Impossible-to-Steal-or-Puncture Bicycle Won't Last a Day In NY [Bicycle]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/98qzn7CnlzE/impossible+to+steal+or+puncture-bicycle-wont-last-a-day-in-ny

Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman thinks that his beautiful Tron-like dream bicycle will never get stolen—even if it looks so cool that nobody would be able to resist. Fortunately, he says that they will be common in 20 years.

The new bike design has a built-in locking system that can only be activated and opened by the owner's fingerprint. The computer-equipped machine can also monitor the amount of calories burned. Made of carbon fiber, it will even have a battery that will assist you when going up a steep hill, as well as puncture-proof, self-inflating tires.

Unfortunately, for now it is just a concept, even while Boardman believes "it could be built now if there was a will. All the technologies are already there, it's just that nobody's put them all together before." The future is not coming soon enough. Heck, I would be glad if the weekend came already. [Daily Mail]

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Best Buy Acknowledges the Obvious, Displays Hackintoshed Dell Mini 9 [Honesty]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/PBwIQGiBtPw/best-buy-acknowledges-the-obvious-displays-hackintoshed-dell-mini-9

Everyone involved knows exactly why Dell won't let the Mini 9 netbook die, but nobody can outright say it, officially. That didn't stop one Best Buy—or at least, a few of its employees—from coming clean.

That's a fully Mac-ified 16GB Dell Mini 9 on display there, boldly masquerading as a "Windows XP Home" model. It's easy to understand why Dell and Best Buy can't officially market the Mini 9 as a hackintosh machine, but come on, why else would there be such demand for this outdated, outspecced, outmoded netbook? The specific Best Buy location will not be included, so whoever did this—they were just being honest!—doesn't get immediately shitcanned. Our tipster even shot a bonus video, below, for the skeptics. —Thanks, Amin!

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Kingston dials things up to 256GB with new SSDNow V+ line

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/kingston-dials-things-up-to-256gb-with-new-ssdnow-v-line/

Kingston is still a relative newcomer to the SSD game, but it looks like it's already well on its way to endless, somewhat confusing product refreshes, with it now rolling out three drives in its new SSDNow V+ line. Available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB capacities, the new drives best the previous non-plus SSDNow V line with read and write speeds up to 220MB/sec and 180MB/sec, respectively, and pack some higher input and output operations per second (or IOPS) to boot, which should also help to deliver an overall boost in speed. As you might expect, however, while things start a somewhat reasonable $254 for the 64GB model, things get decidedly more out of reach from there, with the 128GB drive running $500 firm, and the 256GB drive setting you back a hefty $992.

Filed under: Storage

Kingston dials things up to 256GB with new SSDNow V+ line originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP to sell contract-free, WWAN-equipped PCs in Japan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/hp-to-sell-contract-free-wwan-equipped-pcs-in-japan/

In a presumed effort to shake up the Japanese wireless industry and provide consumers with 3G-equipped PCs that aren't tied to multi-year contracts, Hewlett-Packard has quietly announced a deal with Japan Communications that will allow its machines to be sold with SIM cards that can be used on a pay-as-you-go basis. For those unaware, JCI leases network space from NTT DoCoMo, and as part of the agreement, HP will not only get to choose which devices can connect, but it'll get to keep a nice slice of the mobile data revenue as well. Here's the crazy part: the initial wave of netbooks will be sold for between $50 and $100 sans contract. That's about what users pay in America now for subsidized WWAN-ready netbooks, but there's a two-year contract tagging along. If all goes well, we could even see full-sized laptops, smartphones and digital cameras hop on the same bandwagon, but for now, we'll be keenly watching how brisk sales are when things kick off next month.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablet PCs, Wireless, Internet

HP to sell contract-free, WWAN-equipped PCs in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds! .

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Intel issues X25-M G2 SSD firmware fix for BIOS password conundrum

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/intel-issues-x25-m-g2-ssd-firmware-fix-for-bios-password-conundr/

Eagerly waiting to change that drive password within the system BIOS on your fancy new X25-M G2 solid state drive? Good news, storage junkies -- today you can. After Intel saw its next-gen SSD launch party hit a snag with an off-the-wall quirk that could cause data corruption for those who altered or disabled a drive password within the system BIOS, the company has finally come forward with a firmware update that solves the dilemma, along with world hunger, "the economy" and an undisclosed amount of other universal pains. Hit the read link for instructions on how to update your drive, but don't blame us if every precious memory you've ever collected goes down in flames during the process. Just kidding.

[Via HotHardware]

Filed under: Storage

Intel issues X25-M G2 SSD firmware fix for BIOS password conundrum originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ion-equipped Samsung N510 netbook shipping stateside next month

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/ion-equipped-samsung-n510-netbook-shipping-stateside-next-month/

Momma always said you had to pay to play, and it looks like those Europeans won't be the only ones coughing up dearly for the pleasure of having NVIDIA's Ion platform shoved within Samsung's forthcoming N510 netbook. According to the fine folks over at Liliputing, a Samsung rep has confirmed to them that said machine will begin shipping to US soil starting in September (far later than the "July" date we heard earlier in the year), bringing with it a sizable 11.6-inch display, HDMI output, GeForce 9400M GPU, Atom processor and the ability to handle high-def and Blu-ray content. Trouble is, all that multimedia prowess will demand a stiff premium, and by "stiff," we mean "$599." So, is anyone actually planning on laying down six bills for a netbook, or did you just convince yourself that a thin-and-light is the way to go?

Filed under: Laptops

Ion-equipped Samsung N510 netbook shipping stateside next month originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Volt nabs shaky 230 MPG rating, might not ship in 2010

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/chevy-volt-nabs-shaky-230-mpg-rating-might-not-ship-in-2010/

We've always heard that you've got to take the bad with the good, but who said it had to be done at the same time? This morning, Government General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson had some rather sensational news to share about Chevrolet's Volt, but according to a report over at Autocar, that very vehicle is looking at some serious (potential) issues. As for the good news, we're told that the Volt has snagged a staggering 230 MPG rating in the city, but we should caution you that it's not as cut and dry as GM would have you believe. The EPA has released "a new methodology for determining a draft fuel economy standard for extended-range EVs like the Volt," and it's that murky measurement system that has blessed Chevy's wonder child with a triple digit MPG rating.

Now, for the bad news. This past Sunday, GM reportedly submitted a regulatory filing with the US Treasury, and while it can't be taken as official word per se, it does provide reason to believe that the promised November ship date will slip to an undisclosed month and year. The report also noted that there is "no assurance" that it will qualify for any remaining energy loans to develop advanced fuel technology automobiles, and if you needed more reason to doubt the whole ordeal, have a look at this zinger: "Our competitors and others are pursuing similar technologies and other competing technologies, in some cases with more money available; there can be no assurance that they will not acquire similar or superior technologies sooner than we do." Ah well -- at least we know the four or five prototype models destined for eBay will do Ma Earth proud, right?

Updat e: CNN has a nice look at this incredibly large MPG figure, and -- surprise, surprise -- it's not nearly as fantastic as it looks at first glance.

Read - Chevy Volt gets "230 MPG" rating
Read - Chevy Volt may be delayed [Via AutoblogGreen]

Filed under: Transportation

Chevy Volt nabs shaky 230 MPG rating, might not ship in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World's first 'wireless' pacemaker talks to your doctor daily, whether you like it or not (though you probably do)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/worlds-first-wireless-pacemaker-talks-to-your-doctor-daily-w/

In the past we've been clued in to both deadly pacemaker hackers and the development of a cloaking device to deal with that sticky situation. Now, according to Daily Tech, a woman in New York has become the first in the world to receive a pacemaker that communicates wirelessly with a monitoring service, which is in turn accessed daily by her doctor. "If there is anything abnormal," says Dr. Steven Greenberg from St. Francis Arrhythmia and Pacemaker Center, "it will literally call the physician" and notify him or her. In addition, most of the tests that were done in the doctor's office are now automated, saving everybody time and effort. There is no word yet on possible Twitter integration, but we're sure "Biz" Stone is already on it.

[Via Switched]

Filed under: Wireless

World's first 'wireless' pacemaker talks to your doctor daily, whether you like it or not (though you probably do) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Disney Netpal finally up for pre-order, ships this week

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/disney-netpal-finally-up-for-pre-order-ships-this-week/

We've waited... oh, how we've waited! After two long, torturous months of anticipation, Disney is finally letting the "Magic Blue" and "Princess Pink" Netpal netbooks out to play with us. Featuring the zaniest paintjobs this side of the RilakKuma, customized XP themes, shell control for parents and no shortage of magic dust, the two machines are available to order now for $350 with deliveries likely by next week.

[Via Netbooked]

Read - Toys R Us
Read - Amazon

Filed under: Laptops

Disney Netpal finally up for pre-order, ships this week originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android turns up on MIDs from Eston, SFR

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/android-turns-up-on-mids-from-eston-sfr/

Two more MIDs were spotted running Android recently, and the kids over at Pocketables were kind enough to clue us in on the developments. First off, Eston's MID-02 (also known as the M4301) is a dual Windows CE 6.0 / Android device that boasts a 4.3-inch touchscreen, a Marvell XScale PXA300 (624MHz) CPU, 128MB DDR-RAM, 256MB Flash (supports up to 16GB) and a screen resolution of either 480 x 272 or 800 x 480, depending on whose product page you believe. Apparently one of the company's main markets is Europe, so keep your eyes peeled if you're interested. And why not? The keyboard is "almost entirely in English." But that ain't all! There's also an interesting video making the rounds of the SFR's Intel-powered M! PC Pocket at least booting the open source OS -- not necessarily compelling evidence that the rumors are true, but if the French wireless carrier isn't developing an Android device of their own at this very moment, it isn't a stretch to believe that they're toying with the idea. See for yourself after the break.

Read - Eston MID-02 slider runs Android and Windows CE 6.0
Read - SFR M! PC Pocket caught on video booting Android

Continue reading Android turns up on MIDs from Eston, SFR

Filed under: Handhelds

Android turns up on MIDs from Eston, SFR originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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