IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 01/04/2010

Samsung Galaxy S Pro to come with a QWERTY keyboard in June, says Eldar Murtazin

Those whispers you might have heard of a Pro version of Samsung's delectable Galaxy S have just turned into a booming roar, thanks to Eldar Murtazin apparently confirming the existence and prospective arrival of the rumored handset. According to the legendarily loquacious mobile reviewer, Samsung will be strapping a QWERTY keyboard onto the already potent Galaxy S hardware and upping the pricing ante with an extra 50 Euro charge. He also manages to give us a June launch date, but pictures of this device are predictably not yet available. We'll just have to let our imagination do the work until Mr. Blurrycam gets on the case. Screenshot of the relevant tweet after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S Pro to come with a QWERTY keyboard in June, says Eldar Murtazin

Samsung Galaxy S Pro to come with a QWERTY keyboard in June, says Eldar Murtazin originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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64GB Zune HD launching April 12th for $350, current models reduced $20

Let's just be nice and feign surprise, okay? Good. With that out of the way, Microsoft has announced a 64GB version of Zune HD, due out April 12th via the Zune online store (and later via other retailers) with a handful of color options and a strapping $349.99 price tag. Not to be outdone, the 16GB and 32GB will each receive a $20 cut on the MSRP, to $200 and $270, respectively -- whatever Amazon and Newegg slash beyond that is up to them. It seems "as soon as possible" is the motto for when the price drop is taking place, so if your favorite online / brick-and-mortar retailer isn't yet honoring the extra Andrew Jackson in your pocket, have patience. So now we're left with a v4.5 firmware release date as the remaining piece in this puzzle, but Microsoft promises to solve that riddle wrapped in an enigma "in the coming days." Right. Press release after the break.

Continue reading 64GB Zune HD launching April 12th for $350, current models reduced $20

64GB Zune HD launching April 12th for $350, current models reduced $20 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Envy 15 shipping for $950 after rebate

We know that you really had your heart set on that 14-inch Envy, but until they finally arrive from Shangri-La, the "mystical, harmonious valley, gently guided from a lamasery, enclosed in the western end of the Kunlun Mountains" (the same place whose Apple Stores stock the iPhone nano, incidentally) might we offer you a cut-rate 15-inch model as a consolation prize? As brought to our attention by the savvy shoppers at I4U News, the company is currently offering a $450 rebate on your next HP Envy 15 Core i5 (2.26GHz) lappy. And what's more, your $950 sale price includes shipping -- and not on the back of a unicorn, either. Just head on over to the HP store (hit the coverage link), throw in a 640GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive (you have to do this part -- it'll bring your total up to $1,399 and make you eligible for the free shipping) and apply coupon code NBMY33241 at checkout.

HP Envy 15 shipping for $950 after rebate originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New doubleTwist for Mac adds built-in Android Market functionality

The latest version of doubleTwist for the Mac (1.0b1b to be precise, available now) adds a whole new Android Market element to the application. Much akin to the iTunes Store for apps, doubleTwist lets you browse Android apps in a beautified, desktop interface, but the "twist" is that you can't actually download and sync apps with your phone. Instead, the Android Market browser presents QR codes for scanning with your Android phone and directly downloading the apps on the handset like you do already. Sure, desktop app downloads, backup, and syncing would certainly be better, but this is a nice start at least. D-Twist (as we like to call it) is also getting audio playback on the Mac, as well as podcast search and playback, with podcast subscription and syncing coming next (it's already on Windows). Meanwhile, Windows users will have to wait until the next major version for Android Market. Not to worry, you can do the exact same sort of app browsing at apps.doubletwist.com on any plain old browser. You can even check out the Engadget app right here.

Update: We're trying to play around a bit with the app, but at the moment the search functionality is broken and most of the QR codes are handing us bad URLs for apps. Hang tight! Every once in a while we see a blip of non-brokenness, but we're guessing there are some server hiccups at the moment holding us back from Android Market enlightenment.

New doubleTwist for Mac adds built-in Android Market functionality originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leica M9 hands-on; or, The Tao of Leica

For most amateur photographers, Leica's legendary M System represents a virtually unobtainable holy grail, a line of cameras so unspeakably expensive, rare, and coveted that even having the opportunity to hold one -- much less own one -- is a somewhat unrealistic goal. Why is that, exactly? It's a combination of things, really; sure, Leica's brand cachet undoubtedly factors into it, but in reality, it's much, much more than that. For our money, nothing demonstrates that better than a day or two with the M9, the company's latest flagship rangefinder with an 18 megapixel CCD sensor sourced from Kodak.

And what, exactly, does it feel like to carry $11,695 worth of rangefinder body and lens around? Follow the break.

Gallery: Leica M9 hands-on

Continue reading Leica M9 hands-on; or, The Tao of Leica

Leica M9 hands-on; or, The Tao of Leica originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATI Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 Edition review roundup: novel, but not for everyone

We've been fortunate enough to spend a bit of time with an Eyefinity setup before, but up until now, it's been somewhat of a hassle to get a fully functional six-screen setup into a consumer's home. Today, AMD is taking the legwork out of the equation with the introduction of the Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 Edition, a standalone GPU with 2GB of GDDR5 memory and innate support for pushing a half-dozen panels at once. Outside of that, it's essentially the same card that we saw last September, and based on the cadre of reviews that we rounded up, the doubled memory bank doesn't do much to boost frame rates. What it does do, however, is enable six-screen gaming. Unfortunately (though understandably), this type of gaming scenario is only meant for a select segment of users, and many critics found the novelty wearing off exceptionally quick. In fact, it wasn't long before NeoSeeker became fed up with the bezels ruining the experience, and just about everyone agreed that you needed to sit a good half-mile away to really enjoy it. Either way, we'd encourage you to hit up Hot Hardware's collection of videos before biting the bullet, buying up an extra five LCDs and then regretting it for the rest of your Earthly life.

Read - Hot Hardware
Read - AnandTech
Read - NeoSeeker
Read - Rage3D
Read - PC Perspective
Read - TweakTown
Read - FiringSquad
Read - Tom's Hardware
Read - ExtremeTech
Read - Hexus

ATI Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 Edition review roundup: novel, but not for everyone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon Rebel T2i / 550D receives plaudit-heavy reviews

We've seen plenty of the headline 1080p / 30fps video mode on the Rebel T2i, but what's been missing till now are the equally comprehensive reviews of this new 18 megapixel shooter's other talents. Starting off with image quality -- still the bread and butter of any DSLR -- Camera Labs informs us that "the EOS 550D / T2i delivered images which were essentially the same as those from the EOS 7D," describing them as highly detailed and exhibiting no greater noise than can be found on Nikon's 12 megapixel competitors. An impressive feat, you will agree. Further appreciation is meted out for the newly improved LCD screen on the back, whose 3:2 ratio matches the sensor's dimensions, but there's also warning that the 7D retains a significant advantage in terms of ergonomics, weatherproofing, continuous burst mode, and autofocus. Even so, both reviews were happy to pin their "highly recommended" badges on the T2i, and you can discover the more nuanced reasons for doing so at the source links below.

Canon Rebel T2i / 550D receives plaudit-heavy reviews originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS's 20-inch ET2010 EeeTop models with Ion power detailed

We've been hearing about the ET2010 model since CES, then got another glimpse at CeBIT a few weeks ago, and now the all-in-one machine is making its international debut -- and ASUS has more than one to share with us. The five models range from the ET2010AG, with an AMD Athlon II processor, up to the ET2010PNT, with an Atom D510. All models have a 20-inch, 1600 x 900 displays, but only two of them sport multitouch. Storage ranges from 160GB to 500GB, 1 or 2GB of RAM is available, and graphics options include an integrated Intel GMA chipset, ATI's Radeon HD 5470, or, most interestingly, Ion 2 graphics in the two Atom-powered options. All offer a DVD drive and all sport the same, wall-mountable and 1-inch thick design. What we don't know is when these will be shipping or how much they'll cost, but you'll surely be the first to hear after we do.

ASUS's 20-inch ET2010 EeeTop models with Ion power detailed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon patents packaging surveillance, says it's for our own good

So here's the sales pitch: Amazon wants to film the packaging and preparation of your goods as they get ready to ship out in order to make sure your order is properly fulfilled and addressed. Stills or the whole video are then forwarded along to you, so you can check 'em out. Granted yesterday, the patent for this oh-so-complex monitoring system is actually quite specific -- it's only operative if your order includes "at least one book, food item, bottle of wine, flowers, or jewelry," so it's not like Amazon can keep everyone else from doing this -- but hey, it also references verification of "collateral items," which is a fancy way of saying it'll be used to make sure third party fliers and advertisements make it into the box along with the stuff you actually want, so it's not all roses and sunshine.

[Thanks, JagsLive]

Amazon patents packaging surveillance, says it's for our own good originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PrimeSense fesses up: it's the magic behind Microsoft's Project Natal

Up until now, we haven't actually been able to find out too much about the ins and outs of Project Natal. For all we knew, it's a technology designed in the back stall of a unicorn barn, and the final name will somehow involve diphthongs from both "lasers" and "Robot Apocalypse." All jesting aside, this really does mark the first bona fide announcement about the nuts and bolts behind Microsoft's forthcoming motion sensing add-on for its Xbox 360, and lo and behold, the revealing is being done by the same company we sat down with earlier this month at GDC. Quite a few of you assumed that PrimeSense's webcam was indeed Project Natal in camouflage when we posted up our original hands-on, and while we couldn't confirm or deny those suspicions at the time, we can today. So, what's this mean for you? It probably means that PrimeSense is actively looking to get its 3D-sensing technology (which has obviously been tweaked quite a bit by Microsoft, to its credit) into as many living room scenarios as possible, so what you're seeing in Natal might just appear elsewhere in the very near future. Did your imagination just run wild? No? Have a look back at our GDC experience and try again.

Continue reading PrimeSense fesses up: it's the magic behind Microsoft's Project Natal

PrimeSense fesses up: it's the magic behind Microsoft's Project Natal originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Glove Mouse project gives 'pinch to zoom' a new meaning (video)

We never cease to be amazed by the number of projects spawned from that one scene in Minority Report where Tom Cruise goes massively multitouch, but we'll also never tire of seeing those projects in action. The latest is the Glove Mouse from Tony Hyun Kim and Nevada Sanchez at MIT and, while they've been on the project for some time (winning the school's George C. Newton Project Prize in 2009 for their work), they've recently made the gloves wireless and posted some photos and videos. Each glove sports an LED on the back of the index finger, picked up by a low-res webcam to act like a cursor, along with buttons under the index and middle fingers activated by the thumb. It's a little like Wiimote meets Peregrine and the result has a lot of potential to say the least. Click on through for a rocking video demonstration, but be sure to dust off those Guitar Hero controllers before you do.

[Thanks, Nebada]

Continue reading Glove Mouse project gives 'pinch to zoom' a new meaning (video)

Glove Mouse project gives 'pinch to zoom' a new meaning (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First live 3D broadcast to rock Japanese airwaves on May 16

The Masters is just about a week away from being broadcast to you in glorious 3D, meaning American viewers with the necessary equipment (and a Comcast subscription) will get a taste of live 3D in the very near future. Japanese viewers will have to wait a little bit longer, until May 16, for the broadcast of the Asakusa Sanja Festival. One hour of the programming will be broadcast in 3D and is tentatively (and humorously) titled "3D broadcast first try!" This will cover what's said to be the climax of the festival, celebrating three men who founded the Buddhist temple in the Asakusa district with a parade, Shinto shrines, and, new this year, goofy glasses.

[Photo credit: Torsodog]

First live 3D broadcast to rock Japanese airwaves on May 16 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS's Jonney Shih confirms two tablets, one for Googlites, one for Microsofties

We've been hearing talk of an Eee Pad since the end of 2009, even getting a sort of unofficial, official confirmation of its existence from from ASUS exec Eric Chen. Now company chairman Jonney Shih has confirmed not only one tablet, but two. "Netbooks are the best combination of personal computing and cloud computing, but between netbooks and smartphones and e-readers, we think there will be a space for something like a tablet or slate PC." This is where ASUS will insert a pair of models set to be unveiled sometime this year. One is said to run a Google OS of some sort, either Android or Chrome, the other running Windows. We're expecting some level of hardware differentiation between the two as well, but at this point we don't know anything else -- except that the Google flavored version "will have a lot of media." We like media.

ASUS's Jonney Shih confirms two tablets, one for Googlites, one for Microsofties originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon's V Cast Apps store is a go, first on BlackBerry Storm2
Right on cue (sort of), Verizon Wireless' branded V Cast Apps market has finally seen the light of day. We've actually heard about the store since last summer, but it wasn't until the carrier's LTE forum at CTIA that we had a confirmed date. As noted then, the first device to get the portal is the BlackBerry Storm2, with other RIM devices (and hopefully other mobile platforms) in the coming months. It's not taking the place of BlackBerry App World, so now that we've got two coexisting markets on one device, it's time to see just how strong that V Cast branding is...

[Thanks, Cameron]

Verizon's V Cast Apps store is a go, first on BlackBerry Storm2 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nuovations' Iris + Reflex brings ambient light sensing to Macs of all stripes

It may not be of much use to anyone with a recent iMac or MacBook, but folks with a Mac that doesn't have a built-in ambient light sensor will soon be able to get their fix courtesy of Nuovation's new Iris + Reflex combo. That includes the Iris USB light sensor, which is small enough to not obstruct any nearby ports, and works in conjunction with the company's Reflex software to dial down your display's brightness to suit your surroundings. In fact, it even bests Apple's standard offering when it comes to advanced settings, although we're still trying to figure out why you'd want to have two of the sensors connected. Still no actual pictures of the sensor, unfortunately, but you'll apparently be able to pick it up this summer for between $20 and $30.

Nuovations' Iris + Reflex brings ambient light sensing to Macs of all stripes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Logitech Harmony 300 eschews LCD screen for universal affordability (video)

Logitech's Harmony remotes have a well earned reputation that treads the fine line between overkill and power user necessity, and while the 600 series brought the entry price down below the $100 mark, this latest Harmony 300 set is aiming to limbo even lower. Priced at $49.99 in the USA and £29.99 in the UK, the 300 touts a supposedly effortless web-based setup -- via a USB hookup to your nearest computer -- and compatibility with more than 225,000 devices from more than 5,000 brands. Of course, the lower price comes with some sacrifices, namely the removal of the LCD screen found in the higher models, and the limitation of controlling a maximum of four devices. If neither bothers you too much, expect this universal remote to land in your lap some time in early April. Video after the break.

Continue reading Logitech Harmony 300 eschews LCD screen for universal affordability (video)

Logitech Harmony 300 eschews LCD screen for universal affordability (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 06:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony VAIO P model PCG-11111L hits FCC with EVDO

What does that look like to you? We're thinking an updated VAIO P given that stretched form factor. The previously unheard of VAIO model PCG-11111L is definitely a Sony of some sort complete with CDMA850 and CDMA1900 courtesy of Qualcomm's Gobi silicon. Just don't get your hopes up that it'll be sporting Qualcomm's latest chipsets with HSPA+ and LTE coverage as it looks like those frequencies will be locked out with the help of some rather unhelpful firmware at launch. It'll also be packing 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR whenever it does make its first appearance, which, by the looks of a very specific confidentiality request, will be on around May 13th at a Sprint or Verizon retail store. Check the the radio bill of materials and CDMA2000 declaration after the break if that's what turns you on... really, that's cool, we're not going to judge.

Continue reading Sony VAIO P model PCG-11111L hits FCC with EVDO

Sony VAIO P model PCG-11111L hits FCC with EVDO originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 06:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LookTel's 'artificial vision' makes Windows Mobile useful to blind people (video)

There's a surprising abundance of tech geared toward helping out people with visual impairments, but you won't find too many smartphones populating that sphere of electronics. Aiming to reverse this trend, LookTel is in the Beta stage of developing so-called artificial vision software that combines a Windows Mobile handset with a PC BaseStation to provide object and text recognition, voice labeling, easy accessibility and remote assistance. It can be used, much like the Intel Reader, to scan text and read it back to you using OCR, and its camera allows it to identify objects based on pre-tagged images you've uploaded to your PC. Finally, it allows someone to assist you by providing them with a remote feed of your phone's camera -- a feature that can be useful to most people in need of directions. Skip past the break to see it demoed on video.

[Thanks, Eyal]

Continue reading LookTel's 'artificial vision' makes Windows Mobile useful to blind people (video)

LookTel's 'artificial vision' makes Windows Mobile useful to blind people (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 05:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Move controller hits FCC as 'Motion Controller,' confidential until September

Sure, it's got the old name but Sony's "Motion Controller" CECH-ZCM1U is undoubtedly Sony's new PlayStation Move controller. There's not much to glean from the tests (yes, it passed) other than the specific mention of a Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR radio. The rest of the filing is under a 180 day confidentiality request good until September -- a bit earlier than Sony's reported "holiday" launch plans. Don't read too much into that FCC date though, Sony can always extend.

PlayStation Move controller hits FCC as 'Motion Controller,' confidential until September originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 04:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T building out network capacity to prevent exodus to Verizon's iPhone?
So this is what all those "yo' network's so slow" jokes were about. The Wall Street Journal has today penned a story framing AT&T's hefty recent investments in building out its network as a defensive move against a "huge exodus to Verizon" when its rival gets the iPhone. These preventative measures include working with Apple on streamlining the iPhone's network load, and infrastructure spending that is expected to be $2 billion more in 2010 than in 2009. The WSJ claimed yesterday that Apple was working on a CMDA version of its iPhone that could hit mass production as early as September. However, concluding that the iPhone on Verizon is a done deal seems something of a stretch. Sprint has shown a remarkable ability to attract cutting edge phones, and China Unicom's exclusivity agreement is about to hit its precarious first anniversary about the time this handset is set to roll out. Still, setting aside the analyst blather and extrapolation, the picture that emerges is of AT&T feverishly patching up its service offering in the face of a rapidly expiring exclusivity arrangement.

AT&T building out network capacity to prevent exodus to Verizon's iPhone? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 04:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp's Snapdragon-powered, Android-running IS01 MID gets a hands-on (updated)

Sharp's new IS01 MID for KDDI au proved to be something of a letdown when it was announced earlier today, partly due to raised expectations, and partly due to a lack of a decent look at it. Thankfully, Akihabara News has now come through on the latter point, and provided a fairly extensive hands-on look at the Snapdragon-powered MID. Anyone hoping for a bit more incentive to buy one may well still come away disappointed, however, as the site describes the device as fairly "cheap" feeling, and says that it doesn't have multitouch support (although earlier reports have stated that the device has a multitouch display). That said, the Snapdragon processor does apparently ensure that the device is suitably speedy, and there's always the possibility for some exciting things to emerge from its developer-friendly JN-DK01 counterpart. Hit up the source link for a closer look.

Update: Multi-touch support confirmed in the new video added after the break.

[Thanks, Andy]

Continue reading Sharp's Snapdragon-powered, Android-running IS01 MID gets a hands-on (updated)

Sharp's Snapdragon-powered, Android-running IS01 MID gets a hands-on (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 03:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Firefox for Mobile (Fennec) escapes in a rough Android port

It's slow, jerky, and may not even work on your Android device after installing the 41MB package. But it's FireFox for Mobile (aka, Fennec) on Android, brother, and isn't that worth the hassle? Based on our experience with it on the N900, the only gold platform at the moment, it most definintely is. MartinSchirr of Android Forums is credited with the port and it's your best option until the cats at Mozilla issues a formal Android release (currently in Pre-Alpha) later this year as expected. Check the video after the break if you want to experience it right now, mess free.

[Thanks, Will]

Continue reading Firefox for Mobile (Fennec) escapes in a rough Android port

Firefox for Mobile (Fennec) escapes in a rough Android port originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cisco's Valet routers take a cue from Flip's design department

Admittedly, we were a bit hesitant when Cisco contacted us with jubilation over a router, but now we can kind of see why. The company has pulled in design experts from its recently-acquired Flip for what it's banking on is a much simpler and friendlier user experience, from the packaging to the set up and maintenance menus, with a new lineup of routers it's calling Valet. The hardware itself is not too shabby -- it'd probably be quite inconspicuous in a Tomorrowland exhibit -- but the internals are nothing mind-blowing. Both the Valet and Valet Plus offer 2.4GHz Wireless N, while the latter model boasts a longer range and a quartet of Gigabit ports (the standard only uses 10/100).

Eschewing the usual CD installation key is what Cisco's calling the USB Easy Setup Key. Similar idea to the other routers, just plug in and install the software. After two clicks of the menu, it auto-located our Valet and connected to a newly-minted, protected wireless service (in this case "BusyFish") with the password saved in our keychain. Adjusting guest access and parental controls are easy enough, and nice part of the USB key is that you can write the settings onto it, letting you simply plug it into another computer and auto-load the settings. Manual controls are still available and should be fine for most readers. Nothing mind-blowing, but for the audience Cisco's targeting, it's definitely a step in the right direction. According to Cisco, availability is "immediately" and prices are $100 for Valet and $150 for Valet Plus. Press release and oodles (yes, oodles) more pictures after the break.

Gallery: Cisco Valet hands-on

Continue reading Cisco's Valet routers take a cue from Flip's design department

Cisco's Valet routers take a cue from Flip's design department originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD launches 12-core Opteron server chips, Intel counters with the 8-core Xeon 7500

You thought six cores were nifty? This week, AMD and Intel have begun the multithreaded battle in earnest -- if only on the IT front -- with chips that have up to double that core density. First up, AMD has officially brought us that Opteron 6000 series leaked last week, a set of 8- and 12-core processors aimed at dual- and quad-CPU servers that it claims have both higher performance and lower cost than Intel's recent hex-core offerings. Not to be outdone, Intel has just introduced a 8-core processor series of its own, the Xeon 7500, that it envisions deployed in mammoth 256-processor configurations. In bulk orders of 1,000, a single 12-core Opteron costs nearly $1,200, while the cheapest single 8-core Xeon will set you back a cool $2,461 in the same quantity. We don't doubt they're powerful, and we'd kill for a pair of either in our gaming rig. At those prices though, we'll stick to building our supercomputer out of PS3s -- oh, wait.

AMD launches 12-core Opteron server chips, Intel counters with the 8-core Xeon 7500 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GameStop listing shows SanDisk's Xbox 360-branded USB drives at outrageous prices

GameStop listings are about as accurate as a 14th century musket -- especially when it comes to release dates -- but that didn't keep news site GameSpot from capping the above screenshot. As you can no doubt read, the picture suggests that SanDisk will indeed release a specially-branded 8GB USB flash drive alongside the Xbox 360's USB storage update -- but at twice the normal price for a drive of that capacity. Our red hot rage at this injustice is tempered somewhat knowing there's no concrete proof the $40 figure is correct, but knowing SanDisk (and, frankly, Microsoft's own propensity for overpriced storage) we wouldn't be surprised to see several green thumbdrives pulling a premium at retail next week. Once more for the record: as long as it's larger than 1GB, smaller than 16GB and you format it using the Xbox 360 menus, any USB flash drive will do.

GameStop listing shows SanDisk's Xbox 360-branded USB drives at outrageous prices originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad's trailing costs: like the iPod touch, only bigger (updated)

Whether or not you think the iPad is in and of itself a worthy purchase, let's not forget the investment doesn't end at the retail counter or online shopping cart. Two little newsbits have popped up to serve as a helpful reminder to just that effect. The first comes way of verbiage from the iPad end-user licensing agreement dug up by MacRumors; in a nutshell, it suggests that while iPad OS 4.x updates will be provided gratis, subsequent releases (5.x, 6.x, and so on) could be offered at a premium, à la how iPod touch handles firmware. This is far from a confirmation, but it's well within Apple's right to do so. The second bit is derived by The Consumerist by way a supposed leaked app store video. Comparing the prices of iPad-optimized software with the iPhone equivalents showed quite a hefty uptick in consumer cost -- e.g., $4.99 Flight Control HD vs. $0.99 Flight Control. The pool of eight apps seen in the video would cost $53 in all to purchase, while the same set for the iPhone is $27. That screen real estate don't come cheap, y'know -- that is, should the prices seen prove legit. At this point we can't confirm, and more than likely, we won't know for sure until the eleventh hour.

Update: The BBC has word direct from developers that iPad apps will indeed be costlier than their iPhone / iPod touch brethren. Multiple devs are cited in the Beeb's article saying that their 99 cent apps will grow in price to $1.99 and $2.99 price points for the slate device [thanks, Ben].

iPad's trailing costs: like the iPod touch, only bigger (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrome brings Flash Player into the fold, trains it to kill iPads?
If Apple had its way, we expect that the iPad would go down in history as the device that nearly single-handedly destroyed Adobe's empire of Flash. While HTML5 has been in development for years, content providers like the Wall Street Journal, NPR, CBS and more have only begun transitioning video services to the new standard (and subsequently, away from Flash) now that it's time for Cupertino's big release. But this week, Adobe has found an ally in Google, which has just announced that the Chrome browser -- and more importantly, Chrome OS -- will not merely support but natively integrate the technology. In the short run, what this means is that the Chrome browser won't require you to download Adobe Flash Player or spend time updating it before back-to-back YouTube viewings and marathon Newgrounds sessions. In the long run, Google explains that it intends Flash to become an integral, seamless part of web design up there with HTML and Javascript -- and if we extrapolate, an integral part of its new Chrome OS as well. Pardon us for thinking out loud, but it sounds like Google's found an exclusive feature to highly tout, when it inevitably brings a Chrome OS tablet to market.

[Thanks, Adam]

Chrome brings Flash Player into the fold, trains it to kill iPads? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista | Official Chromium Blog | Email this | Comments
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More bad juju for JooJoo: shipping delays, pre-sale questions

Monday, March 29 was supposed to be a happy day for Fusion Garage -- that's when the first JooJoo tablet pre-orders were scheduled to greet customers. Unfortunately, it's looking like Tuesday, March 30 will instead go down as yet another day full of unresolved questions for the fledgling company: not only did the 29th come and go without a peep, a new document from the TechCrunch lawsuit sent to Gizmodo suggests that only 90 total pre-orders were made as of February 11, and that 15 of those orders were canceled. Uh-oh. Now, Fusion Garage tells us that JooJoo units are actually in Los Angeles, where they've just been released from a paperwork-related customs delay, and that the "absolute worst case" is that they'll arrive to customers via overnight shipping on April 2nd, although FG is hoping for the 1st. We're also told that the 90 preorder number is low and the court documents are inaccurate because the company's relationship with PayPal was terminated over those issues with the terms of sale -- but the JooJoo website still lists PayPal as the only payment option. Right. See what we meant about questions?

Oh, and just in case this whole saga wasn't sordid enough already, the "leaked document" making all these waves today is actually a statement by TechCrunch's lawyer made in support of a motion to enjoin Fusion Garage from selling the JooJoo, and it's been publicly available since February 22, when it was first filed -- you can check the whole thing in the PDF below. How or why it's being dredged up now is somewhat curious, if you're into that sort of conspiracy vibe, but we'd say the more interesting question is whether Fusion Garage actually gets the JooJoo to customers -- and whether or not it's good enough to erase the uniquely contentious circumstances of its birth.

Update: Fusion Garage just called us to clarify their earlier comments: while the relationship with PayPal is ending in favor of a more traditional payment processor, it's still in place -- so that 90 number certainly seems more meaningful, although it is still over a month old. As for the shipment delays, we were also given a screenshot of the DHL manifest showing the customs delay -- check it after the break.

Continue reading More bad juju for JooJoo: shipping delays, pre-sale questions

More bad juju for JooJoo: shipping delays, pre-sale questions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | TechCrunch Attorney Statement (PDF), Gizmodo | Email this | Comments
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Omnimo: desktop Windows given fashion makeover with Phone 7 Series flair

Can't wait for Windows Phone 7 Series, but can't hack the emulator, either? Don't lose hope, Windows junkies -- you can still bring some semblance of WP7S order into your life with this Metro UI-inspired desktop HUD. Based on the open-source desktop customization platform Rainmeter, the "Omnimo UI" will overlay your desktop with a minimalist, tiled interface not unlike the one you've been drooling over for weeks, with live hooks into many useful services (including Gmail, iTunes, Steam, Twitter and SpeedFan) as well as the usual widgets and a host of program shortcuts. The best news of all? It's available now for all versions of Windows since XP, completely free of charge; simply follow the source links or flit over to Lifehacker, where good folks will teach you how it's done.

Omnimo: desktop Windows given fashion makeover with Phone 7 Series flair originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Rainmeter, Omnimo UI | Email this | Comments
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Sprint, Clearwire among companies asking for TD-LTE standard in WiMAX spectrum
Clearwire has made it crystal clear that it isn't taking a "WiMAX or die" approach to 4G -- and frankly, it couldn't afford to, considering that the infrastructure suppliers and hardware manufacturers could easily continue their trend toward shunning the next-gen underdog. What's interesting, though, is that the company now appears to be taking a very active role in developing an LTE-based standard that could supplant WiMAX in its 2.6GHz spectrum should the need arise. Along with Motorola, Huawei, ZTE, Cisco, Nokia Siemens, Alcatel-Lucent, and -- surprise, surprise -- Clearwire partner Sprint, the company is asking the 3GPP to define a standard for running TD-LTE in the 2.6GHz slot. Unlike the more commonly-used FD-LTE -- the standard Verizon is using, among others -- TD-LTE operates unpaired, meaning it can operate in slimmer chunks of spectrum than its counterpart. Asking for a standard is clearly a far cry from actually building out a network, but it's interesting to note that Clearwire and Sprint alike both have their eyes firmly fixed on an LTE-based technology if the WiMAX industry packs it in.

Sprint, Clearwire among companies asking for TD-LTE standard in WiMAX spectrum originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink GSMA Mobile Business Briefing | Light Reading Mobile | Email this | Comments
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EATR's engine officially complete, and this robot's one step closer to reality

If you're anything like us, you've probably been keeping pretty close tabs on EATR, the biomass-to-power robot that's been making people nervous for some time now. Well, EATR's engine -- which is being built by Cyclone Power Technologies -- is complete, and the drone is now one giant leap closer to living in actual reality with us. The completed steam engine, called WHE, is a six-cylinder external heat engine which can generate up to 18 horsepower of mechanical power. As previously clarified by EATR's makers (a project that's getting help from the University of Maryland and DARPA), the robot will not feed on things like animals... or humans. No, this is no zombified drone -- EATR will harvest only plant matter for energy -- which, if you ask us, makes the whole thing much more mundane. Regardless, we'll be keeping our eyes on this project as it moves forward. The full press release is after the break.

Continue reading EATR's engine officially complete, and this robot's one step closer to reality

EATR's engine officially complete, and this robot's one step closer to reality originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: Courier courts the creative
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Call it Apple's populist paradox. The Macintosh's human-centered design inspired its being called the "computer for the rest of us," but the Mac also long been associated with exceptional creative individuals, a message Apple has driven home in campaigns ranging from "wheels from the mind" to "think different." In the early days of the Web, it was said that Web pages were created on Macs and viewed on PCs -- and served on Unix workstations.

Should the concepts in a video detailing a new Microsoft-developed device dubbed Courier come to fruition, though, Microsoft and Apple may find themselves on unfamiliar sides as an old rivalry turns to the new frontier of convergence tablets, with Apple providing the workaday access product and Microsoft providing a niche but empowering tool aimed at creative professionals.

Continue reading Switched On: Courier courts the creative

Switched On: Courier courts the creative originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battalion Touch CZ-11 multitouch gaming laptop gets Core i7 processor, keeps things classy

iBuyPower's back with a refresh to its simple, yet understated 15-inch touchscreen gaming notebook. The Battalion Touch CZ-11, newly announced today, features a Intel Core i7 processor, ATI Radeon HD 5650 graphics, a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) multitouch display, 4GB memory, 500GB storage, WiFi b/g/n, and optional Blu-ray -- not too shabby, right? Prices start at $1,100 and climbs skyward fast -- hit the source link to see for yourself. And don't worry -- the flames are optional. PR after the break.

Gallery: iBUYPOWER Announces Availability of Battalion Touch CZ-11

Continue reading Battalion Touch CZ-11 multitouch gaming laptop gets Core i7 processor, keeps things classy

Battalion Touch CZ-11 multitouch gaming laptop gets Core i7 processor, keeps things classy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iTunes 9.1 now available, brings iPad syncing and iBook support

Hot on the heels of a ginormous OS X update comes this, the freshest version of the music management software that everyone loves to hate. iTunes 9.1 is live and available to download, bringing with it support for iPad syncing (you know, that little tablet that arrives on Saturday?) as well as the ability to "organize and sync books you've downloaded from iBooks on iPad or added to your iTunes library." The new version also gives users the ability to rename, rearrange, or remove Genius Mixes, but we're fairly sure you stopped caring after hearing the first point. It's weighing in at around 97.3MB (give or take a few KB), so fire up Software Update and get it going... if you dare.

Update: We're hearing that the new version renames "Applications" to just "Apps" and the Genius Mixes / iPhone / iPod touch sync pages have been retooled. Anything else major? Let us know in comments!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading iTunes 9.1 now available, brings iPad syncing and iBook support

iTunes 9.1 now available, brings iPad syncing and iBook support originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TomTom rolls out Start 2, XL IQ Routes edition 2 nav units for the UK

TomTom's already announced some new lifetime map and traffic options for its navigation units in the US today, and it's now followed that up with a pair of new nav units in the UK. That includes the 3.5-inch Start 2 (pictured after the break) and 4.3-inch XL IQ Routes edition 2 (above), both of which support TomTom's IQ Routes technology, along with RDS-TMC traffic data, and the usual features like spoken street names and advanced lane guidance. The Start 2 model also mixes things up a bit with some interchangeable StartSkins covers, which are sold separately for £14.99 (or $22) apiece. Look for both to be available next month, with the Start 2 running £119 (or $180) and the XL IQ Routes edition 2 setting you back £139 in the UK and Ireland and £159 in Western Europe ($210 and $240, respectively).

Continue reading TomTom rolls out Start 2, XL IQ Routes edition 2 nav units for the UK

TomTom rolls out Start 2, XL IQ Routes edition 2 nav units for the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | TomTom XL IQ Routes edition 2, TomTom Start 2 | Email this | Comments
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Four Letter Words robot plays word association, swears quite a bit (video)

If you know us, you know how much we love our swear words -- the basis of which, of course, is the old fashioned "four letter word." Artist Rob Seward must feel the same way -- he's actually gone so far as to build a robot that can assemble letters out of fluorescent lights, displaying English language words up to four characters long. Drawing on a word association database developed at the University of South Florida, an algorithm is used to display a never-ending series of words for bemused viewers. Not all the words are "blue," mind you, but the thing does trend that way, as determined "by a variety of language and perception studies, especially Elliot McGinnies's 1949 study 'Emotionality and Perceptual Defense'" (you know the one). Check the thing out in action after the break, and then be sure to hit up the source link for info on this and the artist's other work.

Continue reading Four Letter Words robot plays word association, swears quite a bit (video)

Four Letter Words robot plays word association, swears quite a bit (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Switched | Rob Seward | Email this | Comments
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Lenovo ThinkPad X100e review

Ever since we first met Lenovo's ThinkPad X100e at CES we've had it on a virtual pedestal as the perfect solution between a netbook and a larger 13- or 14-inch ULV ultraportable. That's because in addition to carrying the renowned ThinkPad brand, its AMD Neo processor / ATI graphics combo promise more power than the typical Intel Atom N450-powered netbook, and with an 11.6-inch screen the chassis can accommodate a wider keyboard and touchpad. Sounds like the perfect mobile computer, right? Unfortunately, there are two things that hold the $549 X100e from being all we wanted it be. Thought we were going to give it up that easily? Pssh. Hit that read more link for the full review.

Gallery: Lenovo ThinkPad X100e review

Continue reading Lenovo ThinkPad X100e review

Lenovo ThinkPad X100e review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Desk Phone Dock promises to bring some landline charm to the iPhone

There's not much more than renders and / or polished photos to see at the moment, but this so-called Desk Phone Dock is slated to make its debut at the China Sourcing Fair next month, and it shouldn't have much trouble turning some heads among all the usual iPhone accessories. Complete details (including pricing and availability) will apparently have to wait until then, but the dock does promise to charge and sync your iPhone while it's in place, and it will function as a speakerphone as well if you don't feel like using the handset -- or simply as speaker for your iPhone, for that matter (that's a volume knob / mute button on top). Unfortunately, we won't be at the fair to check it out first hand, but we'll certainly be keeping a close watch on this one.

Desk Phone Dock promises to bring some landline charm to the iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Desk Phone Dock | Email this | Comments
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