Friday, August 27, 2010

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 27/08/2010



Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 to hit US for less than $300 unlocked, we go hands-on
Last time we heard of Sony Ericsson's Xperia X8 it was crawling around the FCC, but last night we found the little thing in a more welcoming, though equally as judgmental place -- our hands. Formerly codenamed the "Shakira," we were hoping the Android phone would be a bit more modern and slim, but sadly that's just not the reality of the rather chunky smartphone. Just like its X10 Mini and Mini Pro siblings, the 3-inch handset runs Android 1.6 with Sony's rather-deep custom skin -- a Sony rep on hand told us there would be an upgrade to 2.1 sometime in Q4. That seems a bit late, but there's no doubt that the X8 is a lower-end phone with its 3.2 megapixel cam and 600MHz CPU. The X8 we saw was wearing a white cover, though were also told there would be other interchangeable cover options available when it hits the market soon. Other than that we found the prototype (it was clearly marked that!) to be rather responsive and the UI to be quite intuitive, however the onscreen keyboard was extremely cramped for typing a URL into the browser. In comparison to the hoards of powerful Android smartphones we've seen in the last month or so, the X8 is certainly lackluster, but the little thing may just be an affordable unlocked choice when it hits the US for less than $300 soon.
Gallery: Sony Ericsson Xperia X8
Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 to hit US for less than $300 unlocked, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Follow Engadget on the new and improved Digg... you know you want to
You may have noticed that Digg got a pretty major overhaul yesterday. One of the nice aspects of the improved site is that it's a little more social than its previous incarnation. So if you're in the market for someone new to follow on Digg... well, you could always hit up Engadget on Digg. You probably won't regret it. You can also follow Engadget on Twitter and Facebook, too!
Follow Engadget on the new and improved Digg... you know you want to originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Verizon pushing Droid update for Flash 10.1 compatibility
You might recall that Verizon and Motorola's first go-around at pushing Android 2.2 to the original Droid didn't include compatibility with the Flash 10.1 install in the Market -- but don't worry, lovers of Flash-based web ads, because the fix is now upon us. We don't know exactly how long the rollout process is going to take, but you know how it goes with Android OTA updates: even if they try to stretch it over several weeks, there's usually an update.zip floating around within a few hours that you can grab if you want to accelerate the process just a bit. Here's the full statement from Verizon:
"Verizon Wireless has begun pushing an update today to the DROID by Motorola (introduced November 2009) that will allow customers to download Adobe Flash 10.1 via Android Market. Flash Player 10.1 provides access to millions of sites with rich content including animations, casual games, videos, rich internet applications, audio and much more."
Verizon pushing Droid update for Flash 10.1 compatibility originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
HP's in-house webOS competition yields about 500 apps, says CTO
A little backstory: HP has an annual in-house event for its employees called TechCon, and this year a challenge was issued to the engineers to make the best webOS app (free phones were offered as incentive). Got that? Good. This week, HP CTO Phil McKinney had a brief chat with Pre Central over Twitter, where he revealed that the contest culminated in about 500 produced apps, and that "[they] are in the final stage of selecting 'best app' winners." Does that mean we should expect a large bump to the current catalog of programs? We can't say for sure, but we wouldn't be surprised if many of these are already available to download. Additionally, we can't say anything as for the overall quality of submissions. Edging closer to the 4,000-app milestone is great and all but not if it includes 250 different Angry Birds clones. Still, we're ever-hopeful and can't wait to see what exactly it was that came from the internal coding challenge.
HP's in-house webOS competition yields about 500 apps, says CTO originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Pre Central  |  source@philmckinney (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Microsoft's Wireless Mobile 4000 mice get a sassy new coat of paint
Is your mouse too boring? Does your hand routinely fall asleep while resting on it? Well, Microsoft, known for sexying up its mice with all manner of wild patterns, has struck again -- this time, with the Wireless Mobile 4000 series. The six new designs are seriously spiffy looking, so if you're in the market for a new version of your favorite peripheral, who could resist names such as Micro, Botanic, Cosmic, Downtown, Crania and Pirouette, who could resist? These bad boys will be available starting in September for $39.95 each. There's one more shot below -- hit up the source link for the full set.Continue reading Microsoft's Wireless Mobile 4000 mice get a sassy new coat of paint
Microsoft's Wireless Mobile 4000 mice get a sassy new coat of paint originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceMicrosoft  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
HTC Windows Phone 7 device hits FCC, destined for Europe?
You've already gotten one flavor of Windows Phone 7 from HTC via the feds' filing system -- but how about another? This time around, the ID label HTC has filed is a screaming yellow, suggesting that this bad boy is going to lean toward the fashionable side of things (assuming you thought the HD Mini and Aria were fashionable, that is). As we mentioned, this particular unit seems destined for Europe, a fact we're gleaning from the filing's apparent lack of mention of any US-compatible WCDMA or EV-DO -- the only reason it's in here is to cover EDGE 850 / 1900 plus 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth. Considering how HTC's been operating as of late, we wouldn't be surprised to see an Americanized version of this puppy -- whatever it is -- but for now, you Euros can revel in your exclusive.
HTC Windows Phone 7 device hits FCC, destined for Europe? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Flashboy Plus revives Nintendo's Virtual Boy, literally one game at a time
When a beloved console like the Sega Dreamcast rises from the ashes it's not a huge surprise, but we never thought we'd see the day when the homebrew community would unearth Nintendo's Virtual Boy. Behold: the Flashboy Plus, the second of two flash carts developed specifically to spur development for Nintendo's original stereoscopic system, featuring a new backup battery (unlike the 2007 original) and a full 16Mbit of memory, reportedly enough to fit any one of the system's 22 commercially released games. Since the battery only keeps one save state stored at a time and there's no way to read the battery-backed memory, you'll still have to finish one game before you start another, but at least this way you don't lose your progress every time you shut the system off. Believe it or not, the first batch of 50 units has already been spoken for, but you haven't necessarily missed out yet; €90 (about $113) is your ticket to an elite (read: tiny) virtual utopia of piracy and homebrew when the second set ships at year's end.
Flashboy Plus revives Nintendo's Virtual Boy, literally one game at a time originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Technabob  |  sourcePlanet VirtualBoy  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
The Sharper Image announces Literati color e-reader
The Sharper Image may not be quite the retail presence it once was, but it looks like it's still in good enough shape to hop on the latest trend -- it's just announced "The Literati by The Sharper Image," a $159 e-reader with a 7-inch color screen. That device actually comes courtesy of MerchSource, and relies on Kobo's ebook service to get books on the device (which can be downloaded via WiFi). Otherwise, things look to be fairly basic -- the screen is 800 x 480 (and not a touchscreen), and there's apparently no web browser or other types of apps on the device to be found. You will get 150 free public domain books with the device though, along with a free case, and your choice of a white or black / brushed metallic model (which actually look to be slightly different in design). It also looks like you'll be seeing a lot of it -- The Sharper Image says that it will have the "broadest retail footprint of any eReader," with it set to be available at more than 7,000 retail stores this October, including Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, JC Penney, Kohl's and Macy's. Full press release is after the break.
Continue reading The Sharper Image announces Literati color e-reader
The Sharper Image announces Literati color e-reader originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceThe Literati  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Rockchip's Supernova x1 tablet does 3D without glasses or technical specs
Rockchip's Supernove x1 tablet does 3D without glasses or tech specs
You had to know that Nintendo's 3DS wouldn't be the only glasses-free 3D handheld for long. Our Chinese compatriots caught sight of a prototype device from Rockchip called the Supernova x1, performing some similar lenticular trickery to make images appear 3D. Exactly what display tech it uses remains a mystery, but we're told the Disney footage being displayed had to be "processed" in some way to make it appear 3D. Like the 3DS, the 3D effect here can be adjusted or disabled entirely, but that's really all that is known at this point about this mystery tablet/PMP. Sit tight, though: everything should be revealed at IFA in a week's time.
Rockchip's Supernova x1 tablet does 3D without glasses or technical specs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceEngadget Chinese  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Sony launches six new DVRs, all write to BDXL and play back in 3D
Sony launches six new DVRs, all write to BDXL and will play back in 3D
Well, Sony is a little late to the party on this one, two days behind Panasonic announcing six new BDXL-writing DVRs. But, the company is definitely still on the BDXL bleeding edge, announcing its own suite of six devices, ranging from 320GB to 2TB of internal storage and all but one offering dual tuners. When those tuners have filled that storage they can all write to 100GB BDXL discs, which we'll remind you one more time are not backwards compatible with current Blu-ray players. Finally, all six of them support 3D playback, because if you're already jumping on the BDXL bandwagon you surely have your 3D HDTV well and truly dialed in by now. Sony isn't saying just how much these six will cost, but the premium model with 2TB of storage ships in Japan on September 25. For the rest you'll have to wait until October 22.
Sony launches six new DVRs, all write to BDXL and play back in 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourceSony  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Samsung Galaxy Tab gets video preview in Korea
It sees like we can't let a day pass without talking about Samsung's upcoming Froyo tablet. This time there's a whole video preview, courtesy of some of our Korean brethren. Android 2.2, WCDMA 3G, 802.11n WiFi, a 16:10 screen ratio, a front-facing camera "dedicated to video calling," SDHC memory expandability, and a DMB tuner for those TV-crazy Koreans are all listed on the spec sheet, but you'll be wanting to see the Galaxy Tab's UI in motion. It really looks silky smooth and should give the iPad cause for concern. Speaking of the iPad, there's a size comparison against Apple's slate and Samsung's own Galaxy S handset as well -- all yours after the break.

Update: Fast-loading video embedded after the break.

[Thanks, Eric]Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab gets video preview in Korea
Samsung Galaxy Tab gets video preview in Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcedt.co.kr  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Mass Effect's M8 Avenger rifle brought to exquisitely detailed life
Harrison Krix understands if you don't remember his name. After all, your mind can't be expected to retain information when you've just seen the spectacular Portal gun and Daft Punk helmet the man has already authored. Latest on his hitlist is a homage to the awesomeness that is Mass Effect. Employing mostly leftover bits from previous projects and $28-worth of new materials, Harrison set about the task of recreating Commander Shepard's trusty assault rifle. The source will delight your eyeballs with a litany of pictures and build details, though our major question remains unanswered -- does it use armor-piercing, incendiary, or shredder rounds?Continue reading Mass Effect's M8 Avenger rifle brought to exquisitely detailed life
Mass Effect's M8 Avenger rifle brought to exquisitely detailed life originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceVolpin Props  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Mili PowerSpring 4 doubles the battery life of your iPhone 4
There's a big difference between the iPhone 4 and Galaxy S. No, not iOS vs. Android 2.1 or even Retina vs. Super AMOLED. We're talking batteries: one is removable and one isn't -- guess which is which? This perennial iPhone "feature" has spawned as entire industry of device-specific accessories that sate the need for more juice while simultaneously killing the form (and aesthetic) of an otherwise pocketable gadget. But hey, it's your only choice when you're either too busy (CES) or unable (intercontinental flights) to tether yourself to a power socket. And guess what? Those curvy battery packs that hugged your iPhone 3G/3GS won't work with the boxy iPhone 4. So, here's the latest, and one of the first iPhone 4 cases with an extended battery pack to ship. The Mili PowerSpring 4 starts shipping today for £54.99 (or $85 on Amazon). It claims to be the world's thinnest iPhone 4 battery pack to double your battery life thanks to a 1600mAh capacity Li-Pol battery. That makes this roadwarrior necessity just a bit less evil.Continue reading Mili PowerSpring 4 doubles the battery life of your iPhone 4
Mili PowerSpring 4 doubles the battery life of your iPhone 4 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceMili, Amazon  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Hillcrest Labs brings LG's Magic Motion remote to life, cheekily points out that Sony uses it, too
Hillcrest Labs brings LG's Magic Motion remote control to live, cheekily points out Sony uses it, too
We had some fun playing with LG's Magic Motion gesture remote at CES this past January, which lets you change channels with a flick of the wrist, and now we're learning a little more about its fancy innards. Hillcrest Labs, the company behind the Loop mouse/bracelet, is proudly proclaiming that its Freespace tech is what makes LG's remote so magical in the first place. Hillcrest also would like to take this opportunity to point out that Sony has licensed its technology as well, and given we're but a few weeks away from the PlayStation Move launch, many are concluding that gadget has some Freespace up in it too. However, given Hillcrest's nasty patent dispute with Nintendo over the Wiimote, it's possible this is just Sony covering its ample posterior against a similar lawsuit. Or, this could go all the way back to the tech that allows the DualShock 3 to detect movement. (Remember trying to play that dragon game just with motion controls? Man, that was hard.)Continue reading Hillcrest Labs brings LG's Magic Motion remote to life, cheekily points out that Sony uses it, too
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
ASUS prepping Eee PC 1015PN/PEM versions with new dual-core Atom
When Intel released the details on its dual-core, mobile Atom N550 processor earlier this week ASUS was one of the first to raise its hand with a netbook sporting the new CPU. Well, now we've got a few more details on the forthcoming Eee PC and unsurprisingly -- as it is coming from ASUS -- there appears to be a couple of different versions. The first is the 1015PEM, and according to TechInStyle, the small lappie will be powered by the new 1.5GHz N550 CPU, support up to 2GB of DDR3 RAM, and be €349 ($440 US) when it hits the market. However, we've also heard from ASUS's North American team of the 1015PN, which will add NVIDIA's Ion 2 platform to the mix and be landing stateside in September. Sounds like it could be one of the most powerful 10-inch netbooks to ever grace the planet, but unfortunately we don't have the exact specs and pricing on the latter one as of yet. Of course, as soon as we find out or see it hit Amazon we'll be reporting back.

Update: ASUS has gone and made the 1015PEM official. Well, it did for a while, page seems to have been yanked. See the Notebook Italia coverage for confirmation of the specs.
ASUS prepping Eee PC 1015PN/PEM versions with new dual-core Atom originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceTechInStyle  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Netflix adds iPhone and iPod touch compatibility in latest app version
We knew this was coming and here it is: the Netflix application, heretofore reserved only for iPad users, has trickled down to iPhone and iPod touch devices. Version 1.1.0 makes the TV show and movie streaming app universal -- so long as your universe is known as iOS -- and looks to massively expand the available audience for Netflix's mobile effort. What are you waiting for, go get it already.

[Thanks, Michael A.]Continue reading Netflix adds iPhone and iPod touch compatibility in latest app version
Netflix adds iPhone and iPod touch compatibility in latest app version originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceiTunes  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Acer LumiRead set for an IFA showing, October launch in Germany
Given how fast the new Kindle's been selling, we doubt many of you were keenly holding out for Acer's alternative -- but if you were, the wait is apparently nearing an end. An Acer spokesperson has confirmed that the barcode scanning-LumiRead will be shipping out to retail channels (in Germany, at least) this October, and early speculation on its price places it at around €250 ($316). That's an unconfirmed number, so don't freak out just yet, and Acer points to the fact it'll pack one of the widest German-language e-libraries on any e-reading device. Maybe prices will be somewhat more competitive in other territories, where the major attractions will be WiFi and 3G wireless capabilities, a 6-inch, 800 x 600 E Ink display, and a Barnes and Noble content partnership. And hey, maybe when we hit IFA in a couple of days they might finally let us take it out of the box as well, eh? We can only dream.Continue reading Acer LumiRead set for an IFA showing, October launch in Germany
Acer LumiRead set for an IFA showing, October launch in Germany originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcelesen.net  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Mophie and Intuit partner to create Complete Card Solution for iPhone, try to make Square look square
Mophie and Intuit partner to create Complete Card Solution for iPhone, try to make Square look square
Who knew that credit card processing would be the new hotness for smartphones? The Square mobile payment system has been making waves by letting small businesses receive credit card payment directly on their smartphones. Now, mophie and Intuit are looking to get in on the same action with their Complete Card Solution for iPhone. It's a $179 package that includes both mophie's card-swiping phone case and the 3.0 version of Intuit's GoPayment app. After a quick application users are said to be approved (or, erm, declined) within 15 minutes and can immediately start accepting payments. Full details, including just how much users will be forking over in fees, after the break.Continue reading Mophie and Intuit partner to create Complete Card Solution for iPhone, try to make Square look square
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
T-Mobile G2 build leaks out, points to potent MSM7x30 chipset?
What's inside the T-Mobile G2, aside from fancy hinges and an HSPA+ capable modem? We can't say for sure, but this week saw a zip file from China set the Android community astir with visions of vanilla frozen yogurt heaped high atop a stack of powerful silicon. Android Guys discovered an allegedly leaked G2 Android 2.2 build (sans Sense) at the website of one 911sniper, last seen outing supposed HTC specs left and right, and our old friend Cyanogen took it upon himself to have a peek inside. What should he find but references to Qualcomm's MSM7x30 chipset, with all the silky-smooth 720p multimedia playback that brings, as well as the remote possibility of dual-mode HSPA+ / LTE support if the "x" in "MSM7x30" turns out to be a "6." There's no telling whether any of this is legit at this point, but we dare to dream.
T-Mobile G2 build leaks out, points to potent MSM7x30 chipset? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Phandroid, Android Police  |  sourceAndroid Guys, @cyanogen (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
I-O Data's HDPN-U500/V portable hard drive pulls video from your camcorder, plays it on your TV
Looking for a quick and easy way to bridge the gap between your camcorder and your TV? Then you might want to consider I-O Data's new 500GB HDPN-U500/V portable hard drive, which packs a USB port to pull video directly off a compatible Sanyo Xacti, JVC Everio, or Sony Handycam camcorder, and an HDMI port to let you play that video on your TV straight from the hard drive. Of course, it'll also function just fine as a regular external hard drive for your computer, and it boasts a shock-resistant design that should let you toss it around a bit without too much worry. No word on a release over here just yet, but folks in Japan should be able to pick this one up next month for ¥15,330, or about $180.
Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourceI-O Data  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Nike files patent for auto-lacing sneakers, Marty McFly doth protest
We've seen some extremely DIY auto-lacing sneakers, but it looks like the big boys -- Nike -- have thought about getting in on the game as well. Patent filings which occurred in early through late 2009 show off an automatic lacing system that is pretty reminiscent of Marty McFly's invention in Back to the Future, and we can tell you that from the looks of it, it's a future we'd definitely like to inhabit. The shoes appear to boast a charging system and lights in addition to the lacing component, and while so few patent apps ever lead to a real retail product, we're really rooting for this one. One more image below.Continue reading Nike files patent for auto-lacing sneakers, Marty McFly doth protest
Nike files patent for auto-lacing sneakers, Marty McFly doth protest originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Nice Kicks  |  sourceWorld Intellectual Property Organization  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Canon EOS 60D: 18 megapixels and 1080p video flexes its articulating screen this September
Well, what do we have here? Last we heard about the Canon EOS 60D it was just a twinkle in our articulating screen of a peripheral vision. And now it's official -- my, how times have changed. Here's what we know about the 50D successor (with definite nods to the Rebel T2i's feature set): the 18-megapixel DSLR has a single DIGIC 4 processor and boasts 1080p H.264 video with an in-camera movie editing feature, manual audio level control, a "flexible" (read: articulating) 3-inch LCD screen, an ISO range of 100-6,400 purported to be expandable to 12,800, and support for processing RAW images from within the camera itself. Look for the little photo shooter to hit retail at the end of September for just a dollar under $1,100 body only, or $1,400 with a bundled 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens. You know the drill: pics below, press release and video after the break.
Gallery: Canon 60D press shots
Continue reading Canon EOS 60D: 18 megapixels and 1080p video flexes its articulating screen this September
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
LG C900 rumored to be 'Pacific,' E900 gets hi-res blurry pic, missing link D900 doesn't exist (yet)
Turns out the Secret Society of Blurrycam isn't just a group of freelancers. Courtesy of the Windows Phone NL group comes a pretty high resolution -- albeit slightly out of focus -- shot of the LG E900 / Optimus 7.That ain't enough for you? Boy Genius Report claims it's heard from a source that the LG C900 will hit the scene as Pacific, and if that sounds familiar, we kindly point your attention to a Pocket-lint piece from late July where Microsoft product manager Greg Sullivan namedropped a LG Pacific without elaborating. One and the same? Tired of waiting on Windows Phone 7 devices? Us too -- one day at a time.
Permalink MobileTechWorld  |  sourceBGR, @WindowsPhoneNL (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Nokia C7 gets an early look: 'hardly a market leader'
The upcoming C7's been well-leaked at this point, but one thing it hasn't undergone is the famously exhaustive Mobile-review once-over that takes weeks to read and even longer to digest. Actually, this isn't so much a review as a "first look" based on prototype hardware -- and as such, it's quite a bit shorter -- but it still gives by far the best, clearest, and most in-depth glance at Nokia's second Symbian^3 device to date. Unlike the over-the-top N8, Mobile-review comes away concluding that the C7 is an exceptionally well-balanced device for a Nokia -- solid specs at a more aggressive price than its Nseries cousin -- but acknowledges that it's still outclassed by the competition and isn't likely to draw any non-Nokia loyalists into the fold. MeeGo, where art thou?
Nokia C7 gets an early look: 'hardly a market leader' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceMobile-review  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Sony's Netbox streams Netflix, YouTube and other internet stuff for $130
We can't say there's a real shortage of streaming, set-top boxes on the market, but that doesn't mean we won't welcome Sony's addition with open arms. Not to be confused with a netbook or a nettop, the Netbox streams Sony's Bravia Internet services -- YouTube, Netflix, DailyMotion, etc. -- as well as supports a "wide range" of video formats including DivX and MKV. Although it's got 802.11n WiFi baked in, the rather compact box has an Ethernet port around back as well as an USB jack on the front for hooking up an external hard drive for watching any of your legally-downloaded (obviously!) videos. Sadly, when we got to check out the Netbox earlier today it wasn't connected to a network -- go figure, with all those connectivity options -- but the software was up and running, and we got to take a peek at the remote app on an Xperia X10. Fret not, the free app will be available for the iPhone and other Android phones. Look, we'd understand holding out for a BRAVIA with Google TV, but all in all for $130 we wouldn't blame you for heading off to Sony right now and picking one of these little guys up.
Gallery: Sony Netbox SMP-N100
Sony's Netbox streams Netflix, YouTube and other internet stuff for $130 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Exclusive: Motorola MB520 Kobe / Diablo for AT&T in the wild
Remember that midrange, Android-equipped MB520 Kobe from Moto we told you about a few days back? Well, it's stepping out for the first time this evening with a little help of our dear brother from another mother, Mr. Blurrycam. As we'd heard before it's definitely destined for AT&T bearing Android 2.1 with Blur (complete with Blur logo on back), though our tipster tells us we can expect an update to 2.2 over the air. Along with "Kobe," the codename "Diablo" is apparently being tossed around internally, though decisions have been made on what to call it when it hits shelves. A Droid X competitor it's not -- but coming off the Backflip debacle, it's baby steps for Moto's Android relationship with AT&T, right? Hit the break for more shots.

[Thanks, Napoleon]
Gallery: Exclusive: Motorola MB520 Kobe / Diablo for AT&T in the wild
Exclusive: Motorola MB520 Kobe / Diablo for AT&T in the wild originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Mitsubishi debuts three full HD 3D televisions... coming to a sweet home theater near you
Mitsubishi Japan has announced three brand new, full HD tvs for your home theater-loving pleasure. Much like the Panasonics recently unleashed, all three boast the ability to record to their hard drives or Blu-ray. Spec-wise, they've got full HD, backlit LCDs, 1TB HDDs, a ten speaker Diatone system, USB and SD slots, and HDMI. The sets, which come in 40, 46, and 55-inches, also come with a pair of 3D glasses. They'll be available in Japan in October for roughly $3,500, $4,700 and $5,900, respectively.
Permalink CrunchGear  |  sourceMitsubishi Japan  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Amazon loses exclusive deal with Andrew Wiley
Amazon's exclusive digital distribution deal with star literary agent Andrew Wiley looks like it wasn't all it was cracked up to be; in fact, it seems to have fallen through before the ink dried on the contracts. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Andrew Wiley is "largely abandoning" the agreement it struck with Amazon after 13 of the 20 titles supposedly included in the deal -- published by Random House -- came up for debate. The books, which included works by John Updike, VS Naipaul and Dave Eggers, among others, will now be digitally distributed by Random House itself to Amazon. While neither Wiley nor Amazon commented on the failed deal, we have a feeling that the Kindle maker will still sleep just fine this evening.
Amazon loses exclusive deal with Andrew Wiley originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceWall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
The Girl with the Insanely Long Gear List
Digg this!If you've read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (or either of its sequels), you're probably aware of the fact that its characters have a striking and awesome penchant for gadgets. The thing is, those gadgets are from... 2002. While reading through the books, we took the opportunity to jot down all that name dropped gear, and what we've got here is both a list of that gear and a walk down memory lane. Author Stieg Larsson (who was the first writer to sell one million Kindle e-books) often gives out actual lists of specs, which we find to be pretty endearing, but where he's left anything to the imagination we've tried to use context clues to fill in the gaps. Like we said, the action takes place in Sweden in 2002 (the books were published in Sweden in 2005, though Larsson died in late 2004 so they were likely written somewhere between 2002 and 2003), so the options were... a little more limited. There are some mild spoilers below, so if you plan on reading the books and don't want to know what kind of gadgets await you, then beware. Otherwise, join us, won't you?Continue reading The Girl with the Insanely Long Gear List
The Girl with the Insanely Long Gear List originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Droid 2 root method finds its way online
The very first line of the forum post on xda-developers says it best -- proceed at your own risk -- but if you've been kept up at night waiting for root to be gained on Verizon's recently-released Droid 2, it looks like your day has come. The process involves tethering up to your PC and transferring a couple binaries, but seems straightforward enough and should open the door to surcharge-free tethering and other apps that require root access. We've no doubt Motorola will be looking to patch this up with the next OTA push, of course, so update carefully from here on out.

[Thanks, Jonathan]
Droid 2 root method finds its way online originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcexda-developers  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Intel's mind reading computer could bring thought controlled interfaces to a whole new, frightening level
Thought controlled devices are pretty primitive at this point. Sure, everyone from Honda to the U.S. Army (of course) is conducting research, but at this point we don't have much to show for it all besides an evening of experimental music in Prague. If the kids at Intel have their way, computers will soon be able to look at a person's brain activity and determine actual words that they're thinking. The idea here is that the activity generated in the average person by individual words can be mapped and stored in a database, to be matched against that of someone using the thought control interface. So far, results have been promising -- an early prototype exists that can differentiate between words like screwdriver, house, and barn, by using a magnetic resonance scanner that measures something like 20,000 points in the brain. Anything more effective than that, such as dictating letters or searching Google with your mind alone is probably years in the future -- though when it does come to pass we expect to see a marked increase in expletive-filled liveblogs.
Permalink   |  sourceTelegraph (UK)  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Sony delivers a new midrange 3DTV line with the NX810 series (updated with hands-on)
Sony's finally taken the wraps off its latest televisions for the US market, carrying the NX810 model number. Available in 60-, 55- and 46-inch sizes next month, these give a 3D spec bump (and around a $200 premium on the MSRP) to the existing NX800 series of Edge LED lit HDTVs that came out earlier this year. Like the NX800, these feature a slick monolith design, built-in WiFi, widgets and an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust the picture in changing room conditions, but other than the 3D-readiness (and coupons for free Blu-ray 3D movies and PSN games, though it looks like you'll have to pay for the glasses on your own) it's hard to find any differences on paper. Football fans looking for a new 3D set may be tempted to jump on one and can check the specs and prices after the break, but we'll probably wait around to see what a Google TV might bring to the table -- and at what price.

Update: We got a chance to check out a few of these 3DTVs this evening at Sony's open house in NYC. As per usual, the BRAVIAs were stunning and made us want to save up some cash to get one of these into our living room. And yes, we put on the 3D glasses and watched an assortment of clips. It was like those cute little bears in the snowy picture below were at the swanky event with us. Go on, you know you want to look at the cuddly things, err screens...
Gallery: Sony NX810 3DTV eyes-on
Continue reading Sony delivers a new midrange 3DTV line with the NX810 series (updated with hands-on)
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Meijer deploys indoor positioning trial, helps you find the Morton Salt faster
Indoor positioning systems have long been a holy grail for malls and big-box retailers where labyrinthine aisles and massive floorplans that rival small towns often leave customers begging for mercy, but the obstacles to deploying them are many: you've got to create detailed maps for every facility where you want it to work, and you need some sort of system for locating users with a reasonable level of precision since GPS is out of the picture. Start-up Point Inside has been hard at work on IPS for some time now, figuring that modern stores and malls teeming with WiFi access points and reliable AGPS are good enough to make it work, and now they've hooked up with Midwestern superstore chain Meijer to trial a system in four Michigan locations that will let users locate "more than" 100,000 items in store along with facilities like bathrooms and customer service. Conveniently, these stores have some 26 WiFi nodes deployed, which helps triangulate users down to a reasonable level of precision -- though it's probably not going to be able to tell if you're standing in front of the Frosted Flakes or the Raisin Bran. It's a free download for iPhone and Android users, and if you're close to one of the trial stores, be sure to let us know how well it works. Follow the break for the full press release.Continue reading Meijer deploys indoor positioning trial, helps you find the Morton Salt faster
Meijer deploys indoor positioning trial, helps you find the Morton Salt faster originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink mocoNews  |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Dual-core Atom-powered Gigabyte and Lenovo netbooks up for sale in Australia
As promised, we've been keeping an ear to the ground on Intel's new mobile, dual-core Atom processor, and as luck would have it a number of netbooks are popping up with the new CPU baked in...well, at least in the land down under. Australian e-tailer Pena.au has 10.1-inch netbooks from both Gigabyte and Lenovo listed on its site with the fresh 1.5GHz Atom N550 processor. The Gigabyte T1005M convertible -- or netvertible, as we like to call it -- is much like the T1000, and still has a 1,366x768 pixel capacitive touch display, USB 3.0 ports, and an eSATA jack. It sounds like a pretty impressive little system, but it's listed for 905 Australia dollars, which translates to about $800 US. That's a bit steep, but Aussies looking for something more affordable have the N550-powered Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3 to choose from as well -- although that too is listed for a pricey $699 Australian (about $617 US). We're assuming the dual-core CPU adds about $50 to $75 to the average single-core netbook selling price, but here's hoping that the prices are a bit lower once they hit this side of the hemisphere.
Dual-core Atom-powered Gigabyte and Lenovo netbooks up for sale in Australia originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink GadgetMix, NetbookNews  |  sourcePena.au (Gigabyte), (Lenovo)  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Garmin recalls 1.25 million navigation units due to potential fire hazard
GPS recalls haven't been nearly as common as some other battery-related recalls in recent years, but Garmin has now been hit with a fairly big one -- it's voluntarily recalling some 1.25 million nuvi units due to an overheating issue that could pose a fire hazard. The recall affects certain nuvi 200W, 250W, 260W, and 7xx models that use batteries from an unnamed third-party supplier and a specific PCB design, which Garmin says can "in rare circumstances, increase the possibility of overheating." While there's still been no reports of significant damage or injuries, Garmin is nonetheless advising anyone with an affected unit to stop using it immediately and return it for service -- hit up the link below to check if your nuvi is included in the recall.
Garmin recalls 1.25 million navigation units due to potential fire hazard originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Wall Street Journal  |  sourceGarmin nuvi Battery PCB Recall  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Google introduces Call from Gmail, free calls to US and Canada (update: impressions)
Rumors have been buzzing about since June, but Google just made it official -- the company's baking Google Voice calls right into Gmail today. Like the Google Chat text, voice and video chat integrated into the web-based email client in prior years, full phone calls will also be an option using VoIP technology from the Gizmo5 aquisition. Google's demoing the "Call from Gmail" service for us in San Francisco this morning, and it's looking like it's not free, but fairly cheap -- a product manager just called Paris for $0.02 a minute. Incoming calls pop up as a chat window in Gmail (and ring your Google Voice-equipped phones simultaneously) and you press a "Call phone" button that appears near the top of the Chat window to send an outbound call, at which point a dialer appears where you can copy and paste numbers or tap them in manually. Users can screen incoming calls or send them to voicemail with a single tap.
Gallery: Google Voice in Gmail demo and pricing


You'll be able to make calls to US and Canadian landlines completely free of charge, buying prepaid credits using Google Checkout for international landline calling at $0.02 a minute and a good bit more (We saw $0.19 to Spain) for calls to international mobile devices. Google will sell its own credits for the program (via Google Checkout), which should be available in a few weeks, but the Voice in Gmail service goes live today in the US and will begin rolling out to users immediately. Google's only committed to free calls to US and Canadian landlines through the end of the year, as paid international calls are the sole revenue stream here: "Our hope is we'll be able to make enough margin on international calls to keep offering it at that low price," a product manager told us. We're going to give some VoIP goodness a spin right now, check back later for impressions!

Update: Google Voice product manager Vincent Paquet confirmed that the service's newfound VoIP functionality does indeed stem from the Gizmo5 acquisition -- Call from Gmail is partially based on Gizmo5 technology, was developed by a team including Gizmo5 engineers, and resides in part on Gizmo5's backend. He wouldn't comment any more specifically on the technology than that. Also, that cherry red phone booth up top apparently isn't just for show -- Google's agreed to trial free calling booths at an airport and a pair of universities!

Update 2: We've just tested Call to Gmail and Skype side by side using the exact same setup, and found Google's service boasts surprisingly competitive voice quality to the reigning incumbent. When we called a fellow editor's iPhone 4 from a Gmail-equipped laptop, the sentences he spoke sounded much clearer than through Skype, with each individual word crisper and more recognizable even as volume and pitch sounded much the same. Unfortunately for Google, the inverse wasn't true -- Skype did a much better job canceling noise from our integrated laptop microphone in a crowded room.Continue reading Google introduces Call from Gmail, free calls to US and Canada (update: impressions)
Permalink   |  sourceGoogle Voice installer  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
NEC builds a better bioplastic from plant stems and cashew nut shells
We've already seen cellphones made from corn and bioplastics used in other products, but NEC has now come up with what it says is an even better solution: a first-of-its-kind bioplastic that's based on non-edible plant resources. That's as opposed to bioplastics based on things like corn, which are better for the environment than traditional plastics but don't necessarily represent the best use of food. What's more, NEC's new bioplastic also boasts a high plant component ratio of more than 70% -- derived from plant stems and cashew nut shells -- and it's said to boast a high durability that makes it especially well suited to electronics. As you might expect, however, it's not quite ready to be used for electronics just yet, but it's not all that far off either -- NEC says it expects to put it into production for use in a "wide range of electronic equipment" within the 2013 fiscal year. Full press release is after the break.
Continue reading NEC builds a better bioplastic from plant stems and cashew nut shells
NEC builds a better bioplastic from plant stems and cashew nut shells originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
App review: 720tube
Apple loves to tout the HD video recording and editing capabilities of its new iPhone 4. Shoot.Edit.Share, says the slogan. Unfortunately, something nasty happens between the shooting and YouTube sharing: compression. Apple squashes your magical 720p memory into a rather glum looking 360p video just as soon as you select "Send to YouTube." And there's no easy way around it. That is, until we stumbled upon a little app called 720tube from Drakfyre's Software.Continue reading App review: 720tube
App review: 720tube originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  source720tube, iTunes  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Apple to hold 'special event' September 1st... we'll be there live!
Digg this!C'mon, you saw this one coming, right? Just like they always do come fall time, Apple will be holding a "special event" on September 1st out in San Francisco, and we'll be on the ground reporting live. Think we'll see that new Apple TV we've been hearing about? Some iPods? A 'one more thing'? Yes, probably. Tune in here at 10AM PT / 1PM ET on the 1st to catch the best liveblog in the business!

In case you haven't heard the rumors lately:

Apple TV
 iTunes
iPod
 Everything else
Apple to hold 'special event' September 1st... we'll be there live! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45 reviewed, bests the FZ35 but falls short of the FZ100
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45 reviewed, bests the FZ35 but falls short of the FZ100
Panasonic's DMC-FZ35 (aka the FZ38 in some regions) was highly regarded in its time -- which was all of a year ago. The superzoomer won shootouts along with the hearts of many, but now it's being retired in favor of a new camera, the DMC-FZ45 (aka the FZ40). This one moves up to a 14 megapixel CCD sensor but, according to PhotographyBlog's review, doesn't suffer the resulting decrease in image quality you might expect. Its 24x, 25 - 600mm zoom lens is highly rated, as is the 720p30 mode. A total winner, then, right? Yes -- except that it doesn't compare to Panasonic's own recently-released FZ100, which does all that and throws in 1080p recording, better burst-shooting, and a few other niceties. That camera is, however, $100 more than the $399 FZ45, so you're going to have to let your budget be your guide here.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45 reviewed, bests the FZ35 but falls short of the FZ100 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePhotographyBlog  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
مرسلة بواسطة Abdalrhman Albayyat
في 5:30 PM
التسميات: ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)