Thursday, February 05, 2009

Verizon Buy One Get One Free BlackBerry Sale Starting Feb. 6th [Dealzmodo]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/H_3pWwMR_ZU/verizon-buy-one-get-one-free-blackberry-sale-starting-feb-6th

Whether you have a family plan, you want to give a BlackBerry gift or you're a douche that wants to use two Blackberrys at the same time, Verizon's BOGO sale has you covered.

Starting tomorrow, Verizon Wireless will be giving away free BlackBerrys (of equal or lesser value) with the purchase of a BlackBerry (including the Storm) and a two-year commitment. The promotion runs until March 31st. [BGR]



JaJah App Now Turns Your iPod touch Into a VoIP Phone [Ipod Touch]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/j1k5OPXTvqg/jajah-app-now-turns-your-ipod-touch-into-a-voip-phone

JaJah is readying their VoIP calling app for the second-gen iPod touch, offering cellphone-esque functionality free of SIM cards and contracts, and provide mobile carriers the JaJah technology to use under their own brand.

To use JaJah on your iPod touch, all you need is a wi-fi connection, and a compatible headset so you can talk. Calls can be placed to any phone, anywhere, and you can even have a real number assigned to your iPod touch that let's you receive calls from any phone.

As for service, you can either purchase call minutes through JaJah, or soon enough, they'll make their service available to mobile carriers, letting them use the technology under their own name, letting customers deal with a company they already know. JaJah says pricing for the iPod touch service will be the same as the rest of their devices, which is to say about 3 cents/minute to other people in the US, and as low as 3.4 cents/minute in parts of Europe.

The App isn't out quite yet, but JaJah expects to have it ready as a free download in the coming weeks. [JaJah]

JAJAH Turns iPod Touch Into an iPhone
White Label Solution Enables Any Carrier to Provide High Quality Calls and text Messaging via the iPod Touch

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — February 5, 2009 — JAJAH, the leading IP telecommunications company, today announced a complete revamp of the iPod touch, turning the device into a fully functioning mobile phone for consumers. The new capability, available as a white label solution, enables carriers as well as non-carriers to launch th! e servic e under their own brand and provide their customers with the ability to make low-cost phone calls and send SMS text messages to any phone in the world from their iPod touch. To use the service, end users only require an iPod touch and a Wi-Fi connection, with no need for a SIM card or contract.

Move over, iPhone
The iPod touch is one of the most popular consumer devices in the world for music, entertainment, Web-browsing and now, making phone calls.

"Millions of people around the world already have an iPod touch in their pocket. With JAJAH's solution, any company can turn their customers' iPod touch into a fully functioning mobile phone," said Trevor Healy, CEO, JAJAH. "The device is particularly popular amongst students, who live in a world where Wi-Fi access is always available and, like everyone, they are looking to save costs, so this is a perfect solution."

JAJAH's next generation IP communications platform gives its partners everything they need to launch the service immediately. This includes the application itself, plus the entire suite of management services, from termination of the calls and quality control, right through to billing and processing payments in 200 countries around the world.

Given the economic downturn, consumers are seeking ways to make calls on any mobile device they own, as inexpensively as possible. "Offering a turnkey solution provides iPod touch users with added value," said Jon Arnold, principal analyst of J Arnold & Associates. "This is a prime example of how JAJAH's innovative platform helps carriers differentiate their services."

Connection made easy ...
Anyone with the latest version of the iPod touch will be able to download the service from the Apple App Store. With a microphone headset (available from Apple), users will immediately be able to make calls and send SMS messages from their device from any Wi-Fi network in the world. Calling costs will be up to 98 percent cheaper than existing rates on mobile networks, and ! in many cases could be free.

A platform for everyone (else)
JAJAH's plug-and-play IP platform is the only service that provides the full suite of services required to develop, deploy and monetize IP communication services anywhere in the world. The JAJAH platform is used by a number of the world's largest companies including Intel, Yahoo! and Comcast, and allows any company to offer value-added-services (VAS) to their customer base with no upfront payment or development work, saving millions for its customers and ensuring partners are prepared for the next generation of service provision.

JAJAH continues to develop innovative communications services. In the coming months the company will announce a range of new data communication services, applications and partnerships. For more information, please visit: www.jajah.com.



Samsung's SyncMaster U70 is 7-inches of extra real estate

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/samsungs-syncmaster-u70-is-7-inches-of-extra-real-estate/


We can't get enough of these cute, fuzzy little add-on displays, and Samsung's chipping in with the new U70 SyncMaster unit which just hit Korea, and is already available in Europe. The 7-inch display runs at a fairly standard 800 x 480 resolution, and plugs into a single USB port for power and image. It's got 200 nits of brightness, a 400:1 contrast ratio and a 140 degree viewing angle, but like most of these displays is unfortunately Windows-only at the moment. You can pick one up for 99 Euro (about $127 US), but no word on whether or when this will make it Stateside.

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Samsung's SyncMaster U70 is 7-inches of extra real estate originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nine-year old writes iPhone app, hates vegetables

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/nine-year-old-writes-iphone-app-hates-vegetables/


We've seen plenty of remarkable kids -- the world is just bursting with them -- and Lim Ding Wen, a nine-year-old from Singapore is no exception. Like his father, Wen enjoys writing iPhone apps in his spare time. His application, called Doodle Kids, is a drawing application for children that he wrote for his two younger sisters, who enjoy drawing, and it's already been downloaded over 4,000 times (we just checked in the App Store and it does indeed appear to be quite popular) since its release on February 1st. Wen, who is fluent in six programming languages and enjoys reading books about -- you guessed it -- computer programming, is already hard at work on his next app, a game called "Invader Wars." We can't wait to see that one!

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Nine-year old writes iPhone app, hates vegetables originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujifilm FinePix F200 EXR's photos shown off

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/fujifilm-finepix-f200-exrs-photos-shown-off/


We were fairly hopeful that Fujifilm's recently revealed 12 megapixel FinePix F200 EXR point and shoot would produce some great looking shots. Well, the fine folks over at Impress Watch have gotten their hands on one and taken it for a spin. In case you've forgotten, the camera is Fuji's first offering to boast its new 1/1.6-inch Super CCD EXR sensor, and it's got a 3-inch LCD, a 28-mm wide-angle 5x zoom lens, and is capable of 640 x 480 AVI video recording. The photos we're seeing are very crisp and detailed, with excellent color and very low noise. Though we won't know until we see for ourselves (still no word on pricing or availability for this one), we're preliminarily impressed. Check a few more after the break -- hit the read for full comparison shots with explanations.

Update:
It looks like the cam's going to be available some time this month for about $400.

Continue reading Fujifilm FinePix F200 EXR's photos shown off

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Fujifilm FinePix F200 EXR's photos shown off originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung NC10 netbook touchscreen hack caught on film

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/samsung-nc10-netbook-touchscreen-mod-how-to/


Of all the DIY touchscreen projects we've come across lately, this is certainly one of them. The kids over at Netbook Mag have got their hands on the stately Samsung NC10 and were kind enough to put together a full blown, step-by-step guide to replacing its tired, non-touch responsive display with an exciting, new fashioned touchscreen. And if that weren't enough, there's a video of the software drivers being installed -- with a cool, vintage 1994 Euro-rave soundtrack. How great is that? Check it after the break.

Continue reading Samsung NC10 netbook touchscreen hack caught on film

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Samsung NC10 netbook touchscreen hack caught on film originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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stats, recall, no hope for reversing the decline in display ad revenues

Despite improving click through rates (which they will definitely achieve by reducing the number of ads on the page), it will not lead to improving revenues. CPMs are being depressed by competition, not just oversupply. Click rates are a function of users' hatred of banner ads and conditioning to ignore the top and right of the web page. And even with better targeting, which commands premium CPMs, the total buys are smaller. All of these lead to continuously declining advertising revenues from display ads, whether or not they are able to improve click rates from nearly zero to something slightly higher. 

U.S. Internet users saw 4.5 trillion banners last year, according to ComScore. That's 2,000 per user a month, 24,000 for the year.

informal survey of twitter followers about recall and clicks on banners by @bmorrissey

Picture 8

Candlelight Be Damned, LED Forks Are Here

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/yankodesign/~3/hYR7hx_FrBQ/

It's the Valentine month, and love is in the air. Planning out gifts, romantic dinners, cards…awesome fun! Care to sparkle the evening a bit? Dine in elegance in exquisite settings with gourmet food, candlelights and good old charm! Perhaps lightWARE cutlery will illuminate the ambience; after all it's a heady combination of silver, crystal and LED lights.

With a silver head and engraved crystal body, the least you expect from a cutlery is to emit soft colorful lighting. At the tip is a removable silver cap that hosts the LED and a watch size battery. Giving the adage "Silver Spoon" a totally luminous meaning, I reckon this will be a hit during the dating season!

Designer: David Veldkamp

D-FileMU Renames Your Files on the Go [File Management]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/tcF7t3RuaMw/d+filemu-renames-your-files-on-the-go

Windows only: D-FileMU is an ultra-compact and portable file renaming application that sports a spartan, but effective, user interface and up to seventeen ways to organize your files.

If the enormous command-center-style dashboard interface of previously reviewed Bulk Rename Utility is overwhelming and way more than you need, D-FileMU provides a simple—and soothingly blue—alternative to all that extra chrome. All the basic file renaming tools are present in D-FileMU, but laid out in a step by step way that allows you to selectively activate them. After choosing the actions you want to perform—completely replacing the name, appending it, removing select characters, etc.—you can choose the files to act on one-by-one, or by file extension. In a basic test where one thousand image files were completely renamed, D-FileMU performed the task in a matter of seconds, keeping it on par with other, bulkier renaming tools I use. D-FileMU is freeware, Windows only.



Roll Your Own LogMeIn Pro with Free Apps [Remote Desktop]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/XBwDPPMLDGI/roll-your-own-logmein-pro-with-free-apps

LogMeIn Pro offers fans of the well-liked remote desktop software some key features over the free version, including file syncing and remote printing. With some free apps, you can cover most of the difference.

The Daily Cup of Tech blog recommends a few free apps that boost a free LogMeIn connection to nearly pro-level features. Key among them is the use of Dropbox, the free, multi-platform, password-syncing, Hive-Five-winning app. The basic idea is that if you need to manipulate a file you've got locally with another remote computer, simply drop your file into your Dropbox bin, and it'll arrive there in a few moments.

For printing from one computer to another, Tim Fehlman suggests using a Windows PDF printing solution, like the http://lifehacker.com/software//create-a-pdf-from-any-document-032880.phpCutePDF Writer and doPDF options we've written about before. Another good pick is the previously mentioned Yuuguu for screen sharing, as its a very simple connection (PIN and username) and works with both Macs and PCs.

The only no-go with Cup of Tech's free substition plan is remote audio streaming—something that only a fraction of the user base would likel! y want, but still a nifty feature. Any suggestions from our remote-savvy readers on getting all your remote system's audio through your local speakers?



Skype 4.0 Finalizes Video Chat, Bandwidth Improvements [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/gmCwr1zmYs8/skype-40-finalizes-video-chat-bandwidth-improvements

Windows only: Skype 4.0 is officially out, and it features all the really big video windows and Outlook and problem-reporting tools from last year's betas. It also beefs up Skype's handling of bandwidth.

The biggest jump noticeable, at least for users of the official 3.8 version, is the window real estate given to video chat and IM chats, and the general overhaul given to the app's skin and look. Skype's standard two-pane video chat has been traded in for a picture-in-picture layout, but that can be changed by dragging out your own video thumbnail.

Skype also touts a new audio engine and network manager, Silk, that uses half the bandwidth to provide audio and tries to save it from stuttering when Skype notices your connection slowing down in the background. The video engine purportedly does the same type of save-the-call moves when your bandwidth drops off.

Skype 4.0 is a free download for Windows systems only. Skype hounds, are you noticing better audio quality and fewer glitch-outs? Liking the new look of video chat? Tell us in the comments. Screenshot from Skype.



Make Homemade Vanilla Extract [Cooking]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/ixqF5Uo2LeM/make-homemade-vanilla-extract

Making your homemade vanilla extract might seem like overkill—why not just shell out the small ransom for a tiny bottle? But brewing your own is surprisingly simple, and yields customized, better-tasting results.

Photo by Bill HR.

Over at the culinary blog Chocolate and Zucchini, they have a detailed but simple guide to making your own extract. It's not more complicated than putting sliced vanilla beans into a jar with a high-proof alcohol like vodka or rum.

Using a sharp knife, slice the beans open lengthwise to expose the seeds. Tuck the beans in the jar and fill with liquor. Close the jar, shake it a few times, and place it in a cool, dark cabinet; you may have to whisper a few words of reassurance if the jar is, understandably, a little frightened.Let the jar rest in there for 8 weeks, shaking it again once or twice a week, or whenever you remember to. The mixture will get darker and darker over time.

The best part about the entire process is, so long as you throw a few more beans in occasionally and top off the alcohol as needed, you've got a perpetual source of rich and fresh vanilla extract. For a more extensive take on customizing the brew and getting the best results, check out VanillaReview.com's picture-packed guide.

Homemade Vanilla Extract [Chocolate and Zucchini]



PhotoPerfect Tweaks Your Pictures with Presets [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/OeYL-NuPMMU/photoperfect-tweaks-your-pictures-with-presets

Windows only: PhotoPerfect Express is a free, powerful image optimization tool that covers a wide range of photo enhancement scenarios, and can provide casual photographers with great results.

While nothing can compare to getting your hands dirty with a detailed photo editing application like Photoshop, the majority of casual digi-cam shooters won't need or want to invest that kind of time into snazzing up their snap shots. PhotoPerfect Express comes bundled with five pre-set photo enhancement methods—each of which can be further fine-tuned if you desire. There's batch processing options, especially handy if you realize after tweaking the first few photos in a series that you're seeing the same issues throughout the set. If you're having trouble deciding which optimization is yielding the most pleasing result, press the A key while tweaking to display the original next to all five optimization algorithms for easy comparison—a nice fix for those with photo-fixing self-doubt. PhotoPerfect Express is freeware, Windows only.



GCalTasks Gadget Tracks Time in Google Calendar [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/jk76eZIEDJU/gcaltasks-gadget-tracks-time-in-google-calendar

Windows 7/Vista only: Sidebar gadget gCalTasks tracks your time with a couldn't-be-easier start/stop timer that saves your current task directly to Google Calendar.

Installing the gadget is easy—just double-click on the downloaded file to add it to your sidebar, and use the wrench icon to add in your Google account details (works with Apps too). Once you've authenticated you can choose which calendar you want to send your time tracking data too. (It's probably best to create a new one to keep from cluttering your regular schedule.) At this point you can start tracking your time by simply typing what you are working on and clicking Start; when you're done, hit Stop to save your data up to Google. At the end of the day you can check the Agenda view in Google Calendar to see a nice list of everything you worked on throughout the day.

The gadget has a few issues—most noticeably it's too wide to fit in the sidebar so you really have to use it on the desktop, but the bigger problem is the lack of automatic sync, requiring you to remember to use the Stop button to save. The benefits of being able to easily track what you are working on and save to the accessible-everywhere Google Calendar outweigh the problems—and make this worth a look for anybody looking to keep better tabs on their time.

gCalTasks is a free download for Windows 7 or Vista users. If you are looking for a hands-off, completely automated solution, take a look at previously mentioned Productivity Meter or Slife instead. Do you have a preferred solution for tracking your time? Share it i! n the co mments.



Free Disk Analyzer Finds the Largest Space-Wasting Files [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/mM2ZmhpoGCU/free-disk-analyzer-finds-the-largest-space+wasting-files

Windows only: File space usage application Free Disk Analyzer quickly and easily finds the largest files that are wasting space on your drive.

Once installed, you can locate the largest files by selecting a drive on the left-hand side, and then choosing the Largest Files tab on the bottom, which sorts by file size regardless of the directory they are located so you can quickly identify files for deletion. The Largest Folders tab shows you a view that resembles the previously mentioned Windirstat (another app that's a whiz at visualizing your hard drive usage), with the option to drill down into folders. Hidden behind the options panel you will find some even better settings—the ability to filter by file type, or only analyze files larger than a specified size, making this a great utility for cleaning up your drive.

Free Disk Analyzer is a free download for Windows users only. For a similar utility with more eye-candy, take a look at previously mentioned DriveSpacio.



Windows 7 Gets Customized [Featured Desktop]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/w9HdmKtT5XA/windows-7-gets-customized

We've featured a desktop that makes XP look like Windows 7, but today we get a look at our first Windows 7 desktop customized to the hilt courtesy of reader SJRNWT.

The setup behind this tweaked Windows 7 desktop features a lot of familiar faces, including Rocketdock, Rainmeter, and some of the latest Enigma customizations. Ultimately the results of this customization don't actually look all that different from an XP or Vista transformation, but that's probably a good thing—it means that customization lovers won't need to expect many problems moving their favorite tweaks over to Windows 7.



Foxmarks Bookmark Syncing Available for Internet Explorer, Safari [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/KTMSx5vosGw/foxmarks-bookmark-syncing-available-for-internet-explorer-safari

Windows/Mac: Foxmarks, our favorite way to keep Firefox bookmarks synced across computers, is now offered for Internet Explorer and Safari, giving anyone with multiple computers or browsers a pain-free way to keep it all together.

Foxmarks offers basically the same type of background bookmark-syncing awesomeness for IE and Safari as it does for Firefox, with a few key exceptions:


If you're still down to try out Foxmarks in its newest forms, head to the Foxmarks downloads page and grab your appropriate installer. I lack a Mac system, so I'll be stepping through an Internet Explorer setup below.

Double-click the installer, accept all the standard "Do you want ..." and "Allow ..." prompts, and you'll be asked to either create a Foxmarks account or sign in with the one you've got. After verification, you'll end up at this simple screen, familiar to Foxmarks veterans:

The default action, if you simply hit "Synchronize," is for Foxmarks to merge any favorites you've got on your system with anything backed up in your Foxmarks cloud. That's fine for newcomers, but I generally like to get rid of all of the pre-loaded MSN, Windows Live, and similar bookmarks, so let's hit "Change sync settings" and switch it up:


After that, Foxmarks gets going. Instead of installing an icon in Internet Explorer's bottom status bar, Foxmarks plants itself in your system tray. You'll see it pop up a notification when it's done grabbing or placing bookmarks to/from the servers. Right-clicking this icon gives you access to your Foxmarks settings, can open up your web-based bookmarks browser, and close down the Foxmarks process. It seems to run whether or not you've got IE up and running, which is somewhat memory insensitive, but also convenient for those who open and close their browser regularly.

The Foxmarks options are similar to what Firefox users have been used to: a quick-sync button, choices on how and when Foxmarks synchronizes, and, best of all, the same kind of computer-by-computer selective bookmark syncing, or "profiles."


And here's the advanced options, where you can change your encryption demands, force a server- or computer-wiping sync, and turn off that Foxmarks tray icon. Turning off the icon still lets you at the Foxmarks options from IE's "Tools" menu:


Here's a video tour of Foxmarks features, composed by Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal/All Things Digital. It's somewhat introductory-level, but covers a lot of ground (and here's his full, positive review of Foxmarks' functionality.

Safari users, be sure to tell us how Foxmarks is working for you. Does tri-browser Foxmarks open up a new realm of synchronized browsing? Waiting for just one more platform (noting that mobile access is, of course, already covered)? Give us your reviews in the comments.



Bill Gates Just Unleashed a Swarm Of Live Mosquitoes On A Room Full of Geniuses [Whoa]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/xGOTAQF-cS0/bill-gates-just-unleashed-a-swarm-of-live-mosquitoes-on-a-room-full-of-geniuses

In what is probably the coolest conference-talk attention grab I've ever heard of, Bill Gates apparently just released a swarm of mosquitoes into the crowd at TED, the geniuses-only mind meld. Holy shit.

"Not only poor people should experience this," the Tweetosphere has Gates saying as he released the swarm into the audience. Malaria is a cause that Bill and Melinda have been hitting hard with their philanthropy, and this is certainly a way to drive that point home.

No word yet on the size of said swarm, or confirmation that they weren't actually infected with malaria for that matter, but as far as stunts go, this is prit-tay fucking awesome. We would know.

Bravo Bill—your sense of humor does geeks proud. [Valleywag, Twitter, Photo: jurvetson/flickr]



Art: Tetris Bricks Falling in an Alley [Found]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Fduj-NNkkDU/art-tetris-bricks-falling-in-an-alley

Tetris is my favoritest game ever. In fact, I would commit my life to being a bum, living off hobomodos, just for an excuse to sleep under these Tetris stars every night. [Flickr]



Samsung 8MP Touchscreen Memoir Cellphone Is the US's First [Samsung Memoir]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Eroi59dolqo/samsung-8mp-touchscreen-memoir-cellphone-is-the-uss-first

The Samsung Memoir could easily be mistaken for a real camera. On one side is a full touch-screen, and on the other is an 8-megapixel camera, 16x digital zoom, and Xenon flash.

The phone, which we first saw hints of in December, will run on T-Mobile's 3G network. Besides the 8-megapixel camera, it also has a full-touch virtual QWERTY keypad, a music and video player, built in GPS, and Bluetooth.

SAMSUNG MOBILE AND T-MOBILE USA INTRODUCE BEST-IN-CLASS
8-MEGAPIXEL CAMERA PHONE

Samsung Memoir™ Captures and Shares High-Quality Images
With Advanced Features and Touch Screen

DALLAS, and BELLEVUE, WASH. — Feb. 5, 2009 — Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) and T-Mobile USA, Inc., today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Memoir™, a full touch-screen mobile phone equipped with an 8-megapixel camera and premium multimedia features, placing it among the highest quality imaging phones available in the U.S.

The Memoir, available exclusively from T-Mobile, is designed to look and feel like a customer's current point-and-shoot digital camera. The built-in 8-megapixel camera with Xenon flash, 16x digital zoom and five shooting modes empower customers to capture exceptional photos and videos from their phone — whether they're on the go, on a vacation or just hanging out around the house.

The touch-screen phone, enabled by Samsung's Touc! hWiz™ user interface and powered by T-Mobile's high-speed 3G network, makes sharing photos easy. Samsung's new photo widget allows customers to post images taken with the Memoir directly to their favorite online photo sharing source, such as flickr®, Kodak® Gallery, Photobucket and Snapfish.

"With the 8-megapixel Samsung Memoir, T-Mobile customers can capture and share little slices of life in all their vibrant brilliance," said Denny Marie Post, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA. "With the ability to share photos at your fingertips, the Memoir helps make those connections more meaningful by their immediacy."

The Memoir's full-touch virtual QWERTY keypad and multiple messaging capabilities, including text, multimedia messaging, instant messaging and e-mail, make staying connected quick and easy while on the go. The Memoir is complete with a music and video player and built-in Assisted GPS navigation, which allows customers to utilize location-based services including turn-by-turn directions. For hands-free use, the Memoir features stereo Bluetooth® technology, speakerphone and voice-activated dialing.

"This is the camera phone that will make people want to leave their digital camera at home," said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Mobile. "When you combine the Memoir's imaging capabilities, customizable menus and music player, not only is it a great phone, but the entertainment possibilities are unlimited."

T-Mobile's 3G coverage available in select markets. Samsung Memoir also works on T-Mobile's 2G network. See coverage maps at T-Mobile.com

Model number: SGH-t929



T-Mobile G1's RC33 update includes Google Latitude

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/t-mobile-g1s-rc33-update-includes-google-latitude/


Keeping frighteningly close tabs on the current locations of your friends, enemies, ex-lovers, bookies, and dealers is one of the hotter trends in the mobile space these days with products like Loopt, Whrrl, and Helio's Buddy Beacon making location-based contact tracking a breeze. Now that Google's getting into the game, though, that business model might start to dry up for everyone else -- especially considering that its so-called Latitude tech will be built into Android going forward and available for every other platform that supports Google Maps. T-Mobile has announced that Latitude will be built into the G1 starting with the RC33 maintenance release that's getting rolled out to customers this week -- and yes, granted, it's not Cupcake, but at least we have some new functionality to toy around with. And yes, we promise we won't mention virtual keyboards in this post... er, dangit. Video of Latitude in action after the break.

Continue reading T-Mobile G1's RC33 update includes Google Latitude

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T-Mobile G1's RC33 update includes Google Latitude originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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QNAP's new 4-bay Atom-based TS-439 Pro Turbo NAS

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/qnaps-new-4-bay-atom-based-ts-439-pro-turbo-nas/


It's already been an exciting year for QNAP fanboys... not only has the company graced the world (and our pages) with a new 6-bay NAS, but it's already back for more. Billed as "the world's first 4-bay Intel Atom-based NAS," the TS-439 Pro Turbo NAS sports an Intel 1.6GHz CPU, 1GB memory, support for RAID 0/1/5/6/5+spare configurations, up to 6TB capacity (that's before you start adding external drives) and a whole host of server functions, including all the FTPing, DDNS, MySQL and XDove mail servin' your little heart desires. And if that weren't enough, the Surveillance Station feature supports video monitoring and recording from up to four IP-based cameras. No price listed, but we do have plenty of glamor shots for you in the gallery below.

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QNAP's new 4-bay Atom-based TS-439 Pro Turbo NAS originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikon unveils Fabre Photo EX DSLR-based stereoscopic microscope

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/nikon-unveils-fabre-photo-ex-dslr-based-stereoscopic-microscope/


Sure, we've seen homebrew digital microscopes built out of old webcams and proper digital 'scopes with USB interfaces, but if you're really serious about your closeups, Nikon's new Fabre Photo EX system is probably calling your name. The stereoscopic microscope can be fitted to a Nikon DSLR back to capture images, with max magnification based on sensor size and crop factor -- FX backs will yield 20x zoom, while a DX back will let you keep tabs on your favorite c. elegans at 45x. Various attachments can boost that up to 66x, and there's even an adapter that'll let you mount various Coolpix compacts to the system -- although we doubt that'll look nearly as imposing on your lab bench. Mad scientists can order as of February 20th, provided they're in Japan and have an extra ¥108,150 ($1214) for the microscope and ¥37,800 ($424) for the DSLR mount handy. On more pic after the break.

[Via Slashgear]

Continue reading Nikon unveils Fabre Photo EX DSLR-based stereoscopic microscope

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Nikon unveils Fabre Photo EX DSLR-based stereoscopic microscope originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10-inch Aspire One does a little government work at the FCC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/10-inch-aspire-one-does-a-little-government-work-at-the-fcc/


It looks like Acer's 10-inch Aspire One D150 is getting set for a US debut, as it just popped up in the FCC's all-knowing database. Nothing here we didn't know or couldn't guess -- Acer's own list of changes from the 8.9-inch Aspire One consists of the screen size and a new Bluetooth module -- but it's nice to see Uncle Sam giving this bad boy the once over before it starts beaming its WiFi terror rays into our homes. Or, you know, running XP to browse Facebook, whatever.

[Via mini-notebook-laptop]

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10-inch Aspire One does a little government work at the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rice University rolls out new and improved "nanocar"

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/rice-university-rolls-out-new-and-improved-nanocar/


Nano-sized letters are one thing, but nothing impresses the nanotechnology community like creepy crawly nanotech, and some researchers from Rice University look to have fully delivered on that point with their latest so-called "nanocar." At about two nanometers in length, the new nanocar apparently doesn't represent a drastic reduction in size over the previous incarnation, but it does have the notable advantage of being able to "travel" across surfaces at room temperature (a temperature of 200° Celsius was required before). Interestingly, that breakthrough was actually discovered by accident, and was later able to be confirmed using a mix of time-lapse photography and a new tracking algorithm. As you might have guessed, however, they're still quite a ways away from being able to actually control the car, although the researchers say using six wheels instead of four could help with that, as could tracks to keep 'em going in one direction.

[Via DailyTech]

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Rice University rolls out new and improved "nanocar" originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mission One electric motorcycle boasts 150 MPH top speed, extreme price tag

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/mission-one-ev-electric-motorcycle-boasts-150-mph-top-speed-ext/

The Mission One EV electric sports bike got a proper unveiling at this week's Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) conference, and boy does this baby exude power. Mission Motors says the motorcycle's got an 150 MPH top speed and 100 foot-pounds of torque at any point between 0 and 6,500 RPM. That's a good deal faster than the Electric Motorsport GPR-S, which tops out at a now-paltry 100 MPH. The lithium-ion battery keeps it running for 150 miles, and charge time is targeted for under 2 Hours at 240V (8 Hours at 120V). Its stylish form factor comes from famed industrial designer Yves Behar. Yeah, we're excited, too, but here's the part where you flinch: the deathly silent super-scooter will first show up in 2010 with a 50-unit limited edition run costing $68,995 apiece. A more affordable model will be announced sometime this summer. If you've got a need for this much muted speed, be prepared to mortgage a house or two.

[Via Autoblog Green]

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Mission One electric motorcycle boasts 150 MPH top speed, extreme price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NEC shows off super resolution upconverting for your cell, HDTV and all in between

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/nec-shows-off-super-resolution-upconverting-for-your-cell-hdtv/


Let's face it, that low res cellphone video of last weekend's party and your Days of Thunder VHS won't be upscaling themselves, hence the sudden explosion of Super Resolution technology including this most recent entry from NEC. Claiming low power and memory requirements, part number uPD9245GJ is ready for duty blowing up images for display on your VGA cellphone or nav system without blurring, or upscaling low res sources to 1080p in a Blu-ray player or HDTV. Don't let the ridiculous soundtrack on the demo reel fool you -- recent reviews have given super resolution tech a thumbs up, and with Toshiba, Hitachi and Broadcom already in the game we've got a clue what feature will be checkmarked on your next electronics purchase.

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NEC shows off super resolution upconverting for your cell, HDTV and all in between originally appeared on Engadget o! n Wed, 0 4 Feb 2009 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Progressive Automotive X-Prize competitors roundup

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/progressive-automotive-x-prize-competitors-roundup/

With about three weeks left to go, the Progressive Automotive X-Prize has already got 25 submissions (20 names have been publicly released) with creators ranging from college students to large auto makers already in the game. Here's the deal with the contest: the cars must be production-capable and fall in with federal safety guidelines, and it's got to be possible to produce and sell 10,000 of them annually, with a working business plan in place for this to happen by 2014. The car must deliver at least 100 MPGs, and CO2 emissions can't exceed 200 grams per kilometer. The prize for the competition is ten million dollars. We've seen some of these in the past -- Aptera's 2e, MDI's AirCar, and the Tata Nano are all on offer -- but there are a few new guys, too. Some of the more interesting entries are the totally rad looking diesel Avion which has gotten up to 103.7 miles per gallon, Kinetix Motors' diesel-electric hybrid E4 Sports Hatch, which should cost less than $25,000 with a top speed of 95 miles per hour. The company also claims the sporty ride goes from zero to sixty miles in 6.1 seconds. Finally, there's Physics Lab of Lake Havasu Green Giant, an electric truck that gets 50 miles per gallon on its battery, with plans to bump that figure to 100 miles per gallon using other sources of energy. Check out the gallery of other prospects, and hit the read link for the full, delicious list.

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Progressive Automotive X-Prize competitors roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Memoir officially brings 8 megapixels to T-Mobile

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/samsung-memoir-officially-brings-8-megapixels-to-t-mobile/


At some point, T-Mobile decided it wanted to play in the megapixel big leagues by rolling out the Motorola ZN5 and Samsung Behold, but why stop at a measly little 5 megapixels? The long-rumored t929 Memoir from Samsung has now been officially announced for T-Mobile USA's funky 3G bands, featuring a full touchscreen, TouchWiz user interface, integrated AGPS, full HTML browser, and -- of course -- that glorious 8 megapixel sensor with xenon flash. No word on pricing or availability just yet, but we're told we can expect it some time this month.

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Samsung Memoir officially brings 8 megapixels to T-Mobile originally appeared on E! ngadget< /a> on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox Live tallies 1 million Netflix Watch Instantly activations, 1.5 billion minutes served

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/xbox-live-tallies-1-million-netflix-watch-instantly-activations/


Bad news first: there might be a bit more competition than you expected for that home theater giveaway. Good luck bringing down Netflix's shooting star though, as if last week's good news train wasn't enough comes news that over a million Xbox Live Gold members have already downloaded and activated the Watch Instantly app since its NXE debut last November. That's more than 10% of Netflix's just announced 9.4 million subscribers who've already watched over 1.5 billion minutes of TV and movies through their consoles. They're not the only ones happy, while streaming may be eating into DVD rentals, Xbox Live Marketplace rentals are up 174 percent year over year. The streaming library is up to 12,000 titles, with a "growing percentage" in high definition, for the rest of the celebratory details check the full PR after the break. Nothing left for us to say but congratulations and hey, if you get a minute, could you fix Nilay's HD streaming on the Xbox? Thanks.

Continue reading Xbox Live tallies 1 million Netflix Watch Instantly activations, 1.5 billion minutes served

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Xbox Live tallies 1 million Netflix Watch Instantly activations, 1.5 billion minutes served originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP to publicly release Mi Edition Ubuntu installer

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/hp-to-publicly-release-mi-edition-ubuntu-installer/


We're actually pretty high on HP's Mini 1000 Mi Edition, which trades in XP for a custom Ubuntu build with a slick, polished interface, and it looks like early Mini 1000 owners can now get in on the action as well -- a Mi Edition installer will soon available for download. If you're currently running Mi Edition or know someone who is, you can actually build an installer flash drive right now, but we'd wait for the official Windows-based utility to appear in the next few days. No guarantees that HP's Mi Edition installers work with any non-Mini 1000 machines out there, but given the proliferation of drivers and tools for hacking OS X onto various netbooks, we're definitely hoping the community takes to hacking the much more open Mi Edition the same way.

[Via Download Squad]

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HP to publicly release Mi Edition Ubuntu installer originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujitsu adds AT&T 3G to slew of LifeBooks, promises EV-DO in Q2

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/fujitsu-adds-atandt-3g-to-slew-of-lifebooks-promises-ev-do-in-q2/


Evidently Fujitsu's decision to offer its LifeBook U820 convertible mini laptop with integrated 3G has been a raging success; otherwise, we're a bit uncertain as to why it would share the love with four other siblings. Starting right about now, WWAN lovers can order up a LifeBook T5010, T1010, P1630 and / or T2020 with built-in support for AT&T's BroadbandConnect HSUPA network. For those who like to live on the CDMA side of life, the outfit is planning to add EV-DO support in Q2 of this year, though we're not told which carrier will be selected to carry that torch.

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Fujitsu adds AT&T 3G to slew of LifeBooks, promises EV-DO in Q2 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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