Wednesday, December 15, 2010

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 14/12/2010

Russian Yo hybrid said to offer 67mpg, cost under $15k, gets a billionaire's backing
Russian Yo hybrid said to offer 67mpg, cost under $15k, gets a billionaire's backing
Russian entrepreneur Mikhail D. Prokhorov may have big plans for moving the Nets downtown and turning them into the Brooklyn New Yorkers, but another of his big plans will stay a little closer to home. Well, his home anyway. It's the ë, the Cyrillic character "yo," and a funky name for a recently revealed hybrid that has scored the billionaire's support. The ë is a little two-door, four-seater car with a top speed of 80mph and a range of 680 miles, delivered by a hybrid powertrain with two electric motors and a single internal combustion lump. However, unlike the parallel hybrid Prius and the (mostly) series hybrid Volt, both of which rely on expensive and heavy battery packs, the ë will only be able to hold a small charge. Instead the engine, which uses a rotary vane design, will run continuously, spinning a generator and providing the current to turn the wheels. It's an unusual layout for a car, but if it can deliver its supposed 67mpg at its proposed $14,500 MSRP when it's slated to hit the streets of St. Petersburg in 2012, you can call us converts -- and comrades.
Permalink   |  sourceThe New York Times  | Email this | Comments
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Jays flexes its design muscle with svelte a-JAYS Four earbuds
Tired of finding every set of decent 'buds only available in the stereotypical white? Hello, beautiful! Jays has just outed its latest set of earbuds, the a-JAYS Four, and it seems that simplicity is the theme here. These guys rely on flat, tangle-free cabling and include an inline three-button remote that's made for use with Apple's iPod, iPhone and iPad. You'll also get five different eartip selections, a handy L-shaped 3.5mm plug, MEMS microphone and a pair of 8.6mm speaker drivers that handle frequencies between 20Hz and 21,000Hz. Regrettably, we've no price or release date to share, but hopefully that'll be cleared up in short order.
Gallery: a-JAYS Four earbuds
Jays flexes its design muscle with svelte a-JAYS Four earbuds originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Dell Venue Pro apparently delayed again, targeting January now
We'd been following this story for a few days and holding off on calling it a delay since even the quickest orders weren't expected to arrive in owners' hands until today, but would-be Venue Pro owners now seem to be getting emails directly from Dell that their orders have been officially delayed until early January. The reason for the delay is anybody's guess, but it's an open secret that Dell's been having quality control issues on the Venue Pro through its ODM, Qisda -- and we've already seen issues with WiFi (allegedly a software issue alone), mislabeled batteries, and SIM card registration in the field. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed that some miracle gets the early orders delivered sooner than 2011, because seriously, we can think of a few nerds that would love one of these bad boys in their stockings this year. Launch bugs are a serious bummer, aren't they?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Dell Venue Pro apparently delayed again, targeting January now originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcexda-developers  | Email this | Comments
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Ridgid Jobsite iPod Radio takes a beating, survives long enough to go on sale (video)
So, you've celebrated the landing of yet another construction deal by giving the whole crew their own Motorola Defy (except for Derick, who's saddled with a lowly i365), but there's still one problem: on-the-job entertainment. Enter Ridgid's Jobsite Radio, hailed as the first iPod-toting boombox designed to withstand just about anything. As you can tell, the device itself is encased in a ShockMount layer of protective armor, and we have to stress the "armor" aspect. Users simply flip down the lid in the front, slide their iPod in and then change tracks via on-board external controls or remote control from up to 25 feet away. Oh, and if Joe or Buck just so happens to bring their Zune HD into work, the 3.5mm auxiliary input will ensure that no one is publicly shamed. The unit is powered by a standard 120V or Ridgid 18V battery, and if you're curious as to just how hardcore this thing is, there's an enlightening video embedded just after the break. She's all yours after dropping $149 at the Home Depot.

[Thanks, Thomas]Continue reading Ridgid Jobsite iPod Radio takes a beating, survives long enough to go on sale (video)
Permalink   |  sourceHome Depot, Ridgid  | Email this | Comments
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Shigeru Miyamoto profiled: legendary game designer, interior decorating enthusiast
Using traditional conversion metrics, The New Yorker's got ten pictures worth of words on Nintendo's iconic designer Shigeru Miyamoto, arguably the father of modern video games whose cerebral impulses have spawned the likes of Mario and Legend of Zelda. Don't expect any bombshell news (spoiler: the company's hard at work on a portable, glasses-free 3D console), but it's definitely a thorough and entertaining read on the origins of Nintendo's gaming interests and Miyamoto himself. Bonus: given how Miyamoto's non-work time with exercise and gardening became the inspiration for WiiFit and Pikmin, feel free to overanalyze how his fixation with moving around his living room will turn into the next multi-platinum title.
Shigeru Miyamoto profiled: legendary game designer, interior decorating enthusiast originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nook Color getting Android 2.2 and Market in January, current hacks could make it blow up
Nook Color getting Android 2.2 in January, current FroYo and Market hacks could make it blow up
You had to know the hacking community was going to have a field day with the Nook Color -- a $249 Android Tablet hiding behind with a thin e-reader coating. Indeed it didn't take long to get rooted nor for Android 2.2 to get installed on there, but that particular hack comes with an interesting potential side-effect: small-scale thermonuclear explosions. Enabling FroYo requires disabling the device's battery monitoring process, the very one that would be responsible for shutting down the device before the cells start overheating and, ultimately, going critical. Yeah it's unlikely, but it could happen. Meanwhile, another hack has enabled the Android Market, but those instructions begin with a very daunting warning: "Very smart people have failed at this. If the following instructions confuse you, you might want to wait until an easier method has been developed."

And, thankfully, there is a much easier way coming, with Barnes & Noble confirming that Android 2.2 will be officially coming to the Nook Color in January. Yes, Android 2.3 is what's happening, but this is still an exciting upgrade as it will finally also allow access to a traditional Android home screen and even enable the Android Market. In other words, it should work just like an Android tablet, Kindle app and all.

[Thanks, Ryan]
Permalink   |  sourceSmartphone Magazine, nookDevs, PC World  | Email this | Comments
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OnLive MicroConsole torn down, Marvell Armada found lurking within
OnLive MicroConsole torn down, Marvell Armada found lurking within
When Marvell was still teasing its Armada processor company co-founder Sehat Sutardja said it would be showing up in "a new gaming platform" -- but he kinda left us hanging after that. Four months later it's looking like we might have found it. Reader David Fisher was kind enough to tear his OnLive Microconsole down to its requisite bits, spreading them upon his kitchen countertop and exposing the Marvell Armada lurking within. Other specs include 512MB of RAM, an unknown quantity of Samsung ROM, and networking chips also from Marvell. There you have it: another mystery of the world solved thanks to your friend the screwdriver.
Gallery: OnLive MicroConsole teardown

[Thanks, David]
OnLive MicroConsole torn down, Marvell Armada found lurking within originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nokia to revamp Symbian UI, ship dual-core phones in 2011
We don't have any hard details yet, but Computerworld reports that Nokia's planning a busy 2011, with four to five updates to the Symbian UI on tap, as well as dual-core phones. The information comes courtesy of Nokia senior manager Gunther Kottzieper, who gave a presentation at the 2010 Internation Mobile Internet Conference in Beijing earlier today -- a slide labeled "Nokia Symbian 2011 focus areas" indicated that a Q1 Symbian update will include over 50 features, including a more intuitive browser, while second- and third-quarter updates will add "a new look and feel for the user interface, a more flexible home screen, an updatable HTML5 browser and an easier software update experience." A hardware-related slide tipped upcoming 1GHz phones with more graphics memory in the second or third quarter, as well as dual-core phones and something called a "true zoom camera" in late 2011 or early 2012. (We're guessing that means an optical zoom, which would be just wild on a mobile phone.) Ignore this morning's E7 delay and all of that sounds like evidence of renewed focus at Nokia under new management -- and it also sounds like Nokia taking over Symbian development might have lit some serious fires. We're dying to look at these slides ourselves -- we'll keep digging and let you know.
Nokia to revamp Symbian UI, ship dual-core phones in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceComputerworld  | Email this | Comments
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Kinect hack lets you reenact Big piano scene (video)

The only limit to the applications Kinect can be put to is imagination. The more of it you have, the more things you can use the peerless Xbox 360 peripheral to achieve. To wit, some eager chaps have put together the Keyboard Anywhere hack, which employs a little Python and the libfreenect library to offer up a piano keyboard on any flat surface of almost any size. You can practice your Mozart concertos on a desk, or, as they so ably demonstrate, imagine yourself as a young Tom Hanks skipping along on the FAO Schwarz floor piano in the movie Big. It's all up to you.Continue reading Kinect hack lets you reenact Big piano scene (video)
Kinect hack lets you reenact Big piano scene (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Joystiq, BoingBoing  |  sourcepetermmoz (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
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Freebox v6 Revolution set-top box brings calling, TV and gaming together
Pay-TV operators have been tossing out "quadruple play" bundles for the better part of three years now, but we dare say that none of 'em have come close to nailing it like this. France's own Free, a well-known ISP in the nation, has just introduced the Freebox v6 Revolution, a newfangled set-top box designed by Philippe Starck and engineered to handle just about all of your home entertainment needs. It's stuffed with 250GB of hard drive space, an internal 802.11n WiFi module, Blu-ray drive, inbuilt web browser and Intel's Atom CE4100 media processor. It also ships with a motion-sensing remote, and in short, it's designed to provide live / streaming television options, internet (fiber or DSL is supported), gaming (via a streaming service similar to OnLive) and at-home calling to boot. Free's also planning to dabble in mobile telephony starting in 2012, hence the plans for a quadruple play offering in the not-too-distant future. We're told that a joystick (presumably for getting your game on) is thrown in, as are a pair of powerline adapters in order to easily network it through your abode's power network. The Revolution is up for pre-order now, and depending on how long you've had your current Free STB, it could cost as little as €59.99 or as much as €119.99. The "basic" Freebox service will run €29.99, and once Free goes mobile in 2012, you can add a mobile line for another €29.99.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Freebox v6 Revolution set-top box brings calling, TV and gaming together originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink AFP  |  sourceFree  | Email this | Comments
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Dialog Semiconductor pushes 2D to 3D conversion chip for phones and tablets
We'll go ahead and put a lid on your swelling excitement level, most likely with two simple words: "parallax barrier." You see, Dialog Semiconductor's DA8223 is being hailed as the world's first real time 2D to 3D video conversion chip for portable devices, but it requires a parallax barrier display. On the upside, that means that there are no glasses required for viewing, and pretty much any 2D content could be tricked into being 3D for the viewer; the downside, of course, is that it probably won't immerse your senses, overwhelm your eyes or otherwise revolutionize your life. That said, it's still suitable for both tablets and smartphones, and according to the company, it "requires virtually no software development and uses a tiny fraction of the battery and compute power of competing application processor based software-approaches." If all goes well, the chip will be hitting mass production in the latter half of 2011, which gives you right around six months to prepare yourself for the third dimension. On your phone.Continue reading Dialog Semiconductor pushes 2D to 3D conversion chip for phones and tablets
Dialog Semiconductor pushes 2D to 3D conversion chip for phones and tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Panasonic's Avatar 3D monopoly runs into 2012, no 3D Blu-ray release until Mayan calendar ends?
Panasonic's Avatar monopoly extends into 2012, no 3D Blu-ray release until the Mayan calendar ends?
When Panasonic announced it was including copies of Avatar in 3D with its 3DTVs and Blu-ray players, it simply seemed like a great marketing move. Now it's looking like more of a coup, with Panasonic UK confirming that the company's bundle deal runs until February of 2012. That deal is said to be exclusive, likely meaning that will be the only 3D version of Avatar pressed to disc until it runs out, leaving you with two somewhat less than desirable choices for getting a copy: spring for Panasonic hardware or pay a hefty premium on eBay. How hefty? Copies of the 3D Blu-ray version look to be going for $150 and up, and we're guessing things won't be getting much better in the near future.
Permalink Gizmodo  |  sourceavzombie.com  | Email this | Comments
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Nokia delays E7 slider into 'early 2011'
Oh dear. Like the N8 before it, Nokia just confirmed to us that the Symbian-powered E7 slider will be delayed. The official word has it launching in early 2011, not December 2010. We've been told that Nokia's holding up production due to a "minor durability issue" discovered in the E7 hardware. We can't blame Nokia for wanting to ensure the best possible user experience -- it's just a shame that it will require the holiday shopping season to sort it out.
Nokia delays E7 slider into 'early 2011' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 07:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink All About Phones  |   | Email this | Comments
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Visualized: Facebook's global reach
If you've ever wondered what a map drawn entirely of Facebook relationships would look like, wonder no more. A Facebook intern by the name of Paul Butler has put together the above image by feeding in location data for pairs of friends, with the white lights representing cities, towns, and hamlets, and the blue streaks between them identifying relationships linking them. It's fun to see large swathes of Australia and South America devoid of Facebook activity, but check out the bit on the map where Russia and China are supposed to be -- is Facebook the most capitalist social network ever or what? Hit the source link for the full-scale image, it gets prettier the closer you get to it.

[Thanks, Ian]
Visualized: Facebook's global reach originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 06:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Pure's Evoke Flow, Oasis Flow and Seista Flow internet radios finally on sale in America
Um, misfire? That's exactly what has happened with Pure's lineup of internet radios, which were supposed to ship to the US of A way back in July. Turns out, the crew hit a few snags along the way, but it looks as if the Evoke Flow, Oasis Flow and Seista Flow will still be making it in time for the holidays. The company just announced that the aforesaid trio really, truly is on sale now in America, with all three shipping to eager radio zealots right now. Better still (and possibly to make up for lost time), the outfit is offering a 15 percent discount and free shipping for all orders placed before next Monday. Candidly speaking, we'd expect to see a cadre of successors in just a few weeks as CES kicks off, but if you've got an empty box that needs filled and wrapped...Continue reading Pure's Evoke Flow, Oasis Flow and Seista Flow internet radios finally on sale in America
Permalink   |  sourcePure (1), (2), (3)  | Email this | Comments
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Netflix hiring Facebook Integration engineer
Like Netflix? Then get ready to prove it by sharing your film interests with your social network. Netflix is looking to hire a "Facebook Integration -- Engineer / Architect" into its new Social Systems engineering team. According to the open position posted to the Netflix jobs board, the senior web engineer will, "conceive and build the systems that enable Netflix applications and systems to use the social graph to create a more social Netflix experience" Specifically, the ideal new hire should be familiar with Facebook's Open Graph API to build a customer-facing service. It's just a guess, but we'd expect this to ultimately allow Netflix subscribers and wannabes to like, view and filter Netflix offerings based upon their social input and preferences. Interesting, because Netflix abandoned its homegrown Friends feature earlier this year. Guess now we know why.

[Thanks, Eric]
Netflix hiring Facebook Integration engineer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 05:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceNetflix, Netflix blog  | Email this | Comments
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iPad versus Kindle: even the Supreme Court can't decide (video)
Supreme Court judges are supposed to be some of the sagest dudes and ladies around, but even they can't agree on which e-reading device is best. Amazon's multimillion-selling Kindle is the weapon of choice for newly appointed Justice Elena Kagan, however old pro Justice Antonin Scalia prefers to battle the bulge of briefs using his iPad. Who will prevail in this titanic struggle? Probably good old paper, actually, as both are said to use their electronic devices as supplements to, rather than replacements for, the old fashioned reading method. See the video revealing these shocking facts after the break.Continue reading iPad versus Kindle: even the Supreme Court can't decide (video)
iPad versus Kindle: even the Supreme Court can't decide (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 04:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Wired  |  sourceCSPAN (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
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LG Optimus 2X looks like a dual-core Star, shows off HDMI-out while embarrassing the Galaxy S on video
LG has, in the most casual fashion possible, revealed the name of a new smartphone it intends to launch in the Korean market: the Optimus 2X. That brand name was buried deep in a release yesterday about exclusive Ennio Morricone content bundled with the Optimus Mach, though some studious folks have unearthed it and subsequently found YouTube content showing off the handset. Codenamed the SU660, the 2X looks almost identical to the LG Star we handled for ourselves recently, with the only differences being in product code (the Star was dubbed P990) and the button array at the bottom. Looking at the videos after the break, most of the onboard content bears LG's local branding of Cyon, leading us to suspect the 660 is just the Korean variant of the Star. Either way, that LG presser also notes that the Optimus 2X should be launching within the next couple of months -- just in time to take the Nexus S down a notch or two, eh LG?Continue reading LG Optimus 2X looks like a dual-core Star, shows off HDMI-out while embarrassing the Galaxy S on video
Permalink Phandroid  |  sourceLG Korea, zinna0000 (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
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Angry Birds nets 50 million downloads, still not enough for a three-star rating
And yet the pigs go marching on. Rovio's Angry Birds is just over a year old now, and in that time it's racked up 50 million in downloads, with 10 million of those from Android. An impressive number in its own right, and that puts it in a very elite group of gaming franchises that counts Bejeweled (50m) and Legend of Zelda (59m) among its members. (Membership includes fancy jackets and fezzes.) Our guess is that includes the iOS "Lite" version, which does downplay the milestone, but with new versions coming to PC, Mac, and the big three game consoles still on stores shelves -- as well as a sequel -- we doubt that asterisk will matter for long. Watch your ever-propagating back, Tetris.

[Image Credit: Penney Design via Gizmodo]
Angry Birds nets 50 million downloads, still not enough for a three-star rating originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 02:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceTechCrunch  | Email this | Comments
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Slingplayer Mobile for iPhone updated to 2.0 with high quality video streaming and new guide
Say hello to the version 2.0 of SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone and iPod Touch devices, which improves over v1.2 and its 3G streaming by adding the high quality video and new program guide features seen in the iPad version. Fortunately, this time Sling hasn't made any of its older hardware obsolete, while taking advantage of the new HQ streams will require a SOLO or PRO-HD box (and minimum 800 kbps WiFi / 500 kbps 3G connection) older Slingboxes will still work, just with lower quality video. Check the screens for a peek at the new look or just head over to iTunes, grab the new version and let us know how it's working out.
Gallery: SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone 2.0

[Thanks, David]
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Best Buy tells the Nexus S retail story: 8AM online sales, two per customer maximum
Want a Nexus S this Thursday? Yeah, well, welcome to the club, pal -- you're not alone, so you're going to want to be armed with the right information to figure out your plan of attack. Best Buy has announced the details of how it'll go about selling Samsung's Google-branded monster, and unlike many recent launches, this one is strictly first-come, first-serve -- none of that craziness where you put down $50 in advance to secure your place and get it off the price of the phone on launch day. All stores will be opening at 8AM local time (which is just the normal open time during the holiday season, actually), and online sales will commence at 8AM Eastern Time to coincide with the phone's retail launch on the east coast. You'll be limited to two phones per person -- sorry, eBay scalpers -- and you might want to call ahead or make friends with an employee in the next day or two, because inventory will vary from store to store. What won't vary, though, is demo unit availability: every store that's selling the phone will have a live demo unit to play with while you make your decision. As a refresher, you're looking at $199 on contract, $249.99 with an add-a-line activation, or $529 contract-free; follow the break for the full press release.Continue reading Best Buy tells the Nexus S retail story: 8AM online sales, two per customer maximum
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Pantech's Verizon LTE modem configured for Mac use, follow along at home
At this point, you've got one of two choices for Verizon LTE modems -- the Pantech UML290 and the LG VL600 (which we got) -- and neither work on the Mac. Verizon says OS X compatibility is coming soon, but if you're the impatient sort and happen to possess the Pantech variant, you may be in luck: a member of HowardForums has posted instructions on how to set it up via Network Preferences. Windows is still needed for the initial activation, and there's no promises it'll work with every Apple computer, but if all the stars have aligned just right for you, hey, congrats.
Pantech's Verizon LTE modem configured for Mac use, follow along at home originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink EVDOinfo.com  |  sourceHowardForums  | Email this | Comments
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Toshiba building new factory to churn out iPhone LCDs, says Nikkei
Word on the street -- and by that we mean a Nikkei Business Daily report -- is that Toshiba's dropping a cool 100 billion yen (around $1.2 billion in US currencies) for a new factory in the Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. Its raison d'être? Low-temperature polysilicon LCD panels, primarily for the iPhone (no indication on which version; Apple is said to be investing in a portion of the factory, as well). Construction begins early next year and production is apparently slated to commence in the second half. More than enough time to stockpile unicorn tears for the assembly line.
Toshiba building new factory to churn out iPhone LCDs, says Nikkei originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink iLounge  |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments
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Kingston's DataTraveler Mini Fun USB flash drives: they're small and thrilling
Tired of lugging around that boring flash drive? Kingston feels your pain, and it's hoping to add a fair amount of "pizazz" and "spice" to your mobile storage needs. One look at the new DataTraveler Mini Fun G2 all but confirms that there's oodles of joviality brimming beneath the colorful plastic, with a trio of hues to choose from (based on model). These guys can also be connected together for kicks and giggles, with 2GB, 4GB and 8GB models available to bring smiles to the faces of those you know and love. Pricing is set for £4.58 ($7.26), £5.04 ($7.99) and £9.00 ($14) from least capacious to most, with no surcharge to be placed on your favorite color -- in other words, bonus fun is provided gratis. Beat that.
Gallery: Kingston's DataTraveler Mini Fun USB flash drive
Continue reading Kingston's DataTraveler Mini Fun USB flash drives: they're small and thrilling
Kingston's DataTraveler Mini Fun USB flash drives: they're small and thrilling originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Dell 'Fractal' workstation designs revealed
Look, we don't normally get too stoked over workstations, they remind us too much of "work." Also, "stations." Still, a chance to see some unreleased workstations from Dell? That actually look pretty sweet? Sure, we'll go in on that. A tipster found these "Fractal design language" renders just floating helplessly around the internet and forwarded them over. They presumably relate to the upcoming Precision T7600, T5600, and T3600 lines (refreshes for the T7500, T5500, and T3600, respectively). One of Dell's favorite design houses is responsible for the images, but that doesn't necessarily mean the final products will look like this. We also don't know anything about internals, but it seems like a brand new look would fit with those brand new Sandy Bridge chips Intel is about to push out. Oh man, CAD is gonna be so much fun next year.

[Thanks, Stephen F.]
Gallery: Dell 'Fractal' Precision T7600 designs

Gallery: Dell 'Fractal' Precision T5600 and T3600 designs
Dell 'Fractal' workstation designs revealed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Comcast 'Xcalibur' test program brings web video, unified search to cable boxes
There's not a lot of details available yet, but according to the Wall Street Journal, Comcast has begun testing features that rival what Google TV and TiVo are doing in the living room by letting cable set-top boxes access streaming video from the internet. Known to participants in Augusta, Georgia as Spectrum and within the company as Xcalibur it combines a DVR with unified search across cable VOD and the internet, plus social media tie-ins, but does not include a full web browser. So far the available content is described only as "limited," so we're going to guess that Netflix isn't on the menu but with rumors indicating it could launch to other areas in 2011 it could very soon be taking its place as the next Xfinity branded tie-in next to current efforts bringing TV content to iOS , Android and other platforms.
Comcast 'Xcalibur' test program brings web video, unified search to cable boxes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceWall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments
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Microsoft to demo new slate PCs, Windows 8 tablet functionality at CES?
The CES 2010 Ballmernote has become something of a black mark for Microsoft -- the company's delivered almost nothing in the year after Steve demoed the HP Slate and talked about future Windows 7 Slate PCs -- but as one would assume, Redmond's expected to pick up right where it left off in just a few weeks at CES 2011. According to the New York Times, Microsoft's prepping to explain how it will target the iPad with the help of a number of partners, including Samsung and Dell. While the article is quite vague, it looks like the keynote will include a few new tablet demos, including one of a new Samsung device that sports a "slick" slide out keyboard -- we'd put money on that being the 10.1-inch Gloria. The Times says the Samsung tablet (not to be confused with the Samsung Galaxy Tab) will run some sort of software layer when "the keyboard is hiding and the device is held in portrait mode," but Microsoft's is also reportedly eschewing a central app store for native tablet apps and instead encouraging software companies to build HTML5 -based web apps. That certainly sounds a lot Google's Chrome strategy (and a strategy that could backfire since HTML5 apps will work on Chrome OS devices and iPad equally well), but the Times' source didn't know if these "apps" would be ready for CES as they are "still in production."

As far as we can tell, a lot of this is still built upon Windows 7, but it's also rumored that the Redmond gang will tease Windows 8 on stage -- something that sounds extremely plausible to us, since we've heard from numerous sources that Microsoft's real tablet strategy will rely on Windows 8 and a new all-touch interface that the company has been working incredibly hard on. While Windows 8 isn't due out until the later half of 2011 / early 2012, Ballmer would do well to use his CES time to tell us about Microsoft's "riskiest" product bet and finally do something to address Microsoft's notable absence from the modern tablet market. Of course, nothing's for sure, except for the fact that we'll be there, providing live coverage of the entire thing.

Update: We've been thinking about it (as well as keeping an ear on our chatty Tweeps) and there's also a chance that Microsoft could show off its own Windows 7 software layer for tablets. Either way, we're hoping to get some major answers.
Microsoft to demo new slate PCs, Windows 8 tablet functionality at CES? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceNew York Times  | Email this | Comments
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Shocker! Internet use now ties TV in time spent avoiding outdoor activity
Despite a huge dropoff in cable subscribers this year, Forrester Research's 40,000-strong survey pegs consumer TV consumption at about 13 hours weekly, same as it ever was. But lo and behold, reported internet use has also risen to 13 hours weekly, a veritable tie to which we naturally reply, "what took it so long?" This number represents a 121 percent uptake in the past five years and attributes its success to multitaskers and those who are spending less time with radio, newspaper, and magazines -- again, nothing too mind-blowing to our perception of reality. If the survey has revealed anything surprise to us, it's that email is only used by 92 percent of those questioned, leaving at least eight percent classically trained in case the post-apocalyptic world of Kevin Costner's The Postman ever becomes reality.

[Image Credit: ICHC]
Shocker! Internet use now ties TV in time spent avoiding outdoor activity originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceWSJ, Forrester  | Email this | Comments
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Afghanistan moves ahead with plans for national electronic ID cards
It doesn't appear to involve the biometric IDs that were first proposed by NATO, but the Afghanistan government has just announced plans to issue electronic ID cards to everyone in the country -- an undertaking that it hopes will be complete in five years. That admittedly difficult effort got off to an official start today with the signing of a $101.5 million contract with Afghan company Grand Technology Resources, which will apparently be responsible for producing the wallet-sized cards themselves. In addition to the usual identification, those will each contain a chip that stores the individual's drivers license, vehicle registration, signature and voting registration records -- the latter of which is particularly key, as one of the main reasons for the cards existence is to ensure "fairer, more transparent and efficient" elections in the future.
Afghanistan moves ahead with plans for national electronic ID cards originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments
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Chevy Volt starts shipping to customers, most of whom forgot they ordered one last decade
Mark it down, folks -- it's a monumental day. In a way, this marks the end of one of the longest running sagas covered at Engadget, but in reality, it's probably the start of something else entirely. Chevrolet's Volt was once the starlet of the electric vehicle universe. And then 2009 happened. In the meanwhile, a smattering of other automakers have moved forward with hybrid and pure electric plans, with Tesla's Roadster heading out to thousands of motorists and Nissan's Leaf shipping to customers earlier this week (just to name a couple). Of course, GM still maintains that the Volt is the "world's first-and-only electric vehicle with extended-range capability," but we're sure a laundry list of rivals would love to argue that point. Regardless of the hurdles and hardships, Chevy has still managed to turn a far-flung concept into reality for around 160 people this week, and a slow but steady trickle of these things should continue for the foreseeable future. If you're wondering if placing an order is right for you, have a look at our most recent test drives.Continue reading Chevy Volt starts shipping to customers, most of whom forgot they ordered one last decade
Permalink   |  sourceGeneral Motors  | Email this | Comments
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Seagate trots out 2.5-inch 1TB Constellation.2 hard drive, dares you to wear it out
Western Digital may have shipped the industry's first 2.5-inch 1TB hard drive, and PureSilicon may have done likewise for the SSD sector, but Seagate is still finding a way to lay claim to a "first" with its newfangled Constellation.2. This here 2.5-incher is hailed as the "first 1TB 2.5-inch enterprise HDD," with it being primed and ready for the insane demands generally found in DAS, NAS, SAN and other nonstop business environments. You'll get 6Gb/s performance, T10 Protection Information (you know, for keeping your scanned travel receipts safe and sound) and 1.4 million hours MTBF. There's a self-encrypting drive option for those who just can't be too careful, and it'll be out and about later this month in capacity choices of 250GB, 500GB, and 1TB. Mum's the word on pricing, but Dell ought to be offering 'em across its enterprise products before the dawn of 2011.Continue reading Seagate trots out 2.5-inch 1TB Constellation.2 hard drive, dares you to wear it out
Permalink   |  sourceSeagate  | Email this | Comments
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Google's Zeitgeist report for 2010: America loves the Bieb, already forgot about BP
Google recently released its annual Zeitgeist report of hot search terms for the year, and if you ask us, what people aren't searching for is just as interesting as what they are searching for. The climate is going topsy-turvy, oil sources have peaked (or are currently peaking), Afghanistan is a boondoggle, and the season finale of The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret was one of the least satisfying in the history of sitcoms -- but what tops America's primary concerns? That's right: Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Chatroulette, and Apple's iPad. It almost makes us long for 2009, when Michael Jackson and the swine flu were all the rage. Almost.
Continue reading Google's Zeitgeist report for 2010: America loves the Bieb, already forgot about BP
Permalink CNET  |  sourceGoogle Zeitgeist  | Email this | Comments
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Latest Boxee Box update lets locally stored content shine, adds 3D compatible UI and more
Just a couple of weeks after its Thanksgiving Day refresh, the Boxee Box is getting another update that should hopefully appease users who prefer to stream their own content as opposed to media from internet sources. As seen above, one of the new additions is an option during the initial setup or in the options menu to indicate which source one prefers more. There's also genre filtering and an alphabetical scrollbar for local files as well as the option to hourly scan SMB/UPnP/USB sources, and a settings toggle to make the onscreen display and any subtitles compatible with side-by-side or top/bottom compressed 3D content. Check the blog post for all the details and a long list of bug fixes, according to CEO Avner Ronen we can expect another one before the year is out that will bring improvements to the browsers and new content/apps.
Permalink   |  sourceBoxee Blog  | Email this | Comments
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T-Mobile drops the G2 to $50 on contract, really wants you to buy one
Pretty self-explanatory really: the T-Mobile G2 is now available to buy for a measly 50 greenbacks from its carrier's online store. It's a web-only deal, but it's sweetened by free overnight delivery for anyone ordering before the 20th of December. So, $50 and two years of your wireless freedom in exchange for a phone capable of exploiting T-Mobile's HSPA+ network and offering an almost stock Android experience? Decisions, decisions.
T-Mobile drops the G2 to $50 on contract, really wants you to buy one originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Android Community, TmoNews  |  sourceT-Mobile  | Email this | Comments
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All Things D posts full Mike Lazaridis video from D: Dive Into Mobile
By now you've no doubt heard about Mike Lazaridis' recent appearance at the D: Dive Into Mobile conference, where the RIM co-CEO arrived with his own personal reality distortion field and made statements like the surprising fact that RIM "arguably" invented the smartphone, and that the BlackBerry Torch is actually fast. Don't believe us? Well, thanks to All Things D, you can now watch the complete 40-minute appearance for yourself, which just so happens to also include a fairly lengthy demo of the PlayBook. Check it out after the break.
Continue reading All Things D posts full Mike Lazaridis video from D: Dive Into Mobile
All Things D posts full Mike Lazaridis video from D: Dive Into Mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAll Things D  | Email this | Comments
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The Engadget Show returns Friday, December 17th with televisions, robots, giveaways, and more!
Ladies and gentlemen, it is that time again: Yes, the Engadget Show is back in a big way this Friday, December 17th at 6:30pm at The Times Center in New York City! First up, Josh sits down with Mitsubishi product chief Frank DeMartin for a deep-dive into the future of televisions and a look ahead at what to expect at next month's CES 2011. Nilay and Paul will be on hand for a raucous roundtable and the folks from Aldebaran Robotics are coming all the way from France to show off their NAO robot. Plus, we'll have a never-before-seen tour of iRobot's labs, an exclusive demo from Ubisoft, mind-bending music from Bit Shifter, and one lucky audience member will be walking away with a brand new 46-inch Mitsubishi LT-46164! What's more, Google is hooking us up with five Cr-48 Chrome notebooks to give away in addition to some other special giveaway surprises. Trust us when we say that you really don't want to miss this one! Remember, giveaways happen at the live show only, so make the trek and join us at The Times Center in person. We have a new ticketing policy, so if you're coming to the live show, be sure to read about it below. If you're geographically incapable of joining us in New York City, just tune into the stream right here on Engadget.

The Engadget Show is sponsored by Sprint, and will take place at the Times Center, part of The New York Times Building in the heart of New York City at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues (see map after the break). Tickets are -- as always -- free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served... so get there early! Here's the updated info on our new ticketing policy that you need to know:
  • There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free
  • The event is all ages
  • Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 2:00PM on Friday, December 17th, doors will open for seating at 5:45PM, and the show begins at 6:30PM
  • We now have assigned seating, so the first people to get their tickets -- and the Sprint text-to-win winners (see below) -- will get priority seating. This also means that once you get a ticket, your seat is guaranteed -- you won't have to get back in line to get a good seat.
  • Ticketing will continue until all tickets are given away
  • You cannot collect tickets for friends or family -- anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket
  • Seating capacity in the Times Center is about 340, and once we're full, we're full
  • The venue is located at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City (map after the break)
  • The show length is around an hour
If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com.

Subscribe to the Show:

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[RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically. Continue reading The Engadget Show returns Friday, December 17th with televisions, robots, giveaways, and more!
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Apple job listing calls for Verizon iPad engineer, hints at a lot more
Do you "have enterprise sales experience and an existing knowledge of the mobile market and the technologies that support it?" Do you "have strong IT knowledge in the areas of enterprise messaging and collaboration, VPN, WiFi and enterprise security technologies?" And most importantly, do you "possess the ability to work without direct supervision or detailed direction?" If so, you might just be suitable for Apple's latest and greatest job listing. The HR team in Cupertino is apparently looking for a Verizon iPad system engineer, primarily to work with Apple's sales team and legions of business partners in order to "drive the adoption of iPad in enterprise accounts." What's interesting is the Verizon angle; if Apple simply wanted nondescript iPads in Corporate America, why hire someone familiar with Big Red? Moreover, this certainly says something about Apple's relationship with Verizon -- namely, that it's growing, and we're guessing that the pleasantries will eventually extend far beyond a tablet. So yeah, it's no real shocker that Apple and Verizon are in cahoots on some level, but this kind of invitation usually comes with one or two undercover intentions. Any upstanding gentleman attached to his better half would understand.
Apple job listing calls for Verizon iPad engineer, hints at a lot more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Electronista  |  sourceApple  | Email this | Comments
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eLocity A7 tablet finally shipping, $399 still buys you Froyo and Tegra 2
Looking for a bargain bin tablet without the bargain bin stigma? We told you around three months ago to look Stream TV's way, but it seems that the same message could be applied today. For whatever reason, the 7-inch eLocity A7 tablet actually didn't ship in September, but according to a fresh piece of PR, that's being remedied today. The A7 -- complete with Android 2.2 and NVIDIA's Tegra 2 silicon -- has started shipping today to those who placed a pre-order, and it's also found a safe and secure spot on Amazon's website. 'Course, it's listed as "out of stock" for the time being, but as soon as the factory lines start cranking at a decent clip, the $399 slate should make an appearance at Walmart, NewEgg, BJs, Tiger Direct and Micro Center (among other places). Emphasis on should.Continue reading eLocity A7 tablet finally shipping, $399 still buys you Froyo and Tegra 2
eLocity A7 tablet finally shipping, $399 still buys you Froyo and Tegra 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAmazon  | Email this | Comments
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Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Docks and Alarm Clocks
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.
Portable media players: from grandma to the nieces and nephews, it seems like everybody's got one. But if they're only using it on the road, they're not getting their money's worth. That's why we've assembled this selection of alarm clocks and docks for every locale and every budget, with the features your loved one will need to get the most out of their device.Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Docks and Alarm Clocks
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Docks and Alarm Clocks originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Kaleidescape launches 100-disc Blu-ray movie server
Kaleidescape has fulfilled its promise of launching the industry's first Blu-ray server by releasing its new 100-disc Blu-ray disc vault we saw at CEDIA that, when paired with its M300 or M500 players, can rip, store, and stream copies of Blu-ray movies throughout the home. However, despite its pricetag of $1,495 (plus $2,500+ for the player) there's still some serious restrictions -- each disc vault has to be connected to an individual player, and the discs have to remain in the vault for the player to stream their ripped copies over the network. Sony's 400 disc changer can store more movies, but this should load them faster and offer easy browsing with cover art and title info. We suppose this is the "simplest" ripping solution available for now, but a year and a half later we're still wondering if Blu-ray's Managed Copy feature will ever launch and make a legitimate movie jukebox option a reality.Continue reading Kaleidescape launches 100-disc Blu-ray movie server
Kaleidescape launches 100-disc Blu-ray movie server originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceKaleidescape  | Email this | Comments
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