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Droid 2 R2-D2 boot animation, live wallpapers leak out at light speed
Not willing to wait for the genuine R2-D2 edition Droid 2 later this month? Then it looks like you can now get the next best thing -- the Star Wars-themed boot animation and live wallpapers from the phone have already been dug out from the recently leaked ROM and made available for download. Those include the Millennium Falcon flying through an asteroid field, the always exciting jump to lightspeed, an interactive R2-D2, and everyone's favorite: the space slug. Head on past the break for a pair of videos, and hit up the links below to check out the rest (and download them).Continue reading Droid 2 R2-D2 boot animation, live wallpapers leak out at light speed
Droid 2 R2-D2 boot animation, live wallpapers leak out at light speed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (0 seconds from now)
Lessons in Bell Curves: 15-inch laptops still king, despite wealth of portable alternatives
Jimmy Eat World didn't concoct the masterpiece that is The Middle for nothing, you know. In yet another example of the middle muddying up the waters for everyone else, DisplaySearch has found that the vast majority of systems sold in America fall into the 15.6-inch category, despite the fact that many offer no gain in resolution over 12- and 13-inch ultraportables with 1,366 x 768 panels. The reason? For one, supply and demand. The sheer quantity of 15-inch machines on the market pushes prices south, and on days like Black Friday, rarely is any size as discounted as the tried-and-true 15-incher. The numbers here would show an even greater difference if the tablets were yanked, but what's made clear is just how little interest is being shown by the masses to the outliers. In fact, Laptop found that MSI is officially putting the kibosh on its plans to ship the 13-inch X360 stateside, and a number of other manufacturers are mulling similar decisions (though "off the record"). So, are you helping to jumble up the middle, or are you a loud-and-proud 5-percenter?Lessons in Bell Curves: 15-inch laptops still king, despite wealth of portable alternatives originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (0 seconds from now)
ARM reveals Eagle core as Cortex-A15, capable of quad-core computing at up to 2.5GHz
Way to take the wind out of our sails, ARM -- no sooner does your dual-core Cortex-A9 finally ship, do you reveal an even more powerful smartphone, smartbook and server-slaying beast. The Cortex-A15 MPCore picks up where the A9 left off, but with reportedly five times the power of existing SOCs, raising the bar for ARM-based single- and dual-core cell phone processors up to 1.5GHz... or as high as 2.5GHz in quad-core server-friendly rigs with hardware virtualization baked in and support for well over 4GB of memory. One terabyte, actually. Like we'd heard, the ARMv7-A "Eagle" chips are destined for Texas Instruments, but ST-Ericsson and Samsung as also named as "lead licensees," so we fully expect to see some badass silicon powering a Galaxy when the 32nm and 28nm parts ship in 2013. Press release and video after the break, replete with ARM partner companies fawning over the new hotness. We can't really blame them.ARM reveals Eagle core as Cortex-A15, capable of quad-core computing at up to 2.5GHz originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (0 seconds from now)
Pentax's K-r entry-level DSLR looks like a toy
When a DSLR screams "colorful" in the headline of the press release, you can usually guess the target audience. Sure enough, the multicolored Pentax K-r brings a compact, lightweight body to the entry-level DSLR market. Specs include a 12.4 megapixel CMOS sensor, a PRIME (Pentax Real Image Engine) II imaging engine, claimed 100-25600 ISO range, a 6fps high-speed mode, an 11-point AF system, Pentax's own Shake Reduction and dust removal mechanisms, a 3-inch LCD monitor with Live View mode, and the option to source power from four AA batteries once you exhaust the rechargeable. As a modern DSLR it also records 720p video at 25fps and even offers some obscure IrSimple high-speed infrared data transmission capabilites for all those IrSimple-compatible devices you don't own. The K-r body lists for $799.95 or as much as $999.95 when bundled with an 18-55 and 55-300 lens kit. Ships in October.Continue reading Pentax's K-r entry-level DSLR looks like a toy
Pentax's K-r entry-level DSLR looks like a toy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (0 seconds from now)
T-Mobile G2 comes out from hiding, pre-orders begin later this month
At last, T-Mobile just went official with its G2 QWERTY slider. As expected, this Android 2.2 device ships with Qualcomm's MSM7230 Snapdragon silicon optimized for T-Mobile's HSPA+ network with an 800MHz CPU and second generation application co-processor. Other specs include a 3.7-inch screen, 4GB of internal memory with pre-installed 8GB microSD card (supporting up to 32GB cards), Swype keyboard, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and 5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and 720p HD video capabilities. Oh, and web browsing is supported by Adobe's Flash Player. Look for this successor of the T-Mobile G1 to go up for pre-orders sometime later this month.Continue reading T-Mobile G2 comes out from hiding, pre-orders begin later this month
T-Mobile G2 comes out from hiding, pre-orders begin later this month originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (0 seconds from now)
BlackBerry App World crosses the 10,000 app mark
It's been over a year since it hit 2,000 apps, but it looks like BlackBerry App World has finally hit its biggest milestone yet -- RIM has announced via Twitter that it's now "10,000 apps strong and growing." For those keeping track, that still leaves it well behind Apple's App Store and the Android Market, which by some estimates boast roughly 250,000 and 70,000 to 100,000 apps, respectively, and each of which also took less time to hit the 10,000 app mark. Even still, the fact that a smartphone platform "only" has 10,000 apps speaks quite a bit to how far we've come in just a few short years.BlackBerry App World crosses the 10,000 app mark originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Dell lays down the law: no more Windows XP shipments after October 22nd
Microsoft already informed its most moneyed partners that no more systems could leave their labs after October 22nd with Windows XP, but given that the proverbial boy has cried wolf before, we were inclined to think that we'd eventually face yet another push back. We guess there's still a few ticks of the clock left between now and that fateful day, but there seems to be little hope for XP to live on in any significant form beyond the aforesaid date. Dell has just published a report noting that they will stop offering XP on new machines later this month in preparation for October's cutoff, though they're quick to point out that Microsoft will continue Windows XP driver support until December 2012. For the average consumer, that means you've got just over a month to get whatever XP-equipped systems you want from Dell; for select "qualified customers," they will still be able to snag XP machines post-October 22nd through the company's Custom Factory Integration service. Hit the source link for all the details, and feel free to pour one out for a waning OS. We can shed a few more tears next month.
Dell lays down the law: no more Windows XP shipments after October 22nd originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Zotac introduces ID33 and ID34 Zbox mini PCs, complete with Atom D525 and Blu-ray
Now this is an HTPC worth gawking at. Zotac has just revised its long-standing Zbox line with a new duo, and we have to say -- we're digging the new look. Beyond the exterior improvements, the outfit has bolstered the internals by providing the HD-ID33 and HD-ID34 with Intel's new 1.8GHz Atom D525 CPU, 2GB of DDR2-800 memory, NVIDIA's next-gen Ion graphics platform, an HDMI output, 6-in-1 card reader, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, a couple of USB 2.0 ports and an unexpected pair of USB 3.0 sockets. The only notable difference between the two is the inclusion of a 250GB hard drive in the ID34, while the 2.5-inch HDD slot is left open for DIYers in the ID33. Windows 7 is onboard, naturally, as is a slot-loading Blu-ray drive that the company is (rightfully) proud of. It's not talking prices just yet, but we're willing to overlook a modest premium to finally get BD support within a delightfully small package. Hit the gallery below for more eye candy.Continue reading Zotac introduces ID33 and ID34 Zbox mini PCs, complete with Atom D525 and Blu-ray
Zotac introduces ID33 and ID34 Zbox mini PCs, complete with Atom D525 and Blu-ray originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Eye-Fi starting up a developer program, will have some APIs open for business this fall
Pardon us as we coin the term "apportunity" to describe the upcoming developer program Eye-Fi has just announced. Developers will able to tie their apps / applications / sites into Eye-Fi features and services through the web, including accessing an Eye-Fi card for photos and video, changing settings on the card, and uploading to online sharing sites through Eye-Fi channels instead of directly connecting to each site. It all sounds very promising in a niche, people-who-use-WiFi-SD-cards sort of way, and we look forward to the results as Eye-Fi starts giving out API keys in phases, beginning this fall.Eye-Fi starting up a developer program, will have some APIs open for business this fall originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 month ago)
Researchers propose 'roaming' charging stations to keep electric cars powered
No, we're not talking about robotic charging stations that roam the highways and recharge your car without even stopping (sadly), but a new system proposed Zafer Sahinoglu and his colleagues at the Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories in Cambridge, Massachusetts may just help to fill in some of the gaps on the road. While exact specifics are a bit light, the basic idea is to have a series of "roaming" chargers that would be charged up at night and moved around based on demand -- demand that would be determined by sensors in electric vehicles, which would report their findings back to a central operations center. According to Sahinoglu, you'd only need five charging stations to cover 100 electric cars on a 100-kilometer stretch of highway, so it would seemingly be a quick and relatively inexpensive way to cover a large area -- assuming you can find an efficient way to actually move the chargers around. Look for more details to be announced at the Vehicular Technology Conference in Ottawa next week.
Researchers propose 'roaming' charging stations to keep electric cars powered originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
TomTom offers free iPhone 4 adapter for Car Kit
We still maintain that you've got better options than TomTom when it comes to iPhone GPS software, but if you pulled the trigger before giving yourself a moment to consider what you were actually doing, this here news may just interest you. In an effort to maintain compatibility with Apple's latestand greatestiPhone, TomTom is now including a simple adapter for all Car Kit orders going out on September 1st or later. If you ordered one prior to that, you can apply down in the source link for a freebie to be sent your way. Or just hack something up in the garage that looks like the insert above. Your call, vaquero.
[Thanks, Dan]Continue reading TomTom offers free iPhone 4 adapter for Car Kit
TomTom offers free iPhone 4 adapter for Car Kit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
The Ben Heck Show launching next week, right into your regular viewing rotation
Oh, Ben -- how far you've come. But now that you're about to star in your very own web show, don't ever forget that we had you first. Pleasantries aside, we couldn't be more thrilled to hear that the man responsible for pushing the art of modding into the mainstream is set to host a bi-weekly web TV show on the subject. The Ben Heck Show will see its first episode published on September 13th, where Ben showcases a mod of a controller for an avid gamer with a serious disability. Future episodes will highlight "projects inspired by the modder community, ranging from mods for a particular need to gadgets that help electronic enthusiasts work and play faster," which means that you and yours can send in ideas that may end up on the show. Head on past the break for a trailer, and be sure to pencil this one in right beside our own Engadget Show when it comes time for viewing pleasure.
P.S. - Congrats, Ben!Continue reading The Ben Heck Show launching next week, right into your regular viewing rotation
The Ben Heck Show launching next week, right into your regular viewing rotation originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
iPod nano code hints at possible video playback
It may not be anything more than a bit of excess or leftover code, but it looks like there's at least a hint of some possible video playback capabilities lying deep in the code for the new iPod nano (the internal settings property list, to be specific). As discovered by Erica Sadun over at TUAW, that includes options for things like TV subtitles, captions and alternate audio, and even a fit-to-screen option -- for the perfectly square aspect ratio of the nano's screen, perhaps? Of course, there doesn't seem to be an option to actually make video watchable on a 1.5-inch screen.iPod nano code hints at possible video playback originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Vivitar's new full frame 35mm film camera
You hear a lot lately about bringing high-end DSLR functionality to the consumer, mostly thanks to the wild new world of Micro Four Thirds, but Vivitar is really breaking the price barrier with its new $10 point and shoot. The camera shoots to full frame 35mm film (there's even a 24 shot roll included, roughly equivalent to 512MB), and yet its single button operation and automatic motorized advance should make the high-end shooter accessible to the novice photogs among us. Of course, a built-in flash and auto focus will appeal to the feature hungry enthusiasts as well. The best news? If you buy one of these today, you can actually get a second camera and second roll of film for free!
[Thanks, Michelle]Vivitar's new full frame 35mm film camera originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 month ago)
Quo's latest Mac clone to feature Asetek liquid cooling, Core i7
We just got off the phone with Quo Computers founder Rashantha De Silva. Remember him? Last spring, amidst all the hoopla surrounding Psystar and Apple, he announced the opening of a walk-in Mac clone shop in The Golden State. Since then, Psystar may have bitten the dust, but it looks like De Silva and co. are still in business... for now, anyway. Their newest (they haven't even had time to update the website), the Quo maxQ2, will feature an Intel Core i7 3.6GHz CPU, 12GB of RAM, a 240GB SSD, a 1TB HDD, and an Adobe Mercury Playback Engine-compatible NVIDIA 285 GTX GPU. In addition, this bad boy will come equipped with an Asetek liquid / copper cold plate cooling system, and believe it or not, it'll run OS X, Linux and Windows 7. Prices start at $3,765, and it should go on sale starting September 15. For about 18 minutes, or an hour and 18 minutes if Apple's lawyer crew just so happens to be at lunch.
[Thanks, John Mayer (really!)]Continue reading Quo's latest Mac clone to feature Asetek liquid cooling, Core i7
Quo's latest Mac clone to feature Asetek liquid cooling, Core i7 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
iPod touch (2010) torn down, found to contain an awful lot of battery
As predictable as the sun rising somewhere over east Japan, the iFixit crew have put their tools and wits to the task of deconstructing the latest generation of iPod touch. Their teardown is still ongoing (exciting, isn't it?), but here are their observations so far. The new touch is noted as being the easiest to crack open yet, and yes, its retina-busting 640 x 960 LCD is fused to the external glass, just like the iPhone 4. There's an 11-gram EMI shield between the front end and the battery, accounting for a lofty 10 percent of the portable media player's weight. Beyond it, you'll find a chunky 3.44Whr Li-Pol cell, which is soldered to the board as is usual Apple practice, but a novelty here is that the headphone jack isn't. Great, tie down the thing we might want to replace and untether the one we don't care about. We'll keep you updated with any other salient info as it arises, but for now, go check out the source link for more pictures of the undressed iPod touch.
The front-facing camera has been found, as expected, to be the exact same module as built into the iPhone 4. The WiFi antenna is located just under the front glass panel, a position said to have allowed for the new all-aluminum back on the iPod touch. Another shock: the A4 chip that drives the iPad and iPhone 4 is also found on the 2010 touch, and its markings confirm a 256MB RAM allowance.Continue reading iPod touch (2010) torn down, found to contain an awful lot of battery
iPod touch (2010) torn down, found to contain an awful lot of battery originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
OnStar expected to add Facebook updates and texting soon, might make some services free
Time waits for no infotainment system and GM's OnStar seems to be well aware of that fact. Plunging headfirst into the social world, the driver assistance service is said to be planning to start conveying Facebook status updates and text messages in an upcoming update, reputedly landing later this month. Text-to-speech translation will be done on incoming notes and voice-to-text is said to be undergoing testing for outgoing updates. So you can tell your friends you're free as a bird, born to run, rocking the highway, or whatever else, without ever having to speak to them directly or going to the effort of typing anything. The future sure is awesome. Oh, and it might not be all that expensive either, as we're also hearing that OnStar might make some services completely free to better compete with Ford's Sync.
Original image courtesy of merriewells (Flickr)OnStar expected to add Facebook updates and texting soon, might make some services free originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Google Instant on a Motorola Droid 2, hands-on
Google's new hotness is likely invading your desktop web search right now, but what's Instant search like on a smartphone? We got a good look at a Verizon-based Droid 2 running a prototype version of the auto-complete engine on both WiFi and 3G, and we're happy to say it's just about the same -- assuming you've got a decent connection and a reasonable amount of screen real estate. As you can see immediately above, you're only getting three Instant results under the search box here, as opposed to the desktop version's five, and between Android's notifications bar and the native keyboard auto-complete bar, you can only see a single result without scrolling down -- and honestly, this isn't going to be all that useful at a glance if you're relying on a screen-sucking virtual keyboard.
The system was speedy enough, however, pulling down not only text queries but also Google Image thumbnails as well, and worked about as quickly as a standard mobile Google run without having to hit a button to complete our search. (The prototype did stop working and had to be restarted when we lost our 3G bars. ) A Google product manager told us it should work in any AJAX-capable mobile browser, and is presently in testing on Android and iPhone, with BlackBerry in consideration given the more-capable OS 6 browser. Expect to see it hit smartphones near you this fall.Continue reading Google Instant on a Motorola Droid 2, hands-on
Google Instant on a Motorola Droid 2, hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Mushroom announces durable PortaBella wireless bonding device, continues adorable naming scheme
It's okay if you've never heard of wireless broadband bonding. The technology hasn't exactly caught on, even if it gets us all excited in our download place. The basic idea is to take a suite of wireless broadband adapters and plug them all into a single router, aggregating their power like shotgun modems did in the dial-up days. Mushroom Networks is the leader in this space and it has announced a new, "heavy duty" version of its PortaBella bonding device, joining its Porcini and Truffle models. The new PortaBella combines the connections of up to four wireless modems, even from different carriers, and works at temperatures ranging from 4 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit -- which sadly doesn't quite meet the extremes experienced on an average day at the Engadget Lunar Outpost. It seems our heavenly bloggers above will have to keep sharing that single modem for now.
Mushroom announces durable PortaBella wireless bonding device, continues adorable naming scheme originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
QuickPay announces ROAMpay credit card swiper for Android, BlackBerry, iOS
We've seen our fair share iPhone-based credit card payment systems, but we both know that those aren't the only handsets people do business with. ROAMpay from QuickPay Merchant Services is a device agnostic card swiper with apps available for iOS, Android, and BlackBerry. Actually, it seems to be a virtual cash register as well, letting you log cash transactions (and generate receipts for 'em) as well as offering real-time authorization for Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express (as long as you have a QuickPay account, of course). Ready to get into business? Hit up the source link. Otherwise, we have a fantastic video (and some pretty swell PR) for you after the break.Continue reading QuickPay announces ROAMpay credit card swiper for Android, BlackBerry, iOS
QuickPay announces ROAMpay credit card swiper for Android, BlackBerry, iOS originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Engadget's back to school giveaway, part two: win a lot of awesome gear worth nearly $2,400!
Hey, there: it's that time of year again. You or your loved ones will soon be heading back to school (if you haven't already). We've been trying to help everybody out for the past month with our back to school guides -- which you can check out right here -- but we thought we'd take it a step further, and give you, our dear readers, a chance to win some of the gear featured in the guides this year. We'll be doing three total giveaways this week, and here's what we've got for you today.
- Toshiba Portege R705 P25 laptop worth $799
- Grace Digital Audio Eco Extreme Rugged all terrain Speaker Case worth $49
- i4 Universal desktop charger woth $59
- Pentax Optio H90 digital camera worth $149
- Altec Lansing Mix IMT800 worth $300
- Sony ICF-CL75iP Clock Radio worth $149.95
- Sprint Samsung Intercept worth $99
-Amazon Kindle 3G (Graphite version) worth $189
-HP ePrint All-in-One printer with an HP 60 Photo Value Pack, HP 60 XL Cartridges, a $200 Staples Gift Certificate and a $50 Snapfish Gift Certificate (courtesy of HP -- click here for a behind-the-scenes look at HP's inkjet technology 'Inkology).
Yes, that's nearly $2,400 of gear for one lucky winner. All you need to do to win is leave a comment below, and read the full rules after the break. Good luck!! Thanks to Toshiba, Grace Digital Audio, i4, Pentax, Altec Lansing, Sony, Sprint and HP for providing the gear!
Special thanks to all the companies for providing us with the gear!Engadget's back to school giveaway, part two: win a lot of awesome gear worth nearly $2,400! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
iOS 4.1 is live, available to download right now
If you can just put down Angry Birds for one minute and plug your iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch 2nd generation, iPod touch 3rd generation, or iPod touch 4th generation into iTunes, you should be in for a pleasant non-surprise: iOS 4.1 is finally out and ready for your consumption. It's not a huge update, but Game Center is an exciting addition (for the few, proud devices that are getting it), and we're sure your face will be happy to stop getting accused for iPhone 4 hang-ups with the long overdue proximity sensor fix (shots of the changelog are after the break). Let us know how 4.1 is treating you in comments below.
Continue reading iOS 4.1 is live, available to download right now
iOS 4.1 is live, available to download right now originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 month ago)
Google announces Google Instant search, available now for desktop, mobile this fall
We're reporting live from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, where Google's just taken the wraps off its latest software product. The announcement itself is taking its time right now, with background facts like Google recently crossing the one billion users a week milestone, but the Google Instant service has been activated and you can see details about its immediate result delivery at the source below. Basically, the Goog no longer waits for you to hit Enter while searching and starts updating its results page Instantly as you type. Google describes it as a fundamental shift in seach and you can find more details along with its warm and fuzzy video introduction after the break.Continue reading Google announces Google Instant search, available now for desktop, mobile this fall
Google announces Google Instant search, available now for desktop, mobile this fall originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Toshiba Libretto W105 review
At this point Toshiba's dualscreen Libretto W105 shouldn't need much of an introduction -- or at least after glancing at the picture above we figure it won't. It looks like a laptop straight out of the future. And it kind of is. It's the sort of clamshell gadget we've seen rendered and rendered for years, but that's never made it to market... until now that is. In celebration of Toshiba's 25 years in the laptop business, the company's gotten bolder than ever, and it hasn't just created a gadget with two seven-inch capacitive touchscreens, but it's actually brought it to market. Sure, it's only available for a very limited run, and at a lofty $1,100, only die-hard gadget geeks are bound to fork over the cash. That said, it's still one of the most intriguing devices we've seen all year, and that's saying something. And it's even more compelling when you consider that packs the parts of a 12- or 13-inch ultraportable, including an Intel Pentium processor, 2GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD and also runs Windows 7. But that's exactly what's wrong with the Libretto -- it looks like the future, but it's held back by modern day laptop parts and software. We've spent quite some time with the W105 -- we typed half of this review on the bottom screen! -- so you'll want to hit the break to find out just what we're talking about.Continue reading Toshiba Libretto W105 review
Toshiba Libretto W105 review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Qualcomm: 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon devices to arrive at end of 2011, 1.2GHz in Q1
Bad news: Qualcomm's just informed us that while it's still on track to ship the juicy 1.5GHz dual-core QSD8672 Snapdragon in Q4 this year, the end-user devices aren't expected to hit the market until the end of 2011 -- potentially almost a whole year later than its previous "early next year" or "by Christmas" prediction. What a shame. On a slightly more positive beat, though, the lesser 1.2GHz dual-core MSM8x60 chipset should be heading towards consumers early next year. Alas, this won't change the fact that we'll still need something to fill the void until 2011 -- Windows Phone 7, we're looking at you.Qualcomm: 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon devices to arrive at end of 2011, 1.2GHz in Q1 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
CalDigit brings USB 3.0 AV Drive to the Mac, still working on peace in the Middle East (video)
With Intel showing signs of jumping on board, USB 3.0 is looking more and more like the one next-gen interconnect to rule them all. Them all except for Apple, of course, who has notably thrown its support exclusively behind Light Peak. The chums at Cupertino have no interest in newer, bluer revisions of USB, but enterprise storage firm CalDigit thinks that many Apple lovers will. It has developed USB 3.0 PCIe and ExpressCard adapters (plus the necessary drivers) that will bring 5Gbps transfers to Macs, and is releasing its CalDigit AV Drive to match, up to 2TB of external storage with 145MBps transfers. (It also sports FireWire 800 compatibility if you're not ready to cross the interface picket line just yet.) That PCIe adapter will set you back a not entirely unreasonable $59, while the 1TB external drive is $199. No price on the ExpressCard adapter or 2TB version yet, but all are said to be shipping presently.
Update: As bhillyer70 pointed out in comments, these are now available in the CalDigit store. The 2TB drive will set you back $299, while the ExpressCard adapter is listed at $69 and sports this somewhat troubling disclaimer: "CalDigit does not guarantee USB 3.0 performance on all Macs or when used in conjunction with third party products. The driver has been optimized for CalDigit certified products." Perhaps we should re-open those peace talks...CalDigit brings USB 3.0 AV Drive to the Mac, still working on peace in the Middle East (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 month ago)
Acer introduces Atom D525-equipped Aspire Revo 3700, your den swoons
Ah, hello again! It seems like just yesterday that we were talking up Acer's latest Aspire Revo -- a '3600' model equipped with a dual-core Atom 330 and NVIDIA's Ion graphics system. Nearly a year to the day, we're now faced with the company's latest and greatest subcompact, the Aspire Revo 3700. As far as evolutionary advancements go, this one's fairly predictable -- within the one-liter box is a 1.8GHz Atom D525 dual-core processor, NVIDIA's next-generation Ion platform, support for 1080p video playback, a 500GB hard drive, four USB 2.0 ports, 4GB of DDR3 memory, VGA / HDMI outputs, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, gigabit Ethernet and a mini PCIe slot. It's expected to ship later this year with a $580 price tag, but it's still a TV tuner shy of being exactly what our living room asked for.Continue reading Acer introduces Atom D525-equipped Aspire Revo 3700, your den swoons
Acer introduces Atom D525-equipped Aspire Revo 3700, your den swoons originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Seiko's 'active matrix' E Ink watch will be on sale by end of 2010
It's always good to see a concept, particularly one as appealing as Seiko's "active matrix" E Ink watch, make it to retail product. The company's had a thing for E Ink timepieces for a while now, but what sets this new one apart is the supposed 180-degree viewing angle it affords -- and, of course, those retro good looks do it no harm either. Then there's also the radio-controlled movement, which receives its time from the nearest atomic clock, and the solar cells framing that electrophoretic display. All very nice and neat, but the best news is that it might (might!) be priced within reach of regular Joes and Vlads like us. We'll know soon enough, a retail release is expected by the end of the year.Seiko's 'active matrix' E Ink watch will be on sale by end of 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Mad Catz's Black Ops PrecisionAim gamepads and Stealth mouse hands-on
Mad Catz' Modern Warfare 2 peripherals won't know what hit them when Black Ops debuts this fall -- the quality of the company's gamepads has increased yet again, and of course, this year the Call of Duty-flavored lineup ships with a genuine R.A.T. mouse. We snuck down the streets of San Francisco for a top secret rendezvous to test these controllers out, and discovered a pair of the most comfortable gamepads we've tried for our trouble. Read our full impressions after the break -- totally declassified.Continue reading Mad Catz's Black Ops PrecisionAim gamepads and Stealth mouse hands-on
Mad Catz's Black Ops PrecisionAim gamepads and Stealth mouse hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Nyko Wand+ review
For demanding gamers, initial excitement upon procuring a Nintendo Wii was quickly dampened by disappointment: the durned Wiimote wasn't nearly as precise as we'd all hoped it would be. It took a couple of years for Nintendo to step up and fix the issue, releasing the MotionPlus and finally making the Wiimote work for sword-fighting games and the like. But, that left us all stuck with a dongle hanging off the bottom, causing compatibility issues with many early peripherals. The Nyko Wand+ is the solution, putting the MotionPlus right inside a stock-size controller, as it should have been in the first place. In some ways, it's better than first-party.
Continue reading Nyko Wand+ review
Nyko Wand+ review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 month ago)
AMD names second Bobcat APU Zacate, shows off Ontario die size
AMD might still have no actual Fusion product to sell us, but it's added a fresh new codename to the stable of future CPU/GPU hybrids. The Zacate Accelerated Processing Unit is a Bobcat derivative, much like the Ontario, but it operates at a higher TDP of 18W and is intended for ultrathin and mainstream laptops along with power-sipping desktops and all-in-ones. Both it and the Ontario APU will offer two Bobcat cores allied to Radeon graphics capable of performing DirectX 11 instructions, though the Ontario dips all the way down to 9W with the stated aim of punching up netbook and small form factor pc performance. Just for reference, that'll have to compete against Intel's own dual-core solution, the 1.5GHz Atom N550, which scrapes by on just an 8.5W TDP... though, of course, it doesn't integrate the same graphics processing prowess that Ontario promises. The two chips, Ontario and Zacate, will ride AMD's Brezos platform when they finally debut early next year. Until then, enjoy the technicolor die shot after the break.Continue reading AMD names second Bobcat APU Zacate, shows off Ontario die size
AMD names second Bobcat APU Zacate, shows off Ontario die size originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 month ago)
Qualcomm demos augmented reality app for digital photo frames (video)
Want a glimpse of the future? How about one from Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs? What he demoed in London just now was a groovy concept that combines his company's two service technologies: augmented reality and peer-to-peer. The idea is that you want to upload an image from your phone to one of your many wireless photo frames (actually WiFi-connected PCs in disguise here), but rather than having to pick your desired frame from an eye-dazzling list of WiFi SSIDs, you can just use this augmented reality app -- developed using Qualcomm's very own AR SDK, naturally -- to point at the frame and shoot the file over. Pretty rad, huh? But we picked out one flaw: currently, the app identifies each frame by remembering its previously uploaded image, so if two or more of these frames display the same image, the app would get confused. This can of course be fixed by simply adding a QR code onto the actual frame. Anyhow, you can see this demo in action after the break.Continue reading Qualcomm demos augmented reality app for digital photo frames (video)
Qualcomm demos augmented reality app for digital photo frames (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 month ago)
Dell releases quartet of new monitors in Asia, US can't be far behind
Digg Dell has a habit of releasing monitors elsewhere in the world and then subsequently letting them hit stateside with nary a warning, and so we're wagering such is the case here. Four such displays have found their way to Dell Asia, and LogicBuy's sniffed 'em out. Here's what we know about each, from the most-featured on down. The ST23220L is a 23-inch 1080p LED-backlit LCD with 5ms response time and 250nit brightness, all accentuated by a non-glare TN panel (and all Energy Star 5.0 compliant, in case you're wondering). It offers 1080p resolution and inputs for VGA, DVI, and HDMI. One step down is the 21.5-inch ST2220L -- same features, different size. The ST2220M, however, drops the HDMI support, and below that the 20-inch IN2020M drops HDMI and only hits a resolution of 1600 x 900. Can't say for sure when or how much, but now you know!
Read - ST2320L
Read - ST2220LRead - IN2020M
Read - ST2220MDell releases quartet of new monitors in Asia, US can't be far behind originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Sanyo waist warmer does almost irreparable damage to Eneloop's good name
Oh Sanyo, you do like to flirt with our Crapgadget label, don't you? Having already given the world battery-powered neck and hand warmers it never asked for, Sanyo is today expanding the Eneloop warmer family with a slinky new waist furnace. Thin film heaters are embedded inside that dashing-looking velcro belt above and power is drawn from the Eneloop mobile booster on the side, perhaps the most useful thing about the entire setup. It'll share its juice with iPhones and portable media players, while recharging can be done via USB. Sadly, that aforementioned neck warmer is getting a new 2010 version thanks to excellent consumer interest over in the key target market of Japan, so it's looking like these body warmers are going to be with us for a while.Continue reading Sanyo waist warmer does almost irreparable damage to Eneloop's good name
Sanyo waist warmer does almost irreparable damage to Eneloop's good name originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
iPhone 3G left out of the Game Center fun, 2nd gen iPod touch gets picked last
Thought that every iOS 4.1 device would be compatible with Apple's Game Center mobile and social gaming platform? We're sorry to say that's not the case. Initially it was looking like both the iPhone 3G and second-generation iPod touch would be left out, having to take their copies of Kickety-Kick Ball Bounce Out and go home. But, Apple is now confirming that second-gen touch models will be included after all, however the iPhone 3G is still not invited, nor are first-gen iPhones and iPod touches. That means the final compatibility list includes the iPhone 3GS and 4, along with second, third, and fourth generation iPod touch models. Everybody else: you're out.iPhone 3G left out of the Game Center fun, 2nd gen iPod touch gets picked last originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 month ago)
Apple Peel 520 coming to US shores shortly for an undisclosed amount
Build it, and they will come. We suspect the same is true with shipping papers. Go Solar USA most certainly hopes so, as it has just inked a deal with Chinese developer Yosion to bring the much-hyped Apple Peel 520 to the US of A. For those unaware, this slip-on case effectively turns your iPod touch into an iPhone, as it equips your PMP with a SIM card slot and the software needed to make / receive calls and texts. Granted, it's not without its flaws, but for "around $60," it's not a half-bad alternative to handing over your cellular soul to AT&T. Both companies have reportedly agreed to work together to distribute it in the United States, but it's unclear when those shipments will start and how much it'll retail for once it arrives. Oh, and don't hold your breath for compatibility with the latest and greatest touch -- just sayin'.
Continue reading Apple Peel 520 coming to US shores shortly for an undisclosed amount
Apple Peel 520 coming to US shores shortly for an undisclosed amount originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 month ago)
Colombia pumps out 10-inch Android and Windows 7 tablets (video)
Sure, popular belief equates Colombian exports with guns and cocaine, but two Bogota-based companies presently have 10-inch tablet computers on the brain. Compumax has got an Android-powered Tegra 2 device on tap with a dual-core 1GHz Cortex A9, 512MB of RAM and a 32GB hard drive, and Smart PC's looking at a netbook-specced Windows 7 slate with an Atom N450 processor, a DVD burner, up to 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive, a folding stand and a pair of peripheral-friendly USB ports alongside what looks like a fairly responsive multitouch screen. Intriguingly enough, the companies claim the devices aren't rebrands and are actually built in Colombia from foreign parts -- the "Hyper" Android slate is reportedly already on sale for COP 700,000 (about $387), and you can expect the "Smart Touch" Windows machine to debut for COP 1,099,000 (about $608) when it debuts in Peru next month. See the latter machine in action right after the break.Continue reading Colombia pumps out 10-inch Android and Windows 7 tablets (video)
Colombia pumps out 10-inch Android and Windows 7 tablets (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Samsung Mobile Display promises 10x increase in production next year, end to AMOLED shortages
We already knew about Samsung's grand plans for expanding its display production in 2011, but now we also have a number to give us a sense of scale: 30 million. That's how many screens the new Mobile Display fab (set to go live in July) will be able to churn out in a month, a vastly superior rate than the current 3 million maximum. Lee Woo-Jong, the display business' marketing VP, tells us its estimates for AMOLED market demand have been revised upwards to 700 million units in 2015, with the new facility obviously being the key cog in making that growth happen. Intriguingly, he also notes that Super AMOLED -- one of the big attractions of the Galaxy S line of Samsung phones -- is not exclusive to Samsung's electronics arm, everyone can apparently use it. That directly contradicts what we heard from Sammy's mobile reps, but then this is hardly the first time that one part of Samsung doesn't know what the other is doing. Still, it's nice to at least dream of a S-AMOLED HTC HD7, no?Samsung Mobile Display promises 10x increase in production next year, end to AMOLED shortages originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)
Keepin' it real fake: N-KIA E68 shows what an innovative Nokia handset might look like (video)
Yo Nokia, you can keep your E5 and its HD Voice fanciness, we want ourselves an N-KIA E68. Why, we hear the enraged Nokia acolyte ask, why would we defile Nokia's good name in such a manner? Mostly because this phone has one of the most fun and ingenious slider mechanisms we've seen yet. So what if we've got no idea what wannabe OS it's running and so what if it'll most likely fall apart on us a month into owning it? We still want one, dammit! Video after the break.
[Thanks, Derrty]Keepin' it real fake: N-KIA E68 shows what an innovative Nokia handset might look like (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 9, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 month ago)
Xbox 360 250GB plus Kinect bundle priced at $399 in US, £300 in UK
Microsoft has chosen the small hours of the night to announce pricing of its second Kinect bundle, which is set for launch along with the standalone and 4GB options on November 4 in the USA and November 10 across Europe. The new package throws in the 250GB slim version of the Xbox 360 to accompany the newfangled motion tracker, a spare conventional controller, and a copy of the utterly unmissable Kinect Adventures! (it has its own punctuation, it must be good). Pricing is a bit on the painful side, with Kotaku reporting a $399 figure for the US and Microsoft confirming to us a £300 sticker for this "special edition" bundle for the UK. Full press release follows after the break.
[Thanks, Ravi]Continue reading Xbox 360 250GB plus Kinect bundle priced at $399 in US, £300 in UK
Xbox 360 250GB plus Kinect bundle priced at $399 in US, £300 in UK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 8, 2010 12:50:53 AM (1 day ago)