7/24 Engadget

Android-powered HTC Click rumored to be crazy cheap unlocked July 23, 2009 at 11:11 pm One more note about that Android-powered HTC Click that we saw in a gloriously-framed shot yesterday morning: it's going to be cheap. It had been said all along that the Click would mark HTC's first Android entry into the low-end fray (joining the Touch Viva on WinMo), meaning the sticker price would be kept to a minimum -- but the Vietnamese forum that first brought you this picture is saying that we're looking at somewhere between 5 and 6 million dong, which works out to $280 to $336 unlocked. That's cheap enough to ensure that it's free on contract virtually anywhere in the world where it's sold, bringing Android to a whole new demographic. Now, just call us when the Hero's down to $280, eh? Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds Android-powered HTC Click rumored to be crazy cheap unlocked originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Google Latitude finally makes it over to iPhone, as a web app July 23, 2009 at 10:32 pm The iPhone has finally caught up with its BlackBerry, Windows Mobile 5.0, and S60 competition, at least as far as Google Latitude is concerned. The stalker-centric program is now available for Apple's smartphone, but instead of coming as an App Store-approved download, it's actually just a web-hosted app that grabs your location through Safari -- a new trick care of iPhone OS 3.0. As to why, the Official Google Blog explains Apple had some concern that people would confuse it for the native Maps app. We still don't get why it couldn't simply be added to Maps itself, but we're not the multibillion dollar company, here. Go ahead, let your privacy cares away and direct your iPhone to the link below to see what all the fuss is about. Now it's time to wait (im)patiently for Google Voice. Read - Google Latitude Read - Official Google Mobile Blog Filed under: Cellphones Google Latitude finally makes it over to iPhone, as a web app originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Ask Engadget: Best flexible keyboard out there? July 23, 2009 at 10:03 pm We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Jeremy, who is desperately searching for a portable and malleable keyboard to take on the road. "I love my little computing companion but I often find myself missing a full sized keyboard. I have been looking at several of these portable and flexible keyboards, but I can't seem to make up my mind about which I should buy. I don't want the keyboard to be overly expensive, but I want it to be good quality. Also, how difficult is it to type on these keyboards? Thanks!" To anyone who has been forced to use a cramped netbook keyboard for over a few minutes, you know how dire the situation can get. If you've literally rolled a keyboard into your arsenal, let us know which one made the team and how it's holding up. Filed under: Ask Engadget, Peripherals Ask Engadget: Best flexible keyboard out there? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Engadget HD puts the new Samsung LED edge-lit LCD TV to the test July 23, 2009 at 9:22 pm If you've been wondering how the latest LED edge-lit LED TVs from Samsung look, now's your chance to find out. The crew over at EHD got their hands-on the 46-inch UN46B7000 and spent the time to write all about it. We'd like to warn you that If you don't click through you'll be missing out on all the fun, like all the internet connectivity features like DLNA and Yahoo Widgets. But even if you don't care about all the extras, there is still come great information that'll help try and figure out how much of a premium a 2.1 inch TV is worth. Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment Engadget HD puts the new Samsung LED edge-lit LCD TV to the test originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Viewsonic goes all out with new nettops, netbooks, media PCs and media players July 23, 2009 at 8:51 pm Viewsonic may still be best known as a monitor company, but it looks to be doing its best to change that with its latest batch of products, which run the gamut from handhelds to media PCs. The bulk of the new offerings are in the small form factor PC category, and include the Atom-based VOT 120 / 121 and 130 / 132 nettops (pictured above), as well as the more beefed-up Core 2 Duo-based VOT 530 / 550 media PC (complete with Blu-ray drive and remote control). Launched alongside those are Viewsonic's fairly standard VNB 100 / 101 netbooks, and the company's all new VPD 400 and 500 media players, which pack a 4.3-inch and 5-inch screen, and 8GB and 16GB of storage, respectively. Check out the gallery below for a look at the whole lot, and hit up the link below for a rundown of all the specs. Gallery: Viewsonic goes all out with new nettops, netbooks, media PCs and media players Filed under: Desktops, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Laptops, Media PCs Viewsonic goes all out with new nettops, netbooks, media PCs and media players originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Palm webOS 1.1 now available, fixes iTunes 8.2.1 syncing July 23, 2009 at 8:10 pm Time to update your Pre, Palm's just released webOS 1.1.0. Quite a bit of changes here, but most importantly, the patch notes say that it "resolves an issue preventing media sync from working with latest version of iTunes (8.2.1)" -- that issue, of course, being a blockade put in place by Apple just one week ago. Oh yeah, it's on. In addition, we've got emoticons and Exchange support now, and its 31st app, NFL Mobile Live for watching games and audio from the device. There's also talk of a new gesture, swiping left to right to move forward through web pages, but really it's no different that scrolling the browser up in landscape mode. Everything else is pretty boring by comparison -- looks like that leaked update list was dead on. So when should we expect to see iTunes 8.2.2, eh Apple? Here are a few things we've noticed after playing with the update for a little bit: Scrolling through long lists (like contacts) seems improved. We're seeing a lot less loading, and only the occasional hiccup. Push email now seems to actively delete (and represent the count properly) in the background. Folder orders for IMAP Gmail accounts are now correct. Previous versions of the software had them totally out of whack. The email alert sound is different -- softer. App load times seem a bit snappier. In fact, the whole device feels a little snappier. Maybe we're crazy, but there seems to be a new animation for the drop-down menus. Anything else you guys are seeing? Tell us in comments! Also, PreCentral has an extensive list of undocumented features. Filed under: Cellphones Palm webOS 1.1 now available, fixes iTunes 8.2.1 syncing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments E-cigarettes contain carcinogens and toxins after all, FDA warns July 23, 2009 at 7:49 pm In case you ever of the mindset that e-cigarettes were somehow toxin free, at least compared to the more traditional smokes, along comes the FDA to shatter your illusions. A report this week from the government agency calls out the product with a safety warning, charging that the cartridges they examined contained "carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze." The FDA says it can't confirm the extent of the health issues, as it's only done limited testing and it hasn't been formally submitted for review, but it doesn't look quite as risk-free as previously touted. Don't say the WHO never warned ya. So remind us again, what's the point in smoking one of these over an old school cigarette? [Via Switched; thanks, flatlander85] Filed under: Misc. Gadgets E-cigarettes contain carcinogens and toxins after all, FDA warns originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Microsoft sees first annual sales decline in its history for fiscal 2009 July 23, 2009 at 7:12 pm Microsoft's fiscal year 2009 just came to a close, and the new milestones for the company aren't too boast worthy. Year-over-year, the company saw a 3.2 percent decline in sales, its first drop in the company's history -- guess that third quarter report was a pretty good indication of things to come. Net profit, too, fell 17 percent to $14.57 billion. Looking at just the fourth quarter, sales fell 17 percent to $13.1 billion, and profits saw a pretty massive 29 percent drop, to $3.05 billion. Attributing to the decline were legal charges and severance claims from laid off employees, a referral of revenue from the Windows 7 Upgrade program, and of course overall drop in PC and server sales across the industry. So far the stock market has acted as you'd expect, and shares have dropped a notable eight percent. Despite all this gloom, let's not forget that the boys in Redmond are still pulling a profit -- and hey, cheer up Steve, you've got one helluva bright light for fiscal 2010. Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software Microsoft sees first annual sales decline in its history for fiscal 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Garmin-ASUS nuvifone G60 spills loads of Linux-laced screenshots July 23, 2009 at 6:51 pm Yeah, we've seen our fair share of glimpses at Garmin-ASUS' nüvifone G60, but with the Linux-based phone just weeks away from shipping over in the Far East, these last minute looks are becoming all the more tantalizing. A reviewer over in Malaysia managed to spend a bit of quality time with the handset, and while he's still waiting for his official review unit, he managed to snag a litany of screenshots that gives us a fantastic idea of what to expect from a user interface perspective. We have to say -- we kind of dig the whimsical look at a glance, but it makes us wonder just how serious of a smartphone this thing really is. With Android already out, does this UI look like it has the chops to compete? Hit the read link and let us know. [Via GPSTracklog, thanks Rich] Filed under: Cellphones Garmin-ASUS nuvifone G60 spills loads of Linux-laced screenshots originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Sony: Touchscreen VAIO this fall, PlayStation Network and Reader integration eventually July 23, 2009 at 6:23 pm The last time we heard from Sony's VP Mike Abary, the company had finally acknowledged the existence of netbooks (more or less). Now the man's back in a Laptop Magazine interview, where he spills the beans on some of the company's reorganization, and what it means for consumers. Internally, the PlayStation, VAIO, Walkman, and Reader now come under the same umbrella -- enabling much broader collaboration between the groups, and an all around more cohesive experience for those who buy Sony products. What's on the horizon, you ask? Well, as Windows 7 is unleashed we should start seeing VAIO devices that take advantage of "certain things that will be native on Windows 7," including touchscreen. You can also expect to see some sort of PlayStation Network integration on the machines as well as "a better integration with Reader." Of course, that ain't all she wrote -- so hit that read link and get at it. Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, Laptops Sony: Touchscreen VAIO this fall, PlayStation Network and Reader integration eventually originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments AT&T CEO admits iPhone won't be exclusive forever July 23, 2009 at 5:48 pm It may not be all that shocking from a common sense point of view, but AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson's statement that "there will be a day when you are not exclusive with the iPhone" is still quite a departure from anything he's said in the past and, given the stakes involved, pretty darn notable. That word came at Fortune's now happening Brainstorm: Tech conference, where Stephenson unsurprisingly didn't elaborate on any negotiations with Apple, and only went so far as to say that he thinks AT&T's partnership with Apple "works really, really well -- maybe as well as any strategic partnership we have." Of course, none of that means exclusivity is going away anytime soon, and you can pretty safely bet that AT&T will keep on pushing as long as it can. Filed under: Cellphones AT&T CEO admits iPhone won't be exclusive forever originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Entelligence: Two strikes for Kindle is enough for me July 23, 2009 at 5:18 pm Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide. I like books. No: I actually love books. In virtually every room in my home there are bookcases that are filled to overflowing. I like to purchase them, hold them as I read words written to inform, delight, and transport the reader into different times, new experiences, and enlighten them in ways they could not have imagined. Like the worst hot dog I've eaten and the worst beer I've drunk, the worst book I've read was wonderful... but books do have a downside. They're bulky to store, hard to travel with (paper is really, really heavy), and paperbacks in particular tend to not hold up well over time. So, in addition to books, I've been a fan of e-Books. My former venture capital firm did one of the first investments in Peanut Press (long sold and re-sold many times and now owned by Barnes and Noble) and more than a decade ago I struggled with reading fiction by Dan Brown on a Palm V device with low resolution and on backlight. It was a struggle -- but it was better than schlepping paper. Continue reading Entelligence: Two strikes for Kindle is enough for me Filed under: Handhelds Entelligence: Two strikes for Kindle is enough for me originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments South Korea slaps Qualcomm with massive fine for anticompetitive behavior July 23, 2009 at 4:48 pm Qualcomm is no stranger to legal action, but at the end of the day, you've gotta hit 'em in the pocketbook if you want to get a company to change its ways. South Korea's antitrust authorities have decided that the wireless chipmaker is guilty of some nefarious deeds, imposing a 260 billion won fine -- that's 26 with ten zeroes after it -- or about $209 million, which is a new record for the agency. The company has a rather large operation in South Korea dealing with giants Samsung and LG, and that seems to be where the problem starts -- South Korea claims that they're offering better contracts to companies who deal exclusively with Qualcomm and shun its competitors, which the government is taking issue with. For its part, Qualcomm denies any wrongdoing and is vowing to "vigorously" defend itself as it works its way through the country's court system. Whatever, we just want cheaper phones, you know? Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless South Korea slaps Qualcomm with massive fine for anticompetitive behavior originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Toshiba's Stainless Style 720p HDTV redefines kitchenware July 23, 2009 at 4:23 pm Oh sure, outfits have claimed to ship kitchen-friendly TV sets before, but Toshiba just made 'em all look silly with the introduction of the 19LV612U. Less formally known as the first member of the Stainless Style TV series, this 18.5-inch set packs a built-in slot-loading DVD player, integrated ATSC / NTSC / QAM TV tuner and a 1,366 x 768 native resolution. Oh, and then there's the seductive stainless steel coating, which makes it fit in impeccably well with your modern day dishwasher, refrigerator and microwave oven. Other specs include 300 nits of brightness, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, five millisecond response time, HDMI / VGA inputs, a headphone jack and VESA mount support. It's expected to ruin meals regularly starting this September for $349.99 Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, Household Toshiba's Stainless Style 720p HDTV redefines kitchenware originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Sony's Blu-ray MegaChanger hits the streets next month with new ES standalone July 23, 2009 at 4:00 pm When we first got our hands-on the 400 disc MegaChanger pictured above we'd hoped it would be out a little earlier; but never the less the wait is almost over as Sony officially announced plans to release the BDP-CX7000ES in August, for the hard to swallow price of $1,900 -- about $400 less than rumored. The good news is that it does just about everything we can think of, like handle any Blu-ray Disc, DVD or CD with ease, and of course works with the latest codecs delivered via bitstream or LPCM. Now if you just have to have a Blu-ray changer, but wish it was half the price, you can wait a few more months for the BDP-CX960 for $800. You will however have to be willing to forgo things like RS-232 and IR-in, as well as the ES badge. Also shipping in August with the ES MegaChanger is the BDP-S1000ES. This standalone Blu-ray player is at the top of line and for $700 you get just about every feature and spec Blu-ray has to offer, as well as built-in WiFi and a DLNA client. The full details of all three are in the release after the jump. Continue reading Sony's Blu-ray MegaChanger hits the streets next month with new ES standalone Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment Sony's Blu-ray MegaChanger hits the streets next month with new ES standalone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments HTC Hero review July 23, 2009 at 3:42 pm The HTC Hero has been an object of lust for some time now for gadget enthusiasts. Even from the earliest days of leaked hardware shots and blurry demo videos of its UI, smartphone fans seemed to agree that the company had finally achieved what has been missing in the world of Android. Namely, a polished and attractive device -- polished enough to go head-to-head with the iPhone -- that kept its open source heart. So, here we are months later with an actual, bona fide Hero in our midst. Yes the reports were true, it is a beautiful device, both inside and out (though of course opinions differ on that chin). But does being a beautiful device mean Android is about to move to a bigger stage? Is HTC's spit-shine enough to overcome some of the hurdles that have plagued the platform? That question -- and more -- is answered in the text below, so read on for the full review. Continue reading HTC Hero review Filed under: Cellphones HTC Hero review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Razer intros Orochi portable Bluetooth gaming mouse, fancy Kabuto surface July 23, 2009 at 3:11 pm It's been a few months since the reptile fanatics over at Razer dished out a new input peripheral, but the wait for yet another ends today with the introduction of the ambidextrous Orochi ($79.99; ships mid-August). Rather than shooting for the desktop gamer, the company is aiming squarely at the laptop crowd with its freshest portable Bluetooth laser mouse, which is the first to offer a 4,000dpi Razer Precision 3G laser sensor and dual-mode wired / wireless functionality. There's also seven programmable buttons, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity and on-board memory for setting up performance profiles. In related news, the outfit is also issuing a new gaming surface in the Razer Kabuto, an ultrathin, ultra-soft mat that's probably nice, but not quite $19.99 nice. Gallery: Razer intros Orochi portable Bluetooth gaming mouse, fancy Kabuto surface Filed under: Peripherals Razer intros Orochi portable Bluetooth gaming mouse, fancy Kabuto surface originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments AspireRevo rebranded as the Atom 330-based Gateway QX2800 July 23, 2009 at 2:44 pm Looks like the kids in Taiwan will be able to take everyone's favorite Ion-based nettop for a spin sometime soon. Except, instead of being known as the Acer AspireRevo, its been rebranded as a Gateway QX2800. Actually, that isn't the only difference -- the CPU on this new guy has been upgraded to an Atom 330 dual core, and storage is now 500GB. But besides that, its the same kid: NVIDIA Ion 9400M graphics chipset, 4-in-1 card reader, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, HDMI output, and six USB 2.0 ports. According to PCADV, the dual core processor could give this machine a 40% performance increase over the AspireRevo. To ship with Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 at some vague point in the not too distant future. [Via iTech News Net] AspireRevo rebranded as the Atom 330-based Gateway QX2800 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Band Hero's Nintendo DS Lite peripherals get pictured July 23, 2009 at 2:20 pm Holding out for the family-friendly Band Hero on your Nintendo DS Lite? That wait just got a lot tougher. In a move obviously made to tease those already leaning towards purchasing the title when it hits shelves later this year, Activision has pushed out a smattering of renders that show a drum kit covering (ahem, Drum Grip[TM]), guitar fretboard and even a pick to strum the touchscreen. Not much to go on, sure, but it's definitely good for keeping our attention while the dog days of summer drag on. The full, brief announcement is after the break. [Via Joystiq] Gallery: Band Hero's Nintendo DS Lite peripherals get pictured Continue reading Band Hero's Nintendo DS Lite peripherals get pictured Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals Band Hero's Nintendo DS Lite peripherals get pictured originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Samsung's WiMAX-equipped Mondi MID reviewed, warts 'n all July 23, 2009 at 1:59 pm Are you a high roller sitting pretty in Las Vegas right now, wondering what MID to pick up to take advantage of that fantabulous new CLEAR WiMax service all the kids are talking about? No? Well, read on anyways -- you'll probably want to hear this. Apparently the kids at PC World have had the opportunity to put that Samsung Mondi (you know, the one we were caught on video with way back in April) through its paces. The verdict? Pretty "meh," it seems: the OS, WinMo 6.1, performs pretty much as you'd expect: all sorts of sluggish. And it appears that Sammy won't be upgrading to 6.5 when that becomes available, on account of all the work they put into getting the user experience just right on this guy (and it does look pretty good, truth be told). The home screen may support widgets, but according to the reviewer the selection is rather skint: IM, email, time / date / weather, Internet / Phone, appointments -- and that's pretty much it. Sure, Opera Mobile (with Flash Lite support) did its job admirably, but for $400 unsubsidized (or $300 subsidized) you can probably do better. [Via SlashGear] Filed under: Handhelds Samsung's WiMAX-equipped Mondi MID reviewed, warts 'n all originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Wii Sports Resort impressions (and video!): MotionPlus killer app, or killer tech demo? July 23, 2009 at 1:23 pm Sure, EA and Sega already have MotionPlus offerings on the market, but everyone knows the real kickoff for MotionPlus is Nintendo's first party title: Wii Sports Resort. We've spent some sweaty days with the product to get a real feel for all 12 games included (each with a few different activities to keep things fresh), and while there are certainly shortcomings to the depth of gameplay per activity, there's no denying that the package will liven up a party and rake in cash by the truckloads for Nintendo. Read on for our full impressions and some action-packed hands-on video. Continue reading Wii Sports Resort impressions (and video!): MotionPlus killer app, or killer tech demo? Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals Wii Sports Resort impressions (and video!): MotionPlus killer app, or killer tech demo? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Engadget's recession antidote: win a Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 July 23, 2009 at 1:00 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 nine (9) Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 keyboard and mouse up for grabs. Besides the sleek design and BlueTrack Technology, it boasts some handy Windows 7 features like Taskbar Favorites and Windows Flip to make use even easier. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Hooray for free stuff! Big thanks to Microsoft 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. Nine (9) winners will each receive one (1) Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 keyboard and one (1) mouse. Approximate retail value is $69.95. 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 Thursday, July 23rd, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck! Full rules can be found here. Filed under: Announcements Engadget's recession antidote: win a Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Has your Palm Pre learned to do the twist? July 23, 2009 at 12:48 pm No, that's not a Blurrycam shot of a rumored Palm Pre follow-up with a rotating screen. It's actually one of the more extreme cases of the Palm Pre "twisting" right out of its shell, which, as far as we can tell, still seems to be a fairly rare occurrence. This particular Pre belongs to one Royer, who was apparently able to get it replaced without too much hassle, but other folks are also reporting some slight screen wobble, and even a few cracks appearing here and there. Somewhat interestingly, Royer says that the Sprint repair center he went to said they're not allowed to try to fix the Palm Pre, and are instead instructed to simply exchange it for a new one. So, has your Palm Pre learned any new moves it shouldn't have? Let us know in comments. [Via Engadget Chinese] Filed under: Cellphones Has your Palm Pre learned to do the twist? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Devotec Solar Sound Bluetooth speaker hands-on and nano-review July 23, 2009 at 12:27 pm So we've been playing with the Devotec Industries Solar Sound Bluetooth speaker system for a couple days now, and we've got to say we're pretty impressed -- we just wish it could run directly (and indefinitely) off the solar panel, instead of requiring an internal battery that takes 12-24 hours to charge from the sun or four hours to charge off USB. That said, you will get eight hours of decent audio when the battery is full, and it's actually relatively loud -- you'll be more than fine indoors and in quieter spots, although cranking things up all the way results in some audible distortion. Of course, it's A2DP, so setup is a breeze with most Bluetooth devices, including 3.0 iPhones, and you can hook most everything else up with the included 3.5mm headphone cable. (Just keep in mind that Apple doesn't properly support AVRCP, so the forward and back control buttons don't work correctly over Bluetooth.) Not bad for $79 -- and you won't have to burn through endless AAs to take your tunes on those summer picnics and beach trips. Gallery: Devotec Solar Sound unboxing and hands-on Filed under: Portable Audio Devotec Solar Sound Bluetooth speaker hands-on and nano-review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Viliv X70 EX Premium 3G on sale now in Hong Kong July 23, 2009 at 11:54 am The folks behind the Viliv brand of consumer electronics don't ever stop swinging, it seems. They hit us with the beloved X70, the keyboard-sportin' S7, and before we have a chance to blink they're back in the ring with the X70 EX Premium. Currently on sale in Hong Kong, this bad boy features optional 3G (in which case you should ask for the X70 EX Premium 3G) and sports a 1.3GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor, 1GB RAM, a 32GB SSD, and an SDHC slot for extra storage. As you've probably guessed, the display is your standard 7-inch with 1024 x 600 resolution. Throw in Windows XP, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, and a GPS, and this guy is yours for $6,898 in Hong Kong bucks (roughly $890 US). No word yet on a Stateside release. [Via Gadget Mix] Filed under: Handhelds Viliv X70 EX Premium 3G on sale now in Hong Kong originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments US Airways launching Gogo in-flight internet next year, to show WiFi logo when booking July 23, 2009 at 11:32 am Our wildest, most frenzied dreams are coming true, airline by airline. As Aircell steps in to infiltrate yet another legacy carrier here in America, US Airways has finally caved to the pressures of being an airline in 2009 by announcing its intentions to get Gogo on a select few of its planes. Starting in early 2010, Gogo in-flight internet will be added to its fleet of 50 A321 aircraft, and while that's certainly not a jaw-dropping amount, it's better than zilch. Of note, US Airways also has plans to let consumers see if their proposed flight will have WiFi when booking online, and while we can't help but celebrate such an achievement, we're also mighty fearful that this will lead to yet another fee for the privilege of riding on a WiFi-equipped plane. You know -- considering that this airline once refused water to passengers on a 6.5 hour flight last August. Filed under: Transportation, Wireless US Airways launching Gogo in-flight internet next year, to show WiFi logo when booking originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy July 23, 2009 at 11:07 am You know that new ultra-light, ultra-thin, and ultra-portable laptop from NEC you got an eyeful of way back in May? Of course you do. You've been obsessing, actually -- and frankly, we've been worried about you. Still, we'd be remiss in our duties if we didn't turn you on to this mini-review that Akihabara News scored of the VersaPro VS-7. And we must say, the kudos are flowing pretty freely over there: "freaking light," (that's right: freaking), "slim and robust." The reviewer is simply "amazed" at the netbook's performance. Even in full screen mode HD video plays "just fine," and 720p DivX video playback is characterized as "flawless." But that ain't all -- hit the read link for the full, unexpurgated tale. But not before peeping the video after the break. Continue reading NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy Filed under: Laptops NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Rubik's TouchCube to make debut this weekend... on QVC July 23, 2009 at 10:44 am It's not every day that QVC gets first dibs on hot new gadgets (though it's occurring far more frequently than we're proud to admit), but we're hearing that the teleshopping channel will be the place to go if you want to be among the first to own a Rubik's TouchCube. Believe it or not, the swipe-controlled retro toy will be available to buy for the first time on the Christmas in July segment this weekend. Look - if you've been wondering what QVC looks like in full, unadulterated HD, but have up until now failed to secure a good excuse to check it out, this is your chance, and yes, you're welcome. The full statement from the company is after the break. Continue reading Rubik's TouchCube to make debut this weekend... on QVC Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Rubik's TouchCube to make debut this weekend... on QVC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments iLuv's iEA15 adapter lets any headphones work with VoiceOver, iPhone July 23, 2009 at 10:21 am The suits in Cupertino already confirmed the existence of a proprietary chip in the new iPod shuffle headphones, but if you're squarely in the tin foil hat crowd, we've got one more shred of evidence to win you over. iLuv's newest adapter, the iEA15, outrightly asserts that it is "equipped with a remote control chip provided by Apple, Inc.," but it's the functionality of said adapter that has our interest piqued. Rather than settling for a set of VoiceOver-capable earbuds that you aren't really fond of, this here go-between enables any headphones with a 3.5 millimeter jack to connect with (and control) Apple's newest shuffle. Moreover, it'll play nice with the iPhone family as well, and the built in microphone enables you to handle a call without ever removing your 'buds. The frightening part is that no price and release date have been set, which probably means iLuv's lobbying to get that Made for iPod tax down in order to not charge $50 for this thing. [Via CNET] Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio iLuv's iEA15 adapter lets any headphones work with VoiceOver, iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Touch Revolution's household Android devices coming this year -- it's Hammer time! July 23, 2009 at 9:58 am When a former Apple product engineer mixes up some Google-juice with MC Hammer you'd be surprised at what you get. If you guessed a range of household Android devices sporting 4.3- to 10-inch touchscreens, WiFi, and Ethernet connectivity well, that would be weird... but you'd be right. Mark Hamblin, the founder and CEO of Touch Revolution who claims to have worked on the iPhone and iPod touch, breaks down the Touch Revolution product family into three major categories: 1) home control to manage lights, security, heating and ventilation, 2) media control for the TV, stereo, and DVR programming, and 3) home-based smartphones like the NIMble we played with at CES. The first Touch Revolution modules will launch later this year inside a range of devices that can be hand-held, placed on a tabletop, or even embedded in a wall. While not naming names, Hamblin says that the hardware and software will be customized and sold by "companies with major brands" before the end of the year in the "US and elsewhere." As for Hammer, that's hard to say -- but we'd buy pretty much anything he'd like to officially endorse. Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Home Entertainment, Household Touch Revolution's household Android devices coming this year -- it's Hammer time! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Baryonyx to build largest offshore wind farms in the US, power massive data centers July 23, 2009 at 9:27 am Uh oh Mr. Pickens -- looks like you've got some competition down in Texas. With the aforesaid energy baron scraping plans to plant 687 massive wind turbines in Texas' panhandle, Baryonyx has stepped in to do the honors via a slightly different project. Just this past week, Baryonyx won a bid to create a pair of sizable offshore wind farms that Jerry Patterson -- Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office -- says "could be the biggest offshore wind farms in the nation." Additionally, another lease was granted for a prospective wind energy development in the panhandle, and now the company is eager to get going on the green energy gigs. The best part of this whole plan involves that actual purpose of the turbines; aside from providing juice for grids, they'll also be used to energize forthcoming Tier 4 server farms, with a minimum of 750 megawatts of power being pumped to two coastal areas all the while. Ma Earth would be proud. [Via CNET] Read - Baryonyx announcement [PDF] Read - Patterson announcement [PDF] Filed under: Science Baryonyx to build largest offshore wind farms in the US, power massive data centers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles July 23, 2009 at 8:43 am MIT's electric vehicle prototype may be a long way off from being completed, but if we let that stop us from discussing EVs, we might never talk about them. The headline ambition of this project is a full recharge within 10 minutes, which would eliminate somewhere between four and ten hours of waiting. Speedwise, the Electric Vehicle Team is aiming for a 100 mph top speed from a 250-horsepower / 187 kilowatt AC induction motor, and a not unheard of 200-mile cruising range. To achieve their rapid juicing ambition, the students will strap 7,905 lithium iron-phosphate cell batteries from A123Systems to a gutted 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid body. The batteries' low internal resistance is what makes things possible, but further hurdles, such as finding a sufficiently powerful energy source, would have to be overcome before any sort of widespread use may occur. Video after the break. [Via PC World] Continue reading Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles Filed under: Transportation Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments iPhone 3.0's 'broken' push messaging caused by unlockers, dirty keys July 23, 2009 at 8:19 am Earlier this week there was something of a brouhaha when some iPhone 3.0 users started receiving random instant messages seemingly intended for other folks. Push notifications were one of the big additions in this release and so naturally a lot of people claimed the feature was broken. They were partially right, but wrong in blaming Apple, as it was they who had themselves broken it. The iPhone generates unique public/private keys upon activation that identify handsets to secure those pushed IMs, and it should come as no surprise that unlocking tools use duplicated keys to facilitate illicit use. You know what happens when you share dirty keys, right? With single identifiers registered to multiple phones instant messages are getting zinged all over the place rather than to their intended destination, a feature we're guessing spammers will start exploiting in three... two... Filed under: Cellphones iPhone 3.0's 'broken' push messaging caused by unlockers, dirty keys originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments GoPro offers 1080p high-def in a little helmetcam with the HD Hero Wide July 23, 2009 at 7:41 am The high definition-helmetcam wars are heating up. We recently tested the VholdR's sleek ContourHD 720p goggle-mounted shooter and definitely enjoyed it... but you know us: always looking for more. More is what the GoPro HD Hero Wide looks set to offer, with full 1080p recording at 30fps; a first in the extreme camera segment and not something frequently found in a device this small. Just as impressive is a 720p at 60fps recording mode, perfect for catching every detail of your aerials and varials -- and subsequent faceplants. We're still not particularly fond of the "cube on the head" look of the thing, but that cube will at least now contain an 1100mAh battery, said to offer a solid two to three hours of battery life. Quite a package, and while the expected package price of $299 is $100 more than the company's current offerings, it's still solid value. No word on when this will be showing up at the supercross scene. [Photo courtesy of Freeskier Magazine] Filed under: Digital Cameras GoPro offers 1080p high-def in a little helmetcam with the HD Hero Wide originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less July 23, 2009 at 6:48 am It was only two days ago that they finally became official, but already we've got a couple of reviews springing up to tell us all about the second generation X25-M SSDs from Intel. PC Perspective kick things off with a full examination of the new drive, finding plenty of good (improved random reads and writes), some bad (minor fragmentation issues under extreme use scenarios) and pretty much no ugly. Not to be outdone, Anandtech have dissected the drive and compared its innards with the older generation hardware, while also running a few benchmarks for good measure. The conclusion in both camps is that while Intel has improved the hardware side of things, it is the drastically reduced price that makes the X25-M G2 the best choice in the consumer SSD space. Navigate past the break for a pricing chart, but remember that retail cost will be a bit steeper, should you be able to snag one in the wild. Read - PC Perspective review Read - Anandtech preview Continue reading Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less Filed under: Storage Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Palm Pre now available from Sprint online, activity avoided July 23, 2009 at 6:01 am Hey, it's hot out there. While you could lather-up into a deep dish of epidural man-gravy by trucking on over to the nearest brick-and-mortar, why not kick back on-line with Sprint for that new Palm Pre purchase? Sure, you'll still have to mail-in the $100 rebate, but last we checked, licking a stamp won't break a sweat. Filed under: Cellphones Palm Pre now available from Sprint online, activity avoided originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Cambrionix 49-port USB hub for professional nerds July 23, 2009 at 5:28 am It's designed for professional test labs or even businesses where host-rigs must be protected against faulty USB devices. But there's nothing stopping you from decorating a living-room wall with this second-generation 49-port USB 2.0 hub from Cambrionix. Unless you consider the cost -- £399 / $657 (plus tax) -- or the fact that it requires an ATX-2 power supply to push 500mA across all 49-ports significant deterrents. Gallery: Cambrionix 49-port USB hub for professional nerds [Thanks, dontcrossthestreams] Filed under: Peripherals Cambrionix 49-port USB hub for professional nerds originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Modu actually launches in Israel, gets hands-on treatment as proof July 23, 2009 at 4:48 am You know, we really didn't believe it at first, but looks like Modu has finally launched in some part of the world, and just as rumored, the inaugural carrier is the Israel company's local network Cellcom. Likely because they knew we still wouldn't be convinced, the crew at Mobo have gone hands-on with the phone. All in all, no difference from what we saw back in February -- jackets and all -- but hey, it's crossed a major threshold and hit "retail product" status. So is it time to talk about touchscreens yet? Filed under: Cellphones Modu actually launches in Israel, gets hands-on treatment as proof originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Video: HRP-4C 'fashion robot' is getting married, won't shut up about it July 23, 2009 at 3:34 am Ok, ok, "she" isn't really getting married, that would be illegal outside of Massachusetts. Besides, HRP-4C is already hitched, apparently, to her creator Kazuhito Yokoi who appeared at the Osaka fashion show dressed in a tuxedo. Looking wobbly, perplexed, and creepy as hell, HRP-4C bravely slipped on a helmet of taffeta and lace in what's being called her first professional runway appearance. The crowd seemed to enjoy it until HRP-4C turned on them with her green lasers. Really, see for yourself in the unsettling video embedded after the break. [Via Crave] Continue reading Video: HRP-4C 'fashion robot' is getting married, won't shut up about it Filed under: Robots Video: HRP-4C 'fashion robot' is getting married, won't shut up about it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Best Buy gears up for back to school crowds with Next Class-branded laptop series July 23, 2009 at 2:21 am It's getting to be that time of the year where all the kids and teenagers flock to retail and spend copious amounts on back-to-school gear. Best Buy knows this cycle all too well, and has hand-picked a quartet laptops to showcase for its Next Class branded lineup. So what do these laptops have? Anywhere from a 14 to 15.5-inch screen, bundled Microsoft Office and 12 to 15 months of antivirus software, Intel Core 2 Duo processors, 3GB DDR3 or 4GB DDR2 memory, 320GB HDD, a sub-six pound weight, and a three to six hour battery life. Each of the four have their own merits, from Toshiba's $650 price tag to Dell's 4.7 pound body, but to us the HP Pavilion DV4 and Sony VAIO NW stand out. Of course, you could cast your net a little wider and shop around for all kinds of different models yourself, but if you're feeling particularly lazy, this isn't a bad set to pick from. Read - Press release Read - Next Class website Filed under: Laptops Best Buy gears up for back to school crowds with Next Class-branded laptop series originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments The Daily Roundup: here's what you might've missed July 23, 2009 at 12:52 am Synaptics' ClearPad 3000 touchscreen does 10-finger capacitive multitouch, other forms of dark magicks The entire screen can actually be tracked pixel-by-pixel, and the new tech allows for up to 8-inch screens without completely destroying battery life. Plastic Logic e-book reader will use AT&T for its 3G needs Things seem to really in motion for Plastic Logic, first with news of a partnership with Barnes & Noble and now this partnership with the largest GSM network in the US. Samsung's S9110 touchscreen watchphone syncs with Outlook, on sale this month €450; that's what'll cost to take home the world's thinnest (11.98mm) touchscreen cellphone fashioned into an tempting wristwatch Other news of import Fujifilm's FinePix Real 3D W1 camera and Real 3D V1 picture viewer detailed, can do 3D movies as well Video: Google Wave public beta rolling out in September Natal Xbox 360 in 2010 rumor is back on LG's THX-certified LH90 LCD HDTVs now shipping in US The first-ever to boast THX cert. also feature an ambient light sensor, 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 240Hz dejudder technology and a super glossy bezel. Samsung Comeback, Gravity 2 carry on the QWERTY legacy on T-Mobile No surprises here, but we're sure these will sell like gangbusters for T-Mobile considering the overwhelming popularity of the text-savvy segment. 3D, ARC and Ethernet capable HDMI 1.4 hardware announced, still a long way off Olive blesses Opus No. 4 music server with 2TB of space, charges $1,799 for it HTC adopting Android on 50% of its handsets in 2010? Navigon brings MobileNavigator to iPhone's App Store, we go hands-on The Daily Roundup: here's what you might've missed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments