IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 03/04/2010

Phone Halo and ZOMM face-off to secure your phone

We all have our senior moments, and the older we get the less funny they become. Where did I leave my keys again? How did I forget my cellphone there? Why is that turtle wearing my dentures? Regardless of age or mental stability, leaving your phone behind unintentionally is no laughing matter -- nor is having it stolen. Today we'll take a look at two options that might help, the $79.99 ZOMM and the $59.99 Phone Halo. Which can best work to augment your memory, and is either worth the continual risk of accidental alarms? Read on to find out.

Gallery: Phone Halo vs. ZOMM

Continue reading Phone Halo and ZOMM face-off to secure your phone

Phone Halo and ZOMM face-off to secure your phone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujitsu's robot bear designed to win over the elderly, but we're on to it

Man, what is it with Japan, robots, and the elderly? We've been hearing about projects like RI-MAN and Ninomiya-kun for years now. And sure, it looks good on paper -- design an ultra-realistic (or ultra-cute) robot, stick it in a room with the unloved elderly person in your life, and forget about the lot of 'em. The problem? Apparently the aforementioned "olds" don't like it one bit. In fact, it seems that they'd prefer a stuffed animal. Not to be outdone by this admittedly low-tech solution, Fujitsu has built a prototype Teddy that features a camera for face tracking, a network of touch sensors, and a catalog of 300 responses to various stimulus -- "which range from giggling and laughing, waving its paws around, and pretending to fall asleep complete with recorded snores," according to SlashGear. Another possible use for the as-yet-unnamed bear would be for school children. Who wuvs our cuddly robot overlords? We do, don't we? Yes we do...

Fujitsu's robot bear designed to win over the elderly, but we're on to it originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink SlashGear | AFP | Email this | Comments
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Seiko's 'active matrix' E-Ink watch exemplifies awesome, might just be the future (video)

Seiko's been doing the whole E-Ink wristwatch thing for years now, but the vast majority of 'em could really only be viewed when looking directly down onto the so-called dial. The appropriately named "Future Now" EPD watch aims to change all that, with an "active matrix" E-Ink display that allows for the same 180 degrees of visibility that you've come to expect in the average LCD panel. The all-black watch made its debut at Basel World 2010, boasting a grand total of 80,000 pixels, each of which are capable of displaying four shades of grey. Seiko's also trumpeting the achievements in power reduction, though we aren't informed of exactly how long this thing can shuffle minutes away before needing a recharge. Either way, we couldn't be more anxious to see this gem hit store shelves -- hop on past the break for a quick look at exactly what we mean.

Continue reading Seiko's 'active matrix' E-Ink watch exemplifies awesome, might just be the future (video)

Seiko's 'active matrix' E-Ink watch exemplifies awesome, might just be the future (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPass? The best present and future alternatives to the Apple iPad

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPad he was quick to shake his finger in the nose of the other devices out there attempting to fill the gap between cell phone and full-sized laptop, and in particular those market-dominating netbooks. In Apple's opinion, the iPad may be the gadget for surfing the web, watching movies, reading books and running apps, but it's surely not the only game in town. And if you aren't sold on the iPad, but happen to be someone who's looking to buy a secondary computing device to use while traveling or while simply lying on the couch, your choices at the moment come down to netbooks and... well, more netbooks. And that's not such a bad thing, especially if you need a feature Apple's tablet can't offer, like multitasking, a keyboard, or Flash support. So, before you get up on Saturday morning and run off to purchase that iPad, you may want to peruse the best current (as well as coming) alternatives we've rounded up after the break.

Continue reading iPass? The best present and future alternatives to the Apple iPad

iPass? The best present and future alternatives to the Apple iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Defective graphene sheets look poised to succeed silicon

As circuitry gets smaller and approaches the effective limitation of silicon's computing power, and Moore's Law begins to look like it has an expiration date, we get closer and closer to needing an alternative. Graphene is held to be the answer; sheets of carbon a single atom thick that could be stacked and composited to create processors. Two professors at the University of South Florida, Matthias Batzill and Ivan Oleynik, have found a new way to turn those sheets into circuits by creating nanoscale defects. These strips of broken atomic rings wind up having metallic properties, thus making them act like microscopic wires. IBM is already teasing us with the possibilities of graphene and now, with a more practical way to make graphene-based electronics, we'd say Moore's Law still has at least another couple decades left.

[Photo credit: Y. Lin]

Defective graphene sheets look poised to succeed silicon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad roundup: Letterman licking, Colbert chopping, MobileMe and Remote support

Let's get straight to the meat. The iPad was doing the talk show rounds last night, with heavy hitters David Letterman and Stephen Colbert one-upping each other on who can do the sillier thing with it. Letterman went with the old school "if you don't know what to do with it, lick it" routine, while his competitor brought out a more sophisticated salsa preparation act. Pick your favorite from the videos after the break. In more material news, Apple has announced that MobileMe now includes the iPad among its supported devices, while some eager souls over at MacStories have spotted that iTunes 9.1 now references an "iPad remote," which suggests the nearly 10-inch tablet will soon be able to function as one of the most luxurious channel changers around. And you thought you wouldn't find a use for it.

Continue reading iPad roundup: Letterman licking, Colbert chopping, MobileMe and Remote support

iPad roundup: Letterman licking, Colbert chopping, MobileMe and Remote support originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TUAW, MacUser | Apple, MacStories | Email this | Comments
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Dr. Henry Edward Roberts, personal computing pioneer, loses battle with pneumonia
Sad news out of Georgia this morning, Dr. Ed Roberts, pioneer of personal computing, has died of pneumonia at the age of 68. Roberts founded Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS) in 1970. In 1974 his company released the $395 Altair 8800. It was based on Intel's revolutionary 8080 processor and, after being featured on the cover of Popular Electronics (included after the break), would become the world's first truly popular personal computer. It would be on this machine that the former Micro-Soft would get its start, with Bill Gates and Paul Allen being contracted by Roberts to write Altair BASIC, a version of the simple programming language that Allen delivered by hand on paper tape to the MITS office in Albuquerque.

Those two are remembering him today with the following statement:

Ed was willing to take a chance on us -- two young guys interested in computers long before they were commonplace -- and we have always been grateful to him... The day our first untested software worked on his Altair was the start of a lot of great things. We will always have many fond memories of working with Ed in Albuquerque, in the MITS office right on Route 66 -- where so many exciting things happened that none of us could have imagined back then.

Our thoughts go out to the Roberts family this morning.

Continue reading Dr. Henry Edward Roberts, personal computing pioneer, loses battle with pneumonia

Dr. Henry Edward Roberts, personal computing pioneer, loses battle with pneumonia originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 07:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP and Dell said to be investing less in 10-inch netbooks, looking to bigger and better things

The latest word from our favorite rumor rag DigiTimes suggests that HP and Dell are both curtailing investment in the 10-inch netbook market, with their sights now set on the chunkier 11.6-inch size class. Additionally, with profits from machines built on Intel's Pine Trail platform appearing lower than expected, both are also said to be contemplating AMD's alternatives, presumably in the shape of the Neo CPU and Radeon integrated graphics. HP is even claimed to be considering quitting the 10-inch space entirely, which wouldn't be that unusual given the progressive obsolescence we've witnessed with the 7- and 9-inch predecessors of the current de facto netbook standard. Not to worry, though, Acer, ASUS and Samsung are still deeply involved, and the 10-inch mini laptop isn't about to disappear on us anytime soon. What may happen, according to the source, is that we could see fewer smartbooks popping up as a result, which just means we'll have to find some other way to sate those media consumption needs.

HP and Dell said to be investing less in 10-inch netbooks, looking to bigger and better things originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | DigiTimes | Email this | Comments
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White BlackBerry Bold 9700 shows up on RIM's Thai website

For those among us who want to jump on the BlackBerry bandwagon, but desire a slightly more distinctive device -- you know who you are -- here's some official indication of an incoming new color option for the Bold 9700. Commended as perhaps the finest device RIM has been able to concoct so far, the 9700 is now being shown sporting a new, creamy white exterior over on RIM's official Thailand website. Seems like the company is developing a habit of diversifying its handsets' colors after giving the classical black some time to hog the spotlight. Here's to hoping the repainted phones filter out to more local online locations and nearby quality phone retailers nice and quickly. A pic of the newly white rear can be found after the break.

Continue reading White BlackBerry Bold 9700 shows up on RIM's Thai website

White BlackBerry Bold 9700 shows up on RIM's Thai website originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 06:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Phone Arena | RIM | Email this | Comments
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Chevy Volt passes key production milestone, US government buying first 100?

The Chevy Volt has already passed quite a few significant milestones on the long road to production, and it's now crossed another big hurdle, with the first pre-production vehicles rolling off the line at the Detroit Hamtramck Assembly Plant. Those won't actually be sold, of course, but they are necessary to ensure that all the points in the production line are up to standards before the retail models go into production later this year. That's not only Volt news of the day, however, as the Obama administration has also announced plans to buy "the first 100 plug-in electric vehicles to roll off American assembly lines" next year, which would seem to leave the Volt as the only option. It seems that's not quite a done deal just yet though, with GM saying that while it's "pleased to see that the Federal government is interested in the greening of their vehicle fleet," it currently has "no further details regarding these purchases."

Chevy Volt passes key production milestone, US government buying first 100? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 05:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | GM, Autoblog | Email this | Comments
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Toshiba UX600 series: first HDTVs certified Windows 7 compatible

Here's something you don't see every day: a Windows 7 certified 55-inch TV. Toshiba's 120Hz UX600 series is just such a beast, the first on the market to receive official Microsoft certification thanks in part to DLNA support over Ethernet or WiFi. The logo's a nice touch that takes the guess work out of the purchase equation for the average consumer looking to stream media to the living room. Just don't let us catch any retailers slapping a "Compatible with Windows 7" sticker on the bezel ok; this ain't no Best Buy laptop.

Toshiba UX600 series: first HDTVs certified Windows 7 compatible originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 04:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iBooks app meets App Store, produces US-only iBookstore offspring

Get ready to welcome some amazing wood grain effects into your lives, future iPad owners, for the iBooks app has just landed at the App Store. Proudly proclaimed as being "designed exclusively for the iPad," this app gives you direct access to the iBookstore, which will offer free samples of books ahead of purchase and a brand new way for you to channel money into Cupertino pockets. Built-in search, highlighting and bookmarking features are augmented by text-to-speech functionality and ePub format support. Funnily enough, iBooks will only support DRM-free ePub files sourced from outside the iBookstore, but no mention is made as to whether its own wares will be similarly unimpeded. Speaking of restrictions, the whole operation is still limited to the United States, leaving the Stephen Frys of this world sighing wistfully from across the pond.

[Thanks, Brian]

iBooks app meets App Store, produces US-only iBookstore offspring originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 04:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | App Store (open iTunes) | Email this | Comments
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Dell Latitude E6410 / E6510 finally make it to US

Remember that pair of Core i5 / i7-packing Dell Latitudes that popped up in the UK this week? Well, they've made it across the pond, processors and all. Only one purchase choice at this point for the 15.6-inch E6510 -- a Core i7-720QM and a $1,681 base price -- but the 14.1-inch E6410 gives you a little more variety and a $1,014 starting tag. It's not like you were going to spend that money on ThinkGeek's or Blizzard's fake wares, anyway.

[Thanks, Douglas]

Dell Latitude E6410 / E6510 finally make it to US originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 03:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WSJ iPad subscription officially $17.29 per month -- is Murdoch insane?

So we now have the official price for the WSJ iPad app subscription: $3.99 per week with a monthly credit card charge of $17.29. For that you get subscriber-only content areas such as Business and Markets with access to a 7 day archive that can be downloaded and read at any time. It also offers personalization features and the ability to save sections and articles for later reading. And hey, it's actually a bit less than the rumored $17.99 rate. Without the subscription, the free WSJ iPad app is limited to top articles and market data. Here's the catch: a subscription to both the print and online versions of the Wall Street Journal will currently set you back just $2.69 per week (plus 2 weeks free) for a monthly bill of $11.67... eleven dollars and sixty seven cents. Granted the WSJ claims that the 80% discount is a limited time offer but these newsstand discounts are always available in some form. Greed or insanity? Either way, a pricing model like this won't save print.

Update: Fine print says, "Already a WSJ subscriber? Get full access to the iPad[TM] app for a limited time." That offers some hope to existing subscribers but doesn't make the prospect of subscribing any more attractive to new customers. Unless of course the whole iPad rate can be circumvented by obtaining a login ID and password via the cheaper online-only rate (currently set for $1.99/wk or $8.62/mth). Who's going to try this on Saturday?

WSJ iPad subscription officially $17.29 per month -- is Murdoch insane? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 02:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | WSJ (print + online), WSJ (iPad) | Email this | Comments
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Magnetic waves distort the brain's ability to make moral judgments, tell which way is north
Morality isn't a topic discussed 'round these parts too often, but you mix in the geniuses at MIT and a boatload of magnets, and well -- you've got us interested. According to research conducted by neuroscientists at the institution, people's views on morality can actually be swayed by interfering with activity in a specific brain region. Past studies found that the right temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) is extremely active when people think about the intentions, thoughts and beliefs of others, and in the new project, gurus disrupted activity in the right TPJ by "inducing a current in the brain using a magnetic field applied to the scalp." The result? The subjects' ability to make moral judgments requiring an understanding of someone else's intentions (a failed murder attempt, for example) was impaired. MIT's own Rebecca Saxe noted that the process introduced a certain level of "bias" more than an outright change of perception, but still, this definitely sounds like an awesome way to get just about anything you ever wanted. Within reason, of course.

Magnetic waves distort the brain's ability to make moral judgments, tell which way is north originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 02:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo 3DS to feature 3.4-inch Sharp parallax barrier display?

There aren't many mass production options on the market when it comes to glasses-less 3D displays for Nintendo's forthcoming 3DS handheld gaming console. And according to early leaks from Japan, the special Nintendo 3DS display is supposedly built by Hitachi and Sharp using a parallax barrier system. So guess where this new 3.4-inch, 480 x 854 pixel display is likely headed? While Sharp doesn't say for sure, it's a good bet that this parallax barrier 3D LCD will be fronting the user interface on the 3DS. Unlike the 3D displays you'll find in modern 3D HDTVs requiring the viewer to wear active or passive glasses, Sharp's display uses a parallax barrier system to create a sense of depth by using a series of vertical slits in an ordinary LCD to direct light to the right and left eyes. The panel offers a 500nit brightness, 1,000:1 contrast, and is available with or without a touchscreen. A non-touchscreen version of the display goes into mass production before June but there's no specific mention of the touchscreen timeline (but we imagine it won't be far behind). In other words, we could have a Nintendo 3DS on the market before the holidays. Just saying. Guess we'll find out for sure at E3 in June.

Update: Akihabara News went eyes-on with the display and came away impressed with the colors and brightness. Better yet, it says, "Sharp succeed to do what Sony and Panasonic does with 3D Glasses!" Well, that sounds hopeful.

Nintendo 3DS to feature 3.4-inch Sharp parallax barrier display? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: best rugged PMP out there?

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Caleb, who is asking not what his PMP can do for him, but what he can do for his PMP. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"My brother is about to leave for the Marines, and I (the geeky brother) want to send something with him to keep him busy. What is a very rugged PMP or similar, with WiFi and a nice UI? A camera is definitely a plus."

So, dear readers -- what would fit the bill here? And remember, we're not looking for a PMP with a tough coat of plastic. We're looking for something to last on the battlefield. Oorah! (And Godspeed.)

Ask Engadget: best rugged PMP out there? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Think to start selling City electric vehicle in New York, other locales this year

Talk about a revival story. Recently saved from the brink of disaster, Think Electric is back in a big way. Fittingly announced around the New York Auto Show, the company has revealed that it will begin selling its Think City -- one of the planet's first highway-capable electric vehicles, it'll have you know! -- in New York and "other select cities" later on in 2010. Think's currently working in conjunction with the US Department of Energy's local Clean Cities chapters to make it happen in the Big Apple, but exact details (you know, like an on sale date and MSRPs) are nowhere to be found. Considering this company's position just six months ago, though, we'll take whatever progress we can get.

Think to start selling City electric vehicle in New York, other locales this year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CNET | PR Newswire | Email this | Comments
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Microsoft seeking patent for Windows Phone 7 Series panoramic GUI

The US Patents and Trademark Office has today made public a Microsoft patent application (serial no. 240,729) related to the graphical user interface found on the hotly anticipated Windows Phone 7 Series mobile OS. Filed in September 2008, this application describes a "contiguous background" that extends beyond the dimensions of the screen (either vertically or horizontally, but not both) with anchored "mixed-media" elements being littered atop it -- all of which is to be served on a "media-playing device." That should sound pretty familiar, given that it's the central navigational concept of both Windows Phone 7 and the Zune HD, and as such it makes a lot of sense for Microsoft to seek to legally protect its uniqueness. Before you start wondering about potential conflicts with other UIs, take note that this requires a continuous graphical background rather than a tiled or repeating image, plus space-orientating graphical elements, which should make it sufficiently nuanced to avoid any more patently unnecessary squabbles should Microsoft's claims be validated by the USPTO.

Microsoft seeking patent for Windows Phone 7 Series panoramic GUI originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista | USPTO | Email this | Comments
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Tegra 2 delay rumor makes the rounds, NVIDIA says 'everything's on track'

We bumped into NVIDIA at CTIA in Vegas last week, and even NVIDIA itself expressed some frustration at not having any finished Tegra 2-powered products to show us, but there was no talk of delays -- not that we really have many hard dates for any of the Tegra 2 devices to push up against. This morning, however, SlashGear ran a rumor from a "trusted source" saying that there were hardware and software "technical problems" with the platform, including a problem with Flash, which were delaying various tablets, including products from Notion Ink, Compal, and ICD. The source said that the Compal, which was due for a June release, has been bumped to September, while the ICD tablets won't hit until October. We asked NVIDIA for a statement, and they said that "The rumors aren't true. Everything's on track." With that sort of terse reply, we're not really sure which aspects of this rumor NVIDIA is rebutting, but we have to assume NVIDIA is at least saying that there aren't issues with Tegra 2 that are holding things back. As for when we'll see Tegra 2 tablets and smartbooks hit the market? That's anyone's guess.

Tegra 2 delay rumor makes the rounds, NVIDIA says 'everything's on track' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix iPad app now available in the App Store (update: ABC Player, too)

We'd gotten wind of the Netflix iPad app earlier this morning, but when it wasn't included in the first batch of apps to hit the App Store we just assumed it was coming on Saturday -- or possibly even later. But fear not, movie fans: it's just gone live, complete with screenshot confirmation that it'll do streaming video. That's a huge win for Apple and the iPad, given the restrictions on mobile devices Netflix has traditionally operated under -- remember, Microsoft was only allowed to say the Windows Phone 7 Series Netflix app was a "prototype" when it was demoed at MIX. We're guessing the blurry line between the iPad and regular laptops / netbooks worked in Netflix's favor here, but that's just a semantic debate -- we're much more amused by the fact that the app itself is rated 12+ in the App Store for "Simulated Gambling," "Fantasy Violence," and "Suggestive Themes," simply because it plays back movies from your queue that might have such scandalous content. Oh, App Store -- you truly are a paradise of misapplied bureaucratic intent unequaled in the tragic history of our civilization.

Update: Looks like the ABC Player (opens iTunes) is now also available in the app store for the low, low price of nada.

Netflix iPad app now available in the App Store (update: ABC Player, too) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Hyundai Equus to come with 'multimedia tablet,' learning tutorials from Video Professor

It's certainly not the first time we've heard of an automobile shipping sans a paper-based user guide, but unlike those other guys who toss you a CD-R with a couple of PDFs on there, Hyundai is seriously upping the ante with its 2011 Equus. Revealed today over at the New York Auto Show, the company announced that the aforementioned vehicle would ship with an Equus Multimedia Tablet, enabling users to easily and quickly pull up a slew of information and diagrams about their new whip. The outfit's US president John Krafcik didn't specifically mention the brand or model of the tablet that'd be included, but the image shown to the crowd (and to you, above) certainly reeks of iPad. What's even more interesting is that the tablet will be used as more than just an owner's guide, but as an interface for handling "customer / dealer interactions like scheduling service appointments." We suspect we'll hear more about what kind of device will be included as the vehicle's ship date nears, but if we were the betting kind, we'd say that a massive, undercover deal with Fusion Garage will put a JooJoo into each and every Equus owner's hands. Kidding.

2011 Hyundai Equus to come with 'multimedia tablet,' learning tutorials from Video Professor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The JooJoo is here... seriously (updated with video)

Of all days for this thing to arrive... it had to be today. Yes folks, as you can see in our gallery below, the JooJoo is not only real, but we've got one. We're not going to go into details right now, as we've got our hands kind of full this week, but we suggest you hang tight until our review hits (probably early next week) so you can make the final decision if it's going to be this thing or, you know, some other tablet. Or maybe you just want to keep that $500. Hey, it's your call, pal. For now, check out our unboxing, and at least breathe a sigh of relief that if you did shell out for one of these, it's likely going to hit your doorstep pretty darn soon.

Update: Hey folks, we've got a video encoding right now which runs through some of the UI of the device. We hear you in comments, and would like to let you know that there's no conspiracy here -- it's a question of spending time with a device to review it properly. Unless you know what our schedule is like, we'd appreciate everyone chilling out on the episodes in comments. We're happy to shut them off on this post if you can't control yourselves.

Update 2: Comments are off, video is after the break. Thanks for being mature. Just kidding.

Gallery: JooJoo unboxing

Continue reading The JooJoo is here... seriously (updated with video)

The JooJoo is here... seriously (updated with video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's iPad: are you getting one?

Two days to go, and we're just curious is all: are you getting an iPad? Hit up the poll below with your answer, and if you are getting one, we'd love to hear why in comments. What exactly do you plan on using it for? Will it augment current tech you have, or perhaps replace a device in your stash? Which version are you getting and why? Not feeling the iPad? Tell us why as well! Let's just keep it civil, yes? Don't worry, the iPad coverage nightmare will be over before you know it.

View Poll

Apple's iPad: are you getting one? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PU_PA EV concept is cute, light, and deadly

Of all the wacky EV concepts we've seen lately, this is certainly one of them! PU_PA EV is a car developed by Teijin Ltd, a Japanese textile manufacturer that among other things recently teamed up with Mazda to produce Biofront bio-plastic. Meant to highlight the firm's materials and technologies, the vehicle weighs less than half a ton (437kg, to be exact) and will shuttle you around at speeds of roughly 40 MPH for up to 60 miles on a single charge. Sadly, this bad boy isn't street legal, for a number of good reasons: the windows (made from a heat-absorbing polycarbonate resin) have half the density of glass and are, in the words of one technician, "especially shatter-y" (OK, we made that word up). Additionally, the lights aren't too terribly bright, and the thing isn't equipped with airbags. Hopefully, the company will soon be called upon to supply materials for other, much less deadly vehicles at some point in the near future.

PU_PA EV concept is cute, light, and deadly originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Tech-On! | Email this | Comments
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Motorola patent application offers new option for 3D cellphones

Flip phones may be somewhat on the outs these days (at least among those demanding the latest and greatest), but they may well be the key to future 3D cellphones -- at least if this Motorola patent application is any indication. The basic idea is actually a fairly simple one: you'd see a regular 2D image on the screen when the cover is open, but when it's closed you'd be able to look through the transparent lid and see the images with a "three dimensional appearance." As you can probably figure out, that screen would be a touchscreen that takes the place of a keypad, and another illustration also shows that the same idea could be applied to a slider phone. Of course, what the illustrations don't show is how effective that three dimensional appearance would actually be, although it seems like it could give Motoblur a whole new meaning.

Motorola patent application offers new option for 3D cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Go Rumors | Patent Application | Email this | Comments
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Fujitsu debuts thin-and-light LifeBook MH330 netbook

We just got a chance to check out Fujitsu's MH380 netbook in February, but the company has now already followed it up with a new, thinner and lighter model: the LifeBook MH330. In addition to getting the weight down to 2.4 pounds (with a three-cell battery), the netbook sports a slightly more angular design than its counterpart, but remains mostly unchanged when it comes to specs, That includes the same 10-inch screen as before (albeit WSVGA instead of WXGA), along with an Atom N450 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and the usual niceties like built-in Bluetooth and an integrated memory card reader. Still no official word on a release over here, but it looks like this one is now at least available in Singapore for the local equivalent of $500.

Fujitsu debuts thin-and-light LifeBook MH330 netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad apps now live in the App Store

Ready to start paying more for giant iPhone apps? Get that credit card ready -- tons of iPad apps are now live in the App Store, even though the iPad itself is under lock and key until Saturday. Lots of the expected stuff here, like Brushes, Twitteriffic, and the Wall Street Journal app, but there's a few things we're definitely interested in playing with, like the Desktop Connect VNC client, the ABC Player, and quite a few apps focused on printing. Yes, printing -- apparently the ability to print a document from the iPad will cost you at least $2, and probably more like $5. Magical and revolutionary, indeed. There's tons to look at, so hit the source link and let us know if you see anything interesting in comments.

iPad apps now live in the App Store originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus E-PL1 review

It seems like such a simple thing now, but it took Olympus three revisions to finally get its "Pen" Micro Four Thirds series down below (or even close to) the magical $600 mark. Lucky for us, the E-PL1 doesn't skimp on functionality, and in fact expands on the capabilities of the E-P1 and E-P2 with an integrated pop-up flash. We already rounded up some reviews from the big boys, so check out those in-depth walkthroughs if you're looking to get nerdy, but if you'd still like to hear our thoughts on this new shooter, follow along in our mini-review after the break.

Gallery: Olympus E-PL1 review hands-on

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Olympus E-PL1 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GPS pioneer Roger L. Easton inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame

Well, it looks like it's the season for pioneering inventors to be honored, with Chuck Thacker's recent Turing Award win now followed up by Roger L. Easton's induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Pictured at left above, Easton started working at the Naval Research Laboratory in 1943, and later helped develop MINITRACK, the very first satellite tracking system, which in turn led to the concept Easton dubbed TIMATION (short for "time navigation"). That was used to aid in the launch of four experimental satellites over the course of the 1960s and 1970s, the last of which was the first satellite to fly in the GPS 12-hour orbit and the first transmit GPS signals. In fact, the relativistic offset correction Easton applied to that satellite is still used by every GPS satellite now in orbit, and it also helped to experimentally verify Einstein's theory of relativity for good measure. Easton didn't call it quits when he left the lab, however, and eventually served two terms in the New Hampshire State Assembly, and even ran for Governor in 1986.

GPS pioneer Roger L. Easton inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Desire review

Following the Legend, HTC continues its Android 2.1 lineup with the Desire -- a gorgeous cousin of the renowned Nexus One. We can trace our drool all the way back to the Desire's leak in December, but there have been some changes since then that made it slightly less desirable -- DivX support and 720p video capture never made it to the final build, but it's not like the company laid down any official promise on them, right? Anyhow, there's still plenty to be loved here, namely the speedy 1GHz Snapdragon, the large AMOLED screen, and HTC's latest revision of Sense UI that we've already seen on the Legend. Now, there are probably two questions floating in the minds of our readers: is the Desire worth the extra moola over the Legend? And is it any better than the Nexus One? Let's all find out together.

Update: commenter NigelL pointed out that HTC will push out DivX support in a future update. Thanks!

Gallery: HTC Desire review

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HTC Desire review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kodak Slice touchscreen camera, Pulse WiFi frame, and PlaySport pocket camcorder now on sale... at JC Penney

We're not sure why Kodak is pushing its new Slice touchscreen camera out to JCPenney before any of the usual retail suspects, but there it is, looking radiant in "Radish" and marked up with a $100 premium over the usual $349 list price. If that doesn't make any sense to you, you can also grab the 14 megapixel shooter with the 3.5-inch display, 720p video capture, and built-in search for $349 from JR.com or Kodak. Kodak's also got the seven-inch Pulse WiFi digiframe that pulls photos from Facebook and the new PlaySport 1080p waterproof pocket camcorder up for sale now as well, at $129 and $149, respectively -- and yes, you can buy those from Penney's at a markup if you like, because the very fabric of our relationship to reality is unraveling in a heap on the floor of the Juniors department.

Kodak Slice touchscreen camera, Pulse WiFi frame, and PlaySport pocket camcorder now on sale... at JC Penney originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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