Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, October 12, 2009

Cheap netbook sales bringing down laptop revenues, no brainers require no brains

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/11/cheap-netbook-sales-bringing-down-laptop-revenues-no-brainers-r/

Hey, this is probably surprising to no one, but here we go. A new market research report from DisplaySearch says that the overall mobile PC market is down about 5 percent over last year. The main reason cited for this decline? The increasing popularity of netbooks, which average around $300, and are much, much cheaper than traditional laptops. Netbook revenue is up 264 percent from last year, and have contributed to an overall lowering of the average PC cost by 19 percent. While this is certainly bad news for the PC industry itself, hooray for all of us, right?!

Filed under: Laptops

Cheap netbook sales bringing down laptop revenues, no brainers require no brains originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sidekick failure rumors point fingers at outsourcing, lack of backups

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/11/sidekick-failure-rumors-point-fingers-at-outsourcing-lack-of-ba/

Backing up your personal PC to external media might still be a novel concept for some, but any IT manager fresh out of school can tell you that regularly backing up mission-critical servers -- and storing those backups in multiple physical locations -- isn't merely important, it's practically non-negotiable, and it only becomes that much more critical before undertaking hardware maintenance. Alleged details on the events leading up to Danger's doomsday scenario are starting to come out of the woodwork, and it all paints a truly embarrassing picture: Microsoft, possibly trying to compensate for lost and / or laid-off Danger employees, outsources an upgrade of its Sidekick SAN to Hitachi, which -- for reasons unknown -- fails to make a backup before starting. Long story short, the upgrade runs into complications, data is lost, and without a backup to revert to, untold thousands of Sidekick users get shafted in an epic way rarely seen in an age of well-defined, well-understood IT strategies.

The coming weeks are going to be trying times for both Microsoft and T-Mobile, a sideline player in this carnage that ultimately still shoulders responsibility for taking users' cash month after month and keeping tabs on the robustness of its partners' workflows. We're betting that heads are going to roll at both of these companies, formal investigations are going to be waged, users are going to be compensated in big ways, lawsuits are going to be filed, and textbooks could very well be modified to make sure that lessons are learned for the next generation of college grads tasked with keeping clouds running. Why there weren't any backups -- even older ones -- that could've been used as a restore point is totally unclear, so we're hoping Microsoft has the stones to come clean for the benefit of an entire industry that wants to understand how to make sure this never happens again.

Filed under: Cellphones

Sidekick failure rumors point fingers at outsourcing, lack of backups originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Achtung, T-Mobile: if Project Dark is $50 unlimited, you're in trouble

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/achtung-t-mobile-if-project-dark-is-50-unlimited-youre-in-t/

Put yourself in T-Mobile USA's shoes for a moment: rumor has it that the guys who pay the bills aren't happy. History, happenstance, and the realities of electromagnetics have left you with an oddball 3G frequency that literally no other carrier in the world uses (at least, not for HSPA). Larger competitors don't take you as seriously as you'd like, and you don't have smaller ones -- they're all regionals who don't play in the same space you do. So what's your next move?

Continue reading Achtung, T-Mobile: if Project Dark is $50 unlimited, you're in trouble

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Wireless

Achtung, T-Mobile: if Project Dark is $50 unlimited, you're in trouble originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archos 5 has 99 problems and a glitch is one, 160GB version pulled by Amazon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/archos-5-has-99-problems-and-a-glitch-is-one-160gb-version-pull/

It was only just allowed out to play, but Archos' five-inch, Android-sporting internet tablet has been called back in by its fastidious mother, a role played by Amazon in this case. Only the hard drive-based 160GB model is affected at present, with the 32GB version selling as normal and the half terabyte option out of stock already. Charbax of ArchosFans.com, a man in the know on this subject, has suggested this might have been caused by a firmware update wiping out some pre-installed Android apps, which is now being addressed. His site's forums and Amazon customer reviews, however, paint a different picture: there are consistent complaints about bugs and lock ups -- software issues that could well affect the other models in the line -- with some going so far as to suggest Archos has used its customers as Beta testers. There doesn't appear to be anything structurally wrong with the device, meaning a robust firmware update could remedy all ills, so now it's just a matter of waiting for Archos to do what it should have done before release.

[Via Pocketables]

Read - Amazon product page
Read - Archos Fans forums

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Archos 5 has 99 problems and a glitch is one, 160GB version pulled by Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's Solar Cell e-Book goes an extra day for every 5 hours of sunlight

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/lgs-solar-cell-e-book-goes-an-extra-day-for-every-5-hours-sunli/

Funny thing going on in the marketplace right now: reading for pleasure is on a rapid decline yet the choice of e-reader devices grows weekly. That's good news for those of us not spending our down-time in front of a television, mouth agape -- awkward for manufacturers testing the waters of this unproven niche. LG's showing off its Solar Cell e-Book reader anyway, in a bid to flex its thin-film solar muscle. The prototype features an energy conversion efficiency of about 9.6 percent giving it an extra day's worth of power for that 6-inch TFT-LCD after about four to five hours in the sun. LG is working towards boosting its thin-film solar cell energy conversion efficiency rate to 12% by 2010 on up to 14% by 2012. We say bring it LG, if you can.

[Via OLED-Display]

Filed under: Handhelds

LG's Solar Cell e-Book goes an extra day for every 5 hours of sunlight originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW makes the awesome look SIMPLE with leaning three-wheeler (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/bmw-makes-the-awesome-look-simple-with-leaning-three-wheeler-vi/

BMW's latest concept isn't quite as far out as some of its earlier efforts, and the company has dubbed it SIMPLE, but don't let that fool you. Joining Nissan's Land Glider in a new trend toward leaning vehicles that have motorbike-like footprints, the "Sustainable and Innovative Mobility Product for Low Energy consumption" is said to have similar seating space to a BMW 3 Series coupe. Its space fighter appearance isn't just for show either -- with a drag coefficient of 0.18 and a weight of only 992 pounds, this bad boy is capable of harnessing a small internal combustion engine and electric motor to tear up the autobahn at up to 124mph. Zero to sixty in under ten seconds and 118 miles per gallon fuel efficiency fill out the sexy stat sheet, though sadly there are no productions plans as of yet. The concept is being exhibited in the BMW Museum in Munich, but if you can't make it over to Germany right now, there's a video for you after the break.

Continue reading BMW makes the awesome look SIMPLE with leaning three-wheeler (video)

Filed under: Transportation

BMW makes the awesome look SIMPLE with leaning three-wheeler (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CTIA jumps on the micro-USB bandwagon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/ctia-jumps-on-the-micro-usb-bandwagon/

CTIA jumps on the micro-USB bandwagon

Think the CTIA is only good for swank trade shows? Think again! It's actually a trade group created to fight for your interests -- or at least those interests of your duly elected wireless providers -- and apparently top among those lists of interests is plug standardization. Yes, we're not the only ones sick of still having a sprawling mess of a gadget charging station, so CTIA is saying that micro-USB will be the power standard for all handsets and mobile devices. Likewise, the 3.5mm audio plug will be the standard for audio output on those same gadgets. It's shocking, we know, if only because we thought the entire gadget universe was already on board, with everyone and their mommas signing up for micro-USB and even HTC finally making room for a 3.5mm hole in the bottom of their handsets. These standards are set to go into effect in January of 2012, meaning we should get a good 11 months or so of dongle-free gadget harmony before the apocalypse.

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

CTIA jumps on the micro-USB bandwagon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eee Keyboard splayed, detailed by FCC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/eee-keyboard-splayed-detailed-by-fcc/

Several of the documents hidden from our anxious eyes during the FCC filing have now gone public. Not only can you visually inspect its innards, the feds have also laid bare the full spec sheet for the ASUS Eee Keyboard model EK1542. Beneath the 5-inch, 800 x 480 pixel touch panel (with stylus) we'll be getting Windows XP Home running on an Intel Atom N270, 945GSE / ICH7-M chipset with Broadcom AV-VD905 video decoder, 1GB of DDR2 memory, either 16GB or 32GB of flash storage, 4-hour battery, Bluetooth, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, gigabit Ethernet, HDMI and VGA outputs, integrated stereo speakers and mic, 3x USB, headphone and mic jacks, and external WiFi / UWB antenna. The Eee Keyboard's on-board Ultra-Wideband (UWB) throws 720p content to your TV within a 5-meter range (10-meters for non-video transmissions) via a UWB receiver packing 2x USB ports, another mini-USB port, audio out, and HDMI. You can even connect to two external monitors at the same time using UWB and either VGA or HDMI cable. Now all we need is a final date and price... ASUS?

Gallery: Eee Keyboard splayed, detailed by FCC

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Eee Keyboard splayed, detailed by FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Mini 311 set for spec bump, Windows 7 Professional

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/hp-mini-311-set-for-spec-bump-windows-7-professional/

With the overdue passing of Windows XP into the next world comes the cheery note that Microsoft's ceiling on netbook specs will also be no more -- and the Mini 311 is among the first to get upgraded in time for the new king of Windowstan. The already competent performer will be getting the full (non-LE) ION treatment, max memory of 3GB, an 80GB SSD option or up to 320GB of the old school storage stuff, and a choice of Windows 7 flavors up to the Professional level. This info comes from the machine's maintenance guide, so we can't be certain of when the upgrades will be ready for consumption, but HP's track record would suggest the answer to that is soon.

[Via Liliputing]

Filed under: Laptops

HP Mini 311 set for spec bump, Windows 7 Professional originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some HTC Hero units shipping sans EV-DO Rev. A on Sprint? (update: nope!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/sprints-htc-hero-shipping-sans-ev-do-rev-a/

Ruh roh. Without claiming that there's some sort of high-speed conspiracy going on at Sprint (read: there's not), we'd like to point out that quite a few early adopters are claiming that their Hero refuses to hop on the carrier's EV-DO Rev. A network. We took a peek back at the company's press release for this very phone, and sure enough, the Rev. A experience is promised. We're guessing that a simple firmware update will be all it takes to remedy the issue (if there's truly an issue at all), but 'til then, there's always WiFi! Right, guys?

[Via Examiner, thanks Tracknod]

Update: We just heard directly from HTC about this snafu, and as it turns out, the message that Sprint Hero users are seeing is merely a mislabeling. If you're within an EV-DO Rev. A area, you'll get Rev. A speeds -- despite that fact that your phone says it's only on Rev. 0. We're also told that a future maintenance release will address the message. Check the full quote after the break.

Continue reading Some HTC Hero units shipping sans EV-DO Rev. A on Sprint? (update: nope!)

Filed under: Cellphones

Some HTC Hero units shipping sans EV-DO Rev. A on Sprint? (update: nope!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA Ion 2 still on track for this year

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/nvidia-ion-2-still-on-track-for-this-year/

Don't let NVIDIA's recent announcement that they'll be steering clear of Intel DMI CPUs get you down, man. According to the fine folks at Fudzilla, the company will indeed unveil its Ion 2 chipset before the year's end. The second-generation platform is said to feature much faster graphics, over twice the shaders, a smaller die, and support for the VIA Nano as well as the usual compliment of Pentium 4-compatible CPUs. No word yet from the company itself, but you'll know as soon as we do. Promise.

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

NVIDIA Ion 2 still on track for this year originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Finger Piano Share plays your Disklavier via WiFi (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/finger-piano-share-plays-your-disklavier-via-wifi-video/

Developers at Yamaha seem to be having plenty of fun with their iPhones -- at least, that's the impression they've made this year at CEATEC. Not only have we seen an app that lets you boss around a robotic chanteuse, but they've also put together a little something called Finger Piano Share. Don't let the video fool you, folks -- this is more than just a MIDI controller. Supporting up to ten users at once, this guy not only lets you remotely play your MIDI-enabled Disklavier via Wi-Fi, but you can record your little jam sessions (using the location-aware augmented reality app Sekai Camera) for playback whenever someone goes to the site of the original performance. Sounds like a recipe for a disastrous conceptual art piece if we ever heard one! Video after the break.

Continue reading Finger Piano Share plays your Disklavier via WiFi (video)

Filed under: Cellphones

Finger Piano Share plays your Disklavier via WiFi (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon PowerShot SD980 IS unboxing and impressions

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/canon-powershot-sd980-is-unboxing-and-impressions/

Canon held off about as long as it could, but it finally caved to the pressures of adding a pressure-sensitive screen to one of its Digital ELPHs. The SD980 IS goes down as the first-ever touchscreen PowerShot, offering a better-than-average set of specifications, a few color options, an attractive size and a 720p movie mode that helps to set it apart from some of its VGA-quality contemporaries. We took the cam for a quick spin just to see how Canon's adaptation of the touchscreen felt in real-world use, and we've posted up our impressions -- along with a few sample galleries and a raw 720p video clip -- just beyond the break.

Gallery: Canon PowerShot SD980 IS unboxing

Continue reading Canon PowerShot SD980 IS unboxing and impressions

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Canon PowerShot SD980 IS unboxing and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia N900 unboxed, and no, you can't unbox your own (yet)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/nokia-n900-unboxed-and-no-you-cant-unbox-your-own-yet/

So it seems like the new thing for manufacturers is to gather a bunch of platform champions (read: developers and bloggers) in a room, wax poetic for an hour or two about strategy, and -- here's where it gets awesome -- give out or loan hot, new devices to everyone in attendance. Google's done it, Palm's done it, and now Nokia's getting in the game by handing out pre-production N900s on extended loans at its Maemo Summit event last week, and that inevitably means that we're going to be seeing a ton of unboxings and reviews over the coming days. This particular unboxing comes to us courtesy of Slashgear, which notes that the devices are currently running non-final firmware even though the hardware is the same stuff we'll be seeing on shelves in the next few weeks. It's looking great so far -- but then again, so did the N97 in its muted black box prior to release, so we'll withhold final judgment until this one's been thoroughly vetted for awesomeness.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Nokia N900 unboxed, and no, you can't unbox your own (yet) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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5-inch BeBook Mini now shipping in the US for $199 (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/

We'd heard back in May that Endless Ideas' smallest e-reader yet would begin shipping (presumably in Europe) during the summertime, but it just recently started to make its way onto US doorsteps. Thankfully, our doorstep was among those greeted by the 5-inch reader, which boasts the same specifications as the original BeBook save for the smaller display. Priced at $199, it seemed a lot more competitive before Amazon hacked the price of its Kindle to $259, and given the dearth of WiFi / 3G WWAN, it'll only appeal to those content with hitting up their PC via USB to get new content loaded on. Upon unboxing this cutie, we were struck at just how light and compact the whole unit is, though even with the font at its default size, we had no issues reading the crystal clear e-ink display. Screen refreshes were satisfactorily quick, and menu navigation was a breeze. As an e-reader (and MP3 player, if you wish), it's hard to bang on the pocket-friendly BeBook Mini, but with the Kindle's recent price drop and Sony's $199 Reader Pocket Edition, competition is fierce.

Gallery: 5-inch BeBook Mini now shipping in the US for $199 (hands-on)

Filed under: Displays, Handhelds

5-inch BeBook Mini now shipping in the US for $199 (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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