Saturday, September 06, 2008

Asus N10, An Eee with Some Oomph [Asus]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/384170297/asus-n10-an-eee-with-some-oomph

While Asus has gone a little Netbook-nuts, their recently leaked N10 is actually a promising revision on the genre dominated by clones. The 1.6Ghz Atom, 10.2" screen and 2GB of RAM—that's all pretty standard stuff. But three things other than its draft n Wi-Fi and face/thumb recognition have us interested in the N10. First, it's got HDMI-out. And with its small footprint, one can easily imagine hooking this little laptop up to their TV. Second, it's loaded with high quality Altec Lansing speakers. Third, Asus netbooks are finally dealing with that whole lack of graphics card issue.

The $850 fully loaded N10J-B1 will pack an Nvidia GeForce Go 9300M GS 256MB graphics card. That's pretty good for this 3.5lb computer. (We're not sure what's coming in unspecified $750 and $650 configurations.) Users on the go will be able to turn off said discrete graphics to conserve battery life. According to Asus, it make the difference between about 6.5 hours and 4.7 hours of runtime—we're a little skeptical of those big numbers—and it should give us a tiny computer that doesn't act so much like a tiny computer anymore. [BGR]

MultiTouch Cell Can Play Tom Cruise as Big as You'd Like [Multitouch]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/384389695/multitouch-cell-can-play-tom-cruise-as-big-as-youd-like

MultiTouch, the company, not the technology, has developed the MultiTouch Cell, a multitouch LCD display that's modular (meaning that many LCDs can assemble to make one big LCD). Beyond expandability, the screens are quite advanced, supporting multiple users and recognizing fingers in relationship to the hand as opposed to independent points (which allows for more complex interactions). The tech is still quite pricey—the 32" display runs $7,000 with the 1080p 46" version reaching $15,000—but it takes a lot of resources to be a non-crazy version of Tom Cruise. Read on for a pretty fantastic clip of the MultiTouch Cell in use.

[Crave and jkkmobile]

Indoor R-C Helicopters Go DIY, Use Spare Electronics Parts [Helicopters]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/384226524/indoor-r+c-helicopters-go-diy-use-spare-electronics-parts

Forget the Picoo Z's, no matter how much fun they are they can't be as cool as making and flying your own indoor remote-control 'copter. And over at this site there's a set of instructions that'll help you DIY, assuming you have some spare CD drive motors and servos lying around, and are happy with soldering and detailed rotor-carving. The instructions even say how to add a wireless cam beneath the fuselage... useful for, um, imaging the precise moment you crash it into your cat? I suspect more nefarious purposes. Still, it's a full cyclic-control aircraft, so it should be extremely flyable. [Heliproject via Hacknmod]

Nikon 41-Megapixel MX Format Sensor for Digital Rangefinder? [Rumor]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/384326525/nikon-41+megapixel-mx-format-sensor-for-digital-rangefinder

We've been following this for a little while to let some meat stick on the skeletal rumors, and it's finally feeling substantial enough—though definitely still a rumor—to throw your way. It looks like Nikon's got a 41-megapixel medium format (MX) sensor up its sleeve, which is most likely for a digital rangefinder. Nikon itself teases something BIG for the Wedding & Portrait Photographer International convention in Feb. in the pages of Rangefinder magazine. Finally, Nikon Watch has a tip (albeit unsubstantiated) that the MX format sensor is 48x48mm and in fact 48MP, and will go inside of a digital rangefinder that's "not to [sic] dissimilar to the older film Mamiya 6 camera philosophy." There's more.

Obviously, a new format means you'll need new glass. But, the tipster says that the rangefinder will be able to use DX and FX lenses with a mount adapter, giving you crop factor of 1.5 for the DX, 1 for the FX and 0.5 for MX lenses. When shooting with FX,you'll be able to rotate the sensor crop from landscape to portrait instead of having to turn the whole camera, and somehow you'll still get to shoot the full square resolution. And yes, this thing will have live view. Given Nikon's penchant to leak like the Titanic, we'll know more about this puppy soon, no doubt. [Nikon Rumors, Nikon Watch - Thanks Peter!]

Panasonic's 65VX100U Premiere Kuro-Killing Plasma Reviewed (Verdict: Best Flat Panel to Date) [Th-65vx100u]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/384550074/panasonics-65vx100u-premiere-kuro+killing-plasma-reviewed-verdict-best-flat-panel-to-date

Just yesterday we got our first taste of Panasonic's new TH-65VX100U plasma technology, which features specs that meet or exceed Pioneer's Kuro. Our initial impressions were extremely positive, but Gary at HD Guru managed to get his hands on an early production sample for a closer look, and he too was impressed. In fact, he called it the "new king of flat panels."

During the review he broke down some of the technology behind the eye popping specs, as well as taking note of a feature set that is high on performance and low on ordinary TV functions. Being a monitor, the 65VX100U does not feature a built-in HDTV or analog tuner and standard definition source imputs like composite and S-video. However, it does include 4 HDMI jacks, one component video, one PC input (VGA), and a RS-232 jack.

As far as performance is concerned, Gary compared it side by side with the 50-inch Kuro and found that Pioneer won on ultimate black level and in the effectiveness of its anti-reflective screen, but the latter results in an purple-reddish tint that can be clearly seen when compared side by side with the 65VX100U. The Kuro also requires a higher level signal to come out of black, which obscured details that the Panasonic did not. All in all, it seems that if you have $10,000 to plunk down on a 65-inch flat panel, the 65VX100U should be at the top of your list. [HD Guru]

Next generation Atom processors for netbooks scheduled for Q3, 2009

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/384111380/

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

Just as you were getting your head wrapped around Atom-branded Diamondville-class processors based on a Silverthorne architecture, along comes the next generation. Expected to arrive in Q3 of 2009, the new 45-nm Pineview processors will come in hyperthreaded single- and dual-core versions like the current generation Atom 2xx- and 3xx-series. However, the procs will be based on a new Lincroft micro-architecture boasting an integrated graphics core and memory manager that connects to memory via DMI, not a FSB. Unfortunately, the all important TDP power-draw off your tiny netbook's battery in currently undefined. Hit the read link for the full roadmap and processor timeline if that's the kind of thing that twirls your propellor.

[Via RegHardware]

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Dell's Mini 9 tear-down reveals a modders' playground

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/384149131/

Filed under: Laptops

Here you go modders and Eee PC lovers: Dell Mini 9 tear-down gore courtesy of the boys from Round Rock themselves. The Dell service manual has been posted on-line and reveals the Mini 9 as a modders paradise. So go ahead, impress us, we'd like some extra memory and disk space by the end of next week, k thanks.

[Via jkkmobile]

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Screen Grabs: jerkface Verizon FiOS guy brandishes a Kindle

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/384273099/

Filed under: Handhelds

Screen grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

Yeah, we know a Screen Grabs about a commercial about technology is kind of cheating, but there are a couple of gaffes to point out here. First, Mr. Smug Surfer-Do "I Was In A Band But We Split Up Over Creative Differences" Verizon FiOS Guy is a total jerk, so we're totally rooting for the Zach Galifianakis look-alike, even if his bandwidth might suck. Second, waving a Kindle around might make you look like you rock at your job, but we're guessing a paper clipboard is about 100 times more functional for the actual task, unless you're supposed to read self-help books to your customers. Bitter cable users who can't get FiOS yet unite!

[Thanks, Don R.]

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LG PRADA II to include WiFi, even more pretension?

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/384324272/

Filed under: Cellphones

Looks like LG wants some bite to back up the PRADA II's bark -- assuming both the device and its specs are real, of course, since we've been basing everything we know about Lucky Goldstar's rumored fashion monster on rumors thus far. The latest word on the street has the phone packing a what's-what of good things, ranging from a 5-megapixel autofocus cam, wide QVGA display (with capacitive touch, we can only imagine), HSDPA 850 / 2100, motion sensing, an FM radio, and a WiFi radio for those poor US souls who find themselves surrounded by more 1900MHz 3G than 850. It certainly all sounds real enough -- not as revolutionary as the first PRADA may have been, but a solid upgrade. While we're waiting for LG to sort this business out in a slightly more official capacity, we'll be working on the Armani, we s'pose.

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Zepto's Hydra A17 leaves no cliche unturned

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/384659978/

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops

Let's see, we've got tons of black, a semi-gothic dragon thing, a "Z" in the brand name and a mythological creature in the product name. Yup, Zepto's new Hydra A17 is exactly what gamers need. Sure, the P9500 Core 2 Duo processor, 1920 x 1200 17-inch screen and NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTX with 1GB of VRAM don't hurt. There's even a subwoofer and 4GB of RAM, yours for a mere £2,029 (about $3,585 US). Luckily, you can strip this one down to £1,420 (about $2,510 US) but you'll have to sign over your gamer cred at the door -- we might not even let you thread safety pins through your eyebrows.

[Via PC Launches]

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AT&T page confirms HTC Touch Pro as "Fuze"

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/384714068/

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Before a single AT&T-subscribing soul dreams of jumping ship for Sprint just to pick up the Touch Pro in a few weeks, hold up: we can pretty much confirm that it's coming to your neck of the woods, too. We've already seen some totally legit-looking shots of HTC's hottest QWERTY WinMo piece in AT&T trim, but now we have some more damning evidence in the form of a Google cached page detailing the so-called Fuze on the carrier's own site. As expected, we've got tri-band HSDPA, GPS, WiFi, and BlackBerry Connect waiting for us when AT&T finally decides to pull the plug on the Tilt and make this thing happen. Follow the break for AT&T's poetic Fuze verbiage -- and take your time, since there's no indication that we'll have this in stores in the next few days.

[Thanks, Fred]

Continue reading AT&T page confirms HTC Touch Pro as "Fuze"

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Google Chrome's Full List of Special about: Pages

You already saw Google Chrome's humorous about:internets Easter egg, but readernettleman points out that Chrome's got several special `about:` pages that reveal all sorts of interesting information about what's going on behind the scenes. Here's the full list, with screenshots.

about:memory
about:stats
about:network
about:internets
about:histograms
about:dns
about:cache
about:plugins
about:version

Friday, September 05, 2008

Sony's high-end Cyber-shot DSC-G3 with WiFi diddled by the FCC

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/383898503/

Filed under: Digital Cameras

The FCC didn't give us much to go on here besides these wireframe images and a few radiation reports. From that we can tell you that Sony's about to release its new DSC-G3 Cyber-shot boasting 802.11b/g WiFi. As a followup to the WiFi-packing DSC-G1 announced more than a year ago, we're expecting the 3.5-inch LCD (now probably touchscreen like the T700) to carryover with storage twisted above 2GB and a sensor bump into the 10.1 megapixel range like Sony's new T500. Just a guess though, we hope to hear more at the Photokina show later this month.

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Float on to Sleep

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/yankodesign/~3/381672731/

This design was inspired after Max Longin, mathematician and designer, had been sitting on a suspension bridge and noticed the nice, calming movement the bridge produced-a perfect sensation to fall asleep to. Float is held in place by four stainless steel cords that are connected to a frame of wooden rods and steel bows which can support a weight of up to 2645 lbs.The bed is available in ash, beech, cherry, elm, maple, oak or walnut woods. Easily assembled and dismantled thus allowing for easy transport to anywhere you need to go. Float is available at a starting price of $6200. The rocking movement of Float bed is sure to whisk you off to dreamland.

Designer: Max Longin

LED Trojan Horse

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/yankodesign/~3/382261239/

Frog Design is at it again, this time with an environmentally friendly LED based lightbulb. Although CFL’s are marketed to be widely superior than incandescents, the fact of the matter is they’re still made using very toxic chemicals. Mass acceptance has also been slower than anticipated but it’s obvious why - the cold bluish tint they cast and being non-dimmable.

So what’s the alternative? LEDs. They’re getting cheaper to manufacturer. They use significantly less energy, require no harmful chemicals to produce and can be tuned to give off any hue in the visible color spectrum. The markets are already flooded with a handful of LED bulbs but they have failed to reach mass acceptance and Frog Design believes this is due to poor design.

Their LED bulb looks like an incandescent. It works like one, uses the same aluminum socket and gives off the same warm color. The only difference is energy savings and a life span of 30+ years. In marketing these bulbs, is there even a need to educate the public about the advantages of LEDs? If you package your design to look like the defacto, then you may have a Trojan horse - ready to make the transition to LED bulbs invisible and a reality. Many LED bulbs on the market today are futuristic, modern, and require specially designed sockets. It’s no surprised you don’t see them in grandma’s vanity. I believe Frog Design may have hit the proverbial nail.

Designer: Frog Design

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