8/4 Engadget

Please add updates@feedmyinbox.com to your address book to make sure you receive these messages in the future. Engadget Mini Docking Station is, surprisingly, not completely hideous August 3, 2009 at 11:56 pm Let's be frank: West Elm's lacquered wood Mini Docking Station isn't a multitasker. All it does is provide a place to attractively "seat" for your gear while it charges. That said, decent retail stores don't usually carry a lot of good-looking products that catch our geeky eyes. This one doesn't boast any other functions -- no alarm, no speakers -- just a charging station plain and simple, but it's not insanely ugly -- and it's only $34. And sometimes, that's enough. Filed under: Peripherals Mini Docking Station is, surprisingly, not completely hideous originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Nintendo DSi Facebook connectivity coming to North American tonight August 3, 2009 at 10:59 pm Hey North America, jealous of your Japanese and European friends who've already got Facebook integration on their DSis? Fear not, Nintendo of America's announced that firmware 1.4 will be pushed out tonight after 8:00PM ET -- in other words, any time now. We still haven't gotten the update yet, but let us know if and when you've got better luck! [Via Joystiq] Filed under: Gaming Nintendo DSi Facebook connectivity coming to North American tonight originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments INQ Mini 3G and INQ Chat offer slimmer, sexier angle on "social mobile" segment August 3, 2009 at 10:20 pm INQ's unique take on the featurephone just got a significant facelift in the form of the new INQ Mini 3G and the INQ Chat. Leaving behind the INQ1's last-gen looks, the new INQ Chat offers a QWERTY keyboard in an E71-esque chassis, 2.4-inch screen, GPS and a 3.2 megapixel auto focus camera, while the Mini 3G takes up the T9er's mantle with a slim candybar form factor, 2.2-inch screen and 2 megapixel camera. The big deal of course is still the (award winning) software side, which already includes features such as Skype, Facebook and Windows Live Messenger integration, along with a Synergy-style integrated address book. New additions include a Twitter app, push Gmail, and iTunes syncing, courtesy of DVD Jon's doubleTwist software, and INQ claims that it'll be much more proactive with software updates this time around. The phones are only dipping their toes into the media playback pool, with hardly any onboard storage, empty microSD slots, and the ever-annoying USB-to-3.5mm converter headphone jack situation, but all the parts are there. INQ's also going to pull together an "app store" of sorts by curating freely available Java applets compatible with the handsets. We had a look at the phones, and while the style might seem aggressive for some, the build of both phones is pretty quality for the target market, and they're certainly tighter in the design department than the INQ1. The keyboard on the INQ Chat is quite good, especially for featurephone land, and we like that INQ kept some T9-style predictive text in the software to make QWERTY use even more of a pleasure. No, these phones still don't replace smartphones, but they're designed to be a low-cost alternative to the smartphone for carriers, who are a little tired of heavy phone subsidies and intense data use from the iPhone types -- and sure wouldn't mind making a few bucks off your Facebook addiction. Unfortunately, there still aren't any plans for bringing these phones to the States. INQ is "in talks," but for now these handsets are Europe bound, and should hit stores by Q4. Gallery: INQ Mini 3G and INQ Chat Filed under: Cellphones INQ Mini 3G and INQ Chat offer slimmer, sexier angle on "social mobile" segment originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Video: Josh talks Apple on G4's Attack of the Show August 3, 2009 at 10:05 pm In case you missed it, our fearless leader Joshua Topolsky made a guest appearance on tonight's Attack of the Show, waxing intellectual with host Kevin Pereira about Apple's recent handlings with Google Voice, Eric Schmidt, and of course discussion on the dual uni-powered tablet -- you'll see what we mean. Video after the break. Continue reading Video: Josh talks Apple on G4's Attack of the Show Filed under: Meta Video: Josh talks Apple on G4's Attack of the Show originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Alienware M17x with dual-GPU review roundup August 3, 2009 at 9:16 pm There's no question that Alienware's M17x with dual-GPU system is one the most powerful -- if not the most powerful -- laptop out there right now, but at 15.4 pounds and a sub-two hour battery life, the definition of "laptop" is being stretched a bit here. A handful of reviews have hit the interwebs, and the none too startling consensus is you'll be paying for the best here, especially with configuration options that can slot up to $5,000 -- CNET Australia suggests looking at the ASUS W90 if you want a better bang for your buck. The capacitive buttons above the keyboard aren't too responsive, there's no multitouch, and Hot Hardware noticed some flex in the center of the keyboard, but on the flip side, you'll be running full HD video and the most taxing games with little to no strain -- and if you like your keyboard to look like a light show, there's eight different sections to customize with different-colored LEDs. Guide your mouse to the links below for more in-depth discussion. Read - Hot Hardware Read - CNET Australia Read - Co-Optimus Filed under: Laptops Alienware M17x with dual-GPU review roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Dell adds high-powered ATI FirePro M7740 graphics to the Precision M6400 August 3, 2009 at 8:31 pm We've always lusted after Dell's high-zoot Precision M6400 mobile workstation, and now we've got yet another reason to save all these nickels and dimes in the sock drawer: the company's adding AMD's new ATI FirePro M7740 graphics processor to the mix. The new chip is due to be announced tomorrow at SIGGRAPH 2009, and like the rest of the FirePro line, it'll offer 1GB of DDR5 frame buffer memory, 30-bit DisplayPort and dual-link DVI output, and tons of CAD application certifications. We're looking for hard specs and prices now, we'll let you know as soon as we get 'em. Dell adds high-powered ATI FirePro M7740 graphics to the Precision M6400 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Samsung M1 PMP to challenge Zune HD with some Tegra of its own? August 3, 2009 at 7:47 pm Samsung's launched a teaser page for its YP-M1 media player (look familiar?), and while a 3.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen is impressive in its own right, it's the mention of a NVIDIA chipset that has us most intrigued, especially given Samsung's earlier promise that a Tegra-based device was in the works. There isn't an indication that these are one in the same just yet, but we wouldn't be surprised to find that CPU packed away somewhere inside. Other known details at this point include a DMB TV tuner, 8GB of storage (at least for the base model), Samsung's TouchWiz UI, text-to-speech functionality, Bluetooth, and DivX support -- not a bad spec list considering it'll likely be up against the definitively Tegra-based Zune HD. Currently up in the air is any word of a price or release date (let along a release 'round here), although it seems Samsung could have more to say on August 13th. [Via DAP Review] Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video Samsung M1 PMP to challenge Zune HD with some Tegra of its own? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Square iPhone Payment System turns your phone into credit card reader August 3, 2009 at 7:09 pm Everyone and their uncle Steve uses WinCE terminals to execute cashless transactions these days, and while you'd expect Apple to remedy that right quick, the Square credit card reader has beaten it to the punch. Plugging into the headphone jack of either an iPhone or iPod Touch, the dongle takes a swipe of your card, the seller enters the purchase data and you do your best penless John Hancock on the touchscreen. After that, a receipt is delivered by email and the app retains geotagging data for each transaction. Spiffy, right? Well, there is a surcharge to pay, and it's still in early alpha testing in New York, but should it prove popular, there's no reason not to see this appendage make an appearance on Android or WinMo phones as well. Rest easy, Gotham, we're sure nothing could possibly go wrong. [Thanks, Derek] Filed under: Cellphones Square iPhone Payment System turns your phone into credit card reader originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Nikon D300s, pro photographers meet up to make magic together August 3, 2009 at 6:38 pm What better way to show off your company's latest DSLR than by giving it to a couple of professional photographers to work their magic? Nikon's done just that, handing off its just-announced D300s to noted photojournalist Ami Vitale and sports photographer Robert Bösch. The pair submitted stills and videos from their trial run, and the results are unsurprisingly impressive -- there's only one noticeable instance of rolling shutter, in the beginning of Bösch's video with the helicopter blades. Of course, there's no telling how much post-production work went into these pieces, and let's not forget these are pros in their element -- average Joe isn't gonna be able to pick up this camera and produce the same results. Footage after the break, or hit up the read link to see all the impressions and sample works. [Via PDNPulse and ProLost Blog] Continue reading Nikon D300s, pro photographers meet up to make magic together Filed under: Digital Cameras Nikon D300s, pro photographers meet up to make magic together originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Nikon Coolpix S640, S570, S70 leak out, leave little to the imagination August 3, 2009 at 6:06 pm Nikon's Coolpix S1000pj project-o-camera may be the big rumor du jour, but the company's also got plenty of other cameras slipping through the cracks these days, like this trio of new compact shooters. Leading off the lot is the 12.2-megapixel Coolpix S640 (pictured above), which is said to pack a 5x, 28mm equivalent wide-angle lens, a 2.7-inch display, an "ultra-fast autofocus system," a start-up time of just 0.7 seconds, built-in quick retouch features, and your choice of three different colors for $499. Joining it are the 12-megapixel Coolpix S570, which replaces the 10-megepixel S560 and will set you back $349, and the all new 12.1-megapixel Coolpix S70 (check it out after the break), which runs a hefty $599 and includes 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen, a 5x optical zoom, sensitivity setting up to ISO 6400, and your choice of red, black, or champagne colors. No word on a release date for any of them just yet, but it sure seems like they're about to burst out of the gate. Continue reading Nikon Coolpix S640, S570, S70 leak out, leave little to the imagination Filed under: Digital Cameras Nikon Coolpix S640, S570, S70 leak out, leave little to the imagination originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Windows Mobile 7 to be a premium, multitouch beast of a platform August 3, 2009 at 5:34 pm Seeing the gold build of Windows Mobile 6.5 in action was pretty nifty, but Inquirer's recent video actually managed to unveil a few juicy tidbits about version 7 as well -- a platform that's shaping up to be that massive, ground-up rewrite of WinMo we've all been hoping for for years (as far as we can tell). The lack of multitouch is a sore point for some in 6.5 -- not just because of the goodness of the multitouch gestures themselves, but because it's indicative of a broader failure on Microsoft's part to recognize that touch-based mobile UIs have been wholly reinvented since the days of Windows Mobile 2003. Redmond looks to be cognizant of that, though with a mention in the video that 7 will "exploit the hardware" and "introduce multitouch," going on to say that it'll be able to go toe-to-toe with "competitor devices" -- ostensibly a reference to some combination of webOS, Android, and the iPhone. The video also mentions that 6.5 will end up being a "breadth play" while 7 branches out into the premium end of the market -- at least to start -- and over time, 7 will become Microsoft's mainstream mobile platform as future versions are released. In other words, Microsoft looks like it could be setting itself up for a two-version cadence going forward -- one for the unwashed masses, one for the gadget fiends. You know which category we fall into -- and we suspect we know yours, dear readers. [Via Unwired View] Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds Windows Mobile 7 to be a premium, multitouch beast of a platform originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Fujitsu's CELSIUS ULTRA gaming PC caught on video August 3, 2009 at 5:01 pm It's not exactly the most exhaustive of hands-ons, but the video after the break appears to be one of the very first looks at Fujitsu's much-hyped CELSIUS ULTRA gaming PC which, as promised, made its debut at the big KnastLAN event in Germany this weekend. From the sound of things, however, Fujitsu still isn't quite ready to dish out many details about the system's specs, although it does apparently make use of a pair of unspecified overclocked NVIDIA graphics cards in an SLI configuration, and it was reportedly able to run Crysis "impressively" at a full 120 fps. Head on past the break to see it for yourself. Continue reading Fujitsu's CELSIUS ULTRA gaming PC caught on video Filed under: Desktops, Gaming Fujitsu's CELSIUS ULTRA gaming PC caught on video originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Video: Cornell's autonomous robot sub wins competition, our hearts August 3, 2009 at 4:33 pm Cornell sure seems to be doing its part to usher in a world where robots call the shots and humans spend most of their time cowering in the corners of bomb-out buildings. Researchers at the school have variously applied their brain matter (and we're guessing the occasional government check) to such sticky problems as robot consciousness, distance walking, and complications related to using robotics in zero gravity. And now we've heard that the school has just won something called the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition. The vehicles entered in the 12th annual AUVC (which was held at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego) ran an underwater obstacle course that involved bombing things, firing torpedoes, and eventually recovering a suitcase with "secret documents" (or old issues of 2600: The Hacker Quarterly, depending on who you believe). You can see the thing in action for yourself in the video after the break. [Via GoRobotics.net] Continue reading Video: Cornell's autonomous robot sub wins competition, our hearts Filed under: Robots Video: Cornell's autonomous robot sub wins competition, our hearts originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments OCZ's 1TB Colossus SSD gets a price and launch timeframe August 3, 2009 at 4:08 pm We already got word of the starting price for the entry-level 128GB drive in OCZ's new Colossus line of SSDs, but details on the standout 1TB model have unfortunately been quite a bit harder to come by. OCZ's now finally cleared up most of those remaining questions, however, and announced that the drive will be available mid-August for a jaw-dropping $2,500 (give or take a few bucks). The 500GB drive will also apparently be available at the same time, although OCZ doesn't seem to be saying anything more than that it'll be "less expensive." [Via Electronista] Update: OCZ just hit us up with the official information. The company is actually "about three weeks" out from release, and it'll ship the Colossus 120 (128GB), 250 (256GB), 500 (512GB) and 1TB (1024GB) for $300, $650, $1200 and $2200 in order of mention. Filed under: Storage OCZ's 1TB Colossus SSD gets a price and launch timeframe originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Sony's early plans for motion controllers involved superheroes, magic, and... Teletubbies? August 3, 2009 at 3:44 pm It's no secret that Sony's motion controllers were in the works for quite a long time before finally being unveiled at E3 2009. Still, it's fun to look back into the past and see how the whole project evolved. Our buddies at Joystiq have cleverly dug up some slides from a 2001 Richard Marks presentation which describes, among other things, a game called Misho the Witch -- which made use of a ball-and-stick controller to train a virtual pet -- much in the vein of Sony's just unveiled EyePet. Some other ideas being tossed around were an X-Men branded game based on "superhero properties" and one based around the Teletubbies. Remember them? Yes, this presentation is that old. Oh, the olden days. There's no evidence that any of these ideas went too far beyond the talking-phase, but we'll have to wait and see for sure when the PS3 Motion Controller debuts next year. One more shot after the break. Continue reading Sony's early plans for motion controllers involved superheroes, magic, and... Teletubbies? Filed under: Gaming Sony's early plans for motion controllers involved superheroes, magic, and... Teletubbies? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Verizon: Touch Diamond, Touch Pro now $99 with contract August 3, 2009 at 3:23 pm Looks like Verizon's up to something (and we're not talking about Sholes). A quick trip over to VZW's site has confirmed that $99 -- and a two-year contract -- will land you just about any smartphone that they offer (one notable exception being the Samsung Saga), including HTC's Touch Pro and Touch Diamond. Could this mean that the new Touch Diamond2 and Touch Pro2 are soon to rear their pretty little heads? We'd be down with that. Filed under: Cellphones Verizon: Touch Diamond, Touch Pro now $99 with contract originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Exploding iPod blows up in Apple's face August 3, 2009 at 3:02 pm Apple's got a lot of problems when it comes to overheating iPod batteries -- not only is the situation potentially dangerous, every move Cupertino makes is subject to sensational misinterpretation. Take today's Times UK story this morning about 11-year-old Ellie Stanborough, whose iPod touch blew itself up last month: when her father Ken contacted Apple for a refund, it seems he got a little bit of a runaround, but was eventually sent a settlement agreement offering a full refund if the family agreed to keep the deal confidential. That's actually totally standard practice when companies settle out-of-warranty claims, but since the agreement was written by lawyers, it contained a bunch of vaguely threatening language about how breaking confidentiality might result in Apple relentlessly suing everyone until Liverpool itself goes bankrupt and the populace is forced to resort to cannibalism and network television. Cue hysterical media coverage. Now, it's no secret that lithium-ion batteries like those used in the iPod have a long history of overheating and exploding, and Apple's certainly had large-scale problems with defective cells -- the first-gen iPod nano has been recalled in Korea and Japan, for example. It's also obvious that the sheer number of iPods sold means there are more exploding iPods than anything else -- and while we're sure some accountant at Apple has a spreadsheet showing the exact failure rate is acceptable, all we've got right now is story after story of these things blowing up with zero context. So here's our suggestion to Apple: maybe instead of having lawyers draft individual settlement agreements full of impenetrable and scary legalese for each and every jilted iPod owner out there, why not simply fess up to the problem, let people know exactly how common it is and how to avoid it, and provide a dead-simple replacement option for people who've had their iPods go up in smoke? That would put everyone at ease, and make these types of stories much less likely to blow up in a media feeding frenzy. Or, you know, do nothing because overwhelming market share inevitably leads to arrogant laziness -- your call. [Via TUAW] Exploding iPod blows up in Apple's face originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments HTC Hero and Click coming to China under Dopod brand August 3, 2009 at 2:36 pm HTC has been on a global Android-pimping mission with its Hero device, and it looks like Chinese subsidiary Dopod gets the honor of announcing three new handsets for the Middle Kingdom. Unlike others, the Hero retains its WiFi capabilities by playing nice with China's custom WLAN security protocol and is expected in late August on China Unicom for 5,600 Yuan ($820) along with the few-frills Click for 3,400 Yuan ($500). The carrier has opted to strip Google Maps from the Hero (though it's still downloadable), and to soften the blow it will likely offer a snazzy red version of the phone. China Mobile will have to settle for an as-yet unspecified TD-SCDMA handset and the already announced Magic, both of which will likely be sporting the OMS flavor of Android. We're not sure we'd classify the Hero's price tag as reasonable -- but really, can you put a dollar figure on being the first big-name Android release in the world's largest wireless market? Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds HTC Hero and Click coming to China under Dopod brand originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Crestron's Prodigy Home Control System gets prices, specs August 3, 2009 at 2:13 pm Heads up, home automation fanatics: It seems that the CEDIA folks have got the inside scoop on Crestron's new Prodigy Home Control System -- and have been kind enough to share their hard won knowledge with us. A lower-cost system aimed at the mass market, this guy features a ZigBee-compatible controller with remote, a SideShow-combatible in-wall touch panel for all of your fave widgets, and the usual control switches, dimmers, and thermostats. The system starts at around $825 for the PMC2 controller (up to 100 wireless devices), PLX2 remote, and P-MNETGW wireless gateway. Or you can just bite the bullet and go for the sample system which includes the above, four zones of audio, one thermostat, 15 wireless light dimmers/switches, and the in-wall touchscreen for about $5,500. Or, if none of the above appeal to you, you can just turn off your own lights. Be sure to check out those glamor shots in the gallery below. Gallery: Crestron's Prodigy Home Control System gets prices, specs Filed under: Household Crestron's Prodigy Home Control System gets prices, specs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments ATX In-Vehicle Text-by-Voice reduces the subtleties of your chatter to cold, hard SMS August 3, 2009 at 1:48 pm ATX, a major but rarely heard-of telematics supplier, has become the first to offer full handsfree text messaging. While the Ford Sync already allows the sending of pre-canned missives by voice command, this new system transcribes your messages and is fully voice-operated, freeing both hands for driving. Given the forthcoming ban on regular old button mashing, you could probably do worse than grabbing one of these and continuing your bad habits. It won't be easy though, as ATX doesn't offer retrofits and market leader OnStar has said it won't be offering a competing product, leaving you to choose from among the upcoming models by Toyota, Lexus, BMW, Peugeot, Mercedes, Maybach and Rolls-Royce. Maybe we're just jaded, but we'd rather engage in the lost art of talking to people on our good old Gordon Gekko-styled carphone. [Via Dallas Observer] Filed under: Transportation ATX In-Vehicle Text-by-Voice reduces the subtleties of your chatter to cold, hard SMS originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments The Shack's gargantuan laptop keyboard adds ominous undertone to Radio Shack relaunch August 3, 2009 at 1:24 pm So, this whole "The Shack" relaunch is really happening, and the San Francisco and New York "Summer Netogether" events promise to be speaker wire-riddled mayhem. Take this giant laptop keyboard an anonymous tipster sent us, for instance. You could probably write a really nice email to your mom on that thing, don't you think? Like we said: ominous. The tipster also said The Roots are slated to perform at the Times Square version of this event, which will connect two gigantic, fake laptops with live webcam imagery of the two events being beamed across the country -- sure to prompt either national unity or riots in the streets. Filed under: Laptops The Shack's gargantuan laptop keyboard adds ominous undertone to Radio Shack relaunch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Fujitsu's new gaming rig gets a teaser site, and a name: CELSIUS ULTRA August 3, 2009 at 1:02 pm Fujitsu managed to pique our interest in its forthcoming gaming desktop with the promises of some "German ultra clocking," and it now looks to have fully revved up the hype engine, with it launching a new teaser site for the rig, and revealing its name: the CELSIUS ULTRA -- because nothing says fast like all caps. Unfortunately, there's still no word about any little details like specs, a price or a release date, but the teaser trailer we saw before has now received a suitably dramatic soundtrack, and Fujitsu says the desktop should be showing itself at the now-happening KnastLAN LAN party in Landshut, Germany. As far as we can tell, however, no pictures of the rig have surfaced just yet. [Thanks, Maik] Filed under: Desktops, Gaming Fujitsu's new gaming rig gets a teaser site, and a name: CELSIUS ULTRA originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments nuvi GPS with EDGE data makes its FCC debut August 3, 2009 at 12:34 pm Sure, you're still waiting for your Nüvifone, but in the meantime it looks like the kids at Garmin have taken all that hard-won knowledge and applied it to their latest PND. The nüvi 1690, which recently popped up at the FCC, features GSM, GPRS, and EDGE connectivity. The unit won't support voice calls, although with Bluetooth you should be able to use it as a hands-free unit for your current cellphone. Garmin has thus far been mum on this guy, but as GPS Tracklog points out, the IFA show in Berlin is just around the corner -- certainly the company will have something to say about all this by then. To check out the FCC bit for yourself, hit that read link. [Warning: PDF.] [Via SlashGear] Filed under: GPS nuvi GPS with EDGE data makes its FCC debut originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Nikon Coolpix S1000pj to boast projector? Sure looks like it! August 3, 2009 at 12:12 pm Now, we still can't be sure that this thing is legit -- but it's definitely starting to look more than likely. The rumor early this morning was that Nikon would be announcing a small digital camera with an LED projector in the very near future, with a shelf-date sometime in September -- the VP650. Well, now Photo Review has some shots of this supposed badboy. The Coolpix S1000pj will supposedly boast a projector capable of projecting an image up to up to 40 inches in size, with a remote control and projector stand as part of the package. The camera itself will be a 12.1 megapixel affair, with a 5x Zoom-Nikkor lens with 28mm wide-angle coverage -- with pricing at $699 AUD (that's about $587). Word is that VP650 was just a codename for the product, and we'd think we'll be hearing much, much more about this little dude in the very near future. There's one more shot to check out after the break. [Via Nikon Rumors] Continue reading Nikon Coolpix S1000pj to boast projector? Sure looks like it! Filed under: Digital Cameras Nikon Coolpix S1000pj to boast projector? Sure looks like it! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments ATM scam at DEFCON clearly the work of ironic criminals August 3, 2009 at 11:43 am The hooligans in this case have a dry sense of humor or are extremely unlucky: Either way, we can't help but get a chuckle out of the fact that someone placed their smart card skimmin' faux ATM at the Riviera Hotel Casino in Las Vegas -- during DEFCON, the world's largest hacker convention. No one can say exactly how long the kiosk was there -- at least the kids were smart enough to place it right outside the security office, one of the few places in the conference center not under surveillance. It was picking up on this last fact that aroused the suspicion of Brian Markus, CEO of Aries Security. When shining a light through the glass panel that should house a camera, he instead found the PC that was set up to skim people's data. He then notified security, who removed the device and once again made the world safe for hackers and their bank accounts. ATM scam at DEFCON clearly the work of ironic criminals originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Intel denies rumors that Z-series Atoms are headed for the grave August 3, 2009 at 11:22 am Intel wants you to know that the rumor that its Z-series Atom chips are headed for the "discontinued" pile is not true. A few days back, we heard that the chips -- which were initially designated for MIDs but made their way into some netbooks -- could no longer be ordered from Intel. A spokesperson for the company, however, speaking with Register Hardware, said that the rumors were "100 percent inaccurate." We'll just have to wait and see how this all pans out, but we're still not feeling terribly positive about poor little MIDs' odds. Filed under: Laptops Intel denies rumors that Z-series Atoms are headed for the grave originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Google's Eric Schmidt resigns from Apple board over "conflict of interest" August 3, 2009 at 11:06 am Should have seen this one coming, right? Google CEO Eric Schmidt has resigned from Apple's board today citing a conflict of interest. Apple (Steve Jobs, in fact) says that "Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple's core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric's effectiveness as an Apple board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest." Android and Chrome OS -- something had to give, but the timing sure does make it seem like that Google Voice app rejection might have really hurt someone's feelings. The truth is, it's been a tangled web for some time as far as the relationship between Apple and Google goes. Sure, Schmidt sat on the board, the companies claim to be working on new projects, and Google Maps comes preloaded onto the iPhone, but over the past year, Google's increasing move into Apple's space, and Apple's increasing desire to control every inch of that space have not been good bedfellows. It's hard to imagine that Apple could maintain a completely healthy relationship with a direct competitor in both the phone and OS space for very long, and that's to say nothing of Cupertino's latest push into online document editing and management, which couldn't have seemed very awesome to Schmidt and company. Oh, and there's that matter of the antitrust case which is currently ongoing. Still, it's a bit sad to see this power couple going their separate ways, though it does give us some hope that Google will begin a full assault with Android in earnest, because only sweet stuff could come from those efforts. If you're interested, the full PR is after the break. Continue reading Google's Eric Schmidt resigns from Apple board over "conflict of interest" Google's Eric Schmidt resigns from Apple board over "conflict of interest" originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Snapdragon and Tegra smartbook rumors swirl before likely year end push August 3, 2009 at 10:51 am DigiTimes is reporting -- in its usual sourceless, rumorific way -- that a slew of Taiwanese manufacturers are set to deliver smartbooks based on the Snapdragon and Tegra chipsets by the fourth quarter of this year. Acer is leading the charge with an Android-sporting device, adding to its push of the Google mobile OS, while Mobinnova has confirmed US and European orders for its 8.9-inch élan, shipments of which might top half a million units in 2009. In the meantime, Inventec is expected to launch a 10-inch Tegra smartbook entitled Rainbow, which is probably set for a prompt rebadge. On the other hand, citing what it sees as weak demand, ASUS is holding back and won't launch anything until November at the earliest. While none of these rumors are massively surprising, and given the source could be downright erroneous, they do hint at a wild, industry-wide synergy of smartbook rollout for the holiday period. And we all love synergy. Filed under: Laptops Snapdragon and Tegra smartbook rumors swirl before likely year end push originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Palm Pre drops to $99 at LetsTalk online store, for a limited time August 3, 2009 at 10:25 am It's a limited time offer, and the handset is currently out of stock -- you'll have to wait a few days for delivery -- but cutesy online phone retailer LetsTalk is offering the Pre for a mere $99 after a $100 rebate and a $100 instant discount. This sort of price flexibility bodes well for the truly budget conscious eying this phone, though as demonstrated time and time again: you're saving a lot more in the long run with a cheap plan than a cheap phone, something that's been a lock since day one with the Pre. [Via SlashGear] Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds Palm Pre drops to $99 at LetsTalk online store, for a limited time originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments iMuz launches three new PMPs for your amusement August 3, 2009 at 9:56 am The already crowded PMP space just got a little more busy thanks to a trio of new portable players from iMuz. Starting with the smallest, we have the above-pictured 39,000KRW ($31) 2GB and 49,000KRW ($40) 4GB MX1, which goes nicely with creepy looking dolls and sports a 1.5-inch TFT LCD, video playback of .avi files, FM radio, a voice recorder, and the ability to read e-books (if you really hate your eyes). Next up is the MX5, a brief video tour of which is included after the break. It has a 3-inch, 240 x 400 LCD, 16GB of storage, TV output, and all the same functionality as the baby MX1. Finally comes the MU-959, featuring VibeTouch haptic feedback. It too has a 3-inch, 240 x 400 LCD, but sports a dual-core processor, enabling it to decode a flurry of video formats and play games in addition to the standard voice recording, e-book reading, and FM tuning stuff. It comes in three colors: pink, black, and luxury brown. At this point we don't have a price to pass along for either of the two proper-sized ones, but it's not likely that you'll stumble across any of the trio in a domestic retailer anyhow. [Via AVING] Gallery: iMuz PMPs Read - MX1 Read - MX5 Read - MU-959 Continue reading iMuz launches three new PMPs for your amusement Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video iMuz launches three new PMPs for your amusement originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Wizards beware: the Window W26 Sorcerer's Stone plays WMA files August 3, 2009 at 9:23 am There aren't really any specs available for the Window W26 "Sorcerer's Stone" MP3 player, but we can tell you this: it won't turn anything into gold, and Muggles can't figure out how to use it. [Via PMP Today] Filed under: Portable Audio Wizards beware: the Window W26 Sorcerer's Stone plays WMA files originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Full specs leak on Sony Reader PRS-300 and PRS-600 August 3, 2009 at 8:52 am Still doubting that Sony has a new duo of e-book readers on the horizon? Have a look at this. Sony Insider is reporting that retailer J&R posted up product listings for both the PRS-300 and PRS-600, but both were quickly pulled in order to avoid a stern wrist slap from the suits at Sony. 'Course, neither were pulled quickly enough, and what we're left with is a list of full specifications and MSRPs for the both of 'em. If said sheets are to be believed, the 5-inch (800 x 600 resolution) Sony PRS300-RC Reader Pocket Edition will ship with 512MB of onboard memory, PC and Mac support, a battery good for 7,500 page turns and USB 2.0 connectivity. The 6-inch (800 x 600 resolution) PRS600-SC Reader Touch Edition checks in at 0.4-inches thin and boasts a virtual keyboard, doodle capability, 512MB of storage, a built-in English e-dictionary, PC and Mac support and the same battery as on the smaller sibling. We're looking at price tags of $199 and $299, respectively, but with no apparent WiFi or WWAN built in, it'll still be a hard sell over Amazon's connected Kindle here in America. Filed under: Displays, Handhelds Full specs leak on Sony Reader PRS-300 and PRS-600 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Microsoft's browserless Windows 7 E gets EUthanized August 3, 2009 at 8:11 am The saga of Microsoft vs. the European Commission just keeps on keepin' on. MS was accused of harming the browser competition by including IE with Windows, and as part of its pledge to play nice proposed a Europe-only version of Windows 7 that would completely lack Internet Explorer, dubbed Windows 7 E. Last week the company came up with an alternative: a so-called ballot screen version that would allow users to pick (nearly) any browser they like upon start-up -- or just stick with the already installed IE. Buoyed by generally positive feedback from the move, Microsoft has indicated it's going to go ahead and kill off Windows 7 E -- despite the lack of an official agreement from the Commission as of yet. So, the whole, wonderful world will get the same flavor of the OS, and everyone browsed happily ever after. The end...? [Via ComputerWorld] Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software Microsoft's browserless Windows 7 E gets EUthanized originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Samsung's retail Omnia II smartphone gets hands-on treatment August 3, 2009 at 7:28 am Oh sure, we've seen Samsung's WinMo-powered Omnia II a time or two before, but this looks to be the first instance of it waltzing in front of a camera after leaving its retail packaging. Not much seems to have changed from those pre-release versions we peeked, and we have to say, that 3.7-inch AMOLED display looks awfully inviting. Of course, you'll have a hard time procuring one of these critters here in North America without a solid importer over in Singapore, but if you can somehow steal some patience from underneath that couch cushion, you'll be just fine. Give the read link some love for a few more high-res shots. Filed under: Cellphones Samsung's retail Omnia II smartphone gets hands-on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Empty ink cartridges repurposed as glorious lamps August 3, 2009 at 6:37 am We all know that those ink cartridge refills never really function perfectly as advertised, so rather than paying too much to have a lackluster printing experience, boxlightbox has decided to repurpose his empty Epson boxes into prepossessing lighting instruments. The simple (albeit masterly) lamps maintain the iconic presence of an ink cartridge while still fitting into the overall feel of an art deco home. At $350, the sensational Ink-Cartridge Chandelier shown above certainly isn't the cheapest of fixtures, but for those who spend entirely too much time at Kinko's, it's totally worth the investment. Hit the read link for more ways to spend money that you don't have -- or, you know, to just get a few ideas for scratching that DIY itch. [Thanks, David] Filed under: Household Empty ink cartridges repurposed as glorious lamps originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Sony's VAIO W netbook reviewed: personable and pricey, and that's pretty much it August 3, 2009 at 5:52 am After Sony's unorthodox VAIO P, did you really expect the outfit's first "real netbook" to burn the house down? With Microsoft's inane hardware restrictions still firmly in place on Windows XP-based netbooks, there's only so much differentiating Sony can do, and evidently those subtle tweaks didn't exactly justify the higher-than-average $499 price tag. Computer Shopper managed to give the unit a spin a few weeks prior to its US release, and while it definitely appreciated the 1,366 x 768 resolution display, the cramped keyboard, painfully lackluster 3-cell battery and commonplace performance didn't exactly elicit huge grins across the review room. Naturally, the design here is pretty notable, but with ASUS' Eee Seashell line already lookin' pretty decent for a lot less cheddar, we'd agree that Sony's going to have to do better than put a pretty face on a vanilla set of innards to get our next five Benjamins. Filed under: Laptops Sony's VAIO W netbook reviewed: personable and pricey, and that's pretty much it originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Glass leaves sweat to generate electricity, get nervous in public situations August 3, 2009 at 5:13 am Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Michigan and MIT have created glass "leaves" with networks of veiny channels filled with water. The smallest channels extend all the way to the edges of the leaf, where open ends allow water to evaporate, which draws water along the central stem of the leaf -- at a rate of about 1.5 centimeters per second. The glass leaves have been wired for electricity by adding metal plates to the walls of the central stems and connecting them to a circuit. Researchers then charge the plates and the water inside the stems creates two conducting layers separated by an insulating layer, which acts as a capacitor. The waterflow is then periodically interrupted with air bubbles, and every time a bubble passes through the plates a small electrical current is generated -- about 2 - 5 microvolts per bubble. The team thinks that on a large scale, artificial trees could be use to generate large amounts of energy entirely through evaporation. Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Glass leaves sweat to generate electricity, get nervous in public situations originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Video: T-Mobile BlackBerry 8520 sold and unboxed early August 3, 2009 at 4:32 am We all know there ain't no party like a Super Walmart party, 'cause the Super Walmart party don't stop. Aiding its cause in being the go-to place for night owls and bargain hunting insomniacs is the fact that it's apparently selling T-Mobile's newest BlackBerry ahead of the August 5th street date. Don't believe us? Jump on past the break for an unboxing video, and afterwards, feel free to call your nearest five Wally Worlds until you find one ready and willing to take your $48.88 (on contract). [Thanks, Alex] Continue reading Video: T-Mobile BlackBerry 8520 sold and unboxed early Filed under: Cellphones Video: T-Mobile BlackBerry 8520 sold and unboxed early originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Screen Grabs: Jawbone gets chewed out by Entourage's Johnny Drama August 3, 2009 at 4:01 am The best show to ever land on HBO has certainly seen its fair share of hot technology, from last week's Ferrari-fest (with a notable 'holla' to Porsche) to this week's love affair with Aliph's Jawbone. As you can see in the Screen Grab above, Johnny Drama couldn't help but sport the all-black Bluetooth earpiece to match his ebony jacket and equally dark motorcar whilst jabbering to Turtle. Nah, it's not the Jawbone Prime, but we wouldn't put it past Sloan to tease E (again) over one here in the not-too-distant future. Now, if only Marky Mark could convince the suits at Time Warner to allocate an hour per episode to this masterpiece, we'd really be in heaven... [Thanks, SmoothMarx] Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals Screen Grabs: Jawbone gets chewed out by Entourage's Johnny Drama originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments HTC sees revenue falling due to "delays in product launches" August 3, 2009 at 3:28 am HTC's been on somewhat of a hot streak here lately, but word on the street has it that the aforesaid outfit may not be able to ship all of its forthcoming handsets on time. A new Wall Street Journal report on falling revenue in the HTC camp notes that an undisclosed amount of delays, a larger-than-anticipated drop in contract orders and lower-than-expected sales in China could lead to drooping income in the short term, and some analysts are pointing out that the company's average selling price per phone is sliding due to looming Android competition from the likes of Motorola and Sony Ericsson. Aside from the Touch Pro2 that'll probably never, ever land on Sprint, HTC has about a gazillion other rumored handsets on the horizon, but it's hard to know for sure which "product launches" are expected to be stalled. So, is HTC secretly retooling a smattering of its handsets in order to stay one step ahead of SE and Moto? Or are old fashioned supply chain inefficiencies to blame? Filed under: Cellphones HTC sees revenue falling due to "delays in product launches" originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 02:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Piggy speakers are so cute they make us wish we were still vegetarians August 3, 2009 at 2:46 am We've seen enough little portable speakers in our day, and we're pretty hard to impress at this point. Now, we're not saying that we're "impressed" with the little ceramic pig speaker that you see in the image above, but... there's something somewhat special about it. While we don't have any specs on this one, we can say with a reasonable amount of certainty that this little speaker's not going to impress even the beginner audiophile, but still, we think it's cute enough to warrant a place on our desk, right between our Fender Mini-Deluxe amp and the tiny reproduction Parrothead visor we made for our Chihuahua. These little porkers (which can be plugged into your favorite PMP for maximum blasting of "Margaritaville" on-the-go) seem to be available in Japan only for the time being, and they run ¥4,725 (about $50). They also come in several different colors -- a photo of the other options is after the break. [Via Technabob] Continue reading Piggy speakers are so cute they make us wish we were still vegetarians Filed under: Portable Audio Piggy speakers are so cute they make us wish we were still vegetarians originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Samsung's 'Tap and Take' teaser hints at revolutionary, unicorn-approved Smart Cameras August 3, 2009 at 1:51 am Samsung sure has been milking this whole "teaser" thing for all it's worth of late, with the newest mystery coming to us in the form of its fresh 'Tap and Take' campaign. From now until August 12th, users can give the read link a visit in order to ingest clues about the outfit's upcoming line of Smart Cameras. These wildly intelligent shooters will purportedly "transform the way consumers take pictures," and they just might provide each and every American with free health care, solve world hunger and put the mighty Hubble to shame. The whole thing will be revealed in full on August 13th, but for now, why not drop a comment below as to what you think will be so revolutionary about the forthcoming point-and-shoot range? [Via Korea Newswire] Filed under: Digital Cameras Samsung's 'Tap and Take' teaser hints at revolutionary, unicorn-approved Smart Cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Rumor mill: Nikon VP650 camera / projector combo soon to be revealed August 3, 2009 at 1:01 am Looks like our one of our dreams just might come to fruition after all, if this newest rumor coming from the vicinity of Nikon is to be believed, anyway. Now, there aren't a lot of details to go round here, but Nikon Rumors is reporting that Chasseur d'Image -- a print magazine in France with a history of publishing rumors that turn into reality -- has published a report that Nikon will soon announce the VP650. What is this VP650, you ask? Well, it's a hybrid compact digital camera with an LED projector (which may or may not be manufactured by Taiwanese company Foxlink) that can project 8 x 12 images in "good quality" in the dark. Chasseur d'Image reports that the VP650 will ship in September. Like we said -- not a whole lot of detail, but we'll keep our eyes peeled to see if this thing ever appears. We'll say this though -- such a product would probably make the tiny projector a lot more attractive. Filed under: Digital Cameras Rumor mill: Nikon VP650 camera / projector combo soon to be revealed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Palm Pre sales go live at Amazon August 2, 2009 at 11:41 pm If you love the Pre, but hate Best Buy or Sprint, now you've got the option of nabbing one through an online reseller you can live with: Amazon. The device has just popped up on the super-retailer's site, and like the aforementioned blue and yellow reseller, you don't have to worry about any pesky mail-in rebates -- the phone is $199.99 out the virtual door. Also of note, you can nab the non-contract version for $499.99, which is a $50 savings over the Sprint pricing, and certainly a value compared to Best Buy's $749.99 price tag. Only bummer note? Amazon says these babies won't ship for 4 to 6 weeks... which basically sucks. [Via PhoneNews] Filed under: Cellphones Palm Pre sales go live at Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Radio Shack rebranding to "The Shack"? August 2, 2009 at 10:15 pm Details are a bit light on this one, but thanks to a tipster and some chatter we picked up on the interblogs, it looks like Radio Shack may be about to undergo a pretty noticeable rebranding. The above image was taken from a terminal within a store, and while it's not completely clear if this is a short-term promotional push or long-term strategy (apparently the company will remain Radio Shack on the corporate side), our tipster says that in-store signs will reflect the change this week, and storefront signage will begin to be reworked as "The Shack" sometime later this year. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense -- radios aren't exactly considered cutting edge these days, and from the sounds of things, the store is about to launch a full assault on the mobile space, bringing T-Mobile into the fold this month, and attempting to cover the gamut on cellphone reselling. Still, we're not sure "The Shack" is the right direction... unless they wanted us to immediately picture a remote location where very, very bad things happen. Update: Apparently we're not the only ones talking about this -- someone has added detailed info on the rebranding to the company's Wikipedia page. According to the writeup, the switch will kick off with celebrations "in San Francisco and New York featuring '14 foot tall laptops' streaming the images from their webcams from one city to the other, live music in both locations, as well as television coverage of the event." Uh, okay! Update 2: Guess they weren't kidding. Here's the promo page on Radio Shack's site. Thanks Ellis D.! Filed under: Cellphones Radio Shack rebranding to "The Shack"? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments   This email was sent to topblogsofthenet@gmail.com.  Manage Your Account Don't want to receive this feed any longer? Unsubscribe here.