7/22 Engadget

Plastic Logic e-book reader will use AT&T for its 3G needs July 22, 2009 at 1:17 am Things seem to really in motion for Plastic Logic, first with news of a partnership with Barnes & Noble and now this. AT&T is announcing that it'll be providing 3G data for the company's upcoming e-reader, the capabilities of which we found out during a noteworthy showing at D7. Still lots of questions up in the air, though, such as if AT&T will charge monthly for the use or provide service gratis like Sprint does with the Kindle. We're also wondering if it'll have access to AT&T's numerous public Wi-Fi hot spots. One bright note is that, unlike Sprint and its CDMA towers, AT&T's GSM network is compatible with carriers worldwide, which makes an international transition theoretically much smoother. Early 2010 can't come soon enough. [Thanks, Tom] Filed under: Handhelds Plastic Logic e-book reader will use AT&T for its 3G needs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Fujifilm gets official with FinePix F70EXR, Z37, S200EXR and J38 July 22, 2009 at 1:01 am Fujifilm couldn't keep a lid on a few of its newest point-and-shoot models, but it's still delivering a couple of small surprises on this fine July eve. Starting things off is the altogether expected FinePix F70EXR (shown), a pocket-friendly shooter with a 10x wide angle optical zoom, a case that's just 22.7 millimeters thick, a 10 megapixel sensor and a respectable price tag of $279.95. Following that is the FinePix Z37, a fashion-forward cam with a 10 megapixel sensor, sleek enclosure, SD / SDHC card slot, a 2.7-inch rear LCD and a $149.95 MSRP. Moving right along, there's the 12 megapixel FinePix S200EXR, a "prosumer" camera with a 2.7-inch display, an extra longevous battery, a 14.3x optical zoom lens and a startling $599.95 sticker. The lower-end FinePix J38 boasts a 12.2 megapixel sensor, SDHC card slot, 3x optical zoom and a $129.95 price, while the entry-level A170 (10 megapixel) and A220 (12 megapixel) handle just the basics for $89.95 and $99.95, respectively. Head on past the break for a detailed look at each and every model. Gallery: Fujifilm gets official with FinePix F70EXR, Z37, S200EXR and J38 Continue reading Fujifilm gets official with FinePix F70EXR, Z37, S200EXR and J38 Filed under: Digital Cameras Fujifilm gets official with FinePix F70EXR, Z37, S200EXR and J38 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Apple confirms and expresses sadness over death of Chinese iPhone prototype handler July 22, 2009 at 12:23 am Reports have circulated the internet that a 25-year old worker at Chinese manufacturer Foxconn, which produces all the iPhone models for Apple, committed suicide last week following revelation that a fourth-generation iPhone prototype, one of the 16 iPhones he was responsible for, had gone missing. Some stories circulating have described illegal searches of the man's apartment and interrogation involving physical abuse by other Foxconn employees. While not confirming the case being a suicide or the cause being the disappearing device, a spokesperson for the Cupertino-based company did release a statement corroborating the news of his death, saying that it is "saddened by the tragic loss of this young employee, and we are awaiting results of the investigations into his death. We require our suppliers to treat all workers with dignity and respect." The status of the missing iPhone prototype, which may or may not have been one that earlier this month found itself on eBay given the timeframe (although a 3GS model and not "fourth generation") remains unknown. Our hearts go out to all involved. Read - Statement form Apple Read - iPhone prototype goes missing; Chinese worker investigated, commits suicide Filed under: Cellphones Apple confirms and expresses sadness over death of Chinese iPhone prototype handler originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments The Daily Roundup: here's what you might've missed July 22, 2009 at 12:03 am How-to: Build a Blu-ray / TV tuner-equipped HTPC for under $1,000 Pundits may argue that the modern day HTPC has no place in the modern day living room, but we'd wager with the economy still struggling to regain its swagger, folks are staying in and finding entertainment at home more than ever. Toshiba TG01 passes FCC with some CDMA thrown in The Snapdragon-powered Toshiba TG01 is a beast of a phone -- as Windows Mobile-powered phones go, anyway -- but for Americans, there's one small problem: it's not clear how, when, or if it's getting here. Oddly humble Negroponte lists OLPC's failures, calls Sugar a 'mistake' The noble goal of a $100 laptop for developing nations has come to fruition -- but of course at a higher cost and later date than expected Other news of import Fuji F70 EXR compact superzoom spotted all over the 'net, S200FS mentioned Intel's 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight Etisalat BlackBerry update was indeed spyware, RIM provides a solution Samsung has a new Blu-ray HTIB with the HT-BD3252 Samsung's latest Blu-ray HTIB features just about anything an all-in-one customer could want; in fact we're not sure how you can even build a 5.1 system with rear wireless speakers and a Blu-ray player for $799. T-Mobile myTouch 3G unboxing Our attention is still vaguely fixed on that Hero off in the distance, but let's focus for just a minute -- the myTouch 3G for T-Mobile is now in our well-guarded possession as it trudges toward a late July release for those lucky enough to pre-order. PlayStation 3 gets game-plus-film 'hybrid' discs, first one comes on two discs 1930's rear projection TV in the UK still in service Sony Ericsson's Android-powered XPERIA X3 sorta confirmed by way of retailer HTC Click in the wild -- Android on the cheap? HTC Hero on sale tomorrow at Orange UK The Daily Roundup: here's what you might've missed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 802.11n should go final by September, just when it's starting to feel slow July 21, 2009 at 11:09 pm It's been a long, long... long time coming, folks. Since 2004, the world at large has been waiting for 802.11n to finally go legit, and while we've been getting along just fine with Draft-N devices, the IEEE is inching closer to completion of the final specification. According to Bob Heile, the chairman of the IEEE 802.15 working group on Personal Area Networks, "802.11 [has been] granted unconditional approval to forward 11n to RevCom," which is currently scheduled to take place on September 11th in New Jersey. He continued by uttering the understatement of the year with "this was an extremely complex project." We won't even bother retracing all the time line slips that we've seen over the years, but we can't help but chuckle at the notion of an ever faster 802.11 protocol to be discussed at the very same meeting. So, let's see here -- 802.11n finally gets its certificate of authenticity after parading around for half a decade as an unfinished draft, and CES 2010 brings about devices based on the even faster 802.11ac. Marvelous. [Via Digg] Filed under: Wireless 802.11n should go final by September, just when it's starting to feel slow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 1930's rear projection TV in the UK still in service July 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm It's really easy to forget how far we've come in the past 70 or so years, while at the same time how some things stay the same. This 12-inch CRT might be the oldest working TV in the UK and has even been modified so it could be connected to a modern day converter box to gain access to Freeview -- no word if the owner is paid up on his TV license though. But what's really interesting here is that it is a rear project TV with the main mirror being mounted on fold down lid to help it blend in with the home's decor when not in use -- and to think we thought the idea of finding ways to hide HDTVs was a new idea or something. Continue reading 1930's rear projection TV in the UK still in service Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment 1930's rear projection TV in the UK still in service originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Watchmen Director's Cut movie / PlayStation 3 game Blu-ray combo now available July 21, 2009 at 9:24 pm If you have the dominant high-def optical storage format -- which can serve both movies and games with equal aplomb -- built right into your consoles, shouldn't you be leveraging that synergy? Well, the assimilation is now complete, as Watchmen Director's Cut launched today with The End is Night Parts 1 and 2 for PlayStation 3 in tow. The price of admission here is a penny under $50 before tax / shipping -- and considering both parts of the game cost $30 total on their lonesome, that's none too shabby of a deal. It'll be interesting to see what film and tie-in game make the merge next -- anyone up for a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory re-release? Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment Watchmen Director's Cut movie / PlayStation 3 game Blu-ray combo now available originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments AMD's 40nm DirectX 11-based Evergreen GPUs could be ready for bloom by late September July 21, 2009 at 8:43 pm Looks like AMD's heading off trail with its upcoming 40nm DirectX 11-based Evergreen series processors. The Inquirer's dug up some details, and while clock speeds are still unknown, the codenames for the lineup include Cypress at the top of the pile, followed by Redwood, then Juniper and Cedar for the mainstream crowd, and finally Hemlock for the lower end. The series could reportedly be ready by late September, which gives a month of breathing room before DX11-supporting Windows 7 hits the scene. Could this give AMD its much-desired lead over NVIDIA? Hard to say, but things should get mighty interesting between now and late October. Filed under: Desktops, Laptops AMD's 40nm DirectX 11-based Evergreen GPUs could be ready for bloom by late September originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Windows 7 RTM begins rollout August 6th, OEMs and some beta testers to get early headstart July 21, 2009 at 8:01 pm So last we heard Windows 7 would be officially hitting RTM status some time this month, but as to when we'd be able to get our hands on it, turns out that's a very tricky question. According to the official Windows blog, OEMs will be able to get it approximately two days after the OS goes RTM, and beta testers who are already subscribed to TechNet can download RTM shortly after it happens for free. Independent software and hardware vendors can download via Microsoft Connect / MSDN on August 6th. Same goes for MSDN-subscribed developers and IT Professionals with a TechNet account, but only the English language version. Microsoft Partner Program Gold / Certified members can join the fun August 16th via Microsoft Partner Network portal on the 16th, and Action Pack Subscribers on August 23rd -- both also English only. All other language versions for those groups are due out by October 1st. Finally, if you don't happen to fall in any of those categories, Microsoft is happy to remind you that Release Candidate doesn't start giving the annoying reboots until March 1st, 2010, with full expiration happening June 1st -- plenty of time to avoid picking up a copy if you didn't get a chance to pre-order at the much more reasonable discount price. Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software Windows 7 RTM begins rollout August 6th, OEMs and some beta testers to get early headstart originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Intel Core i5 750 reportedly arriving September 6, bringing Core i7 friends July 21, 2009 at 7:32 pm Presumably, Intel has been holding back its Core i5 CPUs in an effort not to cannibalize the prodigious success of its Core 2 line, but the chips had to come out of the oven at some point. If Chinese sources are to be believed, that time could be early this September. As detailed above, the i5 mainstream offerings will start at 2.66GHz (Core i5-750), alongside two additions to the Core i7 family, the 860 (2.8GHz) and 870 (2.93GHz). The new parts are highlighted by 8MB of cache and Turbo Boost -- Intel's auto-overclocking system that speeds things up when your cooling allows it. Click through for another slide detailing Clarkdale plans for 2010, which seem to agree with earlier rumors on the subject. Mmm, fresh silicon. [Via Slashgear] Continue reading Intel Core i5 750 reportedly arriving September 6, bringing Core i7 friends Filed under: Desktops Intel Core i5 750 reportedly arriving September 6, bringing Core i7 friends originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments BlackBerry Storm 2 demoed on video, SurePress "click" and all July 21, 2009 at 6:56 pm Either the gang at Crackberry have a very good special effects department (which we doubt), or we're looking at the first footage of a working BlackBerry 9550, a.k.a. Storm 2. As noted in the video, the hardware and software is "very early stage," but that said, there's something mighty interesting going on here with the SurePress click. Turned off, the screen has no give whatsoever, but when the phone's powered up, the mysterious click returns. We talked with CB, who confirms that the whole display does in fact move in and out just a bit, although much less than its predecessor, and that sound you hear is a physical click -- guess SurePress really is here to stay, after all. The takeaway here is that it's definitely a step in the right direction and perhaps what RIM should've released from the get-go. More impressions via the read link, and check out the video for yourself after the break. Continue reading BlackBerry Storm 2 demoed on video, SurePress "click" and all Filed under: Cellphones BlackBerry Storm 2 demoed on video, SurePress "click" and all originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Apple bucks recession, records best non-holiday quarter in company history July 21, 2009 at 6:18 pm Love 'em or hate 'em, Apple knows how to sell, and sell big. As we tune into the company's fiscal 2009 third quarter conference call this afternoon, we're told that it has just recorded its "best non-holiday quarter [in terms of] revenue and earnings" in company history. This, mind you, was recorded during what most say is the worst recession since the Great Depression. All told, Apple netted a quarterly profit of $1.23 billion, and international sales accounted for a staggering 44 percent of the quarter's revenue. The outfit continued to steamroll the competition in MP3 sales, moving 10.2 million iPod units in the quarter; of note, that was a seven percent decrease from last year, but given that fact that we're getting ever-closer to a saturation point with these things, we aren't too shocked to hear it. The company also confessed that the iPhone and iPod touch was cannibalizing traditional iPod sales (defined by Apple as the "shuffle, nano and classic"), but so long as those purchases stay within the realm of Apple, we're sure it doesn't much mind. The firm was also quick to boast of a 626 percent increase in iPhone sales from this quarter a year ago, but considering that its handsets were only available in a handful of nations then compared to scores of countries now, we still maintain that next quarter's iPhone sales will be the real measuring stick. Still, Peter Oppenheimer -- Apple's senior vice president and Chief Financial Officer -- did admit that the company was currently unable to meet iPhone 3GS demand in virtually every country where Apple is shipping it to. Which is funny, since we haven't heard of too many Americans that are still having trouble locating one. When talking about iTunes, we were reminded of the 1.5 billion total applications downloaded from the App Store, while some eight billion jams had been purchased (both since launch). In fact, Apple claimed that it was "years ahead" of rivals when comparing the App Store all those other application markets. Finally, Mac sales scooted up some four percent with a grand total of 2.6 million unit sold, which went down as the company's best-ever June quarter in terms of personal computer sales. When asked (again) about the possibility of Apple introducing a netbook, we were reminded that Apple "isn't out to make the most computers, just to make the best computers." Furthermore the suits at the company have yet to figure out how to build "the best" at the "$299, $399 or $499" level, once again extinguishing any hope of a low-cost Mac laptop anytime soon. He went on to say that "some customers buying these [netbooks] become disppointed / disenchanted," asserting that Apple is simply striving to make the "best, most innovative" machines and "give customers the most value." To quote Mr. Oppenheimer when responding to a question over an iPod-like device with a larger screen: "I never want to discount anything in the future and never want to talk about new products. People want a full-featured notebook, some of the netbooks being delivered are very slow, have software technology that is old, don't have a robust computing experience, small display, cramped keyboard, I could go on but I won't. We'll only play in things where we can be very innovative and be proud of." Okay Apple, we get it -- you're not interested in the netbook space. Gosh. Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Laptops Apple bucks recession, records best non-holiday quarter in company history originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Switched On: The last smartphone OS July 21, 2009 at 6:00 pm Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Palm's webOS certainly faces strong competition as it vies for attention from manufacturers, carriers, developers and consumers. But Palm was able to knock out at least one ailing offering by making webOS the replacement for the old Palm OS. For others it may not be so easy. In fact, with the barriers to entry now so high and the commitment to existing operating systems so great, webOS may be the last major smartphone operating system launched for the foreseeable future. With webOS taking the baton from Palm OS, the number of major smartphone operatinng systems has stayed fixed at six. Three of them -- Symbian S60, Windows Mobile and Android -- are intended to be used by handset makers from multiple manufacturers, whereas iPhone OS, BlackBerry OS and webOS are used only on the handsets offered by their developer. Of course, even these "purebred" operating systems owe much to older platform technologies, with Android and webOS being built atop a Linux kernel, iPhone OS having its distant roots in NetBSD, and BlackBerry and Android building on Java. The race to attract software to these platforms has ignited an arms race of development funds to both prime the supply pump and the promotion of app stores to lead the horses to he touch-sensitive virtual koi ponds.. Developing and maintaining a smartphone operating system is a serious and expensive undertaking that can consume a company. Producing the original iPhone caused Apple to miss the self-imposed ship date of Leopard, and third-party app support did not come until much later. Whatever Microsoft is planning in a major overhaul for Windows Mobile 7 has taken long enough to warrant the release of the interim 6.5 release that still leaves the company far behind the state of the art. WebOS development clearly took up a significant portion of the $425 million investment from Elevation Partners in Palm. And finishing a 1.0 release is just the beginning. Continue reading Switched On: The last smartphone OS Filed under: Cellphones Switched On: The last smartphone OS originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Sony thinks it's a generation or two ahead of the Wiimote with upcoming motion controls July 21, 2009 at 5:28 pm Sony sat down with Eurogamer at the Develop conference last week, and had some interesting things to say about its new motion controller technology -- including a bit of polite smack to talk about the Wiimote. Unfortunately, we're not sure that Paul Holman, SCEE VP of R&D, was referencing MotionPlus when he said that Sony's tech is "another generation forward, or even a couple of generations" ahead of the Wiimote. Holman, along with Kish Hirani, head of developer services, sidestepped questions about MotionPlus specifically, but were more than happy to talk down Project Natal -- with a couple generations of EyeToy already under their belt. What's more interesting is what they revealed about their own product, including built-in microphone that can detect the direction of audio, and the availability of the glowing ball to developers to add immersion -- it can be lit with any color in the spectrum. They wouldn't confirm much about what buttons the controller would have, other than that it would have buttons, but it seems Sony's main objective is providing developers with a broad buffet of control options to pick and choose and implement. They're also sticking by that Spring 2010 date, though the launch could be somewhat contingent upon what games are ready by then. [Via Joystiq] Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals Sony thinks it's a generation or two ahead of the Wiimote with upcoming motion controls originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Dell Adamo gets $500 price drop, whole new lease on life July 21, 2009 at 5:05 pm After no small amount of external pressure, Dell has finally managed to do some major damage on the Adamo's number one drawback: the price. The starting mark for the 1.2GHz machine has been slashed from $1,999 to $1,499, while the high-end model with SSD and a 1.4GHz processor is down to $2,299. Still not in the same general galaxy as most consumer-aimed Dell products, but quite a lot closer to the realm of possibility. [Via LogicBUY] Filed under: Laptops Dell Adamo gets $500 price drop, whole new lease on life originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Microsoft acknowledges the mobile Xbox question, Live Anywhere due for a comeback? July 21, 2009 at 4:43 pm In an interview with Kikizo, Microsoft VP Shane Kim talks briefly about Xbox Live and the possibility of moving it into the handheld game space -- which could definitely / maybe / someday happen, as the company seems to understand the importance of mobile media for its users. While hard at work trying to devise a mobile device strategy, however, its apparently decided that its resources are best spent developing home hardware and "more inviting and innovative experiences for a broader audience, things like 1 Vs. 100, Joy Ride, Beatles Rock Band," not to mention social media and streaming 1080p HD, all of which "combine to broaden the brand perception" of the platform. Also dropped in the interview were hints at plans for "a service in Live that will extend to other platforms," which sounds an awful lot like Live Anywhere, doesn't it? Check out that read link for the whole megillah, and for the time being: if you really need an Xbox portable, give us a call. We know a guy. [Via Yahoo] Filed under: Gaming Microsoft acknowledges the mobile Xbox question, Live Anywhere due for a comeback? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments XPERIA X2 appears next to his sibling in a charming family photo July 21, 2009 at 4:21 pm As you know, compelling pics of the X2 have been making the scene for quite some time now, and thanks to the gang at Mobile Bulgaria we can add a few more to the collection. Held up next to its predecessor for comparison, the newer model does indeed look like its more of the same, but for what looks like an improved keyboard (can't wait to put it through its paces) and a thinner form factor -- although the most exciting changes are taking place under the hood. Unless, of course, the rumored OLED display comes to pass -- that would be most excellent! Hit that read link to see the newest pics in all their glory. Filed under: Cellphones XPERIA X2 appears next to his sibling in a charming family photo originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Xbox Live Dashboard update coming August 11th July 21, 2009 at 4:11 pm Lades and gentleman, you can now mark your calendars with a permanent pen, felt-tip marker, or even a paint brush. Microsoft's announced that the next Xbox Live Dashboard update is beaming to your console on August 11th. This one includes Games on Demand, user ratings for games, a number of Netflix additions, and the much-anticipated (maybe not) ability to spend actual money on clothing for your Avatar. What it doesn't have is Twitter, Last.fm, and Facebook support, but according to Microsoft, those are still coming sometime later this fall. You went ahead and signed up for the preview program, right? Filed under: Gaming Xbox Live Dashboard update coming August 11th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments HTC Hero on sale tomorrow at Orange UK July 21, 2009 at 4:02 pm We may have scored HTC's latest Android-infused device for a brief window of time, but if you're hoping to snag one for keeps, you'll need to jet over to the UK and sign away your cellular soul to Orange. Based on a brief but pointed tweet from a carrier representative, the HTC Hero will be "available from Orange UK retail stores [starting] tomorrow." The phone is already up on the operator's website in a delightful graphite hue, and the price of £0.00 on a pay monthly contract sure is luscious. So much for T-Mobile Germany getting a jump on everyone, huh? [Via Twitter, thanks to everyone who sent this in] Filed under: Cellphones HTC Hero on sale tomorrow at Orange UK originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Next-gen iPod touch rumored to get camera, microphone, fairy dust coating July 21, 2009 at 3:41 pm According to a "well connected source" in the Wired camp, the iPod mills in China are hard at work as we speak, churning out next-gen iPod Touch models with integrated cameras and microphones. This certainly jibes well with the tips we've received regarding both this device and a cam-equipped nano -- although we're still skeptical about the rumored OLED iPods. The article goes on to suggest that once you add a mic to the mix, all you need is a MiFi and the Skype application for "the iPhone experience" on Verizon's (or Sprint's) network. Seems like an awful lot to go through just to avoid AT&T, but we suppose that it's good to have options. Filed under: Digital Cameras, Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video Next-gen iPod touch rumored to get camera, microphone, fairy dust coating originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Triple-shot TASER X3 imminent, deranged employees celebrate with mock executions July 21, 2009 at 3:20 pm Sure, we love a good electric jolt to the face as much as the next guy, but perhaps the company is taking things a bit far with its new TASER X3 gun. The device has a multi-shot design that allows it to fire three probes in rapid succession, along with laser sights and other enhancements to do the deed with a modicum of accuracy and safety. The new weapon will be officially unveiled on July 27th, but in anticipation of that glorious day, TASER has kindly posted an employee demonstration video of shooting three entirely underpaid women in the back, to the applause of onlookers. Our word of advice? If somebody starts yelling "TASER TASER TASER," you and your two girlfriends might wanna duck. Horrific footage is after the break. [Via gizmag] Continue reading Triple-shot TASER X3 imminent, deranged employees celebrate with mock executions Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Triple-shot TASER X3 imminent, deranged employees celebrate with mock executions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Motorola Morrison gets pictured running Android July 21, 2009 at 3:11 pm Well, we've already had a pretty good indication that Motorola's Morrison QWERTY slider would be one of the company's planned Android phones, and it looks like most all doubt has now been put to rest courtesy of this shot of what's purported to be a Motorola employee's very own Morrison. In addition to offering us a better look at a slightly more refined version of the phone, it also quite clearly shows it running Android, and it does indeed appear to be the real deal. As you can see above, it's also still sporting that T-Mobile logo, though we're still not hearing anything different than the previous rumors that it's slated to launch on the carrier by the end of the year. [Via TmoNews] Filed under: Cellphones Motorola Morrison gets pictured running Android originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments HTC Click in the wild -- Android on the cheap? July 21, 2009 at 3:01 pm Not satisfied with your Android selection? Looking for something a little easier on the pocketbook, perhaps? Well, that's cool, partner -- look no further than the HTC Click. This thing hasn't been announced, but rumors have been swirling for a few days now that the Click would be taking HTC's Android ambitions decidedly downmarket, and like clockwork, we've now got a couple alleged pictures of it. We can't verify the authenticity of this stuff, but we certainly don't have any reason to doubt that it's real -- it's pretty much what we'd envision a low-end HTC Android phone would look like. One open question would be the mystery surrounding that crazy pad arrangement where we'd normally expect a trackball to be -- don't get us wrong, we're not married to the trackball by any stretch, but it'll be interesting to see how well this works in practice. We don't have any details on the Click's release, but you can bet your sweet little green robot we'll be passing that on just as soon as we get it. Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds HTC Click in the wild -- Android on the cheap? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Sonic brings 3D movies into the home via CinemaNow July 21, 2009 at 2:43 pm Like it or not, 3D movies are coming to your house. If you're looking to be one of the first on the block to stream the third-dimension onto your computer monitor or 3D-ready HDTV, Sonic Solutions is making sure you have that option. Announced today, the company is utilizing Roxio's CinemaNow platform to provide users access to 3D films, and all of those files are optimized for use with NVIDIA's GeForce GPUs and its 3D Vision / 3D Vision-ready displays. Frankly, we're shocked to see CinemaNow involved in all of this, but this just might be the offering that makes the service at least marginally relevant again. Sadly, there's no hard data surrounding pricing and release, but needless to say, you should probably go ahead and don those funky goggles just in case it goes down sooner rather than later. Filed under: Home Entertainment Sonic brings 3D movies into the home via CinemaNow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Sony Ericsson's Android-powered XPERIA X3 sorta confirmed by way of retailer July 21, 2009 at 2:19 pm We don't take the word of just any retailer at face value, but when a big player like eXpansys decides that it's time to list a new phone in its inventory, that usually means something's afoot. The company's British outpost has now listed full details for a phone it's identifying simply as "Xperia" in its headline, but if you read further in, you'll see that the product code is "SEMXP3_BLK_UK", suggesting X3 is the likely moniker for the Rachael-powered Android set. For your hard-earned (but yet-to-be-determined) money, you'll get pretty much everything you could possibly want, spec-wise: 10Mbps HSDPA and 2Mbps HSUPA, 8 megapixel cam with image stabilization and LED flash, 3.5mm headphone jack, a 4-inch 800 x 400 display (a first at this resolution for a production Android device), AGPS, and microSDHC expansion. Sadly, it's listed as 900 / 2100 only for the 3G radio, so we'll need to rely on the telecommunication gods (and Sony Ericsson, we suppose) to deliver a North American version as well. [Via Slashgear and the::unwired] Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds Sony Ericsson's Android-powered XPERIA X3 sorta confirmed by way of retailer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments How-to: Build a Blu-ray / TV tuner-equipped HTPC for under $1,000 July 21, 2009 at 1:50 pm Pundits may argue that the modern day HTPC has no place in the modern day living room, but we disagree. In fact, with the economy still struggling to regain its swagger, folks are staying in and finding entertainment at home more than ever. It's that truth that spurred us to start this here project: building a fully capable, Blu-ray and TV tuner-equipped HTPC for less than a grand. And lo and behold, we made it happen. If you're interested in seeing exactly how we pieced together a mighty fine entertainment box for less than the starting price of most pre-configured systems, hop on past the break with your notepad open. Continue reading How-to: Build a Blu-ray / TV tuner-equipped HTPC for under $1,000 Filed under: Home Entertainment, Media PCs How-to: Build a Blu-ray / TV tuner-equipped HTPC for under $1,000 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Toshiba TG01 passes FCC with some CDMA thrown in July 21, 2009 at 1:39 pm The Snapdragon-powered Toshiba TG01 is a beast of a phone -- as Windows Mobile-powered phones go, anyway -- but for Americans, there's one small problem: it's not clear how, when, or if it's getting here. We still don't have many answers there, but we've got one piece of very encouraging news in the FCC approval of a CDMA flavor today, bearing all the hardware you'll need to use the phone on a carrier like... oh, you know, Sprint or Verizon. Even better, the test documents list the device as "production" -- many FCC filings use prototype hardware -- suggesting that this is pretty close to being ready for market. So, as we said, Sprint or Verizon have to be ramping up for this -- but which one is it? Both? Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds Toshiba TG01 passes FCC with some CDMA thrown in originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Intel's 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight July 21, 2009 at 1:12 pm Ugh, seriously Intel? While we've been waiting for 34nm-based SSDs for what feels like ages now, it's not so much the new process technology that had our interest piqued. Instead, it was the hope of a 320GB model from the outfit. Today, Intel got official with a new pair of 34nm SSDs, though neither of 'em are any larger than the previous 50nm X25-M (2.5-inch) and X18-M (1.8-inch). In fact, the new units even boast the same model names. The newcomers arrive in 80GB and 160GB sizes, and while actual hard drive benchmarking tools are apt to show a marginal increase in performance, even Intel admits that most folks won't see "noticeable gains" in real-world use. So, what's the point of popping out 34nm SSDs that are silver instead of black? Lower prices, or so the company says. If the market reacts to the cost savings that being passed forward, you can expect the 80GB model to run $225, while the 160GB edition gets marked at $440, both in quantities of 1,000. Call us spoiled, but we're still longing for more. [Thanks, Joseph] Continue reading Intel's 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight Filed under: Storage Intel's 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Engadget's recession antidote: win an OCZ Summit Series 60GB SSD! July 21, 2009 at 12:52 pm This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day to lucky readers until we run out of stuff or companies stop sending things. Today we've got an OCZ Technology Summit Series SATA II 2.5-inch 60GB SSD on offer, which ought to make your aging laptop quite happy. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Hooray for free stuff! Huge thanks to OCZ Technology for providing the gear! The rules: Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too. You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine. Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad. Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) OCZ Technology Summit Series SATA II 2.5-inch 60GB SSD. Approximate retail value is $239. If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Entries can be submitted until Tuesday, July 21st, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck! Full rules can be found here. Filed under: Storage Engadget's recession antidote: win an OCZ Summit Series 60GB SSD! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Samsung has a new Blu-ray HTIB with the HT-BD3252 July 21, 2009 at 12:35 pm Samsung's latest Blu-ray HTIB features just about anything an all-in-one customer could want; in fact we're not sure how you can even build a 5.1 system with rear wireless speakers and a Blu-ray player for $799. The HT-BD3252 of course supports the latest HD audio codecs like TrueHD and DTS-HD, and a mic for automatic calibration. Not wanting to leave anything out from its stand-alone players, Samsung has also included the same internet services like Pandora, Netflix and Blockbuster via the included WiFi dongle. Oh, and don't forget the very important iPod dock, we mean, who would buy a HTIB in this day and age without one? Not us, that's for sure. Continue reading Samsung has a new Blu-ray HTIB with the HT-BD3252 Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment Samsung has a new Blu-ray HTIB with the HT-BD3252 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments T-Mobile myTouch 3G unboxing July 21, 2009 at 12:10 pm Our attention is still vaguely fixed on that Hero off in the distance, but let's focus for just a minute -- the myTouch 3G for T-Mobile is now in our well-guarded possession as it trudges toward a late July release for those lucky enough to pre-order. Other than a few silkscreened details, make no mistake -- the myTouch is literally an HTC Magic in basically all but name (we compare it with a Rogers-branded Magic in our gallery below so you can see what we mean), and all things considered, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Like all of its Magic contemporaries, the phone feels small and well-balanced in the hand; one unique detail, though, is the crazy packaging which consists of a semi-soft zippered nylon case enclosed by a paper sleeve. It's cool, different, and unlike a regular box, it's something you'll probably want to hold on to. This is the first time we've seen it in that "merlot" shade, and in person, this is a great-looking color that could play well with anybody -- man or woman, business or casual. It's a touch of highlight without going overboard (unlike, say, the actual Highlight). Software-wise, this is looking like a bone-stock Android 1.5 build so far (notice the keyboard, for example), which plays with T-Mobile's prior statements that its software value-add with these sets would primarily come through Market downloads. Stay tuned for our full review, but in the meantime, enjoy some visuals! Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds T-Mobile myTouch 3G unboxing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Panasonic's EVOLTA bot sets his doe-eyed sights on new endurance record July 21, 2009 at 11:56 am After risking life and limb to show off Panasonic's double-As in a harrowing climb up the Grand Canyon, EVOLTA is back for more record setting hijinks. This time, however, he's been tasked to pedal his adorable little heart out on a miniature tricycle. The plan is to take this year's Le Mans race by storm and break some sort of world record for distance traveled by a robot -- though we're not sure how exactly that's defined, since EVOLTA isn't exactly a speed demon. This new version of the bot has been completely revamped to ride a bike and follow an infrared path blazed by his superiors. A couple of videos are after the break. [Thanks, Alex] Continue reading Panasonic's EVOLTA bot sets his doe-eyed sights on new endurance record Filed under: Robots Panasonic's EVOLTA bot sets his doe-eyed sights on new endurance record originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Resistance 2 Marksman recreated in fine form by Calgary modder July 21, 2009 at 11:32 am If you're a regular to the site, you'd know that we've a soft spot in our hearts for recreated video game weapons. Partly, we enjoy seeing skill lead to wares, but we also find inspiration in life's littlest (and most dangerous) pleasures. Take Calgary's own Izy Cheung (shown above) for example, who spent over 100 hours toiling over the masterpiece she's wielding. Resistance 2 fanatics will no doubt recognize the gun as the Marksman, a long-range rifle that hardly leaves the side of a devout sniper. The official PlayStation Blog managed to sit down with Izy for a full-on interview, and we'd say the contents are fairly enlightening. If you're interested in what she has to say on the matter (and don't you pretend that you aren't), that read link down there is where you want to be. Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals Resistance 2 Marksman recreated in fine form by Calgary modder originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments CLEAR WiMAX goes live in Las Vegas, Samsung Mondi ships to take advantage July 21, 2009 at 11:06 am Looking for one more excuse to stay inside and avoid that sweltering Las Vegas heat this summer? Good news, gamblers -- Clearwire's CLEAR WiMAX service has officially gone live across 638 square miles in the greater Las Vegas area. By the books, that's serving right around 1.7 million residents, not including the influx of tourists from other WiMAX-equipped cities that will undoubtedly take advantage. To coincide with the launch, Samsung has also announced that its QWERTY-packin', DivX-friendly Mondi -- which we toyed with back at CTIA -- will be available in Vegas-area Best Buy and Clearwire outlets starting August 1st. Said MID arrives with 4G support, WiFi, GPS, 3 megapixel camera, a QWERTY keypad, a 4.3-inch touchscreen, Opera 9.5 and a customizable set of widgets on top of Windows Mobile. The device is supposedly available now through Samsung's website and "select Samsung authorized distributors," but we're having no lucky hunting one down at present time. Read - CLEAR in Las Vegas Read - Samsung Mondi shipping Gallery: CLEAR WiMAX goes live in Las Vegas, Samsung Mondi ships to take advantage Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless CLEAR WiMAX goes live in Las Vegas, Samsung Mondi ships to take advantage originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Etisalat BlackBerry update was indeed spyware, RIM provides a solution July 21, 2009 at 10:41 am Um, yikes? An unexpected (and unwanted) surprise struck some 145,000 BlackBerry users in the UAE this time last week, when an official looking prompt coerced many of the aforesaid Etisalat customers to follow through with a software update. Rather than bringing about performance enhancements, the SS8-built app enabled the carrier to keep tabs on customers' messages. According to RIM: "Etisalat appears to have distributed a telecommunications surveillance application... independent sources have concluded that it is possible that the installed software could then enable unauthorized access to private or confidential information stored on the user's smartphone. Independent sources have concluded that the Etisalat update is not designed to improve performance of your BlackBerry Handheld, but rather to send received messages back to a central server." Like we said, yikes. The zaniest part is that Etisalat isn't backing down, still assuring the world that the upgrades were "required for service enhancements." At any rate, RIM has made remarkably clear that the update wasn't one authorized by the company, and it's even providing an app remover for those who'd prefer their BlackBerry to be in working order and, you know, not forwarding all their email to some dude in an Etisalat supply closet. Good on you, RIM. Bad on you, Etisalat. [Thanks, Gerald] Read - Confirmation of spyware Read - RIM app remover Filed under: Cellphones Etisalat BlackBerry update was indeed spyware, RIM provides a solution originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Infinity Ward lending a hand on Modern Warfare 2 rifle controller? July 21, 2009 at 10:14 am Time Crisis fans fully understand the awesomeness of a good gun when playing a gun-based title, so those very gamers will likely grasp the significance of Robert Bowling's Modern Warfare 2-related tweet. Just yesterday, the Infinity Ward employee made clear that he was "in a design meeting for a Modern Warfare 2 controller," and he sought the input of the Twitterverse regarding "concave or convex grips for the analog sticks." If you'll recall, this title can already be secured with an actual pair of night vision goggles, so tossing in some sort of rifle or semiautomatic weapon would just sweeten the pot even further. When contacted by our pals over at Joystiq, Bowling wouldn't elaborate much, only noting that the controller "isn't being manufactured by [Infinity Ward] or [Activision]." So, that means it is being manufactured though, right? [Via Joystiq] Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals Infinity Ward lending a hand on Modern Warfare 2 rifle controller? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Zoom brings stereo audio to Q3 pocket camcorder July 21, 2009 at 9:49 am While those into good sound likely warmed to Zoom's H4n Handy Recorder back at CES, the Samson Technologies-owned company has just switched the game up on us with its newfangled Q3 Handy Video Recorder. As the product name implies, it's the first pocket camcorder to hit the market with such a serious focus on good sound, packing a directional, dual condenser microphone setup that enables shooters to capture clips at 24-bit/48 kHz while even focusing the mics on the sound source. The camcorder itself can log clips at an uninspiring 640 x 480 (30fps), while a pair of AA batteries gives you around two hours of life. There's also a 2.4-inch LCD, a bundled 32GB SD card (holds 16 hours of footage), a built-in speaker for previews, TV output, a tripod mount and USB 2.0 connectivity. If this bad boy did 720p, we'd be handing over our $249 with a heart full of thanks. Full release is after the break. Continue reading Zoom brings stereo audio to Q3 pocket camcorder Filed under: Portable Audio Zoom brings stereo audio to Q3 pocket camcorder originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Fuji F70 EXR compact superzoom spotted all over the 'net, S200FS mentioned July 21, 2009 at 9:23 am While we're not too fond of the megapixel war pushing consumer point-and-shoots to ridiculous resolutions, we certainly don't mind the recent trend of little cams getting big lenses, and Fuji could be next. Rumors and pictures of the F70 EXR have been spreading on all manners of forums and internets, promising a new half-inch, 10 megapixel sensor backing a 27 - 270mm lens, all packaged in a rather svelte looking exterior (another glimpse below). Mechanical image stabilization is said to be on offer, but rumored VGA video capture will be a disappointment if true. Also being discussed is the S200fs, a supposed follow-up to the "why won't this lens come off" not quite an SLR S100FS from last year. That's all we know about that one, and while both are said to be available in September, we'd wait for some official word from Fuji before making any pre-orders at neighborhood camera shops. [Via 1001 Noisy Cameras] Continue reading Fuji F70 EXR compact superzoom spotted all over the 'net, S200FS mentioned Filed under: Digital Cameras Fuji F70 EXR compact superzoom spotted all over the 'net, S200FS mentioned originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Point of View Mobii netbook has Ion inside, psychedelia outside July 21, 2009 at 8:56 am Just by looking at the Mobii ION 230, you can tell it's a netbook keen on standing out from the crowd. This desire extends through its internals, which rely on NVIDIA's Ion platform to power an Atom N230 CPU, usually a nettop part, alongside an upgradeable 1GB of RAM and 160GB HDD. Hence, while battery life might take a comparative beating, graphical and processing ability should be appreciably superior to your run-of-the-mill netbook. Point of View promises flawless 1080p playback and DirectX 10 and Shader Model 4.0 support, with an HDMI-out if you don't feel the 10.2-inch display at 1024x 600 resolution does those features justice. You'd be wrong to expect anything more than a slideshow in graphically intensive games, but it's good to know the netbook market is getting a juiced-up option, and fret not, there's a conservative black paintjob available too. European prices are expected around the €349 ($495) mark and availability should hit within the next few weeks. [Via Netbook News] Filed under: Laptops Point of View Mobii netbook has Ion inside, psychedelia outside originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Oddly humble Negroponte lists OLPC's failures, calls Sugar a 'mistake' July 21, 2009 at 8:14 am The noble goal of a $100 laptop for developing nations has come to fruition -- but of course at a higher cost and later date than expected. One Laptop Per Child has succeeded in delivering 900,000 XO laptops into the hands of kids, but that's a far cry from the many millions expected and Chairman Nicholas Negroponte is pulling no punches in describing what went wrong. He's still bitter at Intel, claiming it worked to "spoil the market," and angry about many nations cutting back on large deals. But, he isn't just lashing outwardly, calling the custom Linux-based operating system that runs the XO, a "mistake," saying "Sugar should have been an application" of the sort it has now morphed to be with Sugar on a Stick. Too little too late? OLPC has already made massive staff cuts and sales from the Give One, Get One program dropped 90 percent last year. With machines like the EduBook selling for $160 to institutions and able to run common operating systems, we're not seeing the future get any more bright for this little green guy. [Via Slashdot] Filed under: Laptops Oddly humble Negroponte lists OLPC's failures, calls Sugar a 'mistake' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Shure introduces three new sets of cans for pros and poseurs July 21, 2009 at 7:42 am Sure, you know Shure, the audio company best known in the consumer realm for its line of high-end, in-ear buds. The company's moving out, introducing three new over-the-ear headsets said to offer "professional" audio quality at prices that are a fraction of some of the other cans we've seen lately. The SRH240 are the lowest-end, intended for "consumer listening devices" (i.e. that knock-off MP3 player you got down on Canal Street) and expected to sell for under $60. Next up is the SRH440, positioned for console and DJ use, and available for under $100. Finally there's the high-end SRH840, featuring "reference-quality frequence response" and plenty of other hyperbolic traits for a retail price of $199.99. The three should cover most listeners' budgets and, while the demure styling won't win over the Skullcandy crowd, anyone looking for a solid value in listening isolation will surely want to tune in when these hit the streets the next few weeks. Gallery: Shure SRH240, SRH440, and SRH840 Filed under: Portable Audio Shure introduces three new sets of cans for pros and poseurs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments EATR robots claim to be vegetarian... sure July 21, 2009 at 7:09 am Usually when we freak out about the coming of killer robots, nobody bothers to disagree with our histrionics, which is in itself a comforting sign that we're overreacting. On the other hand, if the makers of a chainsaw-wielding robot take the time to point out that it is not a flesh-eating harbinger of the apocalypse, well... Cyclone Power and Robotic Technologies, the companies behind the weaponized EATR drone, have put together a joint press release to comfort us all that the biomass-harvesting machine will be exclusively vegetarian, meaning it would only feed on "renewable plant matter" and not the bodies littering the battlefield. There's no reason not to believe them, though you should remember that in the eyes of a robot, humans are renewable too. [Via Wired] Filed under: Robots EATR robots claim to be vegetarian... sure originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments If Microsoft made a toaster... July 21, 2009 at 6:28 am We don't know where, and we don't know why, but we sure like the idea of this Microsoft toaster that etches little Redmond flags into delicately baked slices of Wonder. Of course, if Microsoft really did make a toaster it would likely require an upgrade to your bread. And if Apple made a toaster, the bread would be non-removable. Oh! And if... go ahead, add your own in the comments below. [Thanks abrahamvir, images courtesy of mazw220] Filed under: Household If Microsoft made a toaster... originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Panasonic's Quick Power Dry hand dryer promises 2-3 second escape from public toilets July 21, 2009 at 5:31 am Unless you're a member of the US Senate or a British pop star, most people aren't looking to linger about the dank confines of public toilets. Enter Panasonic and it's new Quick Power Dry hand dryer that promises dry hands in just 2-3 seconds with the help of its 280MPH blower. That's an "industry fastest" dry-time according to Panasonic and a crushing blow (har!) to Dyson's Airblade that dries hands in 12 seconds despite 400MPH blasts of air. The wall-mountable Panny FJ-T13V1-W dryer is available now for ¥214,200 -- that's $2,280 in US monies which means you can forget about seeing 'em installed in the New York subway. [Via Impress] Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Panasonic's Quick Power Dry hand dryer promises 2-3 second escape from public toilets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments LG's Xnote Mini X120 Levi's Special Edition for Deadheads and truckers July 21, 2009 at 4:24 am When your netbook is too bulky to fit in the back pocket then sometimes, not always, but sometimes you just have to bring the back-pocket to the netbook. Meet LG's Levi special edition of its Xnote Mini X120. It's exactly like the regular X120 running XP and Splashtop-powered "Smart On" OS only now with Levi graphics and an obligatory denim laptop sleeve just as you'd expect. More pics after the break because sometimes a man needs more than a monkey. Continue reading LG's Xnote Mini X120 Levi's Special Edition for Deadheads and truckers Filed under: Laptops LG's Xnote Mini X120 Levi's Special Edition for Deadheads and truckers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Toyota's giant solar flowers popping up across US to bring good will, free WiFi, and charging stations July 21, 2009 at 2:47 am Now here's a smart marketing campaign. In an effort to raise awareness / interest in its 2010 Prius, Toyota planted five 18-foot tall "solar flowers" in Boston's Prudential Plaza and provided free Wi-Fi and electricity that was "partially powered" by the solar panels attached to the petals and stem. The so-called "Harmony Between Man, Nature and Machine" just disappeared from Boston but will next germinate in New York, followed by Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. We're not exactly in the market for a car right now, but we promise to think about it while we lovingly enjoy the free laptop charge and internet access. [Via PhysOrg] Read - Flickr set from Boston Read - Schedule Filed under: Transportation, Wireless Toyota's giant solar flowers popping up across US to bring good will, free WiFi, and charging stations originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments