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| (You can't get n0) SATAsfaction 6Gbps SSDs (y3t)
April 27, 2010 at 2:10 AM
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| | Enterprise solid state drives aren't typically 0ur foray, but when they support SATA 6G, we we pay attention. It also doesn't hurt when they sport a fantastic name. The SATAsfaction drives fr0m Accelerated Memory Production (AMP) have both Sandforce controllers and the speedy ports to match, alongside 12 byte per sector ECC error correction and TRIM support. Still, they're not the fastest SSDs around, clocking in at only 260MB / sec reads and 150MB / sec writes, but they do have SLC flash memory for likely higher reliability than the current speed demon. No pricing or availability yet, but SLC NAND is pretty expensive stuff... so unless you're buying for a corporation with a large bankroll, better count on wai! ting for the cheaper Devo version. Continue reading (You can't get no) SATAsfaction 6Gbps SSDs (yet) (You can't get no) SATAsfaction 6Gbps SSDs (yet) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 01:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  SlashGear |  Amp Inc | Email this | Comments |
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| FiOS adds Youtube and internet radio for all HD customers
April 27, 2010 at 1:01 AM
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Show full PR text Verizon Enhances FiOS TV With YouTube and Internet Radio
Verizon Further Redefines Home Entertainment by Expanding Internet Content on TV
and Making Media Manager Available to All FiOS TV HD Customers
NEW YORK -Verizon is taking the next step in redefining the way people watch TV by adding YouTube to its innovative FiOS TV Internet Video capabilities. Qualified customers can now simply use their remote controls to search for and enjoy any YouTube video -- right on their TV screens. Verizon is also introducing Internet Radio, for FiOS TV subscribers, providing access to hundreds of stations nationwide and the ability to stream music from the PC to the TV.
Verizon's Internet Radio and Internet Videos services are both accessible via Media Manager, which already allows subscribers to search and view on their TVs user-generated content from online video-sharing sites blip.tv, Dailymotion and Veoh. In addition, Verizon has expanded the Media Manager service, making it available to all FiOS TV HD customers. Previously, it was available only to DVR customers. The availability of YouTube, the world's most popular online video community, will add thousands more daily videos to the service.
(For screen shots and video, visit http://verizon.mediaseed.tv/Story.aspx?story=37370).
"Adding YouTube and Internet Radio to FiOS TV further expands our customers' digital home-entertainment world by giving them access to an unprecedented amount of online content on the biggest screen in their home - their TV," said Shawn Strickland, vice president of consumer strategy for Verizon. "When customers connect their homes to our all-fiber network, their TV and Internet worlds seamlessly come together to create experiences cable can't deliver. We are working with some of the most popular companies on the Web to create a high-quality, engaging Internet-to-TV experience that will only grow richer with time."
Internet Radio, Internet Videos and all other FiOS TV features can be controlled via Mobile Remote, which Verizon introduced in February. Customers who have a Droid by Motorola or HTC Imagio mobile phone can use those devices as a television remote control. The mobile remote has virtually the same functionality as the standard FiOS remote, plus additional features including instantly transferring photos from the handset to the TV screen.
According to Steven Hawley, principal analyst and consultant of the industry research firm tvstrategies, these latest additions will markedly increase the value of FiOS TV to its customers and move FiOS TV further ahead of competing cable TV products.
"While other providers see the Internet as something of a threat, Verizon has embraced it in order to deliver the kind of socially-enabled personal media experience that so many of today's consumers want to see, and have been asking to have on their TV," said Hawley. "Rather than blurring the line between TV and the Internet, Verizon has moved the line to embrace them both, and has raised the bar against its competition.
Set Up is Easy
To watch YouTube on FiOS TV, customers need a FiOS TV DVR or high-definition set-top box and Verizon's Media Manager software - accessible for Window-based PCs. Users visit http://www.verizon.com/MediaManager to download and install free Media Manager software on their PC. They then access the service by selecting the "Media Manager" option on the FiOS TV Interactive Media Guide menu or through the Widget carousel. Subscribers already using Media Manager simply click on the upgrade prompt to receive the free software update, which will be automatically added to their service by Verizon.
Users can search YouTube and other available video-sharing sites individually, or all sites at once, using key words or by selecting "most watched" and "top rated" categories; view thumbnail screen grabs of videos that appear in search results and bookmark favorite videos -among other features. Consumers also have the option to watch videos in full-screen mode. Using the FiOS TV remote control, customers can log onto their YouTube account and view their favorite or self-uploaded videos stored with their online account.
In addition to the video-sharing features, Media Manager for PC includes Photo Manager and Music Manager features that help customers organize, manage and enjoy multimedia both on the PC and on TV. The service also includes a library of all personal videos, Internet videos from select Web sites, photos and music stored on a PC.
FiOS provides next-generation interactive services including an advanced interactive media guide; social-networking, news and entertainment widgets; remote DVR management via broadband or cell phone; multi-room DVR; Internet videos on TV; streaming of personal videos, photos and music from home computers to the TV; and many others.
For more information on FiOS TV, consumers can visit www.verizon.com/fiostv or call their local Verizon sales office or 888-438-3467. Check out our new 'Fans of FiOS' Facebook page to get breaking news on upcoming product releases. For the latest news, updates and information about FiOS TV, visit www.verizon.com/newscenter and http://www.verizon.com/athomeblog. FiOS adds Youtube and internet radio for all HD customers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments |
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| Rhapsody for iPhone updated, now takes its music offline (in a good way)
April 27, 2010 at 12:01 AM
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| | We heard back in mid-March that Rhapsody for iPhone was getting an offline mode for downloading music and playing at times of no reception (like most subway rides). Good news, folks, today is the day the app get this coveted update. Lest we forget, t00, with this summer's OS 4 release finally enables background music, Real's aural offering just got even more enticing. Press release after the break, or hit up the iTunes link to download now -- don't forget, though, that a monthly subscription plan is still required for playback. Continue reading Rhapsody for iPhone updated, now takes its music offline (in a good way) Rhapsody for iPhone updated, now takes its music offline (in a good way) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  iTunes | Email this | Commen! ts</ td> |
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| Bacteria's back with portable Nintendo 64, complete how-to guide
April 26, 2010 at 11:01 PM
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The quest to build the perfect portable Nintendo 64 continues, but we imagine we'll stop seeing so many disparate designs soon. That's not because Bacteria's latest bulbous handheld has achieved perfection -- far from it -- but rather because he's provided! a 2.5-hour, step-by-step video guide to help you build it from the ground up. And hey, the system isn't too shabby, either. The "iNto64" portable features integrated Controller, Rumble and Expansion Paks for complete N64 functionality, built-in speakers and a headphone jack, rechargeable batteries for up to three hours of play, even a video-out port if you get tired of staring at the ubiquitous 5-inch Sony PSone LCD. The only obvious oversight is controller ports for more inputs -- seems our buddy Bacteria wasn't a big fan of GoldenEye. See it play some of N64's other best games after the break, while we dust off our gamebit screwdriver. Obvious though it may seem, know what you're getting into before you do likewise; ripping up classic cart-based consoles isn't for the faint of heart.Continue reading Bacteria's back with portable Nint! endo 64, complete how-to guide Bacteria's back with portable Nintendo 64, complete how-to guide originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Gizmodo, Retro Thing |  Bacteria (1), Bacteria (2) | Email this | Comments |
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| Eken's $100 Android MID reviewed: you get what you pay for
April 26, 2010 at 10:06 PM
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| | When we first spotted the Eken M001 MID, we immediately liked its honest nature. The M001 didn't claim to be an iPad killer, or boast ridiculous specs and decades of battery life; it was simply cheap, and proud of it. Now, Shanzai.com has discovered the tablet is exactly what we expected. Running Android 1.6 with a VIA WM8505 processor, the device is pokey with terrible battery life, and the 7-inch, 800 x 480 resistive screen has noticeable lag. Still, the M001's moderately capable; think of it as a digital photo frame with tablet functionality -- like the HP Dreamscreen, but affordable and battery powered -- rather than the other way round. Were it readily available stateside, we could see a few souls actually picking it up for $680 RMB (about $100)... b! ut definitely not the $200 Haleron asked for in February. Video after the break. Continue reading Eken's $100 Android MID reviewed: you get what you pay for Eken's $100 Android MID reviewed: you get what you pay for originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  SlashGear | Shanzai.com | Email this | Comments |
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| Inhabitat's Week in Green: cow treadmills, electric cars, and the Milan Furniture Fair
April 26, 2010 at 9:17 PM
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| The Week in Green is a new item from our friends at Inhabitat, recapping the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us.
 It was a busy week in green design as the design world's most important trade show, the Milan Furniture Fair, wrapped up, and Earth Day hit with full force on Thursday, April 22nd. Inhabitat brought you the most incredible green designs from Milan -- from LED lamps made almost entirely from soap to Inigo Mauerer's stunning new stripped-down OLED chandelier to gigantic architectural LEGO bricks (with life-size lego furniture to match!)
We also caught wind of several curious new energy developments from across the pond -- first, the UK is hatching a plan to recycle human waste into fuel by piping biomethane from the sewage system back into homes in Oxfordshire. Meanwhile a farmer in Norther Ireland has created a treadmill for cows that he thinks could generate 6% of the world's power. More conventional alt energy sources are on the rise as well - this week researchers announced advances in dye solar cells that make strides towards grid parity and a gasification process that! is capable of doubling biofuel production.
Several major auto manufacturers also got our engines racing this week as they unveiled the next generation of sleek electric rides. Toyota officially revealed plans for a minivan sequel to it's ever-popular Prius while Chevy charged ahead with the MPV5, a larger version of the Volt sedan that seats five and packs extra space in the trunk. And finally, if classic cars are more your style, don't miss this cloth-covered retrofit to a rusty old MG Midget.Inhabitat's Week in Green: cow treadmills, electric cars, and the Milan Furniture Fair originally appeared ! on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments |
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| Nokia N8 earns FCC seal with T-Mobile 3G on board
April 26, 2010 at 8:26 PM
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| | If you're a Symbian fan, a Nokia fan, or simply a lover of 12 megapixel cameraphone sensors, it's a great week to be alive what with the mighty N8's specs and Eldar Murtazin-penned mini-review all going live ahead of Nokia's official unveiling. But wait, the N8 fest isn't over quite yet: the AWS 3G version of the phone just garnered the FCC's blessings, turns out. How do we know this is the T-Mobile-ready N8, exactly? Well, the device is listed simply by its internal code, RM-596, throughout the paperwork -- but the shape of the FCC ID label (which is laser etched, as the filing points out) is exactly what we'd expect ! given the shots of the N8 we've seen so far, and it looks like it'll appear on the endcap of the phone with the camera hump visible just underneath. Given the leaked specs, we're expecting a version with T-Mobile support anyway, so we're nearly certain this is it. If Murtazin's take on Symbian^3 is any indication, there might not be much reason to get stoked about this thing -- but hey, at least the FCC is going to be totally cool with you blowing your cash on it. Nokia N8 earns FCC seal with T-Mobile 3G on board originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  FCC | Email this | Comments |
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| OCZ's Agility 2 SSD reviewed: despite limits, SandForce SF-1200 drive performs well
April 26, 2010 at 7:44 PM
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|  Contrary to popular belief, one solid state drive isn't the same as another solid state drive necessarily. OCZ's new Agility 2 is proof of that, boasting the final (v3.0.5) version of SandForce's SF-1200 firmware. The issue here is that Corsair's recently released Force series of SSDs are shipping (and continue to ship) with v3.0.1 installed, which -- according to SandForce -- will never be viewed as the final version ready for m! ass consumption. As the story goes, v3.0.1 may experience a reliability issue with a power management state, but v3.0.5 caps small file random write performance as to better separate the SF-1200 drives from the pricier SF-1500 drives. Our compadres over at AnandTech were able to put the (factory limited) Agility 2 SSD through its paces, and for the most part, it came out looking pretty decent. Critics found 5- to 10-percent performance gains when compared to Intel / Indilinx offerings, but unless you have to have the absolute best, paying extra for that bump may not be the most intelligent move. The other point here is that while the Agility 2 may be capped with the v3.0.5 firmware, at least its upgrade path is a lot clearer than the aforementioned Force; if you ever take v3.0.1 away from that unit, you can kiss that extra performance goodbye. Hit ! the source link for the full, drama-filled look.OCZ's Agility 2 SSD reviewed: despite limits, SandForce SF-1200 drive performs well originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | AnandTech | Email this | Comments |
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| Mysterious Motorola MT820 poses for a long, leisurely spy shoot
April 26, 2010 at 6:59 PM
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| | Two in one week -- Two leaked Chinese Motorola phones with Android and transparent MOTOMING-like flip covers, that is. However, this one's a little more exciting. Dubbed the Moto MT820, this sleek handset's got a full leaked gallery of nice, clear images courtesy Chinese forum HiAPK, and word has it this might be the first device to make use of the dual-screen 3D patent Motorola applied for early this month. Actual facts are a little more scarce, though spy shots show a front-facing camera, physical home, power, volume and camera buttons, and a microSD slot hidden inside the back cover. Oh, and that spiral G3 logo? That means this particular device is destined for China Mobile's TD-SCDMA network. See all the spicy pics at our more coverage link. Mysterious Motorola MT820 poses for a long, leisurely spy shoot originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink SlashPhone |  HiAPK Forums | Email this | Comments |
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| Student's Windows-based media center brings our own slacker childhoods into perspective
April 26, 2010 at 6:36 PM
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| | When Andrew Macdonald was asked to design a product for a high school class, he went above and beyond the call of duty -- not only did he dream up a piece of kick-ass kit, but he took the next step and made it reality. Taking cues from his Xbox (and taking care to the front-facing lights that drive him to distraction on his current DVR) this bad boy is passively cooled, features the usual HTPC connections (HDMI, optical and coax S/PDIF, eSATA, and USB) as well as 802.11n WiFi and a hot-swappable drive bay. Under the hood, one finds a 1.6GHz Atom 330 with NVIDIA ION graphics, 4GB memory, and the OS (a custom Windows XP hack running Boxee Beta) runs on its own internal flash drive. Things have certainly changed since we were in school, when our home entertainment experience usually amounted to taping Rebel High off of USA Up All Night. Check out the gall! ery and video (after the break) to see this ting in all its glory. Continue reading Student's Windows-based media center brings our own slacker childhoods into perspective Student's Windows-based media center brings our own slacker childhoods into perspective originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments |
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| Police investigating lost iPhone prototype raid Gizmodo editor's home
April 26, 2010 at 6:23 PM
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| | The backstory of the lost fourth-gen iPhone prototype acquired by Gizmodo last week is certainly already the stuff of some legend, but hold on tight, because it just got even wilder: Giz editor Jason Chen's house was apparently raided by California's REACT computer crimes task force under the authority of a search warrant on Friday night and his computers and several other items were seized. That means a criminal investigation led by the San Mateo police and district attorney is almost certainly in full swing, which is, well, crazy. As you know, we published images of the iPhone prototype last Saturday, so we're tracking this story as closely as we know all of you are. For now hang tight and we'll share more info as we get it. Police investigating lost iPhone prototype raid Gizmodo editor's home originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Gizmodo | Email this | Comments |
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| AMD FirePro 2460 Multi-View: four Mini DisplayPort sockets, 13W, no frills
April 26, 2010 at 6:13 PM
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| | It's no Radeon, but AMD's new range of FirePro GPUs might just strike a chord with a few of you multi-monitor maniacs. Just a few short weeks after the debut of the FirePro V8800, AMD as launched the ATI FirePro V7800, ATI FirePro V5800, ATI FirePro V4800, and ATI FirePro V3800, all of which are aimed at assisting digital content creators, well, create content. Frankly, those pro-oriented cards don't do a lot for us, but the FirePro 2460 Multi-View most certainly does. Boasting a low profile (half height) form factor, this relatively simple (read: not for hardcore gaming) card packs 512MB of video memory, hardware acceleration of DirectX 11, an average power drain of just 13 watts and not two, not three, but four video outputs. AMD tells us that this was designed for day traders who need four displays to accurately watch their stock prices fluctuate, but we can think of quite a few others who'd benefit from having access to four Mini DisplayPort sockets on a single, low-power card. All of the devices mentioned here should begin shipping today, with the 2460 in particular demanding a reasonable $299. Continue reading AMD FirePro 2460 Multi-View: four Mini DisplayPort sockets, 13W, no frills AMD FirePro 2460 Multi-View: four Mini DisplayPort sockets, 13W, no frills originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:13:00 EST. P! lease se e our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Hot Hardware | AMD | Email this | Comments |
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| Apple iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter not accomplishing the simplest of tasks
April 26, 2010 at 5:49 PM
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| Look, there's no arguing that Apple charges a boatload for its first-party adapters, and this isn't the first time that one of those overpriced dongles has caused an uproar (Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter, anyone?). But when the company trots out an iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter and promises to enable users to "see their videos and slideshows on the big screen," it should probably make a few clarifications. Instead, more than a handful of consumers are revolting over on Apple's own webstore, noting that any video laced in any type of DRM (iTunes flicks and Netflix streams included) won't output at all. Contrary to popular believe, this adapter doesn't actually mirror the iPad's display, which is fairly absurd in our eyes -- teachers are even stating that Apple's own Pages and Keynote apps won't out! put via the dongle, making this effectively worthless for blowing up presentations for all to see. We (sort of) get the DRM thing, but not including support in your own presentation app? Unacceptable. A tipster has noted that Apple informed him that "it's up to the app makers to enable the video out function," so we suppose all that's needed to solve a lot of controversy is for some switch to be flipped in some direction. Any other hang-ups with this thing that the world should know about? Drop 'em in comments below.
[Thanks, Tony]Apple iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter not accomplishing the simplest of tasks originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Apple | Email this | Comments |
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| Neofonie's WePad tablet shown to German journalists, seems legit
April 26, 2010 at 5:26 PM
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| | Though "Neofonie" is the most apt name for a vaporware company we've heard since "Phantom," it's looking like that very firm's 11.6-inch WePad tablet is actually the real deal. Fed up with all the skepticism it has received of late, the German firm just held a press conference in Berlin to show off a pair of working devices and allay our fears. Netbooknews.de was on the scene, and they took a pair of high-res videos that prove the tablets do, in fact, have a working (though somewhat laggy) touchscreen, and that fancy-pants vertical UI is quite functional. Full screen YouTube videos were ! choppy, but they played, and the Atom N450 CPU loaded OpenOffice and flipped through browser windows without a hitch. But don't take our word for it -- watch the whole 25-minute demonstration after the break, plus a bonus video from AndroidPIT. Then, if you'd be so kind, tell us what the nice company reps are saying. Continue reading Neofonie's WePad tablet shown to German journalists, seems legit Neofonie's WePad tablet shown to German journalists, seems legit originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Netbooknews.de, AndroidPIT | Email this | Comments |
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| Nokia N8's full spec sheet leaks, nothing shocking spied within
April 26, 2010 at 5:03 PM
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| | Just one day after finding a pretty thorough review of the Nokia N8 on a Russian website, the full spec sheet seems to be floating about as well -- also from a Russian source. Unwired View's published what it believes to be the full N8 spec sheet. So what do we find contained within? Well, no shockers, to be sure, but here's what we know: the phone will boast a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen OLED, a 680MHz CPU, 256MB of RAM, swappable microSD capacity up to 32GB, and a 12 megapixel cam. Now, there are also a few rumored features floating around, which include a DRM-free Ovi music store, and LAN IEEE802.11 b/g -- so we'll let you know for sure when we do if those features are going to hit reality. Until then, hit up the source link to check out the full listing.
[Thanks, Staska]Nokia N8's full spec sheet leaks, nothing shocking spied within originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Unwired View | Email this | Comments |
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| NVIDIA Verde to sync up desktop and laptop GPU driver releases, generate smiles galore
April 26, 2010 at 4:42 PM
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| Good news, mobile gamers -- NVIDIA's looking out for you and yours, and if you're tired of lobbying to Congress about the inequities between driver releases for desktop GPUs and driver releases for mobile GPUs, you can finally move on to some other just cause. NVIDIA's Verde driver program has been a relative success over the years, but it's about to become a lot more gnarly when the company outs its 256 Series drivers in a few months. At that time, NVIDIA plans to "completely unify its GPU drivers, so mobile and desktop users will be able to get the latest releases simultaneously." Users won't find the desktop and laptop drivers in the same package, but we're sure each one will be clearly marked on the download page. It's worth noting, however, that these unified releases will only work with laptops featuring discrete GPUs, hybrid solutions utilizing NVIDIA-branded IGPs and Optimus-enabled machines; rigs with multi-vendor solutions (like the Alienware M11x, which uses an integrated set from Intel) won't be allowed to join the party.
In related news, the upcoming release of the 197.16 driver for laptops will bring along support for external displays with 3D Vision, enabling 3D Vision-ready laptops to pipe 3D content to 3D Vision-ready LCDs with ease. Good news all around, but you'll have to give those links below a visit if you're hungry for more.NVIDIA Verde to sync up desktop and laptop GPU driver releases, generate smiles galore originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Hot Hardware | Email this | Comments |
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| FCC launches Spectrum Task Force, unused frequencies become wanted criminals
April 26, 2010 at 4:21 PM
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It's no secret that Julius Genachowski and his posse up in Washington are taking spectrum reallocation very, very seriously in an effort to nip any danger of a wireless broadband crunch in the bud, and the FCC's taken another small step in that process today with the creation of the "Spectrum Task Force." It sounds like the Task Force's main job is to get the entire agency on the same page with regards to its long-term spectrum planning, ultimately playing "a critical role in the execution of the spectrum recommendations in the National Broadband Plan." In other words, the critical topic of spectrum reallocation isn't going away -- and while Genachowski continues to emphasize his intention to make license sales by TV broadcasters fully voluntary, we could see things starting to get hostile if the broadcast industry's mood doesn't change. Unfortunate! ly, we're not aware of any plans for these guys to actually dress up in SWAT uniforms and ride around on Segways should the need arise. Follow the break for the FCC's full statement.Continue reading FCC launches Spectrum Task Force, unused frequencies become wanted criminals FCC launches Spectrum Task Force, unused frequencies become wanted criminals originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Perm! alink |  FCC | Email this | Comments |
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| BlackBerry Bold 9650 video hands-on
April 26, 2010 at 4:01 PM
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| | We'll be very honest with you: unless you're a Tour user amped to upgrade to something that directly addresses your specific complaints, this video might be of little interest. That said, we were able to browse a little site called Engadget (using the same old non-WebKit browser, of course) over the Bold 9650's newfound WiFi support, and while it wasn't about to set any speed records, it'll take some more comprehensive analysis to understand how much blame the WiFi radio, the hotspot, and the browser's rendering engine should take, respectively. We totally dig the optical pad over the old trackball (pardon our stupidity in the video where we attempt to keep scrolling beyond the end of the page -- it wasn't the Bold's fault, honest), and the keyboard is every bit as good as it is on the Tour of old. Check the full, mind-bending experience on video after the break! . Continue reading BlackBerry Bold 9650 video hands-on BlackBerry Bold 9650 video hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments |
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| Windows Home Server 'Vail' beta now available for download, brings improved UI and streaming options
April 26, 2010 at 3:34 PM
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| | It's been a long (long!) time since we've caught wind of a substantial Windows Home Server refresh, but for those waiting on pins and needles, we're thrilled to say that the excruciating wait has finally ended. Sort of. Microsoft has revealed today its public beta of the next version of WHS, code named "Vail." The primary upgrades / changes include the extension of media streaming outside of the home or office, improvements in multi-PC backup and restore, simplified setup and user experience as well as "significantly" expanded development and customization tools for partner. Beyond that, the company's playing things pretty close to the chest, but you can feel free to grab a 64-bit copy of the beta starting today and dig in yourself. 'Course, Microsoft recommends that you install the software on a secondar! y (read: not important to your livelihood) machine, and on the development front, it's introducing a new SDK for those who wish to "create add-in applications using Vail's new extensible programming model." So, whatcha waiting for? That download is a-callin', and a brief demo video is just beyond the break. Continue reading Windows Home Server 'Vail' beta now available for download, brings improved UI and streaming options Windows Home Server 'Vail' beta now available for download, brings improved UI and streaming options originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | The Windows Blog, Microsoft Connect [Download Link] | Email this | Comments |
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| The Engadget Show - 008: Dr. Dennis Hong, Ryan Block, Rick Karr, ATI Eyefinity, and more!
April 26, 2010 at 3:15 PM
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| Greetings humans! The Engadget Show is back in a big way with this latest episode! Josh sits down with the brilliant roboticist Dr. Dennis Hong to chat about his supremely cool yet surprisingly terrifying 'bots, and then take a look at a few models which the professor brought along with him. Correspondent Rick Karr is back to give us the skinny on why the songwriting industry would like net neutrality to be a little less neutral, and Engadget editor emeritus and GDGT founder Ryan Block joins Josh, Paul, and Ross Miller on the roundtable to delve deep into all things newsworthy in tech. We also got to play with the ATI Eyefinity, one of the craziest gaming rigs you'll ever see... and then give it away to one lucky audience member! All that, and music from Neil Voss and visuals ! from NO CARRIER. Okay that's enough reading... time to watch!
Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, Ross Miller
Special guests: Dr. Dennis Hong, Rick Karr, Ryan Block
Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm
Executive Producer: Joshua Fruhlinger
Edited by: Michael Slavens
Music by: Neil Voss
Visuals by: NO CARRIER
Opening titles by: Julien Nantiec
Download the Show: The Engadget Show - 008 (HD) / The Engadget Show - 008 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted)
Subscribe to the Show:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V).
[Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V).
[RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.
Gallery: The Engadget Show with roboticist Dr. Dennis Hong and more!
Continue reading The Engadget Show - 008: Dr. Dennis Hong, Ryan Block, Rick Karr, ATI Eyefinity, and more! The Engadget Show - 008: Dr. Dennis Hong, Ryan Block, Rick Karr, ATI Eyefinity, and more! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds! . Permalink | | Email this | Comments |
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| BlackBerry 6 coming in third quarter of this year
April 26, 2010 at 3:09 PM
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| | RIM's co-CEO Mike Lazaridis just announced in an analyst call today that the company's next platform -- coined BlackBerry 6 -- will be available "in the next calendar quarter," which we take to mean the third quarter of 2010. We weren't able to see a video preview of the platform that was shown to analysts attending the event, but the demo apparently showed a touchscreen interface; a follow-up question from the audience confirmed that it'll be available for both touch and non-touch devices, though. Interestingly, Lazaridis said that the company's all-new WebKit-based browser is part and parcel with 6, pointing out that the rendering engine will have implications throughout the platform and the apps that run on it, not just on the browser alone; in other words, we wouldn't expect a release of a WebKit browser from these guys for OS 5.0-based devices. Speaking of OS 5.0, ! the intention is that every device in RIM's portfolio will eventually run 6, but not everything in the market today will necessarily be upgradeable -- Lazaridis says that they'll "do [their] best," but he's not making any guarantees. More on this as we get it. BlackBerry 6 coming in third quarter of this year originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments |
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| Apple IIe hacked into Twitter station, still looks better than most digiframes
April 26, 2010 at 2:52 PM
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| | This project has all the hallmarks of a classic hack: obsolete hardware, a somewhat frivolous function, and thrilling 8-bit graphics. As you can imagine, getting to the point where this Apple IIe could display Tweets was no mean feat! Custom 6502 assembler code on the PC sends Twitter updates (and user avatars dumbed down to 8-bit) over a custom USB-to-joystick port interface on the Apple. One can even save the data to a 5.25-inch floppy -- you know, because most Tweets are worth archiving for later, even if you must do so in a dead storage format. See it in action after the break! Continue reading Apple IIe hacked into Twitter station, still looks better than most digiframes Apple IIe hacked into Twitter station, still looks better than most digiframes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink UberReview | Atoms & Electrons | Email this | Comments |
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| Virginia Tech researchers reveal full-sized CHARLI-L humanoid robot
April 26, 2010 at 2:32 PM
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|  Dr. Dennis Hong was kind enough to give us a glimpse the CHARLI robot on The Engadget Show this weekend -- or its leg, anyway -- but he and his students have just now finally revealed the full-sized bot that's been described as a "robot teenager." As we'd heard, CHARLI is actually a series of robots that initially consists of the 5-foot tall CHARLI-L (or lightweight, pictured above), and the forthcoming CHARLI-H (or heavy), both of which are completely autonomous, with a full range of movements and gestures thanks to a series of pulleys, springs, carbon fiber rods, and actuators (not to mention some slightly more mysterious AI). What's more, while CHARLI-L is currently restricted to walking on flat surfaces, CHARLI-H promises to be able to walk on the uneven ground around the Virginia Tech campus, and eventually! even be able to "run, jump, kick, open doors, pick up objects, and do just about anything a real person can do." Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any video of CHARLI-L in action just yet, and it is still somewhat of a work in progress -- the researchers say it will be able to speak soon, and they're also busily working to improve its soccer skills in time for this year's RoboCup.
[Thanks, Kyle] Virginia Tech researchers reveal full-sized CHARLI-L humanoid robot originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Virginia Tech | Email this |&n! bsp;Comments |
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| Rumor: Intel to launch Atom N500 series in June, ASUS netbooks to follow
April 26, 2010 at 2:07 PM
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|  Details on this one are pretty light at the moment, but DigiTimes is reporting that Intel will be launching its Atom N500 series of dual-core processors this June. That word comes from the site's "sources from notebook players," who also say that Intel will be revealing more details on its third generation netbook platform at the same time. Unfortunately, that's about as specific as they're getting right now, but there are naturally some netbooks rumored to be launching alongside the new processors as well, with ASUS apparently already planning at least one N500-based netbook for the third quarter of this year that will sell for around $575. Of course, Intel itself isn't! isn't saying any more on the matter than it did during its recent earnings call, but the timing of the rumor does line up suspiciously well with this year's Computex (June 1-5), which would be as good a place as any for a big netbook-related launchRumor: Intel to launch Atom N500 series in June, ASUS netbooks to follow originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink&nbs! p; |  DigiTimes | Email this | Comments |
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| BlackBerry Pearl 3G video hands-on
April 26, 2010 at 1:43 PM
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| | Observe, the rare BlackBerry Pearl 3G feeding in its natural habitat. Just look at the majestic display of vibrant colors as it attempts to court the journalist in a mating dance never before captured on camera! All kidding aside though, here's a quick look at the user interface on the 20-key version of the Pearl 3G; it's stock OS 5.0, so you're not really going to notice anything fresh here, but what we did see worked smoothly and without delay -- the delightful result of pairing a responsive optical pad, 624MHz processor, and what we would assume is a pretty well-optimized build of the platform. As we mentioned earlier, we're pretty sure the keyboards on these things are going to be a polarizing experience for users -- some will love them, others will hate them, still others will tolerate them at first and grow used to them over time. To be fair, the peak-shaped keys are probably an improvement over flat keyboards! of Pearls gone by; when you've got five keys per row on a fairly narrow body, you need all the tactile help you can get. For some reason, we weren't able to connect to RIM's open WiFi network with the particular unit we were given -- the Bold 9650 next to it fared just fine, so we're not sure if the 802.11n-capable radio in this bad boy is a little dodgier than its cousin, but it's definitely something to keep an eye on. Follow the break for the video. Continue reading BlackBerry Pearl 3G video hands-on BlackBerry Pearl 3G video hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments |
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| Alienware M17x now shipping with dual 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 GPUs
April 26, 2010 at 1:22 PM
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|  Tossing a pair of GPUs into a single, beastly laptop ain't nothing new -- in fact, Alienware's own M17x has been offered in such a way since last year -- but having said machine arrive at your doorstep with a pair of ATI's world-beating Mobility Radeon HD 5870s has been downright impossible until now. The earliest of adopters are now reporting (with ear-to-ear grins, to boot) that the! ir dual 1GB HD 5870-equipped M17x machines are finally shipping, and we suspect it'll only be a matter of time before those CrossFire assisted benchmarks surface to make our existing lappies look patently pathetic. So, hit that inbox once more and tell us if you've seen a shipping notification of your own -- and if you've already got your unit in hand, why not expound with a few opinions on how things are running?
[Thanks, Max]Alienware M17x now shipping with dual 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 GPUs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Notebook Review | Email this | Comments |
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| Landscape orientation with physical iPad keyboard possible, thrilling
April 26, 2010 at 12:59 PM
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| | When "Joe," our favorite bloggin' anesthesiologist, sat down for his daily Twitter session (he takes social media very seriously) he couldn't get past the fact that Apple's hardware iPad keyboard was oriented in portrait mode. Pretty weak, right? Well, fear not, iPad users! It seems that your basic dock extender cable will let you attach the keyboard and orient the screen however you desire. Now all of you proud iPad users can get back to worrying about things like protecting your phalanges and Flavor Flav wannabes. Landscape orientation with physical iPad keyboard possible, thrilling originally appeared on Eng! adget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Book of Joe | Email this | Comments |
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| Motorola gives Google the boot, turns to Skyhook for location services
April 26, 2010 at 12:34 PM
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| | Well, this is... something. Out of seemingly nowhere, Motorola has just made the decision to shun Google's location services in favor of those from Skyhook, proudly becoming the "first Android device maker to abandon Google for its location services." According to the release -- which feels atypically jovial to us -- the device maker will marry Skyhook's GPS, WiFi and cellular location in the "vast majority" of its phone models, and since Skyhook will be baked into the OS, every single app can reap the benefits. Reportedly, developers are pretty stoked about the news, and it's pretty clear that Motorola is equally confident that Skyhook's location solution is the best on the market. Not like Google really needs any more frenemies right now, but hey -- you w! on't find us kvetching about anyone keeping the Big Shot on its toes. Continue reading Motorola gives Google the boot, turns to Skyhook for location services Motorola gives Google the boot, turns to Skyhook for location services originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments |
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| Samsung's 1TB / 2TB external Story hard drive goes the USB 3.0 route
April 26, 2010 at 12:13 PM
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| | It was inevitable, really. Samsung's not-so-storied Story hard drive first took the leap to eSATA in November of last year, and for those always in need of the latest and / or greatest, now this very drive has made the logical leap to SuperSpeed. Introduced today as the fastest Story of all time, there's actually not much else that's changed besides the addition of a USB 3.0 socket -- the enclosure's the same, the capacity choices are the same (1TB or 2TB), and it's still unlikely to truly solve all of your problems in one fell swoop. That said, the removal of eSATA here may be a detractor for some, but we're told that the USB 2.0 + eSATA version will still be around in some parts of the globe. Check this one starting today for an undisclosed amount. Samsung's 1TB / 2TB external Story hard drive goes the USB 3.0 route originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Hot Hardware | Email this | Comments |
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| Alex e-reader rooted, five users overwhelmed with joy
April 26, 2010 at 11:53 AM
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| | Well, it was only a matter of time before the Alex e-reader got it's Android sportin' self hacked, right? According to e-reader enthusiast (and oddly named pirate) Bluebrain, this is exactly what he did over the weekend! You're psyched, right? Want to see pics? Get instructions? Try it out for yourself? What else are you going to do on a Monday morning -- work? Hit that source link to get started. Alex e-reader rooted, five users overwhelmed with joy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Android Forums | Email this | Comments |
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| CTL 2go Convertible Classmate PC NL2 now available for the kids
April 26, 2010 at 11:30 AM
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| We may have dropped the Convertible Classmate PC on its head back at its CeBIT launch, but obviously that didn't throw the little netbook off its educational course. Intel along with its hardware partners are now officially launching the improved and re-ruggedized netverible, and here in the US, CTL's added the kiddie laptop to its lineup. The $499 2go Convertible Classmate PC NL2, which is configured with an Intel Atom N450 processor, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, Windows XP Home and a four-cell battery, will start shipping to those ever so studious school children this week.
We can tell you that the kids are lucking out this time. We've been playing around with the netvertible for the last few days, and must say it's one tough piece of hardware. Though we can see the 3.7-pound rubberized chassis putting a bit of strain on smaller arms, it's really easy to grip and the retractable handle is less cumbersome than the previous versions. We've got to admit we were a bit disappointed that the resistive screen still doesn't support multitouch, but it's responsive to finger touches and the included stylus takes some pretty smooth notes. Our $599 unit came with Windows 7 Professional installed, but we continue to love Intel's Blue Dolphin software layer for easily opening programs with a finger. The accelerometer is slightly sluggish to rotate the screen orientation, but we were quickly distracted by the anti-microbial keyboard and r! otating webcam. We'll be here wondering why the kids get to have all the fun, but we encourage you to check out the hands-on pictures and PR below. Continue reading CTL 2go Convertible Classmate PC NL2 now available for the kids CTL 2go Convertible Classmate PC NL2 now available for the kids originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of fe! eds. Permalink | CTL | Email this | Comments |
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| ThinkPad Edge beats Vostro V13 in LCD stress test (video)
April 26, 2010 at 11:09 AM
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| | They might officially be targeting the lower end of business budgets, but a quick peek at the attractive stylings of Lenovo's ThinkPad Edge and Dell's Vostro V13 would suggest that both have no shortage of consumer market appeal. So, for the sake of differentiating between these two thin-and-light machines, Lenovo has provided us with one of its torture test videos. Subjecting the V13 and Edge to (hopefully identical) pressure at varying points across the LCD lid, this procedure assesses the robustness of each machine's screen design. In spite of lacking all the fancy metals presented in its elder ThinkPad siblings, the Edge comes through the test unscathed and begging for more, whereas the V13 ... well, it doesn't. Skip ! past the break to see the hideously disfigured LCD that resulted from its visit to the Lenovo labs. Continue reading ThinkPad Edge beats Vostro V13 in LCD stress test (video) ThinkPad Edge beats Vostro V13 in LCD stress test (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink ThinkPads | Lenovo Video Library (YouTube) | Email this | Comments |
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| Sprint gets BlackBerry Bold 9650: $200 on contract, ships May 23
April 26, 2010 at 10:47 AM
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| We suspected that both Sprint and Verizon Wireless would eventually pick up RIM's hot-off-of-the-press BlackBerry Bold 9650, and sure enough, the former has already come forward with a glowing press release stating as much. Starting on May 23rd (that's just under a month, for those operating sans any sense of time), Sprint loyalists will be able to score this very smartphone for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and 2-year contract. It'll reportedly be available in "all Sprint sale channels," tempting you with that 480 x 360 resolution display, BB OS 5, Wi-Fi module and 3.2 megapixel camera. So, VZW -- got a similar announcement you'd like to make?
[Thanks, Travis]Continue reading Sprint gets BlackBerry Bold 9650: $200 on contract, ships May 23 Sprint gets BlackBerry Bold 9650: $200 on contract, ships May 23 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Sprint | Email this | Comments |
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| BlackBerry Bold 9650 hands-on: yeah, it's a Tour with an optical pad
April 26, 2010 at 10:40 AM
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| | If you had any illusions about what exactly the Bold 9650 is, make no mistake: owning a Tour takes you 95 percent of the way to understanding the experience. The only thing you'll really notice on an ongoing basis is the optical pad, which is definitely a big improvement over the trackball of old -- not only does it eliminate the issue of gunk buildup, but it's totally responsive and arguably even easier to use than the ball for most tasks. The version we used was Sprint-branded, but RIM has unbranded units on hand, too; we can only assume Verizon will end up picking it up, though Big Red has been uncharacteristically silent about the matter so far. Hit up the quick gallery below (or, you know, take your Tour and just tape a picture of an optical pad over the trackball to get the experience firsthand). BlackBerry Bold 9650 hands-on: yeah, it's a Tour with an optical pad originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments |
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| BlackBerry Pearl 3G first hands-on!
April 26, 2010 at 10:21 AM
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| We just wrapped up a quick play with RIM's just-announced BlackBerry Pearl 3G, and our initial impression is a positive one -- if you've currently got a Pearl 8100 series (or even an 8200 series flip, for that matter), this looks like a must-have upgrade. The phone's UI is lightning fast, the optical pad is plenty responsive (as RIM's optical pads tend to be), and 802.11n and HSDPA are obviously both welcome additions. The keyboards are a little funny, but that's nothing new -- Pearls have always had polarizing keyboards, dating back to the early days -- but we think we prefer the 14-key just a smidge over the traditional 20-key. For whatever reason, RIM has chosen to give the 14-key version more rounded, curved keys, whereas the buttons on the 20-key version have angled tops that put a little more pressure on the fingertips (we're sure you could handily get used to either version, of course). The company is quick to note th! at the numeric keypad is not using T9 -- it's using a flavor of SurePress -- so... you know, don't get it twisted. Hit up the gallery below!
BlackBerry Pearl 3G first hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments |
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| Sony shutting down Japanese floppy disk sales by March 2011, kills a tech dinosaur
April 26, 2010 at 10:02 AM
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| | Believe it or not, Sony managed to shift 12 million 3.5-inch floppy disks in Japan last year -- presumably to die-hard old schoolers. Alas, time waits for no one, and the venerable data transporter that started its life way back in 1981 is going to all but cease production by March of next year. Sony was the last of the major manufacturers to keep churning these bits of plastic out, but soon that too shall be no more. Having already shut down operations in most of the world, it's now noted the end of life for its domestic market, and thereby effectively consigned the floppy to the past. Good riddance, you might say, but we still remember fondly the wonder we experienced upon tearing apart our first 5.25-inch floppy. Ah well, the diskette goes the way of the cassette, guess that was predictable. Sony shutting down Japanese floppy disk sales by March 2011, kills a tech dinosaur originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink CNET | Mainichi D! aily News | Email this | Comments |
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| BlackBerry Bold 9650 announced, targets Tour owners' big complaints
April 26, 2010 at 9:30 AM
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| | RIM has a longstanding track record of refining its hardware with near-surgical precision -- from one generation of BlackBerry to the next, you almost always see a very careful, deliberate evolution, from the Storm2's revamped SurePress tech to the Bold 9700's optical pad and countless examples in between. "Evolution" is exactly how we'd describe the CDMA- and GSM-equipped Bold 9650, the Tour's spiritual successor that ditches the old name to join forces with the remainder of the Bold line. Dimensionally, the Bold 9650 is a dead ringer for the Tour -- it's still 4.4 x 2.4 x 0.56 inches -- but it packs on two-tenths of an ounce worth of weight in exchange for oft-requested WiFi support and an extra 256MB of internal storage (it's now up to 512MB total). The other big! difference, of course, is the replacement of the dodgy trackball with an optical pad, continuing a trend that has now permeated throughout virtually all of RIM's lineup. Look for the Bold 9650 to hit American carriers -- presumably both Verizon and Sprint -- in May. Follow the break for a second shot and RIM's full press release! Continue reading BlackBerry Bold 9650 announced, targets Tour owners' big complaints BlackBerry Bold 9650 announced, targets Tour owners' big complaints originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | RIM | Email this | Comments |
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| BlackBerry Pearl 3G revealed: two keypad styles and 802.11n WiFi
April 26, 2010 at 9:30 AM
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| | As smartphones go, the original BlackBerry Pearl 8100 series' longevity is nothing short of astounding -- with some minor tweaks, the phone has lasted essentially unchanged for well over three years. Needless to say, it's time for the granddaddy of consumer-grade BlackBerrys to start collecting pension, so it's an awfully good thing that RIM has chosen its WES conference this week to announce the all-new Pearl 3G. Rumored as the Pearl 9100, the phone becomes RIM's very first with 802.11n WiFi support (in addition to 802.11b and g, naturally) and features a 3.2 megapixel camera, 256MB of internal storage with microSD expansion up to 32GB, GPS, triband HSDPA with quadband GSM / EDGE, and a 360 x 400 display. RIM is making the Pearl 3G available in "several lustrous colors" and two different keypad configurations -- numeric 14-key and the more traditional SurePress 20-key -! - though there's no indication that the rumored QWERTY version will make it to retail (at least, not yet) or that the company intends for users to be able to swap modules themselves. Expect the phone to launch with "various carriers" in May -- and considering that they've got both AWS and 850 / 1900MHz 3G versions in the mix, we'd expect to see it launch on AT&T and T-Mobile alike. Follow the break for RIM's full press release (and a quick glimpse at the 14-key version of the phone). Continue reading BlackBerry Pearl 3G revealed: two keypad styles and 802.11n WiFi BlackBerry Pearl 3G revealed: two keypad style! s and 802.11n WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | RIM | Email this | Comments |
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| Nook outsells Kindle in March?
April 26, 2010 at 9:15 AM
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| | Given DigiTimes' spotty record when it comes to pushing rumors you might be inclined to read "Digitimes Research" as a kind of oxymoron. Unfortunately, as long as Amazon refuses to publish specifics with regard to units sold, these analyst estimates are as good as it gets. What's interesting is that DigiTimes' checks at upstream suppliers reveal that Barnes & Noble's Nook accounted for 53 percent of all e-book readers shipped to US vendors in March. Interesting since Kindle is Amazon's bestselling product and an increasing share of the company's revenue is based on sales of electronics and general merchandise. Still, it's our guess that Amazon doesn't care too much about selling it's own hardware (it's in the business of selling other people's content and goods). Besides, the Kindle app i! s already available on a wide range of devices including Apple's iPad and a wide variety of smartphones. One place you can't install it, however, is on the steadily improving Nook. Nook outsells Kindle in March? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | DigiTimes &! nbsp;| Email this | Comments |
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| Google updates Nexus One page, tells Verizon customers to get a Droid Incredible instead
April 26, 2010 at 9:03 AM
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| | Now this, this is all kinds of silly. Google has been busy updating its phone sales site, and the latest word for Verizon Wireless subscribers encourages them to look at the "similarly feature-packed" cousin of the Nexus One, the Incredible. Importantly, what's missing from the new wording is the "coming soon" tag, suggesting that for all intents and purposes the Nexus has been obviated by the arrival of the Incredible. In a separate blog post updating us on carrier partnerships, Google again reiterates its mini-advert for the new HTC phone on Verizon while keeping mum about the Nexus One's future. A true CDMA variant of le superphone should still be coming wearing Sprint regalia, but it's disappointing to see Google use such doublespeak techniques. Is the Verizon Nex! us canceled or not? Google updates Nexus One page, tells Verizon customers to get a Droid Incredible instead originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Google (1), (2) | Email this | Comments |
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| Core i7-equipped MacBook Pro hits 100 degrees Celsius, your lap cowers in fear
April 26, 2010 at 8:42 AM
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| | Hydrocarbon fuel cell? 600 degrees Celsius. Large Hadron Collider? -271 degrees. Microwave drill? 2,000. Your run of the mill Core i7 MacBook Pro can't compete with these extreme temperatures, but that won't keep it from burning your lap. PC Authority recently put the latest edition of Apple's sleek silver classic through a series of torture tests, and found that running Cinebench could cause the CPU temperature to climb over 100 degrees Celsius. The metal shell proved ineffective at dissipating the heat as well as the similarly equipped Fujitsu Lifebook SH760, which finished the same test at 81 degrees, and actually required PC Authority ! to run the MacBook Pro on its side (see pic above) to complete certain tests. The site thinks that Apple's cooling solution may be inadequate for a Core i7, but these results could be a fluke -- in our experience with the machine, we actually noticed an improvement over the egg-cooking solutions of yesteryear. Core i7-equipped MacBook Pro hits 100 degrees Celsius, your lap cowers in fear originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 07:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink ! |& nbsp; PC Authority | Email this | Comments |
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| Confirmed: Droid Incredible's multitouch support is better than the Nexus One's
April 26, 2010 at 8:14 AM
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| | You might recall that fascinating video a while back showing the Nexus One's touch sensor getting all discombobulated when the tester's multitouch fingerwork started to get a little too fancy, and now, Android Central has confirmed that Verizon's Droid Incredible doesn't suffer the same fate -- but why is that, exactly? Android and Me is reporting that the Droid Incredible and EVO 4G both employ an Atmel maXTouch sensor with unlimited touch support -- a relatively new product launched in late '09 -- whereas the Nexus One is using Synaptics' older ClearPad 2000, which was designed to top out with simple two-finger gestures like pinch zoom. The upshot? Complicated multitouch games might end up being less playable (or downright unusable) on the Nexus On! e, but the silver lining is that HTC's gone ahead and rolled out better components for its latest round of devices that should prevent this from being a problem going forward. Follow the break for Android Central's video of the Droid Incredible multitouching circles around the Nexus One -- figuratively speaking, of course. Continue reading Confirmed: Droid Incredible's multitouch support is better than the Nexus One's Confirmed: Droid Incredible's multitouch support is better than the Nexus One's originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Neowin.net | Android Central, Android and Me | Email this | Comments |
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| Sony PS3 upgraded with cooler 45-nm RSX graphics chip, profits await
April 26, 2010 at 7:27 AM
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| | It's a milestone folks: the PS3 hardware is finally ready to generate a profit. The loss-leading console once estimated to cost Sony more than $800 per (losing between $241 and $307 per console sold back in 2006) has likely turned a corner thanks to a reduction in manufacturing costs. While Sony isn't saying anything on the matter, PocketNews confirms that the latest PS3 sku -- CECH-2100A spotted in the FCC back in February -- uses an improved RSX graphics chip based on the smaller 45-nm processes shared with the PS3 Slim's new Cell processor. The result is a 15% decrease in console power consumption when compared to the 120GB CECH-2000A PS3 Slim sporting a 65-nm RSX. The cooler running chip allows for a stealthier heat sink and power supply in addition to a smaller cooling unit. Those changes in addition to fewer adjoining chips around the shrunken RSX should make the console cheaper to build which is good news to Sony's sagging bottom line. Sony PS3 upgraded with cooler 45-nm RSX graphics chip, profits await originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 06:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink GamesIndustry, PlayStation University | PocketNews | Email this | Comments |
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| Nexus One launches on Vodafone UK this Friday, April 30
April 26, 2010 at 7:07 AM
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| | The first European carrier for the Nexus One is all set to start offering Google's superphone for free on two-year contracts costing £35 ($54) or more per month. Pre-orders are being taken today and full retail availability is slated for April 30. It's kind of an anticlimax now that the Incredible has started stalking the American prairies, but we're sure there'll be plenty of Brits who've been waiting with baited breath for this. There'll be 18- and 24-month contract options, with prices starting at £25 per month, and a 1GB 3G data allowance is included together with a 1GB WiFi allowance via BT Openzone hotspots. Not exactly the most generous price plans we've ever heard of, but then the handset's looking eminently affordable with its zero cash up front requirement. Full PR after the break. Continue reading Nexus One launches on Vodafone UK t! his Friday, April 30 Nexus One launches on Vodafone UK this Friday, April 30 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 06:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Vodafone | Email this | Comments |
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| Festo's strong and agile robot arm is based on the elephant's trunk, scares the bejesus out of us (video)
April 26, 2010 at 6:53 AM
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| | Festo's unveiled some pretty impressive tech over the years, from fluidic muscles to robotic flying penguins, but this next one has us a bit worried. The Bionic Handling Assistant is ostensibly patterned after the elephant's trunk, designed to be both agile and delicate... but have you seen the thing? We're pretty sure that it was patterned after the tentacles of Doctor Octopus, and that it will crush you and everyone you care about without a second thought. But if you're the trusting type, the company assures you that this is just the thing for all those delicate processes you've been meaning to automate but haven't been able to in the past: everything from handli! ng fruit to animal husbandry is a cinch with this "hierarchically arranged system of muscles and evolutionary optimized movement patterns"! But don't take our word for it: peep the video after the break. Continue reading Festo's strong and agile robot arm is based on the elephant's trunk, scares the bejesus out of us (video) Festo's strong and agile robot arm is based on the elephant's trunk, scares the bejesus out of us (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink SlashGear | Festo | Email this | Comments |
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| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 4-way SLI exemplifies law of diminishing returns
April 26, 2010 at 6:27 AM
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| | What's better than three monstrous GeForce GTX 480 graphics cards in a 3-way SLI configuration? How about four... is what we'd like to say, if Hardware.info hadn't just discovered that said setup is a huge waste of cash. With a full four GTX 480 cards buckled into an X58 Classified 4-Way SLI motherboard plus a Core i7-980X processor and a massive 1.5 kilowatt power supply to squeeze the juice, the €4,064 ($5,440) box still lost to a similarly configured 3-way rig in a wide variety of benchmarks. You could argue the system was CPU-limited, but Hardware.info used the fastest consumer chip available -- so it seems there's no place in today's market (keyword: today) for GTX 480 4-way SLI. Except, of course, for droolworthy snapshots like the above. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 4-way SLI exemplifies law of diminishing returns originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Hardware.info | Email this | Comments |
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| Sony gives NEX3 and NEX5 names to its first ultra-compact interchangeable lens cameras
April 26, 2010 at 5:58 AM
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| | Those ultra-mysterious folks at Sony are finally starting to loosen their grip on info about the Japanese giant's entry into the growing market for compact interchangeable lens cameras. Having already witnessed some of the user interface and a few prototype bodies, we're now seeing the first shots of these new shooters in the wild. Spotted in an Asian pub (what is it with drinking establishments and hardware leaks?), the mirrorless NEX3 body reveals its name! , an external flash attachment (with a proprietary connector, boo!), and a a chrome-finished 16mm F2.8 pancake lens. It doesn't look very pancakey to us, and indeed Sony Alpha Rumors claim it's bigger than the nearest competitors from Olympus and Panasonic, but apparently that's because Sony has included optical image stabilization in the lens, perhaps a worthy trade-off. Both new models are expected to sport the 14 megapixel ExmorHD sensor, though the NEX5 will record 1080p video versus the NEX3's 720p. We're told to expect a May 11 announcement for the pair, with what's being described as "very aggressive" pricing relative to their Micro Four Thirds competition. Let it be so. Sony gives NEX3 and NEX5 names to its first ultra-compact interchangeable lens cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04! :58:00 E ST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Sony Alpha Rumors | Email this | Comments |
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| BlackBerry Bold 9650 and Pearl 3G outed
April 26, 2010 at 5:25 AM
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| Oops, looks like The Street leaked RIM's big unveil for later this morning at its WES show: the BlackBerry Bold 9650 (pictured left) and BlackBerry Pearl 3G. The Bold 9650 boosts 802.11b/g WiFi, a 3.2 megapixel cam, GPS, and support for US EV-DO Rev. A networks or UMTS/HSPDA when abroad -- look for it to launch next month on Sprint. The Pearl 3G is headed to Bell, Telus, and Rogers in Canada with a 3.2 megapixel camera, 802.11n WiFi, GPS, and triband HSDPA data with quadband GSM / EDGE. Both feature RIM's new optical trackpad. Hold tight while we wait for more detail from RIM.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]BlackBerry Bold 9650 and Pearl 3G outed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | The Street | Email this | Comments |
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| Wi-Fi Sync: wirelessly sync the iPhone with iTunes... in your dreams (video)
April 26, 2010 at 5:03 AM
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| | Hey iPhone, welcome to 1997. Following Opera's script in building grassroots hysteria to goad Apple into approving a contentious app, developer Greg Hughes is teasing a video of his Wi-Fi Sync app to the peoples of planet internet. As the name implies, the app promises a complete sync of your iPhone or iPod touch with iTunes without having to tether and looks pretty straightforward (and occasionally useful) based on the video demonstration found after the break. Greg says he'll be submitting it to Apple for approval at the end of the week -- good luck with that Greg, we hope to be seeing you on Cydia at the very least. Continue reading Wi! -Fi Sync: wirelessly sync the iPhone with iTunes... in your dreams (video) Wi-Fi Sync: wirelessly sync the iPhone with iTunes... in your dreams (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | WifiSync (YouTube) | Email this | Comments |
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| Slim Xbox 360 and Natal bundle to debut at E3?
April 26, 2010 at 4:35 AM
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| It's always good to see rumors coalescing into neat little bundles, which in Microsoft's case means that its expected 360 hardware refresh and Natal re-introduction will coincide at E3 this year. Surfer Girl, one of the gaming industry's more notorious rumor hounds, is telling us that Microsoft is about to unveil a slimmer Xbox 360 at the upcoming E3 in June, together with Natal hardware bundles. She describes the new system design as "pretty neat" and suggests there'll be a shift to black as the console's primary color, to go along with Natal's darker hue, which in turn was dictated by the fact it'd have to sit alongside dark and moody HDTV sets. Very feng shui of Microsoft indeed. For the final, and most unbelievable of her predictions, she tells us -- whil! e highlighting the initials M.G.S. -- that we'll be "very surprised and very pleased" by one of the Natal games revealed at the show. Seriously, Metal Gear Natal?
[Thanks, Lander]Slim Xbox 360 and Natal bundle to debut at E3? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 03:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Surfer Girl (Blogspot) | Email this | Comments |
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| AMD's six-core Phenom II X6 1055T CPU now shipping, 1090T up for pre-order
April 26, 2010 at 4:16 AM
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| We'd been assured that AMD's days of missing ship dates ad naseum were over, but there's nothing like a little action to prove that your words mean business. Just a month after unearthing clock speeds and proposed release quarters for AMD's gaggle of six-core Phenom II X6 processors, two of 'em have already popped up on Amazon. The 2.8GHz Phenom II X6 1055T is actually shipping as we speak for $222.29, while the 3.2GHz Phenom II X6 1090T is up for pre-order at $324.65. The lower-end 2.6GHz 1035T and 3.0GHz 1075T are both nowhere to be found (yet, anyway), and the mysterious 1095T isn't even supposed to pop up anywhere until Q4. So, who's getting themselves a new slab of silicon? Don't be bashful.
[Thanks, Brian]AMD's six-core Phenom II X6 1055T CPU now shipping, 1090T up for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 03:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Amazon [1055T], Amazon [1090T Black Edition] | Email this | Comments |
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| WOWee One portable speaker latches onto surfaces, iPad's coattails
April 26, 2010 at 2:49 AM
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Portable devices that turn any surface into a speaker are hardly anything new, but the folks behind the WOWee One portable speaker (not WowWee) seem to be making some slightly bigger claims than most, and are even throwing out the increasingly popular "perfect companion for the iPad" phrase for good measure. As with other similar devices, the WOWee One conducts sound through any surface you rest it on (even a wall with an optional attachment), but it also has the benefit of patented "Gel Audio" technology, which promises to produce bass frequencies about three octaves below any other comparable device. You'll also apparently get about 20 hours of use from the built-in rechargeable battery, and your choice of three different colors -- all for the not so low price of $79.99. Head on past the break for a quick video.Continue reading WOWee One portable speaker latches onto surfaces, iPad's coattails WOWee One portable speaker latches onto surfaces, iPad's coattails originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 01:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | WOWee One, Amaz! on | Email this | Comments |
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