Engadget classic - no Apple

Sciphone's Android-loving N21 gets some time on video

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:04:00 -0800

There's just something about Sciphone's Android-based handset, the N21, that we can't get enough of. This KIRF-tastic little dude has attitude in droves, to go with its clunky exterior. The 3-inch touchscreener boasts a 5 megapixel cam, WiFi, and an onscreen keyboard -- not to mention what looks like a killer stylus experience. In the video (which is after the break), you can check out the many and varied features of this looker of a device.

Continue reading Sciphone's Android-loving N21 gets some time on video

Sciphone's Android-loving N21 gets some time on video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blobo squeezable game controller bounces through the FCC

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:38:00 -0800

Befuddled by the Blobo squeezable game controller developed by an upstart company out of Finland? The FCC probably was to, but that didn't stop 'em from putting it through their usual battery of tests, tearing it apart, and giving us a glimpse at the user manual and our first real up-close look at the device itself. Of course, it is just a rubber ball packed with Bluetooth and sensors -- but if you're curious, you can find more pics where this one came from at the link below. And if, by chance, you missed out on all the Blobo details earlier this week, you'll no doubt want to check out the helpful and informative video after the break.

Continue reading Blobo squeezable game controller bounces through the FCC

Blobo squeezable game controller bounces through the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG BL40 Christmas Edition sports 8 megapixel camera, no egg nog

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:56:00 -0800

If you're reading this in South Korea, or are planning a trip there this holiday season, do us a solid, will ya? Apparently LG is releasing a Christmas Edition of the BL40, with the tantalizing name: "New Chocolate: Black Label Series." We were sort of hoping that you could maybe get some hands-on pics for us. Unlike the standard BL40, this new candy bar boasts an 8MP autofocus camera, a swanky case with gold accents, and a chance to win up to 5 million Korean Won (over $4,000) in prizes. Yes, that's right -- you can win stuff by buying this phone! No word yet on availability in countries besides the ROK, but we do have a pretty sweet gallery for you below. PR after the break.

Gallery: LG BL40 New Chocolate limited edition handset

Continue reading LG BL40 Christmas Edition sports 8 megapixel camera, no egg nog

LG BL40 Christmas Edition sports 8 megapixel camera, no egg nog originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nyko Charge Base IC for Wii now shipping

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:11:00 -0800

Nyko's just unleashed its latest charging base for Wii controllers. This newest unit makes use of induction charging, so you can dispense with the sleeves, and just throw your contollers or Wands straight onto the dock for charging. The controllers are attached to the dock via magnets, and it also boasts a USB port for charging up other devices. The Nyko Charge base comes with two battery covers that are compatible with both Wiimotes and Nyko's own Wands, as well as two rechargeable battery packs. It's available now at Sam's Club and Amazon, and retails for $39.99. Full press release is after the break. Also, be on the lookout -- we'll be giving away five of these puppies on Black Friday (among many, many other things).

Continue reading Nyko Charge Base IC for Wii now shipping

Nyko Charge Base IC for Wii now shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Emblaze's First Else unveiled in London, promises to be a game-changer

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:34:00 -0800

Folks, today might be the day when you start to notice how ancient our smartphones have become, even if they only came out in last few months. Blame Else (formerly Emblaze Mobile) for its confusingly-named First Else, a phone "built from scratch" over the last two years and now powered by Access Linux Platform (ALP) 3.0 -- a mobile OS thought to have quietly died out since our last sighting in February. Until today's London launch event, the last we heard of this Israeli company was from October's Access Day in Japan where it previewed the Else Intuition OS, which we like to think of as inspired by Minority Report. While it's still too early to tell whether the First Else -- launching in Q2 next year -- will dodge the path of doom, we were already overwhelmed by the excellence of the device's user experience, both from its presentation and from our exclusive hands-on opportunity. Do read on to find out how Else is doing it right.

Continue reading Emblaze's First Else unveiled in London, promises to be a game-changer

Emblaze's First Else unveiled in London, promises to be a game-changer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia X6 coming to Finland and the UK this Friday, other countries soon

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:50:00 -0800

Nokia's just confirmed on its official blog that the X6 will hit shelves in Finland and the UK starting next week, with other countries to follow soon after. After hearing a while back that the touchscreen, Comes With Music-lover would be shipping around November 12th -- well, we didn't want to falsely get anyone's hopes up again. But now that the word is official, we can all sit back and behold the beauty that is the X6 -- with its 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera, and 32GB of onboard memory. The S60 (that's the 5th edition) device will be available in Nokia stores this Friday, retailing for £449 (about $742) free of contract.

Nokia X6 coming to Finland and the UK this Friday, other countries soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon goes after Sprint's 'most dependable 3G network' ad claim

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:21:00 -0800

Looks like Verizon's addicted to the sweet taste of success: following its victory over AT&T regarding the Map For That ads, Big Red's complaining to the The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus about Sprint's "America's most dependable 3G network" tagline. Verizon says that a recent Nielsen survey shows its network drops fewer calls than Sprint's, and for now the bureaucrats agree -- the board's asked Sprint to stop airing the ads. For its part, Sprint says one study doesn't tell the whole tale, and it's going to keep showing the ads while it appeals to the National Advertising Review Board. In other news, Verizon's lawyers were seen heading to the local BMW dealership late last night, following a run-in with Sprint's attorneys at the Mercedes-Benz showroom.

Continue reading Verizon goes after Sprint's 'most dependable 3G network' ad claim

Verizon goes after Sprint's 'most dependable 3G network' ad claim originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google and TiVo partner to analyze viewer data, sell ads, get filthy rich

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:01:00 -0800

We're actually sort of surprised that this hasn't happened earlier, but TiVo and Google announced a data-sharing partnership today that'll give the Google TV team access to TiVo's second-by-second viewing data -- anonymized, of course. That means advertisers who buy their TV ads through Google will only have to pay for the ads that customers actually watch -- a system the networks obviously aren't so keen on, but which makes total sense given Google's pay-per-impression online advertising model. Google's already processing a billion remote clicks a day as part of a similar deal it's had with Dish Network since April, so the new TiVo data should just help Mountain View inch its claws even deeper into our everyday lives. Happy future.

Google and TiVo partner to analyze viewer data, sell ads, get filthy rich originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: Chrome's shine could blind Android

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0800

Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

It's been a year of milestones for Android in the U.S. The number of handsets with the Google-developed software has grown from one to eight. Three of the four major national carriers, including Verizon Wireless, the country's largest, now offer Android phones. HTC's Hero and Motorola's CLIQ have shown how Android supports customization by manufacturers. And the Motorola Droid has marked the debut of Android 2.0.

When the T-Mobile G1 was launched, Switched On discussed Google's growing rivalry with Apple. But now Google itself an even more formidable threat to the Android than Apple or even Microsoft. Growing out of the group that created the Chrome browser, Google's Chrome OS creates a relatively lightweight layer of hardware management code primarily for the purpose of running one native app, the Chrome browser. While Chrome OS can take advantage of local processing and resources, the OS foregoes local applications, citing a need to preserve speed, security and simplicity.

Continue reading Switched On: Chrome's shine could blind Android

Switched On: Chrome's shine could blind Android originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OS Xbox Pro casemod build video is mesmerizing

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:44:00 -0800

We've certainly seen plenty of hackintoshes in our time, but Will Urbina's OS Xbox Pro is also one of the cleanest casemods we've ever seen. Built so that Will can run Final Cut Pro for his job as a video editor, the machine is based on an EFI-X hackintosh dongle, and inside it sports an 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550s paired with an NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT card, 8GB of RAM, an 16GB SSD, and four traditional hard drives: one each to boot Windows 7 and OS X, and two 500GB 7,200rpm drives in a RAID0 array for video editing. Will says his total parts cost was under $1,500 for a system that matches a $4,500 Mac Pro, but that obviously doesn't include the value of his time -- which, judging by the totally captivating build video, should be plenty expensive. Check it below.

Continue reading OS Xbox Pro casemod build video is mesmerizing

OS Xbox Pro casemod build video is mesmerizing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LaCie packs 2TB HDD, DLNA support into LaCinema Classic HD

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:21:00 -0800

LaCie's LaCinema Classic multimedia hard drive was a fine device, but if you're anything like us, you're never perfectly satisfied. Thus, we're stoked to see the outfit issuing a revamped version of the aforesaid device today, with the LaCinema Classic HD including up to 2TB of internal storage space, (optional) 802.11n WiFi and built-in DLNA server capabilities. As you'd expect, this sexy black block will stream multimedia from your Mac or PC onto your HDTV, and the included HDMI port (and cable) should ensure that transfers remain gorgeous. We're told that format support won't be an issue, and if you're a believer, you can get your pre-order in now for $249.99 (1TB). Rear shot is after the break.

Continue reading LaCie packs 2TB HDD, DLNA support into LaCinema Classic HD

LaCie packs 2TB HDD, DLNA support into LaCinema Classic HD originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrome OS like lightning from a USB key: we could get used to this

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:52:00 -0800

We finally got around to prepping a USB key so we could boot to Chrome OS natively, and let us tell you: it's a world of difference. Of course, running something natively instead of virtualized is always going to be a treat, but what we're seeing with Chrome OS is actually on par performance-wise with our crazy expectations for a stripped-down OS. It boots in mere seconds and loads websites with the best of them. The build we're using, courtesy of @hexxeh on Twitter, who made all this possible with some great instructions and a masterfully-built chromiumos.img, was also able to log into the apps pane -- something we didn't pull off on our virtualized rig. We wouldn't call this our main Linux jam just yet, but even as we strut cockily back to our "big people computer," it's hard not to feel the love for something this simple and swift. If you want to do this with your own netbook, hit up Hexxeh's instructions at the read link below (we found the Windows how-to easiest to follow, for what it's worth), and if you want to be a mere voyeur you can hit up a video demonstration after the break.

Update: if you're having trouble with the source link you can try mirrored links to the torrent here and here.

Continue reading Chrome OS like lightning from a USB key: we could get used to this

Chrome OS like lightning from a USB key: we could get used to this originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's Monaco (IQ) spotted in Telus garb, rocking WinMo 6.5 and Snapdragon

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:50:00 -0800

It's been a hot minute since we've heard anything about LG's Monaco, but now it seems as if the wait for this to transition from presentation slide to reality is almost over. Unfortunately, Windows Mobile 7 won't be onboard as previously rumored, but prospective Telus customers can look forward to LG's S-Class interface sprucing things up somewhat. Other specs purportedly include a Snapdragon processor, WVGA display, 5 megapixel camera and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, though nitty-gritty details beyond that are nil. Peep that read link if you're lusting for a few more angles, and don't kid yourself -- you are.

LG's Monaco (IQ) spotted in Telus garb, rocking WinMo 6.5 and Snapdragon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Netbooks

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:16:00 -0800

Welcome 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.

The term "netbook" is such a moving target that it's hard to tell if it'll even be relevant at all in a year or two. But for the moment at least it's a handy bit of shorthand for a laptop that sacrifices performance in exchange for a small form factor and cost savings. Usually. Of course, you've got to weigh the sacrifices when gifting one of these: if your target is a power user who can't get anything done on that smaller screen, slightly-cramped keyboard and low-end processor, then you might want to look elsewhere, but if they've got an unhealthy passion for portability and things in miniature, you might just make their year.

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Netbooks

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Netbooks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kindle firmware update promises 85 percent battery boost, native PDF reader

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:47:00 -0800

We're not quite sure what sort of black magic it's worked to make it happen, but it looks like Amazon is really taking the art of firmware updates to a new level with the latest upgrade for the Kindle. Not only does it finally add native PDF support (which would have gotten folks rightly excited on its own), but it promises to boost battery life by a full 85 percent. That translates to about seven days of use with the wireless on, and is apparently the result of a six month firmware improvement and testing program -- can we get these folks working on other devices? Naturally, the latest firmware will be shipping on all new Kindles right away (just not the DX, it seems), and it will be pushed as a free update to existing Kindle 2s via Whispernet, although there's no ETA on that just yet.

Kindle firmware update promises 85 percent battery boost, native PDF reader originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI eagerly supports HD video on its MT-V887 PMP

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:12:00 -0800

It's been a couple months since noticing that MSI had a renewed interest in PMPs, and now the outfit is back with yet another media player. The MT-V887 takes the sleek, understated styling of the MT-V656 and ramps the display to a none-too-shabby 4.3-inches (480 x 272). Based on the Rockchip RK2728B, this guy adds the H.264 codec and 720p support to an already insane helping of media formats. In addition to all of that, you can catch the KBBL Morning Zoo Crew on its FM receiver. No words on price or availability, but you'll know as soon as we do. Get a closer look after the break.

Continue reading MSI eagerly supports HD video on its MT-V887 PMP

MSI eagerly supports HD video on its MT-V887 PMP originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP's Obsidian becomes iPAQ Glisten, officially comes to AT&T

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:39:00 -0800

Wow, talk about digging deep in the memory bank. The same phone that we spotted way back in July (known then as the iPAQ K3 Obsidian) has finally emerged in official fashion on AT&T. Dubbed the iPAQ Glisten, this all-business smartphone boasts a vanilla coat of Windows Mobile 6.5, a 2.5-inch AMOLED display, 3.1 megapixel camera, 256MB of SDRAM, a microSD expansion slot, A-GPS, 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, a QWERTY keyboard, 802.11b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. 'Course, you'll still be dealing with a resistive screen and a dated OS, but if you're turned on in some weird way, it'll be "available in the coming weeks" for $179.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and 2-year agreement.

Gallery: HP's Obsidian becomes iPAQ Glisten, officially comes to AT&T

HP's Obsidian becomes iPAQ Glisten, officially comes to AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fring adds Skype video support on S60, threatens to make front cams useful

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:06:00 -0800

Considering the proliferation of 3G, WiFi, in-home broadband, and front-facing cameras on phones, you'd think that there'd be far more obvious ways to bridge video calls between phones and PCs -- but alas, it's virtually impossible, particularly in the States where carriers have a complete aversion to the topic. Enter Fring -- one of the mobile industry's VoIP pioneers that has spread its love from Symbian to almost every smartphone platform worth mentioning over the years -- which is stepping out today with a new build for S60 handsets that offers video support through Skype. The way we see it, this is great news for a couple of reasons: one, Skype is one of the few videoconferencing systems with widespread traction, and two, this suddenly makes front-facing cams useful to a whole swath of Nokia users on networks (ahem, AT&T and T-Mobile) that don't offer video calling themselves. Whether we actually use it is another story altogether, but hey, it's cool to have it if we absolutely must see your beautiful face right now in stunning low fidelity. Follow the break for a video demo.

Continue reading Fring adds Skype video support on S60, threatens to make front cams useful

Fring adds Skype video support on S60, threatens to make front cams useful originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Magazine publishers said to be 'very close' to digital distribution deal

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:33:00 -0800

Rumors of magazine publishers striking a deal to make their content available for digital devices -- even a certain tablet -- have been around for quite a while now, but it looks like something may finally be close to really happening. As The New York Observer reports, Time Inc. exec John Squires has been taking the lead on the initiative (and is apparently set to become interim head of the new company), which would see rival publishers including Time, Condé Nast and Hearst join together to make over 50 magazines available in digital form, and for a variety of devices. Details are otherwise a bit light, as you might expect, but one source familiar with the situation reportedly says "it's very close and more imminent than it's been," while others familiar with the plans say they "compare to iTunes," and that you'll be able to buy "new and distinct iterations" of magazines like of The New Yorker or Time -- and even actual print editions, for that matter.

Magazine publishers said to be 'very close' to digital distribution deal originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VUDU updates keep rolling by integrating Wikipedia

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:01:00 -0800

The VUDU web based architecture is evidently really paying off, because this makes the third VUDU update in the last month. The company tells us that since its UI is pulled from the web like any other website, it can continue to easily roll out updates. This week's addition is a welcomed one, as we'll no longer have to reach for our computer or handheld just to look up the details of a movie on Wikipedia. But what's even more useful is the fact that you can browse beyond the movie's Wikipedia entry to the actor's pages, etc., and links are even added so you can quickly get back to actor's list of movies available on VUDU. We haven't been able to try this for ourselves yet, but it does sound like something we'd find useful. Of course the only thing left to add now that Wikipedia and Rotten Tomatoes are accounted for is IMDB, which can't be far behind -- right, VUDU? There's one more screen cap of the new feature after the jump.

Continue reading VUDU updates keep rolling by integrating Wikipedia

VUDU updates keep rolling by integrating Wikipedia originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony VAIO X ultraportable gets the Hackintosh treatment

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:59:00 -0800

The Vaio X, aside from being thin and light, is notoriously difficult to mod -- simply put, there's not much room in there to play around! Besides, when you've spent well over a grand for a machine, you're not necessarily going to be gung-ho about digging in with your soldering gun. Still, when InsanelyMac forum member Asama was struck by inspiration (in the form of a Vaio P OS X image) he followed his heart -- and, much to the world's amusement, it installed on the Vaio X with few complications. Sure, it wasn't a flawless operation: the WiFi card is unsupported (as you probably guessed) but, that said, this is definitely an item of note for all the Hackintosh freaks in attendance. Indeed we're looking forward to seeing Psystar get sued over a similar hack at some future junction. Get a closer look after the break.

Continue reading Sony VAIO X ultraportable gets the Hackintosh treatment

Sony VAIO X ultraportable gets the Hackintosh treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson already working on second version of Xperia Pureness, possibly Xperia Pureness 2?

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:32:00 -0800

Electric Pig is reporting that Sony Ericsson's already working on a followup to the Xperia Pureness. The designer of the original handset, Daniel Mauritzson, says that the second version of the Pureness will pack even fewer "features" than its predecessor, to hone in even further on the contrast between the handset and available smartphones. There's also been some murmuring of removing the buttons, apparently -- which makes us wonder if the next Pureness might not just be a four-inch long piece of black plastic we'll only be able to pretend to make calls on. Regardless, it sounds like the next Pureness is only in the very earliest stages of design, so don't get too excited yet -- it'll be a while.

Sony Ericsson already working on second version of Xperia Pureness, possibly Xperia Pureness 2? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo DSi LL sells 103k in two days, ripped open in two minutes

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:04:00 -0800

The newer, embiggened Nintendo DSi LL (as it's known in Tokyo Town) has been available to the kids in Japan since the beginning of the week, and Enterbrain, Inc. is reporting that Nintendo has pushed 103,524 units in its first two days. To perspectivize things, the DSi was snatched up to the tune of about 170,000 units in the same time period, while the PSPgo sold around 28,000 units. To celebrate, the kids at PC Watch have ripped one of these bad boys -- and you'll never guess what they found! (OK, maybe you will.) Check out the link below for the hardcore details -- and don't say we didn't warn you.

Nintendo DSi LL sells 103k in two days, ripped open in two minutes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArcherMind shows off 'world's first' Android-based in-car nav system

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:33:00 -0800

One could argue that the Motorola Droid is in fact the first-ever Android-based in-car navigation solution, but we're surmising that ArcherMind would disagree. Over at the Embedded Technology 2009 trade show in Yokohama, the outfit has demonstrated an Android-laden navigation system that could actually be inserted as a factory option; curiously enough, it looks an awful lot like the AutoLinQ initiative that hit our radar back in June. The outfit is reportedly shopping the system -- which includes a 7-inch, 800 x 480 display -- to a variety of Chinese automakers, and given that it can browse the web via WiFi or 3G, connect with music players and phones over Bluetooth and even play back audio files stored on the HDD or SD slot, we can't imagine it being a tough sell.

ArcherMind shows off 'world's first' Android-based in-car nav system originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Engadget Poland | ArcherMind [PDF] | Email this | Comments

Olympus Pen E-P1 spoiled by Swarovski

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:20:00 -0800

You know how to ruin a luxurious shooter already steeped in fine retro-styling? Slather on the Swarovski crystal, that's how. This £1,999 CrystalRoc bastardization of Olympus' E-P1 Micro Four Thirds wundercam more than doubles the price of the de-iced original. So sad... then again, maybe you like it.

Olympus Pen E-P1 spoiled by Swarovski originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You'll go ga ga ga ga ga over Elecom's Like a Spoon mouse

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:46:00 -0800

Travel mice don't tend to be fashionable things. Tiny? Yes. Lookers? No. Elecom's latest, the Like a Spoon mouse, bucks that trend, following in a long line of tidily designed gadgets from the company. In terms of buttons it's got nuffin' on the OpenOfficeMouse, but it looks to fall to hand much more comfortably, with a soft effects coating on top and a stainless steel rim 'round the edge. The price is set at a somewhat steep ￥8,000 in Japan, which equates to about $90, though sadly we doubt this one will be making the transference to America.

Gallery: Elecom's 'Like a Spoon' mouse

You'll go ga ga ga ga ga over Elecom's Like a Spoon mouse originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujitsu LifeBook MH380 netbook becomes the latest climber on Intel's Pine Trail

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:13:00 -0800

We still have nothing but leaked roadmaps and insider information about the details of Intel's Pineview processor and Pine Trail platform at this point, but that's not stopping a number of manufacturers from prepping their products for the supposedly upcoming unveiling. There was a nettop last month, Lenovo's latest IdeaPad last week, and now, thanks again to the FCC, we know there's a new netbook coming from Fujitsu packing the 1.6GHz Atom N450 processor. The LifeBook MH380 sports a 10.1-inch LCD with a resolution of 1366 x 768, 802.11b/g/n wireless, and, well, that's all our government-funded spies have revealed so far. We're guessing CES will be a time of great knowing.

[Thanks, Matt]

Fujitsu LifeBook MH380 netbook becomes the latest climber on Intel's Pine Trail originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse starts runway testing

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:41:00 -0800

Good news, kids -- the solar-powered jet with globetrotting ambitions has started sneaking out of the hangar and onto the runway for some mild exercise in the form of landing gear and taxi testing. Captained by Bertrand Piccard -- a real person -- the Solar Impulse project is still on track for a 2012 globe circumnavigation attempt powered only by the sun's rays from above and the well-wishes from below. The humongous bird is described as having "the wingspan of an Airbus and the weight of a car," and its recent outdoorsy jaunts have done nothing to dampen spirits, making that roadmap for its first flight early next year seem entirely viable. We've got no less than three videos for you after the break, but we won't mind if you only watch one.

Continue reading Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse starts runway testing

Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse starts runway testing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson Satio sales suspended after bugs discovered

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:02:00 -0800

Adding insult to Sony Ericsson's injurious bottom line, Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4U shops (the UK's largest mobile phone retailers) have halted sales of the SE's Symbian-powered Satio handset after a high number of customer returns and complaints. A "software glitch" reportedly causes Sony Ericsson's flagship device to power down when users try to access certain applications -- unfortunately, the issue can't be patched via an over-the-air update. A little digging into CPW discussion forums reveals multiple complaints of freezes, crashes, under-performing batteries, and bizarre interface behavior. Both the Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U will offer "new phones" to customers fed up with their Satio. Richard Dorman, senior marketing manager at Sony Ericsson, concedes the issue and assures us that it should be sorted by Christmas. Until then, you can still purchase the handset directly from Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile... but really, why would you? The Satio's not the only dubiously-spec'd 12 megapixel cameraphone on the market.

[Thanks, ugotamesij]

Sony Ericsson Satio sales suspended after bugs discovered originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Datel sues Microsoft, wants its Xbox 360 market back

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:19:00 -0800

Seems like we just can't go a week without some corporate power plays or mudslinging making our pages. Back in October, Datel promised it would "remedy" the situation created by Microsoft's forthcoming (now present) Dashboard update locking out its higher capacity memory modules. The accessory company was the first (and only) third-party supplier of memory cards for the Xbox 360, but it seems that MS took a dislike to the MicroSD-expandable Max Memory units and has since taken the unusual step of downgrading the console to being able to read only chips up to 512MB, essentially taking Datel's 2GB+ wares out of commission. Yeah, classy. Datel's retaliation is in the finest Anglo-Saxon legal tradition, namely to assert antitrust concerns and to claim its right to act as a competitor to Microsoft in the memory market for Redmond's own console. It all sounds rather silly to us too, and could probably have been avoided by a rational compromise, but what's the fun in that?

Datel sues Microsoft, wants its Xbox 360 market back originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq | Howard, Rice et al | Email this | Comments

Large Hadron Collider reboots, makes first protonic bang!

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:42:00 -0800

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that most epic triumph of human engineering and physics research has finally taken place, and strangely enough our planet's still in one piece too. The search for the Higgs boson particle resumed yesterday, somewhere under the Franco-Swiss border, with the CERN research team successfully executing what the LHC was built to do -- accelerating proton beams to nearly the speed of light, then filming the wreckage as they crash into each other. Having encountered a number of bumps in the road, the researchers have had to significantly scale down the energy at which their early collisions will take place, with the very first ones said to have happened at 900 billion electron volts. Still, plans are afoot for an imminent shift up to 1.2 trillion electron volts (TeV), which would be the highest energy level any particle accelerator has achieved yet, before a ramp up to 7 TeV over the coming year if all goes well.

Large Hadron Collider reboots, makes first protonic bang! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC HD2 can be coaxed into doing 802.11n, if you know how to sweet-talk it

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:51:00 -0800

Even though Broadcom, Atheros, and Qualcomm have all been sampling phone-ready draft 802.11n chipsets for some time now, you're still not seeing the tech swiftly overtake 802.11g in the mobile arena -- in fact, we dare you to find a single phone in your carrier's store that can do it. Odds are you can't, but HTC HD2 owners can win a few quid off their skeptical (non-Engadget-reading) friends by enabling support after the fact. Looks like draft-n support got buried in the company's WinMo monster -- a fitting device to add such a rare display of raw, savage wireless power, if we do say so ourselves -- but it got turned off in the shipping firmware for some reason, possibly concerns over increased battery draw, flakiness, or a stark realization that the benefits of 802.11n might not be fully appreciated in a device hamstrung more by a crappy browser than by slow WiFi. If you want to live on the edge anyway and flip the switch, xda-developers has the registry hack you need -- and if you're using an HD2 in the States without 3G right now, let's be honest: you kinda need all the speed-boosting wireless hacks you can dig up.

HTC HD2 can be coaxed into doing 802.11n, if you know how to sweet-talk it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MoDaCo | xda-developers | Email this | Comments

Palm Precorder brings video recording homebrew to the Pre

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:35:00 -0800

If you like your software homebrewed with just a hint of alpha then boy do we have an app for you. The WebOS homebrew community just released Precorder; an app that lets your Palm Pre record audio and 30fps 480x320 pixel video in H.264/AVC format -- you can even control the built-in LED for recording in low-light situations. Unfortunately, there's no video preview presented while recording but hey, it's alpha software bro... and it's free. Check a video sample after the break.

Continue reading Palm Precorder brings video recording homebrew to the Pre

Palm Precorder brings video recording homebrew to the Pre originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Palm Infocenter, WebOS Internals (Precorder) | Email this | Comments

Amazon promises update to better 'organize Kindle libraries'

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:44:00 -0800

If you've found yourself somewhat irked by the Kindle's lackluster organizing abilities, you clearly aren't alone. A post by The Kindle Team over on Facebook has made clear that Amazon is aware of the shortcoming, and it's currently toiling away on a "better way to organize your growing Kindle libraries." No details are given about the forthcoming solution, but the team does confess that it'll be released as an over-the-air update "in the first half of next year." Huzzah?

[Thanks, Anthony]

Amazon promises update to better 'organize Kindle libraries' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Early Core i9 benchmarks promising, make you wonder why you even bothered with Core i7

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:24:00 -0800

Immediate obsolescence is an age old problem in the computer industry, but it doesn't look like the upcoming Core i9 "Gulftown" processor is going to do anything to solve it. Word is from early benchmarks of the upcoming Intel processor is that it bests the current Core i7 at the top of the heap with speed gains as large as 50% -- directly in line with its addition of two cores on top of the Core i7's existing four. Of course, six 2.8GHz cores aren't quite as exponentially helpful when applied to non-optimized tasks, but with most major modern software development aimed at better utilizing multiple cores, the core overkill of Core i9 will likely prove increasingly useful over time. At the start, however, Core i9's improvements will come at a premium: 130W power consumption instead of 95W in Core i7, and of course a high-end only price tag to match. Word is we'll be seeing these chips hit the market in early 2010, possibly as soon as January.

Early Core i9 benchmarks promising, make you wonder why you even bothered with Core i7 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista | PCLab | Email this | Comments

Sprint finalizes Virgin Mobile USA acquisition, rushes out to snag some cranberry sauce

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:43:00 -0800

It's hard to say if these guys were just looking to get this whole thing finalized before the holiday break, but either way, all the requisite i's have been dotted and t's crossed. As of today, Sprint Nextel has acquired Virgin Mobile USA -- a process that began back in late July -- and frankly, there's nothing you can do about it. The move will obviously position Sprint as a bigger player in the prepaid space, but outside of that presumably true assumption, it's tough to say what else the newfound lovers will do together. So, will the Facebook statuses be updated soon as well? Hello?

Sprint finalizes Virgin Mobile USA acquisition, rushes out to snag some cranberry sauce originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blinking LEDs to give QR codes a run for their (ad) money

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:59:00 -0800

We're still waiting for this so-called QR code revolution to hit North America, but our contemporaries across the Pacific are already looking to develop the next big thing. Reportedly, a smattering of mega-corps (including the likes of Toshiba and NEC) are joining hands in order to concoct a rivaling technology that requires even less effort to get content from billboards, books and posters to one's mobile. The heretofore unnamed system utilizes blinking LEDs to send data to phones, and so long as an ad has enough room for a minuscule light, consumers can come within five meters of it and receive the associated information by simply pointing their handset in the direction of the light. If all goes well, the technology will be ready for commercialization by 2013, or just after phase one of the Robot Apocalypse.

Blinking LEDs to give QR codes a run for their (ad) money originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MobileCrunch | Nikkei | Email this | Comments