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| Engadget Japan meetup wrap-up and farewell Japan!
October 16, 2009 at 12:41 am
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| So there are ways to wrap up trips and there are ways to wrap... up... trips. After four weeks of Engadget souls roaming the trains of Tokyo for TGS and CEATEC, we finally closed things out with a massive reader meetup with Engadget Japan. About 500 rabid (but very friendly) Engadget Japan fans lined up in Roppongi to meet the editors and see some mind-boggling, sometimes hysterical, and always interesting presentations. Thanks to Maywa Denki for his artistic impressions of Engadget readers (and the amazing Otamatone musical...thing). Also big ups to Samo Dengi (composer of music for Tekken), Cerevo, Acer, Microsoft, and Sony. But most of all, thanks to our amazing readers world-round, and thank you Japan! We are humbled, honored, and oh, so tired. See you next year! Rainen mata oaishimashooo!
Filed under: Announcements Engadget Japan meetup wrap-up and farewell Japan! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Motorola Droid startup teased, obnoxious robot voice and all (video)
October 16, 2009 at 12:01 am
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| | None too long after its first headshot was posted did Motorola Droid (a.k.a. Sholes) make a covert encore appearance, only showing off this time the startup process. It provides a bit more evidence -- as if we really needed any -- that the phone's bound for Verizon's network, and any Android customizations, at least from the initial glance, are nothing to write home about. One things' for certain: we'll be looking for a way to turn off that "Droid" voice from speaking every time we power up the phone. Video after the break. Continue reading Motorola Droid startup teased, obnoxious robot voice and all (video) Filed under: Cellphones Motorola Droid startup teased, obnoxious robot voice and all (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| World Wide Web creator sorry for the '//' and other things that don't matter
October 15, 2009 at 11:02 pm
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| | Tim Berners-Lee, the man credited with creating the World Wide Web, recently said that his only real regret about the whole shebang is forcing people to type out the (essentially unnecessary) double slash after the 'http:' in URLs. Speaking at a symposium on the future of technology, he noted (in reference to the dreaded marks) the paper and trees people could have saved from writing out the marks, as well as the human labor spent in the typing of them. Hey Tim: don't sweat it! You've done us enough good turns that we're willing to overlook it. Filed under: Software World Wide Web creator sorry for the '//' and other things that don't matter originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Ask Engadget: Best iPhone 3G (3GS) alarm clock / radio?
October 15, 2009 at 10:02 pm
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| We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Bora (from Turkey, he'll have you know), who is sick and tired of waking up to bleeps, wails and static-filled tunes not on his iPhone.
"I own an iPhone 3G and I'm looking for a decent speaker / alarm clock for it. I am going to listen music in a mid-sized room, so I want nice quality speakers with solid bass. I also want to use it as an alarm clock, so it would be great if there is such a feature. The price can be low-mid to mid-high range. I was looking at the Klipsch iGroove SXT; it's powerful, slick and the reviews are good, but it doesn't have an alarm clock feature. It's no deal breaker if I can set it up from the iPhone, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I'm open to recommendations. Thanks!"
Don't front -- we know a big swath of you loyal iPhone owners out there also have some sort of docking alarm clock / radio, so why not share your experience(s) with yours? It's easy, we promise.Filed under: Ask Engadget Ask Engadget: Best iPhone 3G (3GS) alarm clock / radio? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Samsung i5700 Galaxy Lite renamed Spica, spied and specced in Italy
October 15, 2009 at 9:08 pm
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| At long last, some apparently definitive details on Samsung's i5700, the handset formerly known as Galaxy Lite and now reportedly called the Spica. Italian site Cellularmania has a pretty exhaustive hands-on gallery and a much-coveted list of specs for the lime green HSDPA Android vessel. We're looking at a 3-inch AMOLED screen with 384 x 240 resolution, a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus, 1500 mAh battery, accelerometer, GPS, FM radio... and yes, sad but unsurprising, it's soft-rocking a 528MHz Qualcomm processor. Unlike our last glimpse, there now seems to be that requisite Android home bottom on the right side of the lower panel, but no such luck for any trackball. We're also lacking price or release date details for any region, but at least for US enthusiasts, we're pretty confident that you shouldn't get your hopes up, given how the i7500 has been relegated stateside.
[Via Slashgear]Filed under: Cellphones Samsung i5700 Galaxy Lite renamed Spica, spied and specced in Italy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| CEIVA Pro 80 digiframe accepts new images from MMS, networked PCs
October 15, 2009 at 8:24 pm
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|  Timely, no? Exactly a year to the day after the CEIVAlife and CEIVAshare went on sale, the creator of those has decided to out its first digiframe since, and we've got to say -- the Pro 80 is a refreshing change of pace in the drab digital photo frame world. Aside from accepting images via the traditional means (USB, memory cards and telepathy), this one can also take in new pixels via a cameraphone or computer... wirelessly! The built-in WiFi module enables networked PCs to pass along slideshows, while PicturePlan customers ($6.95 per month) can send photos in from their mobiles. In case that's not nearly enough to excite you, there's also free CEIVA Channels (ABC News, ESPN, etc.) to keep you occupied. She's all yours for $179.99, or $147.99 if you snag it this holiday season.Filed under: Digital Cameras, Displays, Peripherals, Networking CEIVA Pro 80 digiframe accepts new images from MMS, networked PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Robotic 'mood tail' is everything you hope it to be, and more
October 15, 2009 at 7:43 pm
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|  Why hang on to your emotions when you can wag them proudly with a robotic mood tail? Sure, you may never have asked that question yourself, but intrepid DIYer Wei-Chieh Tseng seemingly has, and he's done something about it. Apparently, the tail makes use of the ever dependable Arduino and an RFID reader to detect different emotion cards that set off varying degrees of tail-wagging, or you can simply control the tail yourself using a Wii nunchuck -- because, why not? Did we mention there's a video? Check it out after the break. Continue reading Robotic 'mood tail' is everything you hope it to be, and more Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wearables Robotic 'mood tail' is everything you hope it to be, and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| The Engadget Podcast, live...now!
October 15, 2009 at 7:28 pm
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| | It's that time again -- join Josh, Paul, and Nilay as they break down the week in news during the Live Engadget Podcast. We'll be starting at 6:30PM EST, but the chat room below is open, so settle on in! Continue reading The Engadget Podcast, live...now! Filed under: Podcasts The Engadget Podcast, live...now! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Free iPhone apps can now include in-app purchases
October 15, 2009 at 7:11 pm
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| One of Apple's many curious restrictions on iPhone apps has now been lifted. It used to be that, in order for developers to have microtransactions / in-app purchases, they had to charge something upfront for the software, essentially requiring consumers to pay at least twice, or not at all. Well, all that's changed, as the company has sent word to its developer community that the restriction has been lifted, meaning those annoying "Lite" and "Full" versions cluttering the app store can now be one and the same, with folks downloading the demo and paying to upgrade from within the app itself, a model that's worked to success in other software ecosystems like Xbox Live. Sure, there's gonna be developers out there that abuse the newly-minted business model, but it's not like anything was stopping them before when they charged $2 upfront only to get you again later. The mass email announcement is reprinted after the break. [Warning: read link requires iPhone developer account]
[Via Daring Fireball]Continue reading Free iPhone apps can now include in-app purchases Filed under: Cellphones Free iPhone apps can now include in-app purchases originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Samsung Pixon 12 phonecamera hybrid gets tested
October 15, 2009 at 6:46 pm
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| | It's probably best to think of Samsung's Pixon 12 not as a phone with a killer camera, but more so as a good point-and-shoot with phone capabilities tacked on. Our friends at Engadget Chinese managed to get some hands-on with the device, and while they say the voice and SMS portion is nothing to write home about, the form factor and AMOLED screen seems quite nice and the sample pictures come out even nicer. Hit up the read link for some odd, machine-translated text and pretty photography. Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras Samsung Pixon 12 phonecamera hybrid gets tested originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Entelligence: Cloud's illusions I recall
October 15, 2009 at 6:15 pm
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| Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.  It's been the story of the week. T-Mobile Sidekick customers were told that all of their data might be lost and warned not to turn off their devices to prevent losing what's already on them. It's about the worst case nightmare scenario for any vendor and it underscored the weakness and vulnerability of cloud-based computing with no other means of backup and storage.
The Sidekick story is complicated, and there's much rumor and speculation as to what went wrong and how. To be clear, Sidekick is a T-Mobile branded-and-sold device and service, but the Sidekick technology comes from Danger, a former startup now owned by Microsoft, which T-Mobile pays to keep Sidekick going. Trust me, there's going to be lots of finger pointing and perhaps a few class-action lawsuits before this all comes to an end. While finger pointing is fun, it's not the issue. (And, as grandpa used to say, when you point your finger at someone else, three fingers point back at you.) Some argued with me last night that cloud computing is perfectly safe, it's the company deploying that you need to look to. OK. I accept that. Only thing is that Danger's been doing this pretty well since 2002 and at no point did I ever see a single warning from anyone that dealing with T-Mobile, Danger or Microsoft might be a bad idea when it comes to personal data solely living in the cloud.Continue reading Entelligence: Cloud's illusions I recall Filed under: Cellphones, Misc. Gadgets Entelligence: Cloud's illusions I recall originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Pocket steel drums aren't made of steel, aren't really drums (video)
October 15, 2009 at 5:52 pm
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|  You'd be surprised how many requests we get for more gadgets that help our readers celebrate their love of the Caribbean culture and music. Luckily for us, the kids at Vat19 are now hawking a mini steel drum set that seems like it just might do the trick (that is, if the 'trick' can be 'done' by putting more red, yellow, and green-colored crap on your desk). By all accounts, this thing is pretty unexceptional -- it'll let you bang out an 8 note major scale, let you record your performance, and that's about it. Hell, it doesn't even really sound like steel drums! But the distributor did manage to get it to play Just A Friend by the incomparable Biz Markie -- and in our eyes, that's definitely worth a mention. All the same, we're rather have the Stylophone Beatbox. Yours for $18.95. Video after the break. [Via Engadget German] Continue reading Pocket steel drums aren't made of steel, aren't really drums (video) Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Pocket steel drums aren't made of steel, aren't really drums (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| PSP to HDMI, all with one giant converter box
October 15, 2009 at 5:29 pm
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| Props to Lenkeng for dressing up their otherwise anonymous VGA-to-HDMI converter box with a PSP-related angle -- the LKV8000 comes with the necessary cables to take your PSP-2000 or above's 480p video output and push out a 720p HDMI signal complete with stereo audio. Not a bad idea -- except that we can't think of an HDTV that lacks either component or VGA jacks and that doesn't have a built-in scaler to do the same job. Maybe you're just out of ports? In any event, this guy needs a Stateside distributor before we can tell you pricing or availability, so you're stuck swapping cables for a while, Sparky.
[Via Oh Gizmo!]Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio, Portable Video PSP to HDMI, all with one giant converter box originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| 250GB PlayStation 3 Slim coming to US November 3rd
October 15, 2009 at 5:04 pm
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| It's no Uncharted 2 bundle ( hello, Europe), but US gamers will indeed be getting their own 250GB PlayStation 3 Slim bundle, due to hit stores on Novvember 3rd for $349.99, just one Ulysses S. Grant more than the 120GB model. No other difference beyond the storage capacity, and of course you can always swap out the 2.5-inch SATA drive yourself with warranty kept intact. Holding out for some limited edition artwork or PS2 compatibility? Keep on dreaming. Filed under: Gaming 250GB PlayStation 3 Slim coming to US November 3rd originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Memorex MyVideo pocket camcorders are content to fit the mold
October 15, 2009 at 4:52 pm
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|  Memorex has never exactly been one to go out on a limb with its consumer electronics, and it looks like that's especially true of its new MyVideo pocket camcorders, which the company itself doesn't even bother to go into much detail about in its press release -- other than that they'll let you "zoom in on life's moments before they zoom out," of course. A bit more digging turns up some expectedly standard specs, however, including 4GB of memory and an HDMI port on the MyVideo HD model and 2GB and no HDMI on the MyVideo VGA, along with a two-inch screen and the usual integrated USB connector on each. Then again, they do just cost $99.99 and $129.99, and seem like a prime candidate for discounts in the run up to the holiday season. Filed under: Digital Cameras Memorex MyVideo pocket camcorders are content to fit the mold originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| txtr's e-reader offers a 6-inch e-Ink display, plenty in the way of Teutonic content
October 15, 2009 at 4:21 pm
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|  Word of an e-reader from txtr GmbH -- an platform for online document hosting and storage -- has been making the rounds for a while now, with the thing finally making the leap from vaporware to full fledged gadgethood at the Frankfurt Book Fair yesterday. Built around an ARM11 CPU and a 6-inch grayscale e-Ink display, this guy features support for ePub format documents, microSD card storage (ships with 8GB) and access to your documents either via USB, WiFI, or the txtr Net wireless service -- which, as near we can tell is Germany-only -- where you can expect to pay about €14.99 ($22) a month for a three month contract or $11.99 ($18) per month for the year. Among the many enticements offered to lure you away from Amazon (or, perhaps, Barnes and Noble), the company is promising that this will be an entirely open platform for devs, and they're throwing in a novel by Thomas Klupp (which, as far as we can tell, is only available in German). Pre-orders start December 1st, 2009 for €319 ($477), with plans to get these guys in European and American customer's hands before Christmas. PR after the break. [Via NewGadgets.de] Continue reading txtr's e-reader offers a 6-inch e-Ink display, plenty in the way of Teutonic content Filed under: Handhelds txtr's e-reader offers a 6-inch e-Ink display, plenty in the way of Teutonic content originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| 10/GUI interface looks to redefine the touch-enabled desktop
October 15, 2009 at 3:58 pm
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|  Redefining the way we interact with computers is a pretty ambitious task as far as things go, but that's just what R. Clayton Miller is looking to do with his so-called 10/GUI project, and he may just be onto something. Miller begins with the notion that the traditional mouse-based interface lacks the "interaction bandwidth" afforded by multitouch interfaces, and that touch-enabled desktops (or laptops) are inherently problematic since they can't be used for prolonged periods of time -- even a flat surface will do a number on your neck if you use it all day. To solve that problem, Miller proposes separating the touch surface from the display and placing it below the keyboard in the form of a large, hybrid capacative / resistive touch panel. That's just the beginning, however, and Miller has also devised a whole new interface that makes use of all your fingers, and a new linear means of displaying windows that strikes a balance ease of use and the ability to manage numerous applications. Of course, there are some drawbacks -- you'd still likely pull out a mouse for Photoshop or a marathon Left 4 Dead session -- but we'd certainly be curious to see how this would play out in practice. Head on past the break for a full video overview. [Via Slashdot] Continue reading 10/GUI interface looks to redefine the touch-enabled desktop Filed under: Desktops, Software 10/GUI interface looks to redefine the touch-enabled desktop originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Technocel PowerPak pulls double duty as portable battery and home charger
October 15, 2009 at 3:37 pm
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| Wouldn't it be nice if your home phone charger could double as a charging device itself when taken on the road? Yes, yes it would. Technocel undoubtedly agrees, as its PowerPak does just that. When plugged into a standard wall outlet, it can simultaneously charge whatever USB device is plugged into it (amongst others, considering the bundle of tips that are included) and juice up its internal cell; once unplugged, the integrated battery can provide enough power to a dead mobile to let you yap for around three hours, or just enough to make it through whatever sobfest your ill-willed SO has planned for you next week. It's expected to go on sale in around a fortnight at various retail locations and Sprint stores.
Continue reading Technocel PowerPak pulls double duty as portable battery and home charger Filed under: Peripherals Technocel PowerPak pulls double duty as portable battery and home charger originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| All-weather Satsports GPS handles navigation duties for snow bunnies, other athletes (video)
October 15, 2009 at 3:13 pm
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| Ripxx is already targeting athletes-in-training with its GPS-enabled Personal Measurement Device, but it looks as if that very unit may have a little competition. Satsports GPS claims to be the world's first device to combine "true real time interactive navigation for skiing, snowboarding, golfing, running, cycling and automotive enthusiasts in a portable, all-weather device." Granted, it's not like you couldn't get your hands on a rugged navigator before, but the software here is what takes things to another level. It promises athletes real-time routing and data logging, and after your runs are through, you can sync the data with Google Earth to get a good look at what all you just accomplished. As for specs, you'll find a 2.7-inch touchscreen, 400MHz Samsung processor, a microSD expansion card and a SiRF Star III antenna. Oh, and if you're not down with dropping $490 on this, you can opt for the Satski, Pocket Caddy and / or Sports Log apps for WinMo and Android. Check the details in the press release and demo vid after the break.
Continue reading All-weather Satsports GPS handles navigation duties for snow bunnies, other athletes (video) Filed under: GPS All-weather Satsports GPS handles navigation duties for snow bunnies, other athletes (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Acer's dual-boot Aspire One AOD250 netbook gets doubly official
October 15, 2009 at 2:51 pm
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|  Alright, so we've already seen this one in the wild and up for pre-order, but it's not everyday that someone releases a dual-boot Android / Windows XP netbook, so we can understand Acer wanting to get extra official with its new Aspire One AOD250 model. Of course, this one's about as standard as it gets once you move beyond its dual OS nature, including an 10.1-inch WSVGA screen, Atom N280 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and a six-cell battery. You can get it in your choice of four different colors though, and the $349.99 list price is certainly right for anyone looking for an easy way to jump into Android. Filed under: Laptops Acer's dual-boot Aspire One AOD250 netbook gets doubly official originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| First Sidekick class-action lawsuits predictably get underway
October 15, 2009 at 2:26 pm
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| | Our usual rule is to ignore attention-seeking class-action lawsuits until they make it past the critical step of being certified by a judge, but we think it's pretty wild that the Sidekick debacle has already resulted in two separate suits in two different states. That's a turnaround time of just a few days, really -- and now that Microsoft is saying it can restore most of the lost data, it'll be interesting to see if these cases can push on past the early stages. Both the California and Washington state cases allege that T-Mobile misled customers into thinking their data was secure, but for some reason we're particularly amused at the California case filed by aspiring model and singer-songwriter Maureen Thompson, who says she lost "photos and song lyrics" she'd entrusted to her Sidekick -- honestly, what judge can't relate to her situation? Filed under: Cellphones First Sidekick class-action lawsuits predictably get underway originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Finland says that 1Mb broadband is a right, not a privilege
October 15, 2009 at 2:03 pm
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|  - Whereas all of those old episodes of Dexter available on the torrent trackers are not going to download themselves.
- Whereas no man or woman in a civilized society should be denied access to Garfield Minus Garfield.
- Whereas Finland has a population 61 times smaller than that of the United States.
- Whereas no household deserves to be "farther than 2 kilometers from a connection capable of delivering broadband Internet with a capacity of at least 100 megabits of data a second" (unless, of course, you're "in far-flung corners of the country," in which case you're out of luck).
- Whereas this is the same nation that brought the world Nokia and public restrooms that can only be accessed via SMS.
- Now, Therefore YLE reports that FINLAND has made 1-megabit broadband Web access a LEGAL RIGHT starting in JULY 2010, with the ultimate goal of making 100Mb available to all in 2015. Now APOCALYPTICA has no excuse for never updating its MySpace page.
Read - Finnish government promises fast broadband by 2015 Read - 1Mb Broadband Access Becomes Legal Right Filed under: Networking Finland says that 1Mb broadband is a right, not a privilege originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Phil Schiller on Windows 7: "No matter how you look at it, it's still Windows"
October 15, 2009 at 1:39 pm
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|  Windows fans expecting Apple to let Microsoft have its moment in the sun next week when Windows 7 launches should probably know better by now -- the Mac maker is actually planning a marketing counter-offensive to hit alongside 7's debut. According to Phil Schiller, the convoluted upgrade path from Windows XP to Windows 7 represents a big opportunity for Apple, since users have to back everything up and reformat. "Any user that reads all those steps is probably going to freak out. If you have to go through all that, why not just buy a Mac?" Well -- we're sure most of you can think of several reasons. Of course, Microsoft has long said that most people will actually get Windows 7 when they purchase a new machine, which is one reason we're seeing such an absolute flood of interesting and innovative new PC hardware -- but Phil seems to remember that was also the company line about Vista, and homeboy isn't backing down. "We've been through these transitions before, and no matter how you look at it-it's still Windows." Harsh burn, amigo. Any last predictions? "I expect Snow Leopard will have an amazing upgrade rate, and Windows 7 won't." We thought you might say something like that. Good thing we're giving Steve Ballmer a chance to respond live on the air next week, no?
[Via AppleInsider]Filed under: Software Phil Schiller on Windows 7: "No matter how you look at it, it's still Windows" originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Fitbit review
October 15, 2009 at 1:16 pm
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|  It wasn't that long ago that a bathroom scale was the only gadget you needed to track weight loss. Today even videogame consoles, once the bane of the fitness industry, are trying to help you recycle that spare tire, and of course there's no shortage of specialty doo-dads getting in on the action. The Fitbit is one of those, a little accelerometer that pledges to keep an eye on what you do so that you can just go ahead and do it, reporting back at the end of the day on how well you did at staying active. It sounds nice, but it's not quite that self-sufficient. Read on to see if it's worth the commitment. Continue reading Fitbit review Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wireless Fitbit review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| HAVA media streamer for iPhone available now
October 15, 2009 at 12:55 pm
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|  Just a quick note to all you HAVA Player enthusiasts: the iPhone app that the company announced at CES is finally ready for public consumption. Available from the App Store (of all places), the software lets HAVA owners control it all remotely -- including cable, satellite, and your DVR. What's more, you can stream your recorded programming right onto the handset for all those times when you can't stand to be apart from Jim Kramer. Supports iPhone and iPod touch with (OS 2.2.1 or higher) and will run you $9.99. PR after the break. Continue reading HAVA media streamer for iPhone available now Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment HAVA media streamer for iPhone available now originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| New Archos 5 with Android unboxed, meets its chubby predecessor
October 15, 2009 at 12:34 pm
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| | The folks at Pocketables have an Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet with Android in house, and after the requisite unboxing they've put it up against the older, wiser Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet original. It's not quite a fair fight, since the Android model shown here has 32GB of flash storage compared to the old IMT's 250GB HDD (there's also a HDD option for the new Android tablet, a whopping 500GB), but there are some other notable differences like materials and curves. Thankfully for Archos fans those differences don't break compatibility with the optional Archos 5 mini dock, and overall the Android model seems to have just a slight bit of "premium" vibe to it. Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video New Archos 5 with Android unboxed, meets its chubby predecessor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Google clarifies plans for Google Editions ebook store launching next year
October 15, 2009 at 12:11 pm
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| | Despite the fact that nobody reads anything anymore, the ebook market sure is hot lately, with Barnes & Noble about to make some sort of big splash and now Google getting in on the action in a new way. After shaking up the industry quite a bit with its Google Books initiative, Google is going to offer paid ebook purchases in its new "Google Editions" store in the first half of next year, which has been bumped back from the 2009 launch originally planned. The store will offer somewhere in the range of 400,000 and 600,000 books (compared to the 100,000ish offered by Sony and the 330,000+ on Kindle), and prices will be set by publishers, with Google collecting 55 percent of the profits and supposedly sharing much of that with "retail partners." The books will be available to any device with a web browser, but will be available offline after they've been accessed the first time -- that sounds like Google Gears to us, but since phones and other devices are mentioned for compatibility, hopefully there's more to it than just a browser-based reader. Filed under: Software Google clarifies plans for Google Editions ebook store launching next year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| How-to guide details PS/2 keyboard-to-iPhone mod, just for you
October 15, 2009 at 11:50 am
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| Oh sure, we've seen hacker after hacker brag about their success in connecting some sort of keyboard to Apple's iPhone, but have any of them bothered to take the time to explain the process behind the magic? Exactly. The man behind AwghBlog, however, is a kinder, gentler soul, and he's found the time to detail in quite specific terms how he connected a legacy PS/2 keyboard (you know, the one you're not using any longer) to Apple's cash-cow of a smartphone. Best of all, the guide actually explains how to build a PS/2 keyboard-to-iPhone converter, so you're not necessarily tied to a certain board. Hit the read link if you're down for a weekend project.
[Via MAKE]Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals How-to guide details PS/2 keyboard-to-iPhone mod, just for you originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Logitech's G110 gaming keyboard announced
October 15, 2009 at 11:27 am
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| The just announced Logitech G110 gaming keyboard is the followup to the G11 -- and it shows. Aesthetically, it's a bit tamer looking than the previous version. This bad boy boasts customizable red and blue backlighting LEDs, 12 programmable G keys, three M keys, automatic game detection which allows you to create custom profiles for each game, plus integrated headset support (definitely going to need that), and a USB 2.0 port. There's no word on pricing or availability for the G110 quite yet -- we'll keep you posted. Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals Logitech's G110 gaming keyboard announced originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Nokia N920 leaked, keyboardless and harboring a capacitive touchscreen?
October 15, 2009 at 11:06 am
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| We got the briefest of N920 mentions the other day courtesy of Mobile-review, and now we're supposedly looking at it, in all its touchscreen-only glory. The wild news here is that supposedly has a 4.13-inch capacitive touchscreen, which is a good and bad thing: good because capacitive will undoubtedly make touchscreen typing more feasible, bad because as far as we know Maemo won't support capacitive until version 6, meaning we could be in for a wait -- we're already hearing February of next year at the earliest, with spring or summer 2010 being more likely for this device, and Maemo 6 is due even later than that. Of course, this could all be lies and Photoshoppery (there's some oddness to the lighting in the picture, particularly on the edges of the device), but at least we know Nokia is headed in the capacitive direction one way or another for primarily touchscreen-driven devices.
[Via Unwired View]Filed under: Cellphones Nokia N920 leaked, keyboardless and harboring a capacitive touchscreen? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Altec Lansing FX3021 Expressionist Plus reviewed, deemed good value
October 15, 2009 at 10:43 am
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| | Speakers might be among the worst hardware to assess online. What do 36 watts of power output and a 40Hz to 20kHz response range tell you about the actual audio quality? A kindly soul over at Macworld has tried to clear that up for us with a review of Altec Lansing's prettified Expressionist Plus 2.1 setup. The tiltable satellites score design points for their looks, though that all-important sound output was deemed only middle of the road. Real bass response begins at somewhere around 70Hz and the midrange is, well, middling, though treble definition is considered rich and well detailed. The reviewer also notes that while the design is attractive, the positioning of the power button and extra audio input on the subwoofer makes for awkward day-to-day use. On the whole, with online prices in the vicinity of $75, this looks like a decent value, so hit up the full review if your interest has been piqued. Filed under: Peripherals Altec Lansing FX3021 Expressionist Plus reviewed, deemed good value originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Intel's Pine Trial Atom D510 already spotted in Chinese nettop
October 15, 2009 at 10:19 am
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| Remember when we first heard that a mythical Atom D510 was on Intel's roadmap way back in June? Yeah, turns out that memo was spot-on, and while the chip maker has since gone official with the next-gen architecture, we've yet to see it within any machine outside of a trade show floor... until now. Halfway around the world, the KND K1850 all-in-one nettop is said to be packing a dual-core 1.66GHz D510 (Pineview) chip, an 18.6-inch display, 250GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM and a DVD drive. There's also inbuilt WiFi, a 3-in-1 card reader and a few USB ports, though there's no indication that it'll ever ship to anywhere outside of Asia. 'Course, about four billion other machines from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo will, and you can bet your bottom dollar that they'll all have the exact same specifications. Oh, joy.
[Via Slashgear]Filed under: Desktops Intel's Pine Trial Atom D510 already spotted in Chinese nettop originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video)
October 15, 2009 at 9:54 am
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| Want to know just how prevalent technology has become in our lives? Now even lab mice get Quake-derived virtual reality playgrounds to navigate instead of their old school wooden mazes. In all honesty, this appears a significant and praiseworthy advancement, as the Princeton team have succeeded in mapping brain activity right down to the cellular level, with real-time tracking of single neurons now possible. The Orwellian-looking setup above is necessary in order to keep the mouse's head immobile, and thus capable of being studied, while the animal moves around and its brain performs motion-related tasks. Go past the break to see a schematic of the scanner and a quite unmissable video of it in action.
[Via Switched]Continue reading Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video) Filed under: Science Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Jailbroken iPhone gets Expose-like view, you retail users just keep on scrollin' (video)
October 15, 2009 at 9:33 am
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| | How many apps do you have on your iPhone? Yeah, we figured it was a lot. Being able to re-arrange items now is mighty helpful, but not so helpful as this little hack from Steve Troughton-Smith that adds Exposé-like functionality to the mix. Just press the Home button and up pops a view of all the application pages; tap one and you're taken straight there, as shown in the video after the break. Nice and simple -- and at this point not available even to jailbroken handsets. We're sure that'll change soon, but it's anybody's guess if or when Apple will add something like this to the official OS. Yet another reason to go ahead and roll your own. Continue reading Jailbroken iPhone gets Expose-like view, you retail users just keep on scrollin' (video) Filed under: Cellphones Jailbroken iPhone gets Expose-like view, you retail users just keep on scrollin' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Nokia posts $834 million quarterly loss, smartphone share down to 35%
October 15, 2009 at 9:12 am
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|  Nokia just posted a net loss of 559 million euro (834 million dollars) for the third quarter -- its first quarterly loss in a decade according to the AFP. The loss comes after a reported 20% drop in sales and 1.17 billion euros in write-downs, mostly for impairment charges on Nokia Siemens Networks. Nokia also said that its smartphone market share dropped to 35% versus 41% in the previous quarter. With fierce competition from Apple and RIM, and Palm just launching its Pre into Nokia's European stronghold, well, it's a good thing Nokia's branching out into untapped markets like single-core Atom-based netbooks.
Read -- First loss in a decade
Read -- Nokia Q3 statementFiled under: Cellphones Nokia posts $834 million quarterly loss, smartphone share down to 35% originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| PURE's Elan II does DAB time-shifting on the go
October 15, 2009 at 8:51 am
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| Okay, yes, we know that domestic radio is a bit passe these days, but DAB is still kicking strong, and everybody likes portable tuners that can pause and rewind. Such is PURE's Elan II, which isn't quite as lovingly styled as the EVOKE-1S or as feature-packed as the Sensia, but it provides a cheeky '80s look and offers the company's ReVu technology, allowing 15 minutes of pausing, rewinding, and fast-forwarding of live radio. It'll do FM too, naturally has a line-in for your choice of PMP, and will rock out plug-free for an impressive 35 hours when you fit an optional battery pack, which looks to cost about £25. The radio itself is £99.99, and since we get no DAB love here in the States we won't bother converting those numbers into their dollar equivalents.
[Via Shiny Shiny]Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio PURE's Elan II does DAB time-shifting on the go originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Ekahau's T301W Wi-Fi wristband wirelessly tracks kids, wandering grandparents
October 15, 2009 at 8:18 am
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| | What's the best technology to use to track people who like to wander off? You might be inclined to say GPS, but stagger into a cave or basement (or, sometimes, a city street) and suddenly you're off the grid, man. Not with Ekahau's T301W wristband: it uses Wi-Fi to beam location information. Yes, we know that your average cave doesn't have Wi-Fi, but Ekahau has a range of beacons available that will fix that, and when in the presence of those beacons (or any other configured Wi-Fi network) a wristband can be located to within a few feet. It's the latest of a variety of similar devices from Ekahau, but the first small enough and waterproof enough to be wearable, which has the company envisioning everyone from cruise ship captains to secret service agents slapping these on their visitors. At $60 a pop, though, we're not sure how many organizations will be able to afford that many. Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wireless Ekahau's T301W Wi-Fi wristband wirelessly tracks kids, wandering grandparents originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| BlackBerry Bold 9700 official on T-Mobile Germany, November launch confirmed
October 15, 2009 at 7:48 am
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| Perhaps the worst kept secret till now -- outside of Walt Mossberg's embargo slipups -- was that T-Mobile and the latest BlackBerry flagship device were set for a November marriage. Hell, there were even invitations to the party. So, whether you call it the Bold 2, the 9700, or the Onyx, come next month you'll be able to lovingly place its 480 x 360 display, WiFi antennae and all that other hotness in a Curve-sized space inside your pocket. We can expect this first official confirmation to be followed by similar appearances in the US and across Europe as the 9700 begins its ascension to the throne of the BlackBerry kingdom.
[Thanks, Richy]Filed under: Cellphones BlackBerry Bold 9700 official on T-Mobile Germany, November launch confirmed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Logitech Notebook Kit MK605 asks 'what multitouch revolution?'
October 15, 2009 at 7:25 am
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| Logitech, the company that's dropped more than a billion mice in our laps, is back with a glossy, gold-accented new laptop accessory kit. There's not an overwhelming amount we can tell you that you can't already see above, so we'll go ahead and point out that the laser mouse (M505) and keyboard duo are controlled wirelessly via Logitech's teeny tiny Unifying Receiver (which comes as part of the package), and the laptop stand is capable of accommodating machines with screens up to 15.6 inches diagonally. The riser also has three elevation levels, while the keyboard packs a full numeric pad -- something at least Excel-loving accountants should appreciate. Expect the set to show up in Europe and the US this November with a price around $100.
[Via Electronista]Filed under: Laptops, Peripherals Logitech Notebook Kit MK605 asks 'what multitouch revolution?' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| MorphOS for Amiga adds Mac mini support, someone in Europe is delighted
October 15, 2009 at 7:07 am
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|  Amiga owners are a loyal bunch. And they have to be -- stuck with a machine frozen in time (even if OS 5 was claimed to be "better than OS X") and little in the way of support, the manner in which they've stubbornly stuck with the platform over the years can only be described as a labor of love. If you've been wondering what all the fuss is about but no longer have a PowerPC-based Amiga system handy, the MorphOS Dev Team has just announced that its latest -- MorphOS 2.4 -- now supports Mac mini G4 machines. Available now, you can either hit the read link to download for yourself, or wait until the upcoming Amiga user group meeting in Bad Bramstedt, Germany. You know, whatever you find more convenient. As for us, we're going to go play a game of Ooops Up! for old time's sake. [Thanks, Antti Jarvinen] Filed under: Desktops MorphOS for Amiga adds Mac mini support, someone in Europe is delighted originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Zoom's high-fidelity Q3 pocket camcorder ships to America
October 15, 2009 at 6:27 am
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| Hailed as the first and only handheld video recorder to record HD audio, Zoom's Q3 Handy Video recorder is definitely a unique offering amongst the legions of me-toos. After being announced in July and tickling our senses right around a month ago, the Q3 has finally begun to ship en masse to eager consumers. Just in case you've forgotten, this bugger records 24-bit/48 kHz audio via a pair of condenser microphones, gets powered by two AA cells and captures video at 640 x 480 (30fps). There's also a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 LCD and an SDHC card slot, though you'll have to shell out $249 in order to get this kind of technology into your own pocket. Order up, kids!
Continue reading Zoom's high-fidelity Q3 pocket camcorder ships to America Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video Zoom's high-fidelity Q3 pocket camcorder ships to America originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Microsoft recovers 'most, if not all' Sidekick customer data
October 15, 2009 at 5:45 am
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| Steve Ballmer must have busted out his secret stash of magic dust, as Microsoft has just come out with the announcement that it has recovered "most, if not all, customer data" that was lost during the recent Sidekick debacle. Following the wildly embarassing fiasco attributed to a "system failure that created data loss in the core database and the back-up," T-Mobile and Redmond have "rebuilt the system component by component" and now promise to restore data to affected users in the most expedient fashion possible. Guess that means you won't be getting $100 from T-Mobile for losing your Tetris high scores after all.
[Thanks, Abe G.]Filed under: Announcements Microsoft recovers 'most, if not all' Sidekick customer data originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Vodafone puts BlackBerry Storm2 up for 26 October preorder
October 15, 2009 at 5:34 am
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| And it's out. The BlackBerry Storm2 (model 9520) just made its first official carrier appearance with Vodafone. The promising followup to the much maligned BlackBerry Storm will be free on pay-monthly contracts from £35 on up. Specs include a 3.25-inch 360 x 480 pixel capacitive SurePress (new and improved) touchscreen display, 802.11b/g WiFi and 2100MHz UMTS/HSPA data, 2GB of onboard memory with microSDHC expansion, 3.5-mm standard headset jack, 3.2 megapixel camera with video recording, built-in GPS, Bluetooth 2.1, and 1400mAh battery giving about 6 hours of 3G talk. BlackBerry OS 5 too, of course, when it lands on October 15th in the UK, Ireland, Germany, The Netherlands, and Spain -- France, Italy, and South Africa in time for Christmas.
[Thanks, James]
Read -- Press Release
Read -- Pre-orderFiled under: Cellphones Vodafone puts BlackBerry Storm2 up for 26 October preorder originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Motorola to introduce eight OPhones on China Mobile next year, celebrate intensely
October 15, 2009 at 4:36 am
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| | Motorola may be pinning its comeback hopes on the CLIQ here in America, but it obviously has some rather large plans for the world's largest carrier, too. An admittedly perplexing report has surfaced purporting that the creator of the iconic i776, er, RAZR, is fixing to distribute not one, not two, but eight OPhones to China Mobile next year. For those unaware, OPhone is an Android-based OS tailor made to operate on the aforesaid carrier and cater to its customers, and to date, quite a few other manufacturers have jumped on board over there. Sadly, no actual details about the eight Moto handsets were given, so it looks like it's just you, a cup of joe and your hyperactive imagination for the time being. Filed under: Cellphones Motorola to introduce eight OPhones on China Mobile next year, celebrate intensely originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Laughably large Red Light Camera Detector proves that you should just drive safely
October 15, 2009 at 3:38 am
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| Just a hunch here, but we get the feeling that you've gone one step too far when you decide to install a red light camera detector in your vehicle that's larger than a) your GPS unit and b) the bag phone you used between the years 1991 and 1994. For those bold enough to disagree, there's the wild and wacky device pictured above, delivered to you by none other than Hammacher Schlemmer. Packing an internal database of 6,000 red light and speed cameras across the US and Canada, the GPS-enabled device also boasts a 1.6-inch OLED screen to show your position in relation to upcoming cameras, and of course it'll belt out all sorts of warnings to help you avoid the inevitable. Of course, you could just follow the rules of the road, but then you'd have no excuse to burn $199.95 up front and $19.95 annually on this heap. Tough call, no?
[Via NaviGadget]Filed under: Transportation Laughably large Red Light Camera Detector proves that you should just drive safely originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Giant Android eclair delivered to Google by even bigger nerds (video)
October 15, 2009 at 2:37 am
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| By now you should be familiar with Google's confectionary codenames for its Google Android OS: version 1.5 (Cupcake), 1.6 (Donut), 2.0 (Eclair) and version x.x (Flan). What you probably didn't know is that Google honors each release by dropping a steaming hot foam facsimile onto its front lawn. Historically, the arrival of the giant Donut at the GooglePlex was followed by the 1.6 developer release of Android just a few days later. Don't get too excited though, last we heard Eclair wouldn't arrive until Q2 of 2010 for consumers. Video and another view of the nerds "gone wild" just after the break.
[Via TechCrunch]Continue reading Giant Android eclair delivered to Google by even bigger nerds (video) Filed under: Cellphones Giant Android eclair delivered to Google by even bigger nerds (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Acer debuts stylish, multitouch-enabled Aspire Z5610 all-in-one PC
October 15, 2009 at 2:01 am
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|  We had heard that Acer had some touch-enabled Windows 7 devices in the works, and it looks like the company is now finally starting to deliver on that promise, and then some, with its new Aspire Z5610 all-in-one PC. Boasting a 24-inch HD touchscreen with full multitouch support, this one rounds things out with some decent if unremarkable specs, including a Pentium Dual Core E5300 processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD4570 graphics, 4GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive, among other standard fare. It's the design of the desktop that's sure to turn the most heads, however, and while Acer's claim of it being a "timeless piece" might be a bit of a stretch, there are certainly plenty of touches that are a cut above the rest -- we're especially curious to see how the illuminated strip between the LCD and soundbar works (it's designed to light up the keyboard in the dark). Best of all, this one packs an MSRP of just $899, and should be available sometime this holiday season. Filed under: Desktops Acer debuts stylish, multitouch-enabled Aspire Z5610 all-in-one PC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments | | | 
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