Friday, October 23, 2009

HP MediaSmart EX495 Windows Home Server Review (Better Time Machine Support!) [Review]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Xbl-Xokei-M/hp-mediasmart-ex495-windows-home-server-review-better-time-machine-support

The HP MediaSmart EX490 and EX495 are the new top-of-the-line Windows Home Servers from HP, which are good enough to pretty much be the de-facto Windows Home Servers on the market now. These new units keep up the tradition.

What it still does

HP's Windows Home Servers are exceptional because they take the standard Home Server build and add a bunch of extras on top of it. For example, HP was the first one to introduce support for Apple's Time Machine, which has been improved here so that you can do a complete restore in the event that you have to start your Mac up from scratch.

They've also still got the media streaming (DLNA compliant), web/iPhone streaming and iTunes server built in, as well as a media collector that sucks in media from all your regular machines on the network into one place on the server. All of this stuff is just improved.

What it does even better now

The greatest group of improvements is how the EX495 now works with Macs. Time Machine functionality was there before, but ran into problems when your Mac went down and you tried to do a fresh restore directly off the network. Now you get a separate disc to use so you can treat the Time Machine backup on the server as a standard Time Machine backup for restores.

But the most important feature on a day-to-day basis is the fact that! the Hom e Server console works natively on Macs—even though it's just a remote desktop connection to the server anyway. You can now do on your Mac all the management actions you could on the PC, like setup new users, update your Home Server, perform diagnostics or configure video conversions.

Then there is the added ability to do media collecting on Macs, basically sucking off any videos or music you've accumulated into one network-accessible place so other machines can access it. It beats having to remember to manually place those things on the server yourself.

Of course, Macs can also access the web interface for Home Server management just like PCs can.

More power, more storage and better processing

Shoving a Dual Core 2.5GHz or a 2.2GHz Celeron processor and 2GB of RAM on these machines might seem like overkill for something that's just used to hold stuff and stream it around the network, but HP puts that to good use.

In our tests, the EX495 was able to convert a DVD movie into a full resolution h.264 and a phone-streamable 300MB movie in about an hour and a half, give or take. Very useful for not sucking up your main machine's horsepower to convert videos when you can just vomit them onto the network and have it be done by a slave machine.

The improved processor is very noticeable from just using the remote console. Clicking around to s! et up th e photo publisher, or the media server, or adding BitTorrent plugins were much faster than the previous generation EX485 and EX487 machines. It's not even comparable to the LX195 budget versions.

At $700 and $550 respectively, the MediaSmart Servers definitely aren't cheap. If you've got an older version, like the 485/487 series, the improvements probably won't be enough to warrant you spending so much for another machine that has similar functionality. If you're new to the Windows Home Server realm, this has pretty much everything a PC or a Mac user would want to hold their data, stream their media and backup their information. [HP EX495 and HP EX490]




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Win 7 Laptop Battlemodo: Thin and Lights For Under $800 [Battlemodo]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/MmFw2ocDtik/win-7-laptop-battlemodo-thin-and-lights-for-under-800

A group of 13-inch laptops priced around $800 have been hitting the gym hard, like that Russian guy Rocky fought, in order to shed the pounds and learn to run for hours. But one is the best.

Why Not a Netbook?

In this battle, we're talking about a whole new class of notebooks that fall somewhere between Atom netbooks and full-blown Core 2 Duo machines.

There is no doubt that if you spend $400 more than the average netbook on one of these 13-inch travel friendly notebooks—the Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810T-8737, ASUS UL30A-A1, HP Pavilion dm3, and Toshiba Satellite T135—you'll be purchasing the comfort of a real notebook, the endurance of a netbook and a bit of the thin-n-light enticement of premium devices like the MacBook Air.

And instead of Intel's underpowered Atom processors, each is equipped with 1.3GHz Intel ultra low voltage (ULV) processor and Windows 7 Home Premium. Handling your everyday computing tasks (running a browser, productivity suite, iTunes, TweetDeck, etc.) and 1080p high definition video (each of them have HDMI out) isn't a problem for the CPU.

Meanwhile, your average Atom netbook can't play a 1080p clip without stuttering, nor can it multitask as smoothly. However, no UL system can reach the performance of a Core 2 Duo with discrete graphics. By way of comparison a 15.4-inch Acer Aspire with a 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and discrete ATI graphics has about double the performance in Geekbench, but it pays in battery life.

But you don't need heavy graphics support or super processor speeds to surf the web. The assumption with! all of these thin and lights is that we all live so far up in the cloud that we can see that there really is no boy in the balloon.

The Results

Even if most of the 13-inch thin and light notebooks out there have identical specs with ULV processors, hard drives and memory, they aren't created equal.

Design, ergonomics and battery life matter most, which is why ASUS takes the crown.

The Winner: ASUS UL30A-A1


Price: $800
The ASUS UL30A-A1 isn't an Eee PC, but its design reminds me of the company's chic netbook line. The metal lid looks slightly MacBook-like and it is the thinnest-feeling system of them all at less than an inch thick all around.

ASUS fares quite well on ergonomics. The keyboard is island-style (meaning that the keys are isolated from one another, like on the MacBook) and quite comfortable. However, there is a bit of flex to the overall panel. As for the touchpad, it happens to be the best of the entire group. While all the rest are technically capable of multitouch gestures, the UL30-AL's actually works (especially two-finger scrolling which I cannot live without)!

But ASUS really rises to the top in battery life. The UL30A-A1 is the only one of the bunch to come with an eight-cell battery. On our battery test (with Wi-Fi on and screen brightness set at 65 percent) a movie played back! non-sto p for 6 hours and 25 minutes, the longest of any of the systems in this Battlemodo. That's even longer than the HP Mini 5101 (with a six cell battery) netbook's 5:45. In real-world circumstances, that battery life can only get better since our testing is processor-intensive. For $800 flat it packs the best all around performance, endurance and ergonomics.


The Runners-Up

Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810T-8737
Price: $800Acer kicked off the thin and light trend last spring with the Timeline series. And while ASUS has caught up, Acer still pulls the silver medal. The AS3810T is noticeably lighter than the rest. The design is more corporate looking than the HP or the ASUS, but if you are the buttoned up type that won't be a bother.


The island-style keyboard is just a pleasure, though the keys themselves are a bit slippery at first. The touchpad is kinda small and the single button a bit stiff, but navigating the desktop is still a decent experience. Acer's six cell battery doesn't last as long as HP's, but still makes out with more than five hours of runtime. If you can score a great deal on this system, it shouldn't be beyond consideration.

HP Pavilion dm3
Price: $740 (as configured) The HP Pavilion dm3's aluminum lid looks great and feels really solid, but it isn't the trimmest of systems measuring 1.23 inches at its thickest point (or almost a quarter thicker than our winner).


Under the lid, the island keyboard (you seeing the trend?!) is by far my favorite of all. The keys are firm and the manufacturing quality is superb. If only I could give the same props to the touchpad. The mirrored pad, besides being custom-tailored for narcissists, is rough making it hard to push the cursor along. And if you have sweaty fingers forget about it! The Pavilion's battery life was second to ASUS', and really we can't say 5.5 hours is all that shabby!

Toshiba Satellite T! 135
Price: $710 (as configured) Toshiba killed it with its NB205 netbook, but the T135 can't destroy the competition in the ULV space. Though the notebook is pretty thin (.87 inches at its thinnest point) it just doesn't look or feel as slender as some of the others. And the same goes for the Satellite's design and coated lid (available in black, white and red); it just isn't as attractive as the rest.


It doesn't have an island-style keyboard, but I actually typed pretty darn fast on the smooth black keys. But damn you mouse button! I wish you were chopped in half to make two buttons so I knew which one I was clicking on. The T135's battery was the weakest of the bunch, lasting just a bit more than 5 hours on our intensive video run down. Again, though that is pretty darn long.

Feature Comparison


Verdict

The ASUS UL30A-A1 is our number one pick for a 13-inch ULV based system. It is thin, light, and comfortable to use for its over 6 and a half hours of juice. The Acer keeps a close second to the ASUS with its long run time and sleek bod. The HP Pavillion dm3 and the Toshiba T135, while still affordable and adequate performers, simply aren't the best.




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Dell Selling Core i7 Laptop for $101,353 [Dealzmodo]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/OaKQKldlDoA/dell-selling-core-i7-laptop-for-101353

It's either a glitch or a preventative measure, but Dell is listing an otherwise straight-up Studio 16 for $101,353 because of the succulent Core i7 processor stuck inside. Update: Fun's over

That's just the 1.6GHz chip, though. If you want to step up to the 1.73GHz one, you gotta add $350. Thank God they're offering $100 off of a faster memory upgrade. If you do take advantage of this exciting offer, please let us know. [Dell - Thanks Skittlez!]




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1000 Cellphones and 2000 Text Messages Playing Tchaikovsky [Cellphones]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/9pz0lXjMluw/1000-cellphones-and-2000-text-messages-playing-tchaikovsky

I don't know what is crazier: This video of Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture played with 1000 cellphones and 2000 messages, or the videos showing how the whole thing was made.

People from Vodafone New Zealand, I can't wait for you to do other classics, like:

[Engadget]




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Sharp solar cell sets Conversion Efficiency record

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/sharp-solar-cell-sets-conversion-efficiency-record/

The kids at Sharp have a long history of solar power development and research -- something which is evident in the solar cells they've attached to everything from televisions to cellphones. Always moving onward and upwards, the company is now announcing that it's achieved a title-holding 35.8 percent cell conversion efficiency through the use of a triple-junction compound cell. Mainly used on satellites, the triple-junction cell uses three photo-absorption layers and materials (such as indium gallium arsenide) to boost efficiency. This is all good news indeed for both people anticipating better solar devices and fans of solar research in general -- and great news for the people that make those 18 foot tall "solar flowers." PR after the break.

[Via Akihabara]

Continue reading Sharp solar cell sets Conversion Efficiency record

Sharp solar cell sets Conversion Efficiency record originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rocketfish wireless whole home audio system cuts the cord on all your speakers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/rocketfish-wireless-whole-home-audio-system-cuts-the-cord-on-all/

Anyone stumbling into a Best Buy looking for some sort of wireless speaker solution has probably been ushered over to the Rocketfish section, but up until now, only a few devices have been available. Now, the Best Buy staple is introducing an all-encompassing system that aims to cut the (speaker) cable to all of your speakers. The wireless whole home audio system, which is obviously only available at the yellow-tagged retailer, is comprised of a Wireless Amplified Audio Receiver, a Wireless Sender / Receiver, a Wireless Outdoor Speaker and a Wireless HD Audio Starter Kit, which includes both a sender and receiver. The whole rig is designed to work with standard connections for speaker line and line level inputs, so most any speaker assortment should play nice. All told, the devices combined can send up to five sources to nine receivers throughout the home, but not surprisingly, there's no mention made of the presumably lofty price tag.

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Rocketfish wireless whole home audio system cuts the cord on all your speakers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Psystar releases Rebel EFI installer, further enrages Apple

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/psystar-releases-rebel-efi-installer-further-enrages-apple/

When not flying the Hackintosh banner, filing lawsuits, or generally positioning themselves as the gadfly on the ass of Apple, the kids at Psystar have been hard at work developing the software meant to free us all from the iron grip of Cupertino-approved hardware. And now, a mere two weeks since the company announced that it will be licensing its Darwin Universal Boot Loader to third parties, we submit for your approval a little something called Rebel EFI. Available to you -- the consumer -- right this very moment, the app will function as a universal installer for any modern OS -- provided your machine sports an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, i7 or Xeon Nehalem processor. And of course, "any modern OS" includes Snow Leopard. What are you waiting for? Download the trial version for free (limited functionality, runtime of two hours) or download the full deal for the introductory price of $50 (full retail is $90).

[Via iHackintosh]

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Psystar releases Rebel EFI installer, further enrages Apple originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon launching Storm2 on October 28 for $179.99?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/verizon-launching-storm2-on-october-28-for-179-99/

Say you're North America's largest wireless carrier -- how do you go about burying a product you're about to carry that you secretly wish didn't exist? One creative option would be to opt out of announcing it when its manufacturer does, then quietly launch it on the same day that you're announcing the phone you're calling the "must-have device of the year." Tricky, eh? Yeah, sure enough, by all appearances it seems that Verizon doesn't plan on celebrating the arrival of the Storm2 with the same fanfare it gave the Storm, despite the fact that the new device directly addresses the biggest complaints dogging the original model. It's a "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me" sort of situation, we suppose. Anyhow, it looks like pricing should come in at $179.99 on contract, though $100 of that comes in the form of a mail-in rebate that you'll get on a prepaid debit card, so you'll actually be laying out close to $300 before taxes when you march into the store on October 28. Hey, look at it this way: at least you can keep refreshing Engadget on your old Storm to learn about the Droid while you're waiting in line for the Storm2, right?

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

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Verizon launching Storm2 on October 28 for $179.99? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IREX 8.1-inch DR 800SG e-reader now listed at Best Buy for $449

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/irex-8-1-inch-dr-800sg-e-reader-now-listed-at-best-buy-for-449/

You know what happens when you realize your $399 price point can't compete with the International Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook at $259? You jack it up by $50 and hope people view it as an ultra-premium product, that's what. IREX's DR 800SG e-book reader, which admittedly comes with a salacious set of specs and features, has just landed on Best Buy's site as promised. The problem? It's $449, and not the $399 that we've been hearing for a little while now. 'Course, Best Buy has been known to inaccurately post MSRPs before the product actually hits the shelves (it's backordered for "one to two weeks" at the moment), so we suppose anything could happen. So, anyone snapping this up? Wait, who let the crickets out?

[Thanks, Tom]

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IREX 8.1-inch DR 800SG e-reader now listed at Best Buy for $449 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon rolls out HP Mini 311, Mini 110 netbooks

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/verizon-rolls-out-hp-mini-311-mini-110-netbooks/

The cat may have gotten out of the bag ahead of the Windows 7 launch, but Verizon has just now gotten official with its latest subsidized netbook offerings, which include some unfortunately pricey 3G-equipped versions of HP's Mini 311 and Mini 110. As expected, the 311 is the first one out of the gate (available right now), and packs an 11.6-inch screen, an Atom N270 backed up by NVIDIA's ION chipset, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Windows 7 Home Premium and, last but not least, a price tag of $249.99 on contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate. The Mini 110, on the other hand, kicks things back a whole generation to Windows XP and straight-up Intel internals, and will be available for $199.99 (on contract and after rebate again) sometime in mid-November -- in the meantime, you can still pick up the carrier's HP Mini 1151NR netbook while supplies last.

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Verizon rolls out HP Mini 311, Mini 110 netbooks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Droid gets fully previewed, 'must-have' claims may not be far off

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/motorola-droid-gets-fully-previewed-must-have-claims-may-not/

Boy Genius Report has thrown up a full preview of the Motorola Droid -- or some prototype of it, anyhow -- and any way you slice it, it looks like Android fans, Verizon fans, phone fans, and red-blooded Americans alike should all be feeling pretty good that this thing is gonna kick some ass. As if feeling and looking like a rock-solid, metallic beast wasn't enough, Big Red's first Android outing is said to have killer battery life -- surprising, considering how mediocre the CLIQ's is -- and the seemingly flat keyboard apparently performs admirably, all things considered. Android 2.0 clips along at a nice pace thanks to an OMAP3 core, and obviously, there's not much to complain about visually when you're staring at a 3.7-inch capacitive display sporting roughly WVGA resolution. The icing on the cake, though, might be a magnetic sensor that detects an accessory dock that'll be sold at launch, turning the Droid into a desktop clock and weather station -- perfect for those rare moments when you're not out and about scaring little kids with the phone's robotic red eye. Needless to say, we're looking forward to the 28th.

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Motorola Droid gets fully previewed, 'must-have' claims may not be far off originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon's Droid is a series, not just a phone; Droid Eris coming from HTC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/verizons-droid-is-a-series-not-just-a-phone-droid-eris-coming/

We just got some wild information from a trusted source about Verizon's Android strategy, and let's just say this shakes things up a little bit. Here are the big takeaways:
  • Droid is the brand name being applied to Verizon's Android devices. It isn't a single phone.
  • The Sholes -- the phone we've been calling the Droid so far -- may simply be known as the Droid.
  • HTC's Desire will be coming to market as the "Droid Eris." (Allow us to save you the Wikipedia lookup -- Eris is the Greek goddess of strife.) Interestingly, it's already up on gdgt as such.
  • Droid Eris will be released -- not announced, actually released -- on November 6. In all likelihood, it will not be announced or shown at Verizon's October 28 event -- that will probably just be for the Sholes.
That's all we've got so far, but it's a heck of a change in plans, isn't it? It's interesting that Verizon will be applying a sub-brand to its Android line -- and a pretty solid sign that Big Red's got a serious commitment to the platform going forward.

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Verizon's Droid is a series, not just a phone; Droid Eris coming from HTC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo IdeaPad U150 is official in Japan, not very big

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/23/lenovo-ideapad-u150-is-official-in-japan-not-very-big/

Lenovo hasn't been driving quite as hard after the thin-and-light consumer game as some others (though that U350 is a sexy exception), but this upcoming ULV-powered, 11.6-inch IdeaPad U150 should put it right in the runnings. Unfortunately for us, Lenovo has only just announced the computer for Japan, with no word on when it might be coming Stateside. The specs are alright, with a brand new Intel Core 2 Duo SU4100 ULV processor, integrated graphics, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB HDD, multitouch trackpad and Windows 7. We still don't have a price to go on, but since the whole point of that new Intel proc is taking ULV chips to somewhere approaching Atom prices, we're hoping for good things.

[Via Netbooked]

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Lenovo IdeaPad U150 is official in Japan, not very big originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone app developers needed for imm. client project with live video streaming - pls. DM me for more details @acfou

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What Would Happen To Wallet Bulge If This All-In-One Credit Card Were Real? [Concept]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/sT5Igp-VrrA/what-would-happen-to-wallet-bulge-if-this-all+in+one-credit-card-were-real

Sure, some of that wallet bulge comes from old-fashioned cash, but let's face it, credit cards and receipts are the big contributors. With the One Card concept though, you'd have everything accessible by turning a nob on a single card.

Dreamed up by Kim Young Suk, the One Card is almost too great to ever actually become reality. It would come with a media card slot to add credit card information, a nob to select which card you want the magnetic strip to mimic, and a display which would show either the selected card or corresponding receipts.

Only trouble would be that you're kinda screwed if you manage to demagnetize the card somehow. [Yanko Design]




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LG intros ultrathin Win7-powered X-Note T380

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/22/lg-intros-ultrathin-win7-powered-x-note-t380/


We're still struggling to figure out why every PC maker in the universe has decided to debut at least one or two new Windows 7 machines today, but while we spin our wheels in frustration, we'll point you in the direction of LG's latest. The X-Note T380 is a 13.3-inch ultraportable powered by a Core 2 Duo SU3700 and featuring 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a GMA 4500MHD graphics set, 500GB of hard drive space, 802.11a/g/n WiFi and Win7 Home Premium. In related news, the outfit also updated its X-Note P510 to include Microsoft's newest, shiniest operating system, though otherwise it's remaining exactly the same. Price and release for the little guy has yet to be determined, but judging by just how stoked that lady appears, we'd say it'll be worth whatever LG decides to charge.

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LG intros ultrathin Win7-powered X-Note T380 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Adamo XPS opens up for Windows 7 festivities, but still not for sale

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/22/dell-adamo-xps-opens-up-for-windows-7-festivities-but-still-not/

So much for Business Week's "confirmed" October 22nd launch date from over the weekend, eh? We just spoke with Dell's PR who told us that the company has yet to confirm a launch date for its slender Adamo XPS, and still won't, except to say that it's not reaching the unwashed masses at any point today. That doesn't mean today was all bad for the vigilant in waiting, as we finally got our first public showing of the front of the laptop, proving once and for all that the most recent press photo isn't crooked. So there you have it, a chiclet keyboard and touchpad that likes to curl up close with the screen -- mystery's over, folks, now we play the waiting game.

Update: Laptop Mag notes a removable battery and what's likely to be an Intel ULV processor -- it's definitely not Atom.

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Dell Adamo XPS opens up for Windows 7 festivities, but still not for sale originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epson adds tethering, remote shutter release to P-6000 and P-7000 photo viewers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/22/epson-adds-tethering-remote-shutter-release-to-p-6000-and-p-700/

Epson's P-6000 ($599.99) and P-7000 ($799.99) Multimedia Viewers were always a bit too rich for our blood, but those hemming and hawing might just have the final bit of motivation they need to pull the trigger. A forthcoming firmware update for the 80GB and 160GB (respectively) photo viewers brings along a hotly-anticipated new feature: tethering. Put simply, pro shooters (and novices, we guess) can now connect select Nikon and Canon DSLRs to their photo viewer via USB, and in real time shots will be simultaneously captured to the camera's memory card and the viewer's hard drive. Moreover, the update includes a remote shutter release function for added convenience, though we're sad to say that the retail pricing of these buggers hasn't budged. If you're a proud owner already, keep your eyes glued to Epson's support site -- the download should go live in "late-October."

[Via Slashgear]

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Epson adds tethering, remote shutter release to P-6000 and P-7000 photo viewers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaf announces new Aptus-II 22 megapixel camera back

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/22/leaf-announces-new-aptus-ii-22-megapixel-camera-back/

Neither for the faint of heart nor the slight of credit, Leaf's newest -- the Aptus-II 5 digital back -- boasts a 0.9 fps capture rate, 22 megapixel sensor, 2.5-inch touchscreen display, a 12-stop dynamic range and a 25-400 ISO range. Sounds great, right? What if we told you it would run you €5,995 (about $9,000) for the back itself, or you could bundle it with the Phase One 645AF body and an 80mm lens for €7,995 (about $12,000)? Right, you'll take two. Pre-order now from your favorite Leaf Imaging retailer and you should get your new device in November. PR after the break.

[Via DP Review]

Continue reading Leaf announces new Aptus-II 22 megapixel camera back

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Leaf announces new Aptus-II 22 megapixel camera back originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple will officially support Windows 7 in Boot Camp before end of year

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/22/apple-will-officially-support-windows-7-in-boot-camp-before-end/

Of course plenty of folks have Windows 7 running in Boot Camp just fine, but if you're one of those crazies that goes in for Apple's seal of approval you'll have to wait a little bit. The official support is coming "before the end of the year" to Snow Leopard and will obviously require an update to the Boot Camp software. Unfortunately, Apple's excluded a lot of its 2006 Intel-based computers from this forthcoming update, and we're getting the vibe that this is a Snow Leopard-only affair. Basically, par for the Apple course.

[Via Mac Rumors]

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Apple will officially support Windows 7 in Boot Camp before end of year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon Kindle for PC available 'soonish'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/22/amazon-kindle-for-pc-available-soonish/

No, Amazon wasn't kidding when it said it would be moving the Kindle onto devices besides, well, the Kindle. Sure, the iPhone was a no-brainer (never mind the eye strain) but guess who's next? That's right -- your ever lovin' PC will be getting its own free reader app. How soon? You'll have to hit the read link and sign up as a beta tester to find out. Are you prepared to sync your digital e-book purchases to yet another device? View notes and highlights marked on your Kindle and Kindle DX? Zoom and pinch text and turn pages with the swipe of your finger (granted you are a Windows 7 touchscreen user)? Sure you are. Are you ready to skip the Kindle altogether and simply buy books on your lappie? Well, we're guessing that Amazon isn't too worried about that eventuality. That reminds us, we've been meaning to pick up a copy of Knife Music. We'll tell you if it lives up to the hype.

[Via CNET]

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Amazon Kindle for PC available 'soonish' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Droid's website published a bit early, with specs galore (update: video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/22/motorola-droids-website-published-a-bit-early-with-specs-galor/

A 3.7-inch, 16:9 touch screen with 480 x 854 resolution. A 5 megapixel camera with 4x zoom, autofocus, and dual LED flash. A 1400 mAh Li-ion battery for up to 385 minutes of usage time and 270 hours standby. A 550MHz processor (marginally better). A pre-installed 16GB microSD card. GPS, Bluetooth, 802.11b/g WiFi, and a micro USB port. Six ounces of weight spread out over a 2.4 x 4.6 x 0.5-inch body. We know, you were wanting the Motorola Droid's price and release date, too, but that's the one detail not on this page, we're afraid.

Update: Guess Motorola realized the error of its ways, but not to fear, we've got the site and specs captured in the gallery below.

Update 2: Some kind soul inhabiting middle internet managed to snag video of the Droid in action. Check it after the break.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

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Motorola Droid's website published a bit early, with specs galore (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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