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1) Creative's new headset keeps WoW gamers engrossed in all-night raids
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/11/creatives-new-headset-keeps-wow-gamers-engrossed-in-all-night-r/
It's a little late to be jumping on the World of Warcraft bandwagon, but it's safe to say that there are still quite a few addicted dedicated players out there in dire need of a headset. You know, to keep their roommates from going batty as they stay up all night congregating with digital friends and "leveling up." Anywho, Creative Labs has just put its latest headset up for pre-order on Amazon, with a wired version listed at $119.99 and a wireless rendition priced at $40 more. According to the product listing, the latter relies on a 2.4GHz signal, and both of 'em utilize THX TruStudio PC technology in order to split your mind wide open with pure aural bliss. There's nary a mention of a ship date just yet, but you know you're fixing to get your pre-order in now to avoid missing out. Er, you will right after you slay one... more... enemy....Creative's new headset keeps WoW gamers [...]
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2) Intuitive's smartphone UI concept thinks so you don't have to
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/inuitives-smartphone-ui-concept-thinks-so-you-dont-have-to/
Other than some fancy wallpaper that automatically changes based on the time of day or the music that you're listening to, the UIs of modern smartphones are generally pretty static -- what you see at 8AM is going to be the same thing you see at high noon or bedtime. Israeli firm Intuitive User Interfaces is looking to change all that with its new "one-touch" UI concept that uses situational cues -- presumably time and place, primarily -- to call up functions that you're most likely to use in a 3D mishmash of icons. Apps like Locale have been toying with the concept of situation awareness for a while now and Toshiba is working on a similar concept for phones released in its Japanese domestic market, so it seems like this could be the next logical step -- just in time to stop our poor, overworked thumbs from cramping up. The platform's first coming to Android with versions for other [...]
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3) No-name Mini USB pico projector now the cheapest you can buy
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/no-name-mini-usb-pico-projector-now-the-cheapest-you-can-buy/
It was fun while it lasted, but Sanwa's once $119 pico projector is now selling for no less than $179, which means that it's no longer able to hold the prestigious title of "world's cheapest pico projector." As far as we can tell, that honor now belongs to this impressively boxy model known only as the "Mini USB 2.0 LED Projector w/Tripod," which is now available at various online retailers for $159.99. Specs are as basic as can be, of course -- but, hey, it comes with a tripod.
No-name Mini USB pico projector now the cheapest you can buy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink PicoProjector-Info | Email this | Comments
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4) Toshiba aims for living room domination with StorE TV media set-top box
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/toshiba-aims-for-living-room-domination-with-store-tv-media-set/
You know who has yet to produce their very own connected set-top box? Believe us, it's hard to formulate a correct answer here. Toshiba has somehow managed to stay far, far away from the STB bandwagon, but all that's fixing to change in the year 2010. Electric Pig was able to toy with a pre-production version of the StorE TV, which is Tosh's next-gen media center / streamer. It'll eventually ship in 1TB, 1.5TB and 2TB flavors, with the whole lot playing back just about any type of local or networked media that you could think of. As predicted, 1080p playback is present, and it'll accept files from UPnP devices on the network, external sources connected to the USB socket and even an SD card. Further details (including a price) are expected later in the year, though we're told that it's on track for a Q3 release over in the UK.Toshiba aims for living room domination with StorE TV media [...]
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5) Creative rolls out X-Fi 2 SDK, developers now free to craft games and apps
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/creative-rolls-out-x-fi-2-sdk-developers-now-free-to-craft-game/
We're going way out on a limb here and guessing that Creative's X-Fi 2 doesn't exactly have an insane amount of the PMP market share, but for those obsessed with its boyish good looks and world-beating user interface, we've got some thrilling news to share. The company has just made public its ADK (Application Development Kit), a Lua-based system where devs are able to "code their own interesting applications and customize the ZEN X-Fi 2." You're also able to "create and debug games and applications right from one's Windows PC," so any Mac loyalists in the house will have to fire up Boot Camp (or similar) in order to dive in. Hit the source to get your download on, and be sure to drop us a line when your riveting new title is ready for public consumption.
[Thanks, Gavin]Creative rolls out X-Fi 2 SDK, developers now free to craft games and apps originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 [...]
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6) Nokia N900 micro-USB connectors prone to failure?
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/nokia-n900-micro-usb-connectors-prone-to-failure/
The N900's well on its way to developing a solid reputation as a hacker's dream, but here's the thing: hackers need a way to charge their device. Actually, we all do, which makes a trending problem with N900s in the field particularly worrisome. It seems that the micro-USB connector's surface mount design is causing it to become misaligned or disconnected completely, and affected users seem to be having mixed results getting the issue covered under warranty. One of the symptoms of a misaligned connector is that it's unusually snug or difficult to connect, and thinking back to our review unit, we did have some minor issues there but didn't really think anything of it at the time. Anyone out there run into this nasty little issue?Nokia N900 micro-USB connectors prone to failure? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of [...]
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7) Acer's E110 Android / P300 WinMo phones unearthed by Bluetooth SIG
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/acers-e110-android-p300-winmo-phones-unearthed-by-bluetooth-s/
Ah, Bluetooth Special Interest Group, our second-favorite source for mobile leaks (next to the FCC, of course). Here's two new entries care of Acer, both touchscreen devices with quadband GSM. The Android-powered E110 (pictured, right), however, also touts the AT&T-friendly 850 / 1900 frequencies and A-GPS. As for the P300, it's got an unknown version of Windows Mobile, 802.11b/g, and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR. That's quite a bit of detail for two tiny entries -- now let's get Mobile World Congress started already, give Acer a nice platform to spill the beans.Acer's E110 Android / P300 WinMo phones unearthed by Bluetooth SIG originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Unwired View | Email this | Comments
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8) Kingston rolls out second-gen SSDNow V Series drives
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/kingston-rolls-out-second-gen-ssdnow-v-series-drives/
Kingston's already proven itself to be pretty proud of its SSDNow V Series drives, but it's still found some room for improvement, with it now rolling out its second generation batch of drives in the line. Available in your choice of 30GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities, the new drives promise some improved performance (with PCMark HDD 2005 scores of between 18,900 and 20,117), and join the company's V+ drives in adding support for Windows 7 TRIM functionality, which should help maintain the speed of the drives over their lifespan. As before, you'll also be able to choose between either standalone unit or a bundled kit for desktops or laptops, with prices ranging from $109.99 to $377.Kingston rolls out second-gen SSDNow V Series drives originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | HotHardware | Email this | Comments
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9) Microsoft employee raves about 'Windows.next' in a blog post, blog post quickly disappears
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/microsoft-employee-raves-about-windows-next-in-a-blog-post-bl/
A conspiracy! Perhaps. Recently a loose-lipped Microsoft employee blogged up on MSDN some scattered thoughts on what he's informally calling Windows.next (as opposed to the Windows 8 us know-nothings might assume it might be dubbed). He called the new version "completly [sic] different from what folks usually expect of Windows," and that it draws on user feedback to create something that will "change the way people think about PCs and the way they use them." In interesting contrast to recent words by Dick Brass, the anonymous blogger seems particularly stoked about Steven Sinofsky, the president of the Windows and Windows Live devisions, and his ability to "actually bring together dozens and dozens of teams across Microsoft to come up with a vision for Windows.next." Meanwhile, John Mangelaars, a regional VP at the company, went on record saying "Windows 8 will be mind-blowing." But [...]
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10) Motorola to roll out revised plan, schism not so clear-cut anymore
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/motorola-to-roll-out-revised-plan-schism-not-so-clear-cut-anymo/
Remember Motorola's decision to pause the sale of its largest division? Change of plans again, folks. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company's getting ready to reveal a new initiative, whereby it still sells its wireless networking business, but the set-top box and core handset business would instead be spun off into a new, publicly-traded company. That'd invariably leave a pretty small Motorola -- less than one-third its current size in terms of sales, selling primarily public-radio system and bar-code scanners. Would the newly-minted company get a new name, logo, and series of catchy, name-inspired puns? Our guess is it'd retain the Moto name -- why waste such good branding -- but it's not confirmed either way. Plans are still being finalized, but we're watching this closely.Motorola to roll out revised plan, schism not so clear-cut anymore originally appeared on Engadget [...]
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11) FCC paper trail suggests AT&T getting Pre in May?
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/fcc-paper-trail-suggests-atandt-getting-pre-in-may/
Palm still won't really fess up to it, but AT&T was more than happy to drop the bomb back at CES that it's picking up webOS for the first time in 2010 -- and a little creative connecting-of-the-dots gives us some idea of when we might see the gear hit the streets. The company's Pre with North American 3G -- model number P100UNA -- is already in use by Telcel in Mexico, but confidentiality in its US FCC filing doesn't expire until mid-May. Why does that matter? Historically, Palm's US releases have come very close to their FCC confidentiality lifts, meaning that we could see this thing on AT&T by the time Summer rolls around. Of course, in light of the Pre Plus, it'd be pretty sweet if AT&T just moved on to the next big thing in Palm's pipeline, but we certainly wouldn't put it past 'em to launch outdated equipment.FCC paper trail suggests AT&T getting Pre in May? originally appeared on [...]
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12) PS3 getting 3D firmware update this Summer
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/ps3-getting-3d-firmware-update-this-summer/
Get your active shutter glasses ready: your PS3 is going to go 3D this Summer. In conjunction with the release of its 3D BRAVIA LCD sets, Sony is planning to release updates to turn the PS3 both into a stereoscopic 3D gaming platform, in addition to a 3D Blu-ray compatible movie player. Sure, we knew Sony was planning to give us 3D sometime this year, but now that we've got a summer time frame we can plan our wardrobe decisions according -- jean cut-offs, here we come!PS3 getting 3D firmware update this Summer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Pocket-lint | Email this | Comments
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13) Spy Video TRAKR runs custom kid-built 'applications' for stopping snooping siblings in their tracks
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/spy-video-trakr-runs-custom-kid-built-applications-for-stoppin/
We didn't know the toy industry was ready to jump into the app store game, but apparently' we've underestimated its fad-grabbing prowess. Wild Planet is calling its new Spy Video TRAKR remote controlled robot the first "app-enabled" toy, with special filters and routines that kids can program for the vehicle and share online. We sort of thought Lego's Mindstorms beat them to the punch on this, but we'll try not read too far into things. The bot itself is equipped with a camera that streams video to an LCD-equipped remote, and videos and stills of the TRAKR's exploits can even be stored to an SD card. Sample programs include a routine to detect an intruder, shout a few choice words at the doomed sibling out of the TRAKR's built in speaker, and scurry off into the night, but Wild Planet hopes kids will program even more imaginative routines and share them online. The bot will be available [...]
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14) Broadcom announces Android support, three-pack of chips to make your phones more awesome
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/broadcom-announces-android-support-three-pack-of-chips-to-make/
Chip maker Broadcom has unveiled no fewer than three new mobile-themed hunks of silicon this week in preparation for MWC in just a few days' time. You ready for this? Alright, first up we've got the catchily-named BCM20751, which performs the rather ordinary tasks of GPS, Bluetooth, and FM radio management but also throws in an audio processor to offload some work from the phone's primary CPU, which the company says can reduce battery consumption enough to improve playback time by up to 100 percent in some situations. Next up, we've got the BCM4751, a GPS receiver that Broadcom's confident is going to set a new benchmark for mobile location-based services; a complete setup takes less than 30 square millimeters of precious board space and is claimed to be a guru at picking up weak signals all the while sipping power. Finally, the BCM2049 supports Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, FM (both transmitting [...]
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15) Lian Li masters PC chassis marketing, gets our attention with T1 'Spider' video
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/lian-li-masters-pc-chassis-marketing-gets-our-attention-with-t1/
It's a well known fact ('round these parts, anyway) that Lian Li is one of the more creative PC chassis manufacturers on the planet, but who knew the company responsible for crafting a case in the likeness of Dubai's own Burj Al Arab had a top-notch marketing staff, too? In the video past the break, the company's innovative new open-air Mini-ITX benchmarking case is revealed to the world, and while the device itself is a fantastic creation, it's the pitch that really sells it. Essentially, the highly flexible T1 Pitstop "Spider" is made for hosting smaller systems for limited amounts of time, making it easier to test and benchmark a litany of systems without having to crack open a traditional case with each setup. We're still trying to determine whether or not Lian Li truly expects to build and sell this thing, but whatever the case, the clip awaiting you below is totally worth a [...]
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16) Motorola debuts docking station for USBw 200 WiMAX dongle
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/motorola-debuts-docking-station-for-usbw-200-wimax-dongle/
Already feeling the limitations of your Motorola USBw 200 WiMAX dongle? Then you might be just the ever-demanding sort that Moto is after with its new docking station for the WiMAX adapter. While it might look a tad out of place at a coffee shop, the dock should improve performance quite a bit when you're at home or at the office, with it promising to fully double the 3db gain that the WiMAX adapter provides on its own, and effectively give you the same performance as a standalone desktop WiMAX unit. No word on pricing just yet, but Motorola says this one should be available sometime in the second quarter of this year.Motorola debuts docking station for USBw 200 WiMAX dongle originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Motorola | Email this | Comments
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17) Toshiba HDR5010 marries Freeview HD to a PVR in time for the World Cup
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/toshiba-hdr5010-marries-freeview-hd-to-a-pvr-in-time-for-the-wor/
When Humax introduced the UK's first Freeview HD set-top box last week, quite a few of you were understandably disappointed that it didn't come with PVR functionality. Well, you can now strike that off your list of worries, as Toshiba has just gone official with its own Freeview+ HD PVR box that packs a healthy 500GB of internal storage alongside two HDMI inputs and one output, a duo of USB ports and Ethernet connectivity. Equipped with dual tuners, it'll allow you to record a pair of simultaneous broadcasts, while the internal hard drive -- good for storing 120 hours of video -- should be augmentable with external variants. Toshiba makes sure to include DivX and MP3 playback support in the HDR5010, so it should also make for a decent media streamer when it makes its admittedly distant debut in June for £349 ($545).Toshiba HDR5010 marries Freeview HD to a PVR in time for the World Cup [...]
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18) Microsoft's MWC digs come together, 'Ready, Set' is the theme (and Steve Ballmer's hosting)
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/microsofts-mwc-digs-come-together-ready-set-is-the-theme/
The fine city of Barcelona is abuzz this week as final preparations for Mobile World Congress fall into place -- and as you probably know by now, we're all expecting Microsoft to pull out all of the stops to introduce Windows Mobile 7. Just like last year, Redmond is renting out the Catalonia Barcelona Plaza Hotel across the street from the convention center to help kick off its announcements in style, and reader Javier has been kind enough to send in some shots of the facility getting done up in Microsoft livery for the event. There aren't any spoilers here, sadly, but we can see that the company's "Windows Phone" branding figures prominently (we should hope as much) and they're using the catchphrase "Ready. Set." to get everyone fired up. You might say the "wow" starts now -- or, you know, you might not. Either way, be sure to keep it tuned right here throughout next week's [...]
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19) Volvo S60 features pedestrian tracking, ten years too late for Lizzie Grubman
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/volvo-s60-features-pedestrian-tracking-ten-years-too-late-for-l/
We've recently espied some new video detailing Volvo's pedestrian detection system, and while some of this info has been out for a while now we figure it's certainly more than cool enough to warrant a quick look. According to a freshly minted press release, the technology is being featured on the upcoming S60, which -- in addition to the newest in collision detection and auto-braking -- can spot pedestrians who step in front of the car, warn the driver, and automatically apply full braking power if the driver does not respond in time. Vehicles traveling under 22 MPH should be able to come to a complete stop, while anything traveling faster than that will see its speed significantly reduced. You can get an up close and personal look at it this March at the Geneva Motor Show. In the mean time, there's a video and some PR after the break to tide you over.
[Thanks, Drew S.]
Continue [...]
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20) Hello Rewind transforms old shirts into swank laptop sleeves, helps humanity
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/hello-rewind-transforms-old-shirts-into-swank-laptop-sleeves-he/
Look, we've got no qualms with the litany of existing laptop sleeves on the market today. Many are fine, fine pieces of kit. But if you're in the market for something to cover up your shiny new 13-, 15- or 17-inch machine, you owe it to yourself (and your fellow Earthlings) to check out what Hello Rewind is offering. Put simply, this company accepts your order for a new sleeve, sends you a pre-paid envelope, awaits the arrival of your used tee of choice, and then mails you a soft, personalized wrapping for your precious workhorse. During the process, the outfit uses the proceeds to fight sex trafficking and assist women that were formerly sex trafficked in New York City, which is just about as noble a mission as we can think of. Be sure to give the source link a visit if you're interested, where each sleeve can be procured for $49 with free shipping on both ends.
[Thanks, [...]
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21) KDE 4.4 'Caikaku' released, complete with netbook trimmings
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/kde-4-4-caikaku-released-complete-with-netbook-trimmings/
KDE might not be on the radar of everyone that jumped into the Linux game with Ubuntu, but that might change a bit with the release of KDE Software Compilation 4.4 (a.k.a "Caikaku"), which looks to add considerably more than some tweaks and a bit of polish. That includes a range of built-in social network features and, perhaps most notably, a Plasma Netbook component that's specifically designed for "ergonomic use on netbooks and smaller notebooks." Otherwise, you can expect to see some improved window management features, a new Desktop Search, and, of course, plenty of other minor improvements and bug fixes (7,293, to be exact). Hit up the link below for the complete overview, and the necessary download links to get started.
[Thanks, Madman]KDE 4.4 'Caikaku' released, complete with netbook trimmings originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms [...]
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22) PhoneSuit Primo micro iPhone and iPod battery pack impressions
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/phonesuit-primo-micro-iphone-and-ipod-battery-pack-impressions/
We've been playing with PhoneSuit's Primo micro battery pack on our iPhone 3GS for a few days. As the name suggests, this thumb-sized battery is the smallest we've seen in its class, but somehow it still packs 800mAh of juice -- almost two-thirds of the iPhone's built-in cell. Feature-wise you'll only find battery level and charge status indicators on the front, and a mini-USB port on the back for charging. Unlike the slot-in case-style battery packs for the iPhone, this battery pack's dock connector is on a flat top, which makes it compatible with "all iPhones and most iPods." We also noticed a 2mm gap when plugged in, and apparently this is to allow space for your iPod's / iPhone's protection case -- too bad our iPhone didn't have one.
While the battery life lived up to its promise for us, this broad-compatibility design backfired on us -- the battery pack was thicker than our iPhone [...]
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23) Touchy Remix is the multitouch table you could actually use
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/touchy-remix-is-the-multitouch-table-you-could-actually-use/
Remember when those Microsoft Surface-based tables were all the rage? Yeah, those were the days. Fast forward to today, and you'll probably realize that those things never really took off save for the in luxury yacht market, and while cost was obviously a problem, the overall design never really helped, either. You see, most of the ones we saw were in the shape of a box, which made them exceedingly difficult to sit at and use for an extended period of time. The Touchy Remix, however, solves that issue entirely and creates an alternative that can easily be used by multiple persons who are seated comfortably. German artist Janis Pönisch is responsible for the design here, and the fiberglass shell ensures that the whole thing remains nimble and easy to relocate. There's no mention of a mass commercialization date, but here's hoping this thing hits our local Pottery Barn on the double -- [...]
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24) Google launching 1Gbps ISP service to select markets at 'competitive prices'
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/google-to-launch-1gbps-isp-service-in-select-markets-at-competi/
| Email this | Comments
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25) Motorola details Android 2.1 update for Droid
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/motorola-details-android-2-1-update-for-droid/
Motorola already dropped word that Android 2.1 would be rolling out to the Droid this week, and it's now followed that up with some eagerly anticipated details on just what's in store. As expected, that includes full multitouch with pinch-to-zoom in the browser, gallery and maps applications, along with some voice recognition and virtual keyboard enhancements, a new 3D gallery, a news and weather app, an enhanced music app (with tabs for navigation) and, of course, the Google Goggles app, among other more minor updates. Still no indication that the update is rolling out just yet, however, although Droid users should get a notification as soon as it's available. Hit up the link below for the complete release notes.
[Thanks, Jimmy]
Update: Looks like the details have been pulled, with the page now simply saying "There is a release coming, check back soon." We are checking, Moto! Thanks, [...]
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26) Mr. Ed-approved My Pet Speaker lets your stable rock softly, safely
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/mr-ed-approved-my-pet-speaker-lets-your-stable-rock-softly-saf/
File this one in the "you've got to be kidding me" category. Just in case you're terrified of your dog, cat, horse or Russian grizzly bear getting "put on alert" by the "jarring volumes and piercing sounds" that are generally emitted from your boombox, there's now a solution to your specific quandary. Pet Acoustics has just introduced the My Pet Speaker, an omni-directional sound system that contains a 4-inch driver, reduced bass levels and the extraordinary ability to "disburse music in 360 degrees recreating how animals hear in nature." Not good enough? The buttons are even positioned in the rear to keep your animals from skipping the awful tracks in your chosen playlist, and the "stable case design prevents easy knock down by pets." If you're a particular type of sucker (or you just enjoy hearing music with no bottom end whatsoever), you can claim your own in secret next month for [...]
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27) Unearthed Microsoft emails reveal reaction to iTunes launch, make us giddy for MWC
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/unearthed-microsoft-emails-reveal-reaction-to-itunes-launch-mak/
It's a funny thing, really. iTunes has somehow managed to become the world's largest seller of music in just seven years, yet it's easily one of the buggiest, most resource intensive and altogether unlikable pieces of software to ever come from the labs of Cupertino. From Microsoft's perspective, however, they're really just interested in the first bit, and in particular, why it wasn't able to take advantage of the market opportunity in the way Jobs and company did. Groklaw managed to dig up a handful of email chains that were made public after the Comes v. Microsoft antitrust litigation, and the content is nothing short of eye-opening. One particular snippet from Bill Gates was exceptionally juicy, as he noted (in a number of words) that Apple had somehow managed to "get a better licensing deal than anyone else has gotten for music." Jim Allchin's terse reply consisted of two [...]
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28) Netflix: lack of HD streaming 'no loss' for Wii owners
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/netflix-lack-of-hd-streaming-no-loss-for-wii-owners/
Let's see if we can't come up with a small list of things that would be, quite frankly, overkill in a modern game console / video streaming device. Color? You know, some of the best films ever made were in black and white. Audio? Just a distraction, really. HD? Available on damn near every new TV, sure, but don't you think it's a bit... much? Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime does, obviously, as does Netflix -- at least according to an interview recently posted on The Wiire. Indeed, the company's VP of Corporate Communications Steve Swasey goes so far as to say that "the HD experience at Netflix Instant Watching isn't that overwhelming. It's a little bit underwhelming. So the Wii folks aren't going to miss that much." Y'know, it's not every day that we hear a company downplay its own product, but we suppose that the man should throw a bone to the twenty-six million homes in America who [...]
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29) myTouch 3G with 3.5mm headphone jack hits T-Mobile's store, now with less Fender
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/mytouch-3gs-with-3-5mm-headphone-jacks-hit-t-mobiles-store-now/
No offense meant to Eric Clapton, but not everybody wants a faux wood phone. And yet, it seems like there are many folks in this subset scattered across this fruited plain who'd like a real 3.5mm headphone jack on their phone, and for those crazy people there's at last the T-Mobile myTouch 3G to suit them. The phone has just been listed in white and black versions on T-Mobile's store, and lack all the fancy app and content frills of the Fender Limited Edition, and have even been consigned to mere 8GB microSD cards (while Fender jams away on a 16GB slice). So far T-Mobile makes no mention of price, but with the original myTouch 3G (which we're guessing isn't long for this earth) still at $150 and the Fender edition at $180, we're not expecting these phones to land at a price that matches the age of this handset -- namely, between $99 and free. Sure, that incoming 2.1 update will be nice, [...]
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30) Sony's $200 BDP-S470 is company's first 3D-ready Blu-ray player
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/sonys-200-bdp-s470-is-companys-first-3d-ready-blu-ray-player/
And the flood gates are now officially open. Just hours after Panasonic introduced its newest 3D Blu-ray recorders and players, along comes Sony to brag about its first 3D-ready standalone deck. The BDP-S470, which is slated to ship later this month for $200, arrives with the ability to handle BD, DVD, CD and even SACD, with a 3D Blu-ray upgrade (via firmware update) planned for this summer. You'll also find BD-Live support, BRAVIA Internet Video, a USB socket for playing back media stored elsewhere, 1080p DVD upscaling and TrueHD / DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. If you were planning to snag a BDP-S570 BD player or one of the BDV-E770W / BDV-E570 Blu-ray Disc home theater systems, you'll be elated to know that those systems will also get a gratis 3D update in just a few months, with exact pricing and release details tucked down there in the source. Time to pick up a pair of 3D Gunnar [...]
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31) ASUS planning a 'killer product' for June, Eee Pad noise grows louder
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/asus-planning-a-killer-product-for-june-eee-pad-noise-grows/
ASUS CEO Jonney Shih has been speaking on the subject of the now finalized Pegatron spin-off and delivered a couple of teasing tidbits of info about the company's future direction. Naturally, most interest will be piqued by the "killer product" he has said is coming in June, but Jonney also mentions his company's intent to be "another Apple" -- only with a focus on open source -- and he specifically points out ARM and Google as a preferred hardware / software combination, while obviously not ruling out Wintel offerings where the market demands it. Taken as a whole, his words mesh perfectly with what we've heard of the Eee Pad so far, namely that it'll be powered by NVIDIA's Tegra 2 (which utilizes ARM CPUs), probably run Android, and arrive in early June. We still don't know whether that sub-$500 price will hold, but it's good to put a bit of CEO-level meat on those rumor bones [...]
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32) Panasonic's Toughbook H1 Field makes pansies of those other tablets
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/panasonics-toughbook-h1-field-makes-pansies-of-those-other-tabl/
Yeah, 2010 may be the (second) year of the tablet, but we're guessing that Sir Destiny didn't exactly see this coming down the pike. Panasonic just introduced its newest Toughbook in the H1 Field, and we're in no position to argue the "world's most rugged handheld tablet computer" claim. Classified as an "ultramobile rugged" device, this one's designed with outdoor use in mind, weighing just 3.4 pounds but able to meet IP65 and MIL-STD-810 standards. In layman's terms, it can shrug off a six foot drop, and the twin hot-swappable batteries ensure that it'll keep going and going (and going). Internally, you're looking at a 1.86GHz Atom Z540 CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 64GB reinforced SSD, 10.4-inch sunlight-viewable XGA touch panel, an optional Gobi 2000 (EV-DO / HSPA) WWAN module, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, GPS, a 2 megapixel camera and an RFID reader. Head on past the break for the [...]
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33) AT&T selects LTE equipment suppliers, 'commercial deployment' planned for 2011
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/atandt-selects-lte-equipment-suppliers-commercial-deployment-pl/
Aw, snap. We knew good and well that the iPhone's exclusive home in America (cue groans) was planning to hopscotch right around HSPA+ and move straight to LTE, but it's always good to see a little confirmation from the carrier, you know? AT&T has today confessed to selecting its two LTE suppliers (Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson), and better still, that it will begin its LTE rollout in 2011. As expected, field trials are slated to get going later this year, and for those of you concerned about the outfit's (admittedly lacking) 3G network, we're hearing positive things on that front as well. Purportedly, 3G equipment delivered to AT&T by the suppliers starting this year will be "easily convertible to LTE," and Ma Bell has assured us that it "plans to make the nation's fastest 3G network even faster in advance of LTE networks and devices scaling." Shame that whole "plans" thing can change [...]
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34) Panasonic's response on shifting black levels in plasma HDTVs: 'There's nothing to fix'
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/panasonics-response-on-shifting-black-levels-in-plasma-hdtvs/
Owners of Panasonic's recent plasma HDTVs have continued to push for more details on the "automatic control" the company cited as the cause of suddenly elevated black levels and it has revealed a few more details in an email exchange with CNET. Those hoping for some kind of patch or action in response to the changes will likely be disappointed however, as Senior VP Bob Perry put it, "there's nothing to fix." Citing trade secrets and a lack of a standard measure for black level performance, he also was unable to give any specifics about when the changes are designed to happen or by exactly how much. The company is promising technology in its 2010 models will offer a more gradual adjustment thanks to design adjustments, but that doesn't help current model owners left wondering if their set has, or will have in the future, degraded picture quality either by design or some software glitch. [...]
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35) Blockbuster files for bankruptcy in Portugal, blames internet piracy
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/blockbuster-files-for-bankruptcy-in-portugal-blames-internet-pi/
Don't start lining up the global dominos just yet but Blockbuster is filing for bankruptcy in Portugal. In the 90s, an era predating internet streaming and digital downloads, Blockbuster was rocking some 100 27 stores in Portugal. Today that number is around 17, most of which are struggling to survive. Blockbuster blames government's flaccid response to internet piracy for its insolvency. And here we thought short-sighted executives distracted by their brick-n-mortar profits carried some of the blame.
Update: There were once 27 Blockbuster stores in Portugal, not 100. The 100 number from the machine translation is the approximate number of employees at risk of losing their jobs.
[Thanks, Alex P. and Eric L.]Blockbuster files for bankruptcy in Portugal, blames internet piracy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of [...]
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36) Logitech brings out Wireless Desktop MK710 with a claimed three-year battery life
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/logitech-brings-out-wireless-desktop-mk710-with-a-claimed-three/
Logitech raised a few eyebrows with the longevous battery life on the MK700, and for its encore the company is bringing even more endurance with a claimed three-year battery life for both the keyboard and mouse -- a feat it claims to have been first to achieve. Aggressive power-saving algorithms are the purported reason you won't have to swap out the AA cells for a cool 36 months, but Logitech is quick to reassure us that these optimizations won't be causing any unseemly lag. It's also quite boastful about the MK710 coming equipped with its teeny Unifying receiver to really minimize peripheral clutter. If only the keyboard wasn't the size of a spaceship's dashboard, we too might have been interested in dishing out the $99 and saying farewell to our wires. Either way, the combo is hitting Europe this month with Americans having to wait a bit for an April launch.Logitech brings out [...]
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37) WebOS 1.4 hitting Sprint's Pre and Pixi on February 15th?
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/webos-1-4-hitting-sprints-pre-and-pixi-on-february-15th/
Good news for nonplussed (in more ways that one) Pre and Pixi owners: come the day after Valentine's, it looks like you'll be able to capture your loved ones in moving pictures format! This comes from an alleged Sprint technician who reportedly took the above screencap promising a firmware update with all the features we've heard debuting as webOS 1.4, except for Flash support on the Pre. Note our use of "alleged" and "reportedly," though -- we can't independently confirm this image, so take it with a grain of salt. Still, February was the previously-mentioned release date, and when better to release than just after the halfway mark of the month?WebOS 1.4 hitting Sprint's Pre and Pixi on February 15th? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Pre Central | Email this | Comments
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