Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Nokia's Comes With Music service plans world tour

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/20/nokias-comes-with-music-service-plans-world-tour/

Nokia's all-you-can-eat Comes With Music service has been humming along quite nicely across the pond, but until now, we've been left in the dark about its plans for world domination. No more, as a recent Reuters report has it that the unlimited music service should be headed to Australia, Asia and Singapore later this quarter and Latin America / USA sometime this year. We're also told that more corners of Europe should get served in the future, though no window of time was handed out there. It should be interesting to see if any carriers jump in to subsidize these, but our gut feeling says they'll be sold for a premium unlocked at your nearest Nokia flagship.

[Via UnwiredView]

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio

Nokia's Comes With Music service plans world tour originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Sexy Eee PC Touch UI demonstrated

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/20/video-sexy-eee-pc-touch-ui-demonstrated/

Having trouble figuring out how a touchscreen Eee PC could fit into your life? No worries, ASUS just did all the heavy synaptic lifting for you with the release of a near 6-minute video showing its new Eee PC Touch UI. A UI teased at CES and built specifically for ASUS' new touchcreen Eees. All in all it makes a pretty case for why you should pick up a new Eee PC T91 or T101H convertible tablet later this year. Let's just hope the processor can cope.

Continue reading Video: Sexy Eee PC Touch UI demonstrated

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

Video: Sexy Eee PC Touch UI demonstrated originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"Shining" phone steals a little Agora magic

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/20/shining-phone-steals-a-little-agora-magic/

Okay, we don't really know what's going on here, but a "Shining" phone that looks almost exactly like the original version of the Kogan Agora Android phone just popped up on Alibaba with a three-day delivery time and a 100-unit wholesale price of $240. Of course, the Agora was just delayed indefinitely, so this could just be nothing; contracting design and development out to faceless Chinese manufacturers like Kogan's doing is pretty much a deal with the KIRF devil, and those are definitely renders on the site, not actual pictures. Still, we're dying to see a flood of non-G1 Android handsets shake up the mobile market, and if getting stoked over sketchy Asian copies of semi-vaporware Australian phones is how we have to get our kicks, well, we're looking for new friends with an extra 24 grand and a healthy sense of forgiveness.

[Thanks, Raymanism]

Filed under: Cellphones

"Shining" phone steals a little Agora magic originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Albatron 22-inch multi-touch LCD becoming a reality in March

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/20/albatron-22-inch-multi-touch-lcd-becoming-a-reality-in-march/

Albatron 22-inch multi-touch LCD becoming a reality in March

After Microsoft announced Windows 7 would natively support multi-touch displays, Albatron was one of the first to show off a prototype panel intended to take advantage of that functionality. Seven months later the company is finally letting you know when you'll be able to buy one, and is also taking another opportunity to talk up its optical touch tech, which features sensors embedded into the bezel rather than the surface itself -- in theory resulting in a brighter image and greater durability. The company is planning to release its 21.5-inch LCD in March, and, while provided details are few, we know that the display will support 120Hz, have DVI and VGA inputs, and will relay touch information to the PC over USB. We also know that the company's motto is "captures the spirit of the Albatross," which we're going to go ahead and assume is a reference to Monty Python and not Baudelaire.

Filed under: Displays

Albatron 22-inch multi-touch LCD becoming a reality in March originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's VAIO P spotted for sale in Hong Kong, price tag spotted too

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/20/sonys-vaio-p-spotted-for-sale-in-hong-kong-price-tag-spotted-t/

Sony's VAIO P spotted for sale in Hong Kong, price tag spotted too

Just last week our hopes for an affordable VAIO P were quickly dashed as Amazon's UK site fixed what was apparently typo, setting the price on Sony's "don't call me a netbook" ultraportable to over $1,000. That's in-line with what we've been expecting for the US release, but still we'd held out some hope for a last-minute price cut. Now, like a twist of the knife, we have photos of the machines for sale in the wild -- with a wild price tag to match. Kip HT took these pictures (one above, one below) at a Hong Kong retailer and passed them along, sending word that the top-spec model was going for the equivalent of $2,188.48. No word on a price for the cheapest model, but it seems we now have confirmation that the Sony tax also applies overseas.

[Thanks, Kip HT]

Continue reading Sony's VAIO P spotted for sale in Hong Kong, price tag spotted too

Filed under: Laptops

Sony's VAIO P spotted for sale in Hong Kong, price tag spotted too originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: OQO model 2+ MID gets unboxed, previewed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/20/video-oqo-model-2-mid-gets-unboxed-previewed/

We were pretty stoked about the OQO model 2+ when we got to spend a few quality minutes with it at CES this year, and apparently actually getting one delivered to your house is even more spectacular. The cool cats over at MID Moves were able to score one of the Gobi / OLED-equipped handhelds for review, and rather than making us wait until all opinions were formed, they've hosted up a nice preview video along with a few high quality unboxing shots. Initial impressions seem pretty positive, with the SSD helping things along quite significantly. Granted, we would've preferred a WiFi-on battery life of more than two hours, but what fun would it be to not have a single gripe to harp on? More pictorial delight is in the read link, and the vid's just past the break.

[Via Slashgear]

Continue reading Video: OQO model 2+ MID gets unboxed, previewed

Filed under: Handhelds

Video: OQO model 2+ MID gets unboxed, previewed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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