Saturday, June 13, 2009

What's Your Current Web Browser of Choice? [Browser Wars]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/DAqAazDXGqk/whats-your-current-web-browser-of-choice

Chrome's in 2.0 on Windows and available on Mac and Linux; Apple's beaming with pride over Safari 4; Opera's still innovating with Opera 10; and we're all eagerly awaiting Firefox 3.5. With all these great choices, which do you use?

Earlier today we ran our Lifehacker Speed Tests on the most popular and powerful browsers (and we included IE 8, too), and even there the competition is so stiff that, for most purposes, any browser you choose is wholly capable to handle most of your browsing tasks. There was a time when Firefox was the be-all for most Lifehacker readers, but now that you've got so many impressive options, we're sensing a lot more variety of choice from our readers (even since our recent Hive Five on the subject). So with that in mind, we're curious:

What's Your Current Browser of Choice?(polls)

Give us the specifics of your browser-choice journey in the comments.



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Mozilla Updates JetPack with Three New Additions [Firefox Extensions]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/l6KojHS0kwc/mozilla-updates-jetpack-with-three-new-additions

We recently introduced you to JetPack, a new Firefox project that allows developers and tech-savvy users to extend their browser using regular HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. Today Mozilla introduced a new JetPack update that introduces three new enticing features to the fold.

Most notably, JetPack's new Slidebars (a play on sidebar) allow for quick access to both temporary and permanent information at the side of your browser window. Mozilla hopes they'll be used for such things as watching a video while you continue to browse the web. Check out the demo video to the left for more details.

In addition, this release has added a couple of other mostly developer-oriented features called jetpack.future (that lets devs experiment with bleeding edge features) and persistent storage support for keeping settings between browsing sessions. For a more detailed explanation of the above three features, check out the post below.



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ViGlance Converts the Vanilla Taskbar into a Windows 7-like Superbar [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/wb9q-XiHaYg/viglance-converts-the-vanilla-taskbar-into-a-windows-7+like-superbar

Windows only: If you've been holding out for the official release of Windows 7 but want to get your hands on that superbar, ViGlance is the one-step answer.

Once installed and running, your taskbar instantly changes form, grouping windows into single, 48x48 icon sections. Hovering over each icon shows a popup telling you the name of each window or the names of the windows in that group. Each group popup is dynamically resized via "glide" animation—based somewhat on the Aero Peek feature in Windows 7—to fit to the size of the text to be shown, making movement across the task bar seamless. And while it doesn't boast every feature of the superbar, it is a nice tweak if you'd like to bring similar taskbar functionality to your pre-7 Windows installations. ViGlance is freeware, currently supports Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.



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Google Wave Questions and Answers [Google Wave]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/LqHaxD_mUZM/google-wave-questions-and-answers

After whinging loudly about not having access to the Google Wave preview, Santa GOOG dropped me an invite. Last night I held a Wave Q&A on Twitter; here are the results, complete with screenshots.

I'm no Wave expert, but now that I've got my dirty little paws on it I had some insights to share. The question and answer transcript is here, plus those images. Note: Sadly we have no invites to share.

Click to see the full-sized version of any image in this post.

Before we start A'ing the Q's, know that the best place to see and hear what Wave's all about is in the full demonstration video. Seriously, that's a must-watch. If you don't have an hour+ to spare, check out the highlight reel instead.

Here are some of the questions I got on Twitter, and my responses.

Q: Explain it in 140 characters, please. I'm still a bit in the shadow about what it DOES. -roxaloxa
A: Simplest terms: Google Wave is Gmail on crack. Imagine Gmail, Google Talk, and Google Docs in one big inbox.

Q: Does Wave require a Gmail ID? -Nightwyrm
A: For the dev preview, I got a new Google Apps login at wavesandbox.com; not sure if regular Gmail will! work at release. Update, on further thought: While right now a Google account is required for the dev preview, since the protocol is open and can be hosted on other servers, it's possible a Google Account won't be a requirement. I hope that's the case.

Q: Share a cool use case example please! -strawp
A: Personally I'm dying to co-write a Lifehacker post with @adampash on it! That's one cool use case! Also, it's killer group chat.

Q:i wud like to know wht more features r going to b added up into Wave and mostly imp is when can it b made access to evryone -krishnat
A: I don't have a new features crystal ball beyond the ones already demo'ed, but it's supposed to go live later this year.

Q: What is wave like in terms of speed? I wonder about its real world performance (like how gmail is sometimes less than perfect) -graemehunter
A: The dev preview is super snappy, you get character by character live updates as your recipient types, real-time. Clarification, on further thought and usage: The dev preview is still pretty unstable, with regular crashes that require a refresh. We'll only know what its real world performance will be like when it's out there!

Q: Would you consider Google Wave a "Facebook Killer"?? -jmnova
A: IMO Google Wave won't be a Facebook killer, but I can see it subsuming Gmail, GTalk, and to some extent, GDocs.

Q: Will Wave be a Basecamp killer? -suzero
A: IMO not a Basecamp killer (Google Wave isn't a project mgt app), but it will give Campfire a run for its money. Update: And maybe Backpack.

Q: How well does it federate with email? -DenubisX
A: The email federation question is a GREAT one. It doesn't right now, AFAIK, but I can't imagine it won't by release or soon after. Update: Rafe Needleman reported that the makers of Wave are holding off on email integration to keep it as spam-free as possible. Will be interesting to see how the email federation issue plays out.

Q: So is it similar to a whiteboard sharing via WLM and some collaborative doc. editors? what makes GWave unique in that? -Miles312
A: Yes, it feels like screensharing or one of those collaborative text editors. Just, you know, in the browser.

Q: Do you find yourself thinking more carefully before you type since the recipient can see it in real time? -seancron
A: Yes! The checkbox that will let you turn off realtime updates isn't enabled yet!

Update: You can easily create and distribute polls amongst your Wave contacts, as shown here.

Q: Any news on when it will actually be available to the masses? -diptychal
A: If I'm not mistaken, at Google IO they said Wave will be available to the public "later this year."

Q: What's your favorite gWave feature? -Miles312
A: I love the SubEthaEdit-like collaborative editing (chasing cursors is fun!); also, wave playback is fantastic.

Q: 1st of all does wave work seamless between windows & apple and als! o in sec ure business architectures, thanx? -alexisvandam
A: Yup, it's a web application so only a browser is required, all operating systems. Your Wave session is encrypted, too (https).

Q: Is it really different from existing wiki or groups? -Hellchico
A: It isn't. The Ah-ha! is the combination of features from wikis, email, IM, VCS, blogs & doc managers into one interface.

Q: Do you think it's going to change everything about how we interact with each other? (Of course!) How soon will the change be? -joannbc
A: I wouldn't say Google Wave is going to "change everything"; but it does take online communication/collaboration to the next level.

Q: Dug Wave real-time blog updates. Might B cool to see your fav bloggers as they work. Might be lil' creepy 4 the blogger though! -VerbalKint
A: It's totally embarrassing to know that your recipient can see all your ugly typos happen live (even when you correct them!) Update, on further usage: Everyone feels this way, and after a few chats you get used to it. It's really fun watching a message come to life as it happens, though it's a little less efficient, too. (If you watch someone type continuously, it's slower than just reading the finished product of that typing.)

Q: Can you peel off a wave into a side convo? -learningashland
A: Yes, you can copy a wave into a new wave and drop other contacts onto it to have a side convo.

Q: Now you mention it, how good is the integration between Wave and the other Google products??? Is it the app to rule them all?? -jmnova
! A: Still early, but right now you can embed maps, YouTube videos and Google search results into a Wave. Definitely more to come. Update, on further use: I've also got the blogger integration going. Here's my Wave blog.

Q: Will it help me to move through my daily 2.0 site slog quicker? Too much time in all this, need a centralized tool… -WadeBiery
A: Right now it puts messaging (email & IM) and document collaboration in one place, and more to come with extensions…

Q: How does it work cross browser/platform, memory usage? -farhanlalji
A: so far so good on Safari & Firefox on my Mac. I'll keep an eye on memory usage and report back.

Q: How can Wave help cope with info overload? Do u forsee there being a problem getting 2 Wave Zero like email? Does realtime help -seancron
A: Google Wave has all the info (overload) mechanisms Gmail does: archiving, tagging, advanced search operators. Plus folders!

Q: Is Google Wave close to iPhone/mobile browser friendly? -rossm
A: It's not compatible with the current Android browser (haven't tried iPhone yet) but as the demo vid showed, it will be.

Q: When's it supposed to launch? And is it integrated with reader? -bgribin
A: later this year, & I didn't see Google Reader integration… yet. Since it's extensible, that seems inevitable ev! entually , though.

Q: What browser are you waving in? -lnorvig
A: So far I've waved in both Firefox 3.0 and Safari 4.0, it worked well in both (tho I hear it's even faster in the Chrome nightly)

Q: Is receiving and sending single messages quick or are there extra actions required. cheers -light50
A: As quick as sending an email; quicker if your recipient is online (b/c s/he could see the message as you type it).

Q: Tell us if Google Wave is really the future of online communication -jakeaking
A: Haha, I don't have a crystal ball, but it IS very promising!

Q: Do you see yourself using Wave on a daily basis? -mjf
A: Could be my excitement about the novelty talking, but once all my contacts are on Wave, I could see using it instead of Gmail entirely.

Q: Is it as fast as the demo showed? Oh, and can you get every single one of us on Google Wave? No, aww. Please? No? Well, dangit. -RobinRamael
A: Yes, it is as fast as the demo showed. It's truly a WHOAH! moment the first time you watch your contact edit a wave live.

Q: What does the inbox look like? And what does the wave document look like? What's different? (fun! Thanks!) -learningashland
A: Here, have a few screenshots.

Note: Stills don't do Google Wave justice, but until I can rustle up some screencasts, click on any of the images in this post to get a closer look.

If you have more questions about Wave, post 'em in the comments below and I'll do my best to answer. Sadly I don't have invites or any kind of special magic trick that will get you into the preview; but do make sure you put your name in the hat.

(In case you were wondering, I compiled this Q&A using a Twitter app I've got in development.)

Smarterware is Lifehacker editor emeritus Gina Trapani's new home away from 'hacker. To get all of the latest from Smarterware, be sure to subscribe to the Smarterware RSS feed. For more, check out Gina's weekly Smarterware feature here on Lifehacker.



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MSI X-Slim X600 specs get detailed in full

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/13/msi-x-slim-x600-specs-get-detailed-in-full/


We've already gotten word of some of the specs for MSI's new X-Slim X600 ultraportable, and gotten up close with the laptop itself, but those few remaining details has now finally been revealed in full, along with some fresh new pics of a hereto unseen black model. According to Notebook Italia, there will be two variations of the laptop available: one packing a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Solo processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive, and the other sporting a slower 1.2GHz Intel Celeron processor, 3GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive -- the latter also ditches the built-in Bluetooth. Otherwise, you'll get ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 graphics on each, along with HDMI out, three USB ports, a six-cell battery and, of course, that 15.6-inch 1,366 x 768 screen. Still no official word on a US release, unfortunately, but it looks like these will sell for €799 and €949 (or roughly $1,120 and $1,320) when they hit Europe at the end of June.

[Via Electronista]

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MSI X-Slim X600 specs get detailed in full originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SATA HDD Multimedia Dock II, Now with HDMI [Docks]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/HF7_sJwQscA/sata-hdd-multimedia-dock-ii-now-with-hdmi

Brando, Brando, oh purveyors off all things plastic and electronic in a myriad forms and shapes. If you didn't like the Brando SATA drive horizontal dock with HDMI output, now you can have the vertical model.

Adding to the composite, component, and USB, the SATA HDD Multimedia Dock II also has an HDMI port, although it only supports 1080i. The media player supports the following formats:

• MPEG-1 (MPG, DAT)
• MPEG-2 (MPG, MPEG, VOB)
• MPEG-4 (AVI, MP4)
• DivX 3.11/4/5 (AVI, DIVX)
• XviD (AVI)
• AVI decode audio: MP3, AC3, ADPCM
• VOBSUB: srt, sub, smi, txt, ass, ssa
• MPEG-1 Layer 3, 24-320kbps (MP3)
• AC3 (in the movie)
• Microsoft PCM Wave (WAV)
• Advance Audio Coding LC (AAC)
• Microsoft Windows Media Audio WMA7/8 (WMA), no support for WMA9 Pro
• MP2 (MPA)

Looks like crap, but nice for $79. [Brando]




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The World's Smallest DV Camera Could Reveal World's Largest Scandal [Video]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/i0wjstpDeEQ/the-worlds-smallest-dv-camera-could-reveal-worlds-largest-scandal

In the era of HD, you thought good old DV was dead? Wrong! Because manufacturers can now make these low resolution cameras smaller than ever.

The Muvi Micro DV Cam measures just 2x0.8x0.4 inches but still manages to record 640x480 video at 30fps for 2-3 hours per charge. All of the footage is saved to your own MicroSD card and can be transferred while the camera recharges over USB.

Beyond basic recording, the camera can also be cued to record at a threshold of 65 decibels of noise. And with the disclosure of that spec, several thousand Giz readers immediately Googled "decibels lady changing." $129. [i want one of those via geekalerts]




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XERO Project Green Building Concept: Veggie Does Dallas [Architecture]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Lp34BPytc9Y/xero-project-green-building-concept-veggie-does-dallas

Somewhat like a vegetarian version of the Dragonfly building in Manhattan, the XERO Project is a proposed idea of bringing local agriculture, orchards, gardens and food stalls into the city of Dallas, all under one roof.

Don't put those BBQ ribs down quite yet—Texans can breathe a sigh of relief as this project is still only a concept, which was first submitted to the Vision Dallas design competition looking to make Dallas a greener city. [Archinect]




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Kopin crafts world's smallest VGA microdisplay, 2k x 2k postage stamps up next

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/12/kopin-crafts-worlds-smallest-vga-microdisplay-2k-x-2k-postage/


Think your cellphone display packs a lot of pixels into a small space? Pssh. Kopin Corporation has just announced the smallest VGA color-filter liquid crystal display, checking in with a 600 x 480 resolution and a 0.27-inch (diagonal) size. The feat was accomplished by shrinking the color dots to 2.9 x 8.7 µm from 3.75 x 11.25 µm, and according to the company, it's a huge step in reaching its goal of creating a "2,048 x 2,048-resolution display in a size smaller than a typical postage stamp." Already, the firm has stated that it can concoct SVGA (800 x 600) displays at 0.34-inches, XGA (1,024 x 768) displays at 0.44-inches and and SXGA (1,280 x 1,024) displays at 0.56-inch using the same color dot size, which will apparently be used in digicams, camcorders and possibly even handsets. And you thought that D90 panel was something to ooh and ahh over...

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Kopin crafts world's smallest VGA microdisplay, 2k x 2k postage stamps up next originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blu-ray gets Managed Copy next year, requires new hardware

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/12/blu-ray-gets-managed-copy-next-year-requries-new-hardware/

Managed Copy
It took over three years, but mandatory Managed Copy is set to become a reality next year as each studio is required to sign the recently finalized AACS license by December 4th 2009, and any studio that signs early receives up to a 25 percent discount on licensing fees. What isn't mandatory, though, is hardware support, and although the current generation of players definitely won't work, most expect the majority of new BD devices to. The cost (you didn't think it'd be free, did you?) and the number of copies is up to the studio, but at least one copy will be allowed. That copy can be made via a menu on the disc and can take the form of another Blu-ray Disc or a DRM-laced Microsoft file. Up until now, Apple hasn't joined the party so no joy for iPod users -- although this could still happen. Either way, a connection to either the AACS' or studio's authorization server will be required to make it work. As cool as this all sounds, we're still skeptical; and although we'll be the first to try it, somehow we don't think it'll live up to our expectations.

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Blu-ray gets Managed Copy next year, requires new hardware originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung B7610 Louvre rematerializes, spec'd and caught on camera

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/12/samsung-b7610-louvre-rematerializes-specd-and-caught-on-camera/


It's been some time since we've heard a word about Samsung's enigmatic QWERTY slider, the B7610 Louvre. Now it looks like we've got on our hands a new, decidedly more clear pic of the phone care of GPSAndCo, along with a list of technical details. According to the site, we're looking at a quad-band Windows Mobile 6.1 device (upgradable to 6.5) with 7.2Mbps HSDPA, 3.5-inch WVGA AMOLED touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, FM radio, miniUSB, 1GB built-in memory, and a microSDHC slot. Still not official, but should this pan out, Orange and SFR business customers can look to it sometime in July with the price lining up somewhere between €250 and €500.

[Via WMPoweruser]

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Samsung B7610 Louvre rematerializes, spec'd and caught on camera originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, June 12, 2009

ClickZ: Consumers Have Changed, So Should Advertisers - http://ping.fm/ZAbzY - Augustine Fou

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http://ping.fm/EqR1H

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source: http://ping.fm/LrjJf Countdown To The Facebook Username Land Rush Begins http://ping.fm/syHX6

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Samsung Crest E1107 Solar Cellphone: Sun-Powered, Dirt Cheap At $59 [Cellphones]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/KdCa9-S0wYI/samsung-crest-e1107-solar-cellphone-sun+powered-dirt-cheap-at-59

Samsung has announced it's first solar powered GSM cellphone, the Crest E1107, for eco-friendly, budget conscious types that don't seem to be concerned with practicality.

Apparently, the Crest can generate enough power for 5-10 minutes of talk time with one hour of exposure to the sun. Like I said, practicality flies out the window here. Not surprisingly, the additional features are basic—like an FM radio, MP3 ringers, fake call feature (for avoiding unwanted calls) a flashlight, and a few minor features tailored to specific markets. However, there is no denying that it is easy on the budget. Besides the power savings, Unwired View claims the device is already on sale in India for around $59.

Cheap or not, we probably won't be seeing it in the States anytime soon. The Crest E1107 is slated for release in India, Europe, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, and Latin America starting this month.

Samsung Introduces Its First Solar Powered Mobile Phone

Samsung leads solar panel mobile market with

the launch of Crest Solar (E1107)

Seoul, Korea, June 10, 2009 - Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, today announced its first solar powered mobile phone, the "Crest Solar" (E1107). The new handset enables its users to charge the battery anywhere the sun is shining when electricity is unavailable.

"The Crest Solar represents our effort and commitment to strengthen our leadership in the solar panel mobile market," said Executive Vice President JK Shin, head of the Mobile Communication Division at Samsung Electronics.

"With Samsung's cutting edge technology and consumer-oriented strategy, I believe the Crest Solar will be the! perfect fit for anyone in any market – not only because it is solar powered, but because it has features that were designed to appeal to various cultures."

The Crest Solar will be available in numerous markets including India, Europe, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, and Latin America from June 2009.

Powered by the Sun

With an extended solar powered battery, the Samsung Crest Solar solves the problem of unavailable or unstable electrical outlets, particularly in rural areas. The phone has the capacity to provide around 5~10 minutes of talk time with one hour of solar charging.* Moreover, the solar panel charging allows its users to save money and energy consumption on traditional electrical charging.

* Measured when the phone is turned-off under the sun light of 80,000 Lux. Results can be different depending on circumstances.

Localized Features for Various Markets

The Crest Solar comes in a compact design with essential mobile phone features such as FM radio, MP3 ring tones, embedded games and a powerful torch light. For consumer safety, the phone offers Mobile Tracker, which automatically alerts when the SIM card is changed or sends out an SOS message in an emergency. The Crest Solar also has a fake call feature, so users can pretend they have an incoming call to escape unsafe situations.

To satisfy Crest Solar users in various markets, Samsung offers localized features for different countries. For instance, it offers profile screening for bikers in the Southeast Asian market that provides incoming call alerts only from selected contacts for safe riding. The Crest Solar also provides specialized features for different religions, such as alerts for prayer time.




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Samsung's Bigfoot Android Phone to Hit T-Mobile 'Really Soon' [Bigfoot]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/kyq-HewjEJo/samsungs-bigfoot-android-phone-to-hit-t+mobile-really-soon

T-Mobile's next gen T1 Android phone—Samsung's Bigfoot—looks like it features AMOLED and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and will actually be available sooner than we thought.

Contrary to previous reports of the phone being released in October for $150, Boy Genius's source is reporting that the Bigfoot will be launching "really soon"—perhaps as early as this summer. [Boy Genius Report]




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Archos' Latest Touch Tablet, the Archos9, Runs Windows 7 [Archos]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/L4XaLTJ1JPE/archos-latest-touch-tablet-the-archos9-runs-windows-7

Although we have yet to hear anything about an Android MID from their event today, Archos has announced the Archos9—a UMPC that runs Windows 7.

Unlike its predecessors, which are basic touchscreen internet media tablets, the Archos9 is a touch tablet that can run a full computer OS. It also features a built-in webcam, 120GB hard drive, full touch support, an external mic, streo speakers, and a toggled-on optical trackpad and an on-screen keyboard, and will be available in Europe this October—around the same time as Windows 7's release—for €450 ($635).

Not far behind the quiet April release of the Archos 2, the Archos 3 has made an appearance on Archo's web site. Looking slim and shiny, the Archos 3 is an 8GB MP3 player, which touts a 3-inch color touchscreen, 14 hours of battery life, and supports photo, audio and video playback, voice recording and more. There is no word on pricing and availability as of now. [Archos via CNet and UMPC]




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The iPhone Is a Pretty Damn Big Platform to Develop Games For [IPhone]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/yRyvk1AuN8M/the-iphone-is-a-pretty-damn-big-platform-to-develop-games-for

This is how the 40 million iPhones and iPod touches, a figure given by Apple at the WWDC Keynote, stack up against actual consoles.

Even though the iPhone has the distinct disadvantage of being a platform that's not purchased just for gaming—pretty much every person who buys a PSP buys it to play games, for example—it's still a pretty damn huge market. Combine this with the fact that the faster graphics support in the iPhone 3GS is going to make it a pretty damn good gaming device, you've got a juicy target for game developers to hit.

Note: sales data was taken from Wikipedia, and in some cases the figures are from as far back as March 2009. There shouldn't be a huge jump between March and May/June numbers, so it's close enough for the ballpark chart we're showing.




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The Kindle DX Disassembled [Kindle Dx]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/suYk4M1UoPE/the-kindle-dx-disassembled

In this five-step tutorial, RapidRepair shows you how to carefully disassemble—and reassemble—your Kindle DX to get a closer look at its innards.

When dismantled, you can see that even when the power is switched off, the text is still clearly displayed on the front LCD. And, we knew the Kindle DX was thin—full review right here—but when taken apart, it's simply amazing how much gadgetry is shoved into it—six memory chips and a processor. Head over to RapidRepair for instructions and more photos. [RapidRepair]




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Gang Uses Stolen Credit Cards to Buy Own Music on iTunes, Collects Royalties, Still Not Famous [Crime]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/2pOn_ehTgeE/gang-uses-stolen-credit-cards-to-buy-own-music-on-itunes-collects-royalties-still-not-famous

In what probably seemed like a two-birds-with-one-stone situation (before the arrest, we mean), a 9-member British gang used stolen credit cards to purchase their own music on iTunes and Amazon, then collected the royalties—an estimated $300,000 total.

The gang, made up of six men and three women, included one DJ who created the music. They then listed it on iTunes and Amazon and negotiated a pretty plush 40% commission for themselves before using stolen credit cards to purchase $750,000 worth of their music.

British police stated, "We will not know why they did what they did until we have conducted all the interviews," which confirms my suspicion that there is no crime, and possibly not even formal currency, in England. The scheme managed to inflate their almost certainly fragile musical egos and net a pretty penny at the same time, and the British police won't know why they did it until they ask them?

Unfortunately, the artist name they used hasn't been released, so I can't make fun of whatever clanging noise they passed off as music. Apple and Amazon helped the police track down the culprits, who are currently being held in jail. [Times UK]




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Archos announces Archos 9 Windows 7 tablet Update: hands-on pics

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/11/archos-announces-archos9-windows-7-tablet/


Archos is currently having an event in France, and while we're still expecting some sort of Android announcement, the company's leading off with the Archos 9, a nine-inch Windows 7 tablet. It's basically a netbook in tablet form, with an Atom Z515 processor, 80GB disk, Bluetooth, and dual DVB-T antennas -- yep, Archos has brought back the UMPC. No word on pricing or availability yet, we'll let you know.

Update: Sounds like a 1.2GHz processor -- not exactly a rocket, but probably adequate for a stripped-down Windows 7 build. We're also hearing September / October availability, in line with Windows 7, and a €450 ($633) pricetag.

Update 2: So much for our hopes -- the event is now over and no Android announcements were made. Charbax from techvideoblog (who is at the event) says we'll see more info on September 15.

Update 3: As you'd expect, ArchosLounge is on the scene and they've nabbed some hands-on pics. Check a couple after the break -- we think it looks sort of gigantic, but maybe that's what the world's been waiting for.

[Via UMPC Portal]

Continue reading Archos announces Archos 9 Windows 7 tablet Update: hands-on pics

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Archos announces Archos 9 Windows 7 tablet Update: hands-on pics originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archos rolls out Archos 10s, Archos 13 laptops, Classmate-based student PC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/11/archos-rolls-out-archos10s-archos13-laptops-classmate-based-st/


Archos's new Windows 7-based Archos 9 tablet may be the headliner at today's event in Paris, but the company's also taken advantage of the opportunity to expand its laptop / netbook offerings, which have so far been confined to one. Those include the previously announced Archos 10s "MiniPC," which hangs onto some mostly identical specs to the Archos 10 but packs 'em in a slimmer and lighter package, and the all new Archos 13 (pictured above), which is a full-fledged 13-inch ultraportable with a 1.2GHz Celeron ULV processor and some fairly standard specs across the board. As if that wasn't enough, Archos has also partnered with France's Ministry of Education to make a Classmate-based laptop available to students in the country, which will also include a one-year subscription to an online course service for about $400. Still no word on price for the Archos10s, unfortunately, but it'll apparently be available later this month in both three-cell and six-cell versions, while the Archos13 will run about $800 when it rolls out closer to the end of the summer.

Read - Archos 10s
Read - Archos 13
Read - Archos Press Release [Warning: PDF link]

[Thanks, @charbax]

Update: ArchosLounge has already made the rounds of the event and provided a few hands-on pics of all the goods. Head on past the break for a quic! k look a t the Archos 10s and Classmate PC, and hit up their site for some more shots and details.

Continue reading Archos rolls out Archos 10s, Archos 13 laptops, Classmate-based student PC

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Archos rolls out Archos 10s, Archos 13 laptops, Classmate-based student PC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archos 3 8GB touchscreen PMP launched

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/11/archos3-8gb-touchscreen-pmp-launched/


Not much detail on this yet, but Archos just announced the Archos 3 touchscreen media player. The 8GB device has a three-inch touchscreen and will do 14 hours of audio playback, as well as photos and voice recording. We're waiting for pricing and availability, we'll let you know.

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Archos 3 8GB touchscreen PMP launched originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Six-core Intel Nehalem processors in the works?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/11/six-core-intel-nehalem-processors-in-the-works/

It's a bit of a whisper on the wind, but bit-tech says Intel's got six-core Nehalem processors in the works for later this year. The chips are said to be compatible with existing Nehalem mobos, so you crazy builders out there will be able to just drop it in and go. If you've got the scratch, of course -- pricing hasn't been revealed, but we'd expect the new part to be more expensive than the quad-core Core i7 975, which runs about a grand.

[Via TrustedReviews]

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Six-core Intel Nehalem processors in the works? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujifilm debuts touchscreen-based FinePix Z300 camera

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/11/fujifilm-debuts-touchscreen-based-finepix-z300-camera/


Fujifilm has laid a little low since it stormed into CeBIT and PMA with its latest slate of cameras, but it looks like it's now back to slowly trotting out new models one at a time, like this just-announced FinePix Z300. As you can see above, this one stays fairly close to the previous Z200fd model in terms of design, with the notable exception of a touchscreen on the backside that seems to replace just about every button but the bare essentials. Otherwise, you can expect the same 10-megapixels and 5x optical zoom as before, along with image stabalization, an apparently improved macro mode, ISO settings up to 1600 and, of course, your choice of four different colors. No word on a release 'round here just yet, but folks in Japan will be able to pick this one up on June 20th for ¥40,000, or just about $400.

[Via Impress]

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Fujifilm debuts touchscreen-based FinePix Z300 camera originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is this T-Mobile's Samsung Bigfoot with Android, AMOLED, and QWERTY?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/11/is-this-t-mobiles-samsung-bigfoot-with-android-amoled-and-qwe/


So this really doesn't look anything like that Bigfoot we saw a little while ago, but we can sorta see the familial resemblance if we squint really (really, really) hard. According to Boy Genius Report, what we're looking at here is allegedly Samsung's Android-powered Bigfoot for T-Mobile, said to be attacking the high end of the carrier's smartphone line thanks to a 3-inch capacitive AMOLED display, full QWERTY, 3 megapixel camera, and naturally, HSDPA. If we had to guess, this is probably a newer version of the same product concept that we'd seen in that roadmap a few weeks back -- Sammy probably started with its Beat DJ (or an Ocean 2) and worked backwards from there to get to the retail version they wanted to launch. We're told it'll launch "like, really soon," so would-be G1 or myTouch 3G buyers might want to hold on for a hot second.

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Is this T-Mobile's Samsung Bigfoot with Android, AMOLED, and QWERTY? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi's 3D-ready and Unisen HDTV lines in the flesh

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/11/mitsubishis-3d-ready-and-unisen-hdtv-lines-in-the-flesh/


Toshiba already showed us what its freshest line of HDTVs looks like, and now its Mitsubishi's turn. The outfit was on hand in NYC to showcase a few of its now-shipping sets, including the 3D-ready Home Theater line and its speaker-infused Unisen crew. We won't bore you with the specs (which can be found here and here, respectively), but we will confess that the 82-inch WD-82737 has us squirming uncontrollably. Have a peek yourself in the gallery below.

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Mitsubishi's 3D-ready and Unisen HDTV lines in the flesh originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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