Engadget classic - no iPhone

Norway's Statkraft kick-starts world's first osmotic power plant

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:08:00 -0800

It may only produce enough power to heat an electric kettle at the moment, but Norway's Statkraft says that its new, first-of-its-kind osmotic power plant could be producing as much energy as a small wind farm by 2015, and continue to grow from there on out. To do that, the company guides fresh water and salt water into separate chambers that are divided by an artificial membrane, and when the process of osmosis takes place -- salt molecules pulling freshwater through the membrane -- the pressure is increased on the sea water side. That, of course, doesn't get you power on its own, but the pressure is apparently enough to drive a power generating turbine, and if you have enough of those you have a power plant. A bit of effort, to be sure, but the process doesn't emit any greenhouse gases, is completely renewable, and it doesn't depend on the wind or the sun being out.

Norway's Statkraft kick-starts world's first osmotic power plant originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pomera DM20 Digital Memo puts your old Brother to shame

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:39:00 -0800

If the Pomera Digital Memo DM10 appeals to anyone (and we figure it must appeal to someone), you can chalk it up to the device's narrow scope: it's for writin' with, and for folding up and puttin' in your pocket -- and that's it. The DM20, our friends at Engadget Japan tell us, expands the brief ever-so-slightly, bumping up storage to 89MB, upping the display to 5-inches, and adding USB cell phone tethering (for emailing documents). Seriously, though, in the end it's really just a word processor. Is that how you want to take notes? We didn't think so. Expect to see it hit the shelves in Japan on December 11 for ¥34,650 (just shy of $400).

Pomera DM20 Digital Memo puts your old Brother to shame originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Accessories

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:10:00 -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.

What luck. The Secret Santa recipient that you drew already has everything, so there's little you can buy him / her that they'll actually be impressed with. Thankfully, the peripheral market is here for you, and while some may considering these things "trinkets," others will be downright giddy to unwrap 'em. And whether you'd care to admit it or not, these are easily the most fun to shop for. Yeah, we said it -- what of it? Hop on past the break for a few recommendations on knickknacks, or "accessories," as it were.

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Accessories

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Accessories originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Inbrics announces Android MID, promises 'inspirational moments' (video)

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:44:00 -0800

Inbrics, a company known in Seoul for its VoIP solutions, looks set to rock your world with an Android MID early next year at CES. All we have for you at present are the barest of specs, machine translated Korean PR that declares "a full convergence of the future," and one of those vague, uplifting videos that demonstrates the myriad of ways that its one platform can dramatically change your life -- without ever really telling you what it does. The device itself is a QWERTY landscape slider that features an AMOLED touchscreen, GPS, compass, WiFi, and an ARM Cortex A8 800MHz processor. Experience the inspirational moment after the break.

Continue reading Inbrics announces Android MID, promises 'inspirational moments' (video)

Inbrics announces Android MID, promises 'inspirational moments' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tony Hawk: Ride prototype skateboards employ arcade buttons, duct tape, love

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:41:00 -0800

If you managed to catch the last Engadget Show, you inevitably saw our own Paul Miller carve it up a bit on Tony Hawk: Ride. Of course, Mr. Miller is known 'round these circles as a "professional skater," so there's a solid chance he could've handled just about anything the guys and gals at Activision threw his way. The reality of the matter is that not everyone feels safe and secure on something resembling a skateboard, and now we're being let in on the world of prototypes that were used to land on the final design. Within the read link you'll find randomly placed arcade buttons, trucks with no wheels, a terrifying amount of sensors and a comical amount of duct tape. Yeah -- even the whiz kids that make your dreams a reality start with duct tape. Go on, have a peek if you're in disbelief.

Tony Hawk: Ride prototype skateboards employ arcade buttons, duct tape, love originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DroboPro RAID array causes reviewer to fall madly in love (video)

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:12:00 -0800

Data Robotics' RAID solutions have always been a cut above the rest -- and a little more expensive, and better looking, for that matter. As one clearly ecstatic reviewer at PC Perspective will attest, the DroboPro even does you one better, sporting eight bays of storage, extremely effective cooling, and support for FireWire, USB and Gigabit Ethernet connections. Of course, no product is perfect -- and here the lack of eSATA and nearly $1,500 price tag leave something to be desired. Your inner gadget hound (sadist) will surely delight in the insane amount of torture testing this device endured for this appraisal, and you'll be pleased to know that the array came out on top. Hit the read link to get started -- but not before you check out the video after the break.

Continue reading DroboPro RAID array causes reviewer to fall madly in love (video)

DroboPro RAID array causes reviewer to fall madly in love (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TomTom XXL 540S World Traveler Edition: perfect for that dude you're jealous of

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:47:00 -0800

We know, our GPS gift guide has already been erected, but if you're in the unfortunate position of needing a high-end gift for someone who'll actually be in San Juan del Sur over the holidays, there's hardly a better option than this. The TomTom XXL 540S World Traveler Edition is exactly what you think it is: it's an XXL 540S, but with maps for the United States, Canada and Europe (what -- no Central America?). The 5-inch touchscreen is still there, as is the company's IQ Routes, 'Help Me!,' an increased 4GB of storage, advanced lane guidance and 7 million points of interest. It's expected to hit retail shelves in both the US and Canada early next month for $349.95 (US) / $399.95 (CAD).

TomTom XXL 540S World Traveler Edition: perfect for that dude you're jealous of originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm and Sprint issue statement acknowledging Profile backup issue

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:18:00 -0800

Even in a world full of racket, it seems that the squeaky wheel still gets the grease. In yet another blow to this whole "cloud" agenda, a vocal segment of Palm users began to notice that information transferred from their online Palm Profile was only a fraction of what it should have been. Today, both Palm and Sprint have issued a joint statement acknowledging the issue and promising to work much, much harder in order to avoid having something like this ruin your life once again. To quote:

"We are seeing a small number of customers who have experienced issues transferring their Palm Profile information to another Palm webOS device. Palm and Sprint are working closely together to support these customers to successfully transfer their information to the new device."

Between this mess and the T-Mobile fiasco, we're pretty certain we're being forced to stay on the manual backup bandwagon for the foreseeable future.

[Thanks, Mike]

Palm and Sprint issue statement acknowledging Profile backup issue originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon Skin body armor gains piezoelectric sensors, keeps bullet-stopping abilities

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:42:00 -0800

This Dragon Skin armor has been knocking about since 2007, but now that piezoelectrics and intelligence have been thrown into the mix we couldn't stop ourselves from taking a peek at it. The armor's strength is derived from a reptilian arrangement of overlapping ceramic and titanium composite discs, which simultaneously block incoming rounds and dissipate the impact to a wider area. What's interesting about the new design is the two piezoelectric sensors attached to each end -- one of them transfers a low voltage of power through the armor in the form of vibration, which the other picks up, and the reported energy loss is interpreted as armor degradation. Gnarlier still is the ability of these sensors to generate electricity from bullet impacts, which can then themselves give you an indication of what sort of bullet hit you. Capable of being applied to soldiers and vehicles alike, this could make the real act of soldiering a whole lot more like a video game (minus the whole "infinite respawn" thing), with HUDs showing you how much "shield" you have left. You can see an old(ish) video of the original armor after the break.

Continue reading Dragon Skin body armor gains piezoelectric sensors, keeps bullet-stopping abilities

Dragon Skin body armor gains piezoelectric sensors, keeps bullet-stopping abilities originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iBuyPower lets out five liquid-cooled gaming desktops

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:14:00 -0800

It's never too early to start thinking about that desktop that you really, really need under the tree by the third week in December, and rather than waiting until the last moment and getting stuck with some random configuration and a lofty overnight shipping fee, iBuyPower is encouraging you to have a gander at the five new liquid-cooled rigs that it just unveiled at NewEgg. The low-end is propped up by the Gamer Extreme 922 SLC at just $989, while the specced-out Gamer Supreme 979SLC will set Santa back just under four large. At the top, you'll find luxuries such as Intel's Core i7 975, a Blu-ray drive, 128GB SSD and 1.5TB of HDD space, while lower-end systems snag the likes of a Core i7 860, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB HDD. Peek the via link below for a more robust look at the specifications, and feel free to get your order in now if you like resting easy.

Gallery: iBuyPower lets out five liquid-cooled gaming desktops

Continue reading iBuyPower lets out five liquid-cooled gaming desktops

iBuyPower lets out five liquid-cooled gaming desktops originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft opens PC lounge in Saks Fifth Avenue for holiday season

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:46:00 -0800

We all know Microsoft's feeling pretty smug -- and with good reason -- about Windows 7 right now. In an effort to drum up yet more hype for its latest OS, and perhaps to try and gauge customer interest in an East coast Store, Microsoft has decided to open up a cozy "PC lounge" inside Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship New York store -- you know, the one that actually is on Fifth Avenue. As part of the agreement, Windows 7 will be used to drive Saks' window displays, and opportunities will be provided for customers to interact with the new software throughout the building. The lounge itself will be populated by Windows 7 laptops and Microsoft experts, who'll probably answer your questions in the sort of overly peppy, commercial way that makes us wonder why anyone goes to offline shops in the first place.

Microsoft opens PC lounge in Saks Fifth Avenue for holiday season originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo's ThinkPad doyen Arimasa Naitoh speaks about life, liberty and the T400s

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:18:00 -0800

First thing's first: the video beyond the break is certainly not up to our usually stellar standards. That said, the voice recording is clear enough, so you may consider it an audio presentation with the bonus of a shadowy figure making occasional hand gestures in time with what's being said (lighting also improves as you go along). Arimasa Naitoh is the man behind the ThinkPad line, having joined the product engineering team at IBM during the 1970s and shifting with the ThinkPad brand on to Lenovo in 2005. Currently the VP for Notebook Development and the head of the Yamato Development Labs, Naitoh-san was kind enough to do a presentation in London yesterday, in which he touched on the history of the fabled laptop line and was also not shy about trumpeting the key advantages of the latest T400s flagship model. So click past the break, turn your speakers up, and get educated by one of the true founding fathers of mobile computing as we know it today.

Continue reading Lenovo's ThinkPad doyen Arimasa Naitoh speaks about life, liberty and the T400s

Lenovo's ThinkPad doyen Arimasa Naitoh speaks about life, liberty and the T400s originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia N900 now shipping in the land of Ford freedom trucks

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:50:00 -0800

Love to tinker and tweak your smartphone? Find running beta apps a challenge, not a burden? Then you'll be happy to hear that Nokia's N900 running Maemo 5 is now shipping in the US, a week later than the press release suggested. This Cortex-A8 phone with 32GB of on-board storage is ripe with potential and the perfect holiday gift for grandma as long as she's comfortable dropping into the X Terminal for the occasional "rm -R /home/user/.microfeed" command. It's still listed for $649 unlocked from Nokia direct though that price will be dropping soon enough.

[Thanks, Alex]

Nokia N900 now shipping in the land of Ford freedom trucks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Go netbook gets $100 cheaper with one-year Times Reader 2.0 subscription

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:12:00 -0800

Publicly, at least, The New York Times has seemed perfectly kosher with the way things are moving in the newspaper industry. Rather than freaking out and wondering why they didn't make the move to digital earlier, it's apparently looking to push the digital distribution of its content via discounts and partnerships with hardware providers. In a rather unique and unprecedented move, the paper has today announced that prospective readers can receive $100 off of a Samsung Go netbook if they subscribe to Times Reader 2.0 for a year. The machine will come pre-loaded with the Adobe AIR-based application -- which pushes published content to one's machine on the double -- and will be sold exclusively through J&R Music and Computer World. Of course, NYT wants $179.40 for a one-year sub, so the deal's not exactly awesome or anything, but the offer stands for first-time subscribers until March 2010 if you're interested.

Samsung Go netbook gets $100 cheaper with one-year Times Reader 2.0 subscription originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kindle 2.3 software update available, generation 1 owners need not apply

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:05:00 -0800

We gadget nerds have to endure unspeakable atrocities in order to slake that early adoption jones: first-run gear shipped DOA, buggy pre-release software, and months of waiting after a product leaks only to be greeted by a jacked-up price premium at launch. So we feel your pain, original Kindle owners, after Amazon announced a major firmware update that brings native PDF support to the 6-inch Kindle 2 and DX readers with the promise of a staggering 85% increase in battery life to all Kindle 2 devices -- if you haven't already received it OTA, the 2.3 software update is now available for download and installation via USB tethering. At least owners of "some earlier versions of Kindle" (quote from the press release) will receive native PDF support whenever the 1st generation firmware update (currently at version 1.2) is released. It's worth noting that Amazon's PDF reader lacks a zoom function which makes many PDFs entirely unreadable on the device. Good thing Amazon's store is chock full of easily zoomable books in a proprietary format then, huh?

Kindle 2.3 software update available, generation 1 owners need not apply originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Air Force orders up 2,200 more PS3s -- for thinking, not gaming

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:39:00 -0800

We were as surprised as anyone when the USAF threw down the cash for 300-odd PlayStation 3s back in March of last year, but what's more shocking is that it's now back for more -- seven times more, in fact. Already employing its PS3 cluster for research into high-def video processing, the Air Force Research Lab wants to expand its capabilities significantly and it seems that Sony's Cell processor is still its weapon of choice. We would use this opportunity to make a few jibes about lazy engineers upgrading their setups in time for Modern Warfare 2, but we're better than that. We'll also totally avoid noting that the US government's skimping on costs now is leading it to commit to an instruction set tailored specifically to the Cell processor, which contrary to the latest Xeons -- pricier though they may be -- is not guaranteed to keep updating in pace with the USAF's needs. Those are things we'll leave for someone who isn't afraid of death lasers and autonomous attack drones to say.

US Air Force orders up 2,200 more PS3s -- for thinking, not gaming originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba Natural Selection laptops get celebrity paintjobs, good causes

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:04:00 -0800

Alright, we're not too happy with the Natural Selection moniker implying that being a celebrity is somehow a marker of evolutionary prowess, but we'll forgive Toshiba this one time. The Japanese company has recruited a quartet of famous folks to help promote its wares with limited edition laptops painted to their specifications. Aerosmith guitar legend Joe Perry, the no less mythical Rainn Wilson, Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward and his coach Mike... oh wait, that's Omar Epps, have put their own personal stamps on a selection of Toshiba's latest 505 laptop models from the A, P, M, and Qosmio X series. These will be auctioned off on eBay starting this Friday, with all proceeds going to charity. Any more questions before you start the bidding? No? Good.

Gallery: Toshiba Natural Selection laptops

Toshiba Natural Selection laptops get celebrity paintjobs, good causes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG bows its GW880 OPhone for China Mobile, we start packing our things

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:32:00 -0800

We don't know what exactly China Mobile is putting in its manufacturer partners' tea during contract negotiations, but considering how rapidly China's largest carrier has grown its OPhone line into the most desirable single-network lineup of Android handsets in the world, we'd strongly recommend they continue to do it. Rumors of an LG entry back in August have now come to fruition in the form of the GW880, a full touch handset launching this month featuring a solid 3.5-inch WVGA display, 5 megapixel camera, and support for a pair of pretty important homegrown standards -- TD-SCDMA for 3G and CMMB for mobile TV tuning. For comparison, LG's only other announced Android phone -- the GW620 Eve for global distribution -- steps down to a HVGA display, so yeah, if you'll excuse us, we've got a Mandarin lesson in a couple minutes.

LG bows its GW880 OPhone for China Mobile, we start packing our things originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wireless USB keyboard / touchpad is more than the sum of its parts

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:44:00 -0800

A free PDA that came with a magazine subscription in 2002? An early Peek prototype? No, this is the humbly named USB Wireless Handheld Keyboard and Touchpad that's now available from USB Geek, and it just might be the sort of device you never knew you were looking for. As the folks at CrunchGear have noted, while the device is simply being marketed as an all-in-one wireless touchpad and keyboard, it actually has all the makings of an ideal HTPC controller -- not to mention an entirely reasonable price of $62. No multitouch, no LCD -- just a plain old trackpad, a wireless USB dongle, and a QWERTY keypad that should be adequate enough for tweeting your reaction to the TV show remake du jour. Video after the break.

Update: And here comes a review!

Continue reading Wireless USB keyboard / touchpad is more than the sum of its parts

Wireless USB keyboard / touchpad is more than the sum of its parts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer Imperator gaming mouse ships with adjustable side buttons, disdain for southpaws

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:58:00 -0800

Tired of getting shafted, lefties? Never gets old, does it? At any rate, Razer is momentarily stepping away from its ambidextrous ways in order to craft a mouse that fits especially well in the hands of righties. The new Imperator gaming mouse houses the same 3.5G laser sensor that has become common on the outfit's critters of late, but this one includes a smattering of "adjustable side buttons" that can actually slide and lock into place wherever you find them most comfortable. It's up for order now for $79.99 (or €69.99 for those across the pond), and if the gallery below doesn't get you close enough, a demonstration vid is just past the break.

Gallery: Razer Imperator gaming mouse ships with adjustable side buttons, disdain for southpaws

Continue reading Razer Imperator gaming mouse ships with adjustable side buttons, disdain for southpaws

Razer Imperator gaming mouse ships with adjustable side buttons, disdain for southpaws originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GE Global Research holograms increase security, redefine 'going green'

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:56:00 -0800

GE Global Research in collaboration with SABIC Innovative Plastics has developed a new class of holographic materials that can be processed in plastic to create a wide range of novelty products, credit, or identity cards. Instead of just being stamped onto the surface of the card like typical holograms, these new cards rely upon thermo-plastic based volume holography to store the data (binary images, 3D images of your face, fingerprints, and even animations) within the card itself for an extra degree of tamper-free security. And because the holographic material can be injection-molded, it could ultimately be applied to a variety of personalized products including laptops and cellphones. GE Global Research is intent on commercializing the new holographic materials by 2012, until then we've got a video that gives a good idea of how your 3D mug might look pressed into those government or corporate mandated ID cards of the future. Check it after the break.

Gallery: GE Global Research holograms increase security

Continue reading GE Global Research holograms increase security, redefine 'going green'

GE Global Research holograms increase security, redefine 'going green' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:56:00 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.

Gallery: Emblaze ELSE unveiled in London, we go hands-on

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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Survey: Droid advertising scaring men right into dutiful brand loyalty

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:23:00 -0800

Glowing red cyborg eyes, bombs dropped from stealth fighters, emotionless calls of "DRRROOOIIID" every time you get a text message -- it's enough to scare yesterday's lunch out of anyone. Verizon's no-holds-barred advertising campaign for the Motorola Droid has been so ~~hellishly frightening~~ overwhelmingly successful, in fact, that it appears to be paying dividends either directly or indirectly against Moto's biggest rivals. YouGov's BrandIndex -- an ongoing survey measuring brand loyalty through some secret-sauce methodology that only analysts would fully comprehend -- shows a marked spike in Moto's score in the critical adult male category, while Apple and RIM have taken hits over the same period. These numbers look terribly volatile over a relative short span, so we're not going to be rushing to any conclusions -- but by any measure, it's pretty wild to see Moto go from a has-been to besting the bulletproof cult of iPhone in just a few short weeks. In the long term, it'll be interesting to see just how deeply Moto's and Apple's carrier relationships are factoring into public sentiment; after all, momentum's certainly on Verizon's side right now.

Survey: Droid advertising scaring men right into dutiful brand loyalty originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:23:00 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

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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