Monday, April 26, 2010

Are there only 23,700 online exhibitionists left? http://bit.ly/8XApAG

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Rumor: Intel to launch Atom N500 series in June, ASUS netbooks to follow

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/rumor-intel-to-launch-atom-n500-series-in-june-asus-netbooks-t/

Details on this one are pretty light at the moment, but DigiTimes is reporting that Intel will be launching its Atom N500 series of dual-core processors this June. That word comes from the site's "sources from notebook players," who also say that Intel will be revealing more details on its third generation netbook platform at the same time. Unfortunately, that's about as specific as they're getting right now, but there are naturally some netbooks rumored to be launching alongside the new processors as well, with ASUS apparently already planning at least one N500-based netbook for the third quarter of this year that will sell for around $575. Of course, Intel itself isn't isn't saying any more on the matter than it did during its recent earnings call, but the timing of the rumor does line up suspiciously well with this year's Computex (June 1-5), which would be as good a place as any for a big netbook-related launch

Rumor: Intel to launch Atom N500 series in June, ASUS netbooks to follow originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Virginia Tech researchers reveal full-sized CHARLI-L humanoid robot

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/virginia-tech-researchers-reveal-full-sized-charli-l-humanoid-ro/

Dr. Dennis Hong was kind enough to give us a glimpse the CHARLI robot on The Engadget Show this weekend -- or its leg, anyway -- but he and his students have just now finally revealed the full-sized bot that's been described as a "robot teenager." As we'd heard, CHARLI is actually a series of robots that initially consists of the 5-foot tall CHARLI-L (or lightweight, pictured above), and the forthcoming CHARLI-H (or heavy), both of which are completely autonomous, with a full range of movements and gestures thanks to a series of pulleys, springs, carbon fiber rods, and actuators (not to mention some slightly more mysterious AI). What's more, while CHARLI-L is currently restricted to walking on flat surfaces, CHARLI-H promises to be able to walk on the uneven ground around the Virginia Tech campus, and eventually even be able to "run, jump, kick, open doors, pick up objects, and do just about anything a real person can do." Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any video of CHARLI-L in action just yet, and it is still somewhat of a work in progress -- the researchers say it will be able to speak soon, and they're also busily working to improve its soccer skills in time for this year's RoboCup.

[Thanks, Kyle]

Update: One more picture after the break, and we're told video of the bot should be available tomorrow.

Continue reading Virginia Tech researchers reveal full-sized CHARLI-L humanoid robot

Virginia Tech researchers reveal full-sized CHARLI-L humanoid robot originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceVirginia Tech  | Email this | Comments

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NVIDIA Verde to sync up desktop and laptop GPU driver releases, generate smiles galore

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/nvidia-verde-to-sync-up-desktop-and-laptop-gpu-driver-releases/

Good news, mobile gamers -- NVIDIA's looking out for you and yours, and if you're tired of lobbying to Congress about the inequities between driver releases for desktop GPUs and driver releases for mobile GPUs, you can finally move on to some other just cause. NVIDIA's Verde driver program has been a relative success over the years, but it's about to become a lot more gnarly when the company outs its 256 Series drivers in a few months. At that time, NVIDIA plans to "completely unify its GPU drivers, so mobile and desktop users will be able to get the latest releases simultaneously." Users won't find the desktop and laptop drivers in the same package, but we're sure each one will be clearly marked on the download page. It's worth noting, however, that these unified releases will only work with laptops featuring discrete GPUs, hybrid solutions utilizing NVIDIA-branded IGPs and Optimus-enabled machines; rigs with multi-vendor solutions (like the Alienware M11x, which uses an integrated set from Intel) won't be allowed to join the party.

In related news, the upcoming release of the 197.16 driver for laptops will bring along support for external displays with 3D Vision, enabling 3D Vision-ready laptops to pipe 3D content to 3D Vision-ready LCDs with ease. Good news all around, but you'll have to give those links below a visit if you're hungry for more.

NVIDIA Verde to sync up desktop and laptop GPU driver releases, generate smiles galore originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceHot Hardware  | Email this | Comments

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Japanese Show Off Gesture-Controlled Phone For Natal-Style Emailing [Sensors]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5524390/japanese-show-off-gesture+controlled-phone-for-natal+style-emailing

Japanese Show Off Gesture-Controlled Phone For Natal-Style EmailingBetween various patents and even a bog-standard Sony Ericsson, we've already thought about the possibilities of gesture-controlled phones. The University of Tokyo, in typical form, has taken it one step forward and released a video showing some sweet Natal-like possibilities.

Recombu likens it to the Project Natal of smartphones, which is a pretty accurate description for the phone pictured in the video, capable of detecting finger gestures by the motion-sensing camera located at the base. While I can't imagine typing out a text message using finger gestures, let alone an email, the idea of scrolling through photos or media is really appealing—and most definitely possible in this day and age. [Ishikawa-Komuro Lab via Recombu]

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Intel Arrandale shortages leading to premium prices, potential product delays

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/24/intel-arrandale-shortages-leading-to-premium-prices-potential-p/

Now this might explain Apple's curious choice to not upgrade the 13-inch MacBook Pro to a Core 2010 CPU. Yahoo! News is reporting shortages of the more budget-minded Core i3 and i5 laptop processors launched by Intel this January, which has led to chip buyers outbidding each other to the point of paying 20 percent premiums on contract prices. That's according to US chip distributor Converge, while research firm CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets estimates that product rollouts could be delayed by up to three months as a result. What has Intel got to say for itself?
"We don't comment on speculation, what I can say is that we are pleased with the strong product demand for our laptop platforms."
Well sure, you get paid more on a per-CPU basis, why wouldn't you be pleased? On a more serious note, during Intel's latest earnings call both Paul Otellini and CFO Stacy Smith expressed their surprise at the vast demand for their 32nm products, with Smith noting that their production of 32nm chips is the fastest ramping process in the company's history. So there's not really any villainy afoot here, just good old demand catching supply napping.

Intel Arrandale shortages leading to premium prices, potential product delays originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceYahoo! News  | Email this | Comments

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Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks, Looking Glass Pro and Streak variants teased in Android roadmap

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/25/dell-sparta-and-athens-netbooks-looking-glass-pro-and-streak-va/

Good morning to you too, Dell! Android Central's just gotten hold of yet another leak from the Texan computer giant, only this time we have two new Android or Linux (as suggested by the Tux icon) Moblin devices. First, we have the Sparta netbook tablet featuring an 11-inch 1024 x 768 TFT display, ARM processor, optional connectivity modules (3G, WiFi, Bluetooth) and a unique swivel mechanism -- the screen appears to be rotatable within its frame. The second device is the Athens sub-0.9kg (1.98 pounds) netbook sporting the same screen size, ARM processor and optional connectivity modules. If all goes well, the Sparta and Athens should be launched in early and late Autumn respectively, but there's a lot more so keep reading after the break.

Update: thanks for pointing out the Moblin logo, thoughtmonster!

Continue reading Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks, Looking Glass Pro and Streak variants teased in Android roadmap

Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks, Looking Glass Pro and Streak variants teased in Android roadmap originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAndroid Central  | Email this | Comments

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iPad Camera Kit ships with USB headset and keyboard support

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/25/ipad-camera-kit-ships-with-usb-headset-and-keyboard-support/

Reports are coming in that the iPad Camera Connection Kit has finally shown up on a couple buyer doorsteps, and that the pair of white dongles may actually have been worth the wait. While one is a simple SD card adapter that adds one-touch image and video import (including RAW, complete with EXIF data) to the iPad, the second provides a USB port with some exciting new functionality. TUAW reports one reader could type on an iPad via USB keyboard, and those rumors about USB audio were true, too: TidBITS was actually able to make a Skype call after connecting a USB headset. Before you get too excited, however, please note that the USB and SD image transfers are one-way, and not all peripherals are supported -- for instance, TidBITS' iPad sneezed at an external hard drive. Also, according to the Apple Store, Camera Connection Kit shipments are still two to three weeks out, so don't be surprised if it still takes some time to get yours. For now you can make do with the video after the break.

Continue reading iPad Camera Kit ships with USB headset and keyboard support

iPad Camera Kit ships with USB headset and keyboard support originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista  |  source@jerrodh (Twitter), TUAW, TidBITS  | Email this | Comments

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WOWee One portable speaker latches onto surfaces, iPad's coattails

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/wowee-one-portable-speaker-latches-onto-surfaces-ipads-coattai/

Portable devices that turn any surface into a speaker are hardly anything new, but the folks behind the WOWee One portable speaker (not WowWee) seem to be making some slightly bigger claims than most, and are even throwing out the increasingly popular "perfect companion for the iPad" phrase for good measure. As with other similar devices, the WOWee One conducts sound through any surface you rest it on (even a wall with an optional attachment), but it also has the benefit of patented "Gel Audio" technology, which promises to produce bass frequencies about three octaves below any other comparable device. You'll also apparently get about 20 hours of use from the built-in rechargeable battery, and your choice of three different colors -- all for the not so low price of $79.99. Head on past the break for a quick video.

Continue reading WOWee One portable speaker latches onto surfaces, iPad's coattails

WOWee One portable speaker latches onto surfaces, iPad's coattails originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 01:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceWOWee One, Amaz! on  | Email this | Comments

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AMD's six-core Phenom II X6 1055T CPU now shipping, 1090T up for pre-order

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/amds-six-core-phenom-ii-x6-1055t-cpu-now-shipping-1090t-up-for/

We'd been assured that AMD's days of missing ship dates ad naseum were over, but there's nothing like a little action to prove that your words mean business. Just a month after unearthing clock speeds and proposed release quarters for AMD's gaggle of six-core Phenom II X6 processors, two of 'em have already popped up on Amazon. The 2.8GHz Phenom II X6 1055T is actually shipping as we speak for $222.29, while the 3.2GHz Phenom II X6 1090T is up for pre-order at $324.65. The lower-end 2.6GHz 1035T and 3.0GHz 1075T are both nowhere to be found (yet, anyway), and the mysterious 1095T isn't even supposed to pop up anywhere until Q4. So, who's getting themselves a new slab of silicon? Don't be bashful.

[Thanks, Brian]

AMD's six-core Phenom II X6 1055T CPU now shipping, 1090T up for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 03:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAmazon [1055T], Amazon [1090T Black Edition]  | Email this | Comments

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 4-way SLI exemplifies law of diminishing returns

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/nvidia-geforce-gtx-480-4-way-sli-exemplifies-law-of-diminishing/

What's better than three monstrous GeForce GTX 480 graphics cards in a 3-way SLI configuration? How about four... is what we'd like to say, if Hardware.info hadn't just discovered that said setup is a huge waste of cash. With a full four GTX 480 cards buckled into an X58 Classified 4-Way SLI motherboard plus a Core i7-980X processor and a massive 1.5 kilowatt power supply to squeeze the juice, the €4,064 ($5,440) box still lost to a similarly configured 3-way rig in a wide variety of benchmarks. You could argue the system was CPU-limited, but Hardware.info used the fastest consumer chip available -- so it seems there's no place in today's market (keyword: today) for GTX 480 4-way SLI. Except, of course, for droolworthy snapshots like the above.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 4-way SLI exemplifies law of diminishing returns originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceHardware.info  | Email this | Comments

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Confirmed: Droid Incredible's multitouch support is better than the Nexus One's

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/confirmed-droid-incredibles-multitouch-support-is-better-than/

You might recall that fascinating video a while back showing the Nexus One's touch sensor getting all discombobulated when the tester's multitouch fingerwork started to get a little too fancy, and now, Android Central has confirmed that Verizon's Droid Incredible doesn't suffer the same fate -- but why is that, exactly? Android and Me is reporting that the Droid Incredible and EVO 4G both employ an Atmel maXTouch sensor with unlimited touch support -- a relatively new product launched in late '09 -- whereas the Nexus One is using Synaptics' older ClearPad 2000, which was designed to top out with simple two-finger gestures like pinch zoom. The upshot? Complicated multitouch games might end up being less playable (or downright unusable) on the Nexus One, but the silver lining is that HTC's gone ahead and rolled out better components for its latest round of devices that should prevent this from being a problem going forward. Follow the break for Android Central's video of the Droid Incredible multitouching circles around the Nexus One -- figuratively speaking, of course.

Continue reading Confirmed: Droid Incredible's multitouch support is better than the Nexus One's

Confirmed: Droid Incredible's multitouch support is better than the Nexus One's originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Neowin.net  |  sourceAndroid Central, Android and Me  | Email this | Comments

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Google updates Nexus One page, tells Verizon customers to get a Droid Incredible instead

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/google-updates-nexus-one-page-tells-verizon-customers-to-get-a/

Now this, this is all kinds of silly. Google has been busy updating its phone sales site, and the latest word for Verizon Wireless subscribers encourages them to look at the "similarly feature-packed" cousin of the Nexus One, the Incredible. Importantly, what's missing from the new wording is the "coming soon" tag, suggesting that for all intents and purposes the Nexus has been obviated by the arrival of the Incredible. In a separate blog post updating us on carrier partnerships, Google again reiterates its mini-advert for the new HTC phone on Verizon while keeping mum about the Nexus One's future. A true CDMA variant of le superphone should still be coming wearing Sprint regalia, but it's disappointing to see Google use such doublespeak techniques. Is the Verizon Nexus canceled or not?

Google updates Nexus One page, tells Verizon customers to get a Droid Incredible instead originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGoogle (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

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BlackBerry Bold 9650 announced, targets Tour owners' big complaints

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/blackberry-bold-9650-announced-targets-tour-owners-big-complai/

RIM has a longstanding track record of refining its hardware with near-surgical precision -- from one generation of BlackBerry to the next, you almost always see a very careful, deliberate evolution, from the Storm2's revamped SurePress tech to the Bold 9700's optical pad and countless examples in between. "Evolution" is exactly how we'd describe the CDMA- and GSM-equipped Bold 9650, the Tour's spiritual successor that ditches the old name to join forces with the remainder of the Bold line. Dimensionally, the Bold 9650 is a dead ringer for the Tour -- it's still 4.4 x 2.4 x 0.56 inches -- but it packs on two-tenths of an ounce worth of weight in exchange for oft-requested WiFi support and an extra 256MB of internal storage (it's now up to 512MB total). The other big difference, of course, is the replacement of the dodgy trackball with an optical pad, continuing a trend that has now permeated throughout virtually all of RIM's lineup. Look for the Bold 9650 to hit American carriers -- presumably both Verizon and Sprint -- in May. Follow the break for a second shot and RIM's full press release!

Continue reading BlackBerry Bold 9650 announced, targets Tour owners' big complaints

BlackBerry Bold 9650 announced, targets Tour owners' big complaints originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceRIM  | Email this | Comments

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BlackBerry Pearl 3G revealed: two keypad styles and 802.11n WiFi

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/blackberry-pearl-3g-revealed-two-keypad-styles-and-802-11n-wifi/

As smartphones go, the original BlackBerry Pearl 8100 series' longevity is nothing short of astounding -- with some minor tweaks, the phone has lasted essentially unchanged for well over three years. Needless to say, it's time for the granddaddy of consumer-grade BlackBerrys to start collecting pension, so it's an awfully good thing that RIM has chosen its WES conference this week to announce the all-new Pearl 3G. Rumored as the Pearl 9100, the phone becomes RIM's very first with 802.11n WiFi support (in addition to 802.11b and g, naturally) and features a 3.2 megapixel camera, 256MB of internal storage with microSD expansion up to 32GB, GPS, triband HSDPA with quadband GSM / EDGE, and a 360 x 400 display. RIM is making the Pearl 3G available in "several lustrous colors" and two different keypad configurations -- numeric 14-key and the more traditional SurePress 20-key -- though there's no indication that the rumored QWERTY version will make it to retail (at least, not yet) or that the company intends for users to be able to swap modules themselves. Expect the phone to launch with "various carriers" in May -- and considering that they've got both AWS and 850 / 1900MHz 3G versions in the mix, we'd expect to see it launch on AT&T and T-Mobile alike. Follow the break for RIM's full press release.

Continue reading BlackBerry Pearl 3G revealed: two keypad styles and 802.11n WiFi

BlackBerry Pearl 3G revealed: two keypad styles and 802.11n WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:30:! 00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceRIM  | Email this | Comments

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