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Monday, June 13, 2011

Sharp begins Eco House evaluation in Japan, aims for eco-friendly tech mecca

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/sharp-begins-eco-house-evaluation-in-japan-aims-for-eco-friendl/

Looking at vacation homes in Osaka, are you? If you happen upon a blueprint that looks anything like the crib shown above, we're guessing that it'll cost you a pretty penny. Er, yen. Sharp has just started the evaluation process on its newly completed Eco House -- an abode that aims to emit precisely zero carbon emissions while not compromising on the technology within it. It's outfitted with a cadre of energy-saving appliances and AQUOS TVs, all networked in via HEMS and programmed to display energy usage to whatever landlord decides to stop by for the day. Not surprisingly, some of the energy is being sourced from photovoltaic modules, and we're told that a downright absurd 180-inch LCD will be "evaluated for suitability to today's green-conscious world." Something tells us the company won't have too many issues finding volunteers to occupy the joint.

Sharp begins Eco House evaluation in Japan, aims for eco-friendly tech mecca originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 08:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS to ship 300,000 Eee Pad Transformers in June, surpass all non-iPad tablet sales

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/asus-to-ship-300-000-eee-pad-transformers-in-june-surpass-all-n/

ASUS has had a hard time meeting demand for its Eee Pad Transformer since the device's launch earlier this year, but we clearly don't have component shortages to blame. Jerry Shen, the Taiwanese company's CEO, says that he expects to sell 300,000 of the tablets this month, following shipments totaling 400,000 in April and May. That figure puts the device in the number two spot for worldwide tablet shipments, just behind the prevailing iPad 2. At that rate, ASUS's latest hybrid will bring in NT $2.5-3 billion (approximately $86.6-104 million), accounting for 10 percent of the company's total revenue for June -- a figure which could increase after sales pick up in Europe and mainland China in Q3. As for North America, it looks like e-tailers are finally able to maintain inventory of the $399 (16GB) flavor -- it's listed as in stock with major sites, including Amazon and Best Buy.

ASUS to ship 300,000 Eee Pad Transformers in June, surpass all non-iPad tablet sales originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 11:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YouTube subtly adds HD preview images, logoless playback option

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/youtube-subtly-adds-hd-preview-images-logoless-playback-option/

It ain't nearly as monumental as the day that YouTube actually started supporting high-def videos, but it'll certainly make those who routinely upload HD content a bit happier. We're talking about two new additions put forth by the YT team: HD preview images and a logoless playback option. Any new video uploaded to the site in a resolution of 480p or higher will have an HD preview image wherever the player is embedded, and we're told that preexisting HD videos will be updated "in the next few weeks." Moving right along, that pesky YouTube watermark (seen above) will be no more should you choose to nix it, but it's not as simple as just ticking a box; you'll need to add "?modestbranding=1" at the end of the video URL in order to make it disappear. So, celebratory drinks at noon?

YouTube subtly adds HD preview images, logoless playback option originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, June 12, 2011

Samsung Chromebook Series 5 review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/samsung-chromebook-series-5-review/

For almost two years now, Google's been talking up the idea of always-on, always-connected laptops based on a version of its Chrome browser. Local storage, of course, was not an ingredient in the equation. And while a lucky few developers got to put the concept to the test with the help of the CR-48, it never surfaced as an honest to goodness consumer product. At last, though, the Chromebooks are here, starting with Samsung's Series 5, a cute little number that promises instant-on access, 3G connectivity, and long enough battery life to web surf with the best of 'em. But is this new class of computers -- and this solidly built one, in particular -- poised to make an impact? Let's find out.

Gallery: Samsung Series 5 Chromebook review

Continue reading Samsung Chromebook Series 5 review

Samsung Chromebook Series 5 review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vizio's VTAB1008 tablet hits the FCC: your $349 slate now one step closer to shipping

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/vizios-vtab1008-tablet-hits-the-fcc-your-349-slate-now-one-st/

Vizio hasn't had much to say about its tablet plans since it entered the fray at CES in January, but it looks like things are now starting to pick up again, and fast. We just got wind of a listing for a Vizio VTAB1008 tablet priced at just $349 in Walmart's system earlier this week, and now that same device has passed through the FCC -- which, if you place the two together, could well indicate that a launch may finally be imminent. Unfortunately, the FCC listing doesn't provide much in the way of details beyond the crude outline above and some expected specs (WiFi, Bluetooth and HDMI), but the agency has only been asked to hold back the confidential parts of the filing until August 30th, so we should at least know more by then at the latest.

Vizio's VTAB1008 tablet hits the FCC: your $349 slate now one step closer to shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 18:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New LG P330 laptop has it all: brains, brawn, and beauty

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/new-lg-p330-laptop-has-it-all-brains-brawn-and-beauty/

LG P330

Well, look what we have here. It's the LG P220's big brother, the P330, and, as you can tell, good looks run in the family. Glancing at the spec sheet (after the break) it's pretty clear this guy has been hitting the gym -- there's plenty of muscle inside in the form of an NVIDIA GT 555m. This 13.3-inch laptop isn't just some meathead though, it's got brains to spare thanks to a Sandy Bridge class Core i7. But, that's not all -- it's also a sharp dresser that looks quite fetching in its magnesium and aluminum suit, and just try not to get lost staring into that beautiful IPS screen. We don't know how much you'll have to shell out to spend time with this svelte 3.6-pound beauty, but it should be making the retail rounds this September.

Continue reading New LG P330 laptop has it all: brains, brawn, and beauty

New LG P330 laptop has it all: brains, brawn, and beauty originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vuzix Star 1200 headset augments your reality, not your bank account

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/11/vuzix-star-1200-headset-augments-your-reality-not-your-bank-acc/

Be honest, you've been waiting for an affordable augmented reality headset ever since Schwarzenegger rocked the robot vision Terminator 2. And while $5,000 still seems like a lot for consumers to pay for a pair of glasses that let you see stuff that's not actually there, it's certainly cheaper than the sort of military-grade options currently available. Vuzix's Star 1200 feature motion sensors and a camera that track reality in order to augment it via 3D computer generated graphics. The headset is available for pre-order now and will start shipping in August, so you can finally get down to hunting and destroying all of the people who make fun of you for wearing funny looking glasses.

[Thanks, Matthew]

Vuzix Star 1200 headset augments your reality, not your bank account originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy S II for AT&T ratted out by its own HDMI dock

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/11/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-for-atandt-ratted-out-by-its-own-hdmi-dock/

Oh, we've been fairly certain for a while now that we'd see the sexy Samsung Galaxy S II saunter on over to AT&T, but now we've attained what appears to be the first official photo of the handset. Samsung's Singapore division has a series of professional shots of planned accessories, including this "Samsung Galaxy S II Desktop Dock," a handsome pyramid stand sporting HDMI and 3.5mm stereo-out jacks -- and of course, an AT&T logo on its comfortably cradled smartphone. We're still not quite sure when Samsung's flagship will hit the US, but it had better get a move on -- we're slated to see a Galaxy S III by this time next year, after all.

Update: We should probably note it looks like the Galaxy S II's seen a bit of a makeover for AT&T, gaining the four familiar capacitive touch buttons and generally appearing more like the Infuse 4G.

[Thanks, Solomon T.]

Samsung Galaxy S II for AT&T ratted out by its own HDMI dock originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung to finally roll out flexible AMOLED displays for public consumption in 2012?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/11/samsung-to-finally-roll-out-flexible-amoled-displays-for-public/

Samsung's been a frequent source of frustration, teasing us with its fabulous flexible displays for years, while never giving us a date when we could buy one for our very own. However, word on the web suggests that Sammy is finally ready to unleash its pliant panels upon the world in Q2 of 2012. Apparently, the company's mobile display division opened a new manufacturing plant with Ube (who produces the plastic substrate for the screens) last month to mass-produce bendy AMOLEDs for watches and phones. Let the countdown to the ductile display revolution begin.

Samsung to finally roll out flexible AMOLED displays for public consumption in 2012? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit DIYer cooks up stronger, lighter steel, shames scientists

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/11/detroit-diyer-cooks-up-stronger-lighter-steel-shames-scientist/

Flash Bainite

You'd be forgiven for dismissing an amateur metallurgist if he claimed to have improved upon the presumably perfected technology of steel making. But Flash Bainite, the creation of Detroit entrepreneur Gary Cola, wowed a team of Ohio State University engineers by turning centuries of alloy processing on its head. Instead of heating the metal for hours or days, this well-equipped DIYer boosted the temperature -- quickly baking, then cooling sheets of steel that are 7-percent stronger than other forms and tougher than some titanium alloys. Flash Bainite is also more ductile than other steels, allowing it to crumple more before breaking -- perfect for absorbing impacts. Obviously this means stronger and lighter cars, laptops, and armored vehicles but, since the process takes all of about 10 seconds, it's also more energy efficient and cheaper than traditional steel making. Now, who has the number for the Nobel Prize committee?

Detroit DIYer cooks up stronger, lighter steel, shames scientists originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Jun 2011 17:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple boots Sandy Bridge-based MacBook Air into mass production? (update)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/11/apple-boots-sandy-bridge-based-macbook-air-into-mass-production/

Concord Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is starting to build a bit of a reputation for accurate Apple rumors, so you may be able to take this with a slightly smaller dose of NaCl: Kuo told AppleInsider that Cupertino's allegedly ordered 380,000 of those new MacBook Air models with Intel's Sandy Bridge processors on board, to be completed within the month. Of course, if Apple's got its heart set on distributing silica scaffolding, it has to phase the existing Core 2 Duo variants out, and so the company's reportedly finishing a final production run of 80,000 units now. If you happen to notice that your entire state is out of aluminum-clad ultralights, you know who to call!

Update: iPhone hacker Chronic claims the MacBook Air refresh could appear as soon as Wednesday morning.

Apple boots Sandy Bridge-based MacBook Air into mass production? (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Jun 2011 22:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Virgin Mobile lets Android run Blur-free on the Motorola Triumph

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/12/virgin-mobile-lets-android-run-blur-free-on-the-motorola-triumph/

Motorola hopes to rescue its tarnished MOTOBLUR UI with a name-change. We, however, think the rust runs deeper than that -- and it seems we're not alone. Virgin Mobile has decided to give its prepaid customers the "true Android experience" from now on, which means you'll find no proprietary shell whatsoever sitting atop its new Motorola Triumph handset. Aside from a few bits of Virgin bloatware, the Triumph escapes with a relatively standard install of Android 2.2. Meanwhile, MOTOBLUR will still be foisted on pay-monthly customers who buy a Photon 4G or XPRT from Sprint, Virgin Mobile's parent company. Some of them might like the shell and its add-ons, but others will be better off without such OS contamination.

Virgin Mobile lets Android run Blur-free on the Motorola Triumph originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jun 2011 04:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Post-it sized computer does dual HD decoding (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/12/post-it-sized-computer-does-dual-hd-decoding-video/

Habey SOM-6670

We've seen some tiny PCs, but the (deep breath) Habey SOM-6670 E6XX Tunnel Creek QSeven computer module (phew...) has managed to impress even this crew of jaded tech bloggers. The tiny, Post-it sized board carries an embedded E600 series Atom processor which features the GMA600 integrated GPU -- the same HD video decoding core at work in the Boxee Box and Logitech Revue. This little guy is capable of handling not one, but two 1080p videos at once. Don't believe us? check out the video after the break -- then apologize to Habey for doubting them. On the downside, to actually put some ports on this thing and connect it to a display, hard drive, keyboard, and mouse you'll need a carrier board that adds quite a bit of bulk. Don't concern yourself with it too much though, the SOM6670 isn't exactly aimed at consumers. PR after the break.

[Thanks, Bin]

Continue reading Post-it sized computer does dual HD decoding (video)

Post-it sized computer does dual HD decoding (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jun 2011 11:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, June 10, 2011

Sanyo expands Eneloop battery offerings with Pro for more power, Plus for less heat

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/sanyo-expands-eneloop-battery-offerings-with-pro-for-more-power/

If you love Sanyo's ever-so-practical Eneloop rechargeable batteries, you'll be smitten with its two latest AA additions. First into the battery compartment is the 2400mAh Eneloop Pro; it's loaded with twenty-five percent more juice than the standard model, and is a perfect match for your power-draining Nikon Speedlight -- not quite as formidable as the 2,500mAh XX series, though. Moving onto the next slot is the Eneloop Plus, which adds a positive temperature coefficient thermistor -- a resistor that prevents the batts from reaching skin-scorching heat levels in kids' toys. Blazing Hello Kitty anyone? Both will come in packs of two or four, and also as bundles with a charger. Residents of Japan will be able to pick up the batteries at varying points this year, but aside from the ¥1,260 (about $15) Pro two-pack, pricing remains open. If your heart's beating like the pink bunny's drum, check out the source link below for the details and some fancy infographics.

Sanyo expands Eneloop battery offerings with Pro for more power, Plus for less heat originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 02:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, June 09, 2011

You Can Now Keep Two Google Voice Numbers, for a Price [Google Voice]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5810249/you-can-now-keep-two-google-voice-numbers-for-a-price

Plenty of people have been porting phone numbers to Google Voice lately, but part of that process has always been saying farewell to your old Voice number, and sending it back to Google for recycling. That process allowed 90 days more use of the old number so you could get everyone to use the new one, but now you can extend that period to the realm of forever by just paying $20 to make the old number permanent. Your caller ID will show your new number whether you ported it to Google or just had it changed from an old one, but friends and family who refuse to update their address books will still be able to reach you at the old number indefinitely.

Make your secondary Google Voice number permanent | Google Voice Blog

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