Wednesday, January 26, 2011

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 25/01/2011




ContourGPS helmet cam review
ContourGPS helmetcam review
Helmet cameras have now achieved the pinnacle of HD recording: 1080p. If you have the cash, a head, and a pastime worth filming you have a few choices for full HD extreme POV recording. So what's a little lid-mounted recorder to do for its next trick? If you're Contour it's to add a positional sensor and the letters G, P, and S to your product and create the ContourGPS. It lets you not only record your extreme antics but also how fast you were going when you were partaking in them, plus a lot of other information. And, more promisingly, there's a suite of hardware updates here, some paving the way to letting you use your smartphone as a viewfinder. But how does this $350 piece of helmet jewelry perform on the ice? Keep on reading for some video evidence.
Gallery: ContourGPS
Continue reading ContourGPS helmet cam review
ContourGPS helmet cam review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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HP files three more possible Palm tablet names: Touchslate, Touchcanvas, and Duopad
HP has been burning through US trademark filings over the past few months, presumably hoping to nail down as many possibilities for the new Palm webOS tablets as it can -- a "shoot first, ask questions later" type of situation. To that end, it's filed for three more under a very broad computing category that could definitely include the Topaz and Opal models we've been hearing so much about: "Touchslate," "Touchcanvas," and "Duopad." We're pretty lukewarm on the unwieldy "Touchcanvas," but we guess both Duopad and Touchslate could work under the right circumstances. Then again, what's wrong with Topaz and Opal, really?
Permalink PocketNow, PreCentral  |  sourceUSPTO (1), (2), (3)  | Email this | Comments
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System 76 brings Sandy Bridge to Ubuntu with Gazelle and Serval laptops
System 76 brings Sandy Bridge to Ubuntu with Gazelle and Serval laptops
System 76 has been doing open source right for quite some time now, and it's just unleashed what it claims is the "most powerfull Ubuntu laptop in the world" -- so powerful it needs that extra L. It's the Serval Professional, offering your choice of Intel Core i7 processors ranging from the 2GHz 2630QM to the 2.5GHz 2920XM. Graphics are handled by a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M GPU that pumps 1080p worth of pixel dust to a 15.6-inch, LED-backlit display. Prices for that machine start at $1,379 but you're only a few mouse clicks away from three times that. On the slightly lower-end scale is the Gazelle Professional, with a more limited range of processors and graphics options, but the same 15.6-inch display and a price that starts at $1,239. Both come with any operating system you like -- so long as it's Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat.
Gallery: System 76 Serval Professional
System 76 brings Sandy Bridge to Ubuntu with Gazelle and Serval laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 11:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceServal Professional, Gazelle Professional  | Email this | Comments
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Renesas shows off Terminal Mode smartphone integration on ARM Cortex (video)
Renesas shows off Terminal Mode smartphone integration on ARM Cortex (video)
Terminal Mode is something of a standard for smartphone connectivity with in-car systems, but as of now Nokia is the only one really diving in head first with the stuff, and Renesas is jumping right in after it. At the International Automotive Electronics Technology Expo the company showed off its Terminal Mode implementation, running on a Linux and ARM Cortex-powered SoC. As you can see in the video below it replicates the phone's interface exactly, which is something of a problem at this point. With any luck future Terminal Mode implementations will ditch the phoney UI and go with something a little more driver-friendly.Continue reading Renesas shows off Terminal Mode smartphone integration on ARM Cortex (video)
Renesas shows off Terminal Mode smartphone integration on ARM Cortex (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceDigInfo  | Email this | Comments
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Verizon confirms iPhone will get $30 unlimited data plan, we try to act surprised
Verizon confirms iPhone will get $30 unlimited data plan, we try to act surprised
Hot on the heels of re-tooling its data plans Verizon is now confirming that the iPhone will indeed be eligible for the company's $30 unlimited data plan. COO Lowell McAdam told The Wall Street Journal "I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot," thus confirming what we already knew and showing his keen sense for both business and self-preservation. No comment on whether discontinuing the company's $15, 150MB monthly data plan will result in penetration wounds to any other appendages, but time will tell on that one.

Update: As spotted by SlashGear, WSJ has posted an update indicating that the unlimited plan is a decidedly limited time thing, with tiered pricing to come in the "not too distant future." Intrigue!

[Thanks, Mike]
Verizon confirms iPhone will get $30 unlimited data plan, we try to act surprised originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceThe Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments
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Pandora for Mini Connected and SYNC AppLink now available for iPhone
Pandora for Mini Connected now available for streaming to your ride
The Mini Connected app finally hit the App Store back in December, enabling those with suitably equipped little German/British autos to connect their iPhones and iPods and do what nature intended. Well, everything nature intended except for streaming Pandora. Now that solemn right is a possibility too, with the latest version of Pandora available in iTunes. Update that, plug your iPhone into your Mini, and you can get your stream on, just like we did at CES. However, if you're more of a domestics guy or gal you don't have to feel left out, because this new version supports Ford's SYNC AppLink as well. And, yes, we had some quality hands-on time with that, too.
Pandora for Mini Connected and SYNC AppLink now available for iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Telematics News  |  sourceiTunes  | Email this | Comments
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti: second-generation Fermi for the $250 mainstream
Ah, NVIDIA, how far you've come. This time last year we were all wondering if your first Fermi GPUs would operate successfully without a nuclear reactor in our backyards, yet today you're introducing a successor to one of the best value-for-money GPUs the PC gaming world has seen in ages. Yes, the GTX 560 Ti has mighty big shoes to fill, but it's off to a good start with 384 CUDA cores running at 1645MHz, 1GB of GDDR5 RAM running at an effective rate of 4GHz, and an 822MHz graphics clock -- each one a clear and pronounced upgrade over its GTX 460 predecessor. You'll have to check out the reviews below for a detailed breakdown of what those numbers will mean on a game-by-game basis, but there's another way in which this new card is proving its impact already.

ATI AMD has (conveniently) chosen to cut the prices of its Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6950 cards today, while also outing an HD 6950 with just 1GB of onboard memory to serve as a direct competitor to NVIDIA's latest. Competition, ladies and gentlemen, it's an awesome thing.

Read - HardOCP
Read - PC Perspective
Read - techPowerUp!
Read - AnandTech
Read - Bit-tech
Read - TechSpot
Read - TweakTown
Read - Hot Hardware
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti: second-generation Fermi for the $250 mainstream originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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BMW's visions for future mobility look as ridiculous as they are impractical
BMW's visions for future mobility look as ridiculous as they are impractical
Turns out we were way off on this whole car of tomorrow business. According to BMW the car of tomorrow is a form-fitting suit with unflattering horizontal lines and ball-bearing shoes. Or, maybe it's a kind of bat winged jacket that attaches to a collapsible scooter... thing. That one's called Flymag, pictured above, which converts into a backpack and apparently makes you FOF when you sit on it. These concepts and more are courtesy of FDI, the International Design School in Barcelona, and are on display through the end of this month at Rambla de Catalunya. Go see them now before they're relegated to the annals of yesterday's crazy visions for tomorrow.
Gallery: BMW 'The Suit That Takes You'
BMW's visions for future mobility look as ridiculous as they are impractical originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink DVICE  |  sourcetrecool  | Email this | Comments
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Tennessee's Webb School makes iPads mandatory, still looks down on note-passing
We've seen the Kindle DX fail as a textbook alternative, but the iPad marches ever onward as a pioneer of wireless education. Or so it seems, anyway. This time the tablet has set its sights on a private school in Knoxville, TN, where all students from fourth to 12th grade will be required to carry iPads starting this August. Webb School students can either provide their own slate or lease a WiFi-only model for $20 a month. Just like administrators at Seton Hill University, the folks at Webb School see the iPad as an eventual replacement for traditional textbooks, as well as a tool for interactive learning. We've voiced our skepticism about the in-school iPad trend before, and while we still wonder just how effective the devices might be in the classroom, we're interested to see how this thing turns out. You know, we love the Oregon Trail and everything, but don't today's students deserve to see more than pixelated trailblazers dying of digital diphtheria?

[Thanks, Jordan]
Tennessee's Webb School makes iPads mandatory, still looks down on note-passing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Wistv  |  sourceWebb School of Knoxville  | Email this | Comments
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Nokia's leaked MeeGo device resembles dual-core ST-Ericsson U8500 reference platform
Yesterday's leaked image of a purported Nokia tablet device seems to have been more informative than we initially believed it to be. An eagle-eyed forum member over on mobile-review has spotted the similarity between it and a reference platform for ST-Ericsson's U8500 system-on-chip. Last we heard, that little powerhouse was running a pair of 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 cores, so excuse us if we find the prospect of it driving Nokia's next flagship a rather exciting one. You can see video of the reference device in question after the break -- it ends on the delicious and unequivocal assertion from the ST-Ericsson rep that Nokia has signed up to deliver the U8500 in an upcoming device. Bear in mind, however, that the video is from November of last year and we still don't know for sure that the Nokia slate above is its MeeGo progenitor or just a prototype. Either way, the U8500 is expected in smartphones at some point in the first half of this year, which kind of fits Nokia's roadmap, no?

[Image credit: Cor72z]Continue reading Nokia's leaked MeeGo device resembles dual-core ST-Ericsson U8500 reference platform
Permalink   |  sourcemobile-review forums, Charbax (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
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Verizon profits nearly double, but miss Wall Street expectations
Verizon profits nearly double, but miss Wall Street expectations Verizon's quarterly report is in, and profits are nearly twice what they were this time last year: $4.65 billion compared to $2.37 billion a year ago. Additionally, VZW added 872,000 customers, a fair bit more than the 646,000 it was expected to gain. Great news, right? Not if you're a Wall Street analyst, who wanted to see earnings per share of 55 cents. The actual figure was 54 cents, and so down Verizon's shares go, a 1.3 percent drop so far. Nothing particularly shocking there, but this is the last quarterly report the company will have before VZW adds the iPhone to its stable, so we'll be very curious to see what these numbers look like three months from now.
Verizon profits nearly double, but miss Wall Street expectations originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 07:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceYahoo! News  | Email this | Comments
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ColorWare hits a lurid low with Dyson Air Multiplier
When it comes to ColorWare, the surprise is never the choice of colors, it's the price you'll pay for exclusivity on a lime-green and suicide-orange paint job. This time its the already overpriced $300 Dyson Air Multiplier getting the $450 ColorWare treatment. For that absurd price you'll be treated to a brand new "bladeless fan" personalized with the airfoil, base, and control colors of your choosing from a healthy palette of gloss and sofTouch finishes. Of course, there's always the $150 option to send in your existing product for ColorWarezation, assuming you can go three weeks without habitually demonstrating the concepts of inducement and entrainment to baffled pets and family.
ColorWare hits a lurid low with Dyson Air Multiplier originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 07:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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SSTL using Android handsets to control satellites, conquer the final frontier
First, the Mavericks Civilian Space Foundation tested a Nexus One's ability to deal with the stress of a rocket launch. Then, Google floated seven Nexi to the edge of space to see if the phones could cope with the void. Now, Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) is looking to launch a satellite into orbit and use a 'droid -- much smaller than the Astromech variety -- to control said satellite. SSTL, who is helping build Galileo (and is acutely aware of its cost, no doubt), views smartphones as a way to democratize access to space because they are far less expensive than purpose-built control systems. The company hasn't said which handset will be used in the satellite, but they chose Android because it allows engineers to easily modify the phone to do their bidding -- from controlling pulse plasma thrusters to handling the advanced guidance and navigation systems of the foot long satellite. Additionally, the open source OS means that they "could get people to develop apps" for the satellite. We've seen plenty of Android apps, but we're really hoping this venture is successful so we get to see apps... in space.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
SSTL using Android handsets to control satellites, conquer the final frontier originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 06:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink BBC  |  sourceSurrey Satellite Technology Limited  | Email this | Comments
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Woman tries, fails to smuggle 44 iPhones into Israel

Sigh. We don't know whether to congratulate the enterprising spirit of this venture or to bemoan the sad state of a world where a 60-something-year old lady feels compelled to turn into an iPhone smuggler. Either way, Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport has given us a pretty good reason for the use of full body scanners, which revealed the woman in question was strapped with 44 iPhone 4s all around her body. Dressed in traditional Georgian attire, the lady had some struggles walking around, which raised suspicion and got the officials to run her through the machines. Guess this gives us a whole new definition to the phrase "stocking stuffer," eh?

[Original image credit: buystoreshelving.com]
Woman tries, fails to smuggle 44 iPhones into Israel originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 06:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Chip Chick  |  sourceHaaretz  | Email this | Comments
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Comodo console brings internet to Israeli autos, dares you to keep your eyes on the road
Considering how far we've come with in-flight connectivity, internet for the automobile hasn't gained an awful lot of traction. With the introduction of the 3G-connected Comodo console, Israeli start-up Iway Mobile and cellphone provider Cellcom are hoping to change that. The Comodo -- for all intents and purposes -- looks like an iPhone on a stick, and sports a 4.3-inch touchscreen, rear camera for easy reversing, GPS antenna and a cellular modem for consistent connections. Predictably, there's also 3D navigation, an MP3 player, and functionality in 30 different languages. Drivers can access 80 total apps and receive, but not send e-mail -- video functions are accessible only when the car is stationary. Comodo's website features the device mysteriously shrouded in black satin, and provides no evidence of a spec sheet. According to Cellcom, the console costs 109 shekels (or $23.50) a month for 36 months and hits Israel in February. No word on when Comodo will make its US debut, but honestly, we'd be content to just strap our smart phone in and go to town.
Permalink Reuters  |  sourceCellcom  | Email this | Comments
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Nexus S emerges in white attire, but it only covers its rear
Staying true to its Galaxy S forefather, the Nexus S has shown up with a new white shell, which, just as with the Galaxy S, only extends to its rear portions, leaving the front end a familiar shade of noir. Just what's keeping manufacturers from blanching their phones' visage, we don't know, but at least it's looking like there'll be some variation in the Nexus S' palette. We did notice a "Silver Black" Nexus S sprouting up in European retailers' listings a couple of weeks ago, which this could well be -- it all depends on how loosely these companies define the word "silver." There's no knowledge on when or where this chromatically altered S will be on sale, but you'll know more as soon as we do.

Update: First picture from the wilderness of the white back is now embedded after the break. The Next Web suggests Vodafone may be the European carrier for this particular version of the handset.Continue reading Nexus S emerges in white attire, but it only covers its rear
Nexus S emerges in white attire, but it only covers its rear originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 05:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Federal Excess: FedEx introduces liquid nitrogen-cooled biotech shipping, we can envision other uses
Just think about this the next time a FedEx van comes speeding past you -- that four-wheeled transporter could be carrying containers equipped with liquid nitrogen cooling that keeps its innards at a chilly -150 degrees Celsius. Don't worry, though, says FedEx, the use of dry vapor is actually safer than the currently used dry ice and classifies this new methodology as non-hazardous. While we may like to poke fun, it sounds like a pretty legitimate boon for healthcare and biotechnology shipments, which can now be maintained at a deeply frozen temperature for up to 10 days at a time. FedEx will provide the self-sufficient container and collects it upon delivery of the goods, while also monitoring its condition during transit. No word on whether or when DiGiorno will be signing up for the service.

[Thanks, Pavel]Continue reading Federal Excess: FedEx introduces liquid nitrogen-cooled biotech shipping, we can envision other uses
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Music Man Game Changer robo guitar features 250k pickup configurations (video)
"Game Changer" must be the most over-used word in the world of technology, and we try to avoid it as much as possible. Thanks to Music Man, however, it looks like this time we won't be able to. The, ahem, Game Changer is -- in this case -- an all-analog pickup switching system similar to what we've seen in robot guitars in the past. Set to make its debut in select Reflect guitar and bass models this year, the system boasts over 250,000 pickup coil configurations, and since the pickup is being physically rewired, there is never any digitizing or modeling in the system. The USB port is for downloading different configurations from your computer -- many of which will be available on the company website, although of course you can always roll your own. Price and availability to be announced. Video after the break.Continue reading Music Man Game Changer robo guitar features 250k pickup configurations (video)
Music Man Game Changer robo guitar features 250k pickup configurations (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink MI Pro  |  sourceMusic Man  | Email this | Comments
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Samsungs 750 and 950 3D LED monitors do a whole lot, won't give us a price
We reported on Samsung's new line of 3D-enabled LED monitors just before the CES tsunami hit, but it seems the specs got lost in the commotion. So here's what we know about the new 750 series and the asymmetrical 950 series: they'll come in both 23- and 27-inch sizes with 1080p resolution, two-millisecond response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio, and D-sub, HDMI, DisplayPort, and DVI-DualLink connectivity -- and they can all be ordered with a TV tuner for hybrid HDTV / monitor operation. They all do 3D for gaming, TV, films, and user-generated content, and the hybrid 750s and all the 950s can do 2D-to-3D conversion from PCs, Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and set-top boxes. We know what you're thinking: "How much?" Well, we'd like to know the same thing. The whole line hits stores in March, but Samsung has yet to set a price.Continue reading Samsungs 750 and 950 3D LED monitors do a whole lot, won't give us a price
Samsungs 750 and 950 3D LED monitors do a whole lot, won't give us a price originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink CNET  |  sourceSamsung  | Email this | Comments
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iPhone 5 and iPad 2 will come with NFC built in, suggests well-connected analyst
You'll no doubt be aware of our (well justified) distrust for anything that passes a tech analyst's lips, but this time's a little different. Richard Doherty of Envisioneering Group cites "engineers who are working on hardware" for Apple's latest project in asserting what that project actually is: NFC capabilities are apparently being built into the next generation of iPhone and iPad devices. Contactless payments via NFC have been steadily building up in hype and adoption recently -- at least in the western hemisphere, the stuff is commonplace in Japan -- and Doherty predicts Apple will make its move into the field with some new hardware and an accompanying "revamp" of iTunes. The idea would be to allow the use of iTunes gift card balances and the credit card info Apple already has from you to make swiping payments at compatible retail outlets. Apple is said to be planning enticements, like loyalty credits and points, to get you using its service in the place of the competition, and there are already a couple of software patent applications from the company detailing other potential uses for the technology. All of which could mean absolutely nothing, of course, but this seems like an awful lot of smoke for there not to be a fire under it.
iPhone 5 and iPad 2 will come with NFC built in, suggests well-connected analyst originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink 9to5Mac  |  sourceBloomberg  | Email this | Comments
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Google Cr-48 Chrome laptop now shipping with stickers, the good kind
How is it that so few companies get it? While dozens of manufacturers will gladly slap an Intel, Microsoft, or NVIDIA advertisement on the palmrest of your brand new laptop, Google knows better than to partake in this annoying practice. Instead, it ships its Cr-48 Chrome laptop as a sticker-free slab of matte black stealth. At least it did. Now, don't worry, Google hasn't succumbed to the temptation to advertise (ironically) -- it's simply bundling this swank skin and a decal set with new Cr-48 shipments. The choice to apply is yours and yours alone, exactly as it should be. See the finished product after the break.
Continue reading Google Cr-48 Chrome laptop now shipping with stickers, the good kind
Google Cr-48 Chrome laptop now shipping with stickers, the good kind originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Luigi Montanez  |  sourceThe Chrome Source  | Email this | Comments
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IBM says graphene won't fully replace silicon in CPUs
As you may have been able to tell from the flurry of research that's occurred over the past few years (which has even resulted in a Nobel Prize), there's plenty of folks betting on graphene as the next big thing for computing. One of the big players in that respect has been IBM, which first opened up the so-called graphene bandgap and has created some of the fastest graphene transistors around, but is now sounding a slightly more cautious tone when it comes to the would-be demise of silicon-based CPUs. Speaking with Custom PC, IBM researcher Yu-Ming Lin said that "graphene as it is will not replace the role of silicon in the digital computing regime," and further explained that "there is an important distinction between the graphene transistors that we demonstrated, and the transistors used in a CPU." To that end, he notes that unlike silicon, "graphene does not have an energy gap," and that it therefore cannot be completely "switched off," which puts it at quite a disadvantage compared to silicon. Intel's director of components research, Mike Mayberry, also chimed in on the matter, and noted that "the industry has so much experience with it that there are no plans to move away from silicon as the substrate for chips." That doesn't mean that there still isn't a bright future for graphene, though -- Lin gives the example of hybrid circuit, for instance, which could use graphene as a complement to silicon in order to "enrich the functionality of computer chips."
IBM says graphene won't fully replace silicon in CPUs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 01:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink ZDNet  |  sourceBit-Tech  | Email this | Comments
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NASA considering beamed energy propulsion for space launches
Truth be told, it probably does take a rocket scientist to truly understand the scope of what NASA is currently investigating, but the gist of it isn't hard to grok. America's premiere space agency is purportedly examining the possibility of using beamed energy propulsion to launch spacecraft into orbit, and while we've seen objects lofted by mere beams before, using a laser to leave the atmosphere is a whole 'nother ballgame. The reasons are fairly obvious: a laser-based propulsion system would effectively nix the chance of an explosive chemical reaction taking place at launch, and it would "make possible a reusable single-stage rocket that has two to five times more payload space than conventional rockets, which would cut the cost of sending payloads into low-Earth orbit." We're told that the study should be concluded by March, but only heaven knows how long it'll be before we see any of this black magic used to launch rockets. Sadly, we can't expect any Moon missions to rely on lasers for at least 50 or so years, but we're guessing that timeline could be shortened dramatically if Sir Richard Branson were to get involved.

[Image courtesy of Jordin Kare]
NASA considering beamed energy propulsion for space launches originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceSpace  | Email this | Comments
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Panasonic unleashes Lumix ZS10, ZS8, FX78, and TS3 point-and-shoot cameras
Thought Panasonic was done unleashing Lumix point-and-shoots for a bit? Us too, but apparently the compact cam fun isn't over yet. Yep, in addition to the eight it released earlier this month at CES, the company has four new ones for your eyes only tonight. Naturally, we've got all the important details and few glossy shots below. Oh, and if that's not enough for ya, you can always hit the break for the full press releases.
  • Up first are two new powerful shooters joining the ZS family: the DMC-ZS10 and DMC-ZS8. Like the previous ZS cams, the 14.1 megapixel ZS10 has a 24mm ultra-wide-angle and 16x optical zoom Leica lens, records 1080p video, and sports a three-inch touch LCD. The specs certainly impress, but Panny's also hoping you take its 3D Photo mode seriously -- the setting can produce a "realistic 3D photo" by taking 20 consecutive shots and overlaying the best two. Naturally, the images can be viewed on any of the Viera 3DTVs. The ZS8 sports most of the same specs, but cuts it down to just 720p recording. No word on the pricing on these two, but they should be hitting shelves in March.
  • Like its FX75 brother, the DMC-FX78 is all about Full HD. Packing a Leica 24mm wide-angle lens, the 12.1 megapixel FX78 can record full 1920 x 1080-resolution video in AVCHD. But beyond the recording specs, Panasonic has improved its 3.5-inch Smart Touchscreen, which basically allows you to control all the cam's functions -- autofocus, zooming, playback, etc. -- with, well you know, just a touch. Like the ZS cams, the FX includes the 3D Photo mode. As you may have guessed, no pricing yet on this bad boy, but it will come in black, gold, and white in March.
  • Last but not least is the rugged TS3. Like the DMC-TS1, the 12.1 megapixel shooter is completely waterproof, not to mention shockproof, freezeproof, and dustproof. Yep, it's as proofed as they come, and throw in the fact that it packs a compass, altimeter, and barometer and you pretty much can swap this thing out for a ton of other gear. As an actual camera, the TS3 doesn't sound too shabby either -- it can record 1080p video, packs a 3D mode, and boasts a 28mm wide-angle Leica lens. Nope, no pricing, but it'll join the others in March.
Gallery: Panasonic Lumix ZS10 and ZS8

Gallery: Panasonic Lumix FX78 and TS3
Continue reading Panasonic unleashes Lumix ZS10, ZS8, FX78, and TS3 point-and-shoot cameras
Panasonic unleashes Lumix ZS10, ZS8, FX78, and TS3 point-and-shoot cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Robot camel jockeys found packing illegal stun guns, Dubai police say 'Don't tase them bro!'
It's been awhile since we've talked about the remote controlled robot jockeys used in Arabian camel racing, but a recent scandal that has rocked the camel-racing world compels us to revisit the topic. The Dubai police discovered that some shady characters have been selling robot jockeys equipped with stun guns to "encourage" camels to run faster. We're pretty sure that the animals don't need any more incentive to run -- they already have a robot whipping them -- and it's good to see that the powers-that-be agree with us, as the two men selling the machines were arrested. Now that our dromedary friends need no longer fear being tased in the name of sport, we only have to worry about over-zealous peace officers using them on all of us.

[Image Credit: ZDNet]
Permalink io9  |  sourceThe Telegraph  | Email this | Comments
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Toshiba introduces industry's first 1.8-inch hard drives with LIF SATA connectors
Don't ever knock Toshiba for not pumping up the little guy. Well, unless you're producing microSATA-based 1.8-inch HDDs. Tosh has just revealed its newest line of PMP-friendly hard drives, with the industry's first 1.8-inch units being issued with low-insertion force (LIF) SATA connectors. They're being designed for use in media players, tablets and most anything else that can fit within the palm of your ever-sweating hand, with 160GB, 200GB and 220GB models being available. We're told that they surpass 2.5-inch drives in terms of vibration robustness, low power consumption, and quiet operation, and the whole lot also includes a 16MB buffer and requires just 0.35-watts to operate at low power idle. The whole package measures just 5- x 54- x 71mm, and while pricing information isn't readily available, samples will be headed out to product manufacturers next month.
Gallery: Toshiba introduces industry's first 1.8-inch hard drives with LIF SATA connectors
Continue reading Toshiba introduces industry's first 1.8-inch hard drives with LIF SATA connectors
Toshiba introduces industry's first 1.8-inch hard drives with LIF SATA connectors originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceBusiness Wire  | Email this | Comments
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Handyscope attachment turns your iPhone into a dermatoscope, no residency required
Just think -- a decade from now, you won't even need to spend eight grueling years in the books to be able to practice medicine. Instead, you'll be able to drop endless cash on smartphone attachments while letting the robots handle the rest. FotoFinder Systems is one company working hard to make that future a reality, with its recently updated Handyscope iOS app working in conjunction with the camera attachment shown above. To do what, you say? To turn your iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4 into a digital dermatoscope for mobile skin examination. It'll probably make quite a few stomachs turn, but the peripheral + app combo allows mere mortals to take dermoscopic photos which can be viewed with a magnification of up to 20X, enabling users to email them directly to their physician (Dr. Spaceman, we hope) for a second opinion. In all seriousness, we can't imagine anyone at risk for skin cancer even waiting for this thing to arrive before going to get checked out, but if you're willing to pay big bucks to play doctor, the attachment is on sale now for €1,166 ($1,582), with the accompanying app going for a comparatively modest $11.99. Vid's after the break, if you're into it.Continue reading Handyscope attachment turns your iPhone into a dermatoscope, no residency required
Handyscope attachment turns your iPhone into a dermatoscope, no residency required originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink MedGadget, Gizmag  |  sourceHandyscope, iTunes App Store  | Email this | Comments
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T-Mobile's Nokia Nuron 2 shelved?
Of all the phones we didn't expect to have a successor, T-Mobile USA's Nuron ranks high on that list -- though it was a great deal seeing how it didn't require a smartphone data plan, the device itself offered users a pretty miserable (and unnecessarily WiFi-less) experience. New rumors suggest that the carrier had fixed its sights on Nokia's Symbian^1-powered C5-03 as the successor to the Nuron for launch early next month... but don't get your hopes up, because in the same breath, PocketNow reports that the project has already been killed off. No word on the logic behind the move, but the killing echoes the recent news that the X7's AT&T debut had been axed after the two companies failed to agree on marketing and pricing. Doesn't seem like T-Mobile would be playing those same games, but you never know.
T-Mobile's Nokia Nuron 2 shelved? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink TmoNews  |  sourcePocketNow  | Email this | Comments
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Nioncom announces Android-based, pico projector-equipped MemoryKick Vision
MicroVision may not have any plans to turn the pico projector-equipped "mini-tablet" prototype it showed off at CES earlier this month into an actual product, but it looks like little-known Nioncom is now taking the idea and running with it. While it's still a bit too render-y for our tastes, the company insists that its MemoryKick Vision device is real, and that it will hit the US market sometime in the second quarter of the year. It's based around the same PicoP projector used in MicroVision's prototype, but it beefs things up with a larger 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen and, perhaps most notably, a 2.5-inch hard drive that promises to allow for 500GB to 1TB of storage (it also pushes the device's thickness to a full inch). Otherwise, you can expect to get Android 2.2 for an OS, a 5 megapixel camera, WiFi and Bluetooth, an accelerometer, HDMI in and out, a USB port, and an SD card slot for additional storage. Still no firm word on a price, but the company apparently expects it to be in the "mid-$500 range."
Gallery: Nioncom MemoryKick Vision
Nioncom announces Android-based, pico projector-equipped MemoryKick Vision originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePicopros  | Email this | Comments
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RIM: PlayBook battery life will be 'equal or greater than the iPad with smaller battery size'
Hey, can everyone please stop talking about the iPad? RIM's been skirting around Apple's tablet, saying only that its upcoming PlayBook slate would have "comparable" battery life, but now it's dropped all pretense and called the iPad out by name. Specifically, the Canadian company's senior business marketing VP Jeff McDowell has promised that the PlayBook will offer "equal or greater" battery endurance to Apple's device, while using a smaller cell size. The latter part isn't hard to achieve, considering Apple filled most of its slate's innards with Li-Pol juice packs, but the promise of matching its autonomy from the wall socket is a big claim to make. Many people consider that to be among the iPad's foremost strengths, so RIM is surely aiming high by pledging to not only match it, but potentially better it. The PlayBook we saw in person wasn't quite up to that level yet, but there's still time until that March launch for RIM to turn bold words into a beautiful reality.
Permalink @Lessien (Twitter)  |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments
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Notion Ink Adams arrive to eager unboxers, first OTA brings new meaning to DOA
Well, would you look at that? Oh yes, that's a real life Notion Ink Adam on some lucky guy's table after being pulled from its fresh packaging. Sure, that's to be expected considering the 10-inch, Android 2.2 tablets were boxed up and shipped out last week, but after the numerous delays, we've got to say it's a true milestone for the India-based company. However, while the unboxing videos and pictures are flowing in -- there are two right after the break for ya -- there's sadly some rain pouring down on the company's parade today. According to the chaps at Android Police, a few people have encountered serious issues with an over-the-air update that was pushed to these new tablets. Apparently, hitting the update button and installing the software has caused the Tegra 2 Adam to stop booting (picture of that sad sight at the second source link). That's surely a FOF situation (frown on face, for those that haven't listened to the recent Engadget podcast), but word is that Notion Ink has stopped pushing out those updates for the time being and emailed customers about the issue. We'll be keeping an ear to the ground on this one, but in the meantime we'll be here waiting for our review unit to arrive so we can show those amateur, wobbly-cam unboxers how it's really done.
Continue reading Notion Ink Adams arrive to eager unboxers, first OTA brings new meaning to DOA
Notion Ink Adams arrive to eager unboxers, first OTA brings new meaning to DOA originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceNotionInk Fan , Android Police  | Email this | Comments
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Microsoft's answer to the iPad: attack its enterprise weaknesses... even if nobody cares about them
If we were running Microsoft, we'd stop trying to pigeonhole the iPad and focus instead on reversing Apple's domination of the burgeoning tablet market. Alas, for better or worse, we're not the ones in charge, so all we can do is cringe at the news that Microsoft has put together a marketing campaign for its reseller partners that highlights the iPad's enterprise shortcomings. Yes, the device that was patently designed for consumer-centric accessibility is being tarred with the damning brush of being unfriendly to business. The thing is, business customers are indeed deploying iPads in their workplaces, but we're pretty sure none of them are throwing out the ThinkPads in the process, which kinda makes Microsoft's furrowed brows and highfalutin concerns -- such as the lack of enterprise OS patch management tools -- seem, well, disconnected from reality. Still, we know trash talk when we see it and there's a whole ten slides of the stuff at the source link below.
Permalink   |  sourceZDNet  | Email this | Comments
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BlackBerry Balance details emerge: available in two months' time, coming to PlayBook too
If you're champing at the bit to separate your work life and personal life into two distinct, impenetrable entities, RIM's got your back: it turns out that the Balance product announced a few days ago will be available in just a couple months' time. In a recent chat with Retuers, the company's senior VP of business and platform marketing revealed that Balance is already in testing with carriers ahead of a wide-scale launch -- and furthermore, it'll be available on the upcoming PlayBook as well. As a refresher, Balance seeks to let you do all your personal stuff on your BlackBerry while still giving the IT suits in your office unfettered access to the secure stuff -- corporate email and the like -- which means you can carry a single device (as long as you're okay with that one device being a BlackBerry) where you might have previously carried two. Of course, if you've got a phone and a PlayBook, we suppose you'll have two devices anyhow -- but regardless, at least you'll be able to Facebook your face off without corporate security getting in the way.
Permalink CNET  |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments
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Wii Remote Plus joins Kinect and Vuzix shades for 2011's weirdest VR shooter yet (video)
The natural evolution to Nao_u's impressive Kinect- and Vuzix-infused already impressive virtual reality simulator? Guns, of course. A Wii Remote Plus has been added to his project, joining Microsoft's sensor and VR920 LCD glasses for a VR shooting game that involves, well, lobbing paintballs out of a P90 rifle towards flying disembodied anime characters. Make no mistake, it's a great technical demo chock full of aesthetic eccentricities. Full details via the developer's diary, video after the break.Continue reading Wii Remote Plus joins Kinect and Vuzix shades for 2011's weirdest VR shooter yet (video)
Permalink   |  sourceNao_u Diary  | Email this | Comments
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LMP Bluetooth Keypad now ready to mate with your Apple Wireless Keyboard
Cropmark's LMP Bluetooth Keypad is now ready to mate with your Apple Wireless Keyboard
If you've been pining over this one since December -- Wireless Keyboard cold, alone, lacking a dedicated numeric keypad -- prepare to stick something in your shopping cart. LMP has announced that its Bluetooth Keypad is now available. For $39.99 you get a device that clips on to your Keyboard and connects via Bluetooth, adding typical numberpad stuff plus an additional five function keys, though it can certainly work standalone too. We're told you don't even need a separate dongle or driver. Beautiful.

[Thanks, John P.]
LMP Bluetooth Keypad now ready to mate with your Apple Wireless Keyboard originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink TweakTown  |  sourceOWC  | Email this | Comments
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Exclusive: Barnes & Noble phasing out the Nook 3G
Barnes & Noble may be selling millions of Nook products, but it's sounding like the 3G variant hasn't really done its part to help those figures. We've received hard evidence from within B&N that the Nook is being discontinued, with sales to seemingly continue until stock is exhausted. The outfit is encouraging retail partners to not send out any bulk orders for the Nook 3G, as there simply won't be sufficient quantities to fulfill those orders. Of course, we're told that the company never actually received a huge amount of Nook 3G bulk orders to begin with, so maybe WiFi really is everywhere these days. At any rate, grab yourself a Nook 3G post-haste if you've been thinking it over -- once they're gone, they're gone for good. Or, you could wait for a next-gen version with a Pearl display. Just sayin'.

Update: We received clarification that the discontinuation isn't due to the lack of bulk sales, they're just the first casualty of a dwindling supply.
Exclusive: Barnes & Noble phasing out the Nook 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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3M touts capacitive touchscreens with tiny bezels, 10x faster responsiveness
Add another one to the (short) list of obscure things that slipped our net at CES. 3M, a company concerned with the materials and components that go into your delicious new gadgets, spent its time in Vegas this month discussing a new way for building capacitive touchscreen panels. By employing silver as its conducting material, 3M says it has made it possible to shrink the circuits at the edge of a touch panel by a whole order of magnitude, resulting in finger-friendly screens unhampered by bulky bezels. Additionally, due to silver's high conductivity, response times have been shown to dip down as low as 6ms, which is ten times speedier than the currently used Indium Tin Oxide stuff. It's arguable that neither advancement is revolutionary today, as bezels serve a purpose in providing a gripping surface for slate devices and touch responsiveness is currently constrained by software lag more than hardware capabilities, but 3M sure looks to have a nice building block for the future. The future being 2012, according to the company's estimates.
3M touts capacitive touchscreens with tiny bezels, 10x faster responsiveness originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Extreme Tech  |  sourceMIT Technology Review  | Email this | Comments
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Google brings Cloud Print service to mobile Google Docs, Gmail
You'll still need to have that Windows PC acting as an intermediary, but folks looking to use Google's Cloud Print service now at least have considerably more devices at their disposal to print documents from. Following up its roll-out to Chrome OS netbooks last month, Google has now announced that it's begun rolling the service out to its mobile Google Docs and Gmail sites, which you'll be able to use to print documents from most mobile devices that supports HTML5 -- those running Android 2.1+ or iOS 3+, for instance. What's more, while you will still need that Windows PC connected to your printer for the time being, Google now notes that both Mac and Linux support are "coming soon."
Google brings Cloud Print service to mobile Google Docs, Gmail originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceGoogle Mobile Blog  | Email this | Comments
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Fred Armisen gets caught in a technology loop, discovers MiND-Fi
Sometimes our modern life can feel overwhelming. Sometimes it can feel like it's all too much -- like everything is happening at once, and you've got no control over anything. Sometimes, the gadgets we buy to make our lives simpler end up making them a lot more complicated. We suspect that similar sentiments drove the brains behind the new IFC sketch comedy show Portlandia (Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein) to come up with the bizarre, hilarious video in this post. Just a word of warning -- once you see it, you can never un-see it. Watch at your own risk... after the break.Continue reading Fred Armisen gets caught in a technology loop, discovers MiND-Fi
Fred Armisen gets caught in a technology loop, discovers MiND-Fi originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Magic Box MagSafe mod kit brings the external battery back to your Mac (some assembly required)
It ain't exactly soldering guns at dawn, but it looks like HyperMac is going through a few somersaults to ensure that its products stay on the market without offending the legal team at Apple. First there was the HyperJuice auto / airline adapter, and now the Magic Box takes things to an even more invasive level. First step: cut the power cord of your Mac's MagSafe power adapter in half. Second step: feed the cable that you cut in half into the MagicBox... and you now have your very own HyperMac battery pack for those extra-long liveblogging sessions. Seems dead simple, right? And for the time being, the company is throwing in a free car charger to sweeten the deal. Available for $50 in March.
Permalink Gizmodo  |  sourceHyperMac  | Email this | Comments
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