Animated Tattoo uses Electronics under Skin

 
Looks like there is a new technology that may be showing up in your local tattoo shop. This self contained system is the latest and greatest way to mark yourself. Unlike a normal tattoo this one can be changed over and over. The battery back is built in and will need to be replaced every [...]

Soundtrack T-Shirt

LOL.. have to get one of these …. Does your life seem dull and uninteresting compared to the drama and action of movies and television? Whether you’re brushing your teeth, walking your dog or chatting up that cute girl in chemistry class you need the appropriate music and sound effects to enhance the experience. [...]

iPassConnect - combines Wi-Fi and 3G into one simple service

Since most Wi-Fi hotspot services have limited coverage, mobile professionals often must cobble together access through a complicated and expensive combination of high hourly or day rates and individual subscriptions for their favorite cafés, local airport, and preferred hotel chains. With broadband speeds generally only available outdoors and in major cities, 3G alone is not [...]

Super-slim BenQ T60 mobile phone

Check out the New BenQ T60 mobile which measures a mere 8.9mm in thickness, and sports a spacious 2.2-inch QVGA TFT LCD display, a rarity for a phone this slim. It also has a built-in camera with 3.2 megapixel photo output, and a high-quality multimedia player.

A glossy stainless steel back tapers to a [...]

Hexapod draws with a Pen

 
Matt Denton from Micromagic Systems has taken his cool Hexapod robot and allowed it to have some fun wih a pen! The results are very interesting.
"Using B.F.Hexapod with an additional floating pen attachment, and a utility I wrote to convert DXF files into translation commands for my p.Brain controller, I have got the start of [...]

Next generation Xbox 360 with built-in Blu-ray coming in 2008?

Filed under: Gaming, HDTV

Ok, here we go again. Despite Microsoft's attempt to quash Xbox 360 Blu-ray rumors, they're back... with a vengeance. According to "industry sources" speaking to DigiTimes, Lite-On is developing built-in Blu-ray Disc drives for the "next generation" Xbox 360 game console. Lite-On is expected to begin shipping the new BD players for assembly in the second half of 2008. DigiTimes also claims that the new, presumably smaller Xbox 360 will reduce the power supply from 210-watts to 170-watts. So... care to comment, Microsoft?

Update: As noted by our readers, Falcon-based 360s are already running at 175-watts.

 

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Motorola's Z9 with GPS goes for a ride on AT&T

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

Just like we heard, AT&T is now offering Motorola's MOTO Z9. $150 (after $50 on-line discount and 2-yr contract) nabs the new slider with GPS for AT&T's rebranded TeleNav service -- now called AT&T Navigator. It's also stuffed with microSD expansion, stereo Bluetooth, and quad-band GSM with WCDMA 850/1900 supporting 3.6Mbps HSDPA data. Surprisingly, the 2 megapixel camera we saw in the early prototype last year has been whittled back to 1.3 megapixels. Come on Moto, what's 0.7 megapixels between friends?

[Thanks, Mark and Orhan C.]

 

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Greenhouse's absurd 8x optical zoom kit for cameraphones

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Guess what's going to happen when you bolt Greenhouse's 8x optical zoom onto your pathetic little cameraphone lens? Right, 8 times the slop. Nevertheless, we're curious to try the kit -- which includes the tripod and universal lens mount -- ourselves. Just not ¥8,800 (about $88) curious.

Gallery: Greenhouse's 8x optical zoom kit for cameraphones

[Via Akihabara News]

 

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HPI's G-Dog sniffs out your human wreckage

Filed under: Robots

HPI Japan just conjured up GR-001's new best friend: the G-Dog. The DIY, four-legged robot with a taste for jugulars and what appears to be a sword for a tail stands just 5.3-inches tall and features the same control unit and sensors of his bipedal buddy. Presumably, G-Dog will only respond to street-wize greetings of "Whut up Gee?" and "'Sup Dawg?" at which point he'll lubricate his turf (aka, your carpet). G-Dog is expected to terrorize Japan sometime in July for around $1,000. Backside front, after the break.

Continue reading HPI's G-Dog sniffs out your human wreckage

 

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Colorware gets ahold of Guitar Hero axes -- we're in love

Filed under: Gaming

If you thought a Colorware'd DS Lite was the new heat, get a load of this. The company famous for making gadgetry of all kinds look its best has turned its talents on the iconic Guitar Hero axe, and we must say, we're infatuated. Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 thrashers are all invited, and while users can join the revolution for as little as $198 (that includes the title and a painted instrument), current slingers can send their guitar in and get it colorized for as little as $99. For those on a budget, we strongly recommend not clicking the links below. Those completely unafraid of purging their wallet on impulse buys can go ahead.

[Thanks, Adam]

Read - Colorware's Xbox 360 guitar
Read - Colorware's PlayStation 3 guitar
Read - Colorware's Wii guitar

 

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T-Mobile snags the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 on April 14th

Filed under: Cellphones

April 14th -- just like we expected, that's the date T-Mobile subscribers will gain access to the WiFi totin' BlackBerry Pearl 8120. Unlike AT&T's offering, that's WiFi for voice and data thanks to T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home service. EDGE data, 2 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, 3.5-mm headphone jack, SureType keyboard, and microSD / SDHC expansion for your multimedia round out the specs quite nicely. Now all we need is the price, right T-Mob?

 

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Sega dissolves Korean subsidiary, nixing $330m Yokohama arcade complex

Filed under: Gaming

Aside from planning to axe 400 jobs as part of Sega Sammy's most recent "turnaround efforts," the outfit will also be closing the doors to its Korean subsidiary. Currently, Sega Korea is "handling the domestic distribution and sales of video game software, as well as the operation / sales of amusement facilities and machines," and reportedly, the closure will be executed in the name of "global business optimization." As it stands, there's no set date for the branch's dissolution, but just in case your smile wasn't turned upside-down already, the company also stated that it would discontinue the development of a ginormous $330m arcade complex slated for construction in Yokohama, Japan -- if you couldn't guess, that one's being shuttered so the firm can "focus its efforts on its core business to improve its performance" in short order. Seriously though, what the hell kind of company would spend $330m on arcade, anyway?

[Via Joystiq, image courtesy of USMC]

 

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Verizon XV6900, Motorola Q9c, and LG enV(2) out on verizon

Filed under: Cellphones

Just in case you missed it, the Verizon XV6900, Motorola Q9c, and LG enV(2) are all finally launched on Verizon. Head on over to Engadget Mobile for the full details.

 

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SIM2, Dolby showcase 46-inch HDR display prototype

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Well, would you take a look at that. Right on cue, Dolby and SIM2 are collaboratively showcasing a 46-inch 1080p display built around the former firm's high dynamic range technology. The HDR-enabled LCD HDTV boasts 1,836 LED-based backlight units (designed / developed by SIM2), a full 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, brightness level greater than 4,000 cd/m2, an "infinite" contrast ratio, 16-bits of luminance and a Xilinx Virtex field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) chipset. Additionally, the prototype employs a design created by Giorgio Revoldini, and while we can't imagine hearing of a release date anytime soon, the two firms aren't wasting any time putting the new set on a world tour to presumably wow onlookers. Hey SED, you taking notes here?

 

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NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX already popping up in stores?

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, Peripherals

We got this photo in from reader Ryan, who found a small cache of NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX cards at Best Buy, each priced at $360 for 512MB versions. Can they just release these things already?

[Thanks, Ryan]

 

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Pleo finally learns to sit with Life OS 1.1

Filed under: Robots

Although Pleo just got upgraded to v1.0.2 earlier this month, UGOBE is taking the Life OS to 1.1 and adding a laundry list of features to boot. Initially available for install only through an SD card (download via USB should hit within a few weeks), the update enables your favorite dino pet to sit, sing a variety of melodies, call for attention, get sick (coughing / sneezing) and change attitudes based on how much attention it gets. As these things always go, there's also the promise of a few unannounced inclusions ("strange habits," as it were), and it should be noted that previous downloads -- Holiday, Love-struck, MySkit, Yapt, etc. -- will need to eventually be re-downloaded in new versions to be compatible with the Life OS 1.1 update. Give the read link some attention to check out the changes, and fire up the download while you're over there.

[Thanks, Caaahl]

 

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Sony's HDR-SR12 1080/60 camcorder gets reviewed

Filed under: Digital Cameras, HDTV

Sony launched the hot little HDR-SR12 HD camcorder in a overwhelming barrage of new models at CES, so it hasn't really gotten the love it deserves, but the crew over at CamcorderInfo recently took one for a spin and found that while the $1399 cam isn't the cheapest option out there, it's still a strong competitor to popular options like the Canon HF100. Although the video bitrate is a bit lower than the Canon at 16Mbps, image quality was overall comparable due to the Bionz image processor and Exmos CMOS sensor, which is the same chip found in Sony's Alpha DSLRs, and it's got the most storage available at 120GB. The only other potential dealbreaker is the fixed 60i framerate, but if shooting in 30p or 24p isn't important to you, the HDR-SR12 looks like it's worth a spot on your list.

 

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AT&T seeing executive shakedown?

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Details are still shaky, but GigaOM is reporting that the futures of certain AT&T executives may also be dubious. In addition to a recently replaced CTO and recently departed USi CEO, apparently VPs are being offered exit packages or demotions (their choice!), possibly to trim some of the fat at the top of the pyramid before the US economy gets any crappier. We can't say for sure, but hey, those billions of dollars in 700MHz auction funds have to come from somewhere -- immediately, too, you don't want the FCC sending over hundreds of goons to kneecap thousands of employees. AT&T had no comment on matters both of downsizing and the FCC's mafia-like collection practices.

 

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iPhone Dev Team claims to be dismantled, Pwnage tool dead for good? Update: nope.

Filed under: Cellphones

April Fool's day joke? Could be, but we're hearing it might be real: the long standing bastions of iPhone hacking, the iPhone Dev Team, posted a note to their site stating that "[today] the DevTeam was approached by an unnamed party to sell all of the intellectual property and related applications. After much consideration [What, hours? -Ed.] the offer was accepted and the [Dev Team] has ceased." Seems a bit outlandish. For those not in the know, the Dev Team is the same group that posted jailbreaks to 2.0 (before it was out), 1.1.3, 1.1.1, developed the AnySIM unlock, and are thiiiis close to releasing the Pwnage tool (which promised total unsigned firmware control of the iPhone). So yeah, it may well be a prank, we wouldn't put it past them. Funny thing about the hacker community though, one goes down and 10 more spring up.

[Thanks Andrew, Erica]

Update: Yep, it's an April Fool's joke. We're just going to go offline until April 2nd, peace.

 

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Arkansas school has an 11-year-old IT department -- no, really, an 11-year-old

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Seeing as our high school network hijinks pretty much led to semi-permanent suspension, our barren hearts were actually warmed by the story of 11-year-old Jon Penn, who has been in charge of his elementary school's 60-machine network since last year. The previous network administrator at the Arkansas school simply up and left, leaving the IT systems in shambles -- and in the hands of Jon's mom, the school librarian. Jon's since scrubbed the aging Windows 98 machines of their accumulated viruses and spyware, and he's installed a firewall and virus / spam filter to keep things clean while he works out a plan to move to Windows 2000 and centralized system management. Right now though, Jon's got his hands busy doing everything from fixing everything from paper jams to revising server configurations, and it sounds like he's having a ball -- he says he's been testing out virtualization products lately, and he's studying up for A+ technician certification this summer. Looks like school's a lot more fun when you're running the show, no?

[Via Switched]

 

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Palm Centro hits the magical one million mark

Filed under: Cellphones

Palm's miniscule and wallet-friendly Centro has managed to reach one million units sold since its launch last September. It got its legs working as Sprint and AT&T's gateway smartphone at that fantastic $99 pricepoint, and now it's making a bid for world domination in major markets in Europe and Asia. The one million sales have it nipping at the heels of recent superstar smartphones, the two million plus HTC Touch and the four million plus iPhone, not bad company in the least.

 

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BUG+EDU educational discounts unveiled for little hackers

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Bug Labs announced in January that it'd be busting out a BUG+EDU program for getting units into the hands of impressionable youngsters, and now that they've sold out of the first crop of units they're getting those educational discounts off the ground. Students (with relevant ID) can now purchase modules at a 10% discount, while K-12 schools and secondary education institutions can buy Bug for 25% off. K-12 schools can also participate in Bug giveaways, while undergrad and postgrad programs can develop coursework in conjunction with Bug -- long story short, some kids out there are going to get themselves some fun edumicatin'.

 

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General Dynamics UK touts near real-time 3D maps for soldiers

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

It looks like soldiers could one day have their own tab key of sorts to call up detailed, 3D maps at will, at least if the folks at General Dynamics UK have their way. As Physorg reports, they've developed a "near real-time" 3D map system that makes use of an array of different technologies including LIDAR, thermal imaging and x-ray backscatter techniques to not only display buildings and streets, but objects and people inside buildings as well. The use of LIDAR also promises to provide measurements of doors, windows, and alleys with "millimeter accuracy." All that obviously makes the system, dubbed Masthead, slightly less than portable, however, although General Dynamics says it'd be able to be carried in the back of a military vehicle or civilian 4x4, or in a plane for that matter. Of course, like most such projects, General Dynamics isn't just setting its sights to military applications, with it also touting Masthead's potential benefits for police forces in planning security measures for large events, to name one example.

[Via Physorg]

 

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Hitachi intros short-throw CPX3 WXGA projector

Filed under: Displays

It looks like Hitachi is aiming to give those normally confined to XGA projectors a bit of a boost, with its new CPX3 model not only boasting a slightly more home theater friendly WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution, but some short-throw capabilities as well. Exactly how short that throw is isn't clear, however, with Hitachi only going so far as to describe the projector as boasting a wide-angle lens that'll let you use it "close to the screen with no obstructions." Apart from that, the 3.9-pound projector is fairly standard fare, with it packing 2,000 lumens of brightness, HDMI input, and a built-in 1 watt speaker, along with some security measures sure to please more business-minded types. While there doesn't appear to be any official word on a price from Hitachi, a couple of retailers seem to already be selling it for around $1,000.

 

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Nokia WiMAX N810 appears in the wild

Filed under: Handhelds

The WiMAX version of Nokia's N810 internet tablet has already popped up on Nokia's European site, lending creedence to all those whispers about a CTIA debut tomorrow, and now we've got units showing up in the wild, which is probably a good sign. There were apparently some other shots of this bad boy on Flickr, but they've since been removed -- let's hope tomorrow brings us some official beauty shots, eh?

 

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Caracol one handed keyboard

Check out the Caracol one handed keyboard concept, its a computer keyboard that absolutely rubbishes all convention and takes to an entirely new approach to simplify typing. You can type blindingly fast and all that just with one hand. For this, Caracol, uses a rotary keyboard on a wheel through which you slip your palm. [...]

James Bond Style Bluetooth Dental Microphone

This James Bond Style Bluetooth Dental Insert Microphone is described as the “ultimate bluetooth handsfree”. It’s a super small microphone packaged with solar panel and battery to provide the most portable unit yet. The composite resin filling is designed to fit in a hole 2.2mm in diameter and 1.7 mm deep and it will pick [...]

USB Car Charger

This funky car outlet expander will let you plug three gadgets into one 12V car outlet; which means now you can plug your massaging backrest, your GPS device, and your iPod transmitter all in at once. And not only that, but there is a 5V USB port too! Which can be used to charge your [...]

LiMo Platform Release 1 gets loosed, R2 to come later this year

Filed under: Cellphones

Don't look now, but mid-2008 is almost here, and for those waiting intently for the release of a LiMo SDK, you're one step closer to having your dreams realized. Announced today, the LiMo Foundation has made available what it calls the "first globally competitive, Linux-based software platform for mobile devices." According to Morgan Gillis, executive director of LiMo Foundation, the consortium is hoping that R1 will "spur rapid innovation and contributions from all LiMo members," and it's restated that software development kits for Native, WebKit and Java operating environments are set to launch during the second half of this year. Not one to sit idly, the entity has also announced that Release 2 is currently "being specified and developed," and should escape testing and greet the real world in late 2008.

[Via PhoneScoop]

 

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Deutsche Telekom / T-Mobile demands Engadget Mobile discontinue using the color magenta

Filed under: Cellphones

So last week Deutsche Telekom, owners of the global T-Mobile brand, sent Engadget a late birthday present: a hand-delivered letter direct from their German legal department requesting the prompt discontinuation of the use of the color magenta on Engadget Mobile. Yep, seriously.

Granted, we get nastygrams from angry tech companies practically every day, but rarely regarding anything that's not some piece of news we published that they're livid about having out in the open. And irony of ironies, this whole use-of-magenta thing is precisely the topic we took up last year on behalf of DT.

We spoke with David Beigie, vice president of corporate communications for T-Mobile US, who offered: "As a trademark owner, from time to time Deutsche Telekom looks at usage that could lead to confusion in the marketplace. The letter sent by DT merely outlines these perspectives and is meant to simply open a dialogue. Engadget continues to pioneer forums for discussion of wireless industry developments and innovation. T-Mobile respects the role Engadget and its readers play in advancing dialog on these important topics."

So in the interest of that open dialog we've posted Deutsche Telekom's letter below (typo in the first word of the first sentence and all), as well as a handy guide to allay any confusion should you suddenly find yourself disoriented and trying to buy your next SideKick or MDA from Engadget Mobile.

P.S. -Not an early April Fool's joke.

	Deutsche Telekom	Engadget Mobile
Cellphone carrier	Yep	No
Distributor of telecom equipment	Yep	No
Likely to be mistaken for T-Mobile / Deutsch Telekom	We certainly hope so	No
Former state-owned monopoly	Yep	No
Has something against US 3G	Apparently	No
Has more than five friends	Might not anymore	Yep

Gallery: Deutsche Telekom / T-Mobile demands Engadget Mobile discontinue using the color magenta

 

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Cybook Gen3 e-book reader gets reviewed

Filed under: Handhelds

Bookeen's Cybook Gen3 e-book reader has been a long time coming, but now that it's out in the wild we're finally starting to get some reviews of the device, including this fairly thorough one from the folks at The Future of Things. Unfortunately for those looking forward to the reader, they found it to be quite a mixed bag. On the upside, they found the device to be thin, light, small and fast, with it also boasting solid battery life and, most importantly, a screen that's "very comfortable" to read, even outdoors. They were also impressed with the Cybook's RSS support, and the Mobipocket format used for e-books. On the downside, the page flip mechanism proved to be "cumbersome," and they found that the current firmware left a lot to be desired, with them even going so far as to say that it felt like it was "rushed to the market too soon." They were also somewhat disappointed by the lack of SDHC support, and a lack of wireless connectivity (be it 3G or WiFi). They also point out, however, that none of the e-book readers out there are perfect, so if you're in the market for one you'll just have to pick the trade-offs you're willing to live with.

 

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HP goes all out with Blu-ray-packin' Pavilion laptops for Europe

Filed under: Laptops

HP's not one to let its laptops sit on the shelf too long without a revamp, and it's now let loose yet another raft of updates for its Pavilion line, albeit only in Europe for now. The big news here is the addition of Blu-ray drives across the board, which obviously replaces the HD DVD option previously found on the models they're replacing. That desirable feature finds its way onto the new Pavilion dv2800, dv6800 and dv9800 series models, which boast 14.1, 15.4, and 17-inch displays, respectively, along with your choice of Core 2 Duo or Turion 64 X2 processors, integrated graphics or NVIDIA GeForce 8400M or 8600M (depending on the model) and even a Blu-ray burner on the 17-inch model. If you're looking for something other than a traditional laptop, HP's also busted out an update to its monster HDX-9000 desktop replacement series in the form of the HDX-9300, and a new Pavilion tx2300 tablet PC (only the former boasts a Blu-ray drive). Otherwise, you can expect the HDX-9300 to pack Penryn T8100 or T9300 processors, 3GB of RAM standard, and a beefy NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS graphics card, while the tx2300 rolls in with a Turion 64 X2 TL-60 processor, 2GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 graphics, and a DVD burner standard. No word on pricing or availability for any of 'em just yet, unfortunately, nor is there any word of a release 'round these parts.

Read - Notebook Italia, "HP Pavilion dv2800, dv6800, dv9800 with Blu-ray"
Read - Notbeook Italia, "HP Pavilion HDX9300 and tx2100 tablet PC"

 

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DisplayLink releases beta drivers for OS X

Filed under: Displays, Peripherals

Folks hanging on the Mac side of life have surely been waiting in tense anticipation for DisplayLink to become OS X friendly, for like, ever. As promised, the first drivers have emerged in order to give Intel-based Macs (yes, MacBook Air and Mac mini are included) the ability to connect with up to four monitors over USB. Granted, the beta software has no 2D acceleration and no OpenGL 3D acceleration, but both limitations are known and will hopefully be ironed out in the final release. So, what are you waiting for? Tap the read link below to get your download on -- but be sure to read up on the documentation before forging ahead without a care in the world.

[Thanks, Mike]

 

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MSI's 13.3-inch VR340 laptop ain't too pretty, special

Filed under: Laptops

MSI seems to be in quite the contradictory mood, as that "Innovation with Style" slogan certainly doesn't apply to the laptop it's plastered on. We had to triple-check to ensure the VR340 wasn't actually introduced ages ago, but in fact, this 13.3-incher is incredibly fresh. Packed within the way-too-heavy 4.85-pound frame is an elusive dual-core Intel CPU, WXGA panel, up to 3GB of DDR2 RAM, dual-layer DVD burner, a trio of USB ports, 5-in-1 multicard reader and a six-cell battery for good measure. Mum's the word on a price, but chances are that won't hurt too many feelings.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

 

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Man left with $12k in damages after Circuit City GPS install gone wrong

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

Installs gone wrong certainly aren't all that uncommon, but the tale told by one VTECnical of the 8thcivic.com forum is undoubtedly a cut above the rest, and could well have you reconsidering that suction cup option. As VTECnical tells it, he bought a Pioneer AVIC Z2 GPS unit and some other components from Circuit City last July for more $3,000 and decided to let their installers do the installation work for him -- apparently after he was told that it'd slide into his Honda Civic without any modifications.The problems then allegedly began when the installer whipped out a heat gun, which was purportedly intended to be used to mold a mounting guide for the GPS unit but instead wound up melting one of the Civic's heating ducts. As if that wasn't enough, the installer apparently also used tape to hold the GPS unit in place, installed the antennae on the inside of the car instead of the outside, and used a glue gun to install the speakers instead of bolting them in place. All told, that apparently not only resulted in over $12,000 worth of damages but, according to the estimate from a Honda dealership, left the car "unsafe to drive." For its part, Circuit City apparently did eventually remove the equipment and refunded the full $3,000+, but VTECnical is now left dealing with Circuity City's third party insurance company to recover the rest of the damages.

[Via Autoblog]

 

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PS3 homebrew hack found, Hello World!

Filed under: Gaming

We haven't heard much out of the PS3 homebrew scene so far, which could be due to the console's delayed popularity, or perhaps because Sony did users a solid out of the gate and included Linux. That said, there's no stopping these hardcore homebrew types when they put their minds to something, and now Dragula96, a well known PSP hacker, has supposedly found an exploit on the PS3 that let him get a little Hello World proof of concept up and running. At the moment he's not saying how he did it, but he does say the hack is working on 60GB and 40GB PS3s, running the current 2.20 firmware. Next on the agenda? Pong. Video is after the break.

[Thanks, Craig]

Continue reading PS3 homebrew hack found, Hello World!

 

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Okoro's OMS-ZX100 Media PC does Blu-ray, HD DVD and SSD

Filed under: HDTV, Media PCs, Storage

Okoro Media Systems has been offering up well-spec'd HTPCs for quite some time, but it has finally seen fit to jump on the flash-based storage bandwagon. The firm's new ZX series of Extreme Digital Entertainment Systems gets going with the OMS-ZX100, which comes standard with a 32GB SSD (for the OS and such) and a 1TB HDD for media storage. Moreover, you'll find a 3.0GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6850 processor, 3GB of DDR2 RAM, NVIDIA's 256MB GeForce 8600 GT graphics card, Blu-ray / HD DVD playback and your choice of "any automotive color" on the chassis. 'Tis a shame it costs $5,995 to even join the ZX100 club, but look to spend even more if you're hankering for a built-in CableCARD tuner and WiFi adapter.

 

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Lime green Motorola Q9c headed to Alltel, US Cellular

Filed under: Cellphones

Don't you dare say green wasn't already in style, as in all actuality, it's US Cellular and Alltel following the crowd yet again. As the run-up to CTIA 2008 continues, the aforesaid outfits have both announced that a lime green variant of the Motorola Q9c will soon be on their shelves. Aside from that, prospective customers can also snap up the WinMo 6-powered Q9c in licorice, and of course, they'll find a 1.3-megapixel camera, 2.4-inch display and 128MB of onboard memory. As for pricing, you can call Alltel's version your own for $99.99 on contract, and while US Cellular is being mum on the subject, both providers will have 'em available "this summer."

[Via CNET]

Read - Alltel's announcement
Read - US Cellular's announcement

 

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Windows XP Asus Eee PC

According to Asus, the Asus Eee PC 4G Windows XP version of its notebook will be hitting the U.S. retail market in the first half of April. The hardware is identical to the current Linux powered Eee PCand it will be interesting to see how much the new 9 inch Eee PC costs when it [...]

Orange Dream's brainwave management software gets you closer to the Matrix

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We'll be honest -- there are quite a few things about the Cyber MC brainwave management solution that remain unclear to us, but it's probably for the best. Korean startup Orange Dreams has apparently concocted some sort of eyewear / software combo that can control your brainwaves and calm your nerves, convince you that you really aren't craving nicotine or make you believe that fruits and vegetables really are more delicious than a Cadbury Cream Egg. We're not about to delve into how this thing actually intends to work, but those unafraid can give it a go next month.

[Via Hallyu Tech]

 

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ControlThink's new Z-Wave USB Adapter is firmware-upgradeable

Filed under: Household

While we have interns to switch off the lights and regulate Engadget HQ temperature, plenty of folks rely on the the Z-Wave standard for home automation. Unlucky for them, most Z-Wave adapters need to be replaced every year or so to support new protocol features, so ControlThink built what it's billing as the "industry's first upgradeable Z-Wave USB Adapter." The cute little USB dongle goes for $40, and runs at 4x (40kbps) speeds, but is backwards compatible with 1x devices. We know, you can hardly contain your excitement.

 

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Swede used 40Gbps internet connection to dry laundry

Filed under: Networking

Chances are, you could think of a million and one ways to totally take advantage of having a 40Gbps internet connection installed in your abode, but for one Sigbritt Löthberg -- who actually had such a setup -- she chose to take advantage of it in quite a perplexing way. Reportedly, the 75-year old dame wasn't too interested in downloading an entire HD film in two seconds or having ping times more minuscule than the brain can fathom; rather, she chose to use the excess heat emitted from all the kit shoved in her house to "dry her laundry." Unfortunately, the poor lady has had the gear removed from her domicile for further testing in another location, but according to Hafsteinn Jonsson, who is heading up the fiber network operation for Karlstad Stadsnät, they're considering "giving her a 100Gbps [link] in the summer -- then she'll be able to dry all her neighbors' laundry too."

[Image courtesy of TheRedWoodMotel]

 

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BlackBerry Curve 8330 launching on Verizon in May

Filed under: Cellphones

After seeing it kicked around the Net for a few months, it's good to see the BlackBerry Curve 8330 finally go live on Verizon Wireless. Well, almost -- you'll have to wait until May to lay thumb to QWERTY while riding that cool EV-DO wave of data. It'll cost you $270 after a $50 mail-in rebate and two-year contract with further discounts available when signing up for eligible voice and data plans. Your cash will be rewarded with the wee 4.2 x 2.4 x 0.6-inches / 4-ounces curve sporting a 320 x 240 pixel display, 2-megapixel camera, media player, stereo Bluetooth audio, microSD / SDHC expansion, and 260 minutes talk / 11 days standby. Unfortunately, it's missing WiFi like the early prototype and GPS like the rumored Sprint version coming in April.

Update: Sorry, scratch that. It does have GPS which Verizon touts as VZ Navigator.

[Thanks, thatguy0109]

 

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AMD brings DisplayPort to pros with ATI FireGL V7700

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, Peripherals

Hot on the heels of AMD's Radeon HD 3000 graphics card receiving its oh-so-coveted DisplayPort certification badge comes the firm's first DisplayPort-equipped card for the professionals in attendance. Hailed as the "first commercially available 3D workstation graphics card with DisplayPort support," the ATI FireGL V7700 sports a PCI Express 2.0 interface, 10-bit display engine, 512MB of onboard memory, dual-link DVI connector and a promise to handle CAD / DCC projects with ease. 'Course, we don't see you picking this one up just for kicks at $1,099, but those actually in need can place a gaping hole in their wallet in exchange for one next month.

 

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Sony's PIX brings full-length films to AT&T Mobile TV

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Video

Sony just revealed a bit more about AT&T's Mobile TV service launching in May. We now know that one of the two exclusive AT&T channels will be called PIX, Sony's new feature film channel for cellphones. The service is a first of its kind in the US... for good reason. Oh, it's not that we have anything against the roster of films including "Ghostbusters," "Philadelphia" and "Karate Kid." It's more the prospect of sitting in front of that tiny mobile screen to watch a full-length film without the ability to pause, fast forward or rewind. This is live broadcast folks. Nevertheless, Sony Pictures claims to understand the risk. According to Eric Berger, VP Mobile Entertainment at Sony Pictures Televsion, "We recognize that people are on the go with their mobile phone and coming and going. This isn't for people looking to view a movie for the first time. It's OK to miss the beginning." Films will run on PIX for a month with new additions added weakly weekly.

 

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HP’s Elite 3 megapixel stereo webcam

Check out this bizzare looking webcamera from HP. Compatible with all the major PC-based, video chat solutions out there (Yahoo, Skype, MS Messenger, AIM), the USB 2.0 cam clips onto your monitor and features a 3 megapixel CMOS camera capable of shooting video ranging from 640 x 480 pixels at 30fps quality on down to [...]

3D Spherites Floating Clock

 
I have seen lots of cool clocks but this 3D Spherites Floating Clock is one of the best yet. I didn’t think much of it until the end of the video when the guy runs his hand through the clock. Until that point I though this was simply an interesting 3D clock. The Spherites site [...]

Researchers develop human prosthesis for balance, unfortunately it's not a tail

There's hope for those of us suffering from chronic imbalance as a result of staring too long at periodic tables and 20-sided dice. It's an implant developed by neuroscientists at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. The implant looks to off-set balance irregularities in the human vestibular system caused by trauma or disease affecting the gyroscopic function of the inner ear. A microprocessor converts signals received from a motion sensor worn on the head into electrical impulses. These are then sent to an electrode implanted into the inner ear. The first test will begin next week on a rhesus monkey. A move which evokes cries of "unfair" from us -- unlike nerds, monkeys already have excellent balance.

 

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HP's Elite 3 megapixel webcam says "hello" in stereo

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Peripherals

While it may look like an overhead projector without any hints to the scale, you're actually looking at HP's (relatively) tiny Elite Auto Focus Webcam. Compatible with all the major PC-based, video chat solutions out there (Yahoo, Skype, MS Messenger, AIM), the USB 2.0 cam clips onto your monitor and features a 3 megapixel CMOS camera capable of shooting video ranging from 640 x 480 pixels at 30fps quality on down to 1,600 x 1,200 at a stuttering 5fps. It also brings a built-in stereo microphone, face tracking and Magic-i video effects software, 3 programmable buttons, and a sliding "privacy cover" which lets your date know that the camera really is, off.

 

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Digital Photo To DVD Converter

This is the compact recorder that effortlessly copies photographs from your digital cameras memory card directly onto a CD for playback on a DVD player without using a dedicated computer.
 
 
Post from: gadgettastic.com
Digital Photo To DVD Converter

Sony Rolly busts a color move

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio, Robots

Sony just turned out the Rolly music player in black. A surprise blown by the FCC just last week. At least we can wonder at the colorful end-caps at a cost of ¥1,500 (about $15) per. Of course, if you scoffed at the original Rolly, then the April 19th, Japanese release of the new ¥40,000 (about $400) dancing-speaker bot won't likely tug at your pawnshopped heartstrings either.

[Via Impress]

 

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PSP slim modded for dual analog sticks

Filed under: Gaming

Been longing for a second analog stick on your PSP? Modder LordNico's got you covered with the Razor X (seriously, where do these guys come up with their names?), a user-installable analog stick that appears to mimic the functions of your standard four button pad. (In other words, getting the games to take advantage of the controls is another matter entirely.) Apparently details of the mod will be released soon enough for those brave enough to consider relocating their power switch to the start button -- yikes.

 

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Original content coming to Xbox 360

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

We were kind of wondering when it was finally going to happen: Microsoft's inked a deal with a production company to do original content for the Xbox 360. The licensed back catalog of stuff is good and all, but this would fill that niche in between Xbox 360's digital downloads and long-promised IPTV. No word yet on when it's coming, just that we can expect the usual compliment of Hollywood pap.

 

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NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX triple-SLI rig benched

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

Looks like the first NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX cards have made their way out in the world -- officially announced or not -- and TweakTown's got the benches. Performance gains seem marginal in triple-SLI over dual, but hey, those drivers probably aren't finished and these cards aren't official, so we recommend withholding judgment until it's all legit.

 

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Apple seeds updated iPhone 2.0 beta, not many changes

Filed under: Cellphones

Looks like Apple's been passing around a new working version of the iPhone 2.0 beta firmware -- not too many changes since the last release we saw, though. So far, from what we can tell the build is now officially 2.0 (before it was registered as 1.2), the Cisco VPN settings got some tweaks, and the root-level mail / ActiveSync settings have been reshuffled a bit. We'll let you know if anything else pops up.

Gallery: Apple seeds updated iPhone 2.0 beta, not many changes

 

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Halo 3 Laser Pursuit Plasma Weapons

Check out these Laser Pursuit Halo 3 Plasma Pistol & Plasma Rifle. Clip the target/shield generator (one included with each weapon) to your belt and just like in the game, if you stay safe, your shields will regenerate. Because remember, these weapons just aren’t pretty - they are functional, too, for the most awesome laser [...]

PWNAGE - iPhone Application

The iPhone Dev Team strikes at Apple’s core with the Pwnage tool. The PWN, which is publicaly available later today, Sunday March 30th, allows you to flash custom unsigned firmware onto the iPhone or iPod touch. Essentially it is to be the iPhone hack to end all iPhone hacks, or something totally opposite of that. [...]

Wireless Gadget Charger

   
 

New gadgets are starting to come off the assembly line faster than they can be  acknowledged. This gadget however is a breakthrough. The people from WildCharge came up with a very interesting and useful device. They call it the Wild Charger. It is a pad that you can place various gadgets on to charge.This device [...]

Linux Media Recorder - Neuros OSD

At Gadgettastic we prefer our media devices hackable and preferably with a dash of Linux… the Neuros OSD Media Recorder delivers on all fronts. At the base level, the Neuros OSD functions as a media recorder and player. Connect the OSD to your TV and give it an analog video input from your DVD or [...]

Consumption Feedback Switch

Consumption Feedback Switch is a smart switch that lets you know if you have misused, over-used or smartly consumed power when you use a gadget. The smart switch produces a flashing light with a sparkle and the intensity of the spark lets you know how smartly you have used power. The spark is stronger if [...]

Windows XP-powered Eee PC laptop: $400, April 9th

Filed under: Laptops

Sounds like we've finally got a price and a date for the XP powered Eee PC: $400, and April 9th. The hardware's identical to current-gen Eee PCs, though, so if you're happy with your little white lappy and are itching for XP you might try to pick up a license on eBay. Still, if all goes well for ASUS, they'll be selling 4x what they did the first time around, innit?

P.S. -If you are, for whatever reason, itching to read more about current hardware running the 7 year old OS, Laptop's got a hands-on. Nothing that wasn't already out there though.

 

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6 way charging the easy way with Chargepod

Chargepod is flat disk of electronic organization, capable of charging up to six devices simultaneously. They chose the six most popular connectors to get you started, but you can purchase, a la carte, the chargers necessary to connect potentially thousands of devices to your Chargepod.
 

Post from: gadgettastic.com
6 way charging the easy way with Chargepod

Yet another Microsoft white space device fails FCC testing

Filed under: Wireless

Although several other companies have submitted white space devices to the FCC -- we know Philips has one in, and Google's making a lot of noise about new and improved reference designs -- it looks like Microsoft's run of bad luck with the tech continues, with yet another white space transceiver unexpectedly failing during FCC tests last week. There's no word on if the latest unit failed for the same power-related reasons as the previous test devices, but Microsoft's doing a little damage control and saying that the FCC hasn't found any interference with TV signals so far, and that it's easier to pull the plug now and let other, non-MS devices finish out testing. Yeah, we'd say so -- at this point Redmond's bungled attempts to get this stuff working are becoming sort of embarrassing. Google to the rescue?

 

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Cancer patient has PSP stolen en route to chemotherapy treatment

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

There's depressing gaming stories, and then there are outright travesties. Unfortunately, this case falls squarely into the latter category, as a 7-year old cancer patient had his beloved PlayStation Portable swiped -- right along with his medical records, a backpack full of medication, his games and even his homework -- while en route to a chemotherapy treatment for a tumor in his brain. Apparently the boy's family had stopped at a restaurant while traveling from Oklahoma to Texas, and while inside, thieves had their way with what was left inside the vehicle. Thankfully, authorities from the Dallas police department came to the rescue by purchasing a brand new PSP and raising over $1,000 to repurchase the goods that were lost, and as for the crooks, we'll just trust karma to handle the rest.

[Via PSPFanboy, image courtesy of Flickr]

 

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Streaming Audio and Video to a Treo 700

 
Paysonbadboy has put together a system to watch his home TV on his Treo 700 by using a capture card and the internet. I love the ability for some cheap hardware and a bit on inventive thinking to do something this cool!
"I am using a cheap $15 program I actually bought to capture my outdoor [...]

Atom processor to cost Intel just $6 to $8?

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops, Tablet PCs

Ever since Intel compared the criticality of its (still) forthcoming Silverthorne (which now goes by Atom, if you couldn't guess) processor to the original Pentium last June, we've all wondered just how fantasmical our worlds would become when this thing finally dropped. Now, however, Tom's Hardware has discovered that the release may actually do more for Intel than we geeks. After consulting a source it believes to be quite credible, it found that the CPU -- which will likely sell for upwards of $30 at the low-end -- will cost Intel just "$6 to $8, including production, packaging and shipping." Without busting out the abacus, it's still fairly easy to see how profitable said chips could be if Intel can move these at even a snail's pace, but of course, we'd take the dollars and cents estimates with a grain of salt until they actually hit the market.

[Via Digg]

 

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Biosensing nanodevice could hasten security checks, health screenings

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We'll go ahead and warn you: if you're hoping to purge your mind of all things science this weekend, this post isn't the one to be reading. For the rest of you knowledge seekers, Arizona State University researcher Wayne Frasch has developed a biosensing nanodevice that could possibly revolutionize health screenings and speed up that grueling airport security process. Put simply (well, as simply as possible), he discovered that the enzyme F1- ATPase can be equipped with an optical probe and "manipulated to emit a signal when it detects a single molecule of target DNA." Currently, a prototype of the DNA detector is already being worked up, but there's no word on when (or if) the device will escape the lab and hit the commercial realm. Still not geeked out? Hit the read link and hold on for dear life.

[Via Physorg]

 

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Hackers embed flashing animations on epilepsy support forum

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Shortly after hearing a sad tale of a 7-year old cancer patient having his medication and PSP stolen whilst en route to treatment comes yet another story of the world's meanest preying on the helpless. This go 'round, a group of griefers (assuming to be members of Anonymous) managed to invade a support forum established by the nonprofit Epilepsy Foundation and use JavaScript code and messages littered with flashing animations to effectively assault dozens of visitors who suffer from the disorder. The Foundation managed to catch wind of the problem within 12 hours of the attack, and while the boards were closed down temporarily to purge it of offending messages, many readers (such as RyAnne Fultz, pictured) experienced headaches and seizures before rescue arrived. Let's just say we sincerely hope the culprits get what's comin' to 'em.

 

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Video of the iPhone Pwned project in action

Filed under: Cellphones

Those crafty kids on the iPhone Dev Team have already hacked the 2.0 firmware, but now they're getting ready to release the oh-so-creatively-named PWNED tool, which takes iPhone hacking to the next level by patching the bootloader to let you load any firmware image you want -- even images not signed by Apple. That means custom patched firmware can now be loaded directly from iTunes, which simplifies the jailbreaking / unlocking process tremendously, and also means that a patched version of the 2.0 firmware is coming soon. We're putting the tool through its paces right now and we'll have a hands-on with it (and the Dev Team's patched 2.0 firmware) as soon as we get it all working, but check out some highlights after the break, and hit the read link for more info.

Continue reading Video of the iPhone Pwned project in action

 

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Nintendo's Wii Wheel priced at $14.99

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

We've known that Nintendo would be bundling a single Wii Wheel in with the forthcoming Mario Kart Wii title, but now it seems that folks riding shotgun (or riding your tail) can grab one of their own. According to a recently released flyer from GameStop, extra Wheels -- should the plethora of steering apparatuses already out there not suffice -- will be sold for a cool $14.99 each. April 27th just seems so, so far away, doesn't it? Check the flyer in full after the jump.

[Thanks, Pat]

Continue reading Nintendo's Wii Wheel priced at $14.99

 

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Creative halts unauthorized distribution of homegrown Vista drivers

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

Chances are that if you do your duties on Vista and rely on one of Creative's sound cards to get your dance on, you may have become frustrated by the firm's inability to offer up a driver package that lived up to those loosed for Windows XP. 'Course, if that rings a bell, you're probably not too concerned -- you know, thanks to those unofficial (but totally functional) drivers brought to you by Daniel_K. Unfortunately for users suddenly excited to gain some extra utility from their device, Creative has hopped on the offensive and is forbidding said compiler from distributing the firm's technology / IP (not to mention collecting donations), and it's also scouring the 'net to remove other links to the software. Granted, we fully understand Creative's right to disallow the distribution of untested, potentially harmful third-party drivers, but c'mon, how about redirecting the energy you're spending on shutting this guy down to actually developing drivers that your customers are demanding?

[Via Slashdot, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

 

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Linux becomes only OS to escape PWN 2 OWN unscathed

Filed under: Laptops

After a week full of Red Bulls, Fruit by the Foot and dreams of In-N-Out, the mighty Sony VAIO loaded with Linux stood as the only machine unhacked by the end of the PWN 2 OWN hacking contest at CanSecWest. As you're well aware by now, the MacBook Air on display was seized in two minutes by the presumably well prepared Charlie Miller, and after two full days of work, Shane Macaulay and a few of his 1337 associates managed to crack the Vista rig on Friday. Reportedly, Shane and his pals weren't expecting to do battle with the extra protected SP1 version of Vista, and while the exact loophole won't be divulged, we are told that it was a cross-platform bug that "took advantage of Java to circumvent Vista's security." In the end, it was reported that some folks on hand had discovered bugs in the Linux OS, but many of them "didn't want to put the work into developing the exploit code that would be required to win the contest."

[Image courtesy of TippingPoint]

 

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BlackBerry service outages keeping your weekend interesting?

Filed under: Cellphones

Having some BlackBerry troubles? You're not alone, we've been receiving some sporadic tips on the subject, and some forum users have reported outage trouble as well, though for other users it seems just fine. Let us know how your service is doing. Or don't -- this might be just the chance you were looking for to ditch work email and get a start on that spring tan. We won't tell a soul.

 

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South Korean police aiming to equip all new handsets with GPS?

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

Taking a note from Japan, it's being reported that South Korean police are backing a highly controversial plan that would equip each new mobile sold in the nation with a GPS chip. Reportedly, Song Kang-ho, chief of the investigation bureau of the National Police Agency, has stated that the government has "already submitted a related bill to the National Assembly," and the general idea here is to crack down on the rise of kidnapping and various other crimes against children and women. Granted, there's not a lot of supporting evidence that this is actually set to go down, so until we see it inked in stone, our skeptic hats are remaining in place.

[Via textually, image courtesy of The New York Times]

 

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Treepee : A Tent and Tree House in One

The Treepee combines the timeless appeal of a tree house with the practicalities of an all weather tent, as well as the excitement of Aeriel suspension to create a whole world of possibilities. It???s sturdy enough to hold a weight of up to 150kg that is equivalent of 2 adults or 4 pre-teen children.


Post [...]

Mesiro Merium media PC has sleek, sexy down pat

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Media PCs

Those on the hunt for a pre-fabricated HTPC can't complain about a lack of choices these days, but if you've yet to be taken aback by anything out there, why not give Mesiro's Merium a glance? The standout feature here isn't the 1.66GHz Core 2 Duo T5500 processor, 250GB internal HDD, dual-layer DVD burner, GMA950 graphics accelerator, WiFi, 5-in-1 multicard reader or the bundled MCE remote -- oh no, it's the interchangeable chassis covers (weird, right?). Yep, you can swap out the covers on this rig whenever you feel the urge, ensuring that there's a case for every occasion. Unfortunately, those in America who'd like to get in on this won't appreciate the €999 ($1,578) price tag, and those €55 ($87) faceplates aren't any easier to swallow.

[Via MoCo Loco]

 

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Remember you will die! Watch..

On this Accurate watch the dial and rim of the glass on the Accurate is mirrored, so that the wearer is reflected in the watch face (so that there is no ambiguity about who the message is aimed at). The Accurate is a link to the venerable tradition of the memento mori - an object [...]

Popcorn Popper made from a Tin Can

 

 
 
Here is a cool popcorn popper that could be handy next time you are out camping. It is quite small so it may not be of much use if you have a big family but it is sure to be fun for the kids to pop some of their own popcorn in a can that [...]

Nyko's wireless Wii nunchuk adapter hits the FCC, itself with the ugly stick

Filed under: Gaming

No matter how we might try and stop it, Nyko's wireless Wii nunchuk adapter / abomination ceaselessly advances upon the unsuspecting American consumer, stopping at nothing to ruin the delicate aesthetics of the Wii controllers and pump us full of even more unnecessary RF. The adapter and its receiver have just hit the FCC, and our nation's government has managed to use every ounce of photographic skill at its disposal to render these mutant hunks of plastic in as flattering a light as possible -- just look at that stained blue backdrop. Seriously, is anyone going to drop $20 on this thing? Isn't that money better spent on games? Explain yourself in comments, in ten words or less.

[Thanks, Mickel]

Read - Wireless adapter
Read - Receiver

 

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Games: Devil May Cry 4

If you enjoyed DMC3 then the latest release Devil May Cry 4 on PS3 is definitely worth a look. It immerses gamers in a gothic supernatural world, where a new protagonist clashes with a familiar hero. As the new leading man, Nero, players will unleash incredible attacks and non-stop combos using a unique new gameplay [...]

Sega’s Lindbergh Cabinet DIY Style

Check out this awesome gaming cabinet created by VFDS poster L_A_Akira who recently visited Japan and liked Sega’s Lindbergh cabinet so much he built his own.

A few months ago when I was in japan I realized that I liked the style and shape of the Lindbergh cabinet so much that I was considering importing one [...]

ASUS Eee PC desktop finally revealed?

Filed under: Desktops

We've all been waiting to see what ASUS's Eee PC desktop would turn out to look like, and HotHardware is claiming these shots are the real deal. Yeah, we know, it's a bit reminiscent of a certain motion-sensing game console, but besides these kind of grainy photos we've still got almost nothing to go by. Yet!

 

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Treo 800w shows up on Sprint roadmap for July release

Filed under: Cellphones

At this point the Treo 800w has been outed by Bill Gates himself, so while the suspense factor is pretty low, it's nice to know that it'll finally be getting here in July. That's the word according to this purloined Sprint roadmap, which also indicates the newest Treo will have GPS and EV-DO rev. A -- but still run WinMo 6.0, which is pretty sad, especially if that revised version of 6.1 launches at CTIA next week as expected. Oh well, at least it's a new Treo -- let's just hope they can shake some more ugly off this thing before it hits the street.

[Via PhoneArena]

 

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Name the Thing Contest - 44

 
Congratulations to the last contest winner.
The prize this week is a new product that we just added to the store. These LED mounting adapter boards let you solder to a small circuit board instead of soldering directly to LED and resistor leads.
This contest will run for one week (March 29 - April 3, 2008) . [...]

Apple looking to put handwriting recognition into the iPhone?

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs

We know Apple's had its Inkwell handwriting recognition software in OS X for years now, so we might have otherwise just totally glossed over this Handwriting Recognition Engineer job listing on Apple's site. Except for the part that reads: "The recognition technology you create may extend beyond Mac OS X to other applications and the iPhone." They always love to throw those little tidbits in there, don't they?

[Via Macrumors]

 

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Movie Gadget Friday: 2010: The Year We Make Contact

Filed under: Features, Misc. Gadgets, Robots

Ariel Waldman contributes Movie Gadget Friday, where she highlights the lovable and lame gadgets from the world of cinema.

Last week on Movie Gadget Friday we kicked off our two-part series in honor of the late Arthur C. Clarke with 2001: A Space Odyssey. This week continues our tribute as we look into some of the support systems on board Discovery 1 and the Leonov in 2010: The Year We Make Contact. While we hear Dave Bowman proclaim "My God, it's full of stars", we can't help but dig through this film full of gadgets.

HAL 9000 and SAL 9000
Designed as an artificial emotional intelligence machine, the HAL 9000 and SAL 9000 require human interaction for enhanced performance. Represented by a blue camera eye and female voice, SAL 9000 served as a guide to monitoring potential reactions by the previously disabled HAL 9000. Both machines incorporate keyboard and audio input to communicate with intelligent carbon-based lifeforms (read: us). The HAL 9000 is adept at facial, vocal, and vital sign recognition and makes decisions based on a strict understanding of logic. HAL maintains numerous responsibilities while acting as the brain and central nervous system of Discovery 1. Though HAL appears to be programmed to protect the crew, there are obvious and inherent flaws in his logic programming, resulting in -- spoiler alert -- in committing homicide to resolve conflicting commands. More after the jump.

Continue reading Movie Gadget Friday: 2010: The Year We Make Contact

 

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HD DVD Promotion Group officially dissolves in a high-res burst of tears

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Well, it's no surprise that it was going to happen, but the HD DVD Promotion Group officially dissolved today, leaving behind nothing but this terse message directing us to individual "selling agencies." And so, with literally nothing left of HD DVD, we formally close the sad chapter of consumer electronics history known as the HD Format War, remembering those times when HD DVD rode high, with low prices, more features and less restrictive rights management as its rallying cries, and the rantings of Michael Bay still only the delusional fantasies of a fool. May the resistance live on, and our PS3s always be reminded of a time when their ascension was not guaranteed. Red's dead, baby.

 

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Former Xbox Europe VP says consoles will be dead in 5-10 years

Filed under: Gaming

The last time we heard someone proclaim the death of the game console, it was EA's head of international distribution saying that an open gaming platform distributed within cable and satellite set-top boxes would take over within 15 years -- a prediction at which we laughed pretty heartily, given that most cable companies can't even manage to get a functional DVR out the door. So it's fairly surprising to hear the former VP of Xbox Europe make the exact same prediction, and bump up the timeline pretty dramatically: Sandy Duncan, who was with MS for 15 years, recently said that dedicated game devices "will die in the next five to 10 years," and that "most of this stuff will be 'virtualized' as web services by your content provider." Of course, Duncan's now with YoYo Games, which is a web-based gaming company, so he might be a little biased, but there's truth in his statement that the console gaming market is risky and that launch costs of new hardware are incredibly high. Still, as Duncan should know first-hand, it's an investment that can definitely pay off, and we think consumers are always going to demand choice and quality -- two things that aren't exactly synonymous with cable and satellite hardware.

[Via GameDaily]

 

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How would you change Apple's Time Capsule?

Filed under: Features, Wireless, Storage

Now that Time Machine's all buddy-buddy with AirPort Extreme's AirDisk feature, we can see the demand for Time Capsule sinking considerably. Still, Apple's own NAS drive / WLAN router combo has likely found its way into quite a few households, and now that you've had a chance to back up your life a couple times over, we're interested to see how you'd tweak things. Are you really pleased with the interface? Are transfers snappy enough? Want a little more freedom with how you're able to configure things? Would you rather it not function as a substitute for a portable stove? Let's be honest -- Time Capsule's a pricey piece of kit for what you get, so feel free to let Cupertino know exactly what's keeping you from being absolutely satisfied in every respect.

 

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D-Link DSM-750 wireless Media Center Extender finally shipping

Filed under: Home Entertainment

We first saw D-Link's DSM-750 MediaLounge Wireless Media Player at CES way back in 2007, and the company "officially" launched the 802.11n unit in September of that year -- but the scheduled November 2007 retail date came and went, and the four of you queuing up to drop $349 on an unheralded Media Center extender were left to sadly contemplate the crushing banality of your existence. Well, buck up, boy-o, because it looks like D-Link's realized that it's actually supposed to sell the DSM-750, and it's also gone and dropped the price down a whole $20, to $329. Sure, you can operate the thing in either MCE or MediaLounge mode, but you're still limited to 1080i output (even over HDMI), and at that price, it's pretty hard to see why you wouldn't just nab an Xbox 360 Arcade to do the same thing -- you're getting far more functionality for the money, even if you have to spring for wireless and the remote. Still, we're glad this thing is finally here -- those four dudes were getting awfully weepy.

[Via eHomeUpgrade]

 

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HTC Shift hands-on

Filed under: Features, Handhelds, Tablet PCs

HTC's Shift finally launched in the US this week, and what do you know, we landed one to check out. Sure as hell ain't too shabby for a UMPC, but while it's got a number of things working in its favor (versatile form factor, solid hardware, lots of niceties like a fingerprint reader, 3G, Windows Mobile, etc.), it's got a number of bits working pretty hard against it. Some thoughts:

• The screen hinge is significantly improved and feels really solid. Without putting it through 20,000 open / close cycles, we think it's fairly trustworthy, definitely good HTC gear.
  


• The microscopic keyboard keys are an absolute nightmare to type on with two hands if you've got normal human mitts. Unfortunately, it's just too small to use regularly, and too large to use with your thumbs; with that kind of real estate we'd have preferred a proper split thumb-board with a nice big track pad in the middle. Major bummer.


• The trackpad is pretty sensitive, but a little difficult to control. The machine itself is certainly snappy enough, though, even running Vista with Aero.


• Hitting SnapVUE / Windows Mobile-mode is instantaneous, albeit a little jarring -- especially since the screen is so huge and WinMo is so clearly not intended for it -- but it's nice to have a lighter weight interface than full-on Windows.
  


• Try though we might, we simply could not find a way to disengage the unit from its leather-bound case. Maybe this was outlined in the Shift's documentation, of which we received none. Quite annoying.
  


• HTC kindly bundles a screen protector, a spare clicky stylus, external USB hub with Ethernet (ahem, Air), and headphones with mic.

All in all not bad, but it's going to take a hell of a lot more than what the Shift's offering up to get us to drop $1,500 on a UMPC of any kind. And it isn't winning it any further points considering that one of the device's main draws -- the keyboard -- may as well not even exist for us fat-fingered fools. Check out the extensive unboxing and hands-on gallery below.

Update: Apparently the case is permanently bolted to the unit and can't be removed, part of some weird FCC requirement regarding antenna distance / SAR. At very least they HTC could have used Philips head screws (and not Torx) to facilitate ease of removal.

Gallery: HTC Shift hands-on

 

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Nokia reveals the WiMAX N810 just a little early

Filed under: Handhelds, Wireless

We've been hearing that a WiMAX-enabled version of Nokia's N810 would be making its grand debut at CTIA on April 1, but it looks like the cat's out of the bag -- check this new image on the Nokia Europe site. Yeah, no beating around the bush there -- we'd say the WiMAX N810 is coming, and soon. Sadly, the product link doesn't work yet, but we think we might have a hunch what the major differences from the regular N810 are.

[Via Internet Tablet Talk]

 

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Nokia's NAVTEQ acquisition draws probe from the EU

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

It may have won approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and NAVTEQ shareholders alike, but it looks like the EU's European Commission needs a bit more time to think over Nokia's acquisition of the company, and it's now launched an "in-depth" probe into the matter. According to Reuters, the Commission said that the "proposed merger raises serious doubts with regards to ... competition concerns," although it was quick to add that the decision to open the inquiry does not prejudge the result of the probe. Among other things, the probe will apparently attempt to asses whether whether the purchase would affect the cost of maps for other companies providing navigation services on cellphones. If all of this has a familiar ring, it should, because it wasn't all that long ago that the EU launched a similar probe into TomTom's similar acquisition of map-maker Tele Atlas.

 

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PSP-3000 reference turns up on Sony's website, don't get too excited

Filed under: Gaming

It's only just turned three, but it looks like the PlayStation Portable is now at the center of new rumor mill concerning yet another possible revision, with this one sparked by Sony itself, no less. It doesn't come from an over-talkative exec or anything, however, but rather a curious placeholder image that was turned up on Sony's online instruction manual site. As PSP Fanboy reports, not only are there the expected images for the original PSP-1000 series and the slimmer PSP-2000 series, but there is one for a hereto unheard of 3000 series as well (no 4000 series, though). Of course, it's entirely possible that the image is nothing more than a mistake or the work of someone trying to be a little too prepared, but we have a sneaking suspicion that won't stop the speculation from spinning out of control.

 

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Happy birthday: take a trip in America's largest flying gadget (part 6)

Filed under: Transportation

This is it, today's the last day to enter our six days of ticket giveaways for our fourth birthday this month! We're treating six lucky winners to two round trip tickets destined for anywhere Virgin America flies. We wouldn't want you traveling in something that doesn't have power, network, and a seatback terminal, though, so you don't have to sweat about completely unplugging to get from point A to point B. Check out the rules below and good luck, because it's all over tonight!

• Leave a comment below. It is in honor of our fourth birthday, after all, so we wouldn't mind a bit of adulation -- but it's up to you.
  


• You may only enter this specific giveaway once. Although you can enter up to six times through the course of this six part giveaway, if you enter this specific giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)


• If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
  


• Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
  


• Winner will be chosen randomly. That winner will get two round trip tickets anywhere Virgin America flies. Tickets are valid through May 31st, 2008, and are blacked out May 22-26. Approximate value is $599 per pair. You can only win once.


• Entries can be submitted until Friday, March 28th, 11:59PM ET. Good luck!


• Full rules can be found here.

Oh, and be sure to enter part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and part 5 for another chance!

 

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Skullphone decides to speak, probably shouldn't have

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Now that Skullphone's act of purported electronic billboard hackery has been proven to be nothing more than a simple act of forking over some cash, the graffiti artist has apparently decided to try to explain things somewhat, albeit without going so far as to completely fess up. What's more, as evidenced by the tidbits of the conversion provided by PAPERMAG, Skullphone also didn't go so far as to make a lot of sense. On the central issue of hacking, Skullphone said that, "once again, it's a matter of semantics. What does it mean to hack the system. Is getting people to think for themselves hacking?" As if that wasn't enough profundity, Skullphone also said that "the art of hacking I know nothing about. What is hacking? What is art?," before going just a tad over the top by saying that "people thought Bob Dylan sold out when he went electric. I guess people weren't ready for it." If that's got you intrigued, you can hit up the link below for some more bits of wisdom.

[Thanks, David]

 

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Vivitar's pocket-friendly DVR565HD camcorder does high-definition

Filed under: Digital Cameras, HDTV

Regrettably, there's not a whole lot of deets on Vivitar's latest camcorder just yet, but we do know that this ultra-compact unit will log clips in beautiful 720p. The DVR565HD is said to capture in H.264 / MPEG-4 at 30fps, while it can pipe that video back out in 1080i via the HDMI output. Also of note, it should be available in black and silver motifs, and while the 3-inch flip-out LCD monitor is a nice touch, the apparent inability for it to accept anything more capacious than a 4GB SD card is somewhat disappointing. Then again, it is rocking the Vivitar logo, and if history tells any story whatsoever, we'd bet this one comes in well under most budgets.

[Via Slashgear]

 

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Cuba lifts restrictions on cellphone use

Filed under: Cellphones

It's only just ended its ban on DVD player and computer sales, but Cuba's apparently not stopping it's technological catch-up there, with President Raul Castro now announcing that the country's also lifting its restrictions on cellphone use. As the AFP reports, there have of course been cellphones in the country for some time, but they have mainly been reserved for foreigners, government staff, or those who were able to obtain them through third parties. Under the new regulations, however, Cubans will be able to get cellphone service from state telecom ETECSA, but only in the form of prepaid contracts that must be paid for in foreign currency. Reuters also adds that Cubans will be able to both make and receive international calls under the new service. Any other details are apparently pretty light at the moment, but ETECSA says it'll be providing information on how Cubans can switch over their existing service or sign up for a new contract in the next few days.

[Via Yahoo/AFP]

 

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IR2BT Infrared-to-Bluetooth converter now on sale, PS3 owners rejoice

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

Although the PlayStation 3 is quite the lovely Blu-ray player in most respects, one issue has nagged remote junkies from day one: the absence of IR. Now, however, the highly-anticipated IR2BT Infrared-to-Bluetooth converter is on the market, and sure enough, it promises to transmit "all 51 Sony Blu-ray remote codes including the PS button for Power On / Off." The unit itself measures in at 4.5- x 3- x 1-inches, operates on a pair of AA cells or a mini-USB connector and doesn't even require you to own a soldering iron. Ready to control your PS3 via a universal IR remote without getting a degree in electrical engineering? Hit up the read link and hand over your $55, bub.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

 

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Sirius, XM reps chat up FCC, post-merger pricing detailed

Filed under: Portable Audio

With that little Department of Justice business out of their way, Sirius and XM have unsurprisingly been quick to start chatting up the all-important FCC, and a recent filing from the agency has now revealed that lawyers from the two companies have met with none other than FCC Chairman Kevin Martin himself, along with other higher-ups. Even more interesting, however, is that the same filing also includes a full rundown of the companies' proposed post-merger pricing plans, which don't appear to have changed much from those detailed way back in the early days of the merger. Starting with the basics, the Sirius and XM "Everything" plans will hang on to the same $12.95 per month price tag, and include approximately 130 and 170 channels, respectively. From there, each service has A La Carte options starting at $6.99 a month (with additional channels costing 25 cents apiece), along with the usual package options ranging in price from $9.99 for the Mostly Music and News, Sports and Talk bundles to $16.99 for the "Sirius Everything & Select XM" or "XM Everytyhing & Select Sirius" packages. Be sure to hit up the PDF available at the link below for the complete rundown.

 

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Dell offers up Blu-ray equipped Inspiron 1525 for $879

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Laptops

Grabbing a laptop with a built-in Blu-ray drive isn't at all difficult; finding one that's reasonably affordable, however, is. Starting today, users looking to pick up a new BD-equipped lappie can get their kicks for under nine bills, as the base model Inspiron 1525 can be fitted with a Blu-ray combo drive (and the requisite 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo T5550 processor) for the low, low price of $879. Kicking things up to a Blu-ray burner will tack on another $200, and given the 1,280 x 800 screen resolution, we get the idea you'll be utilizing that HDMI output in order to enjoy the 1080p capabilities (if it'll even reach above 720p). Still, the aforesaid configuration is pretty lacking in most respects (1GB of RAM, 80GB HDD, and a woefully underwhelming GMA X3100 graphics accelerator), but hey, at least you'll have Blu-ray! Grab yours now if you're situated in Canada, Europe or the US of A.

 

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British group campaigns against autonomous death-bots

Filed under: Robots

It looks like professor Noel Sharkey isn't the only one stirred up about autonomous killing machines. An anti-landmine group in London called Landmine Action is now calling for the ban of robots capable of killing people all on their lonsome. The group believes these bots fall under the same category as landmines -- which are outlawed in 150 countries -- and is pressing governments to keep control in the hands of a human operator. The group is also campaigning to put a stop to autonomous cluster bombs (which self-detonate), and feels these bots fall under the same category. Says spokesman Richard Moyes, "Our concern is that humans, not sensors, should make targeting decisions. So similarly, we don't want to move towards robots that make decisions about combatants and noncombatants." Of course, if the bots can pass a Turing test, how will we know the difference? Needless to say, Skynet could not be reached for comment.

 

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Two-seater Suborbital Spaceship

Californian based XCOR Aerospace has unveiled a two-seater suborbital spaceship the size of a small private plane that the company expects to have airborne in 2010. Named the Lynx, the spaceship will be capable of flying several times each day and give passengers a front-seat ride to the edge of space where they will experience [...]

China Mobile firing up TD-SCDMA trials this April

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

We've been hearing that China Mobile would have its act together and get TD-SCDMA ready well in advance of the 2008 Beijing Olympics since last November, and with merely months to spare, it seems things just may work out. Reportedly, the carrier is all set to begin commercial trials of the home cooked 3G standard on April 1st, where it will be tested in Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Qinhuangdao and of course, Beijing. Initially, China Mobile Group will provide 20,000 lucky souls with free TD-SCDMA phones and subsidies of 800 yuan per month, while folks outside of that group can also walk into retail outlets and pick up discounted handsets on a whim. Maybe it's just us, but we'd probably hold off until those guinea pigs gave everyone else a heads-up of the network quality before we went dropping our own change on it.

[Via mocoNews]

 

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Star Wars Golf Bags : Vader Black & Stormtrooper White

Check out these Stars Wars themed golf bags they come in Stormtrooper White and Darth Vader Black and are about to go on sale now in Japan for around ??250 a pop. Also on sale are three golf club covers sporting Vader, TIE fighter and Stormtrooper artwork, alongside Star Wars-themed ball markers. Golf has never [...]

Vestax Guber CM-02 USB Turntable

If you need to convert your old favorites from vinyl into MP3 then why not do it in style with the funky Vestax Guber CM-02 USB Turntable.
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Post from: gadgettastic.com
Vestax Guber CM-02 USB Turntable

Thanko Windup MP3 Player

??Check out this new little DAP from Thanko, which can be recharged either with an AC adapter, via USB, or using your own muscle by hand cranking as you would on many old school devices. Cranking for one minute will get you 10 minutes of music??? simple but definitely handy if you’re far from traditional [...]

Humax LCD TV concept: The Jetsons called, they want their stuff back

When you're not heading to work in your space car or programming your robot maid to make dinner for the family, you'll probably want to catch the American Idol 3017 on this Humax LCD TV concept. Designed by London's Tej Chauhan, the future-retro model manages to look old while seeming completely fresh, recalling the "World of Tomorrow" depicted in Cold War-era renderings of the "future." There's no word on whether this is going to get turned into an honest-to-goodness consumer product (please?), but you can check it out if you live in Italy at the Zona Tortona design show, running April 16th to the 21st.

[Via Tech Digest]

 

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Touchscreen Eee Arriving Shortly

Asus’s 8.9-inch second-generation Eee PC lineup will include touchscreen panels and possible GPS support, with shipments expected to begin in May or June, according to Kevin Lin, vice president of Asustek’s sales department.

Pricing on the touchscreen Eee is expected to come in at around $500. No word on any other specs, including screen size,?? Processor [...]

BlackBerry 9000 in the wild

Filed under: Cellphones, Features, Handhelds

Today, Engadget answers the singular question on the mind of everyone out there who's sitting at a solid oak desk in a glass office wearing a suit as they read this: what's up with the next BlackBerry? The rumored BlackBerry 8xxx / 9000 series is getting a lot clearer today, and we're happy to report that RIM's cooking up a beauty to keep its legion of devotees loyal -- and maybe even win a few converts along the way. Head on over to Engadget Mobile for pictures and video of the little beast in action!

[Thanks, BaggedLunch]

 

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Video: Touchless B&O remote control prototype

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Isn't it nice to watch a sexy concept makes its first, quivering steps towards retail? You're looking at the graduation design project of Joris van Gelder: the Remote for B&O. The idea was to create a remote control for kitchen use. As such, it's meant to be (mostly) touchless in order to keep the remote free from bacteria or ether, depending upon your situation. The remote responds to finger gestures and lifts and falls in concert with the volume. Two videos after the break: the first showing the concept followed by the working prototype.

[Via BEOWorld, thanks JK]

Continue reading Video: Touchless B&O remote control prototype

 

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Flexible Silicon Chips Create Opportunities for Biomedical Implants

Normally fragile and brittle silicon chips have been made to bend and fold, paving the way for a new generation of flexible electronic devices such as biomedical implants, advanced brain implants, health monitors or smart clothing. These complex devices consist of concertina-like folds of ultra-thin silicon bonded to sheets of rubber.
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Post from: gadgettastic.com
Flexible Silicon [...]

Week O' Dell Scoops Part Deux, fini: the Latitude E-series accessories

Filed under: Laptops, Peripherals

We're closing out our Week O' Dell scoops the way it began, with Dell's new Ergo, revealed. Clearly, it's not a waffle iron or bulk food scale with LCD monitor. It's just an E-series stand supporting LCDs up to 24-inches. Sorry, but it looks like the existing Latitude D-series of docks won't work for the new Es. As such, prepare to purchase a truckload of new E-Ports to accompany your Latitude E6000 and E5000 laptops, E4300 and E4200 ultra-portables, and the semi-rugged E6400 ATG. At least the XT2 Tablet should work with the existing XT media base. All the details can be found in the gallery below.

Gallery: Week O' Dell Scoops, part deux fini: the Latitude E-series accessories

 

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US lawsuit calls Large Hadron Collider a Doomsday Machine, Higgs boson shrugs

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

If OJ made one thing perfectly clear, it's that the word "reason," at the root of "reasonable doubt" has lost all meaning in the US court system. So what do you think will be the outcome of a new lawsuit claiming that CERN's Large Hadron Collider is a Doomsday machine? The suit filed in Hawaii's US District Court by Luis Sancho and a former nuclear safety officer by the name of Walter Wagner, seeks to put the already delayed LHC launch on hold pending a new safety review. It's worth noting that the same doomsday scenarios of micro black holes and strangelets (think: the Midas Touch of death) have been raised by Wagner previously with the launch of other accelerators -- they've also been summarily dismissed by the scientific community as "beyond reasonable." It's also worth noting that the 27km-long LHC crisscrosses the border between France and Switzerland, not the US. An initial conference on the lawsuit is scheduled for June 16th, a few months before the first collisions are scheduled to begin and well before LHC is capable of its 4 trillion electron-volts maximum power. Peter Higgs, we feel your pain.

[Thanks Aaron, Original Image courtesy of Ute Kraus]

 

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DIY Solar Power Install on the Cheap

 
So you think that installing solar power in a house has to be expensive? This article shows that it is possible to do it yourself on a small budget.
"I put the batteries in their container, and connected the 2 together in series with a #1 Car Battery Cable from Canadian Tire that cost $14. The [...]

Nokia N96 gets in-depth review months ahead of release

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Mere mortals will need to wait until the third quarter of the year -- if not longer, depending on their region and tolerance for some probable price gouging in the early going -- to get their hands on the mighty Nokia N96. On the other hand, Mobile-review apparently knows the right hands to shake and eyes to wink to get hold of a prototype unit extraordinarily early, and they're taking full advantage of the opportunity. A few hours of your time devoted to the novella of a review will net you a deep understanding and appreciation for the N96's strengths and follies, but in a nutshell, the site seems to come away with a pretty ambivalent opinion of a device that should be knocking everyone's socks off -- espec