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| Nintendo quietly reveals pink and blue Wiimotes for Japanese market
October 9, 2009 at 12:38 am
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| Rumors of a rainbow-splashed Wii and Wiimote lineup have been running for just about ever now, and while we've seen Nintendo cave and offer a black Wii, blue Wiimote and black Wiimote in select locales, the company has yet to push colors in a big way as it has on the DS lineup. Hopefully, all that's gearing up to change. At a small, quaint retailer event over in Japan, the Big N revealed that a blue and pink Wiimote would hit the Land of The Rising Sun on December 3rd, though pricing on the new hues remains undisclosed. In related news, a few new Japan-only Wii console / game bundles were also made public, and while the Samurai Warriors 3 package will indeed include a glossy black Wii, you'll need a round-trip ticket to Akihabara in order to claim one as your own. For shame.
[Via Joystiq]Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals Nintendo quietly reveals pink and blue Wiimotes for Japanese market originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Kingston's MobileLiteG2 card reader makes your thumb look huge
October 8, 2009 at 11:42 pm
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| There's diminutive, and then there's Kingston's MobileLiteG2 card reader. The second-generation of this here reader supports a wide variety of formats (SD, SDHC, microSD, microSDHC, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo and Memory Stick Micro), and it also boasts retractable covers on each side to protect the USB connector and the memory card. At just 2.45- x 1.16- x 0.646-inches in size, there's an 87.425 percent chance that you'll lose this before the MobileLiteG3 comes out, but honestly, that's probably a-okay with Kingston. Those looking to downsize in a big way can order this bugger up for $11 (for the reader itself), $28.50 (bundled with a 4GB SDHC card) or $46 (bundled with an 8GB SDHC card).
[Via OhGizmo]Filed under: Storage Kingston's MobileLiteG2 card reader makes your thumb look huge originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| PSP Go Rewards program hitting DRM-laced brick wall
October 8, 2009 at 10:50 pm
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| Needless to say, none of this applies to the Americans in attendance, but for international PSP Go buyers looking forward to taking advantage of Sony's PSP Go Rewards program, the always user-friendly DRM seems to be putting a solid kink in those enjoyment plans. According to a growing number of users at the official European PlayStation boards, an error by the name of 80109D53 is causing downloaded titles to not play back on the new handhelds. We're told that Sony is aware of the issue and is toiling away in an effort to fix things, but for now, it seems as if you can sidestep some of the risk by downloading your trio of free titles (which Sony offers if you're an existing UMD owner) directly to the PSP Go rather than sideloading 'em from a PS3. Any others having this issue? Figured out a solution? Shoot your mouth off in comments below.
[Thanks, James]Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds, Software PSP Go Rewards program hitting DRM-laced brick wall originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Ask Engadget: Best 'green' power strip out there?
October 8, 2009 at 10:13 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 Randall, who isn't ashamed of his unbridled love for Ma Earth.
"I just moved into a new apartment and have been reading about all of the new power strips out there, especially the green ones. I was wondering if you had any suggestions about which "green "power strips are out there with decent joules ratings. And when I say green, I mean power strips that have the remotes or switches to turn off all electricity flowing to certain plugs and with at least 2 plugs that are always on. I was looking specifically at sub $50 because I will need two, but if that is not possible I could be convinced otherwise. Thanks!"
Don't be afraid to wave your green pride around here, folks. If you've got a power strip that nixes vampire drain and fits the bill, spill the details in comments below. It helps everyone to help the planet, ya heard?Filed under: Ask Engadget Ask Engadget: Best 'green' power strip out there? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Dev finds Windows Marketplace DRM severely lacking, easily circumventable
October 8, 2009 at 9:36 pm
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| Microsoft's Windows Phones just left the chute a few days ago, and already it seems that ye old DRM is getting talked about -- and not in a good way. According to one Chainfire over at XDA-Developers, the so-called "copy protection" involved in keeping applications in place rather than strewn across a neighborhood of handsets is a pitiful joke, requiring just five minutes of tinkering to save the CAB files that the Marketplace app downloads to a separate folder. In other words, that relocated CAB file could be distributed to all of your friends, turning a single purchase into freeware for as many people as you know (or don't know, even). So, Marketplace devs -- does that make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, or what?
[Thanks, GreeKNastY]Filed under: Cellphones, Software Dev finds Windows Marketplace DRM severely lacking, easily circumventable originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Anxious Sprint users ordering HTC Hero now through telesales
October 8, 2009 at 9:08 pm
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| Too impatient to wait for October 11th to arrive? Yeah, we feel you. If you're up with killing a few minutes and dealing with what may end up being four or five CSRs, word on the street has it that the Android-powered Hero can be ordered this very moment via Sprint telesales. A number of members over at Sprint Users have had success in getting the phone headed their way, and one even mentioned that his SERO plan was set to remain firmly in place even with this new phone on the bill. Let us know if you stumble across similar luck in comments below, won't you?
[Thanks, JayTV]Filed under: Cellphones Anxious Sprint users ordering HTC Hero now through telesales originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| iBike Rider case for iPhone aims at bikers, people with their arms full
October 8, 2009 at 8:34 pm
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|  The iBike Rider is a wrist-mounted iPhone case designed to give you easy access to your handset as you cruise around town looking for fights. When paired with its heaphone / mouthpiece, you can listen to tunes or accept calls via the headset. Of course, if you actually wanted to place a phone call it's a simple matter of stopping the bike, removing the phone from its case, removing your gloves, and then dialing away. But once you've done all that, jump back on your "hog," look both ways before entering traffic, and you're an Easy Rider once again! This bad boy is also useful for turn-by-turn GPS instructions -- but if you don't know your way to Bass Lake by now, what kind of a Hell's Angel are you? Available now for £34.10 (about $54). [Via So Easy GPS] Filed under: Cellphones iBike Rider case for iPhone aims at bikers, people with their arms full originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Getac figures out multitouch input for gloved hands, doesn't know the meaning of 'impossible'
October 8, 2009 at 7:52 pm
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| We've seen plenty of manufacturers struggle with accurate multitouch input up against our own highly-sensitive, desperately fleshly fingers, so for Getac to be touting multitouch screens that work with ordinary gloves is certainly a wild claim. Getac's new screen uses a resistive technology -- something we've seen pull off great multitouch in the past, when it really puts its mind to it -- and can track 100 points per second at a sub-35ms response time on the Getac V100 tablet's 2048 x 2048 screen. A sealed touchscreen is naturally a boon to weatherproof applications if it's actually usable, though it's enough of a chore to stab at the smaller controls in a standard desktop UI, so we shudder to think how difficult it might be with mulch-covered work gloves.
[Via Electronista]Filed under: Tablet PCs Getac figures out multitouch input for gloved hands, doesn't know the meaning of 'impossible' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| AT&T's HTC Tilt 2 handled: it's very much a Touch Pro2
October 8, 2009 at 7:19 pm
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| Unlike the Pure's transformation from its Touch Diamond2 roots, AT&T's Tilt 2 is very much a Touch Pro2 for look and feel. Given our past experiences with the device, we'd say that'll suit the phone's business-oriented clientele just fine -- it's not like you'd want to turn it into a "fun" phone by coating it in wacky colors and preloading it with every social networking client this side of Orkut, after all. We didn't have a ton of time to pore over the interface, but we get the impression that TouchFLO is largely intact (though tweaked by AT&T, naturally) and the keyboard's different than what you'll find on the generic European version -- the top row is all symbols with a numeric pad (a little staggered, unfortunately) near the right side. Check out a few more sexily-lit shots in the gallery.
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds AT&T's HTC Tilt 2 handled: it's very much a Touch Pro2 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| AT&T CruiseCast service partner says it's 'business as usual' despite 'financial difficulties'
October 8, 2009 at 6:52 pm
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| It only just officially launched in June of this year (after fairly long build-up), but it looks like AT&T's CruiseCast in-car satellite service may not exactly be in the best of shape. As Twice reports, calls to service provider RaySat yesterday resulted in a recorded message saying that the company would no longer be supporting CruiseCast activations "moving forward," and that it wouldn't be fulfilling any more equipment orders any longer either. Curiously, the company is now singing a completely different tune today, saying that while it is "working through financial difficulties," as of right now the service is "up and running, and it's business as usual." For its part, AT&T seems to be remaining mum on the whole matter, but phrases like "financial difficulties" and "business as usual" in the same sentence are rarely a good sign, so we'll be keeping a close eye on this one.
Read - Twice, "AT&T CruiseCast Stops Activations"
Read - Twice, "AT&T CruiseCast Service Continues"Filed under: Transportation AT&T CruiseCast service partner says it's 'business as usual' despite 'financial difficulties' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Mint Studio hands-on and impressions
October 8, 2009 at 6:24 pm
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|  Digital Signature's new Mint Studio iPod dock may not look all that different than the company's previous Mint 130 model on the outside, but it's gotten a few fairly significant upgrades to its internals, which was enough to get us interested in it again. The biggest of those are some improved wireless capabilities, which still rely on the same tried and true 2.4GHz band as before, but promise an increased range of up to 100 feet (up from 45 before), and less interference from other devices thanks to some new channel-hopping technology. The real kicker, however, is that the wireless transmitter is able to support up to three of the systems simultaneously, making the Mint Studio a cut-rate multi-room audio solution of sorts -- although anyone looking for anything close to Sonos-level functionality will want to look elsewhere. Read on for our full impressions. Continue reading Mint Studio hands-on and impressions Filed under: Home Entertainment, Wireless Mint Studio hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| WSJ: Barnes & Noble planning its own touchscreen ebook reader
October 8, 2009 at 5:52 pm
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| Well, this isn't a huge surprise, since we've seen the rough outline of a nondescript, details-scarce reader from Barnes & Noble tucked away in FCCland, but the Wall Street Journal has "people briefed on the matter" who are saying the reader will be out possibly as early as next month. Word is the reader will have a six-inch E-Ink screen, with a touchscreen interface and virtual keyboard, and it will also have a wireless internet hookup to that great bookstore in the sky. With an IREX wireless reader already featuring the B&N ebook store, and a Plastic Logic device doing B&N exclusively, we'd say Barnes & Noble is certainly working this from a number of potentially redundant angles. It's unclear what particular innovation or distinction a Barnes & Noble-branded reader would bring, or who might build it, but our fingers are crossed for one particular avenue of one-upmanship: price.
[Via Reuters; thanks Tom]Filed under: Handhelds WSJ: Barnes & Noble planning its own touchscreen ebook reader originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Australian power grid attacked by virus, Linux saves the day
October 8, 2009 at 5:46 pm
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|  This isn't the first time we've heard of an institutional virus outbreak -- even the crew of the International Space Station had a neat little scare not too long ago -- and now various outlets in Australia are reporting that Integral Energy, which supplies energy to homes and businesses in New South Wales and Queensland, has suffered a particularly nasty visit by the W32.Virut.CF virus. When all was said and done, the company had to repair all 1000 of the facility's desktops. Furthermore, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that the company's anti-virus software hadn't been updated since at least February. Between the lack of anti-virus updates and the fact that segregation between the company's main network and the grid was "typically none at all" this story has all the makings of a disaster. Luckily, the grid itself runs on Sun Solaris -- and when control systems became infected, how did they fix the mess? That's right: by replacing them with Linux machines. A word to the wise: they do make anti-virus auto-updates for a reason. [Via The PC Report] Filed under: Desktops, Laptops Australian power grid attacked by virus, Linux saves the day originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| BlackBerry Messenger 5 now available, we go hands-on
October 8, 2009 at 5:20 pm
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| | BlackBerry Messenger: it's the holy grail of the BlackBerry platform, and, for many, the only real reason why they don't make the jump to another smartphone. Well, RIM has finally gone ahead and released the latest and greatest version upon the world (in an official capacity at least), and we're definitely pleased with the added functionality and other updates that they've cooked in to the app to make it even more useful and better. Be sure to check out Engadget Mobile for a review of what's hot, what's new, and what we think of it all. Filed under: Cellphones, Software BlackBerry Messenger 5 now available, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Tesla Roadster Sport gets taken for a test drive, photo shoot
October 8, 2009 at 4:54 pm
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|  Like the Tesla Roadster but think it's just not expensive enough for you? Then fear not, person we'd like to get to know, 'cause the Tesla Roadster Sport is here complete with a $19,500 premium over its less sporty counterpart. Thankfully, according to the lucky folks at Autoblog Green, you will get quite a few bonuses for that extra cash, including an improved 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds, a new suspension that can be set to one of ten different settings and, perhaps most importantly, a new set of black-finish forged wheels (paired with some Yokohama ADVAN A048 tires) that'll ensure no one mistakes it for a "low end" Tesla. Be sure to hit up the read link below for Autoblog Green's full report, not to mention plenty of pics inside and out. Filed under: Transportation Tesla Roadster Sport gets taken for a test drive, photo shoot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Archos5 Android PMP now on sale at Amazon
October 8, 2009 at 4:27 pm
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| Considering the tablet rumors swirling lately, we find it rather funny that Archos calls the new Android-based Archos5 an "Internet Tablet," but they've been doing it for so long we suppose they're allowed to cash in on the hype a little, right? In any event, the 5-inch PMP is now on sale at Amazon for in both 160GB ($390) and 32GB ($370) sizes -- yep, you can finally buy a non-phone Android device, and it's a pretty capable media player too boot, even if the usual Archos resistive touchscreen issues get in the way. Still, we know quite a few of you have been waiting for this -- anyone throwing down?
[Via Pocketables]Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video Archos5 Android PMP now on sale at Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| GSM Palm Pre to launch on Telcel in Mexico, feature storage expansion?
October 8, 2009 at 4:01 pm
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| | Well, this is interesting: we'd been under the impression that Telefonica had pretty much wrapped up a global exclusive on the GSM Palm Pre under the O2 and Movistar brands, but here we are, looking at two videos which claim that the Pre will launch in Mexico under rival América Móvil's Telcel label. That's certainly interesting -- and even more intriguingly, we're told that the gentlemen in this video are discussing storage expansion slots on the Pre, which is basically like having a conversation about Santa winning the Super Bowl in terms of Things That Are Real. Did Telcel just manage to pull the rug out from under Movistar and land what could be the best Pre of them all? We're on pins and needles, here. Videos after the break -- and if anyone wants to leave a better translation for us in comments, we're all ears. Continue reading GSM Palm Pre to launch on Telcel in Mexico, feature storage expansion? Filed under: Cellphones GSM Palm Pre to launch on Telcel in Mexico, feature storage expansion? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| iPhone OS 3.1.2 update now live, fixes sleep, network issues
October 8, 2009 at 3:34 pm
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| Apple's just posted up iPhone OS 3.1.2, which purports to fix some of iPhone OS 3.1's Greatest Bug Hits, including: Don't Wake (From Sleep), Lost Network Access, and everyone's all-time favorite, Video Stream Crash Dance. We're updating now, let us know how it goes for you in comments -- and there's an iPod touch update too, we're sure it's just as fun.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Filed under: Cellphones iPhone OS 3.1.2 update now live, fixes sleep, network issues originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Software firm finds Windows 7 doesn't boot faster than Vista
October 8, 2009 at 3:11 pm
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|  There's no question that Windows 7 promises plenty of improvements over Vista, with one of the biggest being faster boot times. While that's certainly been the experience for some, Iolo Technologies (a maker of PC tune-up software) found some significantly different results in their long term tests, which they say show that Windows 7 isn't faster than Vista at all in real world use. Specifically, they found that while Windows 7 actually got to the desktop fairly quickly, it took a full minute and 34 seconds to actually become usable, compared to a minute and 6 seconds with Vista. They also unsurprisingly found that things got worse over time, with a three-month old Windows 7 install adding a full minute to the boot time, although in that case it did actually fair somewhat better than Vista. Of course, we are talking about complete reboots here, and it's a different story when Windows 7 is simply coming in and out of sleep mode. Details on the tests are otherwise a bit light, but Iolo is promising to release its complete findings next week. Filed under: Software Software firm finds Windows 7 doesn't boot faster than Vista originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| NVIDIA halting chipset development after all
October 8, 2009 at 2:46 pm
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|  It's been about two months since NVIDIA called rumors that it was leaving the chipset business "groundless," so perhaps it's no big shock that PC Magazine is now reporting that the company is putting its nForce chipset line "on hiatus." On hiatus, that is, until the company gets a few sticky legal questions out of the way, including whether or not its four-year deal with Intel covers Core i7 processors. Thus we have the delicate line that NVIDIA walks with Intel: for the time being, the two companies need each other, but they don't have to like each other, and as the latter continues to pursue graphics integration with the CPU, manufacturers are going to be increasingly pushed towards all-Intel solutions. All this leads us to wonder if NVIDIA might decide chipsets in general are more trouble than they're worth, especially considering Intel's general attitude about them -- and whether ION might be the next on the block. Filed under: Desktops, Laptops NVIDIA halting chipset development after all originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| HTC HD2 gets itself a promo video and a website
October 8, 2009 at 2:24 pm
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| We might have to wait until next year to score the HTC HD2 Stateside, but that doesn't mean we can't all enjoy this jazzy little promo video showing off the highlights of Sense. But is the music more reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country or Iko Iko by the Belle Stars? We ask the hard-hitting questions here at Engadget. Video after the break, website at the read link.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Continue reading HTC HD2 gets itself a promo video and a website Filed under: Cellphones HTC HD2 gets itself a promo video and a website originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Light Peak supplier says mass production to start early 2010
October 8, 2009 at 2:01 pm
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| | The more we hear about Intel's Light Peak optical interconnect, the more it seems like Intel was playing it way too cool at IDF -- Foci Fiber Optic Communication, which supplied the gear used during that Hackintosh demo, told CNET today that pilot manufacturing runs of Light Peak equipment are scheduled for November, with mass production to start in early 2010. That's right on track with what we've seen and been told about Apple and Intel's plans for the tech, which forecast a line of back-to-school Macs featuring Light Peak in the fall of 2010. And, well, let's not get ahead of ourselves, but Intel was pretty high on Light Peak for devices that needed maximum connectivity in the smallest amount of space, like an iPhone -- or, say, a tablet. Quite a nice little package of rumors, don't you think? Okay, we'll calm down now. Filed under: Peripherals Light Peak supplier says mass production to start early 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Yamaha kicks out TSX-W80, TSX-70 iPod docks / clock radios
October 8, 2009 at 1:39 pm
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|  It may not go to eleven, but Yamaha's new TSX-W80 iPod dock at least pack some knobs that you'll no doubt be tempted to turn all the way up, and just the right blend of retro good looks and newfangled technology to stand out in a crowded field. That includes a so-called AirWired cradle that'll let you use your iPod or iPhone as a remote, a dock on the main unit itself to charge your iPod, and a choice of three different colors (with matching LED displays) to suit your style. Those looking for something a bit more simple and less eye-catching can also opt for Yamaha's new TSX-70 model (pictured after the break), which drops the AirWired controller but hangs onto the standard iPod dock and all the basic clock radio functionality you'd expect. No word on a release over here just yet, but it looks like both should be available in Japan shortly. [Via Akihabara News] Continue reading Yamaha kicks out TSX-W80, TSX-70 iPod docks / clock radios Filed under: Home Entertainment Yamaha kicks out TSX-W80, TSX-70 iPod docks / clock radios originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| AT&T's HTC Tilt 2 coming October 18?
October 8, 2009 at 1:18 pm
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| | AT&T's official press materials might coyly say that the HTC Tilt 2 will launch "in the coming weeks," but we just noticed that an official Windows Mobile 6.5 PR blast we got from Microsoft lists Blue's take on the Touch Pro2 as launching October 18. Sounds about right, we'd say -- anyone planning to grab one? Filed under: Cellphones AT&T's HTC Tilt 2 coming October 18? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Motion brings durable Gorilla Glass to C5 and F5 tablets, tries to break it
October 8, 2009 at 12:55 pm
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|  It's been a minute since we've heard from the gang at Motion Computing, but as always they've used the time wisely, quietly working to improve their beloved C5 and F5 slate PCs. If recent upgrades to Verizon EV-DO, WiFi n, 64GB SSDs and the like weren't enough to get you psyched for your next trip to the ER, the company is proud to announce that you can now order your tablet with some of that hardcore Gorilla Glass you've read so much about. Just how durable is the display, you ask? How would you like a video to demonstrate it? What if we told you that some vaguely U2-esque stock music provided the soundtrack? Go ahead, you know you want to -- it's after the break. Continue reading Motion brings durable Gorilla Glass to C5 and F5 tablets, tries to break it Filed under: Tablet PCs Motion brings durable Gorilla Glass to C5 and F5 tablets, tries to break it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| RIM goes pale, shows white Curve 8520 for T-Mobile and Bold for AT&T
October 8, 2009 at 12:32 pm
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| We know it's after Labor Day, but that doesn't seem to be stopping RIM from rolling out a couple BlackBerrys in bright white this season -- and who are we to accuse Waterloo of a fashion faux-pas? First up, the Curve 8520 on T-Mobile is now available, complementing the black and "frost" versions that have already landed; perhaps more interesting, though, is direct confirmation from RIM that there'll be a white version Bold hitting AT&T in mid-October. With the Bold 2 seemingly around the corner, recoloring the current model seems like an odd move -- but if they can continue to sell the Bold at a moderate discount a la iPhone 3G / 3GS, there might yet be a strategy there. The version RIM had on hand wasn't AT&T-branded, but... you know, just imagine the silkscreened logo and customized wallpaper, and you'll get the idea.
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds RIM goes pale, shows white Curve 8520 for T-Mobile and Bold for AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Fire-fighting robots head to South Korea, could face conflicts of interest
October 8, 2009 at 12:13 pm
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|  Fire fighting robots have been put to work for little to no pay once or twice before, but it seems as if the exception is slowly becoming the rule. Just recently, a smattering of fire stations in Daegu (just south of Seoul, South Korea) enlisted the help of two robotic firefighters to jump into "the center of blazing infernos" if need be. The Fire Spy Robots are fully automated and equipped with wheels, though it should be noted that their help is currently labeled "a trial run." Both of the critters were constructed by Hoya Robot and can be maneuvered via humans watching the surroundings through an onboard camera, and while the company claims that these guys can shake off temperatures as high as 500 degrees Celsius for over an hour, there's no mention of what kind of mental meltdown it would surely have should it arrive to extinguish the work of its cousin.
[Via FarEastGizmos]Filed under: Robots Fire-fighting robots head to South Korea, could face conflicts of interest originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Japanese company to sell Swine Flu-resistant suit -- because nobody wants their clothes to get sick
October 8, 2009 at 11:51 am
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|  Japan's been particularly hard hit with this H1N1 influenza marching around the globe, so maybe it shouldn't be surprising that one of its companies has come up with an "anti-flu" suit... but it still is. Japanese clothier Haruyama Trading Company has developed and is now selling a men's suit which will supposedly ward off the H1N1 virus -- not the first time we've seen this idea. The suit, which looks exactly like any other, is coated in titanium dioxide (a popular ingredient found in sunscreen and toothpaste) which reacts when exposed to sunlight and kills the virus. Nobody's really checked into whether or not these things actually work, of course, but hey -- that's part of the fun, right? If you live in Japan, you can grab one for somewhere in the neighborhood of $580.
[Via Cnet]Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wearables Japanese company to sell Swine Flu-resistant suit -- because nobody wants their clothes to get sick originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Garmin's connected nuvi 1690 now shipping for $500
October 8, 2009 at 11:29 am
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| Guess what, kiddos? Garmin's minty fresh connected PND is now shipping, and if you plan on getting your home address on one of those labels, you best break out the checkbook. The nüvi 1690 is now moving out from Amazon's warehouses, and just as promised, it's going for a penny under $500. Is real-time access to Google search, white page listings, real-time traffic and flight status updates on your GPS unit really worth all that cheddar? Maybe -- but just wait until those two years of free service expire. Good times.
[Via navigadget]Filed under: GPS Garmin's connected nuvi 1690 now shipping for $500 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Dow's POWERHOUSE solar shingles get along with non-solar siblings, your HOA
October 8, 2009 at 11:04 am
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| Oh sure, massive photovoltaic installations on rooftops are nothing terribly new, but by and large, the ones we've seen are stuck on massive warehouses or elaborate stadiums in foreign lands. Dow Chemical is doing its darnedest to change all that with the introduction of the POWERHOUSE line of solar shingles. As you'd expect, these solar shingles are aimed at roofers looking to tip their hats to Ma Earth while providing shelter for well-endowed homeowners, and unlike most of the futuristic alternatives, these actually look somewhat similar to traditional shingles. Dow claims that "affordability" will be a feature when they become widely available in 2011, but we're understandably skeptical of such a claim given just how pricey solar roofs currently are (and you know, considering the company's for-profit standing).
[Via Jetson Green]Filed under: Household, Science Dow's POWERHOUSE solar shingles get along with non-solar siblings, your HOA originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| IBM's ultra-cheap DNA Transistor dream could lead to personalized medicines, confusion
October 8, 2009 at 10:45 am
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|  Are you ready to get your nerd on? No, seriously -- are your rimmed glasses and pressed slacks at the ready? Good. IBM has just announced a full-on research project that intends to drive the cost of DNA sequencing down from millions of dollars to under $1,000. The reason? An ultra-cheap, silicon-based DNA Transistor could essentially "pave the way to read human DNA easily and quickly, generating advancements in health condition diagnosis and treatment." Moreover, it could eventually lead to personalized genome analysis and personalized medicines, meaning that your weekly dose of pills may literally have your name written on them. Just think -- with this breakthrough in place, you might just live long enough to see the Robot Apocalypse. Fun! Video's after the break.
[Via NY Times, thanks Serge]Continue reading IBM's ultra-cheap DNA Transistor dream could lead to personalized medicines, confusion Filed under: Science IBM's ultra-cheap DNA Transistor dream could lead to personalized medicines, confusion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS gets bigger, greener, easier to upgrade
October 8, 2009 at 10:23 am
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| Iomega's earlier StorCenter ix2 NAS device featured two drives in a (relatively) slim package that, with a quick stab from an Ethernet cable, served files to the entirety of your network. But, those two drives were not user-replaceable and, while it could pull data from the wilds of the internet via BitTorrent support, it provided no online access to anything within its platters. Those issues are addressed by the new ix2-200, sharing the same features as its predecessor (RAID 1, Bluetooth, DLNA, USB ports for printers or security cameras, VMware certification, etc.), but also adding drive bays that a user can access -- albeit with a screwdriver, and definitely not while the thing is powered up. It will also provide remote access over the web, and Iomega promises it's greener than before, more deftly spinning down those drives when unneeded and relying on a thriftier power supply. It will ship at sizes of 1, 2, and 4TB for $270, $370, and $670 respectively. Surely you can find your storage/price sweet spot somewhere in there.
[Via Crave]Filed under: Storage Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS gets bigger, greener, easier to upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Nissan's Land Glider concept car leans like a motorcycle, looks like a squashed GT-R (video)
October 8, 2009 at 10:04 am
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| Motorcycles are about the most efficient (and fun) way to get around, but people in this country don't seem to care too much -- maybe worried about getting smeared all over the SUV of an eager commuter talking on his cellphone while eating breakfast and shaving. Nissan's Land Glider could offer that fun and that efficiency in what looks to be a slightly safer package. The zero-emissions electric car seats two in-line and is just 3.6-feet wide, utilizing motorcycle tires that dip on one side when turning to enable leans of up to 17 degrees. The Tokyo Motor Show is just a few weeks away, where this interesting concept will be on display -- and surely many others that are even more out there. Check out a video of this one tipping precariously just after the break.
[Via PhysOrg.com]Continue reading Nissan's Land Glider concept car leans like a motorcycle, looks like a squashed GT-R (video) Filed under: Transportation Nissan's Land Glider concept car leans like a motorcycle, looks like a squashed GT-R (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| iTwin fileshares over CEATEC showfloor, Mac firmware coming early 2010 (video)
October 8, 2009 at 9:41 am
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| Since we last saw iTwin back in September, not much has changed -- two physically synced USB dongles create a AES-256 encrypted connection between two Windows machines for transferring files from anywhere in the world (provided both are connected to the internet, of course). We had a chance to see a controlled demonstration up close at CEATEC, and while it worked as well as expected it to, we're not quite sure the $99 price tag is low enough to pique our interests. We do appreciate the ability to "reverse" the flow of file sharing, but from what we gather it takes both parties to initiate the change -- clearly there's more flexibility in just setting up your own file server, but we're probably not the target audience here. If you're still interested but choose a lifestyle centered around a Mac, we were told an OS X firmware update would be available in early 2010, would apply to all existing models, and would allow both Mac-to-Mac and Mac-to-Windows transferring. Video after the break.
Continue reading iTwin fileshares over CEATEC showfloor, Mac firmware coming early 2010 (video) Filed under: Internet iTwin fileshares over CEATEC showfloor, Mac firmware coming early 2010 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Wheego Whip gets pictured, driven around at mind-blowingly slow speeds
October 8, 2009 at 8:59 am
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| | Given just how difficult it has been for even Chevrolet to get its all-electric gears going, we kind of wondered if we'd ever hear more about the Wheego Whip after it quietly faded earlier this year. Lo and behold, the low-speed city car has made an appearance at AltCar 2009, and after receiving about 100 orders, it seems the car is all but ready to begin pleasing those who shelled out just under 20 large for the privilege of a pink slip. Our good pals over at Autoblog Green were able to zip around in the car recently and serve up some impressions of the drive, and while it didn't seem to live up to the "Cadillac of neighborhood electric vehicles" claim, it definitely got the job done... at 25 miles per hour. Hit the read link for a gallery of shots and a fresh take on what a whisper quiet, low-speed driving experience is like. Filed under: Transportation Wheego Whip gets pictured, driven around at mind-blowingly slow speeds originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| PSP Go launch inspires three-fold sales increase for platform
October 8, 2009 at 8:28 am
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| Like it or not, the PSP Go is loose in the wild, sashaying around with neither physical media nor respect for sensible price-points. Nevertheless, it has generated a rather sizeable boost in interest for the PSP platform as a whole, with Sony saying that sales for all PSPs are up 300 percent over the week before the console launched. It's easy to see why, given the buzz surrounding the new iteration of the hardware as well as the hugely anticipated Gran Turismo finally coming to fruition. What we don't know is how many of those new sales were of the Go and how many were of the existing PSP-3000, a stat that would have shown whether indeed the "aspirational" new system would inspire some to just go ahead and buy the old system instead. We know which we would choose, how about you?
[Via gamesindustry.biz]Filed under: Gaming PSP Go launch inspires three-fold sales increase for platform originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Eigenharp Pico and Alpha slowly remove shroud of mystery, gets straopheric price tags
October 8, 2009 at 7:47 am
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| We can almost say with certainty that neither the Eigenharp Pico nor Alpha will actually be remembered as the "most revolutionary instrument in 60 years," but that's not stopping creator Eigenlabs from keeping its hopes high. If you'll recall, these funky instruments were unveiled courtesy of an enigmatic YouTube clip early last month, and now the outfit is slowly dribbling out official details on its contributions to the musical realm. Neither instrument is being aimed at the bargain banger, with the Alpha going for £3,950 ($6,302) and the Pico for £349 ($557). Both of 'em sport keys, a breathe pipe, a so-called strip controller and their own native soundsets, though currently they'll interface only with Macs. If you're really interested in learning something new, you can surf on over to the outfit's website for a look at the specifications -- just bring the checkbook if you're easily tempted.
Update: Looks the The Beeb snagged a little mouth-on time with it!Continue reading Eigenharp Pico and Alpha slowly remove shroud of mystery, gets straopheric price tags Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Eigenharp Pico and Alpha slowly remove shroud of mystery, gets straopheric price tags originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Funai Eco Scan projector adds multitouch capabilities to your bedroom wall (video)
October 8, 2009 at 7:11 am
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| Here's hoping every pico projector outfit on the planet is paying attention to what's going down at CEATEC, otherwise they can pretty much forget about competing with what Funai is boasting. Seen here in Japan, this prototype projector utilized a Nippon Signal MEMS scanner and a great deal of top-secret technology in order to actually add multitouch capabilities to whatever surface is lucky enough to receive the projected image. You read right -- if you use this PJ to beam up an image on your bathroom wall, school whiteboard or any other surface, you can count on that surface having multitouch capabilities while the image is live. Once projected, users simply twist and turn the image in order to have it modified in real-time, and while there are obviously far more enterprise-based uses for this than consumer-based uses, there's no denying the awesomeness. Have a peek of the beamer in action after the break, and expect it to go commercial sometime in 2010 (if we're lucky).
[Via Tech-On!]
Continue reading Funai Eco Scan projector adds multitouch capabilities to your bedroom wall (video) Filed under: Displays Funai Eco Scan projector adds multitouch capabilities to your bedroom wall (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Belkin's refreshed Easy Transfer Cable makes Windows 7 migration a little too easy
October 8, 2009 at 6:42 am
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| | Okay, so maybe nothing can really be too easy, but Belkin's really stretching things by asserting that you need a dedicated cable to use Windows Easy Transfer, an application bundled with Windows 7 and detailed by yours truly right here. At any rate, you may recall that this very outfit milked the whole upgrade situation in a similar fashion when Vista hit the scene, and now a slightly redesigned version is out to transfer files easily between your existing Vista / XP-based machines and what will become your new Windows 7 system. Of course, this thing's really only important if you're buying a new Win7 machine rather than upgrading the rig you already own, and if you're willing to pay $39.99 to have your hand held through the migration process, you can be our guest on October 23rd. Continue reading Belkin's refreshed Easy Transfer Cable makes Windows 7 migration a little too easy Filed under: Peripherals, Software Belkin's refreshed Easy Transfer Cable makes Windows 7 migration a little too easy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Sony and Toshiba demo TransferJet short-range sharing at CEATEC (video)
October 8, 2009 at 6:08 am
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| | TransferJet is still solidly in the "fledgling" stage, but it looks as if a few big time industry players have faith that consumers have a desire -- nay, a need -- for short-range, high-speed sharing. Here at CEATEC in Japan, both Sony and Toshiba were on hand with independent TransferJet demonstrations, and while the actual protocol has been in place for awhile now, it's the supporting cast (read: hardware) that has remained elusive. Toshiba was utilizing a snazzy TG01 and Qosmio laptop in order to showcase just how quickly the two could share information over the air, while Sony had us believing that pretty much everything it'll make for the rest of eternity could support device-to-device sharing. Head on past the break for a peek at the demos, but try not to get your hopes up for seeing this stuff in shipping products anytime in the immediate future, okay? Continue reading Sony and Toshiba demo TransferJet short-range sharing at CEATEC (video) Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless Sony and Toshiba demo TransferJet short-range sharing at CEATEC (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Murata Seiko unicycling robot stays upright, wows onlookers at CEATEC (video)
October 8, 2009 at 5:27 am
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| Murata Seiko, the newly improved unicycling robot that we peeked a few weeks ago, was proudly on stage with her bicycling sibling at CEATEC, and we couldn't resist the urge to swing by and see exactly how amazing her balancing skills were. Sure enough, the bot never once teetering or tottered, and while it didn't scoot around for very long, we were still impressed to see it hold itself up with no human intervention. 'Course, we won't really be wowed until she successfully navigates down a few slops on the way to San Francisco's Pier 39, but based on what we saw in Japan, we'd say that she's well on her way. Check the vid after the break if you're scouting a performance.
Continue reading Murata Seiko unicycling robot stays upright, wows onlookers at CEATEC (video) Filed under: Robots Murata Seiko unicycling robot stays upright, wows onlookers at CEATEC (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Yamaha's singing robot quietly trolls, slyly frightens at CEATEC (video)
October 8, 2009 at 4:19 am
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| | As with most robots that sing, Yamaha's demonstration at CEATEC was nothing short of terrifying. Oh sure, it's sort of impressive that the modified HRP-4C could take requests from a pre-selected list of jams on an iPhone, but after witnessing actual artists perform at Club Quattro in Shibuya, we'd say this chick has aways to go before she's accepted into the blossoming Japan music circuit. Judge for yourself after the break, Simon. Continue reading Yamaha's singing robot quietly trolls, slyly frightens at CEATEC (video) Filed under: Robots Yamaha's singing robot quietly trolls, slyly frightens at CEATEC (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Kempler & Strauss' Billionair B6 and B7 pose alongside the W watchphone
October 8, 2009 at 3:31 am
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| Kempler & Strauss -- which pretty much came out of nowhere this week to announce a pair of 3G WinMo devices and a watchphone -- is pulling out all the stops here at CTIA to get its new products noticed, so everything they've got is on display and ready to use (or in some cases, wear). First up are the Billionair B6 and B7, full touch and portrait QWERTY WinMo devices respectively that currently run 6.1 -- but we're told that 6.5 upgrades will be available by the end of the year. Neither phone looks that awesome and feel generally cheap; the B6 borrows styling cues from the original HTC Touch, to boot, so there's an overal KIRFy feel to the thing. The skin they've dropped atop the operating system is pretty uninspiring, too -- though many WinMo skins look uninspiring when they're up against something thoroughly modern like a recent build of TouchFLO 3D. The phones' saving grace might be the fact that they're cheap -- sub-$300 -- and in the case of the B7, the combo portrait keyboard / QVGA touchscreen is still a nice, sadly too-rare combo.
Turning our attention to the more interesting device of the trio, the W is a watchphone that employs a pretty standard GUI we've seen on similar models, but this one employs perhaps the most livable styling that we've seen this side of an LG GD910, and it all comes at a small fraction of the price. The touchscreen doesn't come with a traditional stylus, per se, but instead you get a "communicator" accessory that functions as a combination stylus / Bluetooth handsfree / remote control -- pretty cool, although we'd feel pretty silly (and sad) if we misplaced it. At $200, we could almost justify buying one of these just for the sheer novelty of it -- just don't expect desktop-class browsing on that display, and you should be a happy camper.
Filed under: Cellphones Kempler & Strauss' Billionair B6 and B7 pose alongside the W watchphone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
| Samsung Galaxy i7500 pops up unlocked on Newegg
October 8, 2009 at 2:48 am
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| Sorry, subsidy fans, Samsung's Galaxy i7500 still isn't be offered by any carriers, but if you're jonesing, a listing for the Android-enhanced handset has made its way unlocked onto Newegg's website. It's got quad-band GSM and tri-band UMTS, it theoretically should work on T-Mobile's 3G network, one of the few we can recall -- either way you'll still have GSM support for T-Mo and AT&T. Entry fee will be a Lincoln coin under $590; mum's the word on ship date, but now that the groundwork's been laid out, at least we know it's an inevitability.
[Thanks, Dayson]Samsung Galaxy i7500 pops up unlocked on Newegg originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments | | | 
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