Friday, January 08, 2010

Thou Shalt Be Truthful: Ten Commandments of Modern Marketing #marketing #digital - http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

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Thursday, January 07, 2010

Thou Shalt Not Target Customers (even with #BehavioralTargeting): Ten Commandments of Modern Marketing #marketing - http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

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Thou Shalt Not Do Brand-ing: Ten Commandments of Modern Marketing #marketing #whatwereyouthinking - http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

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Sanyo's Xacti VPC-CS1 HD camcorder vies for 'world's smallest' title

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/sanyos-xacti-vpc-cs1-hd-camcorder-vies-for-worlds-smallest-t/

Working to be an even more pocketable pocket camcorder, Sanyo's shrunk the front of its latest Xacti model to measure just 1.06 inches at its widest point while still recording 1080p video. The VPC-CS1 captures in MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 and is currently undergoing official certification to support iFrame. Images tout 8 megapixels, zoom up to 10x, and storage via SDXC cards. Release date and price? Let's just say February and a penny under $300.

Sanyo's Xacti VPC-CS1 HD camcorder vies for 'world's smallest' title originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourceSanyo PR  | Email this |!  Comments

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Samsung OLED identity card animates your creepy, disembodied head (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/samsung-oled-identity-card-animates-your-creepy-disembodied-hea/

For better or worse, it looks like RFID-ified identification is here to stay. Just about the coolest threat to our civil liberties we've seen this week, Samsung Mobile Display's Specimen Display Card Prototype is a pretty bog-standard ID -- until you bring it within range of an ISO 14443 RFID card reader, at which point the OLED display springs to life, summoning a 360 degree closeup of the card holder's head.Looks like it just got a little harder to change your identity, no? Peep the video for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Samsung OLED identity card animates your creepy, disembodied head (video)

Samsung OLED identity card animates your creepy, disembodied head (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epson MovieMate multimedia projector hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/epson-moviemate-multimedia-projector-hands-on/

Aiming to be a one-stop shop for slumber parties and business meetings alike, the MovieMate projector from Epson combines a projector and a DVD player into one easy-to-tote package. It packs HDMI, PC, and Component / RGB inputs, in addition to built-in speakers. There's a handle for easy carrying, and we're glad to report that it's not too heavy. Thankfully, Epson included a mic input for all those crazy karaoke sessions that might happen in the spur of the moment. Unfortunately there were no karaoke tunes on hand for us to test it out to, so we'll just have to take their word that it works like a charm.

Epson MovieMate multimedia projector hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XstreamHD actually available for pre-order

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/xstreamhd-actually-available-for-pre-order/

XstreamHD demo
No we can't believe it either, but it actually looks like we can take XstreamHD off the vaporware list in a few months. Now there are no guarantees in life, but starting today you can pay $25 for the right to one of the first XstreamHD systems off the assembly line. The reminder of the $399 bill will have to paid on April 30th when it ships and includes a 1TB Media Server that can store the high quality pre-fetched HD that gets beamed down via satellite or HD recorded via the three ATSC tuners that're built-in. You also get one HD Media Receiver that'll extend the signal into another room and all the accessories like a ZigBee RF remote and cables -- you can go Pro for an extra $100 if you have the need for hi-fidelity analog outputs on the receiver. We'll be keeping a very close eye on this one as it does sound very interesting, but you'll have to forgive us for being skeptical because we've been hearing about how great it is for about two years. Full release after the jump.

Continue reading XstreamHD actually available for pre-order

XstreamHD actually available for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy 2010! Ten Commandments to help "marketing sinners" become saints - http://bit.ly/8U3iI6

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Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Nexus One teardown reveals 802.11n WiFi and FM transmitter

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/nexus-one-teardown-reveals-possible-802-11n-radio-and-fm-transmi/

We've already told you everything you need to know about the Nexus One. Still, you might be curious to see Google's self-proclaimed "superphone" splayed wide to reveal a Samsung-branded OLED display, Qualcomm QSD8250 "Snapdragon" 1 GHz ARM processor, and Synaptics touchscreen controller. Of interest is a Broadcom chip labeled Broadcom BCM4329EKUBG. Why? Well, the BCM4329 (albeit, without the "EKUBG" qualifier) is capable of 802.11n (HTC only lists 802.11b/g) WiFi in addition to FM transmitter and receiver. Bet you didn't know that? Picture of the Broadcom chip after the break.

Update: Just noticed that Google does list 802.11n on the specs page although HTC does not.

Continue reading Nexus One teardown reveals 802.11n WiFi and FM transmitter

Nexus One teardown reveals 802.11n WiFi and FM transmitter originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's 6.9mm thin LED-backlit LCD hands-on at CES

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/lgs-6-9mm-thin-led-backlit-lcd-hands-on-at-ces/

Seagate has a 2.5-inch hard drive that measures 7mm thick. LG now has a big frickin' television that's even thinner. Today at the company's CES 2010 press event, the "future" of LG's TV business was briefly unveiled. At just 6.9mm thin, it's easily one of the slimmest sets we've ever had the opportunity to ogle, and when speaking with executives afterwards, they confessed that more details would flow (including a real model name and estimated pricing) later in the year. As for availability? You could actually see this mythical creature and its 10mm bezel on store shelves by the end of this year, though we got the impression that it may ship first in Japan before heading Stateside. Oh, and we're guessing LG will utilize that newly forged WHDI partnership to get this thing to operate wirelessly. After all, who has room for an HDMI socket when the whole chassis is slimmer than your pinky finger?

LG's 6.9mm thin LED-backlit LCD hands-on at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba announces partnership with RealD for 3D teevees

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/toshiba-announces-partnership-with-reald-for-3d-teevees/

Toshiba's just announced a partnership with 3D gurus RealD to bring 3D viewing a little closer to home. The company plans to hit the world with support for RealD's stereoscopic format on its new Regza televisions. RealD's proprietary shutter style 3D glasses are not to be confused with the polarized ones used in theatres that the company is known for. The plan is apparently to unleash a full line of 3D Regza full HD LCDs in 2010. We don't know anything about specific models, pricing, or specific availability yet, but we'll keep our eyes open for fuller details as the CES 3D onslaught continues. The full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Toshiba announces partnership with RealD for 3D teevees

Toshiba announces partnership with RealD for 3D teevees originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba introduces ZX900 Series 55-inch and 65-inch Cell TVs for the US

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/toshiba-introduces-zx900-series-55-inch-and-65-inch-cell-tvs-for/

Originally envisioned last year as a 4k x 2k monstrosity, Toshiba's ZX900 Cell TV has been humbled slightly for its market debut. Still, the processing power is what's really on display here, and Toshiba claims that it's packed 143 times the processing power over existing televisions. That processing makes way for Toshiba's Resolution+ upscaling, a 480Hz frame rate (completely ready for 3D), and some home media server capabilities as well. The centerpiece is the Net TV applications, which include Netflix, VUDU, CinemaNow and Pandora, and there's 802.11n WiFi and 1TB of HDD for streaming and storage. There's also mention of video phone capability, but it's unclear if has a built-in webcam (doubtful) or if you've got to bring your own USB number. Unfortunately, the biggest draw of this TV in its Japanese incarnation is its eight tuners, and for whatever reason that special distinction has been removed from this US version. The 55-inch and 65-inch displays use KIRA2 LED-backlit displays with 512 zones of localized dimming, and just in case this was wasn't enough, the sets have built-in Wireless HD and to connect the Cell-packing set-top box to the display wire-free. Of course, once you involve a set-top box you're kind of nullifying some of the magic of building a TV "with a Cell processor," but we'll let it slide. Just this once, Toshiba. Both TVs will be out "later this year" for an undisclosed, sure-to-be-huge price. A press release is after the break.

Continue reading Toshiba introduces ZX900 Series 55-inch and 65-inch Cell TVs for the US

Toshiba introduces ZX900 Series 55-inch and 65-inch Cell TVs for the US originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TextPlus for Android Sends Group SMS for Free [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/v0Qnlri9F_I/textplus-for-android-sends-group-sms-for-free

iPhone/Android: Want to send a text message when you're out of messages for the month, out of cellular range, or writing multiple recipients? TextPlus, a free app for Android, handles all those situations, and sends text messages entirely free.

TextPlus' recently arrived Android app works much the same as its previously mentioned iPhone app, using each cellular carrier's email-to-text system to shuttle around text messages without charge. The benefits are, of course, the free cost, the ability to run on Wi-Fi without cellular service, as well as the grouped, chat-style responses you can get from multiple recipients. On Android phones, and iPhones running the 3.0 firmware and later, you can also receive reply notifications when TextPlus isn't running. If you're a dedicated iPod touch user, it's also a convenient way to consolidate your messaging onto your persistent pocket computer.

The drawbacks are the very small hoops recipients have to jump through to reply to you, usually involving typing something like "T2" before replying, or another shortcode to get back to everyone messaged. For those situations where it's warranted, though, TextPlus is a handy option to have on hand.

TextPlus is a free download for Android and iPhones.

textPlus now on Android [official textPlus blog via AndroidGuys]



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Linky Opens Multiple Links in Google Chrome [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/EJSwUvvrTLA/linky-opens-multiple-links-in-google-chrome

Chrome: If your conversion to Chrome has left you longing for Firefox extensions like previously reviewed Multi Links and Snap Links, Linky can help fill your link-opening-needs.

Linky allows you to highlight a swath of links and then open them all by clicking on the Linky button on the Chrome toolbar—as seen in the screenshot above.

It doesn't quite have the finesse that the Firefox extensions have (both Multi Links and Snap Links support a right-click-lasso tool) but it beats hand selecting each link. Check out the video below to see it in action:

Have a favorite Chrome tip, trick, or extension? Let's hear about it in the comments.




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New line of LG plasma HDTVs feature NetCast, slim design

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/new-line-of-lg-plasma-hdtvs-feature-netcast-slim-design/

LG 2010 plasma lines
The fact that LG presented 39 new LCD HDTVs today and only eight plasmas is telling of the times, but videophiles are just happy to still have the option to choose picture quality over features. For you Mr videophile, LG has eight new plasma models from 42-inches to 60-inches. The new TrueSlim frame has a bezel that is only .9-inches and wireless capabilities. The PK950 (pictured above) and PK750 both feature NetCast, which is LG's name for its streaming services that including Skype, Netflix, VUDU, YouTube, Napster DivX and Yahoo Widgets, while the rest of the line just features a network connection and DLNA. The Wireless Media Hub is available for all the models and allows you to place your HD sources up to 98-feet away without running wires. One last thing worth mentioning -- the rest is in the press release -- is that the PK950 incorporates a Magic Wand which is described as a Wii-like experience, but we sure hope old school remotes are supported as well.

Continue reading New line of LG plasma HDTVs feature NetCast, slim design

New line of LG plasma HDTVs feature NetCast, slim design originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG reveals Full HD 3D projector, Skype-enabled HDTVs and more at CES

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/lg-reveals-full-hd-3d-projector-skype-enabled-hdtvs-and-more-at/

The show floor finally opened up here in Vegas today, and just as we knew they would, the product announcements are flowing hot and heavy. LG's one of today's biggest players, unleashing a whole bevy of new kit that truly spans the gamut of consumer electronic sectors. Kicking things off is the CF3D, which is hailed as the planet's first Full HD, 3D single lens type projector. As for specs, you'll get 3D auto picture calibration, a twin engine, two HDMI 1.3 sockets, 300 ANSI lumens and a single USB input, while the XGA HX300G won't do much of anyone outside of traveling salespeople much good. Moving on, there's a little confirmation of the Skype news that we caught wind of yesterday; sure enough, a range of LG's NetCast-enabled HDTVs will ship with Skype capabilities, though it sounds as if you'll need to budget for a standalone camera. LG's also making official that Mobile DTV-supporting DVD player that we first spotted at the tail end of last year, which will be in stores later this year for around $249. There's plenty more to share on these -- as well as a good bit surrounding a legion of new monitors -- so hop on past the break if you just can't get enough.

Continue reading LG reveals Full HD 3D projector, Skype-enabled HDTVs and more at CES

LG reveals Full HD 3D projector, Skype-enabled HDTVs and more at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IdeaPad U1 Hybrid Hands-On: Meet Voltron. He Could Be Amazing. [Lenovo]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/xYKMwwBVWaU/ideapad-u1-hybrid-hands+on-meet-voltron-he-could-be-amazing

Let's clarify two things right away: first, the Ideapad U1 hybrid notebook tablet is still in the very rough stages of development. Second, it's going to be awesome—if it can live up to its potential.

Let's review the concept quickly before we get into the details. The U1 is literally two separate devices, joined together and made to play nice. One is a multitouch tablet that runs Linux and has a speedily efficient Qualcomm ARM 1Ghz Snapdragon processor running the show. The other is a Windows 7 notebook with an Intel Core 2 Duo SU 4100 processor.

The build is like Lenovo's other IdeaPads, except for the translucent red top that houses the tablet. When the base and the slate are linked up, the latter acts as an 11.6-inch, 720p (1366x768) monitor that looked crisp despite being saddled with Intel's integrated graphics. The (non-chiclet) keyboard is based on the current lineup of IdeaPads, and both it and the touchpad worked smoothly. The U1 we saw wasn't set up to do much other than web browse, and pages loaded quickly. The notebook has built-in Wi-Fi, but can also run off of the tablet's 3G connection, which I can see being a pretty great benefit for times when wireless isn't readily accessible.

The fun part, though, is unclasping the tablet from its shell. It's firmly latched in, which is more reassuring than frustrating. Once removed from the notebook, there's a two or three second lag before the Snapdragon p! rocessor kicks in. It's not seamless, but it's close enough. Tablet mode greets you with a six-panel screen of apps similar to that of Lenovo's Skylight smartbook. The selection is limited for now, but Lenovo will be opening up the SDK to developers soon to give you more to play with than the standard YouTube, Gmail, and Facebook-type options.

You can also enter a type of content mode, which divides up your stored files between music, video, images, and documents. With the multitouch interface, you can quickly jump among all four, and adjust how much of the screen is devoted to each. The resistive screen was good, but not great—it at times took some pretty insistent pressing to get the response I was looking for. The viewing angles could also use work; unless you're looking nearly dead-on at the display, you're pretty much out of luck.

I was impressed by the sound quality—not excellent by any means, but better than I expected from a tablet device. One immediately obvious downside is the total absence of ports on the tablet other than the docking—there's not even a headphone jack. It's configured for Bluetooth, but I'd still like the option to plug in my buds. The tablet also currently lacks an accelerometer, so there's no way to orient documents or images based on its position. This is hopefully something that will be addressed before its release.

I said the two devices are totally separate, and I meant it. There are advantages and disadvantages to this set-up. On the plus side, while the tablet is undocked, you can hook the base up to a monitor and get full notebook functionality. If you remove it during web browsing, the tablet remembers wh! ich site you were on and places you there automatically (and vice versa). In fact, when I had Gizmodo in notebook mode and removed the slate, it automatically took me to the mobile version of Giz.

The down side is that right now, web pages are the only things that are transferable this way. If I were working on a document in notebook mode, there's no on-the-fly transition once I pop out the tablet. You can drag and drop, but a more seamless transfer would be helpful. It would also be nice to be able to control the tablet remotely with the base, but once they've separated there's no interaction between the two. Again, these are things that may or may not be addressed by the time the U1 comes out in the second half of this year.

About that release: it's up in the air right now as to when you can get your hands on one of these, because of all of the tweaks that need to be made. It will also be crucial for Lenovo to be able to build up a decent store of apps for the U1 and the Skylight if these are going to have any functionality beyond very basic web browsing and media playback. And for an estimated retail price of $999—minus whatever subsidy they're able to get from a partner carrier—that functionality had better be there.

All in all, the U1 is a slick device, if a little undercooked. If nothing else, I'm excited to see how far they can take this concept once they put it in production. But no rush, Lenovo. If you take the time get it right, it'll be something special.




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Syabas' Popbox Media Streamer Looks Great [Hdmediaplayers]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Vo935bXtkh0/syabas-popbox-media-streamer-looks-great

That freshly-popped Popbox media streamer looks as good connected to a TV as we were hoping for yesterday. Shown off at the CES Unveiled stand, the size difference between the last model was noticeable, and yup, the price is $130.

I had a quick fiddle with the remote on the stand, with the screen-hopping proving fast and the interface just as fresh as the Popcorn Hour. There are little tweaks on the interface, animations that you're not quite expecting—like in the weather—which made me quite shocked that they're only asking $130 for it.

Netflix, Facebook and Twitter are supported, and as you can see from the screengrabs over here it's laid out in a really nice, clean manner. Further driving the point home was the popcorn machine on the stand, as you can see in the last pic. Smells gooood.




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HP's TM2 Tablet: Finally Touchable [Tablets]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/JNZobIPlSOM/hps-tm2-tablet-finally-touchable

HP's new TM2 swivelling tablet is an evolution of its surprisingly long-running tablet series, and it's definitely a worthy younger brother to the TouchSmart 600 all-in-one. BumpTop, the new desktop alternative, is a huge step up for the line.

The TM2 is the next-gen version of the TX2, also a 12.1-inch capacitive multitouch swivelling tablet. The TX2 had some issues—it was one of those "just slap a touchscreen on Windows and now it's a tablet" tablets, which never really work that well. HP's TouchSmart software was okay, but was really better for its big brother, the all-in-one. But the TM2 is a huge step in terms of software, not least because Windows 7 is eminently more touchable than Vista or XP. The hardware is a typical bump from the TX2—same sized screen, 9-hour battery life, same chiclet-style keyboard and multitouch trackpad as the Envy line, Core 2 Duo proc and better graphics.

But what's exciting is the "BumpTop" interface. It's essentially a desktop replacement that replicates your documents as well as various "places" that you can toss them—toss a photo into the Facebook icon to upload it, or toss a document into the printer icon to print it. It's intuitive and works well, although it's tricky to use when the screen is flipped up in "laptop" mode rather than down in "tablet" mode. The TM2 also has the new TouchSmart software for things like music, video, Netflix and Hulu, which is good because they've eliminated the optical (DVD) drive. But this is still a Windows 7 tablet—it's best to think of it as a portable version of the TouchSmart all-in-ones. It's a normal computer with some fun touch extras built in.

It'll be available January 7th, starti! ng at $9 50. [HP]




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