8/18 Engadget

Please add updates@feedmyinbox.com to your address book to make sure you receive these messages in the future. Engadget Tricorder PMP-09 won't analyze data or call Starfleet, will lift your spirits with music August 17, 2009 at 10:07 pm Let us tell you, this isn't any ordinary Star Trek tricorder prop, if such a thing exists. The Tricorder PMP-09 looks an awful lot like the Mark X model from the series, has a 2.8-inch TFT screen, plays up to 12 hours music / 4 hours of video and supports AVI, MP4, JPG, BMP, and WAV files. It boasts 12 different LCARS / themed interface, and from what we can see on the site, at least six different skins, including Starfleet, Borg, Workbee, and Marine. Starting price is $362.50 for US orders / $384.50 for international. It probably won't help you in the event of a Sith or Dalek encounter, or if you find yourself in need of medical assistance, but the next time you run into a Deep Space 9 crew member on the street, you better believe this'll make for a great ice breaker. Videos of the packaging and working display model, flashing LEDs and all, after the break. [Thanks, Anthony] Continue reading Tricorder PMP-09 won't analyze data or call Starfleet, will lift your spirits with music Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Portable Audio, Portable Video Tricorder PMP-09 won't analyze data or call Starfleet, will lift your spirits with music originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Plucky little iPhone 3GS counfounds expectations, tops Japanese sales for July August 17, 2009 at 9:19 pm Well, look at that: The iPhone 3GS 32GB was the best-selling phone in Japan for the month of July, according to a survey being reported by a number of sites, including Electronista and Mainichi Daily News. Not bad for a handset that doesn't even support 1seg TV, huh? Trailing behind the aforementioned handset at number nine (and the only other American model to make the top ten) is a little something called the iPhone 3GS 16GB. Of course, the mobile market in Japan features plenty of virtually identical phones that manufacturers assign different model numbers to, depending on carrier -- so we're going to take this with a grain of salt. But still, we have to wonder what, exactly, to attribute Apple's new found Japanese popularity to. Maybe it's because they got the phone a mere month after the Stateside 3GS launch, while the hype machine was still in motion? Or maybe someone juked the stats? We can't be sure just yet, but we do have the top ten for you -- in handy list form -- after the break. [Via Electronista] Continue reading Plucky little iPhone 3GS counfounds expectations, tops Japanese sales for July Filed under: Cellphones Plucky little iPhone 3GS counfounds expectations, tops Japanese sales for July originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Apple's iPod event set for September 9th with nary a tablet in sight? August 17, 2009 at 8:39 pm We've already heard whispers that Apple has an iPod event in the works for the week of September 7th -- as they do pretty much every year -- and now alleged company sources are narrowing that date down, telling Digital Daily to mark its calendar for Wednesday, September 9th. Upgraded iPods are the apparent main course, along with some Cocktail discussion, but as for tablets... well, the sources are adamant it won't get brought up at all. We're still awaiting official word to come shooting out of Cupertino headquarters, but in the meantime, plan on keeping that Wednesday afternoon as free as possible. Filed under: Laptops, Portable Audio, Portable Video Apple's iPod event set for September 9th with nary a tablet in sight? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Touchscreen-based Modu 2 coming in 2010, still not good enough for Americans August 17, 2009 at 7:46 pm Modu finally came through with an actual product launch late last month, and already the company is preparing for the next best thing. According to a report over at Pocket-lint, a so-called Modu 2 should make its debut in a few corners of the globe next year. The handset will boast full touchscreen functionality and 3.5G connectivity, but in an effort to remain true to form, Modu will sell a QWERTY jacket that adds hard keys for those who just have to have 'em. To date, Modu has managed to move around 1,000 of its original handsets, but even the second one won't soon see shelves in America. Why? According to CEO Dov Moran, the handset "just isn't good enough for demanding Brits and Americans who like to surf the internet and stay connected." Hey, at least the man's honest. Filed under: Cellphones Touchscreen-based Modu 2 coming in 2010, still not good enough for Americans originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Sony's big plans for OLED HDTVs may slip to next year August 17, 2009 at 7:04 pm Hope you weren't too attached to the idea of "medium to large" sized OLED HDTVs coming from Sony this year, according to the Wall Street Journal's sources, the company's slipping share of TV sales mean profitability takes precedence over sweet, super slim new displays. Surprised by its inability to sell truckloads of $2,500 11-inch versions CEO Howard Stringer decided to put the project on the back burner, apparently more focused on things like competing in Wal-Mart and implementing cheaper LED technology for its LCDs. With LG also on a timetable that puts us a year or more away from seeing one of these on store shelves in decent sizes, things are up to Samsung to bring it home -- we're waiting. Filed under: HDTV Sony's big plans for OLED HDTVs may slip to next year originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments iPhone OS 3.0 bug allows deleted emails to rise from the dead August 17, 2009 at 6:31 pm Get ready for another big glitch in iPhone OS 3.0: it seems like the Spotlight search cache doesn't sync message status with the mail client, so you can still pull up old messages with Spotlight if you know the subject line. Yeah, that's not okay -- we just verified that the bug exists on our phones, using both POP and IMAP. We're not sure when the search cache finally deletes emails, but it doesn't appear to happen quickly: Matt Janssen, who discovered the bug, says he's been able to pull up emails three or four months old. We've heard whispers its fixed in iPhone OS 3.1, but until there's a confirmed fix we'll be using the Gmail web interface, thanks. Video after the break. Continue reading iPhone OS 3.0 bug allows deleted emails to rise from the dead Filed under: Cellphones iPhone OS 3.0 bug allows deleted emails to rise from the dead originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Sprint now reselling WiMAX in Atlanta, Portland and Las Vegas August 17, 2009 at 6:14 pm Atlanta, Portland and Las Vegas have been lit with Clearwire's CLEAR WiMAX for varying lengths of time now, but throw a Sprint label on there and you've got a whole new party to attend. In what's easily one of the stranger partner relationships in the business world today, Sprint has just announced that it's reselling 4G services in a trio of markets that have actually had the service for months / weeks / days now. So yeah, nothing really new here -- it's the same 4G waves that Clearwire customers have been enjoying for awhile, but if you're more comfortable waltzing into a carrier store, now's your chance. We'll leave you to the read links below for the specifics, but here's the long and short of it: if you've got a 4G-capable device, you can add WiMAX to your plan for an extra $10 per month on top of your 3G data plan. Read - Las Vegas Read - Portland Read - Atlanta Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless Sprint now reselling WiMAX in Atlanta, Portland and Las Vegas originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments iPhone graced with HTC's Sense UI theme, beauty ensues August 17, 2009 at 5:43 pm Sure, Taiwanese HTC Magic owners might be happy today, being promised Hero's Sense UI via official channels, but thanks to the hard work from Redmond Pie deviantART member Justflikwalk, this very stylish skin has jumped species and landed on the iPhone. A jailbreak is required, but once past that hurdle, you'll get a new home page with the ever-so-classy time and weather widget -- which isn't always 73 degrees and sunny, we might add -- a quick launcher for apps / contacts, and of course some modified icons. All pertinent files for the theme and step-by-step instructions are available via the read. Care to gaze upon the awesomeness using the power of moving pictures? Video after the break. [Thanks, David] Continue reading iPhone graced with HTC's Sense UI theme, beauty ensues Filed under: Cellphones iPhone graced with HTC's Sense UI theme, beauty ensues originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments iBurgh complaint department for iPhone gets to the heart of city living August 17, 2009 at 5:01 pm As anybody who lives in a mid-sized American city knows, the only good reason to contact the mayor's office is to complain about something. Now Pittsburgh, which usually only graces this site when one of its universities develops a robot or a weapon of some sort, has put its own high-tech spin on this with iBurgh. Described by city councilman Bill Peduto as "the first mobile application for city government," the app lets iPhone owners snap a picture of their favorite eyesore or attractive nuisance, attach a quick note, and send the geotagged information to the city's 311 operators. Not only is this good for potholes and gridlocked traffic, but it's sure to be a hit among rioting college students the next time the Steelers win some sort of big game -- and if you don't know what we're talking about, just punch +steelers +riot into Google. And then hit the read link to download for yourself. [Via KDKA,Thanks Dan H.] Filed under: Cellphones iBurgh complaint department for iPhone gets to the heart of city living originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments User manual for Garmin's connected nuvi 1690 reveals "nuinfo" service branding August 17, 2009 at 4:34 pm The connected PND, by most accounts, is a dying breed. Dash couldn't pull it off, TomTom's execution was downright pathetic and no one even remembers that Insignia made one. But considering that Garmin's nüvi range has always delivered, we're going to let the nüvi 1690 ship before passing judgment. Said navigator, which just slipped into the FCC's database a fortnight ago, didn't have too many details attached to it, but a recently discovered user manual reveals that although Garmin's local-data service will by powered by Google, the company has branded it with the the virtually-unpronounceable name "nuinfo." Yeah, we have no idea, but we're definitely interested in finding out what the ultimate plan is -- the shots of the device in the manual lead us to believe that local weather information will be on tap in addition to the usual waypoint searching and so forth, but unless Garmin throws these so-called "connected services" in gratis, every smartphone owner on the planet will simply laugh and move on. [Via GPS Tracklog] Filed under: GPS User manual for Garmin's connected nuvi 1690 reveals "nuinfo" service branding originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments T-Mobile G1 won't see any Android updates beyond 1.5 August 17, 2009 at 4:02 pm Pioneering T-Mobile G1 owners have been enjoying the spoils of Android 1.5 (or Cupcake, as it's known 'round these parts) for months now, but it looks as if that very treat will be the last taste of confectionery goodness that the smartphone gets. According to Android software engineer Dave Sparks, a time is soon coming when devs "wont be able to fit the latest [Android] release on the G1's internal flash," and yet another engineer has chimed in via Twitter to say that he "can't promise" that any update after 1.5 will fit. For whatever reason, HTC gifted the G1 with an incredibly meager amount of internal flash, and considering that no Android phone will support app storage / loading from a microSD card, there's no way to free up room for Donut, Eclair or Flan. You've been a real champ, G1, but without 2.0+, we just can't give you the love and devotion you truly need. Go on, call us fickle -- we deserve it. [Via Electronista and jkOnTheRun] Filed under: Cellphones T-Mobile G1 won't see any Android updates beyond 1.5 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Research finds iPhone hurting operators, Boy George unavailable for comment August 17, 2009 at 3:31 pm We've long since known that Apple (as opposed to AT&T) was getting the better end of the pair's exclusive partnership here in America, but new research from Strand Consult has found that the situation is fairly similar all around the globe. According to the report, nary a single telecom operator it studied had seen a boost in market share, revenue or earnings as a result of introducing the iPhone, and some carriers even issued profit warnings due to the heavily subsidized handset. The study goes on to shed pity on firms like SingTel and TeliaSonera, both of which are purportedly seeing margins and ARPU (average revenues per subscriber) sink due to Apple's darling joining the fray. But really, we can't help but express our doubts about the all encompassing, almost sensationalized nature of this; we've watched AT&T's profits soar ever since it snagged the iPhone, and considering that every iPhone buyer also coughs up a significant monthly fee for a data plan, we can't imagine revenues tanking that severely. Or, you know, maybe we're all just getting a really good deal on our bloated iPhone plans. [Image courtesy of NiallKennedy] Continue reading Research finds iPhone hurting operators, Boy George unavailable for comment Filed under: Cellphones Research finds iPhone hurting operators, Boy George unavailable for comment originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Samsung launches TouchWiz SDK for cross-platform bliss August 17, 2009 at 3:03 pm Now that Samsung's standardized on the TouchWiz interface across its entire touchscreen line -- dumbphone and smartphone alike -- they've created a fertile playground that offers developers the opportunity to reach a good chunk of the world's second largest phone manufacturer's devices. A dedicated software development kit for TouchWiz is now available direct from Samsung, and since your average code monkey doesn't necessarily have access to fifteen different phones running multiple versions of every platform Sammy supports, they're also offering up their Virtual Device Lab that'll let devs test their wares on everything the company has on tap. For distribution, Samsung will have a number of channels available: its Application Store, a new Widget Gallery that'll premiere on Verizon's Omnia II launching later this year, and -- perhaps most tantalizingly for developers -- the possibility of inclusion right in the frickin' ROM if Samsung really loves what you've done. Considering that you're targeting S60, WinMo, and a wealth of proprietary OS devices in one fell swoop, this could end up being a huge distribution channel. Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds Samsung launches TouchWiz SDK for cross-platform bliss originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments ASUS' well-rounded G51 gaming laptop reviewed, lauded August 17, 2009 at 2:39 pm NVIDIA's world-beating GeForce GTX 260M GPU hasn't presented itself in too many gaming laptops just yet, but somehow or another it found its way into ASUS' bargain priced G51VX. Originally showcased back at Computex, this 15.6-inch rig is amongst the cheapest portable gaming machines in its class, packing a 2GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a 1,368 x 768 panel, 320GB (7200RPM) hard drive and a 1GB GeForce GTX 260M handling the graphical duties. The benchmarking gurus over at HotHardware sat this here machine down for a stern talking to, and while they could've stood for the resolution to be a bit higher and the battery life (1.75 hours) to be a tad longer, the actual performance was top shelf. Put simply, it was deemed a "well balanced machine that's a winner at this price point," offering up a far nicer GPU than any other competitors in the $1,000 range. Tap that read link for a look at the full review -- we get the feeling you'll like what you see. Filed under: Laptops ASUS' well-rounded G51 gaming laptop reviewed, lauded originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Latest HTC Leo render seemingly confirmed by leaked ROM August 17, 2009 at 2:17 pm Remember those weird "Pro.Three"-branded Leo renders that leaked a few days ago? The ones that seemed improbable at best? Well, a ROM appears to have dripped out of the HTC sieve recently that miraculously confirms those renders as having some basis in reality, thanks to an animated start sequence that matches up pretty tightly with the previous leak. We can't confirm the Pro.Three name specifically from this, but if the Leo turns out to be the WinMo superphone everyone's hoping it is, does the name really matter? Follow the break for a video of the ROM in action (on a Touch Diamond2, sadly -- not a Leo). [Via MobileTechWorld and pocketnow.com, thanks Casimir] Continue reading Latest HTC Leo render seemingly confirmed by leaked ROM Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds Latest HTC Leo render seemingly confirmed by leaked ROM originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Jolicloud beta gets a thorough going over, Microsoft still not worried August 17, 2009 at 1:46 pm We've had our eyes on Jolicloud for a while, and with its eminent beta release the crazy kids at CNET have given it a pretty thorough overview. Tariq Krim has an interesting take on the cloud netbook experience, with an emphasis on quick and easy access to apps -- exemplified by the fact that both installed apps and data are tied to your account, so that no matter which machine you're logged on to, you'll have the same apps and all your data at your disposal. Trolling OK Cupid has never been easier! On the plus side, the reviewer found that installing from a USB key (even while keeping your current OS intact) was a breeze. Also singled out for praise were the large selection of apps and Windows emulation that allowed access to many of your Windows apps. On the other hand, there are downsides, including support for a limited number of netbooks and limited drivers. Interested in the full scoop? Hit that read link to see for yourself. Filed under: Laptops Jolicloud beta gets a thorough going over, Microsoft still not worried originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments NVIDIA confirms Tegra processor within Zune HD, details it real good August 17, 2009 at 1:19 pm It's no big secret that NVIDIA's potent Tegra chip will be powering Microsoft's forthcoming Zune HD, but up until now, the former company had been rather quiet about its involvement in the project. Just a few days after the OLED-equipped portable media player went up for pre-order around the web, NVIDIA has stepped in to affirm that its own Tegra processor will be "providing the multimedia muscle in Zune HD." We're told that no fewer than eight independent processors make up Tegra's collective whole, with each one engineered for a specific class of tasks; among them are an HD video processor, an audio processor, a graphics processor and two ARM cores. Each of the chips can work together or independently to minimize power consumption, and the built-in nPower technology is said to optimize system power use and enable extended HD video / MP3 playback time. Sounds good in print, but we've got just under a month to find out how it performs for real. Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video NVIDIA confirms Tegra processor within Zune HD, details it real good originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments TomTom XL Live connected GPS passes the FCC August 17, 2009 at 12:41 pm Looks like domestic drivers may soon have the privilege of shelling out extra money every month for TomTom's "connected" services. According to recently unearthed FCC documents, the mid-range (and until now Euro-centric) XL Live has been manhandled and passed all its tests. This guy operates on the GSM850 and GSM1900 bands, which means it should be available on AT&T or T-Mobile's 2G network -- you know, when it does make it to market. And when it does make it to market, might we recommend you go with the Homer Simpson voice skin? That thing is hilarious. [Via GPS Tracklog, Thanks Rich] Filed under: GPS TomTom XL Live connected GPS passes the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Mysterious Android MID gets more pictures, still no name August 17, 2009 at 12:18 pm The Pocketables crew keep teasing us with more visuals of a purported unbranded Android MID, this time throwing up a good size comparison in the form of a Sony VAIO P lurking in the background. Very little can be said at this point without exploding the story into wild speculation -- we'll leave that part to you, dear readers -- so we'll stick to the seemingly self-evident stuff. The above screenshot indicates SD expansion and phone capabilities, and there are a few more after the break that show off an impressively svelte physique. Of course without a substantiated source and millions of skilled Photoshop artists out there, these pictures could still be fake -- but aren't they pretty? [Via Slashgear] Continue reading Mysterious Android MID gets more pictures, still no name Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Tablet PCs Mysterious Android MID gets more pictures, still no name originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments IBM studying 'DNA origami' to build next-gen microchips, paralyze world with fear August 17, 2009 at 11:51 am IBM is already making a beeline to 28nm process technology, but it looks like the train may deviate a bit before it even reaches the bottom. Reportedly, the company responsible for PowerPC, the original business laptop and all sorts of underground things that we'll never comprehend is now looking to use DNA as a model for crafting the world's next great processor. DNA origami, as it's so tactfully called, can supposedly provide a cheap framework "on which to build tiny microchips," with IBM research manager Spike Narayan proclaiming that this is "the first demonstration of using biological molecules to help with processing in the semiconductor industry." Sir Spike also noted that "if the DNA origami process scales to production-level, manufacturers could trade hundreds of millions of dollars in complex tools for less than a million dollars of polymers, DNA solutions, and heating implements." The actual process still seems murky from here, but we're told to expect real results within ten years. Which should be just in time for the robot apocalypse to really hit its stride -- awesome. [Via HotHardware] Filed under: Desktops, Science IBM studying 'DNA origami' to build next-gen microchips, paralyze world with fear originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Dell officially developing 'mobile devices' for China Mobile August 17, 2009 at 11:24 am If you're going to go, you might as well go big, right? In a confirmation for the ages, Dell spokesperson Andrew Bowins has clearly stated that the company is "developing mobile devices for China Mobile," giving the Round Rock powerhouse access to the biggest mobile subscriber base on the entire planet. Unfortunately, he didn't confirm nor deny whether the Mini 3i that we peeked this morning would be amongst the first to launch, but obviously you won't find us gasping should it happen. Beyond that, details on the whole arrangement are scant, but here's hoping that Dell trucks those handsets over to this side of the drink in short order. Filed under: Cellphones Dell officially developing 'mobile devices' for China Mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Verbatim InSight USB drives display name, free space even when disconnected August 17, 2009 at 10:58 am Verbatim, a name we mostly come across when looking for blank DVDs, has announced its new line of InSight portable USB hard drives. The storage devices are diminutive (weighing less than 6 ounces, measuring 6-inches in length), are being billed as "sleek" and "durable" with their fetching "piano black" finish (and who are we to disagree?), and are available in capacities of 320GB or 500GB. But the attention grabber here is the Always On display, which is -- you guessed it -- always on, displaying the drive name and available free space, even when disconnected from the computer. Available now for $119.99 for the 320GB or $149.99 for the 500GB. Full PR after the break. Continue reading Verbatim InSight USB drives display name, free space even when disconnected Filed under: Storage Verbatim InSight USB drives display name, free space even when disconnected originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Dixons launches slim little Advent Altro CULV PCs August 17, 2009 at 10:35 am UK electronics retailer Dixons just got the memo that slim is in, and its taken it to heart. The store is on the verge of launching two new PCs as part of its Advent brand -- and the 13.3-inch CULV Altro line is pretty sexy looking. Already drawing the obvious comparisons to the MacBook Air in the looks department, the Altro boasts an Intel Celeron CPU, 3GB of RAM, and a 120GB hard drive, WiFi, Bluetooth, plus USB and HDMI ports, and one multifunction connector for hooking up an external port replicator. If the specs of the Altro aren't beefy enough for you, there will be a second version -- the Elite -- which will have an Intel Core 2 Solo processor, and a "premium" flush glass finish. Both of the Advent Altros will be available at Dixons (that's UK-only) starting August 24th, with prices at £600 (around $987) for the standard model and £800 (about $1,316) for the Elite. Both come with Windows Vista pre-installed, but a free upgrade to Windows 7 is also included. One more shot after the break. [Via SlashGear] Continue reading Dixons launches slim little Advent Altro CULV PCs Filed under: Laptops Dixons launches slim little Advent Altro CULV PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Video: simulated 'quiet zone' cloaking hides an object in 2-D August 17, 2009 at 10:07 am You don't have to be able to pick a Romulan out of a crowd of Vulcans to be intrigued by the idea of cloaking, and indeed many non-trekkers have tried to hide things in plain sight using electromagnetism, accoustic superlenses, or light-bending materials. The latest attempt relies on devices that emit cancelling waves of the sort anyone who's ever seen a Bose commercial should quite familiar with, combining to negate any external, incoming waves. What's different here is that they also recombine on the other side of the object being cloaked, as shown in the video below, meaning that incoming surge is then re-generated and continues on undisturbed -- potentially even reflecting back through the object again should it hit something on the far side. It's part of research at the University of Utah and, for now, only works in a theoretical two-dimensional world where triangles and squares are ruled by pentagons, hexagons, and priestly polygons. Optical camoflage is sadly not believed to be possible using this technique, but sonar and radar are likely implementations, as well as mechanisms to subvert earthquakes, tsunamis, and maybe even neighboring speed metal fans. Continue reading Video: simulated 'quiet zone' cloaking hides an object in 2-D Filed under: Science Video: simulated 'quiet zone' cloaking hides an object in 2-D originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Crapgadget: "That's actually kind of offensive" edition August 17, 2009 at 9:36 am We'll be honest -- most Crapgadget roundups consist of a litany of patently absurd, but totally innocent USB-related input peripherals. We aren't exactly sure what the Universal Serial Bus did to deserve such treatment, but evidently it slighted someone important along the way. But this time, things are... different. Oh sure, there's the jewel car necklace flash drive that inexplicably combines a "jewel" and a "car" on a "necklace flash drive," but it's the USB banana charger and USB aroma diffuser that really has our politically correct radars on high alert. Amazingly, the aforementioned atrocities are just the beginning, so feel free to visit each and every one of this week's losers and vote for the most disgusting down below. Choose carefully! Read - Jewel car necklace USB flash drive Read - USB banana charger Read - Finger flick punching bag Read - USB digital microscope, Part II Read - Big nose shower gel dispenser Read - Glitter ball alarm clock Read - USB panda speaker Read - USB aroma diffuser View Poll Filed under: Peripherals Crapgadget: "That's actually kind of offensive" edition originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Nokia's world-beating BH-905 Bluetooth cans slip into the photo booth August 17, 2009 at 9:03 am Nokia's BH-905 made some serious waves when it debuted back in early June, but what else would you expect from a product that calls itself "the best headset ever made?" The Bluetooth-equipped cans, along with its ten microphones, supple ear cups and A2DP / AVCRP support, are expected to launch globally next month for around three hundred bones, and the fine folks over at NokNok have already managed to score a pre-release model. Aside from visibly gushing all over themselves, they also note that the cans are far smaller than the original press shots made them seem, giving cautious travelers reason to breath a sigh of relief. Hit the read link for a luxurious hands-on look. Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals Nokia's world-beating BH-905 Bluetooth cans slip into the photo booth originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Is Apple's Phil Schiller trying to free the App Store from arbitrary app rejections? August 17, 2009 at 8:34 am We've certainly seen plenty of curious rejections for seemingly innocuous applications submitted for inclusion in the App Store, and recently saw Phil Schiller stepping forward to explain one of the most mind-boggling of rejections yet: a dictionary that had the gall to define naughty words. Apparently that's becoming something of a mission of Schiller's, investigating apps that have been rejected, personally contacting developers in some cases, and in general working to make things right... or at least less wrong. However, from what we can see he's only being sent in when word hits the wire about the latest sorry app being sent packing; we're not sure whether he's working to correct all illogical app rejections, or only those that make the news. He is the VP of Marketing, so it wouldn't be entirely surprising for him to only be concerned about Apple's public image, but for now we'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he's also working to make wholesale improvements on the approval process over in Cupertino -- if only because we're sure the FCC won't be so kind. Filed under: Cellphones Is Apple's Phil Schiller trying to free the App Store from arbitrary app rejections? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments ASUS's RT-N13U router wants to make your life as EZ as possible August 17, 2009 at 8:09 am This latest WiFi router from ASUS might not move the goalposts in terms of specs -- 802.11b/g/n wireless, one USB 2.0 and four LAN outputs -- but its big selling point, according to the company, is the management software contained within. The EZ UI is back again, along with EZ QoS, an app for prioritizing bandwidth, and EZ All-in-One Printer sharing, which lets you run a networked printer without the help of a server. Add that to the ability to download without a PC, but with some storage device, plugged in, and you've got a pretty well automated piece of kit. It's already available in Canada for 85 of their Dollars ($77), and we've even tracked down a praise-filled early review for your delectation. Have at it. [Via Far East Gizmos] Read - ASUS press release Read - Neoseeker review Filed under: Wireless, Networking ASUS's RT-N13U router wants to make your life as EZ as possible originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Avcen Jetpod inventor killed in test flight crash August 17, 2009 at 7:31 am Here's a sobering reminder of the very real risks that people undertake in the name of science and progress. Michael Robert Dacre, the inventor and test pilot of the Jetpod flying taxi, has died in a crash during testing of his latest prototype. Reports from Malaysia indicate that the twin-engine aircraft went out of control shortly after takeoff before spiraling to the ground. It is unclear where the Jetpod's future lies now, but the original plans of a 2010 release seem extremely unlikely in light of such tragic news. The short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft was intended primarily as a futuristic ferryboat between airports and city centres, and we certainly hope its development continues -- if for no other reason than to honor the vision of its fallen inventor. Filed under: Transportation Avcen Jetpod inventor killed in test flight crash originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments World's smallest laser cracks open the door to THz CPU race August 17, 2009 at 6:49 am So you thought 100nm was about as narrow as lasers could get, huh? Well think again brother, because scientists at Norfolk State University have now demonstrated a 44nm 'spaser' that performs a laser's functions by the alternative means of surface plasmons. By using such an unorthodox technique, the researchers have been able to overcome the minimum size limitation to lasers, and they even claim spasers could be made as small as 1nm in diameter. Peeking into the (not too near) future, this could improve magnetic data storage beyond its current physical limits, and even lead to the development of optical computers that "can operate at hundreds of terahertz" -- and here you were, thinking that your brand spanking new Core i7 system with Blu-ray was future-proof. Filed under: Science World's smallest laser cracks open the door to THz CPU race originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Dell Mini 3i smartphone gets official outing in China August 17, 2009 at 5:54 am At last, the much rumored Dell cellphone has made its first official appearance. The 3.5-inch 360 x 640 pixel device with capacitive touchscreen was on display in China running the Android-based Open Mobile System (OMS). The Mini 3i was on-hand as part of the launch of China Mobile's new Application Platform that offers music, video, and app downloads to mobile phones from Nokia, Samsung, LG, and apparently, Dell. The candybar device lacks WiFi (or Chinese WAPI) and is strictly 2G GSM (no 3G) but does come with a 3 megapixel camera, microSD slot, Bluetooth, and 950mAh battery. Guess now we know why the early prototypes were met with a collective meh by mobile carriers earlier this year. No idea when this will ship but it looks China-bound for at least the near future. A few more pics after the break. [Via Cloned In China] Read -- China Mobile's Application Platform Read -- Dell cooperating with China Mobile Read -- Dell Mini 3i unveil Continue reading Dell Mini 3i smartphone gets official outing in China Filed under: Cellphones Dell Mini 3i smartphone gets official outing in China originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Logitech's $300 G27 racing wheel gives sidelined DUI possessors a taste of the road August 17, 2009 at 5:00 am Eager to get back on the track, but not so eager to ease up on the sauce? Fret not, our continually inebriated friends, as Logitech has just the answer for your awfully depressing road woes. The long-awaited successor to the original G25 racing wheel is finally on the scenes, as the G27 brings along real metal, real leather and a real taste of driving that can likely only be mimicked whilst seated in some sort of $30k+ sportster. The wheel is designed to function with Sony's PS2 and PS3 as well as Windows-based PCs, and aside from the built-in force feedback mechanism, you'll also find a pair of stainless steel shifter paddles, RPM / shift indicator lights and a clutch that fully supports heel-and-toe downshifting. Is all that realism worth $299.99? Judge with your wallet come September. Continue reading Logitech's $300 G27 racing wheel gives sidelined DUI possessors a taste of the road Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals Logitech's $300 G27 racing wheel gives sidelined DUI possessors a taste of the road originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Sony Ericsson selects next president, appoints Howard Stringer chairman of the board August 17, 2009 at 4:42 am It's out with the old, in with the new over at Sony Ericsson as it tries to revamp both its image and its lineup in the face of stiff competition, weak financials, and an unfocused platform strategy. President Hideki Komiyama (pictured left) intends to retire at the end of the year, and stepping up to fill his shoes will be the current head of Ericsson Silicon Valley, Bert Nordberg (right). To get the dude up to speed, he'll become co-president as of September 1 and take over sole control of the operation on October 15. Speaking of October 15, that's also the date that Sir Howard Stringer -- yes, the one and only chairman and CEO of Sony -- will take over the chairmanship of Sony Ericsson's executive board from outgoing Ericsson CEO Carl-Henric Svanberg. Whether this signals a power shift in the joint venture from Ericsson to Sony is unclear, but they've specifically mentioned in a press conference today to announce the moves that they need to "address [their] smartphone weakness" -- and yes, we'd agree. Do exactly that, Bert Nordberg. Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds Sony Ericsson selects next president, appoints Howard Stringer chairman of the board originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments This robotic sunflower's LED seeds will cure you of that spitting habit in no time August 17, 2009 at 3:36 am We've performed some very careful, scientific research on the movement of sunflowers that one time on lunch break where we stared at a sunflower for four or five minutes, and let us tell you: it's pretty boring. Mix in robotics, however, and things start to get a bit more interesting -- no roasting required. Himawari the robotic sunflower, developed at Kyushu University in Japan, is a bit of interactive art which can track people with an IR camera, point itself in their direction and blink on its LED lights if they wave hello. Not exactly at the forefront of robot research, but it is pretty dang cute. An adorable video is after the break. Continue reading This robotic sunflower's LED seeds will cure you of that spitting habit in no time Filed under: Robots This robotic sunflower's LED seeds will cure you of that spitting habit in no time originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments TomTom navigation for iPhone 3G and 3GS arrives August 17, 2009 at 2:34 am True, it's not the first app offering turn-by-turn driving instructions for the iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS -- but it is from TomTom, an industry heavy-weight that is finally delivering on years of rumor and speculation. After starting with New Zealand a few hours ago, the iTunes App Store is now populated with region specific TomTom apps for NZ ($95), Australia ($80), US and Canada ($100), and Western Europe ($140). If that sounds expensive... it is; dedicated TomTom navigators start at $120. In other words, this isn't one of those knee-jerk 99 cent App Store purchases. Naturally, that price does not include the announced TomTom iPhone car kit (rumored to cost £113.85 (about $194) with bundled mapping software) that mounts and charges your iPhone 3G or 3GS while enhancing its GPS performance, speaker, and microphone. Our advice: wait for the reviews before dedicating your non multi-tasking iPhone to the dashboard for navigation duties. Gallery: TomTom for iPhone 3G and 3GS hits the App Store [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Read [Warning: iTunes link] Filed under: Cellphones, GPS TomTom navigation for iPhone 3G and 3GS arrives originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:34:00 EST. 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