Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Tron For iPhone's Multitouch Multiplayer Mode is Awesome: Four Hands, One iPhone [Video]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/lXXNxdo4ndE/tron-for-iphones-multitouch-multiplayer-mode-is-awesome-four-hands-one-iphone

A well-implemented Tron for iPhone is cool enough on its own, but most impressive is this version's incredibly cool approach to multiplayer: a vertical splitscreen puts both players' hands in the game at once.

Credit goes to Japanese devs Pankaku, who have several other nice-looking music apps. The game's called Light Bike, and it's not in the store yet, but it will be soon—a free version is single-player only, and the multiplayer version (which can also play over wi-fi with up to four players—two on each phone) will cost a few bucks. [YouTube]

Windows 7 Beta takes another crown, besting Vista in SSD performance

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/18/windows-7-beta-takes-another-crown-besting-vista-in-ssd-perform/

It's no huge surprise, since Microsoft was planning on improving performance on this front, but now we've got some of our first solid numbers on Windows 7 Beta SSD performance. Nothing crazy spectacular, but Windows 7 looks to have a slight edge over Vista pretty much across the board, with better speed, access time and lower CPU usage -- not bad for a beta, let's hope things continue to improve as we approach "Microsoft would like your money for this" status.

Filed under: Storage

Windows 7 Beta takes another crown, besting Vista in SSD performance originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viliv uncovers gorgeous X70 Atom Communication MID

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/18/viliv-uncovers-gorgeous-x70-atom-communication-mid/

Maybe we're just hot for sleek, thin, ultra sexy renders of handheld computing devices, but we dare anyone to call the unit pictured above unsightly (and mean it). Shortly after showcasing its swiveling S7 at CES, Viliv has taken the wraps off of its X70 Atom Communication MID. The handheld comes stocked with a 1.33GHz Atom Z520 CPU, a 7-inch WSVGA touchscreen, your choice of a 30GB / 60GB hard drive or an 8GB / 16GB SSD, Windows XP or Linux, a battery good for six hours of continuous movie playback, 1GB of RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, an SD / SDHC card slot, optional WiMAX / HSDPA modules, stereo speakers, a USB port and a built-in microphone for good measure. There's nary a mention of pricing / availability, but we're almost ready to hand over whatever it takes. Almost.

[Via iTechNews]

Filed under: Handhelds

Viliv uncovers gorgeous X70 Atom Communication MID originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CherryPal calls its Bing netbook a nettop, can't win for losing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/18/cherrypal-calls-its-bing-netbook-a-nettop-cant-win-for-losing/

We know, these newfangled terms can certainly get confusing, but you'd think a company producing miniature laptops would do a little research before assuming that "nettop" is actually just another word for "netbook." CherryPal has made it exceptionally easy for us to joke on it by introducing the first nettop we've ever seen that actually looks nothing like a diminutive desktop. In fact, the eco-friendly Bing has a fold-up 10.2-inch LCD -- you know, exactly like a laptop. Inexplicably launched this weekend at the Sundance Film Festival, the machine includes a 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 160GB hard drive, three USB 2.0 ports, an SD / MMC / MS card reader, WiFi, dual speakers, a 1,024 x 600 resolution panel, 0.3 megapixel webcam and a headphone jack to boot. Pricing is expected to hover around $250, but for a limited time, users interested in an actual nettop (imagine that, right?) can snag the Bing along with the C114 PC for a grand total of $399.

[Via Liliputing]

Filed under: Desktops

CherryPal calls its Bing netbook a nettop, can't win for losing originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon launching Wireless Network Extender femtocell on January 25

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/18/verizon-launching-wireless-network-extender-femtocell-on-january/

Sprint had the jump on this by a few months with its AIRAVE, but Verizon's not far behind in bringing femotcells to the masses with its less-elegantly-named Wireless Network Extender later this month on the 25th. The little black box will puke out a cloud of CDMA covering up to 5,000 square feet of domicile with support for up to three simultaneous calls -- enough for you, the hubby / missus, and little Joey / Susie to all be yapping away at the same time. Like Sprint's solution, the Wireless Network Extender uses GPS to verify that you're not creating little tiny Verizon networks in Laos, Kenya, or Uruguay and plugs into the internet source of your choice via Ethernet. It'll be available in Verizon stores and online starting January 25 for $249.99 -- not a bad deal for Verizon, considering you're saving them the expense of erecting a tower.

Gallery: Verizon launching Wireless Network Extender femtocell on January 25

Filed under: Cellphones

Verizon launching Wireless Network Extender femtocell on January 25 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seagate offers fix, free data recovery for disks affected by firmware bug

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/seagate-offers-fix-free-data-recovery-for-disks-affected-by-fir/

After a ground-swell of angry Barracuda owners voiced concern over their failing disk drives, Seagate has fessed-to the issue. According to Seagate, a firmware bug in Barracuda 7200.11, DiamondMax 22, and Barracuda ES.2 SATA drives could make the disks "inaccessible when the host system is powered on." Right, inaccessible -- Seagate assures owners that data is not lost (it's still on the disk). However, should data loss occur, it's providing a free data recovery service. Hit the read link to find out if your drive is affected. If so, a link is provided to contact Seagate to expedite resolution on a case-by-case issue. Good on ya Seagate, way to flip a public relations fiasco into a customer support victory.

[Via The Register]

Filed under: Storage

Seagate offers fix, free data recovery for disks affected by firmware bug originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belkin pleads for mercy over paid Amazon reviews deception

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/belkin-pleas-for-mercy-over-paid-amazon-reviews-deception/

Remember how Michael Bayard, a Belkin Business Development representative, was apparently hiring people from Mechanical Turk to post glowing reviews of Belkin products on Amazon and elsewhere? Well, we just received an apologetic letter tucked firmly between the quaking legs of Mark Reynoso, President of Belkin -- a man clearly fearful of a consumer backlash. Reynoso expressed "surprise and dismay" that one of his employees "may have" (er hem, may have?) invited positive reviews for payment. While Belkin isn't admitting fault, it's at least taking responsibility to "re-instill trust" through the following actions:

"We've acted swiftly to remove all associated postings from the Mechanical Turk system. We're working closely with our online channel partners to ensure that any reviews that may have been placed due to these postings have been removed."

Hit the read link for the full, ethical grovel.

Filed under: Networking

Belkin pleads for mercy over paid Amazon reviews deception originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 06:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer intros Aspire X1700 SFF PC, 23-inch H233H 1080p LCD monitor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/acer-intros-aspire-x1700-sff-pc-23-inch-h233h-1080p-lcd-monitor/

Looks like Acer's expanding its small form factor PC family once more, and this time it's the Aspire X1700 slotting itself in between the X3200 and X1200. Measuring in at 10.4- x 4- x 14.4-inches, the mini PC includes a 2.4GHz Intel dual-core E2200 CPU, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 7100 graphics, nine (yes, as in the number prior to ten) USB 2.0 sockets, a multi-card reader, 640GB SATA II hard drive, dual-layer DVD writer, an HDMI socket, eSATA port and a USB keyboard / mouse combo to boot. In somewhat related news, Acer is also choosing today to introduce the H233H 23-inch display, which touts a 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution, 5-millisecond response time, 300 nits of brightness, 160-degree viewing angles, twin 1.5-watt speakers and a maximum contrast ratio of 40,000:1. Both products should be available as we speak for $479.99 and $229.99 in order of mention, but it's on you to hunt down a reseller. Full release is after the break.

Gallery: Acer intros Aspire X1700 SFF PC, 23-inch H233H 1080p LCD monitor

Continue reading Acer intros Aspire X1700 SFF PC, 23-inch H233H 1080p LCD monitor

Filed under: Desktops, Displays

Acer intros Aspire X1700 SFF PC, 23-inch H233H 1080p LCD monitor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony boosts capacity of its mountable, high-def, BRX-series DVRs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/sony-boosts-capacity-of-its-mountable-high-def-brx-series-dvrs/

Sony boosts capacity of its mountable, high-def, BRX-series DVRs

Those used to recording dozens of hours worth of SD video on DVRs with just a few gigs of storage often have a bit of a surprise when they move into the HD realm; a couple episodes of Pushing Daisies and Lost leave no room for any other prime-time drama. While not matching TiVo's capacious 1TB HD XL, Sony is doing its part with a larger, 320GB version of its BRAVIA BRX-series DVR, the BRX-320. It can tackle about 90 hours of HD content yet is small and light enough to be mountable directly on the back of many Sony displays. No word on what price tag will be affixed when this releases in about a month, but the 250GB model is going for about $300, so you can make your own guesses. Oh, and since that earlier version hasn't made it to US shores yet, don't hold your breath on this one.

[Via AV Watch]

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Sony boosts capacity of its mountable, high-def, BRX-series DVRs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel's CULV platform guns for AMD's Neo: Danger Will Robinson, Danger!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/intels-culv-platform-guns-for-amds-neo-danger-will-robinson/

Poor, poor AMD. Just when it found a niche above Atom and below the Core 2 Duo with its Athlon Neo, back comes Intel with its new "Consumer Ultra-Low Voltage" platform -- something we started to hear about a few weeks ago. This from DigiTimes' "sources at notebook makers." New CULV-based ultra-portables from the "top-three notebook vendors" (that'd be HP, Dell, and Acer by most accounts) should be hitting shelves in the second quarter of 2009 carrying prices between $699 and $899. DigiTimes claims that the new platform will allow Intel to divide the laptop market up into four segments for 2009: 1) Traditional 12.1-inch laptops and above, 2) Atom or Pineview-based netbooks, 3) Menlow-based MIDs, 4) Ultra-portables with displays between 11.x and 13.3-inches. It's also interesting to hear that the rumored 13.3-inch HP Mini-note coming in June will carry the CULV instead of the Atom Zxx on "Intel's insistence." Well, well, being pushy again are we Intel?

Filed under: Laptops

Intel's CULV platform guns for AMD's Neo: Danger Will Robinson, Danger! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's Netflix HD streaming shootout

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/do-not-time-netflix-hd-streaming-shootout/

Netflix seems to be doing things right when it comes to the streaming game, partnering with several hardware companies in an attempt to make its service more or less ubiquitous -- a pretty sharp break from the proprietary hardware approach taken by most of its competitors. That means Netflix subscribers have quite a few choices when it comes to streaming, and we thought we'd put the ones available now head-to-head and try to crown a winner. The good news? There isn't a mediocre choice out there. The bad? Well, read on.

Update: We shot another video to answer some lingering questions about the Roku player, check it below.

Continue reading Engadget's Netflix HD streaming shootout

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Engadget's Netflix HD streaming shootout originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia 5730 XpressMusic gets exhaustively previewed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/nokia-5730-xpressmusic-gets-exhaustively-previewed/

Well, hello there 5730 XpressMusic, so nice to finally meet you! This admittedly odd looking Nokia has been brought to our attention courtesy of Russia's own Mobile-Review, and while we're still trying to decide whether or not the QWERTY slide-out keyboard is a turn off or totally awesome (with its dot matrix-styled font), we figured it prudent to pass along the information, anyway. Said mobile sports a 2-inch QVGA screen, backlit keys, a 1,000mAh battery good for 4.5 hours of yappin', EDGE data, inbuilt GPS, 128MB of RAM, a microSD card slot, USB / Bluetooth and Symbian S60 running the show. We're told to expect it out in European markets this April for €220 ($289), though worldwide availability remains a mystery. Have a look in the read link for eleventy billion more images and a poorly translated preview.

[Thanks, momchil]

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia 5730 XpressMusic gets exhaustively previewed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Green House rolls out Kana Micro digital audio player

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/green-house-rolls-out-kana-micro-digital-audio-player/

It looks like anyone that wished their digital audio player looked more like a nondescript USB drive is now in luck, as Green House has just introduced its new Kana Micro player, which is far more likely to get lost than stolen. True to its barebones nature, it seems you'll also have to supply your own microSD card for storage with this one (up to 2GB is support), and you can apparently expect to get a whopping two hours of battery life before it needs to be recharged via the built-in USB connector. No word on a release 'round here just yet, as you might have guessed, but those in Japan can pick one up right now in their choice of seven different colors for a mere ¥1,480, or about $16.

[Via Akihabara News]

Filed under: Portable Audio

Green House rolls out Kana Micro digital audio player originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Display CEO says that LCD panel prices have "reached a bottom"

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/lg-display-ceo-says-that-lcd-panel-prices-have-reached-a-bottom/

The company may not exactly have the final say on the matter, but LG Display CEO Kwon Young-soo seems confident that the market for LCD panels is finally set to turn around, with him saying today that, "the good news is that we've reached a bottom," and that, "TV panel prices will likely stop the downward trend and recover." LG doesn't see things completely turning around overnight, however, and in the meantime it says it'll be pouring more than $400 million into a new production line designed to produce high-end LTPS LCD displays for mobile devices, which it apparently expects will be a more profitable area, and help it turn that frown upside down once more.

[Via DailyTech]

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

LG Display CEO says that LCD panel prices have "reached a bottom" originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saturday, January 17, 2009

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 drives said to be failing at an alarming rate

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/16/seagate-barracuda-7200-11-drives-said-to-be-failing-at-an-alarmi/

Rumors flying, sensational headlines, dogs and cats living together. Yes, its another apparent rash of hard drive failures -- this one centered on Seagate's spacious 1TB Barracuda 7200.11 drives. Apparently, the problem lies in a faulty firmware found on drives manufactured in Thailand, which causes them to fail before they're even able to boot up and leaves them completely inoperable, with some extensive data recovery measures the only option for those looking to hang onto their data. What's more, while Seagate is now said to be updating the firmware on newly manufactured drives, it's apparently not possible to update the firmware on the toasted drives, as they're not even able to be detected by the BIOS once they fail. Seagate still doesn't seem to be addressing the issue publicly, however, and as Tom's Hardware points out, they haven't yet issued a recall on unsold drives, so anyone planning on upgrading or building a new PC may want to proceed with caution.

[Via The Register]

Filed under: Storage

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 drives said to be failing at an alarming rate originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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