. From here on out, prospective customers will only be able to snag a Gateway PC from retailers, e-tailers and other channel partners. According to the official verbiage, the change will deliver "significant cost savings, ultimately resulting in an improved value proposition for consumers." This all seems to have quite a bit to do with the recent Acer acquisition, with Mark Hill, Acer Group US General Manager, stating that Gateway is "shifting its distribution method to better align with Acer's successful global strategy, which was built upon an indirect model." At this point, we suppose it can't hurt to give it a whirl.

[Via Electronista, image courtesy of The New York Times]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

How would you change MSI's Wind?

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 7:30pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

Now that MSI's Wind has (finally) started shipping out to eager customers, we're anxious to hear how you all like them. As was the case with HP's heralded 2133 Mini-Note, we're confident that you early adopters are champing at the bit to let loose some opinions here. In the end, was it worth the wait? Was it worth the asking price? It is nimble enough? Even if so, what would make the Wind an even bigger threat in the quickly growing netbook realm? Take all the time you need to get it all our, we're here for you.Permalink | Email this | Comments

ZeeVee's localcasting ZvBox gets hands-on treatment

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 6:18pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Not that you haven't seen ZeeVee's ZvBox in the flesh before, but Dave Zatz got some hands-on time with the finalized unit. According to him, the box showed an impressive build quality though it ran "quite hot" -- likely a result of foregoing a built-in fan for a giant heatsink. He also noted that image quality was "good," though he did mention that he longed to see the ability to "selectively isolate a video window and present that content fullscreen." Anywho, feel free to read up on his initial impressions and peep the hands-on pics in the read link below.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iriver's Spinn hits the FCC, means nothing

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 5:09pm EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Sure, it doesn't look like much thanks to the FCC's staunch aversion to photo glam, but that's iriver's Spinn PMP, a product which had us at a full, rigid swoon back at CES. While this would generally be good news, the model approved features a DAB radio and DMB television tuner -- in other words, it's not intended for US consumption. The user manual also confirms a FM radio, Mini SD slot, Bluetooth, D-Click System interface, 27 hours of audio and 5 hours of video, and support for SWF (Flash), TXT, MP3, WMA, OGG, JPG, AVI, MWV file formats. With FCC approval out of the way, the rumored UK August release date is presumably in the bag. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

LEGO gets into classrooms with WeDo robotics systems

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 4:39pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

There was a time when the world was more innocent and Lincoln Logs in elementary classrooms were a given, but now that teachers are looking to squash every ounce of fun between 8AM and 3PM (okay, so maybe we just had a rough experience or two), LEGO's taking the back door in. The WeDo robotics kit is marketed toward elementary schools and the younger kids within them, with each package containing 158 blocks, gears, levers, etc., a USB hub for connecting to your Mac / PC, OLPC XO or Intel Classmate, a motor, one motion sensor, one tilt sensor and a CD with a smattering of sure-to-be-riveting activities. Mum's the word on pricing for now, but considering your tax dollars will be paying for 'em, it's not like you'll really benefit from knowing.

[Via BoingBoing]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Project: Alien Mouse gets your arm into it

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 3:51pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Peripherals

Mizanur Rahman is clearly sick and tired of traditional mousing devices. So sick and tired, in fact, that he's kicked out a rendering of the Project: Alien Mouse. In short, this decidedly gigantic mouse shoots for ergonomics by providing a place for your wrist, lower arm and maybe your elbow if you're a small enough person. We'll be honest, all those gel cushions sure look comfy from here, but the amount of brain energy that would be required to use it kind of puts a damper on the whole deal.

[Via Wired]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

'The Shining' gets remade with WowWee bots, cybernetically invades your soul

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 3:16pm EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Robots

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/The_Shining_Gets_Remade_With_WowWee_Bots'; All work and no play makes Robosapien a dull bot. All work and no play makes Robosapien a dull bot. All work and n0 play makes R0b0sapien a dull bot. All w0rk and no play makes R0101ap1en a dull b0t. A11 w0rk a1d n0 play m01es R0101ap1en a dull b0t. A11 101k 11d n0 p10y m01es R010101e0 a d011 b0t. 011 1011 11d n0 p10y m011s 0010101e0 a d011 b0t. 011 1011 110 10 p10y 1011s 0010101e0 1 d011 b0t. 011 1011 110 10 1100 10110 001010110 1 1011 001.

Continue reading 'The Shining' gets remade with WowWee bots, cybernetically invades your soul

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Taijia's do-it-all PSP-860S handheld looks, smells cheap

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 2:38pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Okay, so we're trying not to judge this book by its cover, but Taijia's PSP-860S just reeks of chintzy. The handheld gaming PMP not only plays back the elusive MP4 file format, but it also snaps presumably lackluster still shots with its 2-megapixel camera. You'll also find 1GB / 2GB of built-in RAM, a USB port, AV in / out, miniSD expansion slot and some form of emulation application. If you're not dozing by now, you may actually care that it'll only run you 399 yuan ($59) / 499 yuan ($73).

[Via PMP Today]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Another team figures out how to convert waste heat into energy

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 1:56pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Not that mad scientists haven't figured out a way to convert waste heat into energy, but a team from Ohio State University has developed a new material that does the same sort of thing... just way, way better. The new material goes by the name thallium-doped lead telluride, and at least in theory, it could actually convert exhaust heat from vehicles into electricity. According to a new report about to hit the journal Science, the material packs "twice the efficiency of anything currently on the market," though it still seems as if it's a good ways out from being ready for commercial applications. Nanotechnology geeks -- you've got a real treat waiting in the read link.

[Via CNET]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Brando's USB M.A.D. Game Pad has removable steering wheel because it can, darnit

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 1:23pm EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Gaming

Let's face it: you don't have nearly enough game controllers and accessories adding to the spaghetti that is your entertainment center. This USB M.A.D. Game Pad gives you the option to remove a little steering wheel for those moments when you're not driving about. Compatible with Windows Vista, XP, and 2000, this Brando product is available for $20. So, why? Apparently this thing is meant for the gamer on the move -- it's small and light, measuring only 4 x 2.5-inches and weighing in at a dainty 3-ounces. As for the size of the steering wheel? It's tiny. Really tiny. For tiny people with tiny fingers. Can you feel the love?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vonage gets an infusion of cash, changes in the boardroom

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 12:44pm EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Household

VOIP provider Vonage is doing a bit of reshuffling at the top, while putting the finishing touches on a $215 million infusion of cash from Silver Point Finance LLC. Dry enough? Perhaps, but we're sure Jeffery Citron, CEO and current interim chief executive of the recently embattled company will be pleased to get the helping hand. Citron is currently preparing for a swap of duties as well, taking a step back from the day-to-day -- which will probably provide a welcome respite from the flurry of legal hits the provider has taken. Enjoy your vacation, Jeff.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Analyst says Android and Symbian to merge, Nokia and Google to get matching tattoos

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 12:00pm EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Cellphones

According to the oracle-like superbrains at J. Gold Associates, Google's Android OS and Nokia's Symbian will "combine to provide a single open source OS," sometime in the very near future... say, three to six months. Sure, Android is just about to launch on devices in late 2008, and Nokia just announced in June that it will be moving Symbian towards open source -- and of course the two companies have no formal relationship that would come close to permitting such a collaboration. Still, J. Gold assures us this is happening, stating, "A combination of the Android and Symbian efforts would be good for the industry, good for Google and good for Symbian." In related news, we understand a handful of similar mergers are in the offing: Linksys and Belkin, Red Hat and Ubuntu, Engadget and Gizmodo, and the inevitable one-two punch of Coke and Pepsi.

Update: Craziest thing, it turns out that Google, Nokia, and Symbian are all dismissing the platform merger talk as utter nonsense. And for once, we believe those trusty souls; who knows, maybe it's the complete lack of technical synergy between them?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

xTablet T8700 left alone in a pool with stranger, does indeed work under water

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 11:25am EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Tablet PCs

Poor xTablet. First it's used as a hammer and now it's submerged under water by an accented man in a wetsuit. In the latest test of the xTablet T8700, the guys over at RuggedPCReview swam gingerly with the machine all the while tapping away at its screen, amazed that it continued to work, submerged and "without bubbles." The Jacque Cousteau-like narration had us hoping that a shark (or even a furtive sea turtle) would come along to make things a bit more exciting, but all we saw was some creepy whispering, scuba gear, and uncomfortable silence. We mean no harm to the diver, we just felt as though something really, really bad was about to happen. Video after the break.

Continue reading xTablet T8700 left alone in a pool with stranger, does indeed work under water

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Yahoo! Music Store taking DRM servers offline, freezing out customers

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 11:04am EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Portable Audio

In a move which at best could be described as unsurprising, Yahoo! has announced that it's taking its Music Store DRM license key servers offline come September 30th... and freezing customers from ever registering their music with another computer. Ever. Like a twin-sister rehash of Microsoft's PlaysForSure / MSN Music DRM debacle, this moves ensures that the only way you can take your tracks with you will be the (suggested!) technique of burning the songs to CD then ripping them back to your PC -- thus ensuring the absolute worst possible quality. Normally, we'd expect to see a massive backlash over a move like this, but given the near-insignificant nature of the Yahoo! Music Store, it may not be the firestorm Microsoft got itself into. Regardless of the outcry, this is a terrific reminder of the failure of DRM in general, and a slap in the face to the people who actually went to the trouble of buying their music in the first place.

[Via Techdirt]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

"Whole-day" Eee PC batteries coming later this year?

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 10:44am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Laptops

Taiwanese industry and rumor site DigiTimes is reporting (without citing a source) that ASUS expects to deliver "whole-day" battery options to its Eee PC range of netbooks. In addition, ASUS also plans to offer some level of Internet storage, apparently beyond the 20GB they already offer to new Eee PC 901 and 1000 owners -- a move that we hope will become a trend amongst netbook providers in order to offset the miniscule flash drives found inside the lowest of the low-cost, mini laptops. Both changes are expected before the year is up. Incredibly, ASUS also plans to push out new software and hardware upgrades every month to "fill gaps in the netbook market." Funny, we didn't think any gaps remained in this over-saturated niche.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NTT DoCoMo testing out eye-controlled music interface

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 10:23am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Wearables

If you're scouting the strange, the weird and the weirder, you'll find plenty to get absorbed in over at the research facilities of NTT DoCoMo. The Japanese giant is at it once more, but this time the invention is actually somewhat down to Earth. It's mission? To create a method for easily controlling a music interface (on a PMP or cellphone) with just your eyes. By rolling one's eyes and jerking them from side to side, the outfit is hoping to have the corresponding music player change tracks and get louder / softer. If you're not exactly keen with freaking out fellow citizens on the street with completely erratic eye movements, you may also appreciate a similar technology it's working up which can detect a user's finger tapping to achieve to same goal. Of course, said technology would be halfway useless on the smash hit-packed ZVUE Journey (no way you're bypassing any of those tracks, son), but we guess you could check out your toes every now and then to keep from constantly staying at 11.

[Via ShinyShiny]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iPhone roundup: Apple seeds 2.1 with new GPS features, possible copy/paste, also completely out of phones

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 9:57am EDT by Ryan Block

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

Your morning iPhone news fix: looks like Apple's seeded a beta of firmware 2.1 (not to be confused with the supposed 2.0.1 that will fix the myriad bugs and issues with 2.0), which may have some new GPS features that would imply turn-by-turn directions. No argument from us if Apple really is including new Core Location hooks for tracking your direction and speed, which would both be needed for doing proper GPS navigation.

Another bit which may or may not make it into 2.1 is copy/paste. We're still both hopeful and skeptical, but supposedly in the new version of the WebKit framework exists commands for "plugins," "copy," "paste," "cut," and some others. We can't confirm if these really exist (and if they do, we don't know how they've actually been there, or if they're simply holdovers from the desktop WebKit frameworks), so don't hold your breath. Also supposedly making its first appearance in the 2.1 beta code: Apple's push notification service.

Oh, and by the way, if all this has whet your appetite for the device, sounds like today will be a bad day to try and snag one. Apple's retail site shows absolutely zero iPhone availability in the US, so if you're jonesing then check out eBay or the seedy looking dude on the corner with the overstuffed trenchcoat.

Update: Looks like the stores have been updated in the last hour, many have stock. Game on!

[Thanks to Cameron and everyone who sent these in]

Read - Apple all out of stock
Read - New GPS features seeded?
Read - 2.1 getting background push?Permalink | Email this | Comments

Chinavasion's "world's thinnest" MP4 player just may be accurate in name

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 9:46am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Chinavasion isn't known for offering up cutting-edge gadgetry -- far from it, to be honest -- but the MP4 player known only as the CVSJ-1304-4GB is actually fairly notable. According to the dodgy specifications, the $39.55 device checks in at just 4.5-millimeters thick, which is certainly thinner than the other so-called "world's thinnest" DAP. Of course, this may only be true due to the "MP4" moniker, seeing as most units not created and sold exclusively in China are called "MP3" players. Semantics aside, the unit also includes a 1.8-inch display with a 160 x 128 resolution, a curious 2.5-millimeter headphone jack, a USB 2.0 port and a rechargeable battery. So, do any of you have a competitor that's a hair thinner? Our hunch is yes.

[Via PMP Today]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Back to the Future hoverboard up for auction: $30k to play

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 9:15am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

Tired of waiting for scientists to crack the secrets of levitation in order to purchase a bona fide hoverboard? Look, life's short -- why not take matters into your own hands? A genuine wooden Mattel hoverboard used by Michael J. Fox (or Marty McFly, as we prefer to call him) in Back to the Future II and III is up for auction, though the barrier to entry is rather substantial. Of course, this is considered the "best example of all wood hoverboards to have survived the rigors of filming," but whether or not it's worth the $30,000+ asking price is entirely up to you.

[Via CrunchGear]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

ZVUE's 1GB Journey DAP comes with 22 tracks you'll never delete

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 8:47am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Portable Audio

Brace yourselves, dear readers. The item we're about to explain just might be is most certainly the best thing to ever happen to the digital audio player market. ZVUE's 1GB pre-loaded Journey MP3 player not only reeks of the early '80s in design alone, but this thing actually arrives with 22 Journey tracks loaded on (11 new joints, 11 of your childhood favorites). It's like buying Journey's greatest hits and getting a DAP for free -- go on, be good to yourself, it's only $39.88. Jump past the break if you need some encouragement / discouragement.

[Via AnythingButiPod, thanks Dula]

Continue reading ZVUE's 1GB Journey DAP comes with 22 tracks you'll never delete

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Microsoft seemingly ready to demonstrate Spherical Surface

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 6:28am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays

Who knew closely investigating expo floor layouts could be so fun and rewarding? Sure enough, the 2008 DemoFest Booth Map hosted up for Microsoft's upcoming (July 27th - 29th) Research Faculty Summit shows allotted space for one "Multi-Touch Spherical Display." Of course, Redmond-based exhibitors may end up dedicating slot 110 to carbonated beverages and unhealthy snacks, but whether those sly cats are ready to admit it or not, we know this thing is real.

[Via ZDNet]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

PEAK PlasmaBlade electrosurgery scalpel gets FDA approval

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 4:01am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We're still a bit gun shy when it comes to surfing over to PEAK Surgical's website after watching that PlasmaBlade demonstration video, but a new release from the outfit affirms that said electrosurgery scalpel has just been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration. The "tissue dissection system," as it's so gruesomely called, has been given 501(k) clearance, meaning that PEAK can now market its tool for use in general surgery. So, anxious to camp out and be the first in the country to get sliced and diced by one of these? Bombard your local hospitals with phone calls starting next month.

[Via MedGadget]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Networks of carbon nanotubes find use in flexible displays

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 1:54am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Carbon nanotubes may very well kill you (okay, so that's very much a stretch), but you'll have a hard time convincing the dutiful scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to stop their promising research. Put simply (or as simply as possible), said researchers have discovered that "networks of single-walled carbon nanotubes printed onto bendable plastic perform well as semiconductors in integrated circuits." So well, in fact, that the nanotube networks could one day "replace organic semiconductors in applications such as flexible displays." Granted, there is still much to do before these networks are ready for product integration, but you can bet these folks aren't hitting the brakes after coming this far.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sprint Nextel sells off "nearly all" of its towers to TowerCo for $670 million

Posted: July 25th, 2008, 12:43am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Details are scarce right now, but you can make of it what you will. Sprint hasn't been in the best of situations since it acquired Nextel in 2005, and while this move may not be seen by everyone as definitively negative, it certainly is worth noting. The flagging carrier sold off "nearly all" (around 3,300) of its wireless communication towers to TowerCo for some $670 million in cash. According to Sprint Nextel's Bob Azzi, the move to lease rather than own these network facilities will enable it to "better focus on its core business of providing communications services to consumers, businesses and government customers." He continued by noting that the transaction "provides Sprint Nextel with additional liquidity [for] greater flexibility in managing the company." Whatever you say, sir.

[Via InformationWeek]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NES Belt Buckle: most inelegant, awesome NES-in-a-whatever mod out there

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 11:33pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming, Wearables

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/NES_Belt_Buckle'; Just as Mr. Adams wrote of the summer of '69, some heralded pop star decades from now will pen a smash hit recalling the summer of two-thousand and eight. Oddly enough, the tune will likely focus on the revitalization of the Nintendo Entertainment System, which has somehow wiggled into just about everything imaginable over the past few months. The latest concoction is a bit different, though, as the NES Belt Buckle doesn't really shove NES capabilities into a buckle; rather, the NES is the buckle, which is sort of weird to be frank. Still, for $300 you can have your very own, but we'd recommend boosting your self-esteem and saving your cash by just making your own with that dusty system that's still in your attic. Tons of laughs await you in the demonstration vid just past the break.

[Thanks, Harrison]

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Ask Engadget: What's the best iPhone 3G alternative?

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 10:15pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Ask Engadget, Cellphones

We know, we know -- this one's going to be a doozie, but it's something that just has to be done. For folks out there too far from the reaches of GSM or simply unwilling to cough up the requisite dough to pay for AT&T's comparatively pricey plans, we figure Kevin's question will hit very close to home:

"What is the best alternative for the iPhone / iPhone 3G? I am looking for a touchscreen phone that has most of what the iPhone can provide, such as media and decent web browsing. I am also looking for a device with a lower cost (with or without a new plan). Could you please help point me in the right direction?"

Feel free to dish our your best options for GSM and CDMA, particularly if you've wondered this yourself and found your answer. Keep it civilized down there, alright? Got a question you'd like to pose to Engadget's fine, fine readers? Shoot it over to ask at engadget dawt com and hope for the best.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Kingston sprinkles 16GB models into DataTraveler line, launches DT101

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 9:19pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

Nothing too fancy from Kingston Technology today, just a couple of more capacious flash drives and an all new one for good measure. For starters, the DataTraveler 400 with MigoSync software and the DT100 are both now available in roomy 16GB flavors. Meanwhile, the DT101 arrives on the scene with security software, capacities up to 8GB and in cyan, pink and yellow hues. Each of the newcomers should be available now, with the 16GB DT400 demanding $196, the 16GB DT100 costing $85 and the DT101 line ranging from $14 to $44.

[Via BIOS Magazine]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Purdue researchers want tiny refrigerators cooling your PC

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 8:02pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops, Peripherals

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/hardware/Researchers_Want_Tiny_Refrigerators_Cooling_Your_PC'; You think your liquid-cooled rig is pretty snazzy, don't you? After Purdue researchers get their technology on the streets, that stuff will seriously look like old hat. The team is working on a "miniature refrigeration system small enough to fit inside laptops and personal computers," which would hopefully boost cooling performance while enabling computers to be smaller. According to Suresh Garimella, they have "a very good handle on the technology," but it's still a ways from being implemented in end products. Don't worry though, we're sure the likes of Alienware and Voodoo PC will have it up as optional equipment just as soon as it clears the quality assurance lab.

[Via TheFutureOfThings, thanks Iddo]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intel's dual-core Atom 330 processor to ship in Q4 2008

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 7:14pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

Bad news, Atom fans. That dual-core nugget of netbook-powering goodness that you were so looking forward to seeing in Q3 won't begin shipping until Q4. According to some data picked up by Fudzilla, the Atom 330 will only be debuting in Q3 (September 21st, to be precise), but it isn't scheduled to get a shipping label until a few months later. Also of note, we're told that the chip will sell (at some place in the supply chain) for $43, but don't count on those savings being completely passed onto you.

[Thanks, sinai]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

US Army turns to toy company to develop new weapon

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 6:38pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We're not quite sure how the pitch session went with this one, but it looks like the US Army was so impressed by toymaker Lund and Company's Hydrogen Fuel Rocket that it decided to recruit the company to build a decidedly more lethal version of it. The new system, dubbed the Variable Velocity Weapon System, will apparently be able to be switched between lethal and non-lethal modes, and be loaded with rubber bullets, actual bullets, or other projectiles, which are fired by mixing a liquid or gaseous fuel with air in a combustion chamber. What's more, the company says that the technology could be applied to any size weapon from a "handgun to a Howitzer," and it says a demonstration version could be ready in as little as six months, with full production possible within 18 months, pending approval.

[Via Danger Room]
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HP mulling lower cost Mini-Note laptop

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 6:05pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

It was inevitable, was it not? With the success of HP's 2133 Mini-Note, it was pretty obvious that the outfit would be working up a second edition, and according to Jerel Chong, HP Australia's Market Development Manager for Notebook PCs, it's already "looking at a similar device but at a lower cost." Reportedly, the lower cost low-cost laptop will be ready for budget-conscience consumers sometime before 2009, though we have no idea what corners will be cut in order to hack down the price. Mr. Chong did mention that the cheaper edition would be less "durable," but considering that we never viewed the original as a Toughbook replacement, we're not so sure what he's really getting at. Nevertheless, those looking seriously at the more business-minded 2133 may want to hold off, but good luck suppressing that insatiable desire to be instantly gratified.

[Via TheGadgetSite]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AMD denies report it plans to sell off manufacturing operations

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 5:33pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

While it may not all be his doing, newly-minted AMD CEO Dirk Meyer seems to be at the center of more than a bit of confusion in his first few days on the job. First, he detailed AMD's plans to take on Intel's Atom processor this fall, which was apparently news to AMD's Chief Marketing Officer, and now AMD is denying a report that AMD is set to spin off its manufacturing operations into a separate company, which arose out of an interview Meyer gave to the Austin American-Statesman. In it, Meyer reportedly said that AMD was "just months away" from spinning off its fabrication business, which would let it concentrate on designing, marketing and selling chips, and allow it to compete more effectively against its two big rivals: Intel and NVIDIA. As eWEEK reports, however, an AMD spokesperson now says that Meyer was referring simply to "how the company manufactures its wafers," which could possibly be a reference to the company's planned shift to a 45-nanometer manufacturing process. That's quite a difference, and we're guessing we'll be hearing yet more "clarification" on the matter before all is said and done.

Read - Austin American-Statesman, "New AMD chief sees clear path to recovery"
Read - eWEEK, "AMD Denies Fab Sell-Off"

[Thanks, Chris]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Eee hard drive, optical drive, and 3G card continue to reduce meaning of Eee brand

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 5:04pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless, Storage

Okay, so there's clearly a tube that dispenses marshmallows to the ASUS marketing department whenever it comes up with another product to slap the Eee brand on, because this just getting silly. In addition to the countless Eee laptops, Eee Box desktop, Eee monitor, Eee televisions, and other Eee-branded crap, we're hearing the company is working on a line of accessories, including an external hard drive, optical drive, and WWAN card. None of this is official quite yet, but knowing ASUS, it'll be out in 30 different varieties by the end of the month.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gigabyte's M912 swivel screen netbook gets unboxed on video

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 4:30pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

If you've been patiently awaiting the arrival of Gigabyte's M912 convertible tablet / netbook hybrid, seeing some lucky fellow far, far from where you are unbox it isn't apt to make the wait any easier. Still, there's at least some level of comfort in knowing that these are indeed filtering out, and besides, it gives you a chance to really size up what you're about to get yourself into. Hop on past the break and press play whenever you're ready.

[Via SlashGear]

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Palm Treo 800w gets reviewed on Engadget Mobile

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 3:59pm EDT by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Baby steps. When it comes to Palm's mainstream businessphone line, that seems to be the name of the game, and the new Treo 800w is certainly no exception to the rule. So is it new enough, advanced enough, and badass enough to do the duty while still being sufficiently incremental to satisfy even the most easily-agitated suit? Engadget Mobile reveals all in the full review, so click on!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Switched On: Net-enabled movies pit a blue ray versus a true way

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 3:30pm EDT by Ross Rubin

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment.

The oldest of the "three screens" -- television - is generally far from the wisest. Sure, an endless array of set-top boxes and AV components packed with processors have appeared in the last few decades to use its screen as a surrogate, and now a high-definition, display for video games, PC content, Web pages, multimedia, videoconferencing and other entertainment. But while much television programming -- especially news and sports programs - has become cluttered with contextual trivia and tickers, the core TV viewing experience has remained stubbornly passive. Now, though, with backers citing the need to reclaim appeal from PCs and cell phones -- especially among multitasking kids, teens and young adults -- the first screen is fighting back.

Correctly recognizing that upconverting DVDs posed a serious challenge to high-definition discs, the backers of HD-DVD focused on the mandatory Internet connectivity of its players and support of it in some of its late content (the movie 300 was one of the best showcases). In HD-DVD's defeat, the Blu-ray camp has picked up the cause via BD-Live, part of the Blu-ray 2.0 specification. A forthcoming title that will take advantage of the Internet connectivity is Disney's 50th anniversary platinum release of its classic Sleeping Beauty. And it is not your wicked stepmother's princess.

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Intel getting ready to release Moblin source, working on Moblin 2

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 3:03pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Handhelds, Laptops

Intel's got big plans for Moblin, that Linux-based "core stack" that's being optimized for all sort of mobile devices, from MIDs to carputers, and a big part of those plans is letting the community play a part in its development -- the company is just about to release the source for the first version of Moblin, with an alpha-level release of Moblin 2 to follow. Intel says its focus right now is decidedly on Atom, but that it's looking forward to seeing the community drive Moblin in other directions. There's no word on what Moblin 2 will offer, but it sounds like Intel is hoping that by getting Moblin out in the open, it'll become a de facto standard. Not a bad idea, but we'll see how it goes.

Read - Intel getting ready to release Moblin source
Read - Intel working on Moblin 2Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung's i8510 INNOV8 gets official in Europe, shown off on video

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 2:22pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Cellphones

We've already gotten word of most of the details of Samsung's i8510 INNOV8 (get it?) smartphone, but things just got a whole lot more official for the device in Europe and, coincidentally, a number of sites recently got to spend some time with the phone in NYC (despite the lack of an official US release). Of course, there's not a whole lot of surprises to be found, but it certainly seems like the phone will get the job done and then some, with its built in camera not only boasting an impressive 8 megapixels, but auto-focus, image stabilization, and a flash as well. The rest of the specs aren't too shabby either. Head on past the break to check out one video of the device courtesy of MobileBurn, and be sure to hit up the Laptop Mag link below for a second, higher-quality look at it.

Read - Press Release
Read - MobileBurn, "Samsung's i8510 Innov8 S60 smartphone"
Read - Laptop Mag, "Hands-on with the Samsung i8510"

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Weemote maker wants Nintendo to buy his trademark, release him from this iron cage

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 1:56pm EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Gaming

We're going to guess you've never heard of the Weemote, a little blue remote control made by a company called Forbis. The egg-shaped remote control and its parent company are reportedly in financial trouble ever since another company came out with something a lot of people are calling the "Wiimote." While the Nintendo Wii Remote's official name isn't that word (we refuse to type it again), evil bloggers and retail chains have taken to the term and Forbis claims its brand has been diluted, confused, and passed up. Owner John Stephen told Game Politics that he would like nothing more than to have Nintendo buy out the trademark and let him move on to something called, oh, let's say, the X Bocks, a new microbrewery project. The big surprise out of all of this? Nintendo isn't interested. In fact, it has no legal reason to do so, either -- it's never officially called the Wii Remote anything else. Of course, that's not to say Ninty shouldn't do the right thing here (and make our jobs just a hair easier) by buying out the mark and sanctioning the nickname, but don't hold your breath.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toshiba working on a netbook / UMPC that's actually interesting

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 1:25pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

We're almost totally over the whole netbook craze, but Toshiba's latest prototype shows there's still interesting things possible, even if it isn't a traditional laptop. The 5.6-inch touchscreen handheld runs Vista on Intel's Atom processor with a 64GB SSD and a GPS chip -- which like an awfully expensive setup, but Toshiba says they're aiming for netbook pricing. Of course, that means almost nothing, since netbooks are all over the map -- and that probably explains why Tosh says it's identified "six or seven" segments of the netbook / UMPC market, and that it might not compete directly with Eee-class machines. Sure -- but isn't an expensive handheld touchscreen netbook just a straight UMPC? Nice try, guys.

[Thanks, Pete]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Buffalo's Blu-ray burner hits 8x, BDA says wha?

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 12:58pm EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Storage

For what it's worth, Buffalo just announced the world's fastest Blu-ray recorder capable of burning through your data at an 8x clip. The only problem is that BDA-approved media maxes out at 6x, assuming you can even find it. Available in Japan starting next month, the external USB 2.0 and eSATA BR-816SU2 and internal SATA BR-816FBS models hit that 8x recording speed on single-layer BD-R media only -- 2x for dual-layer BD-R, BD-RE, and LTH BD-R. CDs and DVDs are supported too naturally, with a max 16x burn to DVD±R or 48x/24x for CD-R/RW. Each drive comes bundled with Cyberlink's PowerDVD 7 suite and are priced at ¥46,700 (about $435) for the external drive or ¥41,000 (about $380) for the internal optical spinner.

[Via BIOS and CDRinf]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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AT&T, O2 post updates on iPhone 3G stock situation, promise they don't have a secret cache

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 12:31pm EDT by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Conspiracy theories tend to run rampant when a phone (or any object of desire, for that matter) that's produced in absolutely enormous quantities dries up in retail locations. Are they really sold out? Is the retailer trying to work prospective buyers into a frenzied lather? Is the CEO sleeping on a bed fashioned of gilded iPhone 3Gs? The answer to that last question is very likely "yes" either way, but for their part, AT&T and O2 have both come out to promise customers that they're putting handsets out in retail just as quickly as they possibly can, with AT&T additionally noting that it's shipping out direct fulfillment orders on a "first-come, first-serve basis" with lead times currently running around two weeks -- in other words, "ship us some more frickin' phones, Apple." Seriously though, how's Apple going to come even close to keeping up with the next round of national launches when they're so woefully behind on the existing ones? And more importantly, if these execs would just sleep on queen-sized iPhone beds instead of king-sized ones, just imagine how many more happy customers we'd have out there?

Read - O2
Read - AT&TPermalink | Email this | Comments

Google.org invests $2.75M in Aptera Motors

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 12:04pm EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Transportation

Google.org, the search kingpin's philanthropic wing, has just added another notch to its eco-friendly belt with a recent (and sizable) investment in Aptera Motors -- makers of that absurdly futuristic gas-sipper we've been following. Along with ActaCell (an electric car battery maker), Aptera received a $2.75 million infusion via Google.org's RechargeIT investment program. Hopefully, some of the cash will be put to use bringing Aptera's Typ-1 vehicle to market, where its $30,000 estimated price tag and outrageous 230+ MPG fuel economy will be a welcome relief from rising fuel costs and concerns... and our lack of a fresh ride.

[Via SMASHgods]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hynix set to close its Oregon plant, cutting 1,100 jobs

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 11:41am EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

It may have once talked about toppling both Intel and AMD within a decade, but South Korea's Hynix looks to have been knocked back on its heels a bit amid a general downturn in the DRAM market, and it's now taken the rather drastic step of closing down its plan in Eugene, Oregon, eliminating some 1,100 jobs in the process. As EE Times points out, that move is at least partly due to the fact that 300mm plants are ramping up faster than expected, making 200mm plans like the one in Oregon far less cost effective to operate and, apparently, too expensive to upgrade. There's also the little matter of some tariffs the United States had imposed on Hynix, which it was able to avoid thanks to its plant in Oregon, but which now appear to be set to expire. For its part, Hynix denies that has anything to do with the plant closing, and it adds that it is still looking at ways to "have a presence" in Eugene.

[Via The Wall Street Journal]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intel announces EP80579 system on a chip for MIDs and consumer electronics

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 11:19am EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Laptops, Media PCs

Intel is looking to simplify things by adding more processors. Yeah, doesn't sound all that sensible to us, ether, but stay put. Okay. Ready for some acronyms? Their just-announced EP80579 Integrated Processor features a system on a chip design that integrate the Pentium M core with a Memory Controller Hub (MCH), I/O hub (ICH) and data path acceleration engines (among other things dependent upon model). They believe these new Integrated Architecture (IA) chips will simplify consumer electronics like set-top boxes and MIDs due to their consolidated design that will reduce incompatibility issues. Intel also says portable devices will benefit from the new processors' energy efficiency. Speeds run from 600MHz on up to 1.2GHz and all sport a 256KB L2 cache. As for when this new tech will end up in your cable box or MID, no news on that just yet. In other words, don't call your provider just yet.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hitachi's new DZ-BD10H camcorder pairs Blu-ray with a 30GB HDD

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 10:42am EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Digital Cameras

We're not saying it can't be done, but you should have some considerable trouble managing to run out of room for your expertly-shot, highly-narrative vacation antics with Hitachi's new DZ-BD10H camcorder, which records 1080p HD video to Blu-ray discs or to its built-in 30GB hard drive. There's even an SD slot, which we aren't positive you can record video to, but it's a fair guess. Other specs include a 2.7-inch LCD and a 10x optical zoom. Price should be around $1,500 when it hits Japan on August 9, but no solid word on a US berth just yet.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony Reader goes open, will be able to work with other booksellers

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 9:54am EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Handhelds

While Sony's Reader has never received the enormous press or enjoyed the supposed whirlwind sales of Amazon's Kindle e-book, and is certainly lacking in, erm, EV-DOness, the Reader is about to get one trick the Kindle doesn't have yet: openness. Sony will be shooting out an update on Thursday to allow the Reader to use purchased books in the protected EPUB format from whoever is peddling them, instead of being tied to the Sony's e-book store, or just DRM-free text and PDF documents. That openness should help Sony beef up its selection -- which is lagging behind Amazon's -- and will hopefully mark a bit of a turning point in the e-book market to more standards and, more importantly, more books.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wii gets rechargeable battery packs with Sanyo's Eneloop

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 9:31am EDT by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Gaming

If all the extra accessories aren't making your Wii collection a mess, all the AA batteries you've thrown out have at least caused a lump in a landfill. To help out in the battery department, Sanyo has come up with the Eneloop charging station complete with a battery pack replacement pack for your Wii remote and a charging base that can support as many as four controllers at once. Remotes charge in a respectable 220 minutes and Eneloop will even charge sequentially so you don't have to wait an extra couple hours for your next Smash Bros fix. Available for $73 as an import item, but we wouldn't be surprised if this showed up on our shores for powerless gamers this fall.

UPDATE: Confused about why this is important? The new recharger uses a contact-free electromagnetic system so you don't need to remove your battery pack. Oh - it's also the first Nintendo-licensed recharger.

[Via Akihabara News]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NEONECO offers up active iPod swing speaker

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 9:02am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

Attachable iPod speakers are nearly as old as the DAP itself, but NEONECO may actually be onto something with its swing speaker. Rather than simply tapping into the iPod's headphone jack and hoping that listeners have canine-like hearing abilities, this unit includes its own source of power -- a rechargeable battery. This enables the stereo speakers to be louder than passive alternatives, though we can't speak for the sound quality. It's available now in South Korea for ₩29,000 ($29; iPod nano), ₩32,000 ($32; iPod classic) or ₩35,000 ($35; iPod touch).

[Via Wired]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lightning GT caught rolling around the track

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 8:21am EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Transportation

The all-electric Lightning GT sports car might have just had its formal debut yesterday, but that doesn't mean prototypes haven't been tooling around for a while -- check out this video of the swoopy two-door doing the track thing in ultra-dramatic slow-mo. Of course, there's no sound, so there could totally be a nasty 5.0L Windsor V8 block under that hood, but we'll give 'em the benefit of the doubt for now. Video at the read link -- and be honest, is this thing enough to sway your feelings from the Tesla Roadster or the Fisker Karma?

[Via Autoblog Green]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

HP merging Voodoo with consumer PC unit

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 7:39am EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Just weeks after "reinventing" Voodoo with the Envy 133 laptop and Omen gaming desktop, it looks like HP's had enough -- it's decided to straight-up merge the specialty PC shop with its core consumer business, and sell its products alongside the Compaq Presario and HP Pavilion lines. Yeah, that'll make Voodoo seem totally hardcore. For it's part, HP says it's always been planning on this kind of merger, and that the move will make Voodoo product easier to buy worldwide and faster to get with no change in service for existing customers, but it's also oddly ambiguous on whether the Voodoo name will live on -- saying only that it's "likely," but that a decision hasn't been reached. All this means that it's even weirder that HP has both the Voodoo and Blackbird gaming lines, of course -- any bets on which one gets axed first?

Read - PC World article
Read - HP CTO Raul Sood's blog entry on the mergerPermalink | Email this | Comments

iPhone 3G SIM unlock demoed on video, zero details given

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 6:42am EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Cellphones

We've already seen the iPhone 3G got unlocked to function on any carrier (and you can already buy unlocked versions in several countries), but we haven't seen a locked handset get unlocked via software only, and the folks at gsmphone-unlocking have the first video we've seen of Steve's newest baby doing the SIM swap dance without any adapters. Yep, there it is, going from Rogers to Fido. Sadly, the video is more of a shameless ploy for publicity than actually useful information, and until we're told otherwise, we're just going to assume that they've just gotten hold of an early copy of the Dev Team's unlocking tool -- which should be free to the public sometime soon. So, you know: video after the break, but feel free to ignore the obnoxious phone numbers and URLs.

Continue reading iPhone 3G SIM unlock demoed on video, zero details given

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Powermat promises wireless power for the masses, delivers nothing

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 3:49am EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We've seen quite a few induction-based "wireless power" systems make the scene, and while the idea is interesting both in theory and prototype, actually getting it to market has proven to be quite difficult, with some casualties along the way. That's why we're a little wary of new claims by Israel's Powermat, Ltd. that it's ready to go with tech that'll turn "any surface" into a power source. Well, that, and the PR image they sent us has the iPod charging screen Photoshopped onto every device pictured, including a first-gen RAZR and an N95. Oh, and they claim that embedding PowerMat in sheetrock eliminates the need for outlets entirely, but we're not at all sure how that's supposed to work -- do you have to hold your devices against the wall all night? Add to that the interesting claims that Powermat's tech delivers energy in "real time," and that it "completely eliminates the potential for electrical fires," and we're in full put-up-or-shut-up mode over here. Think you can top the wireless hamburger, Powermat?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Creative announces Zen Mosaic, looks like bad Mondrian

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 3:11am EDT by Ryan Block

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Creative's got yet another on the way: the Zen Mosaic, which will have a 1.8-inch display, 2, 4, or 8GB capacities, FM tuner, speakers, MP3 / WMA / WAV / Audible codec support, and 32 hours of battery life. They're apparently starting in Singapore and working their way over, but they shouldn't top $200 when they're eventually announced for the US.

[Thanks, Rube]

Read - Announced details on the player [Via EpiZenter]
Read - First hands-onPermalink | Email this | Comments

Windows iPhone 3G jailbreak tool released

Posted: July 24th, 2008, 1:16am EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Cellphones

Sure, it was already possible (if complicated) to jailbreak a first-gen iPhone running the 2.0 software under Windows, but this is the one-click tool all you crazy cats with those extra G's need if you don't have a Mac -- too bad no one's come up with a better name than "pwn" yet. Please, people. Let's do better.

PS.- As usual, you run the risk of totally destroying your phone mucking around with this stuff, so don't say we didn't warn you.

Update: winpwn.com is down already, mirrors in the comments!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Acrylic Cowboy cases artfully expose your components, are not childproof

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 11:41pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops

Here's the thing about PC cases -- they spend a good bit of time showing off how fantastic the outside of component-filled boxes can look, but generally speaking, the innards are completely overlooked. Digital Cowboy is out to dramatically reverse the trend with its Acrylic Cowboy cases, which -- by and large -- place your hardware on the outside of the case. We can't exactly see a rhyme or reason (outside of the obvious cooling benefits) as to why these were created, but so long as it stays far, far away from sodas, children and family pets, we'd say it's the perfect way to showcase what's really important in your gaming rig.

[Via Engadget Deutschland]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Western Digital intros 2.5-inch 10,000RPM VelociRaptor HDD

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 9:59pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

Western Digital has been flaunting its VelociRaptor for some time now, but the drive you've been slamming into towers is now available for low-power, high-performance blade server applications. The 2.5-inch, 10,000RPM enterprise SATA drive (WD3000BLFS) is specially designed to fit snugly within 1U and 2U rack servers, and aside from consuming 35% less power than the previous Raptor drive, this one is available with up to 300GB of capacity. You'll also find 16MB of cache and a 1.4 million mean time before failure rating, though you won't be able to procure one until later this month for an undisclosed price.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nokia and Qualcomm bury the patent hatchet, start making out

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 9:04pm EDT by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Cellphones

One of the longest-running -- and certainly most fascinating -- soap operas in the entire wireless world, the seemingly endless patent drama between Nokia and Qualcomm, has finally drawn to an amicable (dare we say anti-climactic) close. After just a single day of arbitration, the two firms have basically agreed to a patent swap, allowing Nokia to use all of Qualcomm's patents and vice versa. Furthermore, Nokia is just stone-cold handing over a bunch of patents it holds related to GSM, WCDMA, and OFDMA, which presumably means companies that are currently licensing those patents can get ready to start writing those checks to Qualcomm. What's more, Espoo's dropping its anti-competition claims against Qualcomm in Europe -- but beyond that, specific terms (read: cash money) weren't disclosed beyond the typical PR pleasantries that both sides are happy with the outcome. If this means we finally have to retire our Nokia-Qualcomm starburst graphic, we're going to pout like little children, so we can only hope these two lovebirds find something else to squabble over in the not-too-distant future.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Robot dragonfly gets outfitted with camera, plans to record uprising from every possible angle

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 8:43pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Robots

The folks at the Technical University of Delft have already done their part for the robot cause by building a dragonfly-type bot, dubbed the DelFly Micro, with a wingspan of just four inches, but they've now gone one step further and strapped a tiny camera onto it. What's more, they've also developed some image recognition software that promises to let the bot recognize objects, which could potentially let it locate individuals in a disaster area, or sneak up behind you when you least suspect it. Of course, the researchers aren't satisfied with things just yet, and they're promising to make an even smaller DelFly Nano bot that'd have a two-inch wingspan and weigh just a single gram. Until then, you can check out the current model in action in the video after the break.

[Via Protein Feed]

Continue reading Robot dragonfly gets outfitted with camera, plans to record uprising from every possible angle

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NAO humanoid robots gets a price tag, exhaustive overview

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 7:46pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Robots

We've been keeping an eye on Aldebaran's NAO robot since before it even took its first steps, and it now looks like the little guy is finally set to try to make it on its own in the wild world of the commercial market. That word comes courtesy of an exhaustive white paper posted by Aldebaran on the arXiv website, which also includes the helpful little detail that the bot will cost interested laboratories about €10,000 (or roughly $15,600). Unfortunately, there's no indication as to exactly when the bot will be available, but those in the market for one can at least tide themselves a bit over by pouring over the details available in the PDF at the link below.

[Via Slashdot] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

$2,000 Giant Twist Freedom DX electric bicycle gets pedaled on video

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 7:00pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

For those balking at the $2,000 price tag, you should really take a look at the competition before scrunching your nose up and walking away. That being said, two large is still a lot to drop on something that could still require at least some bodily exertion, but a recent video review over at Popular Mechanics could help you determine whether this particular bike is worth you while. The Giant Twist Freedom DX can roll up to 75 miles on a mixture of battery and human-powered pedaling, and the motor touts three different modes (Eco, Normal and Sport) to satisfy your mood / riding requirements. Nah, Ironman participants won't want anything to do with this heap, but those looking for a greener (and oftentimes quicker) way to commute in the city may find lots to love. The video, as promised, is waiting in the read link.

[Via Digg]

Continue reading $2,000 Giant Twist Freedom DX electric bicycle gets pedaled on video

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Texas Memory breaks records, budgets with blisteringly fast RamSan-440 storage device

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 6:27pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

Texas Memory has been around longer than most of you readers have been alive (or so we're told by our resident omniscient overlord), but it's been quite awhile since it was talked about freely in the same breath as WD, Fujitsu, Samsung, et al. Now, however, the company is making the rounds once more thanks to its "record setting" RamSan-440, which provides between 256GB and 512GB of RAM-based SSD storage, 600,000 IOPS, 4,500MB/sec random sustained external throughput and latency under 15-microseconds. The entire rig arrives in a 90-pound 4U rack-mount enclosure and claims to be "the first SSD to use RAIDed NAND flash memory modules for data backup." Chances are, you were already bracing to hear a pretty ludicrous figure when it comes to pricing, but $150,000 for the 256GB edition and $275,000 for the 512GB iteration? Please -- we'll take a Lightning GT, thanks.

[Via DailyTech]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony Reader pre-order now live in the UK, shipping in September

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 5:54pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays

We Americans have had the opportunity to pick up Sony's Reader for what seems like eons, but you poor bookworms holed up in the UK have been neglected unjustly. No more, as Sony has just opened up the phone lines for folks eager to claim their spot in line the queue. No need in rehashing the specifications you already know -- it's still the same ole PRS-505, just way more expensive in US dollars.

[Via MobileRead, thanks Alex]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Really, really tweak your ride: the Unidrive has arrived

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 5:22pm EDT by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Transportation

Not content with simply creating bizarre, high-end sports cars, Spanish automaker IFR Automotive has unveiled a steering wheel-embedded computer that can electronically alter the way in which a car performs. Dubbed the Unidrive, the touchscreen-driven device (which appears to have been in development for some time) will provide instant access to tweaking the valve timing, rev limit, ride height, ABS, and a variety of other car-nerd trivialities that only a true grease-monkey could really understand. The in-car end of the system will interact directly with chassis and engine functions, even allowing for unique states that can be tuned to individual driver's tastes. Currently the technology is poised to be employed in the company's forthcoming £75,000 (about $150,000) Aspid car -- no word on if this will make it into your next Escort. [Warning: read link is a PDF, and in Spanish]

[Via The Register]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ripple rolls out Atom-based Mini Chocolate desktop

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 4:55pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Desktops

Atom-based desktops still aren't nearly as plentiful as Atom-based netbooks, but that equation looks to be slowly changing, with Korea's Ripple only the latest to join the fray with its new "Mini Chocolate" desktop. This one packs the usual 1.6GHz Atom processor into its Mini-ITX form factor, along with support for up to 2GB of RAM, four USB ports, two SATA sockets, and a single IDE socket, plus room for a slot-loading optical drive, which you'll have to supply yourself (along with most of the other components). As you can see above, you can also get it in your choice of three colors, with each setting you back 209,000 Korean won, or just about $200. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aigo's Atom-based MID gets a price, release date

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 4:26pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Handhelds

Aigo hasn't been keeping many secrets about its Atom-based MID, but it has been slightly less than forthcoming with any official word of a price or release date. The company now looks to have finally gotten its act together, however, with it announcing that the handheld, now officially dubbed the MID P8860, will be going on sale in Hong Kong on August 8th for $5,228 HKD (or about $670 -- a full $100 less than the last price we heard). That'll get you an 800MHz Atom Z500 processor, along with 512MB of RAM, a 4GB SSD, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth and, perhaps most notably, GPS. We even hear you can run XP on it.

[Thanks, Joe] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Researchers boast of progress towards more efficient OLED lighting

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 3:58pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We haven't seen all that many OLED lighting options, but a group of researchers from the University of Michigan and Princeton University say they could be on the verge of changing that situation, with them now boasting of a new breakthrough that could greatly increase the efficiency of OLEDs. The key to that, it seems, is a combination of an organic grid and some tiny dome-shaped micro lenses that guide the trapped light out of the devices. As the researchers point out, with current OLEDs, only 20% of the light generated is actually released, but they say this new method could boost the efficiency by a full 60%, or about 70 lumens per watt of power. Of course, they're also quick to point out that all of this is still quite a ways away from becoming practical for commercial purposes, although they seem to be optimistic that the eventual production cost for these new and improved OLEDs will be competitive with existing ones.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

FCC tentatively approves XM / Sirius merger

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 3:49pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Portable Audio

We basically knew the FCC was going to approve the XM / Sirius merger after the DoJ approved it earlier this year, and it looks like the communications agency is just about ready to sign off -- the Wall Street Journal is reporting that a majority of FCC commissioners are close to approving the deal. Word is that XM and Sirius will have to fork over an additional $20M to make it happen and agree to several enforcement terms, but it's all up in the air until this goes official. Let's hope that's soon -- after a historically long delay, it looks like there's finally some light at the end of the tunnel.

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BlackBerry KickStart 8220 gets really early review

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 3:25pm EDT by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

The Bold is still stealing the overwhelming majority of RIM's spotlight at the moment for a handful of pretty good reasons: one, it's actually been announced; two, it's 3G; and three, it falls in line with the traditional (and loved) BlackBerry form factor. Lurking in the shadows, though, is the KickStart, RIM's very first flip phone, and a device that could end up making a huge splash if it actually manages to launch at the sub-$50 price point that's been making the rounds on the rumor circuit. CrackBerry got a way-early peek at the 8220 version of the device, which follows RIM's typical naming convention by packing WiFi while an 8210 will hold up the GPS side of things (seriously, RIM, how hard can it be to do both?), and overall it seems that the R&D team did its homework from the quick impressions. The SureType keyboard is huge and apparently quite easy to use without making the phone excessively large, though the trackball rests deeper in the shell making it a bit trickier to operate -- you win some, you lose some. The QVGA display is said to be just shy of Bold quality (which is a compliment, considering the killer screen on the Bold), and it's always hard to argue with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Come on, T-Mobile, let's make this happen.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Zune Guy fed up with Zune, seeks to cover up tattoos

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 2:57pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video, Wearables

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/music/Zune_Guy_fed_up_with_Zune_seeks_to_cover_up_tattoos'; Say it ain't so! America's most loyal advocate for Microsoft's Zune is apparently throwing in the towel. Of course, we should warn you that this could very well be a simple ploy for attention, but if the man keeps his word, he will soon be covering his Zune tattoos with... something else. Curiously, he didn't say whether or not he would be playing the traitor card and picking up some sort of iPod, but considering that more people have seen this guy's body art in the wild than actual Zunes, the general public should know soon enough. You fought a good fight, Zune Guy, but consider yourself expelled from The Social.

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Hands-on with Samsung's new holiday lineup

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 2:20pm EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Displays

We got a gander at Samsung's fancy new tellervisions and other stuff, and while the basic design language hasn't changed a whole ton in recent years, there's always something new going on. We're particularly enthusiastic about the new Series 8 LCDs, which manage a standard complement of ports in 2-inch thick form factors -- none of that ports-in-the-base nonsense. The cute little InfoLink RSS widgets (pictured) are also quite the welcome addition to Samsung's lineup, since these days we really can't be bothered to lift our phone up to eye level and check the weather on there. We bet you think we're kidding. Samsung is always droning on about the "Touch of Color" design, which is present in all its new televisions, along with its new computer monitor / TV hybrid displays. The flavor of the month is a new honeycomb pattern worked in with the color, but we really couldn't care less -- we'd rather watch TV. Elsewhere in the event we got to handle Samsung's new cameras and camcorders. The new TL34HD is a particular stunner, though we do prefer the older black / blue color scheme. Nothing could have prepared us, however, for the SC-MX20. While in press photos it appears to be just another cheap-ass YouTube camcorder (which it is), in person the build quality and amazing color choices really blew us away -- and trust us, no one is more surprised than we are by this fact. Most everything on display will be available next month.

Gallery: Hands-on with Samsung's new holiday lineup

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Nintendo loses another round in controller patent lawsuit

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 1:47pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Gaming

Sony and Microsoft may have sorted things out with Anascape (otherwise known as the self-proclaimed ruler of all analog sticks) before things got too out of hand, but Nintendo has been busy fighting it out with the company in court, which resulted in them being ordered to dish out a hefty $21 million earlier this year -- a ruling that Nintendo naturally appealed. The big N is now facing another setback, however, as a US District Judge has rejected Nintendo's request for a new trial, which could potentially result in a ban on sales of Wii Classic Controllers, WaveBirds, and GameCube controllers (not to mention GameCube systems). To avoid that, Nintendo will apparently either have to post a bond or put royalties from the controllers into an escrow account. For its part, Nintendo seems to be remaining defiant, saying that it "was already planning to appeal this case to the Federal Circuit court," and that this new ruling "does not impact that decision."

[Via Slashdot]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung now shipping Touch of Color LCD monitors

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 1:18pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays

Even if you're not exactly in the market for a new flat-panel, Samsung's still hoping to snag a bit (or all) of your latest paycheck with its Touch of Color LCD monitors. Hinted at during CES and officially unveiled back in April, these displays boast a 5-millisecond response time, transparent plastic bezel, 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, twin 3-watt speakers, a built-in ATSC / ClearQAM TV tuner (!) and an optical digital audio port for channeling 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. As for resolutions, the 24-inch T240HD and 26-inch T260HD both offer full 1080p, while the 22-inch T220HD gets a 1,680 x 1,050 panel. Snag whichever one suits your fancy right now for $429, $549 or $599 from smallest to largest.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung reveals $200 MediaLive Media Center Extender

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 12:53pm EDT by Ben Drawbaugh

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, Wireless

Ever since we got our hands on Samsung's Media Center Extender at CES last year, we've wondered how the CE giant's rendition would stack up against the rest. Rather than build the Media Center Extender functionality into a TV the way HP has, or make a completely separate set-top-box like Linksys or D-Link, the $200 MediaLive Media Center Extender is designed to be a companion product for Samsung HDTVs. It can be mounted to the back of certain Samsung sets, and with the help of HDMI-CEC, the TV's remote will control the box even while it's out of sight -- of course, this begs the question of whether or not it will work with other TVs, but we'll just have to wait and try it ourselves when it launches next month. Oh, and in case you don't know already, Media Center Extenders are not just another media streamer, because it will allow you to have the full (almost) Vista Media Center experience -- including the ability to watch live HD from CableCARD tuner -- on any TV (connected wired or wirelessly) in your house.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung unveils 46- / 52-inch Series 8 LCD HDTVs

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 12:37pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Might want to slow down there, Samsung -- don't want to pull anything by cranking out too many new HDTVs at a time. Yep, Sammy's letting loose a few more sets today alongside the Series 7 plasmas and Series 9 LCDs: the September-bound Series 8 LCD HDTV line. The Series 8 850 (rose accents) and Series 8 860 (deep blue accents) only differ in color, while they both pack a 1080p Ultra Clear panel, Auto Motion Plus 120Hz technology, a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, InfoLink RSS reader, DLNA certification, 4-millisecond response time and twin down-firing speakers with an integrated subwoofer. You'll also find a built-in NTSC / ATSC / ClearQAM TV tuner, a DNIe Pro video processor, swivel stand and four HDMI-CEC ports (among others). The pain? $2,699.99 for the LN46A850, $3,399.99 for the LN52A850, $2,799.99 for the LN46A860 and $3,499.99 for the LN52A860. Got all that?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft Research thinks telescopic pixels will rival LCDs

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 12:31pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays

The boys and girls at Microsoft Research are getting set to publish a report detailing a competing (and in their perspective, superior) technology to replace the LCD monitors we've grown to know and love heart with reservations. By using pixels that boast "a pair of mirrors to block or transmit light," displays could theoretically be created which are "faster, brighter, and more power efficient than liquid crystal displays." Dubbed telescopic pixels, the devices would be able to turn off and on in under 1.5-milliseconds, which is quick enough to put "red, green, and blue light-emitting diodes behind each pixel." Furthermore, these pixels are way brighter than those used in LCDs, which means users would see less power draw and be able to view the screen more easily in direct sunlight. Sounds solid from here, but could you not humor us with a release time frame or something?

[Via TG Daily]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AMD's "Atom killer" roadmap confuses even itself

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 12:10pm EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Laptops

Freshfaced AMD CEO Dirk Meyer hyped the firm's upcoming Atom-challenging processor the other day, calling it "Bobcat," and promising a November reveal. We'd think he'd be the guy to know, but now we're hearing seemingly conflicting words from AMD's Chief Marketing Officer, Nigel Dessau. Dessau says AMD is "watching... rather than playing" to see what becomes of the netbook segment. As Ars Technica points out, Dirk Meyer was only promising to announce a chip in November, not release one, so perhaps both of these statements are in step with each other, or maybe they're just thinking of different processor applications altogether, but for a company that's lacked a clear focus and a true Intel killer for the past couple of years, this sort of potential doublethink isn't helping anything.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nintendo failed to notify third-party devs of MotionPlus prior to E3

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 11:52am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming

We weren't terribly impressed with Nintendo's recently unveiled MotionPlus add-on, but we're even more disappointed by this. Reportedly, scads of third-party developers revealed at E3 that the Big N's latest Wiimote accessory was just as much a surprise to them as it was to any of us. In other words, Nintendo didn't bother giving its external devs any advance notice in order to get the ball rolling on compatible titles, or so it seems. Unfortunately, this also means that we probably won't see any MotionPlus-ready games hitting shelves from anyone not named Nintendo for months to come, but it's not like Wii Sports Resort can't hold our attention for a solid year, right?

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Java homebrew devkit for the PS3 emerges, nobody cares

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 11:31am EDT by Paul Miller

Filed under: Gaming

PSP hacker "FreePlay" has turned his gaze to the PS3, and come up with a method for the first PS3 homebrew outside of Linux and that little "hello world" proof of concept a few months back. The minimal devkit doesn't seem built to take advantage of the PS3's wiles, however, and is instead working with the Java prowess built into the Blu-ray playback end of the PS3. Who knows how much power that'll lend to homebrew developers, but it's Java, so we're not expecting great things either way. Wake us when we can play PS2 games, would you?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nihon windowpanes feature built-in photovoltaic cells

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 11:10am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Household

Think your house is green? Think again. Japan's own Nihon Telecommunication System has just revealed a line of windowpanes that actually include integrated photovoltaic cells. The windows are aimed at the (ritzy) residential housing market, and folks that snag a few will reportedly be able to power a PC and recharge their cellphones simply by tapping into the energy generated by these units. Additionally, the glass is designed to shun most of the sunlight from coming into your abode, thereby lowering air conditioning costs and satisfying your needs as an introvert. So, what's the pain for helping out Mother Earth? Around $1,900 per square meter of windowpane -- ouch.

[Via CrunchGear]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung reveals 50- / 58- / 63-inch 7 Series plasma HDTVs

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 10:50am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Not a huge fan of the LCD HDTV? Is plasma more your style? Fantastic, because Samsung just took the (official) lid off of the already spotted 7 Series plasma lineup. Featuring the outfit's Touch of Color design, a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, daytime / nighttime calibration options and a DNIe Pro video processor, this trio makes no bones about which rival it's gunning for. The entire crew also features InfoLink RSS access, a USB 2.0 port (WiseLink Pro), DLNA compatibility, four HDMI-CEC jacks and 1080p panels. Read up on the full rundown of specs in the read link, and prepare to hand over $2,799.99 for the 50-inch PN50A760, $4,499.99 for the 58-inch PN58A760 or $5,499.99 for the 63-inch PN63A760 sometime next month.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung gets official with LED-backlit 9 Series LCD HDTVs

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 10:38am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Can't say we're surprised to see 'em, but Sammy has done its due diligence by pumping out the official verbiage for the 9 Series LCD HDTVs that were leaked late last week. These second-generation LED-backlit sets feature 1080p Ultra Clear panels, Auto Motion Plus 120Hz technology, 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratios, the familiar Touch of Color design and a smattering of networking technologies like InfoLink (RSS access) and WiseLink Pro. Additionally, both the 46-inch LN46A950 (pictured) and 55-inch LN55A950 feature 4-millisecond response times, down-firing speakers with a built-in subbie, an integrated NTSC / ATSC / ClearQAM tuner, four HDMI-CEC ports, a PC input, Ethernet socket and a pair of component jacks. Look for each to land next month for $3,199.99 and $4,199.99, respectively.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Garmin's waterproof nuvi 500 navigator gets reviewed

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 10:26am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: GPS

For those who spend just as much time getting lost in the forest as they do on the highways, Garmin's nüvi 500 holds quite a bit of promise. Combining four modes covering cycling, boating (optional), driving and walking, this waterproof navigator has nearly every walk of life covered. GPS Magazine recently got to spend some time with the Q3-bound unit, and not surprisingly, it came away very impressed. On the roads, this device performed just as admirably as any other Garmin unit. When traveling off the beaten path, things were just as great. The only real knocks on this were the added bulk / weight and the omission of text-to-speech, but true adventurers aren't apt to care about that when consolidating four GPS devices into one.

[Thanks, Fletch]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Shuttle's SN78SH7 supports Hybrid SLI, launches Friday

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 10:04am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops

Shuttle's SN78SH7 was briefly caught struttin' its stuff at CES this year, but after months on end of waiting, the thing is just about ready to start shipping to eager consumers. Hailed as the first small-form-factor PC to support NVIDIA's Hybrid SLI technology, this block can be equipped with AMD's Phenom X4 processor, 4GB of RAM and Windows Vista (among other things). No word on a price, but it should be quite apparent come Friday.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

MSI to reportedly build LG's X110 netbook

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 9:42am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

MSI has been pretty successful with the Wind, wouldn't you say? Yeah, so would LG. Reportedly, LG is hoping to solicit MSI's services in order to craft its own X110 netbook. The mini laptop will purportedly boast an 8.9-inch panel, 120GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM and Windows XP runnin' the show. Interestingly, the price is expected to hover between $625 and $790 as it focuses on "design and material quality" rather than low cost. Anxious to see how that move plays out, aren't you?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cowon's 5-inch P5 touchscreen media player brings the haptic happy sauce

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 9:21am EDT by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Cowon just loosed raw PMP sex into the marketplace with its new P5 media player. We're talking 800 x 480 pixels spread across a 5-inch touchscreen display featuring Cowon's Widget+Haptic UI riding a 700MHz RMI Alchemy AU1250 processor. The P5 packs standard USB and USB-host jacks, T-DMB broadcast TV, FM radio, Bluetooth, TV-out (component, S-Video, and composite), stereo speakers, and up to 80GB of storage in a 138.8 x 88.5 x 20.0-mm slab of "Luxury Hairline Metal" (which sounds like brushed aluminum to us). It comes pre-installed with a Win CE Internet browser (a clumsy WiFi dongle can be added via the USB jack), MS Office document viewer, electronic dictionary, and support for AVI, ASF, WMV, MPG, OGM, DivX, Xvid, MPEG4, WMV9, MP3, WMA, AC3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and a few more media formats/codecs with a battery capable of about 9-hours of video or 14-hours of straight audio. No price announced but the P5 should hit Korean hands on the 29th of July in choice of black, red, or platinum.

Gallery: Cowon's 5-inch P5 touchscreen media player brings the haptic happy sauce

[Via PMP Today and I4U]
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Hitachi promotional video highlights Tera Era, effects of hallucinogens

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 9:01am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

We're not too sure how the advertising director that green lit Hitachi's bizarro perpendicular recording video is still on staff, but sure enough, he / she has been cut loose again as evidenced by the latest spot. We knew the outfit was pushing this whole "Dawn of the Tera Era" slogan with the introduction of its Deskstar 7K1000.B, but this is just taking things entirely too far. Fair warning: the video hosted after the jump contains cartoon scenes that could easily be used by D.A.R.E. officials looking to keep kids from trying drugs, but somehow we get the impression its just a plug for having lots of (Hitachi-branded) storage space. Hmmph.

[Thanks, Frederick]

Continue reading Hitachi promotional video highlights Tera Era, effects of hallucinogens

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Audi pilot program tells drivers how to squeeze the lemon

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 7:41am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

Though we're hesitant to believe something this fantastic could actually be implemented in real life, word on the pavement has it that Audi is currently running a pilot program that informs motorists "how fast to drive to catch a green light." Over in Ingolstadt, Germany, 50 traffic lights have been equipped with sensors that beam information to specially equipped whips; the network of "smart" signals not only "adapts to traffic patterns to deliver optimum light switching," but gives drivers a heads-up in order to get 'em through lights and cut down on idling / pollution / road rage. We can just hear those red light camera appeals now: "But judge, my car told me to do it!"

[Image courtesy of NOLA]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

SIM2 delivers $5,000 1080p DOMINO D60 DLP projector

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 5:35am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

SIM2's DOMINO line -- okay, SIM2's entire line -- isn't known for being the cheapest bunch. The new DOMINO D60, however, is actually affordable by said company's standards, checking in at just 4,995 US dollars. This 1080p beamer is based on Texas Instruments' DarkChip3 0.95-inch DMD chipset and includes a single-chip DLP projection system, BrilliantColor, three different preset modes (Cinema, Dynamic, and Standard) and three user-customizable memories. It's shipping now for those with fat wallets.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

CSR demonstrates Bluetooth low energy transfer

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 3:17am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

We know you're not really down with digesting any more catchphrases, but the technology formerly known as Ultra Low Power Bluetooth / Wibree is now being dubbed Bluetooth low energy. Now that we're clear on nomenclature, you may be thrilled to know that CSR showcased its recently unveiled BlueCore7 dual mode (Bluetooth low energy and Bluetooth v2.1) chip at a Bluetooth SIG Medical Working Group meeting. According to onlookers, the handset was able to transfer data to another nearby mobile using just 3 frequencies rather than 32, resulting in an unquantifiable decrease in power consumption. Sounds like a winner on the surface, but we have this weird feeling that mass adoption of this tech is like, years away.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AMIMON, Motorola, Sony, et al. join hands on wireless HD standard

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 1:49am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Wireless

Be still, our hearts! After watching the wireless HD / HDMI sector fumble along for years on end, a team of mega-corps have finally agreed to push their self-interests aside and collaborate on a standard. WHDI creator AMIMON has joined forces with Motorola, Samsung, Sony and Sharp in order to form "a special interest group to develop a comprehensive new industry standard for multi-room audio, video and control connectivity" utilizing the aforementioned Wireless Home Digital Interface technology. Reportedly, the group will have a standard completed before 2009 dawns, but we all know how easily these things can get pushed under the rug. Nevertheless, the overriding goal here is to "enhance the current WHDI technology to enable wireless streaming of uncompressed HD video and audio between CE devices such as LCD and plasma HDTVs, multimedia projectors, AV receivers, DVD and BD players, set-top-boxes, game consoles and PCs." A tall order, sure, but one we're elated to see taken on. Full release (and promo spot) after the break.

Continue reading AMIMON, Motorola, Sony, et al. join hands on wireless HD standard

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Sony bigwig hints at GPS-enabled PSP games

Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 12:57am EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming, GPS

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Sony_bigwig_hints_at_GPS_enabled_PSP_games'; Only John Koller knows how serious John Koller, Sony's senior marketing manager for PSP, was when mentioning that GPS-enabled games could eventually hit the PSP, but he definitely threw it out there. Speaking about the forthcoming GPS add-on for the PlayStation Portable, Koller stated that said module "changes the dynamics of GPS but also changes the way developers think about games on PSP, because you can start integrating GPS into it." He continued on by mentioning that Sony's own first-party studios were "already looking at a number of things [involving GPS in games]," and concluded by asserting that a GPS game could land on the system as early as next year. Considering just how long we've been waiting for the add-on, we're not holding our breath on the titles.

[Via PSP Fanboy]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tri-Solar LED Flashlight: because three panels are better than one

Posted: July 22nd, 2008, 11:42pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Nah, it's no Mag-Lite, but the Tri-Solar LED Flashlight should handle most minor lighting needs. The unit can operate with one LED on, three LEDs on or all three LEDs flashing (you know, in case you realize the car you just hopped in is now making a beeline for the Bates Motel). Because a single solar panel can only catch so much sunlight, this one has a trifecta of cells that fold out and generate juice for the bulbs. Not too bad for $32, particularly when you realize that it doubles as a weapon.

[Thanks, Joe]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Golden Shellback waterproofing defies water, reality

Posted: July 22nd, 2008, 10:18pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We're usually pretty jaded when people tell us that we "won't believe" what we're seeing in a video sent to tips -- right, right, a cellphone demon, nice one -- but it sure seems like the Golden Shellback waterproof coating is the real deal. Developed at the Northeast Maritime Institute and hopefully headed to production sometime soon, the process involves applying the coating to your precious toys inside a vacuum, after which they're basically impervious to all liquids -- in one test, a coated device spent over 450 hours powered on and functional underwater. There are some downsides: you can't remove the coating, so any repairs will involve "abrasive methods," which sounds like quite a commitment. That said, we'll take a little abrasion in our lives if it means we never have to worry about spilling on our keyboards ever again. Video after the break.

[Via gCaptain]

Continue reading Golden Shellback waterproofing defies water, reality

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Games for Windows Live now free

Posted: July 22nd, 2008, 9:29pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Gaming

Interesting that this didn't get announced at E3, but Games for Windows Live is now free for all. Yep, totally free, cross-platform multiplayer with the 360 included -- which obviously raises the question of whether Live will ever be free on Xbox. We think that's a pretty safe no -- unlike Games For Windows, Xbox Live actually makes money, which is pretty hard to turn down, and without a ton of competitive pressure from, say, Playstation Home, it's hard to see why Microsoft would turn that funtime cash fountain off. Still, there's always hoping, right?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

ASUS continues to mercilessly flog Eee brand with Eee PC 1000HD

Posted: July 22nd, 2008, 9:06pm EDT by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS must think that best way to make the Eee PC stand out in the overflowing netbook market is to crank out minor, uninteresting variants of the same models, because otherwise we're at a total loss to explain today's appearance of the Eee PC 1000HD. Yeah, that's the 1000HD, not the 1000H, which we've already seen. Ridiculous. Even more ridiculous is that it's basically the same machine as the Pentium M-based Eee 904, only with the 1000's 10-inch screen. Right. So now not only are there an endless variety of Eee models, the model numbers themselves don't indicate anything logical: the Eee 901 is faster than the 904, which uses the basic case of the 1000 but shares a processor with the 900 and 1000HD -- but not the 1000 or 1000H, which are Atom-based like the 901. Hmm, Easy to learn, Easy to work, Easy to play -- not easy to buy might be your big problem here, ASUS.

[Via Mobile Stylus]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NES gets crammed into third-party light gun, plans a 187 on Bowser

Posted: July 22nd, 2008, 8:02pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming

Okay, okay -- we get it. So maybe there's just not enough room in a genuine Zapper to fit all the necessary innards of a Nintendo Entertainment System into, but it's just a bit weird to see the Big N's antiquated console crammed into some other light gun. Similar to the NES-in-an-NES-controller mod we peeked earlier this week, this unit includes a plethora of games and all the controls you need; just plug it up to a TV, pop a few batteries in there and you're golden. Is it any surprise this guy was tracked down on Ben Heck's own forums?

[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gemei gets saucy with the touchscreen X780 PMP

Posted: July 22nd, 2008, 7:16pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

It was inevitable. We just knew Gemei couldn't hold its own forever, and now it seems the resistance to copying other interfaces has finally failed. The all-too-familiar X780 comes equipped with a 3-inch 400 x 280 resolution display, 4GB of internal memory, a miniSD expansion slot, FM tuner, built-in microphone, TV output and an unspecified emulator for gaming it up. As expected, this thing can handle just about every format known to man including WMA, APE, FLAC, MP3, WAV, ASF, MPEG, AVI, FLV, VOD, PNG, JPG, etc. No one's talking about pricing just yet, but we have a feeling it'll be somewhere between cheap and really cheap.

[Via PMPToday]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

JVC's HP-FXC50 earphones promise to get closer to your eardrum

Posted: July 22nd, 2008, 6:37pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Portable Audio

They may not conduct sound through your bones, but JVC's new HP-FXC50 earphones at least promise to pump sound deeper into your ears than your usual earbuds. That's apparently done simply by using a longer and thinner sound driver than usual (measuring 5.8mm in diameter), which can be "installed in the sound channel" of your ear. According to JVC, that not only cuts down on sound leakage, but makes the earphones more comfortable to wear as well (assuming you can get them back out). If that's got you sold on 'em, or at least hasn't scared you off, you can look forward to them being available in Japan in early August for just ¥4,000 (or about $38).
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Belkin BreakFree adds magnetic breakaway connector to your guitar cable

Posted: July 22nd, 2008, 6:00pm EDT by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

From all the coffee shop musicians here at Engadget, we'd like to sincerely thank Belkin for producing this marvelous device. For the rest of us who run around on stage like madmen, we have our doubts about how well this will work. Nevertheless, the BreakFree Connectors were designed to add a magnetic breakaway point in your 1/4-inch cable, meaning that things will simply snap away if too much pressure is applied. Sure, this could save you a mint in shredded cable costs, but we'd venture to say that only the calmer performers in attendance will really find it useful. Snatch (gently, of course) the BreakFree this September for $19.99 and grab a few extra tips for $9.99 per pair.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

British border guards recruit robots to root out stowaways

Posted: July 22nd, 2008, 5:28pm EDT by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Robots

It looks like attempts to sneak across the border into Britain could soon become a battle of humans versus the machines, as the country's border guards have now recruited some robots normally used in warzones to help root out folks trying to smuggle themselves into the country. Developed by BAE Systems, the so-called "Hero" bots are equipped with searchlights and high-resolution video cameras that let it search the inside and undersides of vehicles, and they could potentially be outfitted with heartbeat detectors as well, or even sensors to detect chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear materials being smuggled into the country. While it's apparently only been tested in one location so far, the Border Agency seems to be all but sold on the bot, and it's n

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