Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Caption contest: Ellen DeGeneres and her ʞoou giveaway]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/caption-contest-ellen-degeneres-and-her-oou-giveaway/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/caption-contest-ellen-degeneres-and-her-oou-giveaway/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/caption-contest-ellen-degeneres-and-her-oou-giveaway/#comments Look, sometimes show hosts can get a bit too excited, especially when it comes to Christmas giveaway segments behind a massive pile of gadgets -- most of which they've probably never heard of until ten minutes before the show. If you were Ellen DeGeneres here with the upside-down Nook e-reader, what could possibly be going through your head? Video after the break.

Ross: ".ɹıɐɥɔ ǝɥʇ uı ʞɔɐq puɐ dn ǝɯ d1ǝɥ ǝsɐǝ1d 'ʞoou sıɥʇ pɐǝɹ uɐɔ noʎ ɟı"
Chris: "Everyone gets a (deafening applause, people fainting)."
Joanna: "Oh cute, Ellen pulling a Michael Jackson. Where is the closest balcony?"
Vlad: "And with your purchase of the androgynous android, you get an added value ebook reader -- absolutely free!"
Don: "The good news? B&N has settled its dispute with Spring Design. The bad news? You have to hold it this way."
Richard Lawler: "Read this way, Twilight has an entirely different double meaning."
Paul: "I'm holding it upside down because it's a non-working dummy unit and it doesn't matter."
Nilay: "God I wish this was a car."
Richard Lai: "Look!! It's got the same smile as me! It's just like a magical mirror."

Continue reading Caption contest: Ellen DeGeneres and her ʞoou giveaway

Caption contest: Ellen DeGeneres and her ʞoou giveaway originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]>barnes and nobleBarnesAndNoblecaption contestCaptionConteste-readerebookebook readerEbookReaderellen degeneresEllenDegeneresnookFri, 04 Dec 2009 18:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple looking to buy Lala, get into streaming music?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/apple-looking-to-buy-lala-get-into-streaming-music/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/apple-looking-to-buy-lala-get-into-streaming-music/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/apple-looking-to-buy-lala-get-into-streaming-music/#comments There's no deal yet, but Bloomberg and All Things Digital are reporting "confirmed" buyouts talks between Apple and music-streaming service Lala. If it goes down, the deal would potentially bring free music streaming to Apple's iTunes empire, but we're assuming Steve's less interested in integrating Lala's current service than he is in its talent, back-end technology, and content licensing deals. We'll see where this all goes -- or if it even happens.

Apple looking to buy Lala, get into streaming music? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAll Things Digital, Bloomberg  | Email this | Comments]]>applebuyoutlalarumorrumorssalestreaming musicStreamingMusicFri, 04 Dec 2009 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC exec promises Hero successor in 2010, debut at Mobile World Congress]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/htc-exec-promises-hero-successor-in-2010-debut-at-mobile-world/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/htc-exec-promises-hero-successor-in-2010-debut-at-mobile-world/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/htc-exec-promises-hero-successor-in-2010-debut-at-mobile-world/#commentsYet another reason to love the Swedes: they give us juicy details. Former LG Sales Manager turned HTC Sweden exec Patrik Andersson has dropped word that a sequel to HTC Hero is coming next year. We know what you're thinking: an upgrade to the company's successful multi-carrier flagship Android device? You don't say! The real interesting point here is when it'll make its debut, and that's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this February. Happy Valentine's, indeed, and if you get to the press conference early, save us a seat?

HTC exec promises Hero successor in 2010, debut at Mobile World Congress originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceIT24  | Email this | Comments]]>barcelonaherohtchtc heroHtcHeromobile world congressmobile world congress 2009MobileWorldCongressMobileWorldCongress2009mwc 2009Mwc2009Patrik AnderssonPatrikAnderssonFri, 04 Dec 2009 17:06:00 EST<![CDATA[FTC moseys into Intel / NVIDIA dispute]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/ftc-moseys-into-intel-nvidia-dispute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/ftc-moseys-into-intel-nvidia-dispute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/ftc-moseys-into-intel-nvidia-dispute/#comments
The dispute between Intel and NVIDIA has already reached legendary proportions, and it looks like now even the FTC is getting involved as a result of its longstanding investigation into Intel regarding another matter. While Intel just settled the antitrust fight with AMD that originally kick-started the investigation last month, the FTC is now reportedly talking to NVIDIA to see if its numerous complaints against the chipmaker actually hold water. While complete details are exectedly light and none of the parties involved are saying much on the record, some "people familiar with the matter" say that the FTC is trying to determine if a lawsuit filed by Intel earlier this year is nothing more than an effort to disrupt NVIDIA's business. Of course, things could well expand from there, considering what the FTC has waded into.

FTC moseys into Intel / NVIDIA dispute originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CNET News  |  sourceBloomberg  | Email this | Comments]]>antitrustdisputefederal trade commissionFederalTradeCommissionftcintellawsuitnvidiaFri, 04 Dec 2009 16:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Nook early adopters promised a December 9th shipment, $10 online gift certificate]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nook-early-adopters-promised-a-december-9th-shipment-10-online/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nook-early-adopters-promised-a-december-9th-shipment-10-online/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nook-early-adopters-promised-a-december-9th-shipment-10-online/#comments We already made it clear that the January 15th Nook date applies only to new orders, and while Barnes & Noble's retail outlets may not be getting any love (read: no units will be in stock for sale, as confirmed today), many of the faithful who pre-ordered early are receiving a happy note from the company right now with a not-quite-firm statement that "we expect to have it to you by December 9th" with free, upgraded overnight shipping. Another bonus? A $10 online gift certificate. Warm feelings for the holiday shoppers who thought ahead, and as for everyone else, at least rain checks save you money on gift wrapping.

[Thanks, Mona!]

Nook early adopters promised a December 9th shipment, $10 online gift certificate originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]>barnes and noblebarnes nobleBarnesAndNobleBarnesNoblenookFri, 04 Dec 2009 15:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Hell freezes over, the FCC admits that CableCARD is a failure]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/12/04/hell-freezes-over-the-fcc-admits-that-cablecard-is-a-failure/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/12/04/hell-freezes-over-the-fcc-admits-that-cablecard-is-a-failure/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/12/04/hell-freezes-over-the-fcc-admits-that-cablecard-is-a-failure/#commentsCableCARD Well we have to say we never saw this coming, but have dreamed of it for years, but it appears that the FCC is actually listening to the CEA and is asking for comments on how to replace CableCARD with something that would actually make the network open. For those just catching up, Congress mandated that cable had to be open with the Telecommunications Act of 1996 -- yeah that long -- and 3rd party CableCARD devices first became available in 2004 and five years later there are only 14 3rd party certified devices and 443k 3rd party devices in service. The fact that CableCARDs just don't work is no surprise to anyone who has tried to use one -- ok we're exaggerating here, but we've had our fair share installed and every one makes for a funny story. Now obviously admitting you have a problem is the first step, but it also means we are years away from a solution. But since they asked, here's ours. Instead of silly cards and middleware, just specify a two way communications protocol and embed signed certificates that CableLabs will control the distribution of in the box for authentication and encryption. It really doesn't have to be any harder than that.

Hell freezes over, the FCC admits that CableCARD is a failure originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceArs Technica  | Email this | Comments]]>cablecable cardCableCARDCableLabsCEAFCCFri, 04 Dec 2009 15:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola prepping 'La Jolla' low-end Android clamshell?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/motorola-prepping-la-jolla-low-end-android-clamshell/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/motorola-prepping-la-jolla-low-end-android-clamshell/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/motorola-prepping-la-jolla-low-end-android-clamshell/#comments It's a source code-palooza these days! Fresh off that huge HTC code name find, someone's dug into the Motorola CLIQ's source code and found references to a new Motorola device dubbed "La Jolla." Meaning "The Jewel" in Spanish, La Jolla apparently means "low-end Android clamshell" in Motorola-ese, with mention of a WQVGA screen, 528MHz processor and what seems to be a QWERTY keyboard. (What such a phone might look like is pictured above. Thanks, LG). In fact, a QWERTY Android clamshell (the clamshell bit was extrapolated from the display driver by the folks at AndroidandMe, but sounds reasonable) seems to be the perfect cure for the recent rash of QWERTY featurephones we've been seeing lately, perfect for the SMS / email junky that doesn't want to bother with high-powered apps or a big price tag or the resistive touchscreen-only typing of the HTC Tattoo. Now, if only could find some device source code that could solve our trigger shyness brought on by this steady stream of Android handsets -- not that we're complaining.

Motorola prepping 'La Jolla' low-end Android clamshell? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Phone Arena  |  sourceAndroidandMe  | Email this | Comments]]>androidclamshellla jollaLaJollamotorolaqwertyrumorwqvgaFri, 04 Dec 2009 15:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Core Values: What's next for NVIDIA?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/core-values-whats-next-for-nvidia/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/core-values-whats-next-for-nvidia/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/core-values-whats-next-for-nvidia/#commentsCore Values is our new monthly column from Anand Shimpi, Editor-in-chief of AnandTech. With over a decade of experience poring over the latest in chip developments, he's here to explain how things work and why our tech is the way it is.


I remember the day AMD announced it was going to acquire ATI. NVIDIA told me that its only competitor just threw in the towel. What a difference a few years can make.

The last time NVIDIA was this late to a major DirectX transition was seven years ago, and the company just quietly confirmed we won't see its next-generation GPU, Fermi, until Q1 2010. If AMD's manufacturing partner TSMC weren't having such a terrible time making 40nm chips I'd say that AMD would be gobbling up marketshare like a fat kid. By the time NVIDIA gets its entire stack of DX11 hardware out the gate, AMD will be a quarter away from putting out newly refreshed GPUs.

Things aren't much better on the chipset side either -- for all intents and purposes, the future of NVIDIA's chipset business in the PC space is dead. Not only has NVIDIA recently announced that it won't be pursuing any chipsets for Intel's Core i3, i5. or i7 processors until its various legal disputes with Intel are resolved, It doesn't really make sense to be a third-party chipset vendor anymore. Both AMD and Intel are more than capable of doing chipsets in-house, and the only form of differentiation comes from the integrated graphics core -- so why not just sell cheap discrete GPUs for OEMs to use alongside Intel chipsets instead?

Even Ion is going to be short lived. NVIDIA's planning to mold an updated graphics chip into an updated chipset for the next-gen Atom processor, but Pine Trail brings the memory controller and graphics onto the CPU and leaves NVIDIA out in the cold once again.

Let's see, no competitive GPUs, no future chipset business. This isn't looking good so far -- but the one thing I've learned from writing about these companies for the past 12 years is that the future's never as it seems. Chances are, NVIDIA's going to look a lot different in the future because of two things: Tesla and Tegra.

Continue reading Core Values: What's next for NVIDIA?

Core Values: What's next for NVIDIA? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnscore valuesCoreValuescpufeaturedfeaturesgpuhigh-performance computingHigh-performanceComputinghpcnvidiasoctegrateslaFri, 04 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple adds 3.33GHz Xeon, 2TB hard drive options to Mac Pro]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/apple-adds-3-33ghz-xeon-2tb-hard-drive-options-to-mac-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/apple-adds-3-33ghz-xeon-2tb-hard-drive-options-to-mac-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/apple-adds-3-33ghz-xeon-2tb-hard-drive-options-to-mac-pro/#commentsWe know it can be tough scraping by with a measly 2.93GHz Xeon processor and 1TB hard drives in your Mac Pro, so you'll no doubt be pleased to know that Apple has finally seen fit to add a bit of extra horsepower to its humble little desktop. That includes a new option for a speedy 3.33GHz Xeon processor, which will add a hefty $1,200 to the base price, and a new a 2TB SATA 3Gb/s 7,200rpm hard drive option (also now available on Apple's Xserve server), which is a comparative bargain at just $350 -- though you can, of course, add four of them. Unfortunately, anyone that's thinking about doubling up on those 3.33GHz Xeon processors is still out of luck, as the 8-core rigs still top out at just 2.93Ghz.

Apple adds 3.33GHz Xeon, 2TB hard drive options to Mac Pro originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceApple  | Email this | Comments]]>3.33ghz xeon3.33ghzXeonappleapple mac proAppleMacPromacmac promac pro upgradeMacProMacProUpgradexeonxeon processorXeonProcessorFri, 04 Dec 2009 14:41:00 EST<![CDATA[The Engadget Podcast, live at 2:45PM EST!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/the-engadget-podcast-live-at-2-45pm-est/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/the-engadget-podcast-live-at-2-45pm-est/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/the-engadget-podcast-live-at-2-45pm-est/#comments We've got a couple special guests joining us live on the Engadget Podcast today: Michael Gartenberg and Chris Ziegler will be on hand to talk about Nokia's present and future products and strategy. On top of that, we've got a ton of tablet talk coming at you -- everything from the CrunchPad to the next-generation of magazines. It's going to be a wild one -- we'll be live around 2:45PM EST, but the chat below is open now, so settle on in!

Update: It's all over, but check back tomorrow for the regular podcast post if you missed it!

The Engadget Podcast, live at 2:45PM EST! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]>engadget podcastEngadgetPodcastlivelive podcastLivePodcastpodcastFri, 04 Dec 2009 14:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Televisions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-televisions/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-televisions/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-televisions/#commentsWelcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.

Want a gift the whole family can enjoy? A brand new television is sure to do the trick and with more HDTV content available than ever from antenna, cable, satellite, Blu-ray discs or even the internet, there will always be something to watch. Whether it's their first flat-panel or an upgrade, these picks come through in several price ranges selected to maximize your, we mean their, viewing pleasure. The only question left we can't help you with? Who gets the first turn on the remote.

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Televisions

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Televisions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]>1080pflat panelFlatPanelhdtvHGGhgg 2009Hgg2009holiday gift guideholiday gift guide 2009HolidayGiftGuideHolidayGiftGuide2009lcdledmitsubishipanasonicplasmasamsungsharptelevisiontelevisionsvizioFri, 04 Dec 2009 14:09:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC gives Verizon the third degree over $350 'advanced device' ETF]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/fcc-gives-verizon-the-third-degree-over-350-advanced-device-e/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/fcc-gives-verizon-the-third-degree-over-350-advanced-device-e/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/fcc-gives-verizon-the-third-degree-over-350-advanced-device-e/#comments Early termination fees have always represented the flipside of subsidized pricing -- the necessary evil that keeps free phones free. Thing is, they were tough enough to swallow at $175 or $200, but Verizon's recently gone for the jugular in a hell-bent effort to keep subscribers locked in by upping the fee on vaguely-defined "advanced devices" (read: any phone a power user would ever want) all the way up to a mind-bending $350. Turns out the FCC is as confused and worked up as everyone else, though, having fired off a 4-page communique to Verizon's veep of legal and external affairs today asking how customers are notified of the new ETF, how the prorating formula is calculated (hint: they don't like that you still pay $120 after 23 months of a 24-month contract), and how an "advanced device" comes to be, among other things. Riding on the letter are a few extra questions about inadvertent mobile web charges for customers that aren't signed up for a data plan, totaling nine paragraph-long queries that the feds want answered by December 17. Your move, Verizon.

[Thanks, Daniel P.]

Gallery: FCC gives Verizon the third degree over $350 'advanced device' ETF

FCC gives Verizon the third degree over $350 'advanced device' ETF originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceFCC (PDF)  | Email this | Comments]]>early termination feeEarlyTerminationFeeetffccmobile webMobileWebverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwFri, 04 Dec 2009 13:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia Booklet 3G review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nokia-booklet-3g-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nokia-booklet-3g-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nokia-booklet-3g-review/#comments You might think MikroMikko is the name of some Asian fusion restaurant, but it was actually Nokia's first computer line -- and in 1987, the MikroMikko 3 was a state-of-the-art MS-DOS machine with 1MB of RAM and 20MB drive. It's been about 25 years since Nokia's made a computer bigger than an N900, but it's back in the game with its first netbook, the Booklet 3G. Nokia's pitching the Booklet as a top-of-the-line machine with an all-aluminum chassis, integrated connectivity and GPS apps, and at $599 it's certainly priced that way -- although inside it's got a low-power Atom processor and 4,200rpm hard drive. The Booklet 3G is one of the best-looking netbooks out there, but is Nokia's entry back into the market a winner? Click on to find out what we think of the entire system in our full review.

Gallery: Nokia Booklet 3G Review

Continue reading Nokia Booklet 3G review

Nokia Booklet 3G review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]>booklet 3gBooklet3gimpressionlaptopNetBookNetBooksnokianokia bookletNokia Booklet 3GNokia Booklet 3G Mini LaptopNokiaBookletNokiaBooklet3gNokiaBooklet3gMiniLaptopreviewFri, 04 Dec 2009 13:10:00 EST<![CDATA[FusionGarage plans media event to tell its side of the CrunchPad story]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/fusiongarage-plans-media-event-to-tell-its-side-of-the-crunchpad/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/fusiongarage-plans-media-event-to-tell-its-side-of-the-crunchpad/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/fusiongarage-plans-media-event-to-tell-its-side-of-the-crunchpad/#comments Michael Arrington may have declared the CrunchPad dead, but that's not stopping his former partners at FusionGarage, who've scheduled a video conference with CEO Chandra Rathakrishnan so he can "share his side of the story." Chandra will also be demonstrating the 12-inch capacitive web tablet -- which, somewhat amazingly, will be the first time we've ever seen proof that the elusive device actually even exists and functions. We're definitely curious to hear what Chandra has to say and how he rebuts Arrington's grandiose and melodramatic tale of woe, but let's be honest -- we're also at least mildly suspicious that this whole mess is just a calculated PR stunt. Stay tuned.

FusionGarage plans media event to tell its side of the CrunchPad story originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Slashgear  |  sourceSan Francisco Business Times  | Email this | Comments]]>chandra rathakrishnanChandraRathakrishnancrunchpadfusion garageFusionGaragemichael arringtonMichaelArringtontechcrunchvaporvaporwareFri, 04 Dec 2009 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[SmartSynch intros GridRouter for smart meters and the electric companies that love them]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/smartsynch-intros-gridrouter-for-smart-meters-and-the-electric-c/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/smartsynch-intros-gridrouter-for-smart-meters-and-the-electric-c/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/smartsynch-intros-gridrouter-for-smart-meters-and-the-electric-c/#comments
The last time we heard from SmartSynch it had inked a deal with AT&T to provide communications between its smart energy products and power companies. Now the company's back with a little something called the GridRouter, an IP-based device based that connects appliances, smart grids, and utilities -- no matter which communication protocol is used. The device is built on an open platform since the current grid is a mish-mash (or a hodge-podge, if you will) of proprietary hardware and software, and includes WiMax and Wi-Fi capabilities. Sounds like it just might be the thing for utilities struggling to catch up to the 21st century smarter energy revolution -- and those of you who are really, really into Google's PowerMeter beta. Want to give it a spin? Hit the source link to get in touch with the company. PR after the break.

Continue reading SmartSynch intros GridRouter for smart meters and the electric companies that love them

SmartSynch intros GridRouter for smart meters and the electric companies that love them originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CNET  |  sourceGridRouter  | Email this | Comments]]>energyenergy savingEnergySavingenvironmentgreengreen technologyGreenTechnologygridpower consumptionpower savingPowerConsumptionPowerSavingsmart appliancessmart metersSmartAppliancesSmartMetersSmartSynchutilitiesFri, 04 Dec 2009 12:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon commits to 'newer' Android for Droid Eris with Google Maps Navigation in Q1 2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/verizon-commits-to-newer-android-for-droid-eris-with-google-ma/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/verizon-commits-to-newer-android-for-droid-eris-with-google-ma/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/verizon-commits-to-newer-android-for-droid-eris-with-google-ma/#commentsHTC has pulled no punches about the fact that it intends to bring Heros up to Android 2.0 (or is that 2.1?) spec at some point, though neither Sprint nor Verizon had quickly followed on to assure customers that there'd be upgrades ready and waiting for their versions (sure, technically, the Droid Eris is a different internal HTC codename than the Heros of the world, but they're basically brothers from the same mother). Well, good news: Verizon has just announced that it'll be bringing the phone to a "newer" build of Android with integrated Google Maps Navigation for release in the first quarter of 2010. Since Google's nav app works on 1.6 now, that really doesn't give us much of a clue which version the Droid Eris can expect to see -- but seeing how we have leaked Hero firmwares running on 2.1 at this point, that'd seem like a probable target. With the Droid taking a baby step to 2.0.1 in the next few weeks, it seems at least possible that the shadow-dwelling Eris could end out ahead in the never-ending Android version game -- crazy how the world works, isn't it?

Verizon commits to 'newer' Android for Droid Eris with Google Maps Navigation in Q1 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.0android 2.1Android2.0Android2.1droid erisDroidErisfirmwarehtcupdateverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwFri, 04 Dec 2009 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Nook ship date pushed back to January 15th for new pre-orders, no Nooks in stores before Christmas?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nook-ship-date-pushed-back-to-january-15th-no-nooks-in-stores-b/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nook-ship-date-pushed-back-to-january-15th-no-nooks-in-stores-b/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nook-ship-date-pushed-back-to-january-15th-no-nooks-in-stores-b/#comments Last night, we got a tip telling us that this morning, Barnes and Noble's ship date for the Nook would slip further -- from the previously known date of January 11th to January 15th. And hey, what do you know? The BN website is now showing an expected ship date of January 15th -- though it seems this would be the shipping date for new pre-orders, not for pre-existing ones. Disappointing for all of us who are expectantly awaiting our units, no doubt, but there's the possibility of further bad news. The last time we checked in, the Nook was expected in some Barnes and Noble retail stores on the 7th of December. This tipster, who as we've just mentioned proved spot on with the expected shipping date (and whose name we know, though they've asked us not to print it), also says that no Barnes and Noble stores will have actual Nooks on hand until after Christmas. Of course, we have no way of knowing if this information will turn out to be correct, but at this point, we thought it seemed a decent enough piece of "possible" to pass on.

Update: We've just spoken with a Barnes & Noble rep, and they say they will have the Nook in select stores on Monday, December 7th, so we're just going to have to be patient and see.

Update 2: If it was not clear enough, this new date of January 15th (as well as the previous date of January 11th) seems to pertain ONLY to new pre-orders of the device -- not orders placed before the initial run sold out.

Update 3: And the in-store delay is official... Barnes & Noble is now confirming that the Nook will NOT be available in stores on Monday, as it's "intent on fulfilling earlier preorders."

[Thanks, unnamed]

Nook ship date pushed back to January 15th for new pre-orders, no Nooks in stores before Christmas? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]>barnes and noblebarnes and noble nookBarnesAndNobleBarnesAndNobleNookebbooksebookereaderhandheldnookFri, 04 Dec 2009 11:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Screen grabs: House, MD likes a little PSP Go between his high-risk medical procedures]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/screen-grabs-house-md-likes-a-little-psp-go-between-his-high-r/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/screen-grabs-house-md-likes-a-little-psp-go-between-his-high-r/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/screen-grabs-house-md-likes-a-little-psp-go-between-his-high-r/#commentsScreen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

There's one thing (and one thing only) that we know about House, MD. He seriously loves nearly killing people before saving them. Well, that, and he loves chilling out with a PSP Go. What, you hadn't heard? Yeah, seems old Dr. Greg is pretty into gaming in his downtime -- you know, when he's not downing Vicodin or collecting clues. There's one more piece of evidence after the break.


[Thanks, Donny]

Continue reading Screen grabs: House, MD likes a little PSP Go between his high-risk medical procedures

Screen grabs: House, MD likes a little PSP Go between his high-risk medical procedures originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]>gaminghandheldshousehouse mdHouseMdpsppsp gopspgoscreen grabsScreenGrabssonytelevisionFri, 04 Dec 2009 11:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Nearly two million mobile WiMAX subscribers worldwide by year's end, most eyeing LTE suspiciously]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nearly-two-million-mobile-wimax-subscribers-worldwide-by-years/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nearly-two-million-mobile-wimax-subscribers-worldwide-by-years/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nearly-two-million-mobile-wimax-subscribers-worldwide-by-years/#commentsThe folks at ABI Research have done up a nice summary of the status of mobile WiMAX globally, saying that they expect the total number of subscribers to be at around two million come January. Overall it's not the most optimistic picture, with many service rollouts falling short of their projected aims both in availability and in subscribers, South Korea's numbers "stagnant," and LTE breathing down everybody's necks -- particularly in the US and Japan. Still, there are some notable bright spots, most particularly Russia's Yota service, which broke 200,000 subscribers last month after five months of commercial operation, and which is also flirting with profitability at this early stage. Clearwire is the other main shining light, with "more-than-adequate funding" allowing for an increased pace of deployment. It's hard to say just exactly what sort of market share we should expect from WiMAX in the long run, but after the painful eons of CDMA vs. GSM, we really are rooting for one of these 4G technologies win decisively over the other.

Nearly two million mobile WiMAX subscribers worldwide by year's end, most eyeing LTE suspiciously originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceABI Research  | Email this | Comments]]>4gclearwirewimaxyotaFri, 04 Dec 2009 11:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo loses DS flash cart case in French court]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nintendo-loses-ds-flash-cart-case-in-french-court/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nintendo-loses-ds-flash-cart-case-in-french-court/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nintendo-loses-ds-flash-cart-case-in-french-court/#commentsAccording to a post on Maxconsole, a court in Paris has just dismissed a lawsuit filed by Nintendo over the use of flash carts on the DS. Apparently, the gamemaker was attempting to halt the use of the cartridges due to their ability to circumvent copy protection and allow for pirating of software, but a judge in France took a decidedly different view. As the carts are often used for homebrew and DIY projects, the court holds that owners of the console should be able to develop software much as a license holder of Windows might. Furthermore, the article claims that the court also deemed Nintendo's strict control of development "illegal" (Maxconsole's words), and said that development of software for the system shouldn't be hamstrung by the need for proprietary kits. This ruling follows a recent Spanish case in which the court dismissed Nintendo's lawsuit over flash carts claiming that while the add-ons do violate DRM, they also legitimately extend the functionality of the console.

Nintendo loses DS flash cart case in French court originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Slashdot, Techdirt  |  sourceMaxconsole, Spanish ruling  | Email this | Comments]]>courtcourt rulingCourtRulingdsds litedsiDsLitejudgejudgmentnintendonintendo dsNintendoDsFri, 04 Dec 2009 10:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Kodak selling OLED display business to LG, cross-licensing like there's no tomorrow]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/kodak-selling-oled-display-business-to-lg-cross-licensing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/kodak-selling-oled-display-business-to-lg-cross-licensing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/kodak-selling-oled-display-business-to-lg-cross-licensing-like/#commentsIt was always hard to comprehend Kodak as a display technology company while maintaining a zero presence in the TV or monitor industry, and now, after developing the first OLED material way back in the 70s and plenty of beautiful displays since, Kodak is getting out of the OLED game. They're selling to LG, who first inked a deal with Kodak back in March for using Kodak technology, just started selling a 15-inch OLED in November, and hopes to have a 30-inch display out by 2012. Kodak calls its IP portfolio for OLED "fundamental," so even if this doesn't speed up LG's time to market, it might give it some significant cost advantages in the long run. Speaking of patents, Kodak and LG have also entered into a "broad" cross-license agreement to dip into each other's patent portfolios, and the two companies could last be seen skipping merrily, hand-in-hand into the sunset.

Kodak selling OLED display business to LG, cross-licensing like there's no tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBusiness Wire (sale), Business Wire (patents)  | Email this | Comments]]>cross-licensingkodaklgoledpatentpatentssaleFri, 04 Dec 2009 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Epson unleashes PictureMate Show photo frame that's also a printer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/epson-unleashes-picturemate-show-photo-frame-thats-also-a-print/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/epson-unleashes-picturemate-show-photo-frame-thats-also-a-print/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/epson-unleashes-picturemate-show-photo-frame-thats-also-a-print/#comments Epson's just kicked out another in the PictureMate series, and if you're into home printing of family memories, you'll probably want to take heed. The PictureMate Show is a compact printer of super high quality (5,760 x 1,440) 4 x 6-inch photos in about 37 seconds. It also doubles as a photo frame, with the 7-inch, WVGA tilt display on the front of the unit. Anyone who's spent any considerable time with a printer at home trying to print photos knows that the main concerns are always speed and quality of the final product, so it's nice to see that Epson's got its priorities straight here. You can grab up the PictureMate Show now for $299 -- and the full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Epson unleashes PictureMate Show photo frame that's also a printer

Epson unleashes PictureMate Show photo frame that's also a printer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]>digital photo frameDigitalPhotoFrameepsonphoto framePhotoFramephotospicturematepicturemate showPicturemateShowprinterFri, 04 Dec 2009 09:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Harvard and MIT researchers working to simulate the visual cortex to give computers true sight]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/harvard-and-mit-researchers-working-to-simulate-the-visual-corte/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/harvard-and-mit-researchers-working-to-simulate-the-visual-corte/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/harvard-and-mit-researchers-working-to-simulate-the-visual-corte/#comments It sounds like a daunting task, but some researchers at Harvard and MIT have banded together to basically "reverse engineer" the human brain's ability to process visual data into usable information. However, instead of testing one processing model at a time, they're using a screening technique borrowed from molecular biology to test a range of thousands of models up against particular object recognition tasks. To get the computational juice to accomplish this feat, they've been relying heavily on GPUs, saying the off-the-shelf parallel computing setup they've got gives them hundred-fold speed improvements over conventional methods. So far they claim their results are besting "state-of-the-art computer vision systems" (which, if iPhoto's skills are any indication, wouldn't take much), and they hope to not only improve tasks such as face recognition, object recognition and gesture tracking, but also to apply their knowledge back into a better understanding of the brain's mysterious machinations. A delicious cycle! There's a video overview of their approach after the break.

[Thanks, David]

Continue reading Harvard and MIT researchers working to simulate the visual cortex to give computers true sight

Harvard and MIT researchers working to simulate the visual cortex to give computers true sight originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourcePhysOrg  | Email this | Comments]]>braincomputer visionComputerVisionface recognitionFaceRecognitiongesturegesture recognitionGestureRecognitiongesturesharvardimage processingimage recognitionImageProcessingImageRecognitionmitobject recognitionObjectRecognitionFri, 04 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Olympus E-600 reviewed, lives up to its billing as a top-notch entry-level DSLR]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/olympus-e-600-reviewed-lives-up-to-its-billing-as-a-top-notch-e/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/olympus-e-600-reviewed-lives-up-to-its-billing-as-a-top-notch-e/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/olympus-e-600-reviewed-lives-up-to-its-billing-as-a-top-notch-e/#commentsOlympus E-600 reviewed, lives up to its billing as a top-notch entry-level DSLR We were hoping for good things when the E-600 was announced back in August, and it looks like those expectations will be met. The camera is now shipping and has been put through its paces by Photography Blog, scoring very highly thanks to its great performance and a feature set only slightly cropped when compared to the already value-packing E-620, but at a price that makes it $100 more likely to fit in your budget. It's a lot of camera for an MSRP of $599, but surely you'll be finding it for a bit less than that soon enough.

Olympus E-600 reviewed, lives up to its billing as a top-notch entry-level DSLR originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourcePhotography Blog  | Email this | Comments]]>dslre-600olympusolympus e-600OlympusE-600reviewreviewedFri, 04 Dec 2009 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[DLO WallDock iPhone charger shoots for minimalist practicality]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/dlo-walldock-iphone-charger-shoots-for-minimalist-practicality/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/dlo-walldock-iphone-charger-shoots-for-minimalist-practicality/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/dlo-walldock-iphone-charger-shoots-for-minimalist-practicality/#comments
Yesterday's in-wall USB charger hackery might have inspired plenty of you to take up tools and start the USB power revolution, but if you own an iPod or iPhone and just a smidgen of common sense, you might wanna look at this first. The DLO WallDock is a teeny tiny charger that plugs into those familiar standard wall sockets, and its designed so that your iDevice leans back when connected, turning it into a neat (and wireless) substitute for your regular dock. We still wouldn't sacrifice the $25 asking price at the altar of cable freedom, but the more important question is, would you?

DLO WallDock iPhone charger shoots for minimalist practicality originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink OhGizmo!  |  sourceDLO  | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesaccessorycable-freecablefreecableschargerdloiphoneipodipod touchIpodTouchusb poweredUsbPoweredwall chargerWallChargerwalldockFri, 04 Dec 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia N900 teardown reveals smartphone semantics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nokia-n900-teardown-reveals-smartphone-semantics/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nokia-n900-teardown-reveals-smartphone-semantics/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/nokia-n900-teardown-reveals-smartphone-semantics/#comments Until robots rule, we're still within our rights to do pretty much anything to our gadgets short of chucking them at the help. Still, some of you might want to look away as Nokia's promising flagship handset -- the Maemo powered N900 -- is stripped of its components and Finnish dignity to reveal its ARM Cortex-A8 CPU and PowerVR SGX 3D accelerator soul. Check the unofficial how-to video after the break. If you look real close you just might spot the difference between this "mobile computer" and a smartphone.

Continue reading Nokia N900 teardown reveals smartphone semantics

Nokia N900 teardown reveals smartphone semantics originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink HDBlog  |  sourceTehkseven  | Email this | Comments]]>disassemblydissectionmaemon900splaytear downTearDownFri, 04 Dec 2009 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Hearst launching Skiff distribution system and Kindle competitor 'by publishers, for publishers,' thinks you'll want it too]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/hearst-corp-creating-kindle-competitor-by-publishers-for-publ/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/hearst-corp-creating-kindle-competitor-by-publishers-for-publ/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/hearst-corp-creating-kindle-competitor-by-publishers-for-publ/#commentsHearst Corporation creating a Kindle competitor 'by publishers, for publishers,' thinks you'll want one too Despite all the problems with the Kindle -- poor PDF support, low-contrast screen, Orwellian fears -- it makes for a mighty-fine reading experience for users. From a publisher's perspective it stinks, with Amazon reportedly sucking down 70% of a sale's proceeds. Hearst Corp. (owner of the Houston Chronicle, Oprah Magazine, and many others) wants to set things right. For two years the company has been developing a digital content publishing and distribution service called Skiff, and it's nearly ready for its christening. Publishers will be able to render and ship their content to a number of devices, including the iPhone, but Hearst is also working on its own Kindle competitor that will be the flagship of the Skiff system (we've created an artist's mock-up above). Skiff promises better graphics and better layouts of digital content, which is encouraging, but it'll also allow the easy injection of advertising into paid content -- something we're less happy to see making the transition over from print. As rumored many publishers are said to be signing on soon, with Sprint providing connectivity. That's great, but will you be coming aboard?

Update: We have a few more details courtesy of the official press release, most interesting being news of a partnership with Marvell to develop a system on a chip for e-readers. Given that Spring Design's Alex and the Entourage Edge are both using Marvell chips, we wouldn't be surprised to find they've both been given a berth on this new venture. Also, Skiff is confirmed to be launching sometime in 2010.

Hearst launching Skiff distribution system and Kindle competitor 'by publishers, for publishers,' thinks you'll want it too originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Wall Street Journal  |  sourceSkiff  | Email this | Comments]]>amazon kindleAmazonKindlee-readerelectronic readerElectronicReaderhearsthearst corp.hearst corporationHearstCorp.HearstCorporationkindleskiffsprintFri, 04 Dec 2009 07:41:00 EST<![CDATA[HP lets iPAQ Glisten out of the box]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/hp-lets-ipaq-glisten-out-of-the-box/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/hp-lets-ipaq-glisten-out-of-the-box/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/hp-lets-ipaq-glisten-out-of-the-box/#comments The AT&T-bound iPAQ Glisten from HP has been unboxed for our viewing pleasure, video of which can be found immediately after the break. If you're not in such a hurry though, you'll want to know it's an AMOLED-fronted, Qualcomm-powered (533MHz) WinMo 6.5 device, which brings the BlackBerry form factor sans the RIM user experience, but plus a touchscreen. Another thing to note is that AT&T's online store will be the only place to get it, at the already announced $179.99 after rebates on a two-year deal. The video does a good job of comparing HP's return to the mobile space with a pair of similar devices, and we're left with the impression that it's a pretty chunky machine, but as usual we recommend seeing it for yourself -- and you already know where to find it.

Continue reading HP lets iPAQ Glisten out of the box

HP lets iPAQ Glisten out of the box originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourcePocketNow  | Email this | Comments]]>amoledglistenhphp glistenhp ipaq glistenHpGlistenHpIpaqGlistenipaqipaq glistenIpaqGlistenqualcommsmartphoneunboxingvideowindows mobile 6.5WindowsMobile6.5winmowinmo 6.5Winmo6.5Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Geek Squads to start driving plug-in Mitsubishi i-MiEVs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/some-geek-squads-to-start-driving-plug-in-mitsubishi-i-mievs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/some-geek-squads-to-start-driving-plug-in-mitsubishi-i-mievs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/some-geek-squads-to-start-driving-plug-in-mitsubishi-i-mievs/#comments With the amount of use Chuck gets out of his "Nerd Herd" mobile, plus our own anecdotal sightings of Geek Squad vehicles around town (see what we did there? Science), we'd say that they're ripe for EV replacements, and what better than the hard-to-pronounce i-MiEV from Mitsubishi to do the job? As announced at the LA Auto Show on Thursday, a few Best Buy Geek Squad locations in California are getting access to the cars in January, with minimal fleets that will expand to the other stores over a few years. For now it's going to be an experiment, and primarily urban, but we like where this is headed. As in, "not to our house, because we're perfectly adept at setting up a wireless network, thanks."

Some Geek Squads to start driving plug-in Mitsubishi i-MiEVs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAutoblog  | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleElectricVehicleevgeek squadGeekSquadi-mievmitsubishiplug-in electricPlug-inElectricFri, 04 Dec 2009 06:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse takes flight]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/#comments They said it couldn't be done. They laughed and questioned what would happen when the sun sets, but the man whose passport reads Piccard, Bertrand, and whose bold will and bald helm match a similarly named Capitaine, has now overseen the first solar-powered flight on the Solar Impulse HB-SIA. Okay, so it was 1,150 feet flown at a meter above ground level, but that's just classic Swiss caution for you, no reason not to celebrate the fact that there's now a flying tub powered purely by solar energy and promising a future of aircraft operating indefinitely -- so long as the sun doesn't forget to rise every morning. This comes mere days after the first runway tests were carried out, leading us to believe that this is one mission with a glorious chance of success.

Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse takes flight originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceWired  | Email this | Comments]]>aircraftairplanebertrand piccardBertrandPiccardcaptain piccardCaptainPiccardeco-friendlyElectric carElectricCarflighthetpicardplanerenewable energyRenewableEnergysolarsolar energysolar flightsolar impulsesolar powersolar poweredsolar-poweredSolarEnergySolarFlightSolarImpulseSolarPowerSolarPoweredtest flightTestFlightFri, 04 Dec 2009 05:41:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS Eee PC 1201N Ion-based Seashell ready for $500 Amazon pre-order]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/asus-eee-pc-seashell-1201n-ion-based-ready-for-500-amazon-pre-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/asus-eee-pc-seashell-1201n-ion-based-ready-for-500-amazon-pre-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/asus-eee-pc-seashell-1201n-ion-based-ready-for-500-amazon-pre-o/#comments It's a bit later than the mid-December target heard previously, but ASUS' 12-inch Ion-packing Eee PC 1201N is up for pre-order with an anticipated January 15 release. A penny short of $500 takes home a dual-core N330 processor clocking 1.6GHz on the Atomic clock, 2GB of DDR2 memory with room to expand to 8GB, a 250GB 5,400 RPM hard disk, Bluetooth, 802.11n WiFi, webcam, and fancy new 32-bit Windows 7 Home Premium OS -- none of that Starter Edition netbook nonsense. Here's the rub: are you really going to pull the trigger for a legacy Diamondville-class Atom lappie now knowing that the big CES event in January will likely be flooded with Intel's latest Pineview-class machines sporting new N450 Atom processors, of which, at least a few will offer HD video acceleration? Pre-order now if you want but we'd wait until January 11th to see what might get announced.

[Thanks, Luke F.]

Update: We've been in touch with ASUS' UK team and can confirm that Blighty will be getting its chance at Ion-infused nirvana at a similar time, "mid-January" they say, and at the slightly higher price of £399 ($663).

ASUS Eee PC 1201N Ion-based Seashell ready for $500 Amazon pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAmazon  | Email this | Comments]]>1201nasusdiamondvilleeee pceee pc 1201nEeePcEeePc1201nionn330n450pineviewseashellFri, 04 Dec 2009 04:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Atom N450 netbook torrent undammed on January 11 next year?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/atom-n450-netbook-torrent-undammed-on-january-11-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/atom-n450-netbook-torrent-undammed-on-january-11-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/atom-n450-netbook-torrent-undammed-on-january-11-next-year/#commentsWell, well, here's something to spice up that upcoming post-CES malaise. The second Monday of the first January of the 2010th year of the Gregorian calendar seems set to be the day Atom-powered netbook lovers have been waiting for. DigiTimes today reports that the long (much too long) awaited move to the Pine Trail platform is set to go off with a pretty major bang of vendor support come next month. Acer, ASUS, Lenovo, and MSI are all said to have lined up their N450 wares -- we know that for a fact with Lenovo -- and are now awaiting Lord Intel's predetermined date to start shipping. We're also hearing the even faster N470 chip will start making the rounds in March 2010, meaning that the first quarter of next year will see more netbook innovation than the last year and a half combined.

Atom N450 netbook torrent undammed on January 11 next year? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceDigiTimes  | Email this | Comments]]>acerasusatomatom n450atom n470AtomN450AtomN470digitimesintelintel atomIntelAtomlenovomsin450N470netbooknetbookspine trailPineTrailpineviewplatformFri, 04 Dec 2009 04:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Asus Eee Box EB1501 gets unBoxed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/asus-eee-box-eb1501-gets-unboxed/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/asus-eee-box-eb1501-gets-unboxed/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/asus-eee-box-eb1501-gets-unboxed/#comments With that fancy disc drive, NVIDIA Ion under the hood, and considerable aesthetic improvements, the Eee Box EB1501 has seemingly little to do with the Asus Eee Box of yore. So, is it as stunning in person as it is on paper? The folks at Blogeee.net have unwrapped the thing and stood it on its fancy metal stand, and they seem to be digging it -- of course, their impressions are written in French, so we can never be entirely sure. Now if only Asus could work in an internal Blu-ray drive we'd be set! Hands-on video is after the break.

Continue reading Asus Eee Box EB1501 gets unBoxed

Asus Eee Box EB1501 gets unBoxed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBlogeee.net  | Email this | Comments]]>asusatomeb1501eee boxeee box eb1501EeeBoxEeeBoxEb1501in the wildInTheWildionnettopnvidia ionNvidiaIonunboxingFri, 04 Dec 2009 03:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Thermaltake Level 10 now shipping, ready to rock your socks and wallet off]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/thermaltake-level-10-now-shipping-ready-to-rock-your-socks-and/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/thermaltake-level-10-now-shipping-ready-to-rock-your-socks-and/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/thermaltake-level-10-now-shipping-ready-to-rock-your-socks-and/#comments Thermaltake's Level 10 PC chassis, a 47-pound beautiful behemoth in every way, has completed its almost exactly 9-month march from a March design unveiling to a "now shipping" retail page on Newegg. At $849.99, it ain't cheap, but let's not forget what's really important here: it fits three Blu-ray writers. Happy shopping / minor debt!

[Thanks, Keenan]

Thermaltake Level 10 now shipping, ready to rock your socks and wallet off originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNewegg  | Email this | Comments]]>chassisdesk topDeskTopdesktop chassisDesktopChassislevel 10level tenLevel10LevelTenpcpc chassisPcChassisthermal takethermal take level 10ThermalTakethermaltake level tenThermalTakeLevel10ThermaltakeLevelTenFri, 04 Dec 2009 02:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Creepy robotic heads serenade your wallet from deep inside the uncanny valley]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/creepy-robotic-heads-serenade-your-wallet-from-deep-inside-the-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/creepy-robotic-heads-serenade-your-wallet-from-deep-inside-the-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/creepy-robotic-heads-serenade-your-wallet-from-deep-inside-the-u/#comments No, it's not the Boyz II Men reunion tour, these are three other singing robots manufactured into a performing trio. The animatronic heads from artist Nathaniel Mellor are part of a $75,000 art piece on sale at Art Basel Miami Beach 2009. The artificial faces are controlled by servos which in turn are controlled by a computer. The uncontrolled fear you'll feel when watching the video is, however, completely natural.

Continue reading Creepy robotic heads serenade your wallet from deep inside the uncanny valley

Creepy robotic heads serenade your wallet from deep inside the uncanny valley originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceYouTube  | Email this | Comments]]>animatronicartart baselart basel miami beachart basel miami beach 2009ArtBaselArtBaselMiamiBeachArtBaselMiamiBeach2009faceheadNathaniel MellorNathanielMellorrobotroboticrobotssingsingingFri, 04 Dec 2009 01:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Android 2.1-equipped Motorola Sholes tablet spied in China as XT701?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/android-2-1-equiped-motorola-sholes-tablet-spied-in-china-as-xt7/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/android-2-1-equiped-motorola-sholes-tablet-spied-in-china-as-xt7/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/android-2-1-equiped-motorola-sholes-tablet-spied-in-china-as-xt7/#comments No sooner do we get brief corner glimpses of the supposed Motorola Sholes tablet do we get tipped off to this writeup from Androidin.net which has a number of pictures of an eerily similar keyboard-less handset with a 3.7-inch screen, Android 2.1, FM radio, and interestingly enough, only a 5 megapixel camera -- last we heard it was going to be 8. Also debatable is a HDMI port, since the image that would show it is a tad too blurry. Otherwise, it seems to be about in line with what we expected, and it also seems destined for China Unicom as the XT701 (analogous to China Mobile's Motorola Android device). Now how about a few dashes of hope we'll see this stateside, eh Moto? Two more shots after the break.

[Thanks, yee]

Continue reading Android 2.1-equipped Motorola Sholes tablet spied in China as XT701?

Android 2.1-equipped Motorola Sholes tablet spied in China as XT701? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAndroidin  | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.1Android2.1breaking newsBreakingNewschinachina unicomChinaUnicommotorolamotorola sholesmotorola sholes tabletMotorolaSholesMotorolaSholesTabletsholessholes tabletSholesTablettabletxt 701Xt701Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Best headset / microphone for podcasting?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/ask-engadget-best-headset-microphone-for-podcasting/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/ask-engadget-best-headset-microphone-for-podcasting/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/ask-engadget-best-headset-microphone-for-podcasting/#comments 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 Marcus, who's looking to hook himself up with a solid USB headset / microphone for Skype calling, podcasting and just generally having a royally great time.
"I've found myself using my PC for a lot of conversations lately, and I'm also considering recording a podcast to share with anyone who will listen. There are tons of USB headset / microphones out there, and I'm hoping someone has some solid recommendations based on experience. I'll consider both headsets and standalone mics, by the way, but I'd like to keep the bill under $100 if possible. Help!"
To be completely honest, we're still trying to determine for ourselves which device is best for these kinds of activities. If you've found a diamond in the proverbial rough, spill it in comments below, won'tcha?

Ask Engadget: Best headset / microphone for podcasting? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]>askAsk EngadgetAskEngadgetfeaturesheadphoneheadphonesheadsetmicrophonepodcastingskypeusbusb headsetusb microphoneUsbHeadsetUsbMicrophoneThu, 03 Dec 2009 23:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Zii Trinity smartphone concept handled on video]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/zii-trinity-smartphone-concept-handled-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/zii-trinity-smartphone-concept-handled-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/zii-trinity-smartphone-concept-handled-on-video/#comments It's an all too brief look, but it's infinitely more than we've seen so far. CNET Asia has managed some hands-on time the Zii Trinity concept smartphone. Quite a looker, and here we also get a glimpse of it next to the good ol' Zii Egg. As noted by the narrator, the bottom proprietary slot can be swapped for microUSB or mini-HDMI, there's a notably-sized 5 megapixel camera on the back, as well as one on the front for video conferencing. Enough talk, take a gander for yourself after the break.

[Thanks, kumar]

Continue reading Zii Trinity smartphone concept handled on video

Zii Trinity smartphone concept handled on video originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceCNET Asia  | Email this | Comments]]>conceptconcept phoneConceptPhonecreativemedia phonemedia playerMediaPhoneMediaPlayermini hdmimini-hdmiMiniHdmiphoneplaszmaproto typeProtoTypesmart phoneSmartPhonestem cellstem cell computingStemCellStemCellComputingtrinityziizii labszii lifezii summitZiiLabsZiiLifeZiiSummitzms 05zms 08zms-05zms-08Zms05Zms08Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaked Intel Core i9 chip makes its way to eBay?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/leaked-intel-core-i9-chip-makes-its-way-to-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/leaked-intel-core-i9-chip-makes-its-way-to-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/leaked-intel-core-i9-chip-makes-its-way-to-ebay/#comments Would you pay $1,200 for an as-of-yet unreleased Intel Core i9 chip? Hard to say if the transaction actually occurred, but an auction recently ended from a Taiwanese eBay user who claims to be selling a six-core, 2.4GHz Xeon Westmere Gulftown processor. We can't vouch for the validity of the listing, but those are some pretty convincing pictures being tossed around -- ones that aren't blurred, which might give Intel an advantage in snooping out the leak. That's not all, though -- Nordic Hardware (via Tom's Hardware) also reports that the OCTeamDenmark forums had it listed for on sale for $850. The 32nm fella had some promising benchmarks released recently, although its release isn't slated until at best sometime early 2010. Sure, it's great to be first, but with early adopter prices like that, we don't mind waiting until it goes official.

Gallery: Intel Core i9 eBay listing

Leaked Intel Core i9 chip makes its way to eBay? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Tom's Hardware  |  sourceeBay, OCTeamDenmark  | Email this | Comments]]>2.4 ghz2.4Ghz6 core6-core6corechipcorecore i9CoreI9cpuebaygulftowni9intelintel core i9IntelCoreI9leakleakslga 1366Lga1366processorsix coresix-coresixcoretaiwanwestmerewestmere gulftownWestmereGulftownxeonxeon westmerexeon westmere gulftownXeonWestmereXeonWestmereGulftownThu, 03 Dec 2009 22:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon ad confirms Droid is a not-quite pretty 'racehorse duct taped to a Scud missile']]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/verizon-ad-confirms-droid-is-a-not-quite-pretty-racehorse-duct/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/verizon-ad-confirms-droid-is-a-not-quite-pretty-racehorse-duct/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/verizon-ad-confirms-droid-is-a-not-quite-pretty-racehorse-duct/#comments There's something peculiar about Verizon's latest addition to its promotional Droid onslaught. Sure, we get the expected Mad Libs-esque hyperboles like "it rips through the web like a circular saw through a ripe banana," but other nods seem to indicate an acknowledgement that, well, it's not the prettiest of flagship phone princesses. "Should [a phone be] be a tiara-wearing digitally clueless beauty pageant queen?" (Wonder who that's a reference to.) Listen Verizon, trading "hairdo for can do" is great and all, but why can't we simply have both brains and beauty? Still, it's nice to know the fighting words haven't all but left the industry. See the ad for yourself after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Verizon ad confirms Droid is a not-quite pretty 'racehorse duct taped to a Scud missile'

Verizon ad confirms Droid is a not-quite pretty 'racehorse duct taped to a Scud missile' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceYouTube  | Email this | Comments]]>adadsadvertisingbeautycommercialdroid prettyDroidPrettyiphonemarketmarketingprettyverizonThu, 03 Dec 2009 21:08:00 EST