8/7 Engadget

Please add updates@feedmyinbox.com to your address book to make sure you receive these messages in the future. Engadget Tony Hawk Ride Limited Edition skateboard outed as UK version gets priced and dated August 6, 2009 at 10:41 pm While details aren't 100 percent confirmed for those of us across the pond -- Activision has yet to come out and verify those October 20th / $120 listings -- Tony Hawk Ride and its white not-quite-skateboard will be launching November 20th in the United Kingdom for £99.99, or about $168 in US currency. European retailer GAME will be selling a limited edition version of the game, which will sport a red and black skateboard and surprisingly no markup in price whatsoever. You know, it's a good thing the console cycle seems to be extending beyond its formerly four-year pattern, because these plastic peripherals are gonna be doing a number on our bank accounts. [Via Joystiq] Read - Tony Hawk Ride dated and priced Read - Limited Edition listing Filed under: Gaming Tony Hawk Ride Limited Edition skateboard outed as UK version gets priced and dated originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Ask Engadget: Best 20- to 24-inch LCD monitor with HDMI / DVI? August 6, 2009 at 10:03 pm We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Geoff, who is hoping to find a new LCD to serve two masters. "I have a MacBook Pro and an Xbox 360 and I would like to get a 20- to 24-inch display that will support both devices. The speakers should be inbuilt, or there should be an aux out on the display to hook up external speakers. Help! Please!" The glaring omission of a price limit here has us a bit scared, but we get the feeling Sir Geoff isn't looking to shatter the bank. Keep in mind that a speedy refresh rate will be needed for the gaming aspect, and it needs an HDMI and DVI socket at the very least. Get those gears a-grindin'! Filed under: Ask Engadget, Displays Ask Engadget: Best 20- to 24-inch LCD monitor with HDMI / DVI? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Microfluidic chip does 1,000 parallel chemical reactions, looks glorious August 6, 2009 at 9:13 pm We'd never considered a career in biochemistry until we saw this wild beast of a chemical microprocessor. Microfluidic chips, used to test chemical reactions and properties, have been known to be smaller, but they've never before been quite this powerful. The result of a joint study between California State University, UCLA and China's Wuhan University, the "integrated microfluidic device" is capable of performing 1,024 in situ chemical reactions at a time, making the researcher's life, oh, about 1,024 times easier. Most importantly though, costly enzymes previously used for a single test can now be split up into hundreds and tested simultaneously, which should pave the way for exponentially faster and easier medical research. It's not clear when these will be widely available, but we're sure PhDs around the world are trying to order one as we speak. [Via medGadget] Filed under: Science Microfluidic chip does 1,000 parallel chemical reactions, looks glorious originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments High-end Samsung AMOLED phone coming Q4 to Sprint, sub-$100 Android phone due out next year August 6, 2009 at 8:39 pm Ûber-green Reclaim might be taking center stage today, having found itself a home with Sprint, but Samsung had a couple other forward-thinking comments that we think are worth highlighting. For starters, the Now Network should expect to carry a high-end, AMOLED device from the phone maker in the fourth quarter of this year. That description, however, fits the bill for any number of Sammy phones currently in the works -- if we had to take a shot in the dark, we'd be anxious to know what screen technology is inside the oft-rumored InstinctQ. Looking ahead to 2010, Reclaim product manager mentioned to NY Times that it'll be launching an Android device "for well under $100" next year -- looks like the HTC Click is gonna have itself some competition, after all. Hey Sammy, you know what'd be great? A smartphone that was Android, AMOLED, and under $100 -- we can dream, can't we? Read - High-end AMOLED phone Read - Sub-$100 Android phone [Via OLED-info] Filed under: Cellphones High-end Samsung AMOLED phone coming Q4 to Sprint, sub-$100 Android phone due out next year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Iowa 911 call center now accepting texts; Twitter and Facebook status updates can't be far behind August 6, 2009 at 8:07 pm As of this week, callers can now text their requests for fire, police, or ambulance, to the emergency call center in Black Hawk County, Iowa -- both a nationwide first and a definite improvement for deaf and hard-of-hearing residents who have thus far had to rely on TDD devices. Unlike voice calls, however, the 911 operator can't get your location from a text message, meaning that the caller must first respond to a request for their city or zip code before the call gets routed. Currently, only i wireless subscribers (a local carrier affiliated with T-Mobile) can use the service, but plans are afoot to bring other carriers on board as well. Other future upgrades include the ability to accept video and picture messages. All the operators ask is that you refrain from sending them those silly chain text messages -- that sort of thing can be really distracting when you're busy saving lives. Filed under: Cellphones Iowa 911 call center now accepting texts; Twitter and Facebook status updates can't be far behind originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Maingear's eX-L 15 gaming laptop arrives on planet Earth August 6, 2009 at 7:29 pm Maingear may have given up on the "world's most powerful gaming laptop" title for the time being, but it's still keeping expectations pretty high for its new ex-L 15 laptop, which has just arrived on the scene from parts unknown. Judging from the specs, however, it won't have much trouble keeping up with the competition, with it packing your choice of top-end Intel processors, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M graphics, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, a max 1TB SATA hard drive or 160GB SSD, a built-in DVD burner or optional Blu-ray drive, and your choice of a glossy 15.4-inch 1680 x 1050 display or (thankfully) a 1,920 x 1,200 display with a matte finish. Sold? Then you can pick one up right now for a starting price of $1,899, or you can wait until September when the slightly lower-end mX-L 15 model will be available. One more, less cosmic shot after the break. Continue reading Maingear's eX-L 15 gaming laptop arrives on planet Earth Filed under: Gaming, Laptops Maingear's eX-L 15 gaming laptop arrives on planet Earth originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Nokia E72 exhaustively reviewed ahead of launch August 6, 2009 at 6:58 pm Say you've got a Nokia E71. Say, further, that you fully intend to upgrade to the E72 the moment it's available (we can't say we blame you). If you'd like to know more about the phone by the time it arrives on your doorstep than most people do in the lifetimes of their devices, we might recommend grabbing pork sandwich, a 64-ounce Coke, and your favorite blankie and curling up with mobile-review's epic "first look." Spec-wise, the new model is an outright slam dunk over the one it replaces, and it seems that mobile-review generally agrees -- sticking points were few and far between though he seems ambivalent on the optical d-pad, and it's also worth noting that the keyboard is now based on the E63's design rather than the E71's. Even if you don't want to read through the somewhat roughly-translated text, it's hard to argue with mobile-review's great photography -- and it's not like you're seeing an E72 in the flesh today, so you may as well have a look, eh? [Via Nokia Experts] Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds Nokia E72 exhaustively reviewed ahead of launch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments What CTA's iPhone steering wheel lacks in style, it also lacks in convenience August 6, 2009 at 6:28 pm For many users, any game that ends up installed on an iPhone is something of an after-thought: It sits there, quietly, waiting for a spare moment in the dentist's waiting room or on the train. But CTA Digital, a company known for its various game controllers, has a vision of the future that includes people lugging around little plastic steering wheels with an iPhone-sized hole in the middle. We don't know how much this "Basic Steering Wheel for iPhone and iPod Touch" will actually bring the "feel of driving a real vehicle" to Ferrari GT, but the guy in the video sure looks like he's having fun. Allegedly works with most horizontally configured racing games, and includes adapters for the iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPod Touch, and iPod Touch 2G. See for yourself after the break. Continue reading What CTA's iPhone steering wheel lacks in style, it also lacks in convenience Filed under: Gaming What CTA's iPhone steering wheel lacks in style, it also lacks in convenience originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Mysterious Dell laptop hits FCC, is a shoo-in for leaked Latitude Z August 6, 2009 at 5:54 pm While most of Dell's latest FCC filing is hidden behind a confidentiality agreement, we couldn't help but notice on the label location host picture a distinct bump on the laptop's back side, which matches up quite well that pretty Latitude Z series leak we covered back in June. Testing a 802.11 b/g single-chip client is somewhat of a downer since it implies no Draft-N, but hey, we don't mind being proven wrong here. External photos and user manual are being withheld at Dell's request until October 25, but hopefully we won't have to wait that long for the full story. Filed under: Laptops Mysterious Dell laptop hits FCC, is a shoo-in for leaked Latitude Z originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Official Windows 7 upgrade chart is ridiculous August 6, 2009 at 5:29 pm This is seriously Microsoft's Windows 7 upgrade chart, and it's ridiculous. It manages to highlight the insanity of shipping multiple OS versions while totally minimizing the good news: most Vista users will be able to upgrade in place to the corresponding 32- or 64-bit version of 7. That should cover the vast majority of people running Vista, but if you're still on XP or you're trying to do anything out of the ordinary you'd better get ready for some pain: all those ominous blue boxes require you to back up, wipe your drive, and reinstall a totally clean copy of 7. You heard that right -- the Windows 7 installer won't even try to retain your data and programs if you're not updating from the corresponding version of Vista. Pretty lame move, considering Microsoft is currently selling millions of copies of XP on netbooks and will sell XP downgrades until 2011 -- sure, we get that most netbook owners aren't going to spring for 7, but it's insane that you can't just pop in a disc and upgrade. Of course, now that 7's been released to manufacturing and the final bits are available there's not much to be done, so let's all just take a moment to contemplate the fact that Ed Bott at ZDNet managed to totally outdo Redmond's infographics people with a much friendlier chart with "about an hour" of work -- check it below. Read - Original chart at AllThingsD Read - Ed Bott's revised chart Continue reading Official Windows 7 upgrade chart is ridiculous Filed under: Software Official Windows 7 upgrade chart is ridiculous originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Apple patent application promises means to detect gadget abuse August 6, 2009 at 5:06 pm Apple's already put liquid submersion sensors in some of its recent products, but a recent patent application seems to suggest that it has some considerably grander plans in mind to detect and prevent gadget abuse. Described as a "Consumer Abuse Detection System and Method," the new system would apparently make use of a whole range of sensors to various issues that might void the warranty of the device, like exposure to extreme cold or heat, drops, or submersion in liquid. What's more, unlike the current liquid sensors that simply change color when something bad happens, the new system would apparently store the damage digitally in memory which, presumably, wouldn't be as susceptible to damage as the device itself. The system would also apparently do its best to protect the devices by disabling them if it detects some imminent danger, although Apple doesn't make any bones about the fact that it's primarily designed to save money on returned products that have been abused by the user. Filed under: Cellphones, Misc. Gadgets, Laptops Apple patent application promises means to detect gadget abuse originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Eberhard's RFMC rapid charger for Tesla Roadster now up for order August 6, 2009 at 4:37 pm If you're one of the lucky few who own a Tesla Roadster, this will certainly be of interest to you. And, for the rest of us -- well, let's indulge ourselves in a bit of vicarious living for a moment, shall we? Eberhard's just made its rapid charger -- the Roadster Foundry Mobile Connector (or RFMC) -- available to order. The RFMC comes with adapters that will allow charging at 12, 16, 24, 32 or 40 amps, and a fully depleted battery will charge overnight when charging at 40 amps. All you need to do (owning a Roadster is the hardest part, no doubt) to get the newer, faster charger is send the standard MC120 charger the car came with, plus $960 to EV components, wait for the new RFMC to show up, then go back to your normal life -- you know, sitting on a desolate beach in your insane car watching the sun go down. [Via Autoblog Green] Filed under: Transportation Eberhard's RFMC rapid charger for Tesla Roadster now up for order originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Omlet Beehaus is a plastic beehive for the urban conservationist August 6, 2009 at 4:12 pm Natural England needs you, dear urbanite, to put on your conservationist hat -- and beesuit, by the looks of it -- and start taking care of a small bee colony. Because, as you already know, you can't have healthy plant life without healthy insect populations to sustain it. At this point, a lot of us might be intrigued -- after all, who doesn't find the idea of homemade honey and a houseful of killer bees appealing? And all would indeed be well, but for the £465 ($790) price of the beekeeping unit, which renders the entire idea the exclusive preserve of the very wealthy and very bored and leaves us poor nature lovers looking on helplessly. Like a bee trying to fly through a window. [Via PhysOrg] Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Omlet Beehaus is a plastic beehive for the urban conservationist originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments MSI Wind U200 gets €499 price tag, up for pre-order August 6, 2009 at 3:47 pm If you've been eagerly waiting for the MSI Wind U200 to hit the shelves, we finally have some news: According to the lovely and delightful Fudzilla, the 12.1-inch Celeron ULV 723-powered device will be hitting retailers and e-tailers 'round Europe next week, with a roughly €499 ($716) price tag. What are your hard-earned Euros getting you in this case? 2GB of memory, 250GB hard drive, a 6-cell battery, and HDMI and D-Sub outputs, for starters. If you're in the mood for a blast from the past, check out this hands-on video of the thing that popped up a while back. It's a real scream. [via SlashGear] Filed under: Laptops MSI Wind U200 gets €499 price tag, up for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Phil Schiller says Apple didn't censor a dictionary August 6, 2009 at 3:14 pm Yesterday's story about Apple censoring the Ninjawords dictionary seems to have made some waves in Cupertino -- none other than Phil Schiller followed up with Daring Fireball's John Gruber to provide Apple's perspective on the situation. According to Phil, Apple's objection to Ninjawords was that by using the free Wiktionary.org dictionary, it "provided access to other more vulgar terms than those found in traditional and common dictionaries," and that the App Store reviewer initially suggested the developer resubmit when iPhone OS 3.0 was launched with parental controls. Since 3.0 hadn't been released yet, the developer censored some of the words in an effort to get onto the store early, and that's how Ninjawords ended up both censored and rated 17+. Sure, okay, except that Gruber points out that the App Store reviewer flagged some pretty generic swear words, not the smack-your-momma vulgarities Phil claims are the issue. Still, the larger message remains the same -- the App Store review process is maddeningly inconsistent and in dire need of reform -- and on that note Phil says Apple intends to "learn and quickly improve," so it sounds like there's hope yet. Check the read link for more of Phil's response, it's an interesting read. Filed under: Cellphones Phil Schiller says Apple didn't censor a dictionary originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Rumored Micro Four Thirds Panasonic GF1 gets pictured August 6, 2009 at 2:51 pm Well, this one's a bit out of the blue, but a member of the Xitek.com forums has produced this image of a hereto unheard of Micro Four Thirds Panasonic Lumix GF1 that's purported to come from an internal Panasonic PDF. A second image (after the break, and full size at the link below), also reveals a few more interesting details, like a port below the hotshoe that would presumably be used for a detachable EVF, and a built-in pop-up flash. Otherwise, about all that's clear is that the camera itself appears to be slightly smaller than the Olympus E-P1, and that it's prompted an endless stream of speculation on the photography forums. [Via Digital Photography Review] Continue reading Rumored Micro Four Thirds Panasonic GF1 gets pictured Filed under: Digital Cameras Rumored Micro Four Thirds Panasonic GF1 gets pictured originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Windows 7 RTM released to TechNet and MSDN August 6, 2009 at 2:26 pm Here we go -- as planned, Microsoft's just released the Windows 7 RTM build to TechNet and MSDN subscribers. Selected beta testers will also get access, but you'll have to promise to be Microsoft's best friend. As for the rest of us, well, October 22 isn't so far away, and the RC build is still available. That's something, right? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Filed under: Software Windows 7 RTM released to TechNet and MSDN originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Nokia N97 Cityman disguise knocks N97 back a good two or three years technologically August 6, 2009 at 2:22 pm Americans probably associate Motorola-style brick phones with... well, Motorola, but Nokia had an equally vogue model way back in 1987: the Mobira Cityman. Like the N97, the Cityman was a dark gray beast from another era that combined the industrial design of a Mack truck with the user interface ergonomics of a PDP-11 -- but on the plus side, it made a terrific weapon in a pinch. It seems only fitting, then, that the two models would be united in holy matrimony through a wacky gag accessory for the N97 sent to The Nokia Blog from Nokia's WOM World, allegedly said to have antitheft properties by making your brand new Nseries look like a giant version of its great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. Ironically, an actual Mobira Cityman is probably worth more as a collectible in 2009 than an N97 is, so the effect might be quite the opposite of Nokia's intent -- but yes, of course we want one anyway. Follow the break for video of the Cityman not being stolen. Continue reading Nokia N97 Cityman disguise knocks N97 back a good two or three years technologically Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds Nokia N97 Cityman disguise knocks N97 back a good two or three years technologically originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Google Wave dev preview hands-on and impressions August 6, 2009 at 2:00 pm After an impressive debut at Google I/O, the company's newest experiment and collaborative chat client has been making its way into the hands of developers in the lead-up to a torrent of new testers on September 30th. We had a chance to stop by Google's San Francisco office last week for a guided tour of the latest build of Wave with creators Lars and Jens Rasmussen, and have since then spent the better part of our free time working through the ins and outs of the new communication platform. Does it live up to the hype, even in this bug-infested interim build? Read on to find out. Continue reading Google Wave dev preview hands-on and impressions Filed under: Software Google Wave dev preview hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Pressure-sensitive keyboard lets you express fury, tenderness August 6, 2009 at 1:51 pm Microsoft's hardware division has always pushed the envelope, and its latest prototype is no exception: this pressure-sensitive keyboard looks exactly like a normal 'board, but each key can register up to eight levels of pressure, opening up all kinds of interesting possibilities. Sure, there's a gaming demo, where pushing buttons harder makes you run faster or jump higher, but that's sort of old hat -- we're super intrigued by the typing corrector, which uses the pressure difference between keys you mean to type and keys you accidentally graze to fix your mistakes. Definitely interesting stuff, and we're sure to see more novel uses in October when Microsoft opens its first Student Innovation Contest by showcasing student projects made using keyboard prototypes. Videos after the break! Continue reading Pressure-sensitive keyboard lets you express fury, tenderness Filed under: Peripherals Pressure-sensitive keyboard lets you express fury, tenderness originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Dell goes pro with U2410 IPS monitor for Japan August 6, 2009 at 1:28 pm It looks like those that'll accept no less than an IPS panel in their monitor now have another option from Dell, which has just debuted its new 24-inch U2410 monitor in Japan. The big selling point here, of course, is the monitor's color reproduction, which promises to reach 96% coverage of the Adobe RGB color space, and 100% coverage of the sRGB color space. Otherwise, you can expect some suitably high-end specs across the board, including a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, a 6ms response time, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, a full range of ports including DVI, DisplayPort, and HDMI, not to mention a built-in 4-port USB hub. No word on a release over here, unfortunately, but folks in Japan can grab one now for ¥72,450, or about $760. [Via Impress] Filed under: Displays Dell goes pro with U2410 IPS monitor for Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Kinpo VIA Nano-powered netbook rocks the 3G (but only in China) August 6, 2009 at 12:59 pm We're starting to see more companies throw VIA Nano processors into the netbook mix as of late, and now it looks like Kinpo (last seen with an Android-sporting tablet) is getting in on the action with the N03. This guy has an 11.6-inch (1366 x 768) display, comes with either a 1.2GHz or 1.3GHz VIA Nano processor, and sports integrated TD-SCDMA 3G (the China-specific 3G standard), HSDPA/HSUPA, W-CDMA, and EVDO. Also on hand are WiFi, options for either SSD or HDD storage, up to 2GB memory, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, and your choice of either Windows XP or Vista Home Basic. The company is "boasting" a 3 hour battery life, which is a shame -- with all that connectivity, this device is otherwise well suited for situations where plugging in isn't really an option. No word on price or release date, but we'll keep you posted. [Warning: PDF read link] [Via Gadget Mix] Filed under: Laptops Kinpo VIA Nano-powered netbook rocks the 3G (but only in China) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Touchable Holography uses Wiimotes to add touch to holograms August 6, 2009 at 12:36 pm Researchers from The University of Tokyo have demoed a touchable hologram at Siggraph 2009. The project, called Touchable Holography, involves the use of Wiimotes placed above the display to track hand motion, and an airborne ultrasound tactile display created in the university's lab to create the sensation of touch. The result is a holographic image that produces tactile feedback without any actual touching, and without degrading the image itself. Check out the video after the break for a fuller, more stunning explanation. [Thanks, Adam] Continue reading Touchable Holography uses Wiimotes to add touch to holograms Filed under: Science Touchable Holography uses Wiimotes to add touch to holograms originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Raytheon sells its first 'pain ray,' and the less lethal arms race begins August 6, 2009 at 12:14 pm As you are no doubt aware, one of the perks of being in the corporate security field is that you get to try out things that would come across as, well, unseemly if put in the hands of the government. While there's been some controversy over the possible use of Raytheon's 10,000 pound "portable" Silent Guardian by the military, it appears that at least one private customer has no such qualms. We're not sure exactly who placed the order -- news of an "Impending Direct Commercial Sale" was just one bullet point of many at Raytheon's recent presentation at a NATO workshop on anti-pirate technologies. The company itself is being mum on the subject, saying that it would be "premature" to name names at the present time, but rest assured -- this is only the beginning. As soon as these things are small enough to fit in your briefcase or glove compartment, every nut in your neighborhood will want one. In the mean time, looks like you're stuck with the Taser. [Warning: PDF read link] [Via Wired] Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Raytheon sells its first 'pain ray,' and the less lethal arms race begins originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Laptop Mag's tech support showdown strikes once again August 6, 2009 at 11:51 am Laptop Magazine's once again done us all a really good turn by running a pretty exhaustive -- yet totally reasonable -- test of the tech support for ten popular companies that produce laptops. Essentially, they placed two call to each outfit's support -- one during peak, one during off-peak hours, and asked them some really basic questions such as "How can I make changes to my notebook's power settings?" Then, they tried to find answers to the same questions via the company's various web-based resources. So, what's the skinny? Well, only Apple got an "A," while Acer, Dell and HP hold the bottom spots with a "C-" score, while everybody else falls somewhere in the middle. The report, is, however, a really fascinating read with far more information than mere letter grades, so please -- click the read link to read the entire, epic tome. Filed under: Laptops Laptop Mag's tech support showdown strikes once again originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Intel still won't talk Core i5 details, but you can order one anyway August 6, 2009 at 11:29 am It's been a long, strange road for the Core i5 series of processors, first announced way back in March not by Intel, but by a motherboard spec sheet. Since then we've seen rebranding talk, lots of grids of various colors, and a delay purely for selfish reasons. Intel still isn't saying how much they'll cost or when they'll ship, but that's okay, because retailers have answered the first question and given us reason to believe the answer to the second is "soon." Two computer hardware sites confirm that the Core i5 570 will have a 2.66GHz clock speed and sport 8MB of cache, matching expectations for this new mass-market processor, and the prices (as low as $233) are a fair bit cheaper than a comparably spec'd but higher performing Core i7. Mind you, both of those retailers list the chip as being out of stock, but we're sure if you're so inclined they'd be happy to put you down for a pre-order. [Via PC World] Read - Core i5 570 at Fad Fusion Read - Core i5 570 at Computer Connection Filed under: Desktops Intel still won't talk Core i5 details, but you can order one anyway originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Samsung and Sprint introduce the Reclaim -- a cellphone made from corn August 6, 2009 at 10:53 am We love the Earth, and apparently so do Sprint and Samsung. The two companies have just introduced the Reclaim, a super-eco cellphone made from 80 percent recycled materials. The device -- a stout, sliding, QWERTY message-friendly model -- is constructed from "bio-plastic" materials made from corn, is free of PVC, and mostly free of BFR (brominated flame retardants)... which are apparently pretty bad. The phone also has a 2 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, can accept microSD cards (we assume) up to 32GB, and has Sprint Navigation onboard. The packaging will be eco-friendly as well, as it's constructed from 70 percent recycled materials and printed with soy-based ink. The carrier will be selling the Reclaim in "Earth Green" or "Ocean Blue" come August 16th for $50 (after a $30 instant rebate and $50 mail-in rebate) with a two-year contract. Additionally, $2 of that profit will be funneled to the Nature Conservancy's Adopt an Acre program. Finally, a phone that goes with your Prius. Filed under: Cellphones Samsung and Sprint introduce the Reclaim -- a cellphone made from corn originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Creative rents tuxedo, selects Opera for Plaszma-based Zii EGGs August 6, 2009 at 10:47 am We're still not entirely sure what to make of Creative's Zii EGG handheld, as the last demo we saw of the product looked interesting but also somewhat devoid of features. Now Creative has confirmed an important one: web surfing. The device can officially run either Android or the company's own flavor of Linux dubbed Plaszma, and for that latter, poorly spelled one Opera has been chosen as the defacto browser. Given the open source underpinnings users will have plenty of other options to install if they like, but the Opera Devices SDK also enables the easy creation of webby widgets to clutter that 320 x 480, 10-point multitouch screen. The hope is this will speed up software development for the... thing, thus opening the door for a flood of useless applications the likes of which we haven't seen since the last App Store update. [Via anythingbutipod] Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video Creative rents tuxedo, selects Opera for Plaszma-based Zii EGGs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments My Tether turns mild-mannered Palm Pres into wild and crazy hotspots August 6, 2009 at 10:26 am Official application portals like Apple's App Store and Palm's App Catalog are the big box retailers of the mobile space: plenty of choices, but to get the really good stuff you have to go elsewhere. Case in point: My Tether, an app that, naturally, allows tethering through a Pre, and does so quite comprehensively. Palm's savior can be directly attached through USB, but Bluetooth and WiFi are also available, thus delivering the connectivity trifecta. It's a lot easier to enable than the last option we found, and though the fully-automatic, self-installing version costs $10, there's a free one if you're feeling cheap (and know your way around a shell prompt). We're still waiting to see whether Palm or Sprint will put an end to these 3G hijinks, since the pair are obviously not in favor of them, but right now this particular carrier needs every selling point it can get -- even unofficial ones like this. [Via Palm Infocenter] Filed under: Cellphones My Tether turns mild-mannered Palm Pres into wild and crazy hotspots originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments iriver officially recognizes E200 PMP, does it proud in glorious press shots August 6, 2009 at 10:04 am It wasn't like iriver's E200 was really hiding from anyone, but it's still swell to see the parent company take some initiative and create a dedicated place on the web for its newest OLED-infused portable media player. Said device looks better than ever in the company's press shots, but we're still not convinced that it stands a chance in the oversaturated market without a delightfully low MSRP. Feel free to hit the read link if you're into eye candy, but don't mind those user interface shots if you're a fan of revolutionary coding. [Via PMP Today] Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video iriver officially recognizes E200 PMP, does it proud in glorious press shots originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Newton Peripherals' MoGo Mouse uglies up your netbook, hates your trackpad August 6, 2009 at 9:43 am It's one thing to sacrifice style for battery life via an extended cell, but it's another thing entirely to do this to your poor, innocent netbook. Newton Peripherals is causing all sorts of mixed emotions with its $99 MoGo Mouse, a stick-on mouse that measures in at five millimeters thick (including the holster). Granted, most netbook trackpads aren't worth the curiously textured material they're constructed from, but this just seems like an awfully short-sighted solution. After all, do you honestly think the average eBayer will be into buying a netbook with a mouse-infused lid? Doubtful. Filed under: Peripherals Newton Peripherals' MoGo Mouse uglies up your netbook, hates your trackpad originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments If Apple had a huge, shiny Touchstone: WildCharge for iPhone checked out August 6, 2009 at 9:22 am By far the slickest, most mystical way to charge a smartphone these days comes courtesy of Palm's Touchstone system -- but that doesn't do iPhone owners much good, which is where WildCharge steps up to the plate with a jacket that makes all iPhone models compatible with its wire-free charging mat. It's not as elegant by any stretch of the imagination, but if you squint a little, the jacket (or "adapter skin," as WildCharge calls it) looks like a totally believable case that you might buy in your local Apple store, especially if you can get past the hump at the bottom. iPhone Buzz took the $79.99 pad / jacket combo for a spin recently, and while they've yet to post impressions, the shots of the system doing its thing in its natural habitat might be enough to turn folks on or off. Ultimately, we still think we fall on the "just drop it on the dock before you go to bed" side of this argument -- especially considering the weird hump-laden jacket with exposed metal contacts on back -- but if you're looking for an easy way to charge from a second location that doubles as a conversation piece, WildCharge might have your answer. Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds If Apple had a huge, shiny Touchstone: WildCharge for iPhone checked out originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Toshiba ships 43nm MLC NAND-based SSDs to OEMs for unknown amounts August 6, 2009 at 8:56 am It started out as just disheartening, but now it's downright frustrating. With rare exception, each and every SSD release we hear about these days scuttles skillfully around the issue of price. Take Toshiba, for example, who has just confessed to shipping its 43nm MLC NAND-based solid state drives to five undisclosed OEMs. Not only do we have no clue as to which companies will be integrating these into their machines, but we've no idea what these mystery firms are paying. What we do know is this: Tosh's new range of 1.8- and 2.5-inch SSDs are leaving the docks now in capacities of 64GB, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB -- good luck figuring out where they'll land. [Via HotHardware] Filed under: Storage Toshiba ships 43nm MLC NAND-based SSDs to OEMs for unknown amounts originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Brando credit card light bulb fills the void in your wallet... not your heart August 6, 2009 at 8:21 am Tailored to fit inside a vacant credit card slot -- let's face it, we've all got a bit more room in our wallets these days -- Brando's latest offering is an unfolding LED light tastefully shaped like a bulb. You might point out the irony of replacing cold hard cash with a cute yet limited trinket, but do you really expect such subtlety to stop the company that brought you the sliced bread wrist rest? We'll let you to come up with viable justifications for its existence, but do yourself the favor of going past the break for a snap of the little wonder flicked on, while we decide whether to file it under pointless sophistication or sophisticated pointlessness. Continue reading Brando credit card light bulb fills the void in your wallet... not your heart Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Brando credit card light bulb fills the void in your wallet... not your heart originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 07:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments PhotoFast GMonster SSD gets wrestled open, found to contain compact flash cards August 6, 2009 at 7:49 am Looks like those crazy kids from PhotoFast are putting out another do-it-y'self SSD kit, as this charming hands-on proves. Inside its unassuming shell, the GMonster Quad holds up to (you guessed it!) four 32GB CF memory cards, and a JMicron controller described by our man in Taipei as "awesome fast." No word on price yet, but we're sure to find out before this bad boy goes on sale in the next few weeks. In the meantime, enjoy the award-winning video after the break. Continue reading PhotoFast GMonster SSD gets wrestled open, found to contain compact flash cards Filed under: Storage PhotoFast GMonster SSD gets wrestled open, found to contain compact flash cards originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 06:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Philips to unveil saliva-based roadside drug test later this year August 6, 2009 at 7:11 am In the vein of the breathalyzer, Philips has developed an on-the-go drug test, that can be used by the side of the road to test suspected imbibers for cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamines and methaphetamine. Unlike the standard alcohol testing equipment, this one is used by having the suspect spit into a small receptacle, which is then inserted into the measurement chamber which contains magnetic nanoparticles coated with ligands that bind to one of five different drug groups, delivering color coded test results in about 90 seconds. Philips, which has been developing the device since 2001, built it as an optical device that would be easy to mass produce for law enforcement. The company expects to ship them by the end of the year, though there's no word on exactly which markets will employ them as of yet. [Via Coolest Gadgets] Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Philips to unveil saliva-based roadside drug test later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 06:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Buffalo HDS-PH500U2 gives you 500GB of rugged, encrypted storage August 6, 2009 at 6:29 am Buffalo's MiniStation DataVault series of drives is focused on data protection, from hackers and clumsy owners alike, with features like automatic full disk encryption and ruggedized shock-resistant design. The latest model, identified in Japan by the dry alphanumeric title you see above, sticks to the security-centric formula but bumps the storage to a sweet 500GB. ¥23,200 ($244) will be enough to snag the USB-powered 5,400RPM device in mid-August, and a prompt US / European release also seems highly likely. Judging by what's already available in the US, you can expect a three year warranty plus preloaded auto-backup software and mobile versions of Firefox and Thunderbird for avoiding the scourge of IE wherever you may roam. [Via PC Watch] Filed under: Storage Buffalo HDS-PH500U2 gives you 500GB of rugged, encrypted storage originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments TomTom's iPhone car kit and navigation software priced overseas August 6, 2009 at 5:44 am TomTom told us that its long-awaited iPhone navigation app and in-car mounting kit would be landing "this summer," and at least on our watch, summertime is quickly drawing to a close. If a pre-order listing over at Handtec is to be believed, it looks as if the outfit is exceedingly close to finally having both the software and hardware ready for shipping. The £113.85 ($194) asking price includes a suction mount for your iPhone as well as the mapping software, though there's no indication of exactly how much the app and hardware will run by themselves. Of course, until the iPhone supports multitasking, using it as a dedicated PND is still a risky move; one stray call during a pivotal moment in your travels and you can consider yourself lost. Oh, and then there's the fact that this thing has a TomTom logo on it -- if the iPhone app functions anything like the company's high-end GO 740 LIVE, we'd say you're better off asking Mr. Gas Station attendant (or buying a different brand). [Via DaniWeb] Continue reading TomTom's iPhone car kit and navigation software priced overseas Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Peripherals TomTom's iPhone car kit and navigation software priced overseas originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Logitech replaces G5 with Gaming Mouse G500, throws Gaming Headset G330 in for luck August 6, 2009 at 5:00 am It's tough to think of a well-mannered Earthling who didn't at least appreciate, if not adore Logitech's cutting-edge G5 laser mouse back in 2005, and at long last, said critter has a proper successor. Today, Logi's introducing the Gaming Mouse G500, which is designed with an on-the-fly adjustable DPI system (up to 5,700 DPI), a battle-worn finish, a broader thumb rest than before and a "smoothed-out pinkie ledge" to really round things out. The 27 gram mouse also packs a dual-mode scroll wheel, a "gaming grade" laser engine and a small bag of bragging rights to boot. Moving on, we've got the Gaming Headset G330, a rather unsightly bugger that sports a behind-the-head design, a noise-canceling microphone, in-line audio controls and a USB adapter. If you're interested in claiming either as your own, look for the G500 to ship in September for $69.99, while the G330 hits shelves this month for $49.99. Full release is after the break. Gallery: Logitech replaces G5 with Gaming Mouse G500, throws Gaming Headset G330 in for luck Continue reading Logitech replaces G5 with Gaming Mouse G500, throws Gaming Headset G330 in for luck Filed under: Peripherals Logitech replaces G5 with Gaming Mouse G500, throws Gaming Headset G330 in for luck originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments New-fangled digital measuring cup actually improves upon the original August 6, 2009 at 4:31 am Now, there may not be a whole lot to this one -- it's simply a measuring cup with a backlit LCD on the handle that tells you the exact volume of the liquid you're measuring -- but it's a step forward in the culinary world, where it still feels like it's 1917 a lot of the time. The Smart Measure -- which started out as a concept on Yanko Design and has been picked up for distribution by kitchen giant Taylor -- boasts a bunch of preset measurements for ingredients in common recipes, and it can also do conversions for you, as well. There's no word on pricing, but we're expecting to see it hit shelves this fall. Filed under: Misc. Gadgets New-fangled digital measuring cup actually improves upon the original originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Hitachi one-ups WD with industry-first 2TB 7200RPM 3.5-inch hard drive August 6, 2009 at 4:01 am Western Digital may have been first to launch a two terabyte 3.5-inch desktop hard drive, but it's Hitachi snagging the first 7200RPM 2TB crown (WD's entry hummed along at 5400RPM). Launched today, the 2TB Deskstar 7K2000 also features 32MB of cache and a 3Gbps SATA interface, but unfortunately, few other details are being disclosed. As in, there's no pricing or release information whatsoever. In related news, the company is also refreshing its 7200RPM Deskstar 7K1000.C line, which is available in sizes ranging from 160GB to 1TB. The full, completely unprovocative press release is just after the break. Continue reading Hitachi one-ups WD with industry-first 2TB 7200RPM 3.5-inch hard drive Filed under: Storage Hitachi one-ups WD with industry-first 2TB 7200RPM 3.5-inch hard drive originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments LG's lengthy BL40 gets the hands-on treatment it deserves August 6, 2009 at 3:24 am After witnessing an all-too-brief run-in with LG's hot new slice of cocoa last week, the BL40 has finally found its way into the appreciative hands of a few Russian tech bloggers. Over at Mobile@Mail.ru, the elongated handset has splashed down and taken a moment to pose for the camera. There's nothing here that your mother wouldn't approve of, but since when is that an indicator of something's worthiness? Trust us, you'll want to give that read link some lovin'. Some good, good lovin'. [Thanks, noname] Filed under: Cellphones LG's lengthy BL40 gets the hands-on treatment it deserves originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Best Buy goes 3D, even augmented reality isn't safe from advertising August 6, 2009 at 2:43 am In its never-ending quest to sell you more things, Best Buy has added augmented reality to its Sunday ads. The printed missives can now be used, in conjunction with a webcam and a purpose-built website, to create 3D representations of the latest product being pimped. Yes, it's probably easier to walk to a store and handle the goods in person, but that's hardly the point of AR now, is it? We're not sure where to rank this effort in the pantheon of quirky promotional ideas, but we'll give credit to the big box retailer for stepping outside itself and trying something new to separate you from your hard-earned cash. [Via Coolest Gadgets] Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Best Buy goes 3D, even augmented reality isn't safe from advertising originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | 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.