Wednesday, April 21, 2010

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 21/04/2010



HTC HD mini with North American 3G gets FCC approval?
So, hear us out: this isn't a slam dunk by any stretch of the imagination, but we've good reason to believe that we're looking at the FCC ID label of the HTC HD mini variant designed to support North American 3G bands. The most obvious reason is the fact that the label is screaming yellow -- a perfect match for the chartreuse internals of the device that HTC was excited to show off at its MWC introduction a couple months back. What's more, this approval comes a few weeks after approval of the Euro-spec PB92100 with a similarly-designed label, which would've been the right time frame for a phone that's due to ship across Europe any day now. Of course, the approval of this phone doesn't really say anything about carrier availability -- sure, it could ship on AT&T, but it could also come to Rogers, Bell, Telus, or be sold unlocked and unbranded, a tactic that HTC has occasionally employed stateside in the past. Regardless, though -- considering WinMo 6.5.3's rapidly-waning relevance, they'd better ship it on the double.

HTC HD mini with North American 3G gets FCC approval? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceFCC | Email this | Comments
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Keepin' it real fake: iPod classic phone reminds us why we prefer touchscreens
Our colleagues at Engadget Chinese are on the ground at China Sourcing Fair 2010 in Hong Kong, and as you can imagine, they're finding a great many devices that exhibit "a really heavy cottage flavor" (or, as we say in the states, "really, really KIRFy"). The BestPower X200, which we first saw in an FCC filing in February, doesn't borrow its form factor from any current iPhone iteration -- oh, no, that would be too simple. This one looks back five years or so, when "iPod phones" were little more than a beautiful fanboy's dream. And if you are a time traveler from back in the day, when Lost was in its first season (and was almost enjoyable), this thing will surely inspire some gadget lust: dual SIM cards, quad-band GSM, 2.4-inch (1.3 million pixel) display, Bluetooth, FM Radio, MiniUSB, MicroSD, and a media player -- what's not to love? And all this can be yours this August for a mere $1,500 HKD (that's about $193 US dollars). Video after the break.

Gallery: Keepin' it real fake: BestPower X200

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake: iPod classic phone reminds us why we prefer touchscreens

Keepin' it real fake: iPod classic phone reminds us why we prefer touchscreens originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceEngadget Chinese | Email this | Comments
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Thieves snag iPad from buyer, yank a finger off while they're at it
We'll be honest with you -- it literally pains us to write this. If you're the queasy type, we'd probably suggest scrolling on down and continuing about your day. For the hardcore still with us, the story goes a little something like this: a Denver-area man headed out to his local Apple store to pick up an iPad for a colleague (read: not even for himself), and in an interview, he admits to not even really understanding the fascination with Apple's new product. After doing his good deed and plopping down the plastic, he casually curled the strings atop the Apple bag around his hand as he headed for the exits. Unfortunately, a pair of thugs met him along the way, yanking the bag, the iPad and all of the flesh surrounding his pinky finger as they bolted for a getaway. Currently, police are investigating surveillance footage in hopes of tracking down the crooks who pulled off the stunt... and, uh, a bit more than they likely bargained for. Video after the break if you've still got the stomach.

[Thanks, Chris]

Continue reading Thieves snag iPad from buyer, yank a finger off while they're at it

Thieves snag iPad from buyer, yank a finger off while they're at it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceCBS 4 Denver | Email this | Comments
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Toughbook plummets from helicopter, narrowly misses future Toughbook user
So, check it. You're out and about with mum and dad on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, eager to get whatever's on the grill into your own grille. You're pondering the origin of wildflowers, the middle name of America's 18th president and how humanity functioned prior to the invention of Mighty Putty. You're only ten years old, but your young eyes have lived to see a lot... so much, in fact, that you're semi-seriously considering penning your own novella. Bang. Three inches to your left lies a mildly deformed swivel-screen laptop, and all you can think about is the gush of air that's still rustling your fauxhawk. Turns out, a medical helicopter departing St. Cloud Hospital in Minnesota forgot to bring their Panasonic Toughbook onboard before heading out, and if fate were feeling just a bit more cruel, that shock-mounted hard drive may have left you out for the count. But as it stands, you've got a fairly stupendous show-and-tell to deliver in class this week, and who knows -- maybe that DIMM will work in your Nickelodeon Edition Mini 10.

Toughbook plummets from helicopter, narrowly misses future Toughbook user originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceWCCO | Email this | Comments
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Jobo doubles and quadruples the storage on its photoGPS geotaggers
Jobo doubles and quadruples the storage on its photoGPS geotaggers
It took a heck of a long time for Jobo to get its first photoGPS hot-shoe-occupying geotagger to market, and now that model is getting a pair of successors offering two and four times the coordinate-keeping internal storage (2,000 and 4,000 locations, respectively). The new models are appropriately named photoGPS 2 and photoGPS 4, both of which capture your current coords whenever you snap a shot and then inject those waypoints into the photos via software when you pull down the pics. That suite is also getting an update to identify POIs that were near your scenic overlooks, a feature that, honestly, doesn't seem particularly useful. The photoGPS 2 and 4 are set to ship by the end of this month and will set you back €99 ($125) or €129 ($175).

Jobo doubles and quadruples the storage on its photoGPS geotaggers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Slashgear | sourcePhotography Blog | Email this | Comments
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Devon Works Tread 1 is the bulletproof Droid of wristwatches (video)
Forget the fact that this thing is bulletproof or that its internal battery is recharged wirelessly, just look at it. Built around an array of four microstep motors -- each driving one of an interwoven quartet of time belts -- the Devon Works Tread 1 creates a veritable visual symphony of precise motion to accompany the typically mundane task of checking the time. The watch was designed with the help of a Californian aerospace engineering company, which should go some way to justifying its $15,000 asking price. The rest of that justification will have to come from the "oohs" and "aahs" you incite in stupefied onlookers. Go past the break to see the promo video, it achieves rare heights of machismo that are not to be missed.

Continue reading Devon Works Tread 1 is the bulletproof Droid of wristwatches (video)

Devon Works Tread 1 is the bulletproof Droid of wristwatches (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceHodinkee | Email this | Comments
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Panasonic's TY-CC10W webcam joins Skype, HDTVs mostly because it can
Panasonic is back with more information on its four-mic packing HDTV camera accessory, the TY-CC10W. Skype friends who would like to see your living room without actually visiting can take a peek in either 30fps VGA or 720p/22fps h.264 encoded streams, courtesy of any nearby video phone compatible VIERA Cast TVs this can mount on top of and plug into via USB. We're (probably the only ones) waiting for a Chatroulette couch surfing client, but if you prefer your internet face-to-face meetings without the PC then ¥18,000 ($193) on June 11 will make it yours in Japan, no word on U.S. availability.

Panasonic's TY-CC10W webcam joins Skype, HDTVs mostly because it can originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink AV Watch | sourcePanasonic Japan | Email this | Comments
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VIA's ARTiGO A1100 is the nettop for DIYers (video)
Via's ARTiGO A1100 is the nettop for DIYers
If you like the idea of a nettop or some other microscopic little PC, but would rather have something that you can open up and tinker with -- maybe even upgrade at some point -- you're not alone. And, we think you're going to love the VIA ARTiGO A1100. It's a DIY little desktop that's powered by the 1.2GHz VIA Nano processor and paired up with VX855 media processor, which we know can handle 1080p video playback without breaking a sweat. There's also VGA and HDMI video outputs, gigabit Ethernet, five USB ports, and optional 802.11b/g. VIA is calling this the "smallest full featured PC kit available today" and we're inclined to agree. At $243 ($199 if you're one of the first 10 to order) it's a solid bargain too, and while that price includes neither RAM nor storage, we're inclined to think that's a good thing -- you stuff this thing with as many gigabytes as you like.

Gallery: Via's ARTiGO A1100

Continue reading VIA's ARTiGO A1100 is the nettop for DIYers (video)

VIA's ARTiGO A1100 is the nettop for DIYers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceVia | Email this | Comments
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Apple names April 30th, 5PM as date and time for 3G iPad retail launch
There was a bit of confusion with Apple's online store update yesterday as to when the 3G version of its iPad will actually make its retail debut. Let that fog of ignorance be no more, as Cupertino has today named April 30th, a Friday, as the day the WiFi + 3G slate will arrive in stores. In American stores, that is, don't get all excited if you live outside the 50 states. That's also the date when early (read: before yesterday) pre-orders will be fulfilled. Deliveries for those were promised for "late April," though clearly this date has more of the late and less of the April to it.

Apple names April 30th, 5PM as date and time for 3G iPad retail launch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceApple | Email this | Comments
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Popbox prepares for launch with preorders, SDK
Despite a delay from an originally intended launch in March the Popbox media streamer and its streamlined-for-mass appeal spin on the Popcorn Hour series is almost upon us. Now the focus is on courting content partners by promising easy porting of current Adobe Flash applications to its new all-Flash platform and display "virtually any multimedia file" on the TV. That strategy has already brought some internet content to the family of devices, and with a newly released SDK (more info after the break) promising compatibility across existing C-200 and A-200 hardware we'll see if it induces others to join in.

[Thanks, Mike]

Continue reading Popbox prepares for launch with preorders, SDK

Popbox prepares for launch with preorders, SDK originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Crunchgear | sourceAmazon, Syabas | Email this | Comments
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Plantronics goes chrometastic with Explorer 395 Bluetooth headset
Who says Bluetooth headsets aren't cool any more? Not Plantronics. Today, the California-based company released the Explorer 395 earpiece -- a $49.95 earpiece in both black and bronze flavors, and aimed at first-time Bluetooth users. How so? You get dedicated buttons for volume, power and phone call, which puts the confusing single-button-operated headsets to shame. Being a budget line, there's no fancy noise-cancellation technology offered here, although the 0.39-ounce weight and five-hour talk time (seven days of battery on standby) seem to give a good bang for the buck. Still, at the end of the day it's all about real-life appearance and audio quality, so we'll hold our judgement until we get a review unit later this week. Stay tuned.

Continue reading Plantronics goes chrometastic with Explorer 395 Bluetooth headset

Plantronics goes chrometastic with Explorer 395 Bluetooth headset originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leica V-Lux 20 compact with 12x superzoom is pure brand extortion
It's out -- the V-LUX 20 -- what was rumor is now official courtesy of a Leica press release. The 12.1 megapixel superzoom with 25-300mm Leica DC-VARIO-ELMAR 4.1-49.2mm f/3.3-4.9 ASPH lens and integrated GPS is slated to ship to the UK in May for a suggested retail price of £495 (about $757, likely a bit less when priced Stateside). The matte-black finished compact sports a 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor, 720p/60fps Motion JPEG video recording, a 460,000 pixel 3-inch LCD, 11-point AF, SD/SDHC/SDXC storage, and plenty of options to drop into manual mode when you want a bit more control of the action. Nice huh? Just remember that the V-Lux 20 is a near exact replica (same lens, sensor, LCD, and GPS) of the DMC-ZS7 which lists for just $399, is smaller, and shoots HD video in the more sophisticated AVCHD Lite format. Yeah, we know.

Gallery: Leica V-Lux 20 compact with 12x superzoom is a brand extortion

Leica V-Lux 20 compact with 12x superzoom is pure brand extortion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceDigital Photography Review | Email this | Comments
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Navoto urges you to wait, buy a Skype GSM adapter instead of paying roaming fees
The Qool SkyQube² was apparently an idea ahead of its time. Four years ago, the small, rounded box promised to bridge the worlds of cheap VoIP telephony and pricy GSM roaming by automatically routing international calls through Skype, but after CES 2007, we never saw the device again. Until now, of course. Skype Journal reports that SkyQube has become the Navoto, and its original creator has built a firm called UGI Telecom to introduce it to market quite soon at an undisclosed price. Near as we can tell, the basic functionality is as complex as ever, requiring a SIM card swap and an always-on PC to do the heavy lifting, while the Navoto itself simply directs landline and 3G calls to SkypeOut. When that glorious day comes that all carriers let you do this on a smartphone, this device will quickly become obsolete, but for now we could see some falling for UGI's ludicrous infomercials (videos after the break) to avoid receiving a gigantic roaming bill. Hit our more coverage links for the photos and diagrams required to understand how it all works.

Continue reading Navoto urges you to wait, buy a Skype GSM adapter instead of paying roaming fees

Navoto urges you to wait, buy a Skype GSM adapter instead of paying roaming fees originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceNavoto | Email this | Comments
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Synaptics extends multitouch Gesture Suite to Linux, Chrome OS included
Well, it had to happen at some point. After eons of watching Mac OS and Windows users swiping away nonchalantly on their touchpads, Linux laptop buyers can now also join the multitouch fray. Synaptics has announced official Gesture Suite support for a wide range of Linux-based OS flavors -- Chrome OS, Fedora, Ubuntu, RedFlag, SuSE, and Xandros get name-dropped in the press release -- which will all benefit from its set of multi-fingered touch and swipe responses. The infamous pinch-to-zoom is quite naturally included in the Suite, which will come bundled with new installations of those operating systems. We're not seeing any mention of a downloadable update as yet, but we imagine that'll be corrected in due course, whether by the company itself or the resourceful Linux community. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Synaptics extends multitouch Gesture Suite to Linux, Chrome OS included

Synaptics extends multitouch Gesture Suite to Linux, Chrome OS included originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PC World | sourceSynaptics | Email this | Comments
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Sharp's 46-inch Quattron LE821E HDTV and its integrated Freeview HD DVR make reviewers gush
Now this is more like it. Instead of chewing on another underwhelming 3D display, the Tech Radar crew have pulled in one of Sharp's hot new Quattron sets -- distinguishable, if you look really really closely, by the addition of yellow to the standard RGB colors in each pixel -- and their experience has certainly been something to write about. Describing the LE821E's color response as "utterly spectacular," they go on to praise the LCD's improved brightness thanks to the yellow sub-pixel's higher transparency, confident upscaling of standard def pictures to Full HD resolution, and "inspired onscreen menus." Counteracting the good stuff were mildly disappointing black levels and a £2,000 ($3,053) price for the 46-inch model. Sure it's steep, but with Freeview HD and an 8GB HDD built into the box, we can think of a few ways to justify the expense. As ever, the source link will give you the unabridged verdict, so read on.

[Thanks, David]

Sharp's 46-inch Quattron LE821E HDTV and its integrated Freeview HD DVR make reviewers gush originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceTech Radar | Email this | Comments
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 set up in 3-way SLI, tested against Radeon HD 5870 and 5970
Not many mortals will ever have to worry about choosing between a three-way GeForce GTX 480 SLI setup, an equally numerous Radeon HD 5870 array, or a dual-card HD 5970 monstrosity, but we know plenty of people would care about who the winner might be. Preliminary notes here include the fun facts that a 1 Kilowatt PSU provided insufficient power for NVIDIA's hardware, while the mighty Core i7-965 test bench CPU proved to be a bottleneck in some situations. Appropriately upgraded to a six-core Core i7-980X and a 1,200W power supply, the testers proceeded to carry out the sacred act of benchmarking the snot out of these superpowered rigs. We won't spoil the final results of the bar chart warfare here, but rest assured both camps score clear wins in particular games and circumstances. The source link shall reveal all.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 set up in 3-way SLI, tested against Radeon HD 5870 and 5970 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 04:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceHardware.info | Email this | Comments
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Gateway brings back business division with DT, DS-series desktops
In 2007 -- right before Acer swallowed the firm whole -- computer manufacturer Gateway sold their entire business lineup to MPC. Three years and one bankrupt MPC later, Gateway's ready to give it another go with brand new business desktops, and some decently specced ones at that. The new Gateway DT-series mid-towers support up to Core i7 CPUs and 16GB of DDR3 memory alongside a 1TB hard drive, and wonder of wonders, the small form factor Gateway DS-series can hold just the same. Both run on Intel's Q57 and H57 Express chipsets, both have slots for optional PCI Express x16 graphics cards, and both have chassis stolen directly from their parent company -- Google "X480G" and "M480G" if you don't believe us. Compared to your shiny new gaming rig, the specs may seem ho-hum, but a Core i7 rig that fits underneath an LCD monitor is still a fairly big deal inside that cube of yours.

Continue reading Gateway brings back business division with DT, DS-series desktops

Gateway brings back business division with DT, DS-series desktops originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 03:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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German researchers develop biotech sensor bracelet, disposable blood lab
Biochips -- flexible, disposable plastic circuits that "compute" via chemical reaction -- have been nearing reality for over a decade, but for obvious reasons we don't always pay attention. German research institute Fraunhofer IZM has just convinced us it's high time we did. This week, the organization announced that it's on the verge of creating a lab-on-a-chip that can diagnose deep vein thrombosis from a single drop of blood, as well as a wristband that can measure body temperature, skin moisture and electromagnetic radiation using plastic chips and sensors only micrometers thick. Impressive, yes, but the real news is the production process -- these gadgets can be printed in reels and sheets. The organization imagines the tools will be so cheap they'll be disposable; rather than wait for lab results, worried individuals will just take one out, test and toss to feel confident about their bloodwork, before hopefully going back to their normal lives.

German researchers develop biotech sensor bracelet, disposable blood lab originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PhysOrg | sourceFraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Diagnosing DVT | Email this | Comments
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Pair of mysterious Motorola Android handsets espied in the wild
What can we say about these two Motorola-borne Android devices? Not much, really, except from some brief and poorly machine-translated text from a Chinese forum that claims these are engineering prototypes and one might go by the code name ZN4... and that's about it. If you fancy what you see here, though, keep an eye out to the future, mmk?

Pair of mysterious Motorola Android handsets espied in the wild originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 01:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Cloned in China | sourceIT168 | Email this | Comments
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Ford's Sync AppLink bringing in-car voice control to Android, BlackBerry apps
Look, there's a better-than-average chance you're buying a 2011 Ford Fiesta simply because it's the rebirth of the Fiesta, but if you need a little encouragement, look no further. The aforesaid automaker has just confirmed that Sync AppLink will be coming first to next year's Fiesta, enabling drivers to access and control select Android and BlackBerry apps via in-car voice commands and control buttons. At least initially, Pandora, Stitcher and OpenBeak will be AppLink-capable, but we're pretty sure other app makers will be adding updates as the bandwagon swells. In fact, Ford's going to be encouraging such behavior with the creation of the Mobile Application Developer Network, and if all goes well, AppLink will be installed in every single 2011 Ford model with Sync built-in. Of course, only time will tell if our demands for an INXS Pandora playlist leads to one capped off by Baja Men, but hey, at least the concept is sound.

Continue reading Ford's Sync AppLink bringing in-car voice control to Android, BlackBerry apps

Ford's Sync AppLink bringing in-car voice control to Android, BlackBerry apps originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo ThinkPad L Series arrives for the eco-conscious professional
We told you Lenovo's ThinkPad team was up to something, and two days earlier than its predicted Earth Day launch, the ThinkPad L Series has been released into the atmosphere. While it may look like the ThinkPad R Series -- which it will eventually replace -- Lenovo says the 14-inch L412 and 15-inch L512 are the greenest ThinkPads ever made. Besides being 40 percent more power efficient than "other laptops," they're partially made from recycled office water jugs and miscellaneous used equipment. If all that green stuff doesn't stir your soul, the L Series has the standard ThinkPad chassis and can be specced up to be a pretty solid mainstream business system -- it'll be available with Core i3 or i5 CPU options along with integrated or ATI Radeon graphics. For those with a bit less cash to spare, an entry-level $649 model is equipped with a Celeron P4500 CPU, 160GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM. Pricing on the higher end models remain ambiguous, but these puppies should be available for pre-order on Lenovo's site soon enough, and then ship in what we expect to be very eco-friendly packaging early next month. Until that fateful day arrives, feel free to enjoy the gallery and press release below.

Gallery: Lenovo ThinkPad L Series

Continue reading Lenovo ThinkPad L Series arrives for the eco-conscious professional

Lenovo ThinkPad L Series arrives for the eco-conscious professional originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer set to launch AMD-based Aspire One 521 netbook?
Acer hasn't gotten official with this one just yet, but Macles has turned up some pictures of an as yet unannounced Acer Aspire One 521 netbook, and some purported details on it. The biggest of those is that the netbook apparently packs a 1.2GHz AMD V105 processor -- which would be a first for the Aspire One line -- along with some ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4225 graphics, and AMD's M880G chipset, among some other standard netbook fare. As you can see, it also sports a fairly eye-catching design, including a large, chrome-plated logo atop an nicely understated background on the lid, although things are decidedly closer to previous Aspire Ones once you pop it open. Unfortunately, the two big details not leaked are a price and release date -- here's hoping Acer can fill those in sooner rather than later.

Acer set to launch AMD-based Aspire One 521 netbook? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Liliputing | sourceMacles | Email this | Comments
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Microsoft shopping around 'low-cost version' of Windows Phone 7 for emerging markets
Microsoft has apparently revealed at a developer event in India that it intends to produce a "low-cost version" of Windows Phone 7 primarily targeting emerging markets that would come after the initial volley of higher-end devices schedule to launch at the tail end of this year. Little else is known at this point, but Sudeep Bharati -- director of India's Visual Studio group -- has mentioned that it will have a smaller screen, suggesting that this might be one and the same as the HVGA spec Microsoft mentioned back at MIX a few weeks ago. He went on to say that they're currently in talks with manufacturers to get feedback on the lower-end version, so it sounds like this isn't quite solidified yet -- but considering that the first WinPho 7 devices promise to be pretty pricey, we wouldn't mind seeing these things materialize, "emerging market" or otherwise.

Microsoft shopping around 'low-cost version' of Windows Phone 7 for emerging markets originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink the::unwired | sourceThe Economic Times | Email this | Comments
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Radio Shack nixing sales of Sprint's Pre and Pixi, but what does it mean?
So it looks like Barron's and The Wall Street Journal have talked to enough store clerks and Sprint reps today to confirm that Radio Shack is definitely dropping the original Palm Pre and Pixi from its in-store lineup. For what it's worth, Sprint says that "this is in line with Radio Shack's normal product planning process -- there is a designated amount of space in stores for handsets and they work to keep the line up of devices as current as possible," and we actually tend to believe that story since the phones (the Pre in particular) are getting awfully long in the tooth and we wouldn't blame the retailer for trying to cycle in some fresh stuff. The bigger question is whether the move indicates that Palm has some hot new gear for Sprint around the corner; if not, this gives Palm one less avenue for sales at a time when it needs all the help it can get, especially since you won't find these guys hawking Verizon's versions.

[Thanks, Brent]

Radio Shack nixing sales of Sprint's Pre and Pixi, but what does it mean? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceBarron's | Email this | Comments
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iPad 3G orders being processed?
We've had a number of reports come in that various people's bank accounts were giving simultaneous good and bad news. First the latter: a pending charge upwards of $888 for an order you probably placed a month ago and forgot about -- hope tax day didn't wipe you out too much. The good news, should you brave that sudden financial burden, is that it emanates from Apple Computers and seems to indicate that the gang in Cupertino is, as indicated in an earlier email, on track to start delivering iPad 3Gs in late April. Got an outstanding reservation? Better check with your online money handler...

[Thanks Justin and everyone else who sent this in!]

iPad 3G orders being processed? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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64 Boy might be the smallest N64 mod yet (if not, it's pretty close) (video)
Sure, we've seen more polished N64 handhelds (literally), but we're hard to pressed to find one that's more... well, portable. And its small size doesn't mean that Mod Retro forum member Bentomo's creation is anything less than featured-packed: 3.5-inch display, external docking station (for up to four controllers, stereo audio outs, and both composite and s-video outs), external memory / transfer / rumble pack slot, a charger, up to four hours of battery life, and a full compliment of controls. Not bad for a 65m x 110mm x 53mm package, eh? Interested? Our man is letting this go, and he's taking bids -- though if you offer him $1,000 it's yours. Hit the source link for the details... but not before you check out the epic video after the break.

Continue reading 64 Boy might be the smallest N64 mod yet (if not, it's pretty close) (video)

64 Boy might be the smallest N64 mod yet (if not, it's pretty close) (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceMod Retro forums | Email this | Comments
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Palm's web-based Ares SDK goes gold
Four solid months after going into open beta, Palm's entirely web-based SDK for webOS -- the so-called Ares SDK -- has reached version 1.0, bringing "lots and lots" of new features along for the ride. Biggies include UI-less components that add functionality to your application, in-line help, undo and copy / paste functionality (for the SDK, that is), and a plug-and-play multitouch-enabled Google Maps widget that you can drop into your own screens. Even if you don't own a Pre and have no intention of commercializing a webOS app, it sounds like a blast to screw around with -- and considering how important the third-party ecosystem is for Palm right now, we'd say that's a good thing. Interested parties can get set up with the gold build right now.

Palm's web-based Ares SDK goes gold originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PreCentral | sourcePalm | Email this | Comments
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Inhabitat's Week in Green: lights, water, action
The Week in Green is a new item from our friends at Inhabitat, recapping the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us.

All eyes in the design world have been focused this week on the Milan Design Fair 2010 - the biggest and most important design event in the world. Inhabitat scouts have been combing the fair, looking for the latest and greatest innovations in future-forward design. We've spotted a number of ingenious lighting innovations, such as this OLED chandelier from iconic British design Tom Dixon, and a beautiful recyclable pendant lamp inspired by origami. We basked in the gazpacho glare of an incredible table lamp powered completely by tomatoes, and we flipped out over an interactive wooden light wall inspired by the Japanese art of origami. We were also wowed by Yves Béhar's latest foray into fancy chandelier design, with a collection of shimmering paper chandeliers that adorned the Swarovski Crystal Palace.

The past week was also awash in H2O tech as researchers unveiled fresh new ways to keep us hydrated and produce clean power. One team of MIT researchers successfully harnessed viruses to split molecules of water to create hydrogen fuel, while another team unveiled a stamp-sized water purifying chip that can be lined up in arrays to generate 15 liters of water per hour. Meanwhile, Mexican artist Gilberto Esparza took a different tact to water purification altogether: he's created a group of robotic "nomad plants" that harvest sludge from polluted rivers and use it as an energy source.

We also saw several advances in wearable technology that could improve your game and keep you wired throughout the day. Three engineering students from Northeastern University have developed a "data-logging" compression shirt that helps baseball pitchers avoid torn ligaments, and designer Jennifer Darmour has created a "social-networking garment" that allows you to connect with your virtual audience with every move you make!

We also covered several remarkable transportation developments, starting with DARPA's plans to build a futuristic flying transformer car. Speaking of high-flying transportation, we caught wind of a prototype high speed solar airship that could one day offer an emission-free method of hauling cargo across the US. Finally, South Africa is getting set to jump on the high speed rail "train" as it announced it is working on a new rail network that will cut transit times in twain, improve economic development, and modernize the country.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: lights, water, action originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Henge Docks: finally, a well designed docking station for Apple's MacBook line
We'd love to say that many have tried, but really, the bona fide docking station market dried up years ago in every sector save for enterprise, and while a few companies have served up "universal" alternatives, none of them were particularly well-designed. Out of nowhere, Henge Docks has emerged in order to provide a solution to your MacBook docking woes, and we've got to say -- for a first try, the products being offered up here look mighty fine. Designed to work with most modern MacBooks as well as 13/15/17-inch MacBook Pros, these all-white stands hold your machine vertical while providing seamless access to desk-strapped peripherals (a monitor, iPod dock, mouse, heated USB blanket, etc.) It also uses Apple's own MagSafe adapter, and your optical drive is still flipped out if you need to access it. The 13-inch MBP model is available now for $59.95 to $64.95, while every other flavor is available for pre-order; check out a video after the break if you're having issues pulling the trigger.

Continue reading Henge Docks: finally, a well designed docking station for Apple's MacBook line

Henge Docks: finally, a well designed docking station for Apple's MacBook line originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon posts Droid Incredible video, has excellent taste in apps
Are we posting this HTC Incredible promo video even though we've already put up our full review just because the Engadget Android app makes cameo appearances at 1:05 and 3:23, much like we posted the EVO 4G video because it featured Engadget in the news widget? Yes, we are. Any other questions? Video after the break.

P.S.- It's officially called the Droid Incredible, but Verizon's dude-man only ever calls it just "the Incredible." Odd, no?

[Thanks, Lyndon]

Continue reading Verizon posts Droid Incredible video, has excellent taste in apps

Verizon posts Droid Incredible video, has excellent taste in apps originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adobe says no delays to Flash 10.1, CEO was just talking hardware
In a communication with Phone Scoop, Adobe has tidied up the meaning of its CEO's words from a recent interview with Fox Business. In it, Shantanu Narayen repeatedly tells us to expect new Android, WebOS and BlackBerry devices with integrated Flash compatibility during the second half of 2010, but Adobe has now explained that he didn't mean that the Flash delivery schedule will be delayed, not at all. You see, Narayen was talking about hardware coming out in the second half, but Flash 10.1 itself will still be arriving "to first mobile platforms including Android ... before the end of the first half of 2010." Interesting that only Android is mentioned explicitly, but at least this provides some reassurance to any fretting Flash fans out there.

Adobe says no delays to Flash 10.1, CEO was just talking hardware originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake: iPad QWERTY slider edition
We're not about to cover every iPad knockoff that emerges from parts unknown, but this particular device packs just enough KIRF innovation to get us to take notice. The biggest selling point, so to speak, is the tablet's sliding QWERTY keypad, which packs some MacBook-esque keys and a ThinkPad-style pointing stick. As if that wasn't enough, you'll also apparently get WIndows 7 for an OS, along with a 10-inch display of unspecified resolution, and an Atom N450 processor at the heart of rig. No indication of a price -- or even a name, for that matter -- but you can at least check out another shot of it in its closed state at the source link below.

Keepin' it real fake: iPad QWERTY slider edition originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neutrano's Nutec WristFone granted FCC approval
Last time we got a look at the Nutec WristFone -- a brainchild of Canadian company Neutrano -- the year was 2009, we were at CTIA, and the prototypes were looking pretty rough and chunky. Sure, the common ancestor of these watchphones is the same typical China-sourced model that you're prone to see in SkyMall every month, but we admired Neutrano for putting some time, energy, and money into customizing the thing and making it just a little more desirable for the North American market. Anyhow, we just stumbled across what might be the final ID for the WristFone in the FCC today, and it's a heck of a lot slicker looking than anything we saw last year -- in fact, you might be able to get away with wearing this without passers-by wondering what the gigantic Dick Tracy-esque object on your arm is. The model rocks GSM 850 / 1900 with GPRS alone for data, which is just fine considering that you're not going to be doing much web (or Flash) browsing on it -- and naturally, you've got Bluetooth in there so that you don't need to talk to your own hand. We'll let you know when we've got a date and price.

Neutrano's Nutec WristFone granted FCC approval originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Slate leaks its way into the wild: 'meh'
We've only ever seen the HP Slate in extremely controlled demonstrations and cheesy videos until now, but it looks like the Windows 7 tablet just spent a little bit of time in the wild -- Conecti.ca's posted up a full hands-on and mini-review. Their conclusion? "The official verdict is meh." Yeah, ouch. Apparently the Slate's biggest strength is also its greatest weakness -- it's essentially a touchscreen netbook, and that means that while it can run everything including Flash, it can be "slow and annoying." Unfortunately there's not a lot of info on how well HP's TouchSmart Windows 7 skin works, so we'll wait till we play with one before we make a decision, but man -- we definitely weren't expecting this thing to look so chunky in the photos. No wonder the press pics and other demos are so carefully arranged -- it really does look like a chopped up netbook. At least the HDMI dock is somewhat sexy, we suppose. Couple more pics after the break.

[Thanks, WikiWarrior]

Continue reading HP Slate leaks its way into the wild: 'meh'

HP Slate leaks its way into the wild: 'meh' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic announces pricing, availability for Lumix G2, G10
Panasonic already outed its new Lumix G2 and G10 Micro Four Thirds cameras back in March, but it's just now finally gotten official with the pricing and availability for them. While there's still no word on an exact release date, both cameras are now slated to be available in "late-May," with the G2 running $799.95 in your choice of red, blue or black, while the black-only G10 will set you back $599.95. That will get you the same 12.1-megapixel sensor, Venus Engine HD II, and LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. lens on each, while the G2 boasts an added movable touchscreen -- a first for a Micro Four Thirds camera. Full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Panasonic announces pricing, availability for Lumix G2, G10

Panasonic announces pricing, availability for Lumix G2, G10 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Mini 5 gets FCC approval again, this time with T-Mobile flavoring
Whether it's branded the Mini 5, the Streak, the Streak 5, or something else entirely, we can say with certainty that Dell's going to be hitting the Android market hard in 2010 -- but we didn't realize it'd be hitting this hard. It looks like the company might be taking a tack similar to Google's with the Nexus One, because a second variant of product code M01M just garnered FCC approval -- this time featuring WCDMA Band IV in place of Bands II and V, which means it'll work on T-Mobile's airwaves instead of AT&T's. In lieu of a carrier deal, could Dell be looking to blow this out on as many carriers as it possibly can? We hope so -- as long as our wallets can stomach the unsubsidized hit.

Dell Mini 5 gets FCC approval again, this time with T-Mobile flavoring originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sarotech T2 offers NAS relief to media fanatics in a diminutive, HD-friendly package
Sarotech's newest might not be the wildest media player in town, but if you're looking to get down to business in a svelte (4.5 x 3.75 x 0.85-inch) package, the T2 should be more than up to the task. This bad boy sports a Sigma SMPS8653 CPU (500MHz), support for Full HD MKV, H.264 videos, DTS and Dolby sound, and 1080p HDMI 1.3 output. If that weren't enough, this will also apparently function as a NAS functions (including FTP and Samba), 802.11n WiFi, and it has a USB port for external storage. Available now in South Korea for 160,000 won (about $143).

Sarotech T2 offers NAS relief to media fanatics in a diminutive, HD-friendly package originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scientists develop implants that melt onto the surface of the brain
Looks like brain implants have just got a lot more effective -- and a lot creepier. Developed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, the new bio-integrated electronics eschew electrodes resembling needles or semi-flexible wires for an ultrathin flexible material that is made partly from silk. Since the new material "essentially melts into place" (scientists compare it to shrink-wrap), it hugs the brain, getting more effective readings than previous technology. It is hoped that the new technology will prove much more effective -- and extremely beneficial for patients with epilepsy, spinal cord injuries, and other neurological disorders. According to John Rogers, Ph.D., the man who invented the flexible electronics at the University of Illinois, "It may also be possible to compress the silk-based implants and deliver them to the brain, through a catheter." We wish these good folks the best of luck with their research -- and we really, really hope that we never have anything shot into our brain with a catheter. PR after the break.

Continue reading Scientists develop implants that melt onto the surface of the brain

Scientists develop implants that melt onto the surface of the brain originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NewSight's 70-inch 3DTV keeps the glasses away with its parallax barrier tech
Last week's Finetech Japan 2010 expo allowed display manufacturers to show and tell each other about their latest innovations and advancements. One of the unquestioned highlights was NewSight's implementation of parallax barrier technology on displays up to 70 inches in size. The company is claiming its demo unit as the world's largest glasses-free 3D screen, but regrettably deprives us of any further details. All we're told is that the parallax barrier is "affixed to commercial-grade" LCDs, which suggests to us that perhaps the technique and hardware could be applied atop your favorite brand's existent 2D models. Of course, that'd only matter if these displays deliver a manifestly better picture and experience than what we have now, but it's looking like we'll have to wait a little bit longer to find out.

NewSight's 70-inch 3DTV keeps the glasses away with its parallax barrier tech originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garmin nuvi 3700 series breaks the GPS mold, uses another mold instead
Well, it's not everyday you see a navigation unit that truly stands out from the rest, but Garmin has managed to do that with its new 3700 series, which are both completely new, yet somewhat... familiar. Available in nüvi 3790T, nüvi 3760T and nüvi 3750 models, the devices are all just 9mm thick, and pack a 4.3-inch capacitive WVGA display (with full multitouch), Garmin's own EcoRoute and nüRoute with trafficTrends services, the usual 2D and 3D views, and a microSD card slot for expansion, among other standard fare. The 3790T and 3760T also add Bluetooth and free lifetime traffic alerts, while the 3790T is the only one of the lot with complete voice-activated navigation including a customizable wake-up phrase. Of course, the real news here is the design, which has earned Garmin a Red Dot Design Award, and features a brushed metal enclosure, a flush glass display and only the minimum buttons required on the side. As you might have guessed, however, these aren't exactly Garmin's new entry-level offerings, with the 3750, 3760T and 3790T set to run $349, $399 and $449 when they roll out sometime in the third quarter.

Continue reading Garmin nuvi 3700 series breaks the GPS mold, uses another mold instead

Garmin nuvi 3700 series breaks the GPS mold, uses another mold instead originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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