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Monday, December 15, 2008

Fujitsu's water-cooled LifeBook N7010 with secondary 4-inch touchscreen now shipping

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/15/fujitsus-water-cooled-lifebook-n7010-with-secondary-4-inch-touc/

When you pack a 16-inch laptop so full of technology that it requires water cooling, well, you have to expect some compromises. First, the Fujitsu LifeBook N7010 is nearly 2-inches thick and weighs 7 and a half pounds. Then there's the little limitation of that 1 hour battery life. In return for your suffering you do get a built-in Blu-ray drive, a digital television tuner, 1.3 megapixel webcam, HDMI output, 4x USB, Firewire, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, gigabit Ethernet, eSATA, ExpressCard/54, fingerprint scanning security, and multi-touch touchpad. Oh, and it run Vista atop a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo P8600 processor, up to 4GB of memory, a 320GB disk, and 256MB of ATI Radeon HD 3470 graphics. As for that multi-function (media control, application launcher, etc.) 4-inch LCD touchscreen sporting 480 x 272 pixels, Akihabara News says it "seems responsive." So there. Shipping December 26th in Japan.

P.S. The US version is shipping immediately (starting at $1,499) but without a TV tuner (naturally) or water cooling (odd).

Gallery: LifeBook N7010

[Via Akihabara News]

Filed under: Laptops

Fujitsu's water-cooled LifeBook N7010 with secondary 4-inch touchscreen now shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OCZ unveils Throttle eSATA SSD flash drive

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/15/ocz-unveils-throttle-esata-ssd-flash-drive/

We haven't seen a ton of eSATA flash drives, but OCZ is entering the fray with the Throttle, which looks a lot like the Ao-Lab unit we saw back in October. No pricing or release date is given, but Register Hardware estimates it'll be $32 for the 8GB model, $56 for 16GB and $160 for 32GB. For eSATA ports that don't provide power, the Throttle has a mini-USB port to give it some electrical juice that can also be used to transfer data, which should cover most scenarios unless you're at a phantasmagorical computer that somehow has only FireWire ports.

[Via Maximum PC; thanks, Havok]

Read - Official press release
Read - OCZ readies USB eSATA Flash drive (Register Hardware)

Filed under: Storage

OCZ unveils Throttle eSATA SSD flash drive originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scallop Imaging wide-angle security cams look to the sea for inspiration

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/15/scallop-imaging-wide-angle-security-cams-look-to-the-sea-for-ins/

We're not too sure what's up with New England-based institutions and inspiration from the depths, but the two seem to have some kind of intrinsic connection. The latest company to prove such a wacky assertion true is Boston's own Scallop Imaging, a Tenebraex subsidiary that has developed a "low-cost" security camera that sees 180 degrees of view without fisheye distortion or the lag present in pan-and-tilt alternatives. Additionally, the multi-eyed cam automatically stitches and downsamples images, and can capture a new 7-megapixel still to transmit over Ethernet "every second or two." It's small enough to be placed into a light socket-sized hole, and it's powered by the same Ethernet cable that links it into a building's surveillance system. Of course, the fun won't stop there, as the outfit is already looking at automotive applications of the Digital Window, including "distortion-free backup cameras for the rear ends" of vehicles.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Scallop Imaging wide-angle security cams look to the sea for inspiration originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's N97 gets sized up, felt up, and photographed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/15/nokias-n97-gets-sized-up-felt-up-and-photographed/

You know what they say -- another day, another hands-on look at the N97. Although the folks at Mobile Review insist that this is not a formal review, they have been kind enough to post their extensive thoughts on the phone -- as well as more UI and comparison shots than you can shake a stick at. Overall, they seem to really dig the handset's design: sure, it's big (a shade larger than the iPhone), but it's well-proportioned, and doesn't seem bulky. And even though it's a slider, it doesn't have that "wobbly" feeling that sliders tend to have. Other features of note include a secondary camera that can serve as webcam and the 3.5-inch, 640 x 360-pixel screen, boasting 16 million colors, which they call "a true marvel." But that's not all! Hit the read link for thoughts on the new, improved music player, all those widgets that you crave, and comparison shots with the HTC Touch Pro, Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, and the Apple iPhone. Video after the break.

[Thanks, Imran]

Continue reading Nokia's N97 gets sized up, felt up, and photographed

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia's N97 gets sized up, felt up, and photographed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung announces new 65nm ARM9 processor -- for digital photo frames

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/15/samsung-announces-new-65nm-arm9-processor-for-digital-photo-f/

Think digital photo frames are just an annoying passing fad? Samsung begs to differ, taking this market segment so seriously that it has developed a custom processor exclusively for use in the things: the 65nm S5L2010. It's capable of rendering a 57 megapixel JPEG in one second flat -- useful for the RED DSMC crowd but perhaps a bit overkill for the rest of us. However, everyone should be able to appreciate integrated decoding of most audio and video formats, support for nearly every shape of memory card under the sun, and out of the box handling for LED backlit LCDs, all integrated into the processor to save production costs. To all the digi-frame moguls out there: if you're looking to get started on the next generation, this is your ticket, leaving Q1 of 2009.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Displays

Samsung announces new 65nm ARM9 processor -- for digital photo frames originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, December 14, 2008

Intel Survey: Internet Almost as Important as Sex [Sex]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/YNf0U_U2G9M/intel-survey-internet-almost-as-important-as-sex

Intel released survey results that attempt to measure the place of Internet access in both men's and women's lists of priorities, and found that it's more important than any other nonessential purchase.

This is one of those reasonably meaningless polls that ends up saying what we already knew: people like their Internet access. In this survey of 2,119 adults polled by Harris Interactive, Internet access polled higher than any other source of discretionary spending (things like eating out, shopping, and television subscriptions).

But the real buzz around the survey comes from these numbers: 46% of women and 30% of men would rather give up sex for two weeks than give up Internet access over the same period. Frankly, that's lower than I'd expect: I'm not sure what kind of Casanovas they polled, but I go without sex for two weeks sometimes totally by accident. On the other hand, every time I've gone two weeks without the Internet, it was as some kind of forced vacation and I really felt the pain.

Intel also said that 65% of those polled "cannot live without Internet access," which is kind of an extreme reaction. Does that mean that they'd kill themselves rather than live without it? Or just wish they'd never been born?

What do you guys think? Two weeks without sex, or two weeks without your precious Internet? [New York Times]

Gym Car Concept Sounds Both Healthy and Extremely Dangerous [Concepts]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/EMgOXB-Z0uo/gym-car-concept-sounds-both-healthy-and-extremely-dangerous

Designer Da Feng created the Gym Car mockup that includes a near-complete home gym as well as a Batmobile-esque carbon fiber exterior. No word on the safety of doing bench-presses while driving.

The car's interior features a step machine, rowing machine, bench press, pull-up simulator and weights, and the energy outputted during a workout would go to powering its batteries. The exterior design of the car is supposedly inspired by World War II fighter planes, which sounds a lot more professional than "inspired by Batman."

Given the many laws prohibiting something as easy as talking on a phone while driving, we've got to believe the transit authority would frown upon any combination of exercise and driving, but I could see the benefit of a little stationary bike or something to help pass the time during a long commute. [Jalopnik, Wired]

Self-Healing Paint Is Full of Magical Tiny Caulk Crystals [The Future Is Here]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/omL9_nNU6xY/self+healing-paint-is-full-of-magical-tiny-caulk-crystals

Autonomic Materials plans to bring self-healing paint to market in less than four months. The paint is designed to protect cars, bridges, and boats from corrosion, but don't get too excited just yet:

The paint is unfortunately too rough to be used to stop those darn kids from keying your car because you won't give them their frisbee back. It contains tons of tiny microcapsules of two types: one with polymer building blocks and the other with a catalyst. The capsules themselves are made of polyurethane to keep the chemicals isolated, and can be used in all kinds of paints, but each microcapsule is about 10 to 100 micrometers in diameter, which leaves the paint containing them rough to the touch and not suitable for locations where aesthetics are important.

When the paint is scratched, the microcapsules burst and spill out their chemical guts, which combine to form a material called siloxane, which the inventor describes as similar to bathroom caulk. This siloxane fills in the crack that created it, and thus we have self-healing paint. Its potential uses are widespread, from airplane wings (to stop fractures) to buildings and bridges. The paint is apparently ready to go commercial right now, and the inventors are just ironing out the financial details. They expect it to come to market in under four months. [Technology Review, photo credit: Paul Braun]

Twelve-Strobe Camera Rig Smites the Sun, Shoots at 1/8000 Seconds [Photography]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/fYfgzYDJdHc/twelve+strobe-camera-rig-smites-the-sun-shoots-at-18000-seconds

Photographer Syl Arena created an impressive array of twelve strobes to help him take ultra-clear high speed shots, and possibly to incite God's wrath by one-upping the sun.

All twelve strobes are Canon 580 EX II, and all are controlled by RadioPopper wireless triggers. The intensity of the light allows him to reduce the shutter speed to 1/8000 seconds, in broad daylight no less, and still have plenty of light. But the real advantage here is high speed photography, and Arena claims to be able to see "the individual links on the motorcycle's chain" while that motorcycle flies 40 miles per hour through the air.

Plus, the rig's frame is made of classy oak. I guess if you want to build the brightest flash short of a supernova, you might as well go all the way. [MAKE]

Tell Time, Snap Photos with Thanko MP4 Video Watch [Watches]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/86FN_dnYbok/tell-time-snap-photos-with-thanko-mp4-video-watch

The Thanko MP4 watch lets me tell time and take compromising photos or video of coworkers at the office Christmas party? SOLD!

And, does it all without the usual stigma that affects these kinds of devices—utter butt-ugliness. It's a bit bulky, to be sure, but thanks to some solid Japanese ingenuity it's finally something I feel confident bringing into public for another of my infamous "photos of things you can never take back" field assignments.

As for the specs, the MP4 sports a 1.8-inch color screen (160x128), supports MP3 and WPA, WMA audio, and can display JPG or text files. A video camera mode recordsin 352x288, while the photo mode is 640x480. [Akihabara]

Asus Nettop Eee B203 PC Getting a Faster, Cheaper CPU [Eee Box]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/qSv97csrrAk/asus-nettop-eee-b203-pc-getting-a-faster-cheaper-cpu

We only just learned about the HDMI upgrade to the Asus Eee Box line with the B204 and B206 models, but there's another update coming in the B203: A Celeron instead of Atom.

Liliputing is reporting via an Italian Eee PC site that the Intel C220 Celeron upgrade is pretty much the only difference between the B203 and the original Eee Box B202. The chip replaces the Intel Atom chip that currently dominates the line.

The rest is pretty standard stuff. It runs Windows XP (Asus "recommends" Vista, cha-ching!), and comes with an 80, 120 or 160GB hard drive. There's also 4 USB ports, a flash card reader, DVI out, Ethernet port and wifi. Pricing wasn't available, but Liliputing expects it to check in slightly lower than the Atom version.

Note: Image is of the original Eee Box. [Asus via EeePC.it via Liliputing]