Dixero
Dixero
Wed, July 01, 2009
Best Buy-sponsored survey shows that Americans want smartphones even though they don't understand them
Do you understand your smartphone. really understand it? Know its moods, its wants, its desires? A survey hosted by Best Buy Mobile shows that half of people don't, with 47 percent saying the things confuse the heck out of them, while 60 percent of those aged 35 - 49 feel that people with smartphones spend too much time working and not enough time playing Wii Sports Bowling . Those feelings of confusion and ire doesn't stop a "sizable segment" of the rest of the 1,000 people surveyed from wanting a handset with brains, with most desiring access to the sort of apps you can't get on dumbphones, and 14 percent of women saying that playing games was "very important" -- only nine percent of men said the same. Sadly, there was no figure indicating how many people enjoy paying too much for text messages and signing their lives away on lengthy contracts. Filed under: Cellphones . Best Buy-sponsored survey shows that Americans want smartphones even though they don't understand them originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Jabro Go 6400 and Pro 9400 with capacitive touchscreen base redefines overkill, want
Here's what you get when a manufacturer tries to justify a $199 price tag on its newest headsets. The Jabra Go 6400 (pictured above) and Pro 9400 look to be standard noise-cancelling Bluetooth and DECT headsets, respectively, with a multifunction button to answer/reject/redial/mute calls and adjust the volume. However, these headsets are paired with an industry first touch-screen base for call management. The 2. 4-inch capacitive LCD displays caller ID, call records, and lets users switch between their mobile, desk, and corporate softphones via a spin of the carousel. Fun sure, and exceedingly geeky, but hardly worth the $199 to duplicate functions already built-in to the headsets or accessible via the displays on the devices it connects to. Then again, these are aimed at office professionals (read: corporations) when they launch in September and $199 is nothing when you're spending someone else's money. DECT configuration pictured after the break. [Via SlashGear ]. Continue reading Jabro Go 6400 and Pro 9400 with capacitive touchscreen base redefines overkill, want . Filed under: Portable Audio . Jabro Go 6400 and Pro 9400 with capacitive touchscreen base redefines overkill, want originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
The Tokyo Gundam Like You Have Never Seen It Before [Gundam]
Now fully finished, the amazing full-scale Gundam is now an unofficial Tokyo landmark. The robot is so impressive that photographers are populating Flickr with beautiful photos showing every single little detail. [ Flickr Search ].
Wed, July 01, 2009
Crazy Japanese Ironsmith Creates His Own Bulldozer [Japan]
What do you get when you mix a Fiat 500 —a popular and tiny 50s car in Italy—with a bulldozer and a crazy Japanese ironsmith? A Fiat 500 bulldozer with crazy—and very happy—Japanese ironsmith inside, as the video shows. Kogoro Kurata's invention only runs at 3 kilometers per hour, but who cares. It's red, it has treads, it can destroy stuff. That's all that matters to me. Better than Transformers 2 for sure. [ Ironwork via Pink Tentacle ].
Wed, July 01, 2009
Microsoft's Bing search wins share from Google
LONDON/SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp's new Bing search engine gained U. S. market share in its first month in operation but still trails dominant rival Google Inc, according to data released on Wednesday.
Wed, July 01, 2009
Video: Dorel Air Protect keeps your blow-up children safe
It might look like your run-of-the-mill car seat, but Dorel's Air Protect comes with an extra dose of parental paranoia, or as they call it, side impact protection. Sure, you could protect your child by not driving like a reckless maniac, but where's the techno-loving fun in that? You're far better off strapping junior into a pre-inflated airbag, while disregarding the fact your giant SUV is killing the world he is supposed to grow, live and love in. Now that we've guilt-tripped you into recycling your soda cans, how about a self-serving video of the crash test after the break?. Continue reading Video: Dorel Air Protect keeps your blow-up children safe . Filed under: Transportation . Video: Dorel Air Protect keeps your blow-up children safe originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Windows 7 Beta Shutting Every Two Hours Now [Windows 7]
If you still have the Windows 7 Beta installed, today is the day when it starts shutting down every two hours. You know, to annoy the hell out of you. So go and get the Windows 7 Release Candidate. That one will start shutting down every two hours in about a year .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Sony's newest remote control ships with a Z200iR compact music system
It's not often that a remote control becomes the centerpiece of a product launch, but man, would you look at that. That's the remote for Sony's NAS-Z200iR, a WiFi-enabled shelf audio system with slot-loading CD and iPod dock. The Z200iR is DLNA-certified so it works with any DLNA device in your home including NAS boxes and of course, your PC or Mac. The re-chargeable remote features a 3. 5-inch LCD display that gives you full control over sourced media including Internet radio, integrated AM/FM tuner, or devices connected via the Z200iR's USB or audio-in ports. The sound comes courtesy of a pair of independent, 20-watt speaker enclosures with double neodymium magnets used to drive the bass. A simpler, WiFi-less CMT-Z100iR system will launch first in July with the Z200iR headed to Europe in mid September. Sorry, no prices announced so no joy. Gallery: Sony's newest remote control ships with a Z200iR compact music system . Filed under: Home Entertainment . Sony's newest remote control ships with a Z200iR compact music system originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
The Hitler's Stealth Planes That Could Have Dropped a Nuclear Bomb in NYC [Airplanes]
Nazis or aliens or Nazi aliens are back and they have invaded Northrop Grumman's top secret grounds in California, where engineers have been testing the surprising anti-radar capabilities of the Horten 2-29 . The results: It could have changed everything. Germany lost the Battle of Britain partly thanks to the British radar. The fat baton-bearing lunatic and chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring turned to the Horten brothers to develop something that would give the German air force superiority. They came up with the most advanced plane of the war, one that surpassed everything else out there by three decades but fortunately never had the time to be produced in any kind of significant numbers: The Horten 2-29, a plane unlike anything else out there, which—as this reconstruction shows—looks alien in its design. Northrop Grumman's black-op engineers—who usually work in top secret USAF projects like the B-2 Stealth Bomber, Ho 2-29's design heir —analyzed (again?) the remains of the only surviving plane, reconstructed it, and tested its stealth capabilities. It's probably not the first time they have done that, but this time they did it for a National Geographic TV documentary. As it turns out, Hitler had an stealth fighter in the Ho 2-29. Thanks to the use of wood and carbon—which increased its radar absortion—jet engines integrated into the fuselage, and its blended surfaces, the plane could have been in London eight minutes after the British radar system detected it. In comparison, other planes took 19 minutes since detection to target, which gave the RAF fighter enough time to scramble and hunt down the bastards. The Ho 2-29 would have made the interception almost impossible, if at all. The bad news is that this plane could have completely changed the course of the war if Germany only had one or two extra years of lead time. Not only in the fight against Britain, but also against the US and the Soviet Union. The Horten brothers had another design based on the Ho 2-29. A design for a intercontinental strategic bomber, the Ho 18. The 142-foot wingspan bomber was submitted for approval in 1944, and it would have been able to fly from Berlin to NYC and back without refueling, thanks to the same blended wing design and six BMW 003A or eight Junker Jumo 004B turbojets. As the documentary shows, had the Nazis extended the war in 1946 and developed the atomic bomb as planned, the Ho 18 could have been their Enola Gay. The good news: That's a lot of ifs, the Allies decided to invade Normandy soon enough, and we are all here without wearing stupid outfits, swastikas, and funny moustaches. Life is good, people, life is good. [ Fight Global ].
Wed, July 01, 2009
USB 3.0-Equipped PCs To Start Shipping By End of 2009 [USB]
Most of the news about USB 3. 0 —the finalization of the spec , the first drivers , the first controller —doesn't tell us much about when we'll actually get to see a product hit stores. The answer? According to Nikkei, before 2010. Their contacts in the Tawianese PC industry predict the first machines to include the hardware will start rolling off the line by the end of the year, citing rapid development in integrated circuits and the shipment of compliant controllers to PC manufacturers. The date is a bit earlier than the "early 2010" prediction that's been bandied around recently, but not by much. A quick reminder of what this means :. With transfer speeds of 4. 8Gbps, it'll dump a 25GB HD file in about 70 seconds, and the architecture has been beefed up with extra data lanes to make for more sustained, rather than bursty transfer speeds, making it better for camcorders and the like. Even though it delivers more power than USB 2. 0 to charge gadgets faster (and it'll revive a completely dead one too), its new polling architecture makes it more efficient. Unfortunately, full 5Gbps speeds won't be reached for some time . [ Tech-on ].
Wed, July 01, 2009
Windows 7 Beta automatic shutdowns begin today, RC users safe until March 1st
You're not still running Windows 7 Beta are you? Tsk tsk, better get your RC build before your system starts spontaneously shutting down every 2 hours. As Microsoft has warned repeatedly, Windows 7 Beta builds will begin bi-hourly shutdowns starting on July 1st in a bid to move you over to the latest release candidate. RC user will suffer the same treatment starting March 1st, 2010 on the way to a June 1st expiration -- well after the October 22nd launch date of Windows 7 to retail. This concludes this Engadget public service announcement, your regularly scheduled snarkiness will return in a moment. [Thanks, Kyle]. Filed under: Desktops , Laptops , Tablet PCs . Windows 7 Beta automatic shutdowns begin today, RC users safe until March 1st originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Frustratingly long secret code enables totally useful landscape email on Pre
It's one thing to bury something like developer mode -- a mode that the average Pre user will never need -- behind a cute-but-exhausting throwback Konami code , but it's quite another to hide useful stuff that way. A PreCentral tipster discovered that entering "RocknRollHax" on the keyboard (and yes, capitalization is important here) while in the email app enables the previously missing capability to use it in landscape mode; presumably Palm hid it from end users because they thought it was too buggy or weird for mainstream use, but it certainly works alright for us. Worst part is that the code needs to be re-entered each and every time the email app starts, so you'd better really want it -- but at least you don't have to root to get it. Filed under: Cellphones , Handhelds . Frustratingly long secret code enables totally useful landscape email on Pre originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Video: Nokia 6790 Surge / Mako gets a QIK onto the small screen
Having already given you the AT&T spec sheet and images on this new Nokia, the only things missing are launch date, price, and a bit of video. Well, a janky QIK video just made its way to YouTube claiming that Nokia's Mako is coming to AT&T in mid-July as the 6790 Surge. It should be "priced pretty well" but those details haven't been finalized. So if a quick messaging device running S60 beneath a 2. 4-inch 240x320 pixel display with HSDPA data and 2 megapixel camera is enough motivation to prompt another mouse-click then by all means, click through for the video overview provided after the break. Stay cool, bye. Continue reading Video: Nokia 6790 Surge / Mako gets a QIK onto the small screen . Filed under: Cellphones . Video: Nokia 6790 Surge / Mako gets a QIK onto the small screen originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Daily Crunch: Rockin’ Asteroids Edition
Review: The Elektron Machinedrum . Paper Speaker: Japanese company sells DIY cardboard speakers . Video: Classic video games done up LEGO-style . Doug goes on TechVi, hilarity ensues .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Starcraft Lessons For Sale
. Starcraft is practically an institution in South Korea and Mr. ByunTae, a "100% full-blooded Korean" in his own words is offering Starcraft training for those who are willing to spare anything from $20 to $35 each hour. Some of the topics he'll cover include :- . Muta stacking. Lurker stop and stacking. Cloacked zergling. Learn Korean lango, like “chobo” “gosu” “ww” etc. Advanced micro/macro management (able to stand off 12 zerglings with just 3 zealots or fend off 18 zealots with just 4 cannons) Starcraft Lessons For Sale from Ubergizmo | Hot: Wii, PS3 and Natal Motion Sensing .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Kindle's German launch stalled by T-Mobile and Vodafone?
A news item is circulating the internet reportedly from German business weekly Wirtschaftswoche claiming Amazon is facing a major hurdle in trying to bring its Kindle to Deutschlan. The problem at hand? The two big wireless providers in the country, Vodafone and T-Mobile, are both saying "nein" to providing Whispernet service, and apparently the issue has to do with how much money Amazon was willing to give -- unsurprising, if true. Another, very likely reason for T-Mobile's unwillingness is that parent company Deutsche Telekom is rumored to be working on its own e-book reader , and we gotta believe those company picnics would be mighty awkward if a large subsidiary was given the competition a major boost. We can't imagine this stopping Amazon for long, and we'd be very surprised if the Kindle didn't find some way to sneak itself into the region sooner or later. Filed under: Handhelds , Wireless . Kindle's German launch stalled by T-Mobile and Vodafone? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Viral video a stealth promo for "Robot Chicken"
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A viral video billed as "Breckin Meyer Responds to Perez Hilton" plays like a parody of Hilton's video statement about his recent run-in with the Black Eyed Peas in Toronto. But in fact it's a stealth promo for an upcoming "Robot Chicken" DVD release.
Wed, July 01, 2009
Learn to Negotiate and Close
This is one post/chapter in a serialized book called Startup 101. For the introduction and table of contents, please click here . "It ain't over till the fat lady sings" means that nothing happens until you get the signature on the contract. That is when the money gets wired. Deals often get derailed. They drift, and then nothing happens. Or a competitor comes in and snatches the prize from you. That is why a "closer," someone who can seal the deal, is so prized. Sponsor . For enterprise systems, closing is a core competency. For Web ventures, you may need the skill less. But when you do need it (to raise money or win over a big strategic partner), you really need it. And you cannot delegate negotiating and closing. You can get advisors, but as the entrepreneur/CEO, you have to make the big calls. So, in this chapter we aim to distill a few libraries' worth of books on negotiating and closing into a few points for the busy entrepreneur. Four Points on Negotiation and Closing. Two ears, one mouth,. Wait until you hear them scream,. Use tension to your advantage,. Imagine the press conference. Deals are deals. The deal could be securing an enterprise-wide contract for your software, raising a Series A VC round, selling your venture, or doing a big partnership deal. We tend to use the language of "buyer" and "seller" when discussing these four points, but they can apply to any kind of deal. Two Ears, One Mouth. This is the simplest and most important sales lesson: listen. It also means keep quiet. No golden oratory, no gift of the gab, no persuasive speeches. Just listen to what the customer wants and let them reveal their needs and negotiating position. Then work out how to present what you have to meet those needs. Or decide that they are not the one to focus on and move on to a better a prospect. Silence is very awkward socially. We are all brought up to fill these awkward moments with some type of conversation. Good negotiators use silence to great advantage. Let's say you have just proposed a valuation to your investor. The investor looks at you with a blank stare. Time ticks by and you think the deal has gone south. You start to think, "Oh no, we blew it and started too high. " More time ticks by. You could stammer something about it "all being negotiable, of course" or just keep silent and wait for him to say something. It is, after all, his turn to speak, and he will probably say something. When someone agrees with you, shut up. When the contract is about to be signed, shut up, or talk about the weather. You can derail a good deal by raising more issues than need to be raised. It is a simple mantra: you have two ears and only one mouth. Use them accordingly. If in doubt, shut up!. Wait Until You Hear Them Scream. When I managed a six-person sales team selling financial trading systems on Wall Street, there was one guy who was consistently the best performer. He was also, by all other visible metrics, the worst salesperson. His presentations
Wed, July 01, 2009
iPhone 3GS Supported In Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin
. The classic Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin is back this time round where it offers iPhone 3GS support just to keep up with the times. It will still maintain its iconic shape that has led to its name, although you will have to fork out top dollar for it - to the tune of $600 , to be exact. Permalink: iPhone 3GS Supported In Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin from Ubergizmo | Hot: Wii, PS3 and Natal Motion Sensing .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Respirator Mask Concept
. Respirator masks that we see on airplanes and in hospitals won't hold a candle to anything where design is concerned, but Elijah Stillson has made an art form out of it with the Respirator Mask Design. This design will take into account the contours around the human head, where it is inspired by natural forms such as fish gills (minus the slime, of course). Filters have been cleverly repositioned to make sure they do not get in the way of the user's field of vision, while safety levels have been improved by playing around and re-balancing the weights. The mask itself comes with an integrated filter cartridge which is closed whenever the respirator is not being worn to further extend the filter's life. Permalink: Respirator Mask Concept from Ubergizmo | Hot: Wii, PS3 and Natal Motion Sensing .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Cree LED Outdoor Display
. Cree has unveiled the first commercially available water-resistant, surface-mount, high-brightness LEDs for outdoor video screens in the world. Boasting an IPx5 rating, the LEDs on this puppy are able to handle low-pressure jets of water from all directions. It comes with a black face that helps improve contrast in full-color video screens, decorative lighting and amusement applications. Another interesting aspect of this would be the special unique encapsulation resin with UV-inhibitors that help minimize the effects of long-term exposure to direct sunlight, in turn improving the stability of the light-output over the life of the LED. Available commercially at this moment, you can request for samples from a Cree representative. Permalink: Cree LED Outdoor Display from Ubergizmo | Hot: Wii, PS3 and Natal Motion Sensing .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Samsung Announced Haptic AMOLED Phone
. Samsung recently announced a brand new 3G full touchscreen cellphone known as Haptic AMOLED, carrying the new high resolution 800 x 480 pixel AMOLED display that measures 3. 5" diagonally across. Power consumption has been further reduced by another 66%, boasting a 180-degree viewing angle (although possible, it is not recommended as your eyes will probably protest shortly after). Available in Korea via SK Telecom, KT and LG Telecom, it will retail for approximately $700. Features include DivX, H. 264, MPEG4 and AC-3 support, version 2. 0 of the Haptic UI, T-DMB compatibility, a 5-megapixel camera, Bluetooth connectivity and navigation support among others. Permalink: Samsung Announced Haptic AMOLED Phone from Ubergizmo | Hot: Wii, PS3 and Natal Motion Sensing .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Pentax K-7 review roundup
We've been nothing if not comprehensive in our coverage of this new Pentax shooter, and early reviews are showing why. Photography Blog praised the K-7 for its weatherproofing and for having "one of the best LCD screens" they've ever seen on a DSLR, while ePHOTOzine were impressed by the image quality and Wired found the package of features and specs exceedingly robust given the $1,300 asking price. Some shortcomings were found, such as the slightly unintuitive interface and noise levels at higher ISO settings, but impressions were overwhelmingly positive. If you've been looking for a solid alternative to Canon's 50D or Nikon's D300 , check out all the thoroughly detailed analysis in the read links below. Read - Photography Blog. Read - Wired. Read - ePHOTOzine. Filed under: Digital Cameras . Pentax K-7 review roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Beautiful chrome puzzle USB key costs 1,000,000 yen
Are you rich and short about 16GB of storage? Buddy, have I got a product for you. The SolidAlliance Mnemosyne USB drive is a beautifully designed little object that not only looks money, but stores your deepest, chromiest secrets (or mp3s). What's the catch, you ask? No catch! Unless you consider a price tag of $10,000 a catch. Yes, like many pieces of excellent design (and, of course, many pieces of terrible design), the Mnemosyne is so overpriced as to be relegated to the position of status symbol. Aside from its colossal MSRP, there are some other problems. It will, of course, be a fingerprint magnet if you use it at all. And honestly, 16GB is a little skimpy for ten grand. I'm sure they could contact Guinness if they wanted to and get the record for most expensive USB drive, but the peasants who that record would impress aren't exactly their target demographic! HA HA HA! (rich guy laugh). Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go sail around on my solid gold schooner, the "Galleon. " Get it — galleon ? HA HA HA! Collar up!. [via Akihabara News ].
Wed, July 01, 2009
Alienware's 1080p 21.5-inch OptX AW2210 priced for maximum street fighting
It doesn't do 3D and it doesn't curve all around your periphery , but Alienware's OptX AW2210 does a decent number for its just barely sub-$300 price tag. The 21. 5-inch widescreen LCD panel boasts 1080p resolution, two millisecond response time, 16. 7 million colors, and an 80,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. Throw in two HDMI and four USB ports -- sorry, no VGA or DVI here -- and you've got yourself a pretty nice option. The screen's on sale now via Alienware direct. Gallery: Alienware's 1080p 21. 5-inch OptX AW2210 priced for maximum street fighting . Filed under: Displays . Alienware's 1080p 21. 5-inch OptX AW2210 priced for maximum street fighting originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Starcraft lessons from a “100 percent full-blooded Korean”
Let's be clear: it was his prerogative to put his race in the advert. I'm just repeating what I heard. But let's also be honest. Say you wanted soccer (football) lessons. Given two identical ads on Craigslist, would you go with a guy born and raised in Brazil or some local yokel? I realize this is a sticky issue for potential Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor, but for us it's less of a problem. The Brazil guy, am I right? Because he's more likely to have been immersed in soccer culture from birth and to have played since childhood, developing skills people like me think only exist in Shaolin Soccer. Thus, Mr. ByunTae's reasoning in including his genetic makeup and upbringing in an ad for training someone at a video game. Because Korea is the be-all and end-all of Starcraft . Sure, we've got our own, more official courses , but how can you resist one-on-one tutoring on such topics as:. Muta stacking. Lurker stop and stacking. Cloacked zergling. Learn Korean lango, like "chobo" "gosu" "ww" etc. Advanced micro/macro management (able to stand off 12 zerglings with just 3 zealots or fend off 18 zealots with just 4 cannons) . Sounds pretty serious, and for $20-$35/hour, you'd better be serious too. I think a lot of these skills will carry over to Starcraft II as well, so you're getting kind of a bargain here. Bay Area only, unfortunately. I'm especially intrigued by the promise that "Korean girls will be intrigued that you're such a good Starcraft player. " That'd be good, because my "blogger" lines are starting to wear thin on that variety.
Wed, July 01, 2009
Be still my heart: multi-touch tab switching in Firefox!
Did you know you can switch tabs in Firefox by making a twisting motion with your fingers on a multi-touch surface? I did. Turns out I've been doing it for months — I thought I was late to the party and was too ashamed to mention it to anybody for fear of an epic internet ribbing ("What, you just figured that out?"). But no, apparently it was top secret and highly experimental. That was in the beta, though; it looks like the official version has reduced it to a hack. Fortunately, mastering this multi-touch-enabling technique will allow you to tweak your gestures, resulting in everlasting glory. Simply open a new tab (I'll wait) —. Put "about:config" in the address bar, no quotes. It'll ask you if you're sure. Yes, you are. You are okay. Ready? Okay, now type "twist" into the search box. Double-click on the twist right, and put "Browser:NextTab" into the box, without the quotes. Theeen, in twist left, put "Browser:PrevTab" without the quotes. You're done! Now, I found the gesture (it applies immediately, try putting one finger down and rotating another around it) to be a bit slow to respond, so I changed that other setting, the threshold one, from its default (25) to 10. You can mess around and figure out what's best for you. See, tweaking is easy! If you're afraid you've ruined something, just right-click (or "context menu click") on any box you've modified and hit reset. Curiosity piqued? Type "gesture" into the search box and try modifying a few of those settings. I don't particularly like the twist, so I'm about to set tab switching to three-fingered swipes. Aren't we just having so much fun?. [thanks to Rafael for the tip and original instructions ].
Wed, July 01, 2009
The Daily Roundup: here's what you might've missed
#saleschart { border: 0px solid #333; border-collapse: collapse; } #saleschart td { padding: 7px; border-bottom: 0px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; margin: 0; line-height: 1. 3em; font-size: 100%;} #saleschart th. bottomrow { border-right: 1px solid #333; } #saleschart tr. features1 { border-top: 1px solid #333; } #saleschart td. bottomrow2 { border-right: 1px solid #333;} #saleschart th { font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 4px; background: #f3f3f3; border-top: 1px solid #333; } . Firefox 3. 5 arrives . Mozilla is saying its new browser is more than two times faster than Firefox 3, but what has us more excited is the support for plugin-free "open codec" video and audio playback. Wii MotionPlus impressions: it works, but so far the games aren't worth the fuss . At first glance it's a little difficult to understand the necessity of another motion-sensing add-on. Pirate Bay acquired by Global Gaming Factory, going legit like Napster . We'll have to wait and see how this pans out but it certainly smacks of a Napster v2 like situation at first blush. Other news of import. Verizon's BlackBerry Tour coming July 12th, pre-order page now live . Microsoft outs educational, inspirational Windows 7 tour videos . NVIDIA Tegra smartphone due from a "top five" manufacturer before 2010? . Sony placing PS3 slim manufacturing orders for delivery in July? . Top ten rationales for illegally downloading HDTV shows . We're not saying we've ever downloaded anything off the internet that wasn't 100% on the up and up, or that we're here to judge those who have. Video: Palm Pre caught playing with GSM SIM in Vietnam . Having the Palm Pre on Sprint might be good for Americans driving their pick 'em up trucks down the CDMA data highway, but it doesn't do Europeans (or Palm's bottom line) any good over in the Old World. 2009 British Open broadcast confirmed in standard def on TNT & ABC . Oppo BDP-83 pre-orders now open for all (in North America) . Nokia N97 getting firmware 1. 1 on July 1 . BlackBerry Tour emerges in Alltel livery for those non-Sprint, non-Verizon types . The Daily Roundup: here's what you might've missed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
PlayStation emulator hits the Palm Pre
Oh boy. I've found a reason to charge my Pre back from the dead. ZodTTD, purveyor of iPhone emulators galore, has struck again by installing psx4all on his Palm Pre. Surprisingly enough, Zod says the Pre's hardware runs the emulator way better than the iPhone 3GS. But it's not all peaches and cream.
Wed, July 01, 2009
Remainders - Things We Didn't Post [Remainders]
Michael Bay's Transformers 2 Sneak Peek. Kindle DX Pisses Off Blind Students. Sony Can Give All PS3s PS2 Emulation—But Probably Won't. Band Uses iPhone Gimmick to Get Attention (and Succeeds). Anyone who still hasn't seen the movie might want to skip this spoiler-riddled "preview" presented by the master of explosions, crashes, booms and more explosions himself, but it's a must see for everyone else. We didn't post it because we didn't want to give anything away. [ YouTube ]. Students at Arizona State University know that the college-bound Kindle DX can read texts aloud. Only trouble is, it won't read menus out loud. Good goin' there, Beez. Bottom line: Until the menus are covered by text-to-speech, the blind students are going to fight it. We'll cover it if it becomes a federal case, or if Amazon caves and hires some accessibility programmers. [ ASU - The State Press ]. A recently discovered Sony patent from late last year shows how the Cell processor found in all PS3s can fully emulate the Emotion Engine required to run PS2 games, so no matter what model you have, you'd be able to play any game you owned. But don't dust off your old God of War disc just yet—why would Sony wait this long to get you this particular feature, and to get you jazzed about games that by definition they can't profit from? Our verdict: Ain't gonna happen. [ Siliconera via CrunchGear ]. A band I've never heard of (The 88. anyone? anyone? Maybe I'm just old) decided to record an entire song using a $10 four-track iPhone recording app called Four Track. Although technically you could probably line in a decent mic, they even used the iPhone's microphone. Studio engineers will tell you that that's not the best way to get a top-40 sound. But hell, it got them a USA Today story with photo, so bully on studio engineers. The song isn't even that bad—course, I'm listening to it on laptop speakers. [ USA Today ; iTunes Store link ].
Wed, July 01, 2009
Microsoft making fancy ads for IE instead of improving the browser
Allow me to admit something shocking right off the bat: I have not watched these ads. I am blogging in ignorance , because it seems pretty clear what's going on here. As was the case with the Seinfeld ads, it seems that once again, Microsoft is barking too hard, and up the wrong tree at that. Your browser is bad, it's been bad for years. Sure, IE8 is way better than its predecessors, but that's as close to polishing poop and calling it gold as anyone has ever come. But this isn't the way to make people try it. Another blast-from-the-past celebrity? Internet disorders? Even the most forgiving of watchers (a group that does not include me) must recognize this as a desperate and ham-fisted attempt at going viral. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Microsoft, you need to be honest and direct. Show your logo first, admit there are multiple browsers, then say why IE8 is good for people. Show the product and show it working. Seinfeld, S. H. Y. N. E. S. S. , and "Welcome to the Social" are pretentious and ineffective. "I'm a PC" was trying too hard, but it was on the right track. But try to remember, Microsoft: you're not selling people , you're selling software . Leave the highfalutin nonsense to Apple and perfume commercials. If I'm wrong please let me know, I don't want to give Microsoft any more of my eyeball time than I already have.
Wed, July 01, 2009
PlayStation Emulation Comes to Palm Pre, Runs Faster Than on iPhone [Emulation]
Jailbreaking emulation legend ZodTTD has started the ball rolling on Pre gaming by installing his PlayStation emulator, psx4all, on the smartphone—and while there are kinks to be worked out, he says it runs even faster than on iPhone. There's no denying the Pre has several huge advantages over the iPhone family when it comes to gaming, especially the hardware keyboard, and it looks like it won't be lacking in the graphical department, either. The emulation is still in the early stages; there's no sound and he hasn't figured out the screen scaling yet, but this little demo of Wipeout XL looks incredibly smooth. ZodTTD says a fuller, more polished version of psx4all for the Pre should be coming soon, and with any luck, this'll be the first hurdle on the way to a substantial gaming community for the Pre. [ ZodTTD via Engadget ].
Wed, July 01, 2009
The Pre gets PlayStation gaming and more thanks to ZodTTD (video)
If you're familiar with the emulation scene (and let's be honest, you are reading Engadget), then you know the name ZodTTD -- the brain behind some of the best jailbroken emus for the iPhone, including variations on the PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, and most importantly. the TurboGrafx-16. Now the master-hacker has brought his goods to the Pre, cooking up a version of psx4all on the Palm device, with the aforementioned GBA and TG16 ports on the way! Interestingly, he reports that the performance on the Pre is actually better than that of the iPhone 3GS, and of course he's hacked access to the keyboard, allowing for (more) proper control of games. There are still kinks that are being worked out (sound emulation, screen scaling, etc. ), but it looks like we can expect big things in the near future. We at Engadget know everyone will rest a bit easier tonight knowing that real gaming on the Pre is at hand. We'll hopefully be getting our hands on a version soon, but for now hit the read link for more info, and check out the full video after the break!. Continue reading The Pre gets PlayStation gaming and more thanks to ZodTTD (video) . Filed under: Cellphones , Gaming . The Pre gets PlayStation gaming and more thanks to ZodTTD (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
BlackBerry Curve 8520 is a go for US, says FCC
Whether or not it's coming to T-Mobile (spoiler: all signs point to yes ), BlackBerry's Curve 8520 has now been ordained with FCC approval, clearing the hurdle for its sale stateside. Optical trackpad and EDGE connection your cup of tea? You know where to look, and for everyone else, there's always the Tour . [Via Boy Genius Report ]. Filed under: Cellphones . BlackBerry Curve 8520 is a go for US, says FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
The Comfort Respirator [Respirator]
This respirator mask design by Elijah Stillson is meant to have comfort AND function, ensuring that when a biological attack does hit, you won't even notice that you're wearing a mask. You will notice the dead bodies, however. [ Yanko Design ].
Wed, July 01, 2009
Dell's Mini 10 getting GPS / WiFi tracking upgrade next week
Dell's Mini 10 already offers GPS with an integrated 3G chip, but if you're not interested in mobile broadband, starting next week you can opt instead for a wireless 700 location solution, a hybrid of Broadcom's assisted GPS and Skyhook's WiFi positioning technologies. We had a chance to sit down with a few of the product managers working on the device, and even within a brick-laden office building it did a pretty fine job of finding us within 30 meters and integrating with Flickr, Loopt, and Yelp using the Loki plug-in for Internet Explorer / FireFox. Impact on battery life was said to be "immaterial" although a ballpark estimate was about a five percent hit when in use. For $70, it'll come bundled with CoPilot turn by turn navigation software. It requires the $30 HD display upgrade, but even then, an extra Benjamin total for a large-screen navigation device is hard to pass up if you're looking to get a netbook anyway. If you're still not sold, Dell promises it'll be available for other Mini options, with and without the HD upgrade, in the near future. Now how about a few words on the Mini 11 , eh Dell?. Filed under: GPS , Laptops . Dell's Mini 10 getting GPS / WiFi tracking upgrade next week originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Jabra Go 6400 and Pro 9400 Bluetooth Headphones Have a Touchscreen Base Dock [Bluetooth]
The two Jabra Go 6400 and Pro 9400 Bluetooth headsets are kinda neat, combining a charging dock for convenience with a touchcreen for showmanship. The 6400 has a standard Bluetooth range and looks exactly like a Bluetooth headset from Jabra, whereas the 9400 looks like a receptionist's headset that you can take around your house at up to a 450-foot range. They both have dual-microphones for noise cancelation and both have the touchscreen to quickly switch between a cellphone, VoIP or landline connections. Both will be available later in the year for $200 each. [ Slashgear ].
Wed, July 01, 2009
Successful Marriage Proposal on Twitter Today: We #blamedrewscancer
Drew Olanoff, the Twitter user who started the #blamedrewscancer campaign after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma earlier this year, made a successful proposal of marriage to his girlfriend Sarah Cooley on Twitter today ( here's her "yes" ). We later confirmed the story with Drew over IM. Of course, he "blamed Drew's cancer" for the proposal, as the Tweets below attest. #blamedrewscancer is a Twitter movement that aims to raise money for charity by adding the hashtag to your Tweets, as the site explains :. Blame Drew's Cancer for anything you want by tweeting with the hashtag #BlameDrewsCancer and it'll come here. When Drew beats cancer we hope to have sponsors that will donate a dollar for every participant to our brand new partner, LIVESTRONG. Congratulations to Drew and Sarah on their engagement. See also: The 10 Most Extraordinary Twitter Updates , wherein we note three successful marriage proposals on Twitter. Reviews: Twitter . Tags: drew olanoff , twitter .
Wed, July 01, 2009
Digg’s Unbelievably Embarrassing Dupe Detection Fail [Pic]
As you may have read earlier today, Digg introduced a new system to avoid the problem of two versions of the same story making it to the Digg homepage. Digg explains the technical solution in-depth on their blog , but we'd simply like to know this: if this system is so great, how did two stories about the new Digg duplicate detection make it to the Digg homepage, one on top of the other nonetheless, as you can see in the screenshot below:. There's a fairly good chance some mischievous Diggers did this on purpose, but nonetheless, it could go in the dictionary under the definition of "irony. ". Reviews: Digg . Tags: digg .
Wed, July 01, 2009
iPhone OS 3.1 beta now available for developer community
Your fancy new iPhone OS 3. 0 starting to look a bit long in the tooth? Heads up, Apple's now sending out the beta OS 3. 1 and its SDK to the developer community to finagle with. We're still looking to see what's been changed here, so for now, if you're someone who needs the Latest and Greatest and happens to have the right access, download away!. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]. Filed under: Cellphones . iPhone OS 3. 1 beta now available for developer community originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Wed, July 01, 2009
What’s new in the iPhone OS 3.1 Beta?
Well, iPhone OS 3. 1 Beta just went live on Apple's developer center and, as usual, it's a quest to figure out what has changed. Our lovely developer friends have already started tearing it apart in search of that hidden gem detailing the iPhone 4GFP (The FP stands for "Face punch"), and we're keeping tabs on what they find. Let us know what you uncover, and we'll add it to the list.
Wed, July 01, 2009
Doug goes on TechVi, hilarity ensues
The Pirate Bay: Holes in the sale? Our own Doug Aamoth and JG Mason from Gadgetell. com discuss the recent sale of The Pirate Bay.
Tue, June 30, 2009
Solar Hand Fan [Image Cache]
Like solar-powered air conditioners, this solar hand fan makes a lot of sense. Well, save for the part where you have to fan yourself. But it is a night light, which goes great with your ensemble if you're a southern belle who's also a robot. [ Lost Values via Fashioning Tech via MAKE ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
ATV Powered By a Jet Engine Could Be Batman's Golf Cart [Clips]
Batman normally likes to stretch his legs and have trunkspace for a few accidental dead bodies. But he might pilot an ATV powered by a jet engine on a weekend at the links. John Carnett modded brand new Polaris RZR 2-seater ATV with a grey market, 40-year-old turbine. The result is a 114db joystick-driven vehicle that spews out 1300°F exhaust to achieve around 60MPH. And it sounds glorious. Our only regret is that Carnett was too sane to take his jet ATV over any sweet jumps. Give him time, though. A guy who builds stuff like this has to be slipping a bit. [ PopSci ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
iPhone 3.1 SDK Available Now [Iphone Sdk]
The 3. 1 version of the iPhone SDK is available now, bringing a couple new fixes like having the OS simulator "more closely matching the device. " There are also new Interface Builder, XCode and Dashcode changes. [ iPhone Developer ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
Review: The Elektron Machinedrum
The Machinedrum is not something you can easily acquire. It's hard to find Elektron in your local drum machine shop - not that there are many drum machine shops out there but fortunately all their products can be ordered online - if the price isn't too steep for you. Anyway, I was eager to try this little beast out so let's see what it can do. The Machinedrum is a drum synthesizer with a small sample memory. It has 6 audio outputs and 2 inputs making it a device capable of serious routing and sound designing on stage or in studio. The heart of the machine is the 16 track sequencer which is very easy to use and unlike other devices out there it can in fact be used for live production. You get 64 step patterns out of the box - some are great, some are not - and 130 "machines" that are basically the sounds you can use and edit as you wish. Look and feel . It's a brick. I like the simple design and the square buttons although they are quite loud. The body is made of steel but the unit only weighs around 6 pounds. The screen could be bigger in my opinion. When you are performing live you often need to glance on the screen and it can be hard to read. In fact the black/white area around the screen could be used for a bigger screen making it easier to see things. Then again, you can read most of the stuff from the step sequencer and surely you wont be spending time editing sounds on stage. All the buttons and knobs are made of plastic and they react without latency. Control . Sound selection is done with the big black wheel. You can see which sound is selected on the nearby LED bar. Changing patterns is a piece of cake and I love how the Machinedrum handles that. By selecting a bank from A to H and pressing a number you can change the pattern on the next beat. Recording beats can be done in different ways. The original drum machine method is to select a sound and select when it should be played. The alternate method is live recording with quantize of course. It works like a charm. Effects are handled on the screen and it's easy to do some weird stuff with it. You can record the effect changes you made to your sound although it is hard to control them with a little knob. I love that the device responds immediately to everything. Sound . The Machinedrum sounds great. Superb quality kits can be achieved in a small amount of time (see video). Audio signals can be routed to any of the 6 outputs. A great thing to mess around is recording external audio and resample them. 2. 5 MB of sample memory however raises some questions. Why not include bigger memory or a CF card slot? Because of the lack of storage I'm refusing to call it a sampler. Resampling can be applied to the built in sounds as well opening a whole new world of sounds without limits. The sound is punchy, deep, delicate and very dynamic. Different kits will give you different styles from nu jazz to techno. Overall . The Machinedrum SPS-1 UW will cost you $1790, shipping included. In the package Ele
Tue, June 30, 2009
China delays plan for mandatory "Green Dam" internet filter
There's not exactly much more details than the headline on this one, but China's official Xinhua news agency is reporting that the country is delaying its plans that would require that the so-called "Green Dam Youth Escort" internet filtering software be installed on all PCs sold in China. That requirement was set to go into effect on Wednesday but, as we have seen, it's caused no shortage of controversy during the lead up -- both because of the general nature of the software, and because of some piracy and security issues that could leave PCs with the software vulnerable to an attack. No word on a new date just yet, but it seems unlikely that the delay will be an indefinite one. [Thanks, James]. Filed under: Desktops , Laptops . China delays plan for mandatory "Green Dam" internet filter originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Review: Guitar Hero Smash Hits (Xbox 360)
I'm no marketing wizard, but Guitar Hero Smash Hits could have been called Guitar Hero: Songs From The First Guitar Hero Games Before The Drums and Microphone Existed But Now You Can Play the Good Songs from Those Games on the Drums and Sing Too . Again, I'm no marketing wizard. And Guitar Hero Smash Hits isn't a bad game at all. It is what it is, though: a greatest hits game. If you've played all the Guitar Hero games before World Tour and you're only interested in playing guitar, then you'll find little of value here. But if you liked all of the early songs and have always wished you could play the drumming and singing parts, then Smash Hits is worth a closer look. What's Inside? . Smash Hits features 48 songs from five earlier Guitar Hero games: Guitar Hero , Guitar Hero II , Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s , Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. All the songs found on Smash Hits are the master tracks from the original bands, whereas some of them were professional recordings from studio bands in the earlier games. There's not a whole lot of difference other than that, though, except that you can now play the songs on the drums and you can sing using the microphone. Everything else is your standard Guitar Hero game: Career Mode with a loose storyline, multiplayer, or quick play, plus you can take advantage of the built-in GHTunes track editor now if you want to take a stab at making your own song. Why Not DLC? . Could all the tracks in the game have been made available as downloadable content and played on Guitar Hero: World Tour instead of inside of full retail packaging? Yes, absolutely. But Activision made an entire game out of it and you end up saving some money in the long run since you get 48 tracks for $60 — that's assuming you like all of the tracks, though. Who Would Like This Game? . This is a good game for people who loved the music from the first run of Guitar Hero games and want to be able to play the drum parts and/or sing the music parts. It's also a good game for someone looking to get into the whole Guitar Hero thing in the first place. I actually prefer the tracks in this game to the tracks in Guitar Hero World Tour. There's not as much fluff here — all the bands and songs are easily recognizable and more rock-ish, whereas Guitar Hero: World Tour contained a bit broader set list as far as genres are concerned. This one's got more pure rock and metal. Who Wouldn't Like This Game? . Anyone who just wants to play guitar and has already cruised through most or all of the Guitar Hero games before World Tour. You'd feel downright ripped off, as not a whole lot's changed on the guitar and bass end of things. However, you have access to all the songs without unlocking them first if you use the Quick Play mode and it's easier to progress in Career Mode because you just need a certain number of stars for new venues to open up — those stars can be attained through a pretty big selection of initial songs, so
Tue, June 30, 2009
Google Fixes What It Broke: Apps Sync for Outlook Now Actually Works
Earlier this month, Google attempted to make a shot across Microsoft's bow with an Apps Sync for Outlook . Unfortunately for them, it completely fizzled when Microsoft made clear that the plugin disabled key Outlook functionality. Google admitted as much at the time. But today, they've announced that the issues have been fixed . Windows Desktop Search now works, and users can control how the archiving operates. For those who continued to use the completely dysfunctional version, Google will save you from yourself by automatically updating to the current release . Sponsor . The Problem. The most serious problem with the Google Apps Sync was that it interfered with Windows Desktop Search, making all Outlook data (not just what was synchronized with Gmail) completely inaccessible to indexing and thus making your email a complete quagmire. The Fix. To fix this, Google says they "worked closely with Microsoft," to make sure both the Desktop Search and the standard Outlook search play nicely with the plugin. In what looks like an attempt to appease Microsoft more than anything else, they also have taken steps to make crystal clear where data is being stored, and making autoarchiving something users can control. In addition to the fix, Google threw a lifeline to those still stuck in 1996 with support for access to Windows Live Hotmail via the Outlook Connector plugin. Discuss .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Hansgrohe RainBrain Smart Shower Controller Gives You Water, Music and Lighting Control [Shower]
This RainBrain smart shower controller from Hansgrohe seems like one of those things that you didn't think you needed, but once you try it you can never go back to what you had before. This thing controls music streamed wirelessly via Bluetooth, lighting in your shower and even (who'd have imagined) what kind of water is raining down on you. It even has a Scottish Shower mode, which I had to look up to find out that it meant alternating hot and cold water spray. [ Hansgrohe via Trendir via DVice ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
Dell Mini 10 GPS Option, Hands-On
. We just had our hands on the upcoming GPS option for the Dell mini 10 (no hack involved ). The optional upgrade comes in the form of a mini-PCI module that includes a GPS chip. With this version, Dell also plans to deliver an HD display (1366x768) already present in the $449 Dell mini 10. Location-based software is also included with Loki , a software that can find your location based on surrounding WIFI networks, and most importantly, a desktop version of co-pilot live . Clearly, Dell's goal is not to replace your car's integrated navigation, or your handheld personal navigation device. Instead, Dell thinks that GPS/location based service is a long-term trend that the company should work on today, starting with early adopters who might already seek this particular option. Permalink: Dell Mini 10 GPS Option, Hands-On from Ubergizmo | Hot: Wii, PS3 and Natal Motion Sensing .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Headline: Intel Mac users, give this optimized version of Firefox, called Shiretoko, a try!
Here's a quick tip for you Mac users who are going to be downloading Firefox 3. 5 today. Give this optimized version , named Shiretoko, a try. It's only for Intel Macs, but it's supposed to speed up boot time and whatnot. I don't know, I use it (along with this icon pack ) and, all things being equal, I think it works just swell. So give it a shot!.
Tue, June 30, 2009
Sony OLED Walkman on sale now
Well, we can think of at least one 13-year-old kid who'll welcome this next bit of gadget news: it looks like Sony's OLED Walkman is now on sale over at the Sony Style site. As previously guesstimated , the 16GB model is moving for a cool $299. 99, and the 32GB model is priced at $399. 99. Order today from Sony and it ships tomorrow, or order from Amazon and it ships on July 3rd. Either way, it's time to start counting out your pennies. Filed under: Portable Audio , Portable Video . Sony OLED Walkman on sale now originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Nokia N97 and Dell Vostro bundled for $730: make one mistake, get one free
The N97 might not be everyone's cup of tea , but if you're still tempted to pay the $700 entry fee, you could sweeten the deal by throwing in a free-ish laptop -- Dell's currently bundling the Vostro A860 with Nokia's latest for $730 after a discount coupon. Flip that sucker on eBay for anywhere close to its $379 list price plus some "handling fees" and you might just come close to paying a reasonable price for the N97. Well, sort of reasonable. Those still interested should hurry past the read link, as the full discount will only be available through tomorrow or until stocks last. Filed under: Cellphones , Laptops . Nokia N97 and Dell Vostro bundled for $730: make one mistake, get one free originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Video: Transformers 2 in one minute
Don't want to waste $37 to see Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen at the movie theater? Most critics wouldn't blame you although a lot of fans are enjoying the summer flick. But anyway, watch the video above and save yourself some cash. It tells the same story and has a perportionant amount of explosions.
Tue, June 30, 2009
Apple's 3D Modeler Opening Could Be Your Dream Job [Apple]
Not to turn this into a secondary job board for Apple or anything, but they're opening up a position for a digital 3D modeler/CAD sculptor to create renderings of possible and future products. It's interesting because the turnover there for the position is really low, and it may be the only time you get a chance to get into that position for a few years. Plus, it pays quite a lot more than usual design jobs. [ Dezeen via Cultofmac ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
Alienware OptX AW2210 21.5-Inch Gaming Monitor Goes 1920x1080, Actually Isn't Hideous [Alienware]
We caught Alienware's OptX AW2210 21. 5-inch gaming monitor a couple months back—it's part of Alienware's "more accessible" push, but it's got respectable specs, cramming in a 1920x1080 resolution with a supposed 80,000:1 contrast ratio for $299. You've also got dual HDMI ports, four USB ports and what has to be the most straightforward design of anything Alienware's every shipped, which is in and of itself an accomplishment. They're also selling what appears to be an Alienware-branded version of SteelSeries' nearly 2-year-old 5HV2 headset that they're calling TactX. And really, we're still using X for Xtreme? Mountain Dew is gross guys. ALIENWARE PUTS YOU IN THE GAME WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE ALIENWARE OPTX™AW2210 21. 5" FULL HD MONITOR AND ALIENWARE TACTX™ HEADSET. · Eye-catching Alienware OptX Monitor boasts 1080p HD, ultra-fast response time and features low-input lag. · New Alienware TactX Headphones single out in-game sounds for a truly immersive experience. · Together, the Alienware OptX AW2210 Monitor and Alienware TactX Headset help to create the ultimate gaming experience. MIAMI – June 30, 2009 –Gamers looking for a completely immersive gaming experience can now arm themselves with two new weapons from Alienware – the 21. 5-inch Alienware OptX™ AW2210 Full HD Monitor and the Alienware TactX™ Headset offering a unique custom-engineered audio experience. The Alienware OptX AW2210 Monitor, which goes on sale today for $299, features a Full HD screen resolution ideal for the latest-generation games and high-definition movies in glorious 1080p. To give gamers that extra edge, the monitor features low-input lag and a 2ms response time for a more real time gaming experience. With sleek looks and a dramatic profile that catch every eye in the room, the display's key features include:. • 21. 5-inch Widescreen Flat Panel LCD. • 1920 x 1080 Full HD Resolution. • Ultra-Fast 2ms Response Time. • Low Input-Lag for Intense Gaming. • 16. 7 Million Colors for Vibrant Images. • 80,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio. • Tilt, Swivel and Height Adjustable Stand. • 2 x HDMI ports allow for you to plug in to your PC or your TV for either PC or console gaming sessions. • 4 x Universal Serial Bus ports for hassle free connection to flash drives, mouse, keyboard and other peripherals. Serious gamers know that every single component of their set-up is part of creating the best gaming experience possible. The same is true when it comes to their peripherals. Alienware TactX headphones are optimized to single out key in-game sounds, enabling you to detect gunfire, footsteps, reloads and more with precision clarity. The headset also features:. • Convenient Retractable Microphone for Headphone-Only Use. • Custom Audio Environment for Optimized In-Game Sounds. • Closed Circumaural Ear Cups for Long Term Comfort. • Gold-Plated Connectors for Increased Fidelity. • 3-Piece Design for Quick Break-Down and Easy Transport. "The ultimate gaming experience requires more than just a gre
Tue, June 30, 2009
Elecom’s mountable 4-port USB hub
Here's a four-port USB hub from Elecom that comes with magnetic backing and hooks for easy mounting on most surfaces. It retails for $40. I want one. Don't you?. AudioCubes via OhGizmo .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Excellent Special Effects or Terrifying New Sewer Creatures? You Decide [Monsters]
This video purports to be of some unknown creatures in the sewers under Cameron Village in Raleigh, North Carolina. It's probably some early viral marketing for a movie. But! What if it isn't? Oh god, what if it isn't?? [ io9 ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
BenQ shocker! Joybook Lite U102 outed
Admit it: you've been sitting around all day waiting to hear tell of the latest Joybook offering from BenQ , right? Well, have we got the story for you! BenQ's just dropped word of its newest -- the Joybook Lite U102. While we don't have full specs, we do know that this 10. 1-inch baby boasts a 16:9 WSVGA backlit LED, an Intel Atom CPU, and a 250GB HDD, with a 90 percent-sized keyboard. Pretty generic netbook specs, but its super-shiny black shell also makes it decently attractive. The BenQ Joybook Lite U102 will be available any day now in Taiwan, Thailand, and China. [Via FarEast Gizmos ]. Filed under: Laptops . BenQ shocker! Joybook Lite U102 outed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Tue, June 30, 2009
OTTO slices beats, has no effect on tin cans
Electronic musicians are always looking for new ways to do the same old things. Case in point: OTTO, developed by Luca De Rosso at the IUAV University of Venice for a master's thesis. Based on an Arduino and Cycling '74's Max / MSP software, you can drop an audio loop in it (via USB) and manipulate it in real time by moving your hands around the touch surface. Sure we've heard these kind of edits before, but never on a device that somewhat resembles the old Simon memory game. That has to count for something, right? Suffice it to say: we want one. Be sure to check it in action after the break. Continue reading OTTO slices beats, has no effect on tin cans . OTTO slices beats, has no effect on tin cans originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Quick hands-on: Perfect Pushup V2
The Fitness Fairy just dropped off the Perfect Pushup V2 , from Perfect Fitness. So consider this a quick hands-on, not a full review. (Give me a few days for that. ) My first thoughts, compared to the mobile unit I reviewed a few months ago: my God the handles are a lot more comfortable. So yeah, the main differences here between the first version of the Perfect Pushup (and the mobile one I reviewed) deal with the comfort of the handle and the "spinnyness" of the twisty part. (Technical jargon, I know. ) I used it a few times today and the handle is wider than the aforementioned models. It's pretty helpful, believe me; I've been using the mobile unit for months now, and having a wider handle makes grabbing it much easier. The handle itself is softer (like a foam-type material) with grooves, like a Pringle. Now your hands, theoretically, should slip less (but that was never an issue for me). The other big difference is that it's a lot more "spinny" this time 'round. That taps into the whole idea behind the Perfect Pushup: as you push up and down, your muscles also have to "fight" all the wobbliness caused by the rotation. The smoother the rotation, the harder your muscles have to work. The Perfect Pushup V2 came out earlier his month. It's $40. That's less than what you pay for your iPhone plan, lol!. Oh, and here's a pic of the new Perfect Pushup XP that I saw last week. It'll be available this autumn. The handle detaches and you can use it as an easy access free weight. The handle, as you can see, is also more ergonomically-minded, with contours for your hands, rather than just a straight bar as in the V2 and other models.
Tue, June 30, 2009
NES controller turned iPhone dock
Old NES controller, meet iPhone. An enterprising individual over on the iPhonefr. com forums (careful, everything is in French!) has turned one of the most iconic controllers of all time into something that holds one of the most iconic electronic gadgets of the present day. It actually doesn't look like it'd be all that complicated to produce. Clear out the innards of the controller, make a little slit for the iPod connector to fit into, and glue everything in place. Voila, as the French say. Forum iPhone [iphonefr. com via Geeky Gadgets ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
PS3 Slim In Production Now for July Shipments? [Playstation 3]
It all seems a little bit early for Ars Technica's fall release prediction , but according to the Economic Daily News, Sony has awarded two companies contracts on the PS3 Slim for shipments starting this July. The report claims that Hon Hai won a majority of the production contract with Foxconn scoring a bit as well. But details are scarce on the new PS3, describing it only as "smaller" and "lighter. ". Unless the Slim were to be released in July (or maybe August), the "early July" shipments from Economic Daily News seem way too early for the console. Sony would need to announce the Slim next week, otherwise where would they hide all the new consoles?. So either the Economic Daily News is wrong about July shipments, Ars is wrong with the "fall" release, Sony is wrong about the best way to announce a console without it leaking or we're all wrong and the PS3 isn't ready for miniaturization. Fun stuff! [ UDN via Engadget ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
More Analysis on the Korean Rocket Launch [North Korea]
Really interested in what kind of nuclear rocket capability North Korea has? The Bulletin does a really in-depth analysis of the latest launch, based on released and carefully reasoned interpolated data. It's quite interesting, with well-thought-out logic that points to NK obtaining parts and knowledge from Russia. In short, they probably don't have quite as good a capability for delivering the payload as previously thought. [ The Bulletin ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
Mushroom Networks announces new wireless "Broadband Bonding" technology
Mushroom Networks has been in the "broadband bonding" business for quite a while now , but we're guessing they're going to find a few more fans with their new wireless broadband gear, which promises the fastest cellular-based internet connection to date. Like the company's previous PortaBella device (pictured above, not exactly to scale), its new rig can combine up to four different cellular data cards into a single high-speed connection, but this one is fully portable (just over a pound) and, perhaps most importantly, it has an optional battery pack that'll let you be truly mobile with it. That, Mushroom says, makes the device ideal for a whole range of applications that can be a bit tricky with a single modem, like mobile TV broadcasting or temporary offices set up in a disaster area. Unfortunately, there's no word on pricing just yet, but it doesn't exactly take much guesstimating to figure out that it's likely not the most cost-effective solution around. Filed under: Wireless . Mushroom Networks announces new wireless "Broadband Bonding" technology originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Video: AMD's Phenom II X4 TWKR CPU for extreme overclocking lunatics
AMD has recently cooked up a little something they like to call the Phenom II X4 TWKR Black Edition, a hand-picked, limited edition processor that is designed to be overclocked "to the extreme. " Currently labeled "Not for Sale," with no serial numbers and only one hundred of these bad boys in existence, just a few lucky folks have got their hands on one, so we've dug up some reviews (and previews) so you can see what the fuss is all about. According to the company, one of these guys could be pushed by 100MHz with air cooling, which doubles to about 200MHz with "extreme cooling. " As far as impressions go, the reviewer at Neoseeker quickly decided that the units aren't meant to be overclocked on air only, and that dry ice isn't much better. Hot Hardware says pretty much the same thing. Though they weren't able to test with liquid nitrogen or liquid helium (the only way to get real speed) they did put a Koolance LN2 pot (and about 20lbs of dry ice) to the test for a 4. 73GHz overclock. For best results, according to Tom's Hardware Guide , bench the the processor at -190°C or cooler. But for the real overclocking experience you simply must check out the video of the "world renowned overclockers" K|ngp|n, chew*, and Gomeler as they run the gamut of "extreme overclocking techniques" after the break. Read - AMD Phenom II TWKR Edition CPU Preview. Read - AMD's Phenom II X4 TWKR: We Give It The LN2 Treatment . Read - AMD Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition Processor. Read - AMD Phenom II TWKR Black Edition Processor. Continue reading Video: AMD's Phenom II X4 TWKR CPU for extreme overclocking lunatics . Filed under: Desktops . Video: AMD's Phenom II X4 TWKR CPU for extreme overclocking lunatics originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Introducing the Alienware TactX Headset
It looks like Dell is expanding the Alienware brand. First there was the OptX AW2210 monitor and now the TactX Headset. Judging by the specs of 16 Hz - 16kHz and -38 dB, it's your standard gaming headset. That doesn't mean there aren't a couple of cool features. First off the mic is retractable so it's not sticking out when you're playing solo. Also, the cord is only three feet long, but it also ships with a 7 foot extension just in case. Expect to pay $79 for the headset and it's shipping right now from Dell.
Tue, June 30, 2009
Flickr2Twitter: Flickr Enters the Twitter Stream
Flickr has just released their long awaited feature for posting photos to Twitter. It's been in beta over the past few weeks, but now it's live for everyone. It's not exactly like other photo tweeting services like TwitPic , which lets you sign-in using your Twitter account. To use Flickr2Twitter, you first need to sign-in to Flickr, and then authorize the service to post to your Twitter account, which can be done from your settings page. Then, you'll be able to use the "Blog This" button that accompanies each photo to post it to Twitter, along with a customized tweet. Like an increasing number of other services, Flickr2Twitter uses its own URL shortener: flic. kr. You'll also be able to use Flickr2Twitter from your mobile, with a new custom email address that's generated once you authorize Twitter posting. The new address is the same as your old one, but appends a "2twitter" to the alias. Just send a photo from your phone to this address and your photo will be posted both to Flickr and Twitter . Essentially, this is TwitPic for existing Flickr users. TwitPic offers a lower barrier to entry for people who use Twitter but not Flickr, but for Flickr users, the experience of cross-posting photos to Twitter is now a breeze. And since there are millions of Flickr users, get ready for lots of flic. kr photos in your Twitter stream. See Also: 5 Ways to Share Images on Twitter . Reviews: Flickr , Twitpic , Twitter . Tags: flickr , twitter .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Birdfeed Twitter App Review: Lean, Fast and Pretty [IPhone Apps]
It's five dollars. It has half the functionality of Twittelator Pro. But Birdfeed just became my default iPhone Twitter app. It's fast . The fastest Twitter app I've seen since Twitterfon (which isn't that fast anymore, once it started inserting ads. ) The user interface is even cleaner and more spare than Tweetie's—the app it will inevitably be compared to the most. For instance, the "load more" button at the bottom is gone—you just keep scrolling down, and it keeps loading new tweets. Gone, even, is the ubiquitous row of buttons that line the bottom of most Twitter apps for one-touch access to mentions, direct messages and other features. You have to slide back to a list-style menu to reach any feature besides the one you're currently looking at, meaning it's at least two taps to get from a timeline to mentions or vice versa. It solves this problem in part by making it so that you only have to do that when there's a reason to—a number pops up in the back button whenever you have new mentions or DMs telling you many are waiting (pointedly, it badges only new mentions and DMs, not new tweets in your overall timeline). The problem is when you use multiple Twitter clients, since you'll have to look at the same mention twice to get rid of the badge. Like most every Twitter app except Tweetie, it does cache tweets on your phone, so you can read them offline. Caching is also part of the reason it feels fast. Beyond search and integration with Instapaper, however, it lacks any of the other "power features" that are the bread and butter of say, Twittelator Pro or TweetDeck , like grouping or multiple windows. It's the opposite: A remarkably focused and well thought out exercise in restraint. It's the details like a timestamp marking every time you open the app so you know where you left off, that shine. If you only use the core Twitter features, Birdfeed is the best app you can buy. That's not to say it's necessarily better than TweetDeck or Twittelator. The amazing thing about Twitter is that you can do whatever you want with it, and having all of those features is fantastic if you need them . Birdfeed is simply the most essential Twitter app for iPhone yet—it's only what you really need, beautifully designed. It's not perfect—it freezes for a second when loading new tweets, like you hit the bottom of a timeline and starts pulling in more, and then there's that account amnesia bug . But whether or not it's worth the extra $2 over Tweetie or the same $5 as feature-rich Twittelator Pro depends on how much speed, focus and design really matter to you. [ Birdfeed , iTunes ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
Kindle DX Sold Out (Again)
Amazon's Kindle DX , a wireless ebook reader with a 9. 7″ display, has sold out due to heavy customer demand. However, according to blogs the reason that the Kindle is sold out is that manufacturer E Ink may be having problems supplying Amazon with screens for the devices. The Kindle DX was sold out a couple of weeks ago , but it only took Amazon around two days to trace additional stock. The Kindle DX will begin shipping again in 4-6 weeks.
Tue, June 30, 2009
Toddler Review: Leapfrog Tag Junior Book Pal [Review]
Alas, I have no spawn of my own. So when LeapFrog mailed their new Tag Junior, a handheld device that reads special LeapFrog books to children, I had to call in the big guns for the review. Err. little guns. My 18 month old niece Rysa (with the help of her mother Katharyn Wheeler) put the Tag Junior through the paces. Their collaboration:. Tag Junior 'book pal' . Let's just say that the Tag Junior looks a bit like an alien, a happy alien, but an alien nonetheless. It was actually difficult to keep the reviewer interested in the book because the Tag Junior book pal was so interesting in comparison. By touching the pal to pictures throughout the pages, everything from animal sounds to the specific names of colors play back on the pal's speaker. The audio quality is pretty decent for such a small device, and all voices are clearly audible. The biggest problem with the book pal is that the power button is available to the child. The second biggest problem is that the power button makes noise when it is turned on and off. Subsequently, the reviewer was far more interested in turning the button on and off than touching the Tag Junior to the page. The third biggest problem is that the pal is set to read through a whole passage when touched to any word on a page. This feature is great in the entry-level Curious George Color Fun book where there is one word a page, but proves detrimental in more advanced books that hold up to four lines of text on each page. Beyond the one bundled book you get with the Tag Junior, each additional book requires you to update the Tag's software via a PC/Mac and USB. This is a simple process, but it requires some preplanning. The reviewer that was so excited seeing the Curious George book was disappointed in having to wait to look at it with the book pal since it wasn't preinstalled. Luckily, once all these books are installed to the pal, the reviewer was able to switch between books at will—every book is loaded at once. LeapFrog makes use of PC syncing in one other notable way: Once the book pal has been connected it uploads information onto LeapFrog's site to help you monitor your child's activity. The site shows the amount of time spent with the Tag, which books were read, and which skills accomplished. These tools are far beyond what any other toy/learning tool manufacturer is doing right now. And by far the cutest function is that you can personalize the book pal so that it uses the name of the child each time it powers on (and for names not available you can set a nickname such as "little monkey"). Overall, the reviewer liked the book pal and loved the books themselves. She cried when they were taken away from her. Formfactor Fits Perfectly In Little Hands. Online Progress Monitoring Is Excellent. The Books Themselves Are Entertaining. You Need to Sync Every Book to PC. Power Button Too Prominent/Enticing. Children Might Cry When Pal Is Taken Away.
Tue, June 30, 2009
Sony to ship PS3 Slim next month?
The secrecy over the PS3 Slim continues to unravel with news that Foxconn have been contracted to manufacture and ship the updated model starting next month. The report from UDN does not explicitly say that the smaller version of the current platform will be sold anytime soon, but it falls in line with what Ars's Mole leaked over the weekend. However, UDN states that an updated PS3 will be launched in the Spring. Me thinks they're just referring to the motion control system and not a brand new console revision. Previous PS3 Slim coverage:. We got a C&D from the Chinese PS3 people as well . Alleged photos of PS3 Slim have surfaced . via UDN .
Tue, June 30, 2009
The Alienware OptX AW2210 21.5-inch LCD monitor - Hadoken!
Dell's prepped a killer 1080p monitor that should be great for gaming. Well, it should be. The OptX AW2210 is afterall an Alienware product. (read: it's overpriced, but loaded). Alienware OptX AW2210 . The 21. 5-inch monitor comes packing a 1080p screen with a 2ms response time. Plus, it sports an 80,000:1 contrast ratio and a brightness of 300 cd/ms. To be honest though, we really don't see how this monitor is worth a $100 more than the SX2210 . That monitor has nearly the same specs - only 50,000:1 contrast ratio - but it also has a webcam and an analog video input. But maybe you're willing to spend $300 on this monitor just for the Alienware brand. That's fine. Apple owners understand the feeling.
Tue, June 30, 2009
Games2U Brings a Portable Arcade To Your House [Arcade]
The only time people visit arcades these days is when they're waiting for the 8:30 showing of Transformers to start. Whether it's convenience of quality of games, people just aren't going. But what if it came to YOU?. Games2U puts PS3s, Wii and Xbox 360 games inside of a van and delivers it, letting 20 people play no matter where you are. We can imagine it being useful for kids' birthday parties , tailgating parties or funerals; especially since the company also offers laser tag and giant hamster balls. And if you think this is a good and viable business opportunity, they even offer franchise options to set one up where you live. [ G2u via Kotaku ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
Elecom keeps things simple with U2H-TC410B wall socket USB hub
While there's a place for USB hubs that double as a mousepad and calculator , it's sometimes best to just keep things simple, which is what Elecom has thankfully done with its new U2H-TC410B "wall socket" USB hub. Contrary to what that name might suggest, however, this one doesn't actually plug into a power outlet, but is instead designed to be mounted on a wall or the side of the desk and become a wall socket of sorts itself. Apart from that, it's basically just your standard four-port USB 2. 0 hub and, as you can see above, it's available in your choice of black or white. Unfortunately, it's not priced like a run-of-the-mill USB hub, with this one running a somewhat hefty $39. 99. [Via OhGizmo! ]. Filed under: Misc. Gadgets , Peripherals . Elecom keeps things simple with U2H-TC410B wall socket USB hub originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Tue, June 30, 2009
VholdR ContourHD wearable HD camcorder hands-on and impressions
We've been toying with a VholdR ContourHD helmet cam for a few weeks now, seeing how well it blends in with our adrenaline-fueled lifestyle. We've mounted it on various helmets, tried it with some moderately extreme endeavors, and, now that we've had a chance to refill our asthma inhalers, we thought we'd share a few of those adventures and give our impressions of this helmet-mounted HD shooter. Gallery: ContourHD unboxing and hands-on . Continue reading VholdR ContourHD wearable HD camcorder hands-on and impressions . Filed under: Digital Cameras . VholdR ContourHD wearable HD camcorder hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Tue, June 30, 2009
DIY: Old-timey Apple thumb drive
If you're sick — SICK! — of all these new Apple fanatics and you want to show them all that you've been a diehard fan since the early days, even sticking by the company through Newton and Pippin, then this thumb drive made out of an old Apple keyboard is for you. Ingredients: an old Apple keyboard, a thumb drive you're willing to destroy, some workbench-y tools and whatnot, time. The basic process then involves gutting a regular thumb drive, carving out a notch for it to fit into inside an old Return key, and grabbing the Apple logo from another area of the keyboard. Sand, cut, glue, solder, slice, etc. and you'll eventually have yourself a nice retro USB thumb drive. Please observe the detailed directions at Instructables . My directions were NOT very helpful and may result in massive bleeding.
Tue, June 30, 2009
Video: HTC Sense gets ported to the G1, Flash and all
When it became clear that HTC's oh-so-pretty Sense UI wasn't going to make it to the G1 by any official means , we figured it wouldn't be too long before the goods leaked and an unofficial port was made. Hell, we outright said so . It's been less than a week, but the work is already well underway.
Tue, June 30, 2009
Stylish and eco-friendly: Sanyo’s eneloop lamps (video)
Sanyo Japan today announced the strange, vase-like "eneloop lamp" [press release in English] that can be used both as a regular interior light or as a flashlight (when you pick it up and hold it like one). As a third option, the device also serves as a "healing lamp" once you switch from white to blue lighting. The eneloop lamp can be charged wirelessly by putting it on its charging stand. Sanyo says two eneloop AA batteries are enough to power the futuristic device for 6 hours in flashlight mode, up to 45 hours in white light mode and up to 16 hours in blue light mode. The eneloop lamp will hit Japanese stores September 11 and will cost $160. Take a look at the video below to see how the healing light works. Sanyo is yet to say something about their distribution plans for the lamp. Via Kaden Watch [JP].
Tue, June 30, 2009
G1 Spotted Running HTC Sense, The Latest and Greatest Android Skin [Clips]
Chances are (about 99. 9999%) that you don't have access to the HTC Hero just yet, but that doesn't mean you can't run its famed HTC Sense Android skin. According to some Italian software enthusiasts, it is possible to flash your G1 with their SuperHERO ROM, a port of the HTC Hero 's firmware. Aside from the OS skin's beautiful graphics and animations, SuperHERO will activate G1 multitouch that allows you to zoom into webpages a la iPhone. Of course, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi aren't all that functional with this firmware, and the OS can get a bit laggy and light on memory. So you'll need take the good with the bad should you decide to hack your G1. [ HD Blog via androidguys ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
Android Market Update Notifications Are Broken [Android]
This confirms what I suspected this weekend: Android Market 's automatic update notifications are broken. In the meantime, if you're affected, you have to go to individual app pages to see if there's an update for the app. At least, that seemed to work for me. [ Phandroid ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
Celebrating Gay Pride 2009
All around Google, we're proud of our work, our culture and, most importantly, our people. In the spirit of celebration, this spring and summer Googlers have participated in Pride celebrations in Tel Aviv, New York, Zürich, San Francisco and many other cities around the world. Pride is a time for the LGBT* community along with families, friends and supporters to stand up for equality, and to honor those who paved the way for us to express sexual orientation and gender identity openly. In the U. S. , this year's celebration is historically important: it's the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York City, a response to what was then routine police harassment of LGBT people. Some 75 Googlers, family members and friends marched with several hundred members of New York's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center . Hundreds of Googlers also joined other U. S. celebrations in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and San Francisco. Earlier this month, around 50 Googlers and friends gathered to celebrate at Europride, Europe's best-known Gay Pride celebration. This year it was in Zürich, Switzerland. After weeks of sunshine, on the morning of the parade it began to storm, but that didn't deter our intrepid Googlers from being out at 6:30am turning a 28-ton truck into a rainbow-colored nightclub on wheels. Hundreds of nuts, bolts and gallons of helium later, the truck was transformed, the sun came out and we were ready to march through the city streets, cheered on by a crowd of 50,000. Google is a company that supports its LGBT employees, taking a public stand stand on issues that are important to our community. This is not the first year that Google has supported Pride, and it will certainly not be the last. We hope you enjoy this photo album of our global celebrations. *LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered people and is also intended to include people who identify as queer, asexual or intersexed, amongst others. Posted by Cynthia Yeung, Partner Strategy Team .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Pirate Bay founders get rich in jail
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A little-known Swedish software firm has snapped up file-sharing website The Pirate Bay with the hope of turning the source of legal controversy into a money-spinner that appeals to both users and content providers.
Tue, June 30, 2009
Game Time Schedule Watch beeps when your team’s playing
Sports fanatics can get even more ensconced with the goings-on of their local teams with a "Game Time Schedule Watch" that displays season schedules and beeps when games start. Of course, if you're a big enough fan to think this watch is a good idea then you probably already know when your team is playing. I populated my Google Calendar with the Red Sox schedule and then embedded the calendar as a widget inside Gmail. Just saying. The watches go for between $65 and $100 depending on the sport and team. We're talking just about every sport (no soccer, sorry Nicholas) and every team, too. Like even NASCAR. From what I hear, that's quite a popular sport. You can get a NASCAR watch that alerts you when your favorite driver is about to hit the track. What a world. Game Time Schedule Watches [Amazon via Gadget Review ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
Sony placing PS3 slim manufacturing orders for delivery in July?
. We haven't heard much about the PS3 slim since E3, but that doesn't mean it's been entirely quiet out there -- the hot rumor today is that Sony's signed manufacturing agreements with both Foxconn and Pegatron to build the revised model in time for July delivery. That much we believe, since it's been backed up by a couple different credible reports, but here's where it gets totally insane: there's a suggestion that the slim will be the last PS3 model of this generation, and that a next-gen console based on Sony's motion controller is due in spring 2010. We don't buy that at all, since the PS3 is just entering its prime and Sony was clear that the motion controller was for the existing console , so we think this rumor is getting garbled down the wire -- it's far more likely that the slim is being prepped for an August launch to coincide with those rumored price cuts , and that new PS3 bundles that include the motion controller are set to drop next year. That's just our take on the matter, though -- we'll see how things shake out. Filed under: Gaming . Sony placing PS3 slim manufacturing orders for delivery in July? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Tue, June 30, 2009
ASUS rolls out RT-N16 wireless router
It's not a dual-band router , but it looks like ASUS has just about all the other bases covered with its new RT-N16 model. Apparently "engineered for the future" (too bad, present), this one naturally packs full 802. 11n capabilities, along with a "powerful CPU" and 128MB of memory to help it eek out every last bit of bandwidth, and both four LAN ports and a pair of USB ports to accomodate your non-wireless devices. Otherwise, you can expect to get ASUS' own EZ UI, which promises quick and easy setups and customization, and all the the usual basic security measures you'd expect, including support for WPS. No word on a price just yet, but it looks like this one should be rolling out soon, if it hasn't hit stores already. Filed under: Wireless . ASUS rolls out RT-N16 wireless router originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Act now, and your PS3, PSP peripheral can receive the Official Sony Seal of Quality
Gamers of a certain age will remember the Official Nintendo Seal of Quality . It was a little mark placed on official Nintendo products in the NES/SNES era (well, that's when it mattered) that let buyers know that, yes, this product has been blessed by Nintendo. It will not harm you, your cat or your NES. Fast-forward several years and now Sony has gotten into the business of slapping their logo on officially licensed gear with the " Official Licensed Product " gimmick. In exchange for a big sack of money, Sony will give peripheral developers "access to technical documentations necessary for designing and creating variety of licensed products for PlayStation platforms. " . I think Sony wins Beanie Cup today: new hope for PS2 backwards compatibility, and this new money-making scheme.
Tue, June 30, 2009
In Which We Provoke Kim Jong Il in 77 Offensive and Hilarious Ways [Photoshop Contest]
OK, so if crazy Kim Jong Il does try nuking Hawaii this weekend, don't blame me. He was planning on it before this horrifying and hilarious gallery of shameful Photoshops appeared. Oh god, what have I done?. First Place — Nick Dwyer. Second Place —T. Baxter. Third Place — Dave Corrasa.
Tue, June 30, 2009
Arcade on wheels? Yes, please
An arcade on wheels? Now THAT is a good idea. Don't get too excited, though, as these are basically glorified console setups, not old-school arcade machines. This isn't about us, though, this is about the children. And the children think Ms. Pac-Man is boring. Ergo, no stand-up arcade machines. This all comes courtesy of a franchise called Games2U (get it?). Rolling fun-time options include vehicles with screens like the one pictured above, full trailers with indoor climate-controlled playing areas, laser tag, hamster balls (yes!), and stuff like that. Perfect for birthday parties and various other outings swarmed with kids. Though as Kotaku's Brian Crecente, who I can only assume is close to the same age as I am, says:. "I like the idea, but I would love it if they actually carted arcade games around to parties. Or better still, like a huge stage that unfolds with fog machines, pyro effects and a stage to play Rock Band or Guitar Hero on. Oh… and groupies, totally need groupies. ". Better still, maybe an exact replica of the living room of my house junior year in college (1999) with furniture from Goodwill, Olympia beer as far as the eye can see, and Mario Kart 64. And Tony Hawk on the PlayStation. Ooh! and GoldenEye. [ Games2U via Kotaku ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
Linux File Systems Benchmarked [Linux]
If you're wondering which file system you should format your new Linux partition as, phoronix has a test of EXT4, BBtrfs and NILFS2. The winner (for the most part): EXT4. Hit the link if you want to find out why. [ Phoronix via Slashdot ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
Firefox 3.5 Approaches 1 Million Downloads; Watch in Real-Time
Only a few hours into its general release, Mozilla's Firefox 3. 5 is already approaching one million downloads. As of 1:22ET, Firefox 3. 5 had been downloaded 741,417 times. How do we know this? Because Mozilla has launched a real-time tracker , where you can see exactly how many times the browser has been downloaded. Additionally, you can also see how many downloads there have been by country, the current number of downloads per second, and how download activity is trending. So far, the new browser has been downloaded the most by users in the US, Germany, France, and the UK. While that is a huge start, it seems unlikely that the launch will match that of Firefox 3. 0, which saw 8 million downloads in its first 24 hours. That's not surprising given all of the hype for 3. 0, but nonetheless shows the huge enthusiasm that Firefox fanatics still have for the browser. Reviews: Firefox .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Video: The last time Steve Jobs came back to Apple
To celebrate Steve Jobs' official return to Apple ( AAPL ) this week, Kobi Shely has posted a YouTube clip from Macheads , his 54-minute "fanboy documentary" on the cult surrounding the company and its charismatic CEO. Shely wrote, directed, produced and edited the film. The 2-minute 22-second segment he selected is centered around the return of Jobs to Apple in Dec. 1996 after he was ousted in a boardroom coup nearly a dozen years earlier. The clip includes rare footage from the July 1998 keynote in which a younger, chubbier Jobs announces Apple's return to profitability and introduces the first iMac. It's worth a look, if you can ignore the first 15 seconds of computer-generated weirdness, the bizarre Church of Mac segment in the middle and the young woman stroking and kissing her computer at the end. The clip is pasted below. The full movie is available on iTunes and Amazon Video on Demand. Or you can order a DVD here . See also:. Top 10 moments in Steve Jobs' career .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Sony patent shows surefire method of PS2 emulation possible on all PS3 models
Think back to the autumn of 2006, right before the big PS3 launch. Expecting someone to pay five-hundred-and-ninety-nine-U. S. -dollars was (rightly) considered ludicrous, but the ability to play the entire PS2 library on the system somewhat lessened the blow. But then Sony removed the Emotion Engine chip from the PS3, thus rendering it unable to play PS2 games. (More recent models, like the one found in the Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle, used a just-sorta-okay software emulation method to grant partial PS2 backwards compatibility. ) All that may well change if Sony goes ahead and executes the idea found in this recently unearthed patent . The patent, which was filed in December, 2008, shows a method whereby Sony would harness the power of its fancy-pants Cell processor to emulate, from soup to nuts, the Emotion Engine. Emulate that, and it's like having a tiny PS2 inside your PS3, and all that that implies. The best part is that since every single PS3 on planet Earth has a Cell processor, every single PS3 could take advantage of this latest bit of technological wizardry. Keep in mind that patents are filed all the time, so this is by no means any soft of "confirmation" that you'll be able to play Final Fantasy X or Shadow of the Colossus on your PS3. Then there's also the issue of whether or not you'll merely be able to use your actual PS2 discs, or whether Sony has some sort of "Classic PS2 Games!" PlayStation Network store up its sleeves.
Tue, June 30, 2009
Sanyo Eneloop Lamp Charges Wirelessly, Doubles as a Flashlight [Lamps]
Fueled by the original rechargeable batteries from 2005, Sanyo's consistently strange eneloop (on-a-loop) line keeps on growing: next up is the eneloop Lamp , a vaselike, wirelessly chargeable table lamp that turns into a flashlight when picked up. The lamp is intended to spend most of its time on a wireless charging stand, which not unlike the Palm's Touchstone or, more precisely, Sanyo's wireless eneloop Wiimote charger. There, it can be switched between the brighter white light mode and a low-draw blue, or "Healing Light," mode. The stand feeds power into the unit's two AA batteries, which power the lamp when it strays from home. Sanyo's press release says it'll switch modes when it's turned horizontal, mentioning that there's some kind of accelerometer, although it seems like a simple activate-on-disconnect system would work just fine. At first, I had trouble imagining too many uses for a lamp/torch hybrid, but then it hit me: midnight pooping. For that, this lamp is genius. No price or domestic availability info is available yet; Japan will see a launch on September 11th. [ Akihabara News ].
Tue, June 30, 2009
Obama Press Conference Interrupted by Duck Ringtone [Video]
In what may be some of the worst cell phone etiquette ever recorded, President Obama had a speech interrupted by a reporter's ringtone yesterday. The moment, video captured and spreading quickly on YouTube, happened during a White House speech about gay rights. The ringtone, which is difficult to hear in the video itself, apparently featured something resembling the Aflac quacking duck sound you hear in the insurance company's commercials. After being interrupted, Obama jokes "Whose duck back there?" and asks the White House press corps "Where do you guys get these ringtones by the way?" Here's the video:. At least the President has a sense of humor about it. As for the reporter whose phone rang, seriously … use vibrate!. Reviews: YouTube . Tags: cell phone etiquette , president obama , video .
Tue, June 30, 2009
Paper Speaker: Japanese company sells DIY cardboard speakers
It seems Japanese papercraft art isn't limited to Origami or Pellermodels but also has something in store for us gadget fans. Case in point: The Paper Speaker [JP], announced yesterday by Tokyo-based Princeton for use with your PC (or any device sporting a USB port). Designed like a retro audio device, the speaker will be shipped to you as a DIY cardboard kit. Buyers essentially get a 3W amp and 1W speaker (mono), just housed in a paper box and ready to be plugged into your PC via USB. Princeton offers the 60g-kit in three different versions (pictured above) for $22 each. As the Paper Speaker is Japan-only, people living outside Nippon will need to ask the Japan Trend Shop or Geek Stuff 4 U to get one for them (Michael Keferl from CScout Japan/the Japan Trend Shop writes about the kit in his blog , too).
Tue, June 30, 2009
Video: DIY transformer
Not much to say about this DIY transformer except that it's pretty darn cool. It can transform from a car, walk, and even right itself if it falls. It could use some cool styling - maybe they could stick it into a Yugo body or something - but it's still much better than anything I ever made in school. via Make .
Fri, January 30, 2009
VisualPin Will Plot Your Videos On The Map
Australian start-up VisualPin allows users to "geocode" their videos by adding a Google Map to each different location in a video, with the map appearing to the side of the video. Here's one of the best examples on the site . To be honest, I find the map somewhat distracting from watching the video but I think it could be useful when it comes to documenting travel, news or current events. The technology creates a virtual location table of contents, allowing the user to click on a marked location to find the corresponding video content. This appears to be a variation of existing technology that embeds YouTube videos in Google Maps listings . Also Google Maps mashups became particularly useful for news media sites during the inauguration; CNN , Oprah. com and WashingtonPost. com all featured geocoded mashup videos from inaugural events in Washington D. C. Perhaps NBC's Today show could use this technology for its next Where in the World is Matt Lauer series. Crunch Network : CrunchBoard because it's time for you to find a new Job2. 0.
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