Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook: 04/01/2009 - 05/01/2009

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Chuwi M70's 7-inch PMP reviewed, said to be large and in charge

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/30/chuwi-m70s-7-inch-pmp-reviewed-said-to-be-large-and-in-charge/

Chuwi M70's 7-inch PMP reviewed, said to be large and in charge

Many PMPs are svelte, portable things that feel good in the hand and not too bad in a pocket. The same cannot be said for the 8GB Chuwi M70, a PMP packing a 7-inch, 700 x 480 widescreen LCD and not much else. In a review at MP4 Nation Blog that screen gets high marks, as does the ability to play video up to 1280 x 720 smoothly, but build quality is apparently a disappointment, and those dimensions make it something less than totally portable. The device hasn't officially been released in the US, but if you've got room in your heart for a PMP with a little extra to love they can be found online for under $120. Get hunting.

[Thanks, Tom]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Chuwi M70's 7-inch PMP reviewed, said to be large and in charge originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony debuts connected BRAVIA Z5500 LCD HDTV line

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/30/sony-debuts-connected-bravia-z5500-lcd-hdtv-line/

And the hits just keep on comin'. Shortly after Sony introduced its connected BRAVIA W-Series to the world, in flies yet another trio: the Z5500 line. Arriving in 40-inch, 46-inch and 52-inch models, the set boasts Motionflow 200Hz technology, DLNA certification, the outfit's BRAVIA Engine 3, its own 'draw the LINE' design concept, a 1080p panel and a CI Plus interface, which only those parked overseas will truly understand. Furthermore, there's an integrated MPEG-4/AVC HD tuner, BRAVIA Sync (HDMI-CEC), an auto shut-off function, a dedicated 'Energy Saving Switch' and -- for the first time -- AppliCast. If you're curious, the latter feature enables users to access a range of online services (RSS feeds and all sorts of other widgets) via the built-in Ethernet jack. Sony didn't bother to share a price, release date or any hope of a US debut, but we'll be keeping our eyes peeled.

[Via TrustedReviews]

Gallery: Sony debuts connected BRAVIA Z5500 LCD HDTV line

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Sony debuts connected BRAVIA Z5500 LCD HDTV line originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft, take a page from Cuil. Spend the $80M making Kumo better, instead of advertising that it's better - http://ping.fm/5g2kd

IMshopping Provides Human-Powered Shopping Suggestions [Recommendations]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/ih6hxAIpzVM/imshopping-provides-human+powered-shopping-suggestions

IMshopping takes the Mahalo route with product recommendations, using humans to research and answer questions submitted on its site, or through a Twitter "@". And it seems to actually work, for the most part.

The answers depend, of course, on what you're asking about, and whether IMshopping has someone on hand (or just awake) that knows about your specific field. On the site this morning, questions about iPhones and Apple laptops were often replied to with suggestions to wait until after Apple's announcements at the World Wide Developers' Conference (a pretty smart move, usually), while a more generic question about USB key drives was met with a semi-helpful suggestion to check out a discount site like Tiger Direct.

So, in some cases, you're going to get an answer that's the very friendly equivalent of "Google it." There's a chance, though, that you'll get a link you didn't know about, or advice that's coming from a fairly independent voice. Signing in through the site lets you save your answers and recommendations to a "folder" you can browse through for purchasing later. Free to use, requires sign-up to save recommendations.

IMshopping [via TechCrunch]

Get Public Data Graphs from Google Searches [Data]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/S0nMOQlXDn0/get-public-data-graphs-from-google-searches

Next time you see a statistic in a news story that's hard to believe, or needs a bit more depth, type it into Google and pull up your own data graph.

At least with unemployment rates, population, and a few other public data sets, that's now possible. Using a technology acquired from Gapminder and its Trendalyzer tool, typing in something like Unemployment rate Sonoma County, CA returns a graph that shows historical data and can be narrowed by state and county results. You can also grab a direct link to your comparison to create an auto-updating reference point. Neat little hack, and we hope it gets expanded soon.

Official Google Blog: Adding search power to public data [via ReadWriteWeb]

Paragon Partition Manager Free Today, Normally $40 [Dealhacker]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/RjiVsimZUwU/paragon-partition-manager-free-today-normally-40

Windows only: Paragon Partition Manager is a feature-rich application for partitioning your hard drive, optimizing your disks, creating simple partition backups, and more. It's normally $40, but today you can snag it for free.

We'd almost never suggest shelling out cash for an application whose sole purpose is partitioning, especially when an application like the previously mentioned GParted Live CD is perfect for partitioning and completely free, but if you need more from your partition manager, commercial apps like Paragon Partition Manager can be useful.

We haven't tested it thoroughly, but Paragon promises an impressive feature set, and—for today at least—you can't really beat the price. If you've used this app in the past, share your experience in the comments.

Giveaway of the Day - Paragon Partition Manager 2009 Special Edition (English Version) [Giveaway of the Day]
Partition Manager 10 [Paragon Software]

Google Chrome Short Films for the Browser That's Warm and Fuzzy [Advertising]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/ofLpPFHDbYE/google-chrome-short-films-for-the-browser-thats-warm-and-fuzzy

Google commissioned 11 short films about its Chrome browser, ranging from exceedingly slick and excellently-soundtracked (below) to cool stop-action films. They're all very well-done and variously informative and adorable. [Google Chrome via TechCrunch]

Apple Assembles Chip Design Team, Plans Custom iPhone Guts [Apple]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/NJfHkjoUrvI/apple-assembles-chip-design-team-plans-custom-iphone-guts

The WSJ reports that Apple is putting together an all-star chip design team, starting with the former CTO of AMD, to work on in-house chips for mobile devices. Old habits die hard, I guess.

Apple is prone to occasional fits of vertical integration, and has never been terribly reluctant to run counter to the prevailing hardware winds, but this doesn't sound like some Jobsian act of contrarianism. The report indicates that it's the iPhone's unique power and performance demands that are driving this move, at least ostensibly:

Apple could use the internally developed chips to sharply reduce the power consumption of its hit iPhone and iPod touch devices, and possibly add graphics circuitry to help its hardware play realistic game software and high-definition videos, people familiar with its plans say.

Apple already works with Samsung, the manufacturer of the ARM-based processors used in the iPhone and iPod Touch, to design chip suited to their specific needs, and Apple is a large enough company that it doesn't have trouble coaxing tailor-made hardware out of its suppliers. But totally in-house chip design boasts the huge advantage of secrecy; removing Samsung from the equation ensures that any power-saving, graphics-boosting chip features Apple manages to conjure for their next iWhatever don't eventually find their way into chips available to other industry giants! like HT C or RIM.

So don't confuse Apple's latest move with an effort to spur innovation—from here, this looks like technology-hoarding, pure and simple; a bid to further insulate their mobile devices from competition by locking down their hardware as hard as they do their software. [WSJ]

Quest for invisibility cloaks revisited by two research groups

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/30/quest-for-invisibility-cloaks-revisited-by-two-research-groups/

After a brief period of no news, it's time to revisit the world of invisible cloaks. Inspired by the ideas of theoretical physicist John Pendry at Imperial College, London, two separate groups of researchers from Cornell University and UC Berkeley claim to have prototyped their own cloaking devices. Both work essentially the same way: the object is hidden by mirrors that look entirely flat thanks to tiny silicon nanopillars that steer reflected light in such a way to create the illusion. It gets a bit technical, sure, but hopefully from at least one of these projects we'll get a video presentation that's sure to make us downright giddy.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wearables

Quest for invisibility cloaks revisited by two research groups originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

ViBook USB Adapter Review: Who Doesn't Want Four Extra Monitors? [Review]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/DECbArAhZdE/vibook-usb-adapter-review-who-doesnt-want-four-extra-monitors

The ViBook is the USB version of the ViDock, and can add four to six additional monitors to your setup by just using USB ports. It works, but it's not perfect.

ViBook supports up to a 23-inch monitor at 1680x1050 or 1600x1200 resolution. Like the ViDock, it renders graphics on the device itself, offloading the processing from your on-board graphics card. This is good, because it allows you to attach four (for Macs) or six (for PCs) more monitors to your setup. But it's also bad because it relies on the rendering power of the device to display windows, so there's no OpenGL or any kind of real acceleration.

It's best used for extending your desktop so you can keep your mail, or your RSS feeds, or your IM windows or your calendar visible at all times. Not so much if you need to do anything graphics-based, or anything that refreshes really fast. No games, especially.

The ViBook is a pretty decent device, but at $130, it's slightly too pricey. OWC has a version for $100, and Fastmac has a version for $80. [ViBook]

Sensitive Object's Anywhere MultiTouch extends touch sensitivity to the whole device

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/sensitive-objects-anywhere-multitouch-extends-touch-sensitivity/

Sensitive Object, a French startup best known for its louche, Gitanes-smoking engineers and its love of cocktail jazz, has just announced the development of Anywhere MultiTouch, a Windows 7-compliant platform that brings touch sensitivity to glass, aluminum, and plastic, through the use of piezoelectric sensors. This product is an extension of the company's ReverSys technology, which recognizes the precise location where an object is touched through soundwaves, with the new platform throwing in handwriting recognition and palm rejection for good measure. It looks like multitouch has finally been freed from the tyranny of the display, with developers now able to incorporate actions along the whole device. Excited? We bet you are. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Sensitive Object's Anywhere MultiTouch extends touch sensitivity to the whole device

Filed under: Displays, Tablet PCs

Sensitive Object's Anywhere MultiTouch extends touch sensitivity to the whole device originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Students build 3D computer interface using copper, felt, and lots of moxie

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/students-build-3d-computer-interface-using-copper-felt-and-lot/

Always on the lookout for bigger and better ways to faux-scratch a record with your PC, these students at Northeastern University have developed a human-computer interface that utilizes copper pads and our beloved theory of electrostatics. This little devil is able to track the position of a user's hand in three dimensions, without attaching markers to the body or requiring the user to hold some sort of controller. We can think of a couple theremin players that would love to get their hands on one of these things (Mike Love, we're looking at you). But don't take out word for it -- peep the video below to groove along with these dudes as they literally rock the (virtual) bells, play some organ, and even do a little fingerpainting.

Continue reading Students build 3D computer interface using copper, felt, and lots of moxie

Filed under: Peripherals

Students build 3D computer interface using copper, felt, and lots of moxie originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD's $69 2.8GHz Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition CPU launched, reviewed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/amds-69-2-8ghz-athlon-x2-7850-black-edition-cpu-launched-revi/

AMD already showed us yesterday what kind of graphical prowess could be crammed into a sub-$100 GPU, and today it's attempting to pull the same kind of stunt on the CPU front. The Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition -- a 2.8GHz chip with 2MB of L3 cache and loads of overclocking potential -- has just been loosed, and with a downright stunning $69 MSRP, we'd say it'll have budget gamers across the nation paying attention. Reviewers across the web voiced their appreciation for the low price, and while the processor didn't burn any barns down along the way, it did manage to garner a sufficient amount of praise while on the bench. NeoSeeker seemed to capture the general consensus with this: "the Athlon X2 7850 is a decent processor that is able to power even the latest games." 'Course, the performance-per-watt was a bit lacking given the 65nm manufacturing process, but it's not like you can have your cake and eat it too.

Read - NeoSeeker ("a decent processor")
Read - HiTechLegion ("performed very well")
Read - Guru3D ("packs decent muscle and has reasonable overclock potential")
Read - Bit-tech ("unsurprisingly underwhelming compared to the 7750 Black Edition")
Read - Overclocker's Club ("impressed with the increased performance")
Read - Benchmark Reviews ("an incredible value")
Read - Detailed specifications
Read - AMD press release

Filed under: Desktops

AMD's $69 2.8GHz Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition CPU launched, reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer already working on "several Android devices," smartphone included

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/acer-already-working-on-several-android-devices-smartphone-in/

Okay, now we get it -- the flood of Android phones we were expecting at MWC and CTIA this year are actually arriving a month or two late. Nice. Anywho, with Samsung just recently dishing out official dirt on its Google-fied I7500 and HTC pushing out its Magic overseas, Acer is making darn sure it's not left out as the bandwagon cruises by. During the firm's Q1 investor's conference today, Gianfranco Lanci (President and CEO) noted that "the entire industry is looking at Android," and that his company "is testing Android on a lot of different solutions." Specifically, he stated that it was "working on an Android solution for the smartphone, but it's too early to say if [Acer] is going to [put the OS] on a netbook in the near future." 'Course, he could be spitting out positive vibes to just make sure we don't forget about 'em, but here's hoping Mr. Lanci takes him own quotes seriously. We'll be watching -- like Rockwell, minus the catchy chorus.

Filed under: Cellphones

Acer already working on "several Android devices," smartphone included originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Averatec hints at an Android netbook

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/averatec-hints-at-an-android-netbook/

We're not sure why Android is suddenly the hottest netbook OS in town, but we'd guess it's about to hit the scene in a big way at Computex next month. Today's whispers? Averatec CEO Tae-Hyun Cho says his company will ship a new netbook with a "surprise" OS that blends "cell phone and PC technology" in August or September. Very mysterious. That's literally all we know for now, but Cho's comments about what consumers are willing to pay has us thinking this one'll come in cheap -- we'll keep an eye out.

Filed under: Laptops

Averatec hints at an Android netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's First Android Phone Calgary Looks Impressive Enough I Actually Care [Rumor]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/a7Ku-AT6Y6w/motorolas-first-android-phone-calgary-looks-impressive-enough-i-actually-care

I've been tired of "Android on X's phone" stories for a while now, but Motorola's Calgary shot my eyes wide open: It actually looks interesting! And it's on Verizon.

BGR says the QWERTY slider will focus on social networking—presumably in the same vein as the new Sidekick. I have a bit of doubt about that flat not-so-touch-type-y keyboard, but still, color me impressed: Futuretastic-looking hardware running Android on Verizon? As long as they don't lock it the hell down, could be sweet, and not just for Moto, who needs a hit phone, or Verizon, who just needs better phones. [BGR]

Sensitive Object's Anywhere MultiTouch extends touch sensitivity to the whole device

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/sensitive-objects-anywhere-multitouch-extends-touch-sensitivity/

Sensitive Object, a French startup best known for its louche, Gitanes-smoking engineers and its love of cocktail jazz, has just announced the development of Anywhere MultiTouch, a Windows 7-compliant platform that brings touch sensitivity to glass, aluminum, and plastic, through the use of piezoelectric sensors. This product is an extension of the company's ReverSys technology, which recognizes the precise location where an object is touched through soundwaves, with the new platform throwing in handwriting recognition and palm rejection for good measure. It looks like multitouch has finally been freed from the tyranny of the display, with developers now able to incorporate actions along the whole device. Excited? We bet you are. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Sensitive Object's Anywhere MultiTouch extends touch sensitivity to the whole device

Filed under: Displays, Tablet PCs

Sensitive Object's Anywhere MultiTouch extends touch sensitivity to the whole device originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's 23-inch OLED TV coming in 2010, others following suit

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/samsungs-23-inch-oled-tv-coming-in-2010-others-following-suit/

Given just how long we've been looking at prototype OLED panels at trade shows (and trade shows alone), we're understandably skeptical about a few new claims regarding availability. For whatever it's worth, MegaWhat.tv has reported that the display will actually be on store shelves in 2010 (yeah, that's next year), bringing with it a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, DVI / HDMI inputs and a total depth of just 1.6 centimeters. Furthermore, it's said to suck down 40 percent less energy compared to an equivalent LCD, but you can rest assured that you'll pay for that luxury up front. In related news, Smarthouse is suggesting that senior Panasonic executives have said that it is currently "researching" HD OLED TV and should have one on the market within two years. Not to be a Debbie Downer or anything, but we'll wait until we see progress at CES 2010 before getting too hopeful.

Read - Samsung's OLED TV
Read - Panasonic / Toshiba plans, via OLED-Display

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Samsung's 23-inch OLED TV coming in 2010, others following suit orig! inally a ppeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Joins the Android Party: One Handset for 2009, But Probably No Netbooks [Acer]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/9wqoRPpkaMg/acer-joins-the-android-party-one-handset-for-2009-but-probably-no-netbooks

Still sore from their rough first step into the smartphone industry in February, Acer has committed to building one Android handset before 2010. On the possibility of an Android netbook, though, they dithered. Hard.

Acer's President and CEO:

We are working on an Android solution for the smartphone, [but] I think it's too early to say if we're going to see Android on a netbook in the near future.

So they're considering it! Then, from PC World:

He said Android is "very, very good for communication and Web access and so on," but he's not sure yet if it's right for traditional PCs.

A smartphone with Android makes a lot more sense than a netbook with the OS, he said.

Oh, so he basically heard some other company talking about an Android netbook, decided to dignify the possibility with a mention just in case, but intuitively thinks—reasonably, I might add—that the whole idea is kind of dumb. Got it. [PC World]

Photography Heatmaps Created From 35 Million Geotagged Flickr Shots [Photography]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/dPc5cDnkAsI/photography-heatmaps-created-from-35-million-geotagged-flickr-shots

Scientists at Cornell University have use a supercomputer to analyze the geotags on 35 million Flickr photos, creating photography heatmaps for locations around the world. Their conclusion? People really, really like taking pictures of landmarks.

The national maps—like the one above, which shows the most photographed landmark for each of the top 20 most photographed cities—are somewhat predicable, with photo density at its highest around population centers—especially large, scenic ones. Natural sights, like the Grand Canyon, make a strong showing, and the results generally support my theory that most peoples' vacations consist of trudging to a location of note, snapping a photo to prove that, yes, they actually went, and going directly back home.

The results get much more interesting at a local level. On the left are New York City and San Francisco, which were among the most photographed cities in the world. Popular tourist destinations are prominently featured on these maps, but the increased density of photos between these destinations forms something of a photo circuit.

Researchers are said to be mulling the possibility of constructing some kind of online travel guide from the wisdom of the photo-taking crowd. Regarding that "wisdom": Apple's Manhattan cube store is the 5th most photographed place in NYC—just in front of the Statue of Liberty. Read the full report here. [Physorg]

More Amazing Songs Recorded Through the World (Will Make You Smile Too) [Virtual Studio]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/UQ1MimpK9Ns/more-amazing-songs-recorded-through-the-world-will-make-you-smile-too

Many of you asked if you could buy the goosebumping version of Stand By Me that we featured yesterday. Good news: It's out this month in CD and DVD, along with other amazing songs.

Stand By Me was only one of the songs in the album, which includes other tracks recorded using the same method: Starting with a base track, multiple musicians and singers add tracks in a virtual studio all around the world. The idea came out from the documentary Playing for Change: Peace Through Music. You can check more info about these in their web site. [Playing for Change—Thanks Oscar]

Windows 7's XP Mode to Require 2GB of RAM, True Processor Virtualization [Windows]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/8D94QKMmAxs/windows-7s-xp-mode-to-require-2gb-of-ram-true-processor-virtualization

We talked about XP Mode—which runs programs that work in XP but not in Vista—in our Windows 7 RC1's hands-on. Now Microsoft is coming up with details about what hardware and licenses this will need.

• A CPU that has true chip-level virtualization from Intel or AMD.
• 2GB of RAM minimum.
• While XP Mode will be a free download for buyers of Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, and Windows 7 Ultimate, you will need a licensed copy of Windows XP Service Pack 3.

All seems very straightforward except the virtualization part. According to Microsoft's Scott Woodgate, "Some PCs have [chip-level virtualization] and some don't. It's not as clear as it should be relative to which PCs have support and which don't." Hopefully, they will release a tester program along with Windows 7. [cnet]

Cablevision loves you, will offer $99 101Mbps uncapped internet service

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/cablevision-loves-you-will-offer-99-101mbps-uncapped-internet/

It's been a rough week or so for Big Cable, but it looks like the East Coast's Cablevision's decided to play things a little differently than Comcast and Time Warner: it's just announced that uncapped 101Mbps DOCSIS 3.0 service will be rolling out on May 11 across its entire service area. The best part? It'll cost $99 a month, making it faster and cheaper than any other high-speed package we can think of -- 50Mbps service from Comcast and Verizon is around $140. Not bad at all -- let's hope the competition picks up on it.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Networking

Cablevision loves you, will offer $99 101Mbps uncapped internet service originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATI Radeon HD 4770 GPU review roundup

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/ati-radeon-hd-4770-gpu-review-roundup/

We like how you're thinking, AMD, and we don't say that everyday -- or ever, really. During a time when even hardcore gamers are having to rethink whether or not that next-gen GPU is a necessity, AMD has pushed out a remarkably potent new graphics card for under a Benjamin, and the whole world has joined in to review it. The ATI Radeon HD 4770, which was outed just over a week ago, has been officially introduced for the low, low price of just $99 (including rebates, which should surface soon). Aside from being the company's first mainstream desktop GPU manufactured using a 40nm process, this little gem was a real powerhouse when put to the test. In fact, critics at HotHardware exclaimed that this card "offers performance in the same range as cards that were launched at the $299 to $349 price point only a year ago." The bottom line? It's "one of the best buys" out in its price range, and even with all that belt tightening you've been doing, surely you can spare a C-note, yeah?

Read - HotHardware ("Recommended; one of the best buys at its price point")
Read - XBit Labs ("the best budget graphics accelerator [out there]")
Read - LegitReviews ("great performance, low power consumption and low noise")
Read - PCStats ("strikes a balance between performance and price")
Read - TechSpot ("an outstanding choice in the $100 graphics market")
Read - NeoSeeker ("a good value")
Read - PCPerspective ("impressive")

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

ATI Radeon HD 4770 GPU review roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sugar Labs debuts "Sugar on a Stick" beta, for LiveUSB-derived diabetes

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/sugar-labs-debuts-sugar-on-a-stick-beta-for-liveusb-derived-d/

After offering Sugar for the past while as an interface to run on top of your Linux distro of choice, Sugar Labs is prepping "Sugar on a Stick," a Fedora 11-based LiveUSB distro that boots most any PC from a 1GB+ USB stick and lets a user carry their Sugar environment, files and settings wherever they roam. While the beta is currently up for download, there seem to be plenty of kinks to work out, but as the team expands and refines hardware support, we could see this potentially being more of a boon for education than the XO-1 itself; turning any PC into a Sugar PC, not just the dramatically green ones. It's also nice to see how speedy Sugar can be free from the bonds of AMD Geode -- even Atom provides quite a bit of relative pep. Check out a quick (and slightly hyperactive) hands-on video from OLPC News after the break.

Continue reading Sugar Labs debuts "Sugar on a Stick" beta, for LiveUSB-derived diabetes

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Sugar Labs debuts "Sugar on a Stick" beta, for LiveUSB-derived diabetes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: MOTO Lab's multitouch display scalable up to 50-inches

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/video-moto-labs-multitouch-display-scalable-up-to-50-inches/

When the heads over at the MOTO Development Group aren't busy outfitting E-Ink devices with Android, they can often be found looking for bigger, better, and cheaper ways to build multitouch surfaces -- and they seem to be on to something. The video below shows full multitouch on a 19-inch display, although the company promises it is scalable up to at least 50-inches -- and it does this without the bulky projector. The capacitive touch screen forgoes the ITO (indium tin oxide) used in devices like the iPhone, relying instead on "extremely fine" wires to conduct the signals (which are lit up here for effect -- the company assures us that this will not be the case in production units). You know what this means: we may be getting that touch screen coffee table sooner than we thought! And we won't have to buy that yacht, either. But don't take out word for it -- peep for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Video: MOTO Lab's multitouch display scalable up to 50-inches

Filed under: Displays

Video: MOTO Lab's multitouch display scalable up to 50-inches originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epson launches next-gen Ensemble HD Home Cinema System

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/epson-launches-next-gen-ensemble-hd-home-cinema-system/

Considering that Epson's highest-end HTIB is nearly two years old now, we'd say an update was definitely in order. Today, the outfit has just taken the wraps off of its next-generation Ensemble HD Home Cinema, which gets updated by way of including the PowerLite Home Cinema 6100 or Home Cinema 6500 UB. As with the prior kit, these two also include a motorized 100-inch screen, integrated surround sound, AV controller with built-in DVD player, universal remote and all virtually components needed for installation. The only thing that's glaringly absent is a Blu-ray player, which -- at this point -- is completely and utterly inexcusable. At any rate, those content with treating themselves to upscaled DVD can fork out $4,999 for the Ensemble HD Home Cinema 720p, $6,499 for the Ensemble HD Home Cinema 6100 and $7,999 for the Ensemble HD Home Cinema 6500 UB.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment

Epson launches next-gen Ensemble HD Home Cinema System originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel further slashes SSD prices, ups production of 1.8-inch drives

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/intel-further-slashes-ssd-prices-ups-production-of-1-8-inch-dri/

Intel just cut a big chunk out of the MSRP on some of its SSDs a few months back, but it looks like it's already back for another go 'round, and it's also taking the opportunity to up the production on some of the models intended for netbooks and ultraportable laptops. The price cuts come to Intel's recently-fixed X25-M series of drives, with the 160GB drive dropping $100 (bringing its retail price down to $630), while the 80GB model dips a further $50 to $320, or close to half of what it originally cost when it launched back in December. What's more, while they aren't getting any cheaper just yet, Intel will reportedly be making more of its 80GB and 160GB 1.8-inch drives, which have apparently been in short supply since launching last year.

Filed under: Storage

Intel further slashes SSD prices, ups production of 1.8-inch drives originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iBUYPOWER's Core i7-powered LAN Warrior makes other SFF rigs weep

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/ibuypowers-core-i7-powered-lan-warrior-makes-other-sff-rigs-wee/

See that, Shuttle? Yeah, that's your worst nightmare. iBUYPOWER has just shocked the small form factor (SFF) world with a new rig that's potent enough to act as your standalone gaming machine. Equipped with a menacing look, a carry handle and room for two full-sized dual slot video cards, the aptly titled LAN Warrior caters to no one outside of the enthusiast niche. For the crowd willing to shell out for the latest and greatest, they'll find a Core i7 CPU (920, 940 and 965 Extreme available, up to five ventilation fans, an optional liquid cooling system, ASUS' Rampage II Gene X58 motherboard, up to 12GB of DDR3 memory, twin GeForce GTX 295 / Radeon 4870 x2 GPUs, four internal 3.5-inch bays, up to 6TB of HDD space, up to two Blu-ray writers, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n WiFi and a planet-killing 1000-watt power supply. Amazingly, the starting tag on this one is just $999, and it's available now from the outfit's website. Full release is after the break.

Gallery: iBUYPOWER's Core i7-powered LAN Warrior makes other SFF rigs weep

Continue reading iBUYPOWER's Core i7-powered LAN Warrior makes other SFF rigs weep

Filed under: Desktops, Media PCs

iBUYPOWER's Core i7-powered LAN Warrior makes other SFF rigs weep originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OWC rolls out USB 2.0 display adapter for Macs and PCs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/owc-rolls-out-usb-2-0-display-adapter-for-macs-and-pcs/

It's hardly the first product of its kind, but we're guessing there's still plenty of folks out there ready to jump on OWC's new USB 2.0 display adapter, which will let you add up to six monitors to your Mac or PC. As with similar products, however, you will be slightly limited in terms of resolution, with the adapter topping out at 1600x1200 for standard monitors and 1680x1050 for widescreen displays, although you will get full 32-bit color and, of course, your choice of mirrored or extended display settings. What's more, in addition to the main USB to DVI adapter, you'll also get a DVI to VGA and a DVI to HDMI swivel adapter right in the package, plus a regular USB cable -- all for $99.

Filed under: Displays, Peripherals

OWC rolls out USB 2.0 display adapter for Macs and PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMIMON's second-gen WHDI spec does full uncompressed 1080p

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/amimons-second-gen-whdi-spec-does-full-uncompressed-1080p/

AMIMON, the company behind the wireless HD technology (WHDI) in Belkin's FlyWire (among other devices), has just introduced its second-generation chipset. The device, which utilizes video modem technology operating in the 5GHz unlicensed band, consists of the new AMN 2120 transmitter and AMN 2220 receiver, both of which are angling to slip into set-top-boxes, HDTVs and all sorts of other HDMI-enabled devices in short order. AMIMON asserts that this chipset is the first capable of "delivering full uncompressed 1080p/60Hz HD content throughout the entire home," with a range of beyond 100 feet through walls, under one millisecond of latency and support for HDCP 2.0. Best of all, the new kit is available now for manufacturers to snap up, so for the legions of consumers waiting for someone to get wireless HD right, let us say this: "get to snapping." The full release is after the break.

Continue reading AMIMON's second-gen WHDI spec does full uncompressed 1080p

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Wireless

AMIMON's second-gen WHDI spec does full uncompressed 1080p originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA: 40 Atom-based ION platforms by end of 2009

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/nvidia-40-atom-based-ion-platforms-by-end-of-2009/

After being let down by the Atom 230 processor in our review of the Ion-based AspireRevo, we're comforted by NVIDIA's promise of more Atom / Ion configurations on the horizon. Forty of 'em by the end of the year including some based on the beefier dual-core Atom 330 processor just like this ASUS reference design that NVIDIA was showing off earlier today. Of course, the Computex show in Taipei (kicking off June 2nd) would be the obvious venue for such a full scale assault against Intel's GMA lethargy. Fortunately, Engadget Chinese will be on point to witness the carnage.

[Via Tweaktown]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

NVIDIA: 40 Atom-based ION platforms by end of 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Level One MobilSpot portable router shares 3G data over WiFi

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/level-one-mobilspot-router-shares-3g-data-over-wifi/

This isn't the first portable 3G router we've seen, but it certainly has the most convoluted name: the LevelOne 3G MobilSpot Portable Wireless HotSpot (WBR-3800) by CP Technologies. Just slot your EV-DO or HSDPA data card into the router's CardBus or USB interfaces and you've got an instant portable network for sharing to any 802.11b/g WiFi or Ethernet device. A 10/100Mbps WAN jack lets it double as your home router with auto-switching 3G backup for those of you with particularly troublesome DSL/Cable providers. The device measures 129 x 124 x 32mm (which isn't that small) but costs a reasonable $149.

Filed under: Networking

Level One MobilSpot portable router shares 3G data over WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung intros drop-dead gorgeous SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 camcorders

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/samsung-intros-drop-dead-gorgeous-smx-c14-and-smx-c10-camcorders/

We knew Samsung had a good thing going with the HMX-R10, and sure enough, that stylish has rubbed off heavily on the company's newest pair. The MX-C14 and SMX-C10 are both "ergonomic" camcorders which boast the company's Touch of Color finish and the practically iconic Active Angle Lens. Specs wise, we're told that they include include a 10x optical zoomer, Hyper Image Stabilization (oxymoron much?) and a 230,000-dot, swiveling 2.7-inch wide LCD screen. Strangely (and inexcusably, really), Sammy failed to mention what resolution these capture at, so we could be looking at two 4K RED competitors or VGA shooters that can't even outdo those uninspiring offerings from DXG. At any rate, we're told that the C14 comes with 16GB of internal flash along with an SD / SDHC expansion slot, while the C10 gets by with just a slot. Finally, both units include one-touch YouTube uploads and just under three hours of life on a single charge; they'll splash down this July for undisclosed amounts.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Samsung intros drop-dead gorgeous SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 camcorders originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trying, but not buying -- Nielsen: Twitter�s audience is exploding; but 60% don't return the next month - http://tinyurl.com/dcvlxe

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Seagate Replica does automatic, incremental backup for the everyman

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/27/seagate-replica-does-automatic-incremental-backup-for-the-every/

Seagate's new Replica drive aims to be for PC users what Time Machine is for Macs (in fact, there's no Mac software included), and seems to do a pretty good job of it. You merely plug the drive into your computer, accept a license agreement, and you're off to the races with hassle-free incremental backups of your system. The drive is available in Single PC and Multi-PC models, with the former sporting 250GB of capacity, and the latter doing 500GB and adding in a vertical dock -- but to actually backup multiple PCs you'll have to move the drive around sneakernet style. ComputerShopper found the drive pretty slow, and while you can drag and drop files off of the drive, it doesn't actually allow you to toss specific files on and use the drive as way to move your projects around town. Still, it's simple, and the $200 starting price isn't criminal.

Read - ComputerShopper review
Read - Official Replica site

Filed under: Storage

Seagate Replica does automatic, incremental backup for the everyman originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Averatec debuts 12-inch $699 N2700 ultraportable

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/27/averatec-debuts-12-inch-699-n2700-ultraportable/

If it's fancy you're scouting, you needn't look here. If you're fine with a classic design, a relatively low price and plenty of oomph to handle everyday tasks, you've got your eyes right where they need to be. Averatec's latest rig is a 12-inch ultraportable that gets powered by a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T6400 processor, a WXGA panel, 4GB of DDR2-800 RAM, a 250GB SATA hard drive, 8x SuperMulti dual-layer DVD writer, WiFi, gigabit Ethernet, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, FireWire and audio in / out. Furthermore, you'll find a VGA output, 4-in-1 card reader, GMA X4500HD graphics set, 1.3 megapixel camera and Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit. This four pound lappie will set you back $699, and if you're already sold, we're happy to inform you that it's shipping right now.

Gallery: Averatec debuts 12-inch $699 N2700 ultraportable

Filed under: Laptops

Averatec debuts 12-inch $699 N2700 ultraportable originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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